Following the recent announcement of a fifth - and final - series of The Confessions of Dorian Gray starring Alexander Vlahos, Big Finish Productions is pleased to reveal casting details for its second instalment, Angel of War.

Written by Roy Gill, Angel of War explores many elements from his earliest contribution to the series - The Confessions of Dorian Gray: The Prime of Deacon Brodie - once again finding Dorian in the trenches of the First World War, and reuniting him with his commanding officer: Captain James Anderson, as played by Coronation Street’s Daniel Brocklebank.

'Dan is one of the loveliest people you could ever hope to have in a studio,' says series creator and director, Scott Handcock. 'We’ve worked together so many times now - he’s such an incredible vocal artist, bringing bags of energy to any production - it was really lovely to return to the character that first brought the pair of us together. He and Alex have also been working together on other projects, so it was great to work in a studio with two actors who already absolutely trust each other and can go the extra mile with their performances.'

Joining Alexander and Daniel for this new story are Samuel Barnett (Penny Dreadful, Twenty Twelve, Doctor Who: Nightshade) as Private Stuart Knight, and Steven Cree (Outlander, Lip Service, Torchwood: Uncanny Valley) as Sergeant Fraser Collins.

'The story itself is unlike any other we’ve told before,” explains Scott. “There’s an intensity that comes with the Great War setting. You’ve a responsibility to reflect the sheer horror of what went on there, and the impact it had on the men who found themselves fighting in the trenches. It’s the kind of story Roy excels at: claustrophobic, introspective, exploring the concepts of faith and hope at a time when both seem lost…'

The Confessions of Dorian Gray: Series Five can be pre-ordered today for just £20 on CD or £18 to download. UK customers can enjoy free postage when they pre-order. And remember, when you choose to buy this release on CD directly from Big Finish, you will also unlock instant access to a digital copy for download upon release.

Casting and story details for the remaining two stories will follow soon…

You can also enjoy the previous four series of The Confessions of Dorian Gray, as well as a number of specials, on the range page here. And for a free preview of the series, you can hear download The Confessions of Dorian Gray: The Enigma of Dorian Gray on the product page here.