The Early Adventures 3.3 : The Ravelli Conspiracy

In 2014, Big Finish started a new range of Doctor Who stories, bringing back original cast members from the 1960s eras in order to tell new stories: they're audio tales in black and white!

When the TARDIS lands in a house in Florence, Italy in 1514, it isn't long before the guards of Guiliano de Medici arrest Steven and Vicki.

To rescue them, the Doctor has to employ the help of the house's owner - one Niccolo Machiavelli.

But can he be completely trusted? Guiliano confesses to his brother Pope Leo X that he has angered the wealthy family of Ravelli and believes the newcomers may be part of an assassination plot.

But when the Doctor arrives an already tricky situation starts to spiral out of control. As the city rings with plot and counter-plot, betrayal and lies abound.

The Doctor and his friends must use all their ingenuity if they're not to be swept away by history. This conspiracy is about to get complicated. This range of era-authentic new stories has been hugely popular with fans, with a further two series already commissioned!Peter Purves is known to generations as one of the all-time great Blue Peter presenters, but this came after an acting career which he's returning to here to play both the Doctor and 1960s companion Steven Taylor.

Maureen O'Brien - 1960s Doctor Who companion Vicki - is also a novelist whose works include Mask of Betrayal (1998), Every Step You Take (2004) and Deadly Reflection (2007).

Guest star Olivia Poulet is well known for her role as Emma Messinger in The Thick of It.

She's also recently played Emma Peel in Big Finish's revival of The Avengers - Steed & Mrs Peel.

CAST: Maureen O'Brien (Vicki), Peter Purves (Steven Taylor/The Doctor/Narrator), Mark Frost (Niccolo Machiavelli), Jamie Ballard (Guiliano de Medici), Robert Hands (Pope Leo X), Olivia Poulet (Carla), Joe Bor (Guard Captain).