Situation Vacant

The Doctor is seen to be holding auditions for a new companion. The characters Hugh Bainbridge, Asha Qureshi, Theo Lawson and Juliet Walsh seemingly vie for the position. Big Finish Productions withheld the identity of the companion in the rest of this series until after this story was released. The contenders are described by producer David Richardson in Doctor Who Magazine issue 421, as:

• Hugh Bainbridge – "[A]n amiable public school type who, though perhaps not the brightest tool in the box, is happy to rush where Time Lords fear to tread."
• Juliet Walsh – "[A] tough cookie. A driven and highly successful career woman, there's nothing she won't do to close the deal."
• Asha Qureshi – "[A] no-nonsense, capable young woman with a tendency towards precociousness and a surprising ability to cope with the unexpected."
• Theo Lawson – "King of the Geeks: an introverted and computer-savvy teenager who knows more about gigabytes than he does about girls."

The Meddling Monk is revealed to have placed the ad and arranged the dangerous scenarios in a later story, The Book of Kells.

• The Doctor – Paul McGann
• Hugh Bainbridge/Drusus – James Bachman
• Asha Qureshi/Lantis – Shelley Conn
• Theo Lawson – Joe Thomas
• Juliet Walsh/Tamsin Drew – Niky Wardley
• Wanda Rothman – Sabina Franklyn
• Leonard Pallister – Tony Millan
• Rachel – Joanna Kanska
• Rafshaw – Barnaby Edwards

Matt Michael, writing for Doctor Who Magazine, felt that the emulation of television openers such as "Partners in Crime" was not entirely successful, and faulted the lack of development of the new companion.[1] Richard McGinlay praised it strongly, giving it a rating of 10/10, and feeling that the satire of The Apprentice was successful.[2]

Situation Vacant was broadcast on digital radio station BBC Radio 4 Extra on 8 Jan 2013 as a single hour-long episode.[3][4]

• Situation Vacant