The Doctor’s first ever companion, his granddaughter Susan Foreman, takes on a new, heroic role in her very own series from Big Finish Productions, in association with BBC Studios.

Carole Ann Ford reprises the role she first created for television way back in 1963 in Susan's War, a four-part full-cast audio drama due for release in April 2020.

Gallifrey needs every Time Lord to fight the Time War. A summons has been issued across the universe to its prodigals. Whatever their skills, the war effort can use them.

Susan’s call-up papers have arrived, and, unlike her grandfather, she is willing to join her people’s battle and finally return home.

Because Susan knows the Daleks, and she will do her duty...

Susan's War is now available to pre-order as a collector’s edition box set (priced at £24.99), or on download (at £19.99)

Also joining Susan in this conflict are her old friend, Ian Chesterton (played once again by original series actor William Russell) and the Doctor himself... but probably not the one she was expecting.

Actor Carole Ann Ford said: “It's a very complex, interesting and fascinating piece of work which goes backwards and forwards in time in a way we've never actually done before in Doctor Who. We're finding all sorts of extraordinary ways to chase after time machines, and the different phases in Time Lords' lives are being investigated.

“Also, it's Susan when she's pushed on a few years. She has different attitudes to things and expects different behaviour from people that she's with. So this is marvellous. She's a much stronger person, and I really like that. ”

Producer David Richardson added: “The Time War is a mighty battle on many fronts, and we are telling that huge story on many fronts too. This is Susan’s story - drafted into the war, an agent of the Time Lords and reunited with her past, firstly with Ian Chesterton, and then later with her grandfather in his Eighth incarnation.

“How lucky was I to spend recording days with legends like Carole Ann Ford, William Russell and Paul McGann, such key figures from the classic series thrown into this compelling era of new series Doctor Who? And with them are Veklin (Beth Chalmers) and Rasmus (Damian Lynch) - two characters whose story arcs spread through a myriad of releases, and help tie together our intricate Time War range.”

Susan's War will contain four electrifying stories:

Sphere of Influence by Eddie Robson

The Uncertain Shore by Simon Guerrier

Assets of War by Lou Morgan

The Shoreditch Intervention by Alan Barnes

More story details will be revealed nearer the release date.

The four-disc box set of Susan's War is now available to pre-order in collector’s edition CD format (priced at £24.99), or on download (at £19.99).