The endless war across the cosmos continues in a brand-new audio miniseries from The Worlds of Doctor Who, beginning April 2026 – but could there finally be peace?
There are many stories of the Sontaran-Rutan war. But one hidden thread has yet to be revealed. A tale told across millennia. From before the war to its possible end. As the Doctor is about to discover…
The belligerent clone race the Sontarans and the slippery shape-shifting Rutans have waged war all across time and space for longer than even the Doctor can remember. A new four-part full-cast audio series, Rutans vs Sontarans, will take us back to the beginning of the war, and ahead to a point where it might finally end.
Following on from the popular 2024 miniseries Sontarans vs Rutans, this brand-new arc of adventures will feature Doctors and companions from across the history of Doctor Who, uncovering a new insight into the Sontaran-Rutan war, which has intrigued fans since it was first mentioned in 1973 TV serial The Time Warrior.
The set begins with the Fugitive Doctor (Jo Martin) encountering the Sontarans very early in their history, followed by a story featuring the Second Doctor (Michael Troughton), Jamie (Frazer Hines) and Zoe (Wendy Padbury).
Then it’s the turn of the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri (Nicola Bryant), before the climactic episode brings back the fan-favourite team of the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann), Charley Pollard (India Fisher), and C’Rizz (Conrad Westmaas).
The complete Doctor Who – Rutans vs Sontarans series bundle is now available to pre-order for just £32 (as digital downloads to own) or £52 (downloads + collector’s edition CDs), exclusively from www.bigfinish.com. Collector’s edition CDs are strictly limited to 1,500 copies each and will not be re-pressed.
The four episodes are:
“Betrayal at the House of Sontar” by John Dorney, due for release April 2026
On the run from the mysterious organisation called Division, the Doctor has come to the planet Sontar – home of the Kaveetch Empire and their armed forces, the Sontarans. She wants sanctuary… and she’s offering the secrets of the Time Lords in exchange.
But with the whole of time and space up for grabs, the stakes are high. Can everyone on Sontar be trusted?
“Rendition” by Tim Foley, due for release May 2026
At the edge of the Sontaran-Rutan War, a large medical ship lingers in space. The Doctor and his friends find a group of strange survivors aboard planning something unusual to save their commander.
What new powers do the Rutans possess? What secrets does the Lockhart hold? As the conflict creeps closer, the Doctor must work out how to rescue those no longer versed in war…
“Grave Moon” by Lizzie Hopley, die for release June 2026
The Doctor and Peri track a criminal imposter to a moon sanctuary of healing ponds, only to discover the lone Rutan the Doctor has previously met trapped in a self-made web of lies.
Experiments to rejoin the Host have forged a bond with grieving pond farmer, Ooland. As their mutual obsession tightens, so Ooland’s ponds grow more polluted and their farm cut off from what is really happening on the moon: a full-on Rutan invasion.
As the Doctor and Peri strive to free Melmoth and Ooland from each other, another Doctor is at work close by – with far-reaching plans of his own for the lone Rutan.
“Peace at Last” by Tim Foley, due for release July 2026
On the precipice of peace it stands…
After the destruction of a major stronghold, the Sontarans propose something extraordinary. More extraordinary still, the Rutans say yes. The Doctor, Charley and C’Rizz are on hand to watch history being made.
Yet history has other ideas. A plan that has taken centuries is about to come to fruition. The Melmoth is returning.
Rutans vs Sontarans will begin with an episode released on 2nd April, which would have been the 100th birthday of legendary Doctor Who writer Robert Holmes, creator of the Sontarans. The following three episodes will be released monthly.
Producer David Richardson said: “Sontarans vs Rutans was very well received, and when a second run was commissioned, I knew we had to do something different. A new over-arching story, told largely from the perspective of the Rutans – although the Sontarans are still very significant in these episodes too…
“Also, we have a different combination of lead cast members, and even some multi-Doctor action in a tale that spans many millennia. It’s exciting, it’s surprising, and it might just break your heart too.”