Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker – The Deadliest Weapon will be released on July 30, 2026 from Penguin Random House. It will be available as both a download and on CD, pre-order your copy here.
Synopsis
Masquerading as a resident in a luxurious space hotel, the Doctor is in fact on a dangerous mission to eliminate Kashan Akravar, a rogue weapons dealer who’s attempting to auction blueprints for the deadliest weapon ever invented.
The Division – that shadowy Time Lord organisation – have briefed the Doctor to prevent the blueprints’ sale at all costs. But they’re not the only ones who realise the weapon’s potential. When the hotel is attacked by Cybermen, intent on seizing the blueprints, the Doctor must use every ounce of her courage and ingenuity to hold them off.
Working with husband and wife Kel and Jinni, the Doctor finds puzzles and obstacles in her way. Whose disembodied voice is calling out to her? What is its connection with UNIT’s Black Archive? And can anything prevent a cruel stroke of fate that will have unimaginable consequences for them all…?
Review
The fourth chapter of this summer’s Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker event arrives in the form of new audio adventure, Doctor Who: The Deadliest Weapon from Penguin Random House. Narrated by the Fugitive Doctor herself, Jo Martin, and written by Steve Lyons, the latest chapter pits the Fugitive Doctor against one of her most fearsome villains, the Cybermen, as she attempts to stop the deadliest weapon from ever being invented.
This story is actually my introduction to Doctor Who audio adventures. I know, as a Whovian I should be ashamed. But I just haven’t found time to dive into one of Big Finish’s multi-hour adventures as yet. But after listening to The Deadliest Weapon I certainly will. Clocking in at a much more palatable 58mins 31sec for the main story, The Deadliest Weapon is a swift and stealthy addition to the summer event, making it an easy listen for a work commute or stolen hour away from a screen. Tonally it sits in the Fugitive Doctor’s slightly more serious sweet spot making this more of a mature listen than a kid-friendly romp.
Lyons picks up on the accessibility of Circuit Breaker without skipping a beat. The story easily connects to the wider narrative with Osgood putting in an appearance and the Doctor working to return another artefact to its rightful place in time. But the nature of the adventure, sending her to a hotel where she comes across the Cybermen, ensures that the story becomes an easily digestible chunk with its very own definitive beginning, middle and end. Circuit Breaker mastermind James Page has really done a great job making sure each chapter so far has been an accessible on-ramp for fans. Newcomers to Circuit Breaker need not feel obliged to read chapters 1-3 before diving in to this audiobook.
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Martin has only recently begun her journey into Doctor Who audio adventures having taken the lead in Big Finish story Doctor Who: Rutans vs Sontarans: Betrayal at the House of Sontar which released just three months ago. But her status as a relative newcomer isn’t too obvious. She sounds most at home when reading dialogue as the Fugitive Doctor. In those moments all of the personality she has brought to the role shines through. Despite an already distinctive voice Martin is also able to bring a different flavour to other speaking roles within the story, backed up by David Banks who returns as the Cyber Leader. Banks played the role across the classic series’ most iconic Cybermen stories including Earthshock (1982), The Five Doctors (1983), Attack of the Cybermen (1985) and Silver Nemesis (1988), which covers the dastardly villains’ every on-screen appearance during the 1980s.
Lyons crafts the story to make sure the Doctor does the majority of the heavy lifting but it never feels like the rest of The Deadliest Weapon is hollow despite only hearing it through one voice. But there are occasional moments where Martin takes a pause or an extra beat in a sentence which feels awkward. These moments are few and far between, mainly towards the beginning of the story. It’s only in these short seconds that it becomes clear Martin is still in the early days in her Doctor Who tenure.
Small critique aside, Martin is a formidable Doctor so spending more time with her is a joy to listen to. The Fugitive Doctor has easily become a focal point for the franchise whilst its TV future sits in limbo. Martin brings all of her energy to this voice work meaning no step is missed from her on-screen appearances to hearing her leading this story.
As this isn’t a full-cast audio drama The Deadliest Weapon is more sparse in its sound design. Of course the legendary theme tune is exactly where it should be in both the main and end credits. But there’s no other incidental music. Instead The Deadliest Weapon is rounded out by a sense of background atmosphere and the occasional effect for items that characters interact with. It still creates an overall sense of action, driving the story forwards without the need for all the bells and whistles of a lavish drama.
Verdict
Doctor Who: The Deadliest Weapon is a tense, tightly-written chapter in this summer’s Circuit Breaker event. Jo Martin brings all of the attitude and weight to the Fugitive Doctor whilst carrying the story ably from start-to-finish.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
