The unsung hero of Torchwood for many fans is the reliable Sergeant (nee PC) Andy Davidson. Apart from being a great source of comic relief, Andy was an endearing everyman who acted as the show’s anchor to the regular world. It was a crime that he never actually got to join the Torchwood team or even had an episode centred on him. Now, though, those clever folks at Big Finish has righted this wrong and have made Andy the star of the latest instalment of their second series of Torchwood audio dramas.
In Ghost Mission, Andy is being assessed for a position at Torchwood, after Gwen has apparently finally put his name forward. To prove himself, he has to solve the mystery of what connects the alien goo, the marauding monsters and the singing ghosts that have all appeared in Cardiff. To make matters worse, his assessor is an arch, unhelpful ghost from the 1950s.
As that synopsis might suggest, this is an imaginative, off-the-wall story that recalls the style of episode from the show’s first two series. James Goss is always a reliable writer and he definitely delivers the goods here – it’s on the lighter side of things, sure, but it also has a lot of thrills and some poignancy too. The packed narrative never lets up and the heart of the episode comes out when Andy muses on why he actually wants to join Torchwood. It turns out to be a very relatable reason for anyone who has ever wondered if they could be doing something more with their life.
Thankfully the writing is brilliantly brought to life by Tom Price and Samuel Barnett, who have a sparkling dynamic in what is largely an hour-long duologue. Barnett’s Norton Folgate is a frequently hilarious, high-camp creation – he’s full of lines like “well, bend me over like its VE Day.” Pairing him up with Andy, who already brings the humour on his own, makes for a lot of fun. Hopefully, Folgate will return in the future. How about a Randall and Hopkirk type spin-off with him and Andy?
If you’re the sort of person who loves Torchwood for its humour, character interplay, and pure unadulterated Welshness, then this is the audio for you. Ultimately, Ghost Mission has a pleasing message at its core; you don’t need to be a Torchwood operative to save the day. Sometimes, ordinary folks like Andy can be heroes too.
TORCHWOOD: GHOST MISSION / AUTHOR: JAMES GOSS / DIRECTOR: SCOTT HANDCOCK / PUBLISHER: BIG FINISH / STARRING: TOM PRICE, SAMUEL BARNETT, DAVID WARNER, LISA BOWERMAN / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW (BIG FINISH SITE)
/ JULY 31ST
