With this, I thought I'd offer some thoughts on an issue that a lot of people bring up. Where do you start with Big Finish? It's an important question, as so many people want to start a Big Finish collection, but then find that there are so many releases, and it's almost impossible to choose. So, if you're new to Big Finish, I'd recommend using this as a guide for entry points, and then going on from there to finding other releases to listen to.
Technophobia - Starring David Tennant & Catherine Tate
If you didn't expect this one to be on the list, then I'd ask what was wrong with you. While not being a personal fan of the David Tennant era, I can't deny that, for a lot of people, he is the most popular of all the 21st Century Doctors, and was responsible for the show being given pretty much carte-blanche by the BBC. And while Technophobia isn't what I'd call amazing, it features a clever little premise, compactly told with some strong performances from the leads and the guest cast (including Rachel Stirling from 2013's The Crimson Horror). It's not an amazing release personally speaking, but I'm well deep into Big Finish at this point, and I know what the company can do. If you're just getting started with Big Finish, you'll probably enjoy it a lot more than I will, particularly if you love the 2008 season.
The Light At The End - Starring Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Louise Jameson, Sarah Sutton, Nicola Bryant, Sophie Aldred, India Fisher & pretty much everyone who appeared in the classic series!
Another obvious pick, especially considering this is the story with which Big Finish celebrated the fifty anniversary in 2013. The Light At The End has a mammoth cast, but all of them get something to do, even the first three Doctors who are sadly no longer with us. It's full of in-jokes for classic Who fans, and you'll enjoy hearing different Doctors teaming up to defeat the Master (played by Geoffrey Beevers, who played the Master in 1981's The Keeper Of Traken). However, don't be put off if you've never seen any classic Who before, because this is a perfect opportunity to get a flavour of all of the different classic Doctors. Really like the Eighth Doctor? There's the Eighth Doctor Adventures and Dark Eyes? Think Four is really funny? Loads more from the Fourth Doctor Adventures to try. Are the 80's Doctors your favourites? Then there the main monthly range. Light At The End is such an important purchase for any wannabe Big Finish fan, whether it be to listen to all the classic Doctors come together in a way The Day Of The Doctor didn't quite manage, or to get a flavour of all the different classic Doctors in this movie-sized epic.
Blood Of The Daleks - Starring Paul McGann & Sheridan Smith
If I was being totally honest, I'd say that Blood Of The Daleks is the best entry point for any new-Who fan looking to get started with Big Finish. In the new-Who fifty minute format, this is the first story to feature Lucie Miller, and it's tailored-made for people who've never seen any of the classic series. There's no past references, no massive amounts of continuity, just a well told and engaging story, as the Doctor and Lucie Miller begin to forge a relationship. Of course, Lucie is played by national treasure Sheridan Smith, and she instantly has a connection with Paul McGann. In many ways, Lucie is like a northern Donna, but twice as sarcastic and witty, and her relationship with McGann is amazing. They are my favourite all time TARDIS team, and you are really doing yourself a disservice if you don't go and listen to the four series of adventures they did together.
Storm Warning - Starring Paul McGann & India Fisher
I promise I'll stop plugging Paul McGann after this! If you prefer your stories with more of a classic Who bent, then Storm Warning is perfect. The very first story to feature McGann was always going to be a very difficult task, but writer Alan Barnes creates a stylish historical romp that is quite simply a joy to listen to. It captures the breathless sprit of adventure that the eighth Doctor was famous for perfectly, and gives him a fantastic companion in the form of Edwardian adventuress Charlotte Pollard. Charley would go on to be the eighth Doctor's longest-serving companion, as well as travelling with the sixth Doctor, and later fronting her own spin-off series. She's a fantastic creation, always up for adventure, and filled with the same sense of excitement and wonder as the Doctor himself. This is an essential release for Big Finish, as it took them from simply recreating the Doctor's past into building his future. While the eighth Doctor main range releases are variable in quality, Storm Warning is a great start for a series that includes some great stories like The Chimes Of Midnight, The Natural History Of Fear and The Girl Who Never Was.
The War Doctor: Only The Monstrous - Starring John Hurt
If you, like me, loved the late John Hurt's appearance in The Day Of The Doctor, and wanted to hear more from the Doctor who rejected the title, and fought in the Time War, then this is perfect. Written by Dalek voice master Nicholas Briggs, and starring Jacqueline Pearce (from 1985's The Two Doctors) as the scheming Time Lady Ollistra, Only The Monstrous is a fantastic look at exactly who the War Doctor is (something left rather vague in Day Of The Doctor), and is an excellently melancholic look at the effects of war upon everything around it. Of course, John Hurt is amazing throughout the set, with a captivating, magnetic performance as the world-weary Time Lord. It's amazing to think that Hurt even did Day Of The Doctor, let alone four Big Finish box sets as the Doctor, and they are certainly something to be treasured. Only The Monstrous is a fantastic listen, and highly recommended if you want some more from the 'man who broke the promise'.
Spare Parts - Starring Peter Davison & Sarah Sutton
The genesis of the Cybermen was something that had been discussed in fan circles for years, let no one had ever attempted to show the Cybermen's creation - until 2002, when Big Finish released Spare Parts, one of the company's most gripping, engaging and chilling plays to date. Marc Platt's fantastic script creates the world of Mondas effortlessly, putting the fifth Doctor and Nyssa on a world on the brink of extinction. And while you'd expect the story to be about the Cybermen, and little else, Platt actually spends time fleshing out the inhabitants of this world, letting us see their hopes, their fears and their prejudices, before pitting them all together in a desperate bid to avoid becoming the very horror that they thought was their salvation. Of course, this story features the very first Cybermen, and their sing-song voices are amazingly recreated with such preciseness by Nick Briggs. The rest of the cast, especially leads Peter Davison and Sarah Sutton, are amazing, and they really bring the world of Mondas to life. So special that it's only the third story to be given a vinyl release (alongside The Light At The End and the equally amazing Chimes Of Midnight), Spare Parts is an absolute classic in every sense, and it's deserving of it's very lofty reputation. Beat that Series 10!
The Marian Conspiracy - Starring Colin Baker & Maggie Stables
The sixth Doctor has had a very rough ride in fandom, with Colin Baker often appearing near the very bottom of people's favourite Doctor lists. So, when Big Finish decided to follow on from Colin's final full TV story, The Trial Of A Time Lord, the natural thing to do was to introduce a new companion. Enter Doctor Evelyn Smythe - a middle-aged history professor with a particular fondness for chocolate cake. Many might have thought that Big Finish had gone completely mad, but this atypical Doctor Who companion was just what the sixth Doctor needed: someone to puncture his pomposity, but also someone who he wasn't bickering with every five minutes. Colin and the late Maggie Stables are amazing together, with some beautiful chemistry that is perfectly evident in their first meeting. The Marian Conspiracy is also helped by a fantastic script that sees the TARDIS taken back to the reign of Queen Mary, and brings back the pure historical format, something not really seen since the early days of the Troughton run. The Marian Conspiracy is simply a joy to listen to, from start to finish, and is highly recommended for anyone who wants to give Colin Baker a try. You won't regret it, you really won't.
The Harvest - Starring Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred & Philip Olivier
The seventh Doctor at Big Finish had much more of a rockier road at Big Finish than the fifth or sixth Doctors. For many of his early releases, he was partnered with a succession of companions, jumping about his timeline on a limb. His post-Survival adventures up to this point had mostly been treading water, simply an excuse to get McCoy and Sophie Aldred back together. However, that all changed, when, in 2004, Big Finish released The Harvest. Partnering the seventh Doctor and Ace (one of the least ordinary and relatable TARDIS teams in the show's history) with a nurse from virtually contemporary Liverpool was an amazing move, and to get Philip Olivier (of Brookside fame) to play him was a masterstroke. Olivier plays Hex with totally realistically: he doesn't ever make him seem like a lead in a sci-fi show, but like an ordinary person caught up in the Doctor's adventures. It helps that The Harvest functions in the same way as 2005's Rose or 2017's The Pilot. It's a reintroduction of Doctor Who for people who've never heard of Doctor Who, with a very mature and sophisticated plot of dodgy goings on in a hospital in near-future London. It's a really strong story, which, coupled with the introduction of a new companion, makes for one of the most readily accessible stories of McCoy's often very arc-ladened adventures. And this also features a killer episode 2 cliffhanger that, if you go into this story blind, with come like a bolt out of the blue...
We Are The Daleks - Starring Sylvester McCoy & Bonnie Langford
If you're looking for something a bit more near to the newer end of Big Finish's main range output (now numbering over 225 releases), then We Are The Daleks is perfect. After hitting 200 titles, Big Finish decided to consciously cut back on the arcs, and instead try to produce some good jumping on-points for new listeners. We Are The Daleks is a gripping listen, and sees the Doctor and Mel going up against the Daleks in 1980's London. It's full of great moments, with plenty of fun, light dialogue and a fantastic pace that never let's up. The script also features moments of biting satire about not just the 80's, but also today as well, but it never lets that get in the way of telling a good story. With a fantastically paced plot, some great performances from all involved and some amazing post-production and music work, We Are The Daleks is a perfect jumping on point for new listeners.
Destination: Nerva - Starring Tom Baker & Louise Jameson
Big Finish took an awfully long time to get Tom Baker on board. But when they did, they didn't waste any time, paring him up with Louise Jameson, Lalla Ward, the late Mary Tamm and John Leeson for a whole new range of adventures. While Destination: Nerva might not be the most original of the Fourth Doctor Adventures, it's strength lies in the fact that it is a pitch-perfect evocation of classic Doctor Who. Tom Baker and Louise Jameson are fantastic together, stepping back into their roles of the fourth Doctor and Leela as if they'd never been away. The whole thing is slapped with the feeling of Doctor Who in 1977, and is a loving recreation of the Tom Baker era, all the way down to the sound effects and music. Destination; Nerva is a great start for the fourth Doctor at Big Finish, and is a lovely kiss to the past.
The Romance Of Crime - Starring Tom Baker, Lalla Ward & John Leeson
Do you love Douglas Adams' Who work, or even just Douglas Adams generally? Well then, you'll love The Romance Of Crime. Adapted from Gareth Roberts' 1995 novel of the same name, The Romance Of Crime is part of Big Finish's Novel Adaptations range, where they take the Virgin New and Missing Adventure novels and turn them into audios. The Romance Of Crime is part of a loosely linked trilogy of stories for the fourth Doctor, Romana and K9, but none of that matters, because The Romance Of Crime is a stonking good romp. From it's outrageous plot, to it's utterly camp characters, to it's phenomenal performances from the leads and guests (including 2007's Daleks In Manhattan/Evolution Of The Daleks guest star Miranda Raison), The Romance Of Crime is a wittily written, engaging story that is bound to leave a massive grin on you're face. It's silly and camp, yes, but it's totally in keeping with that era of the show, and it never oversteps the mark.
Damaged Goods - Starring Sylvester McCoy, Yasmin Bannerman & Travis Oliver
In total contrast with Romance, Damaged Goods is modern, dark, gritty and utterly realistic. Russell T Davies' 1996 novel was crying out to be done, from the moment this range began, and it is quite simply one of the very best stories they have produced for the seventh Doctor. The utterly human characters, each of them with a very human tragedy underpinning them, weave into the story fantastically, despite the heavy sci-fi plot involving a piece of ancient Gallifreyan science. The seventh Doctor is superbly characterised here: the chess-master, totally in control... except when it comes to human emotions and feelings. Sylvester McCoy gives an amazing performance, with able support from Travis Oliver (Gridlock), Yasmin Bannerman (The End Of The World) and Michelle Collins (42). However, it's Denise Black who steals the show as the terrifying (and I mean terrifying) Eva Jericho, Doctor Who's most realistic, most morally complex, most human villain ever. She will, quite literally, give you nightmares. Damaged Goods is dripping with thematic meaning, and is honestly one of Big Finish's best releases because of it.
The First Sontarans - Starring Colin Baker & Nicola Bryant
I feel like I should mention the Lost Stories at this point. This range takes unproduced scripts and ideas from the original show, and brings them to life. While most of the range is rooted in the era that the scripts were intended for (which is the whole purpose of the range, of course), The First Sontarans is something a little different. Functioning as a genesis of the Sontarans story, but doing something totally left-field with the concept, The First Sontarans is a massive epic, that sees the Doctor and Peri pushed to the limit by enemies on all sides. Yet, it's ultimately a story about a broken relationship, and how two people are brought back together by adverse circumstances. Featuring amazing performances from Colin and Nicola Bryant, with Dan Starkey (the new series' go-to guy for Sontarans), The First Sontarans is the best of the Lost Stories, and it feels less like a cancelled good-for-nothing 80's script, and more like a modern-day classic.
Home Truths - Starring Jean Marsh
If intense character drama is your thing, then I'd highly recommend the Companion Chronicles. They are mostly one-hour, mostly narrated plays, that are recounted by a companion, usually with another guest actor present. They're a great vehicle for getting inside the character's head, and often exploring some of the thornier points of Doctor Who cannon. Home Truths is perhaps the ultimate expression of that: if you know Sara Kingdom's fate, you'll wonder how it could be possible for her to narrate an adventure after she's left the Doctor, but Home Truths has a very clever conceit that allows this to happen. It's also a proper horror story, through and through. It's doesn't go for intense gore or constant jump scares, however, and call itself a horror story, but rather uses stillness and silence to great effect. It's a proper puzzle box story, with a very engaging and clever mystery that's paid off in a fantastic manner, while leaving enough threads open for it's two sequels, The Drowned World and The Guardian Of The Solar System. Home Truths is clever, creepy and manages to take one of the most under-represented Doctor Who companions of all time, and do something that explores her massive backstory in a very sophisticated manner.
The Mahogany Murderers - Starring Christopher Benjamin & Trevor Baxter
This is here mostly because The Mahogany Murderers functions as a back-door pilot for Jago & Litefoot, and you really need the context of this release before you listen. However, I would like to point out that this is a great little adventure in it's own right, with some very funny banter between Litefoot and Jago, and even some meta-critique on the style of storytelling often employed by the Companion Chronicles narrators. Sure, the plot is slight, but this story is more about immersing the listener back into the dark, fog-bound world of Victorian London, and introducing the sinister Doctor Tulp, who would come back to plague Jago & Litefoot in their first official series. The Mahogany Murderers is important for the first series of Jago & Litefoot, but don't be fooled: it's also one of the strongest Companion Chronicles to date.
Peri And The Piscon Paradox - Starring Colin Baker & Nicola Bryant
If you listen to the first disc of Peri And The Piscon Paradox, you may wonder why it is even on this list, save for the humour value. Then, you get to the second disc, and the reason hits you like a ton of bricks. That's the real strength of Peri And The Piscon Paradox, and the best of the Companion Chronicles: the humour can be belly-ache inducing funny, while the sadness can be bawling-your-eyes-out upsetting. And Peri And The Piscon Paradox does that, with some very unpredictable twists that are played for both comedic and tragic effect (and in some cases, both), a fantastic central performance from Nicola Bryant and a heart-wrenching moment towards the end that, honestly, brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. Sure, I does need the context of The Trial Of A Time Lord, but that doesn't matter when the drama is this good. Peri And The Piscon Paradox is everything amazing about Doctor Who, and so, so much more.
Forever Fallen - Read by Nicholas Briggs
Another range I've spectacularly failed to mention is the Short Trips. These are, for the most part, half-hour download-only releases, that can fill a commute or while you do a short chore, and they're basically audio short stories. The range is full of notable titles, from Rise And Fall, to Foreshadowing, from A Full Life to Lepidoptery For Beginners. However, the one that I've picked to represent the range here is Forever Fallen. Now I've done this for two reasons: one, it's free to download off the Big Finish website, and two, it's one of the most affecting Doctor Who stories ever. Taking the simple idea of what if when the Doctor offers the villain a chance to stop his evil plan, the villain takes the trade?, Forever Fallen becomes a short, heart-warming tale about hope and redemption that really just displays the versatility of the Doctor Who format. This is a perfect half-hour slice of entertainment that you really have no excuse not to listen to.
The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure - Starring Colin Baker, Bonnie Langford, India Fisher, Lisa Greewood, Trevor Baxter, Christopher Benjamin & Miranda Raison, with Sylvester McCoy
Sure, this is one release where you may need a lot of context going in, but I'd feel like if I was doing Big Finish a massive disservice if I didn't include this one on the list. Having redeemed the sixth Doctor reputation in the eyes of the fans, I'm so glad Colin gave his blessing for Big Finish to do his last story, because Big Finish gave him the send-off he truly deserved, with the company's best box set to date. The four stories that build up to Colin's demise are excellent, with each one building up the stakes more and more, as the Valeyard, the distillation of all the Doctor's evil, encroaches ever closer on the Doctor. Each of his audio companions featured here (Constance, Charley and Flip) are given plenty to do, and while Mel is a little sidelined, that's only to give Colin the best departure possible. And what a final story! Seriously, this has set the bar so high for Peter's departure at the end of this year. And, of course, this set features Colin Baker, who has perhaps never been finer. Whether investigating mysteries involving a eerie train station, or facing down the Valeyard (once again played by Michael Jayston), he is on fire, giving possibly his best ever performance. And the end sent chills down my spine. If your a massive fan of the sixth Doctor, you owe it to yourself and 'Old Sixie' to get this release. It will not disappoint.
There are plenty of others, and I will continue to update this post as more are released. I hope this guide is useful, and may get more people buying and listening to Big Finish!
Technophobia - Starring David Tennant & Catherine Tate
If you didn't expect this one to be on the list, then I'd ask what was wrong with you. While not being a personal fan of the David Tennant era, I can't deny that, for a lot of people, he is the most popular of all the 21st Century Doctors, and was responsible for the show being given pretty much carte-blanche by the BBC. And while Technophobia isn't what I'd call amazing, it features a clever little premise, compactly told with some strong performances from the leads and the guest cast (including Rachel Stirling from 2013's The Crimson Horror). It's not an amazing release personally speaking, but I'm well deep into Big Finish at this point, and I know what the company can do. If you're just getting started with Big Finish, you'll probably enjoy it a lot more than I will, particularly if you love the 2008 season. 
The Light At The End - Starring Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Louise Jameson, Sarah Sutton, Nicola Bryant, Sophie Aldred, India Fisher & pretty much everyone who appeared in the classic series!Another obvious pick, especially considering this is the story with which Big Finish celebrated the fifty anniversary in 2013. The Light At The End has a mammoth cast, but all of them get something to do, even the first three Doctors who are sadly no longer with us. It's full of in-jokes for classic Who fans, and you'll enjoy hearing different Doctors teaming up to defeat the Master (played by Geoffrey Beevers, who played the Master in 1981's The Keeper Of Traken). However, don't be put off if you've never seen any classic Who before, because this is a perfect opportunity to get a flavour of all of the different classic Doctors. Really like the Eighth Doctor? There's the Eighth Doctor Adventures and Dark Eyes? Think Four is really funny? Loads more from the Fourth Doctor Adventures to try. Are the 80's Doctors your favourites? Then there the main monthly range. Light At The End is such an important purchase for any wannabe Big Finish fan, whether it be to listen to all the classic Doctors come together in a way The Day Of The Doctor didn't quite manage, or to get a flavour of all the different classic Doctors in this movie-sized epic.
Blood Of The Daleks - Starring Paul McGann & Sheridan Smith
If I was being totally honest, I'd say that Blood Of The Daleks is the best entry point for any new-Who fan looking to get started with Big Finish. In the new-Who fifty minute format, this is the first story to feature Lucie Miller, and it's tailored-made for people who've never seen any of the classic series. There's no past references, no massive amounts of continuity, just a well told and engaging story, as the Doctor and Lucie Miller begin to forge a relationship. Of course, Lucie is played by national treasure Sheridan Smith, and she instantly has a connection with Paul McGann. In many ways, Lucie is like a northern Donna, but twice as sarcastic and witty, and her relationship with McGann is amazing. They are my favourite all time TARDIS team, and you are really doing yourself a disservice if you don't go and listen to the four series of adventures they did together. 
Storm Warning - Starring Paul McGann & India FisherI promise I'll stop plugging Paul McGann after this! If you prefer your stories with more of a classic Who bent, then Storm Warning is perfect. The very first story to feature McGann was always going to be a very difficult task, but writer Alan Barnes creates a stylish historical romp that is quite simply a joy to listen to. It captures the breathless sprit of adventure that the eighth Doctor was famous for perfectly, and gives him a fantastic companion in the form of Edwardian adventuress Charlotte Pollard. Charley would go on to be the eighth Doctor's longest-serving companion, as well as travelling with the sixth Doctor, and later fronting her own spin-off series. She's a fantastic creation, always up for adventure, and filled with the same sense of excitement and wonder as the Doctor himself. This is an essential release for Big Finish, as it took them from simply recreating the Doctor's past into building his future. While the eighth Doctor main range releases are variable in quality, Storm Warning is a great start for a series that includes some great stories like The Chimes Of Midnight, The Natural History Of Fear and The Girl Who Never Was.
The War Doctor: Only The Monstrous - Starring John Hurt
If you, like me, loved the late John Hurt's appearance in The Day Of The Doctor, and wanted to hear more from the Doctor who rejected the title, and fought in the Time War, then this is perfect. Written by Dalek voice master Nicholas Briggs, and starring Jacqueline Pearce (from 1985's The Two Doctors) as the scheming Time Lady Ollistra, Only The Monstrous is a fantastic look at exactly who the War Doctor is (something left rather vague in Day Of The Doctor), and is an excellently melancholic look at the effects of war upon everything around it. Of course, John Hurt is amazing throughout the set, with a captivating, magnetic performance as the world-weary Time Lord. It's amazing to think that Hurt even did Day Of The Doctor, let alone four Big Finish box sets as the Doctor, and they are certainly something to be treasured. Only The Monstrous is a fantastic listen, and highly recommended if you want some more from the 'man who broke the promise'. 
Spare Parts - Starring Peter Davison & Sarah SuttonThe genesis of the Cybermen was something that had been discussed in fan circles for years, let no one had ever attempted to show the Cybermen's creation - until 2002, when Big Finish released Spare Parts, one of the company's most gripping, engaging and chilling plays to date. Marc Platt's fantastic script creates the world of Mondas effortlessly, putting the fifth Doctor and Nyssa on a world on the brink of extinction. And while you'd expect the story to be about the Cybermen, and little else, Platt actually spends time fleshing out the inhabitants of this world, letting us see their hopes, their fears and their prejudices, before pitting them all together in a desperate bid to avoid becoming the very horror that they thought was their salvation. Of course, this story features the very first Cybermen, and their sing-song voices are amazingly recreated with such preciseness by Nick Briggs. The rest of the cast, especially leads Peter Davison and Sarah Sutton, are amazing, and they really bring the world of Mondas to life. So special that it's only the third story to be given a vinyl release (alongside The Light At The End and the equally amazing Chimes Of Midnight), Spare Parts is an absolute classic in every sense, and it's deserving of it's very lofty reputation. Beat that Series 10!
The Marian Conspiracy - Starring Colin Baker & Maggie Stables
The sixth Doctor has had a very rough ride in fandom, with Colin Baker often appearing near the very bottom of people's favourite Doctor lists. So, when Big Finish decided to follow on from Colin's final full TV story, The Trial Of A Time Lord, the natural thing to do was to introduce a new companion. Enter Doctor Evelyn Smythe - a middle-aged history professor with a particular fondness for chocolate cake. Many might have thought that Big Finish had gone completely mad, but this atypical Doctor Who companion was just what the sixth Doctor needed: someone to puncture his pomposity, but also someone who he wasn't bickering with every five minutes. Colin and the late Maggie Stables are amazing together, with some beautiful chemistry that is perfectly evident in their first meeting. The Marian Conspiracy is also helped by a fantastic script that sees the TARDIS taken back to the reign of Queen Mary, and brings back the pure historical format, something not really seen since the early days of the Troughton run. The Marian Conspiracy is simply a joy to listen to, from start to finish, and is highly recommended for anyone who wants to give Colin Baker a try. You won't regret it, you really won't. 
The Harvest - Starring Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred & Philip OlivierThe seventh Doctor at Big Finish had much more of a rockier road at Big Finish than the fifth or sixth Doctors. For many of his early releases, he was partnered with a succession of companions, jumping about his timeline on a limb. His post-Survival adventures up to this point had mostly been treading water, simply an excuse to get McCoy and Sophie Aldred back together. However, that all changed, when, in 2004, Big Finish released The Harvest. Partnering the seventh Doctor and Ace (one of the least ordinary and relatable TARDIS teams in the show's history) with a nurse from virtually contemporary Liverpool was an amazing move, and to get Philip Olivier (of Brookside fame) to play him was a masterstroke. Olivier plays Hex with totally realistically: he doesn't ever make him seem like a lead in a sci-fi show, but like an ordinary person caught up in the Doctor's adventures. It helps that The Harvest functions in the same way as 2005's Rose or 2017's The Pilot. It's a reintroduction of Doctor Who for people who've never heard of Doctor Who, with a very mature and sophisticated plot of dodgy goings on in a hospital in near-future London. It's a really strong story, which, coupled with the introduction of a new companion, makes for one of the most readily accessible stories of McCoy's often very arc-ladened adventures. And this also features a killer episode 2 cliffhanger that, if you go into this story blind, with come like a bolt out of the blue...
We Are The Daleks - Starring Sylvester McCoy & Bonnie LangfordIf you're looking for something a bit more near to the newer end of Big Finish's main range output (now numbering over 225 releases), then We Are The Daleks is perfect. After hitting 200 titles, Big Finish decided to consciously cut back on the arcs, and instead try to produce some good jumping on-points for new listeners. We Are The Daleks is a gripping listen, and sees the Doctor and Mel going up against the Daleks in 1980's London. It's full of great moments, with plenty of fun, light dialogue and a fantastic pace that never let's up. The script also features moments of biting satire about not just the 80's, but also today as well, but it never lets that get in the way of telling a good story. With a fantastically paced plot, some great performances from all involved and some amazing post-production and music work, We Are The Daleks is a perfect jumping on point for new listeners.
Destination: Nerva - Starring Tom Baker & Louise Jameson Big Finish took an awfully long time to get Tom Baker on board. But when they did, they didn't waste any time, paring him up with Louise Jameson, Lalla Ward, the late Mary Tamm and John Leeson for a whole new range of adventures. While Destination: Nerva might not be the most original of the Fourth Doctor Adventures, it's strength lies in the fact that it is a pitch-perfect evocation of classic Doctor Who. Tom Baker and Louise Jameson are fantastic together, stepping back into their roles of the fourth Doctor and Leela as if they'd never been away. The whole thing is slapped with the feeling of Doctor Who in 1977, and is a loving recreation of the Tom Baker era, all the way down to the sound effects and music. Destination; Nerva is a great start for the fourth Doctor at Big Finish, and is a lovely kiss to the past.
The Romance Of Crime - Starring Tom Baker, Lalla Ward & John LeesonDo you love Douglas Adams' Who work, or even just Douglas Adams generally? Well then, you'll love The Romance Of Crime. Adapted from Gareth Roberts' 1995 novel of the same name, The Romance Of Crime is part of Big Finish's Novel Adaptations range, where they take the Virgin New and Missing Adventure novels and turn them into audios. The Romance Of Crime is part of a loosely linked trilogy of stories for the fourth Doctor, Romana and K9, but none of that matters, because The Romance Of Crime is a stonking good romp. From it's outrageous plot, to it's utterly camp characters, to it's phenomenal performances from the leads and guests (including 2007's Daleks In Manhattan/Evolution Of The Daleks guest star Miranda Raison), The Romance Of Crime is a wittily written, engaging story that is bound to leave a massive grin on you're face. It's silly and camp, yes, but it's totally in keeping with that era of the show, and it never oversteps the mark.
Damaged Goods - Starring Sylvester McCoy, Yasmin Bannerman & Travis OliverIn total contrast with Romance, Damaged Goods is modern, dark, gritty and utterly realistic. Russell T Davies' 1996 novel was crying out to be done, from the moment this range began, and it is quite simply one of the very best stories they have produced for the seventh Doctor. The utterly human characters, each of them with a very human tragedy underpinning them, weave into the story fantastically, despite the heavy sci-fi plot involving a piece of ancient Gallifreyan science. The seventh Doctor is superbly characterised here: the chess-master, totally in control... except when it comes to human emotions and feelings. Sylvester McCoy gives an amazing performance, with able support from Travis Oliver (Gridlock), Yasmin Bannerman (The End Of The World) and Michelle Collins (42). However, it's Denise Black who steals the show as the terrifying (and I mean terrifying) Eva Jericho, Doctor Who's most realistic, most morally complex, most human villain ever. She will, quite literally, give you nightmares. Damaged Goods is dripping with thematic meaning, and is honestly one of Big Finish's best releases because of it.
The First Sontarans - Starring Colin Baker & Nicola Bryant I feel like I should mention the Lost Stories at this point. This range takes unproduced scripts and ideas from the original show, and brings them to life. While most of the range is rooted in the era that the scripts were intended for (which is the whole purpose of the range, of course), The First Sontarans is something a little different. Functioning as a genesis of the Sontarans story, but doing something totally left-field with the concept, The First Sontarans is a massive epic, that sees the Doctor and Peri pushed to the limit by enemies on all sides. Yet, it's ultimately a story about a broken relationship, and how two people are brought back together by adverse circumstances. Featuring amazing performances from Colin and Nicola Bryant, with Dan Starkey (the new series' go-to guy for Sontarans), The First Sontarans is the best of the Lost Stories, and it feels less like a cancelled good-for-nothing 80's script, and more like a modern-day classic.
Home Truths - Starring Jean MarshIf intense character drama is your thing, then I'd highly recommend the Companion Chronicles. They are mostly one-hour, mostly narrated plays, that are recounted by a companion, usually with another guest actor present. They're a great vehicle for getting inside the character's head, and often exploring some of the thornier points of Doctor Who cannon. Home Truths is perhaps the ultimate expression of that: if you know Sara Kingdom's fate, you'll wonder how it could be possible for her to narrate an adventure after she's left the Doctor, but Home Truths has a very clever conceit that allows this to happen. It's also a proper horror story, through and through. It's doesn't go for intense gore or constant jump scares, however, and call itself a horror story, but rather uses stillness and silence to great effect. It's a proper puzzle box story, with a very engaging and clever mystery that's paid off in a fantastic manner, while leaving enough threads open for it's two sequels, The Drowned World and The Guardian Of The Solar System. Home Truths is clever, creepy and manages to take one of the most under-represented Doctor Who companions of all time, and do something that explores her massive backstory in a very sophisticated manner.
The Mahogany Murderers - Starring Christopher Benjamin & Trevor BaxterThis is here mostly because The Mahogany Murderers functions as a back-door pilot for Jago & Litefoot, and you really need the context of this release before you listen. However, I would like to point out that this is a great little adventure in it's own right, with some very funny banter between Litefoot and Jago, and even some meta-critique on the style of storytelling often employed by the Companion Chronicles narrators. Sure, the plot is slight, but this story is more about immersing the listener back into the dark, fog-bound world of Victorian London, and introducing the sinister Doctor Tulp, who would come back to plague Jago & Litefoot in their first official series. The Mahogany Murderers is important for the first series of Jago & Litefoot, but don't be fooled: it's also one of the strongest Companion Chronicles to date.
Peri And The Piscon Paradox - Starring Colin Baker & Nicola BryantIf you listen to the first disc of Peri And The Piscon Paradox, you may wonder why it is even on this list, save for the humour value. Then, you get to the second disc, and the reason hits you like a ton of bricks. That's the real strength of Peri And The Piscon Paradox, and the best of the Companion Chronicles: the humour can be belly-ache inducing funny, while the sadness can be bawling-your-eyes-out upsetting. And Peri And The Piscon Paradox does that, with some very unpredictable twists that are played for both comedic and tragic effect (and in some cases, both), a fantastic central performance from Nicola Bryant and a heart-wrenching moment towards the end that, honestly, brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. Sure, I does need the context of The Trial Of A Time Lord, but that doesn't matter when the drama is this good. Peri And The Piscon Paradox is everything amazing about Doctor Who, and so, so much more.
Forever Fallen - Read by Nicholas Briggs
Another range I've spectacularly failed to mention is the Short Trips. These are, for the most part, half-hour download-only releases, that can fill a commute or while you do a short chore, and they're basically audio short stories. The range is full of notable titles, from Rise And Fall, to Foreshadowing, from A Full Life to Lepidoptery For Beginners. However, the one that I've picked to represent the range here is Forever Fallen. Now I've done this for two reasons: one, it's free to download off the Big Finish website, and two, it's one of the most affecting Doctor Who stories ever. Taking the simple idea of what if when the Doctor offers the villain a chance to stop his evil plan, the villain takes the trade?, Forever Fallen becomes a short, heart-warming tale about hope and redemption that really just displays the versatility of the Doctor Who format. This is a perfect half-hour slice of entertainment that you really have no excuse not to listen to. 
The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure - Starring Colin Baker, Bonnie Langford, India Fisher, Lisa Greewood, Trevor Baxter, Christopher Benjamin & Miranda Raison, with Sylvester McCoySure, this is one release where you may need a lot of context going in, but I'd feel like if I was doing Big Finish a massive disservice if I didn't include this one on the list. Having redeemed the sixth Doctor reputation in the eyes of the fans, I'm so glad Colin gave his blessing for Big Finish to do his last story, because Big Finish gave him the send-off he truly deserved, with the company's best box set to date. The four stories that build up to Colin's demise are excellent, with each one building up the stakes more and more, as the Valeyard, the distillation of all the Doctor's evil, encroaches ever closer on the Doctor. Each of his audio companions featured here (Constance, Charley and Flip) are given plenty to do, and while Mel is a little sidelined, that's only to give Colin the best departure possible. And what a final story! Seriously, this has set the bar so high for Peter's departure at the end of this year. And, of course, this set features Colin Baker, who has perhaps never been finer. Whether investigating mysteries involving a eerie train station, or facing down the Valeyard (once again played by Michael Jayston), he is on fire, giving possibly his best ever performance. And the end sent chills down my spine. If your a massive fan of the sixth Doctor, you owe it to yourself and 'Old Sixie' to get this release. It will not disappoint.
There are plenty of others, and I will continue to update this post as more are released. I hope this guide is useful, and may get more people buying and listening to Big Finish!
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