‘GENESIS OF THE CYBERMEN’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

Rise of the Cybermen on Mondas with the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Adric

Tim Bradley’s ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ CD cover signed by Peter Davison and Sarah Sutton

Sarah Sutton, Tim Bradley and Peter Davison at ‘Capitol Cutaway’ at the POSK in London, April 2025

Sarah Sutton and Tim Bradley at ‘Capitol Cutaway’ at the POSK in London, April 2025

It’s time to check out ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’…Wait! Have we done this story already?

Yeah, this story came as a bit of a surprise to me. This happens to be a ‘Doctor Who’ story that depicts the origins of the Cybermen on their home planet Mondas and it features the Fifth Doctor. Except, we’ve done this already in the Big Finish audio story ‘Spare Parts’.

Apparently, this is one of ‘The Lost Stories’ audios produced by Big Finish, as ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ is based on a storyline submitted by Gerry Davis, co-creator of the Cybermen, to the ‘Doctor Who’ production office in 1981. A fascinating revelation that. 🙂

It turned out producer John Nathan-Turner wasn’t interested in the story as well as then script editor Antony Root, I believe. It’s a shame that didn’t happen. Maybe JNT was anxious about copying ‘Genesis of the Daleks’ by doing an origins story for the Cybermen.

Regardless, it never happened and we got ‘Earthshock’ in Season 19 of ‘Doctor Who’ instead. I think I might have been aware of ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ by Gerry Davis as a potential ‘Doctor Who’ story from reading the production notes of ‘Spare Parts’ years ago.

I didn’t think Big Finish would do another audio story depicting the Cybermen’s origins on Mondas based on a TV storyline submitted by Gerry Davis, since ‘Spare Parts’ was enough to be considered worthy as a Cybermen’s origins story on Mondas. It felt rather pointless.

However, I was willing to be open-minded to find out what ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ would be like as an alternative version of the Cybermen’s origins story as well as an alternative for what could’ve been the first Cybermen TV story in the Fifth Doctor’s era. 🙂

According to David K. Barnes, the author who adapted Gerry Davis’ storyline into audio, he indicated that he viewed ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ as a story being ‘outside continuity’. Therefore, it’s not intended to fit in with ‘Earthshock’ nor ‘Spare Parts’ at all. 😐

That’s why I’ve not included it as part of the main continuity for ‘Doctor Who’ timelines such as the Fifth Doctor’s, Nyssa’s, Tegan’s, Adric’s and the Cybermen’s. It’s a story that’s meant to sort of exist in a continuity where ‘Earthshock’ and ‘Spare Parts’ didn’t happen.

I know that makes it sound like I’m disregarding ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ and that’s not it at all. It’s just, at present, I’m not sure whether to consider ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ as part of the main continuity or not. Maybe some would argue that this story is a part of it.

After all, we’ve had a Big Finish audio story where Leela met the Sontarans for the first time in ‘The King of Sontar’, even though she questioned who the Sontarans were in ‘The Invasion of Time’. Maybe we could suspend our disbelief on how ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ fits in.

Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor in ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’.

But then, Big Finish have done alternative versions of ‘The Ark In Space’ and ‘Genesis of the Daleks’ where they adapted original TV storylines into audio and they became ‘The Ark’ and ‘Daleks! Genesis of Terror’. I’ve yet to listen to those alternative Big Finish audio stories.

Anyway, that shouldn’t really the point of when it comes to listening to ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’. The point is, was ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ worthwhile to listen to as a ‘Doctor Who’ audio story? Was it engaging enough, especially as a Cybermen origin story?

Yes, it was! For me, at least. I greatly enjoyed ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ as an audio story. It was great to hear the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Adric visiting Mondas and witnessing the creation of the Cybermen. I found the adventure engaging and worthwhile.

I still consider ‘Spare Parts’ as the definitive origins story for the Cybermen on Mondas, despite it not being by Marc Platt, not Gerry Davis. But ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ was fascinating to uncover. I enjoyed the semi-medieval aspect to this audio story when I listened to.

Apparently, ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ was going to feature the Fifth Doctor and a companion called ‘Felicity’ in Gerry Davis’ original TV storyline. This must have been when the confusion of how many companions were to be with the Fifth Doctor was in the air. 😐

I’m glad David K. Barnes changed things concerning the story by having Nyssa, Tegan and Adric accompanying the Fifth Doctor on this adventure. Despite the continuity issues, I like how Nyssa, Tegan and Adric are utilised in this story, since they get to have their moments.

It shouldn’t have been a surprise that ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ impressed me, since I’ve come across David K. Barnes as a ‘Doctor Who’ writer before. He wrote ‘The Dalek Occupation of Winter’ and ‘Daughter of the Gods’. Both are impressive stories to check out.

He also wrote ‘Fond Farewell’ in the ‘Old Friends’ audio anthology with the Ninth Doctor. It was refreshing to hear ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ as a ‘Doctor Who’ audio story. I never found a boring moment when checking out every instalment of the four-part audio story.

In ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’, we start with this monarchy that rules Mondas, including two brothers – Nuhazet Diaz Cano as Prince Sylvan and Michael Abubakar as Prince Dega. Sylvan is interested in the theatre and he isn’t really keen to take up the throne of Mondas.

He’s joined by his partner, Evie Ward-Drummond as Meta, as they’re to perform in a play. The TARDIS arrives on stage after intercepting the planet Mondas when our heroes were originally aiming for Earth. Mondas is similar to Earth, as established in ‘The Tenth Planet’.

The Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Adric are welcomed by Prince Sylvan and are given the hospitality to explore the planet. Once the Doctor discovers that he and his friends are on Mondas, he’s anxious and determined they should leave the planet as swiftly as possible.

Unfortunately, Sylvan forces his way into the TARDIS. He joins the Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Adric when he presses a button and causes the TARDIS to propel forward into the future. Once they step outside, everything has changed for Sylvan in more ways than one.

Not only has Meta has become Queen (and is now played by Kelly Price). Not only has she married his brother Dega who has become King (now played by Colin Tierney). But there happens to be Mondasian Cybermen that are walking about on the planet Mondas.

The story’s cast have been excellent throughout. I’ve had my CD cover of ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ signed by Peter Davison and Sarah Sutton when I met them at ‘Capitol Cutaway’ in Hammersmith, London in April 2025. I’m very happy I’ve had it signed by them.

The cast and crew of ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’. From left to right: Peter Davison, Matthew Waterhouse, Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding, Evie Ward-Drummond, writer David K. Barnes, Nuhazet Diaz Cano, Kelly Price, Michael Abubakar and Colin Tierney.

Peter Davison excels in the role of the Fifth Doctor in this audio story. I like how David K. Barnes writes for him in being a Doctor who can be quite easily exasperated and frustrated when things start turning out for the worst, especially with the Cybermen involved.

The Doctor interacts quite a lot with Prince Sylvan when he scolds him for pressing the button in the TARDIS so that he can see the future. He also persuades Sylvan to be the leader the people of Mondas need him to be whilst his brother Dega is doing horrid things.

Sarah Sutton is equally excellent as Nyssa in this ‘Doctor Who’ story. I’m pleased David K Barnes gave Nyssa a character journey throughout ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’, especially with the possibility she might have inadvertently caused the creation of the Cybermen. 😐

This is when Nyssa advises Dega in ‘Part One’ to improve his bioelectronics technique to save his people by suggesting cybernetics to him, only to witness the horror of what he’s done in the future as the King by creating the Cybermen. She’s easily angry and upset by that.

Janet Fielding is equally good as Tegan. She has her scenes with Nyssa when they discover a Cyberman-like patient seemingly in pain, which put me in mind of the Sally Phelan scene from ‘The Age of Steel’. She also has scenes with Queen Meta in the story. 😐

I like how Tegan gets frustrated and finds Meta pathetic when she’s expressing her own sense of importance while married to Dega and is wanting Sylvan to overthrow him. Tegan is the one who convinces Meta to stop ‘wallowing’ and to help her escape and defeat Dega.

Matthew Waterhouse is very good as Adric in this audio story. I like that Adric hid in the TARDIS whilst the Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Sylvan were taken away by the Cybermen at the beginning of ‘Part Two’. It reminded me of Adric hiding in the TARDIS in ‘Warriors’ Gate’.

Adric meets up with people like Raith and Shan and he leads a protest against the rulers of Mondas, which works in the Doctor’s favour when he was about to be converted at the end of ‘Part Two’. I also liked it when Adric met up with Nyssa in ‘Part Three’ of the story. 🙂

Apparently, Colin Tierney, who plays King Dega in the story, is married to Indira Varma, who plays Suzie Costello in ‘Torchwood’ on TV and audio as well as the Duchess of Pemberton in the episode ‘Rogue’. I’m surprised that Indira isn’t in this audio story either. 😀

Dega’s character is fascinating in this audio story. He doesn’t start off being a villain when he’s a young man trying to save his father in ‘Part One’. But his actions for the rest of the story are disturbing when he tries to save his people, especially when he becomes a Cyberman. 😐

Incidentally, whilst I appreciate casting different actors to play the younger and older versions of Dega and Meta in the story, I’m not sure why the characters weren’t played by the same actor. Colin Tierney and Kelly Price could’ve played both young and old parts. 😐

Kelly Price’s portrayal of Queen Meta is intriguing, as she tries to hide her deception whilst siding with her husband Dega before her act of treason is discovered in ‘Part Three’. She’s not nice when trying to persuade Sylvan to kill her brother by Cyber-converting the Doctor.

Apparently, Kelly Price has been in the first Series 7 episode of ‘Grantchester’. Interesting to find that out. Nuhazet Diaz Cano’s performance as Prince Sylvan is enjoyable to listen to, especially when he starts as a naïve, boyish-like royal who’s not that keen to become king.

When he learns the TARDIS can travel in time, he forces his way in when with Nyssa with the hope of seeing the future. It backfires when he misses being king and sees what his brother Dega has done involving the Cybermen, and he has to find a way to make things right.

Michael Abubakar and Evie Ward-Drummond in ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’.

As well as playing young Dega in the story, Michael Abubakar plays Raith, one of the Mondasian dwellers that joins in the opposition against King Dega’s rule. It’s unfortunate Raith gets taken and ends up as a Cyberman when the TARDIS team confront him in ‘Part Four’.

As well as young Meta in the story, Evie Ward-Drummond plays Shan, another Mondasian dweller joining in the opposition against King Dega’s rule. Initially, Adric met her as a fruit seller who wasn’t interested to help him. But she does save Adric and Raith from a Cyberman.

Nicholas Briggs voices the Cybermen in this audio adventure, including one named Krail, who I believe was in ‘The Tenth Planet’, originally. It was great to hear Nick Briggs voice the Cybermen. It’s fascinating he provides varying layers to them when they have emotion. 🙂

Even though these are Mondasian Cybermen, they don’t exactly sound like they sounded in ‘The Tenth Planet’ and ‘Spare Parts’ with those funny electronic-sounding voices. They sound more like they did in ‘World Enough and Time’/’The Doctor Falls’. I’m fine with this.

Speaking of ‘World Enough and Time’/’The Doctor Falls’, the story has the Cybermen create a fleet of ships to evacuate their planet. If it weren’t for the continuity issues, I’d say this sets up well for what will happen in the TV stories that feature the Mondasian Cybermen.

The ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ story concludes with King Dega defeated and Queen Meta sacrificing herself to let Sylvan and the Mondasians escape in their fleet of ships. The Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Adric leave in the TARDIS and witness the ships leaving Mondas.

Nyssa, understandably upset by everything that’s happened, leaves the console room to be alone. The Doctor, Adric and Tegan discuss how Mondas will end up approaching Earth in the year 1986, which is to be expected, according to ‘The Tenth Planet’.

‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ has been an amazing ‘Doctor Who’ audio adventure to listen to. Whilst ‘Spare Parts’ is, for me, a superior origins story for the Cybermen on Mondas, especially since I grew up with that one first, ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ is worthwhile too.

Also, when comparing this story to ‘Earthshock’, I feel that ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ works better as a Cybermen story for the Fifth Doctor TARDIS team. This is especially when the Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Adric have more to do, as the story is character-driven.

Plus, Adric doesn’t die at the story’s end. 😀 I’m currently intrigued now about whether Big Finish can do an alternative audio story where the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Adric meet the Daleks for the first time in ‘Doctor Who’. It’s something I’d be quite interested in.

I don’t know if ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ connects at all to what happens in later stories like ‘Earthshock’ and ‘Spare Parts’, as it could easily end up existing in an alternative continuity. But I’m glad I heard this story, as it’s well-written and it features superb performances.

Incidentally, ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ was directed by David O’Mahony, who previously directed the audio adaptation of ‘Goth Opera’. I’m slightly annoyed in the behind-the-scenes interviews that he considers ‘Goth Opera’ a lost story, since that’s a novel adaptation.

It’s okay to call ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ a lost story, as that was originally a TV storyline submitted by Gerry Davies. ‘Goth Opera’ was never a TV storyline, as it was originally a ‘Missing Adventures’ book published in 1994. Sorry, I had to get that out of my system. 😀

At the end of Discs 1 and 2 of ‘Genesis of the Cybermen’, there are behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast and crew, including Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse, Colin Tierney, Nuhazet Diaz Cano and Kelly Price, writer David K. Barnes, director David O’Mahony, etc.

‘Genesis of the Cybermen’ rating – 9/10