Where recent instalments of Red Moon have been reflective, Phase 5: Transit is a return to the action the series began with. Eddie Sloper (Philip Bulcock) catches up with contact Murray (Greg Page) and learns a lot but not enough so as to spoil the rest of the story! We get some deep background on the space race and a history lesson back to Nazi Germany. It’s clever writing – a twentieth-century alternate history story not pivoting on World War II, instead of using it as a common touchpoint to the listener.

There’s plenty more action, a dash across country for Eddie and Dr Susan Madison (Yasmine Holness-Dove) and even the beginnings of a romance, all of which fleshes out Eddie’s character, before we hit a UK space control centre, and we’re back into pure inventiveness, with Women’s Peace Camps protesting on behalf of WAM – Women Against Militarisation of space, and the CLD (Campaign for Lunar Disarmament). It’s great stuff, and as Eddie seeks help to infiltrate the base, the dialogue flows well and the episode is over too soon.

In the background of various CIA agents and US military types are hunting Eddie and Susan, stakes are raised but it may all be too late for the moon. Will our heroes work out just what precisely is happening and save the day/ world/humanity? It’s far from clear, but fingers are crossed.

As we’d hoped, the intrigue and action are raised, the alternate history of Red Moon is explored further, and the pairing of Eddie and Susan feels more balanced than in recent episodes. Tension is building nicely; Robert Valentine is careful to reveal enough to interest the listener but not too much. All in all a great listen.

RED MOON, PHASE 5: TRANSIT / AUTHOR: ROBERT VALENTINE / PUBLISHER: WIRELESS THEATRE COMPANY / STARRING: PHILIP, BULCOCK, YASMINE HOLNESS-DOVE, GREG PAGE, GEORGINA PERIAM / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW