The Ravencliff Witch

Fourth Doctor Adventures #11.3

Released: 16 March 2022

Listened: 3/24/22

In contrast to the previous story, this one is a very Hinchcliffe-style “gothic horror” story, with supernatural elements that turn out to not be so supernatural after all. Writer David Llewellyn captures the tone of the era quite nicely. It’s not specifically stated that it takes place in the 1970s, but it certainly has that feel. You’ve got your usual power plant run by idiots, messing with things they don’t understand, and locals who don’t want the power plant there. British national treasure (and star of “Kinda” way back when) Nerys Hughes plays temporary companion (or more, but that will come later) Margaret Hopwood, a driftwood sculptor. Lucy Pickles plays the other, a local woman who works at the power plant. The Doctor indulges in quite a bit of technobabble, but the main problem is caused by another time-traveling species, so technobabble is to be expected. It’s a tight story, with good tension, and it holds together quite well.