Doctor Who’s Kate Lethbridge-Stewart to return for new UNIT adventures next year – and she’s not alone

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Enjoying the adventures of UNIT from The War Between the Land and the Sea? A new series of audio stories is coming soon to continue the action!

Big Finish is launching a new Doctor Who series called UNIT Eras in April 2026. The series will focus on the brave individuals who’ve worked with UNIT throughout its history, and it will begin with a four-part story called Hostile Universe.

Jemma Redgrave, Ingrid Oliver, and Bonnie Langford—who played Kate Lethbridge Stewart, Osgood, and Mel Bush respectively—are returning to their roles for a new Doctor Who audio series. The story will center on Earth’s defenses against alien invasions.

This installment will bring back familiar faces including Sarah Jane Smith, played by Sadie Miller, Harry Sullivan, portrayed by Christopher Naylor, and The Vlinx, voiced by Nicholas Briggs. It will also introduce Colonel Mace, as played by Rupert Holliday-Evans, who originally appeared in the 2008 Doctor Who episodes ‘The Sontaran Stratagem’ and ‘The Poison Sky’, marking his first appearance in a Big Finish production.

Producer Heather Challands explained that UNIT has been a consistently strong and interesting element of Doctor Who, constantly developing over time. She particularly enjoys how it highlights the best and worst of humanity, featuring memorable characters like the Brigadier, Osgood, Harry Sullivan, and Kate Stewart.

I’m really excited to explore stories that happen when the Doctor and the TARDIS aren’t involved, focusing on how the Doctor’s companions cope with incredibly difficult situations. This new series is a collection of standalone stories, spanning from the 1970s to the 2020s, which will showcase how much UNIT has evolved over the years.

Hostile Universe offers an exciting Dalek encounter in ‘The Stolen Earth,’ explores the chilly reception of the Vlinx, highlights the sacrifices made by UNIT soldiers, and reveals what Kate Stewart was up to after the destruction of her home!

As a huge Doctor Who fan, I’m really excited about this new box set! It’s going to be a great way to pass the time until the Christmas special finally arrives in 2026. It includes four full-length adventures: ‘Rise of the Valiant’ written by Andrew Smith, ‘The Indigo Child’ by Ken Bentley, ‘The Life and Death of Private Eddie Wise’ from Hannah Kennedy, and ‘Deadstar’ which is a collaboration between Joshua Pruett and Jonathan S Powell. I can’t wait to dive in!

Okay, fellow Whovians, listen up! I just saw that The Worlds of Doctor Who – UNIT Eras: Hostile Universe is up for pre-order as a digital download over at bigfinish.com. It’ll set you back £24.99, but honestly, anything UNIT-related is worth it, right? I’m already planning my listen!

Authors

Louise Griffin

Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before joining TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2025-12-22 19:43