The Minister of Chance

In a world far from our own, Ambassador Durian of Sezuan is dispatched on a peace mission to the primitive island nation of Tanto, but things take a turn for the very, very sinister. In a nearby inn, a mysterious stranger appears, then disappears through a miraculous portal in the forest (he “knows the formula for doors”). The inquisitive teenage barmaid, Kitty follows him, with no shoes and only her superhuman strength to keep her company. Another world awaits, where they will be forced into an alliance to save the Universe, and beyond.

{{Episode table |background=#F17175 |title=25 |writer=23 |aux2=13 |aux3=24 |airdate=15 |aux2T=Format |aux3T=Company |episodes=

{{Episode list

| Title = The Pointed Hand

| WrittenBy = Dan Freeman

| Aux2 = Download

| Aux3 = Radio Static

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|2|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = Ambassador Durian of Sezuan (Paul McGann) is dispatched to the primitive island nation of Tanto to talk peace. However, his offers of friendship to the belligerent King (Mark Lewis) fall on deaf ears, and things take a turn for the very, very sinister.

| LineColor = F17175

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{{Episode list

| Title = The Broken World

| WrittenBy = Dan Freeman

| Aux2 = Download

| Aux3 = Radio Static

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|3|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = Kitty is a barmaid at the Traveller's Rest in the occupied city of Tantillion. Her normal activities (abusing customers, starting fights) are interrupted by the arrival of a stranger...

| LineColor = F17175

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = The Forest Shakes

| WrittenBy = Dan Freeman

| Aux2 = Download

| Aux3 = Radio Static

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|5|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = After her strange journey with The Minister, Kitty awakens in darkness, disorientated and alone... or maybe not. There are things moving in the dark, and perhaps not all of them human.

| LineColor = F17175

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{{Episode list

| Title = Paludin Fields

| WrittenBy = Dan Freeman

| Aux2 = Download

| Aux3 = Radio Static

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|7|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = The Minister and Kitty arrive in the strange and murderous marshes of Paludin Fields in search of the Sage of The Waves. Meanwhile, in Sezuan, Durian finally shows his hand. In the forests of Tanto, meanwhile, Professor Cantha sees the full extent of the Sezians' assault on Science.

| LineColor = F17175

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{{Episode list

| Title = The Tiger

| WrittenBy = Dan Freeman

| Aux2 = Download

| Aux3 = Radio Static

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|2|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = The Horseman finally catches up with The Minister and an injured Kitty on the Plain of Tombs in Paludin Fields. Meanwhile in Tanto, Professor Cantha and Sunflower spread the ancient knowledge of Science amongst the people of Tanto. In Sezuan, Durian's ambitions are realized with the help of the vicious Lord Rathen.

| LineColor = F17175

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{{Episode list

| Title = In a Bark on the River Hex

| WrittenBy = Dan Freeman

| Aux2 = Download

| Aux3 = Radio Static

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|5|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = Following Lord Rathen's calamitous attack, the shell-shocked Kitty and The Minister attempt to salvage what they can. The Minister is driven to form risky and desperate allegiances, voyaging up the mythical River Hex to get help. Meanwhile, Cantha and Sunflower prepare for a suicide mission to end the War in the electrifying conclusion to the story.

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• The Minister of Chance - Julian Wadham
• Kitty - Lauren Crace
• Professor Canta - Jenny Agutter
• Durian - Paul McGann
• The Witch Prime - Sylvester McCoy
• The Sage of the Waves - Tamsin Greig
• The Summer King - Philip Glenister

WIRED heavily praised the series, calling it, "Superbly acted, with an amazing cast of characters, and with rich, lavish, immersive soundscapes."{{Cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2011/07/review-the-minister-of-chance-is-simply-superb-and-quite-the-adventure/ |title=The Minister of Chance Review |website=WIRED|access-date=23 May 2022}} Similarly, Elisabeth Mahoney of The Guardian called the series an, "ambitious and innovative project" and praised the sound design.{{cite news|newspaper=The Guardian |date=16 March 2011 |first=Elisabeth |last=Mahoney |title=Radio head: The Minister of Chance |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/mar/16/radio-head-minister-of-chance |access-date=23 May 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006155733/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/mar/16/radio-head-minister-of-chance |archive-date=6 October 2014 }} Dylan Rees also praised the series and noted that it was not as much a spin-off of Doctor Who as it was its own thing, comparing it to the works Terry Pratchett.{{cite book |last=Rees |first=Dylan|author-link= |title=Downtime - The Lost Years of Doctor Who |url= |location= |publisher= Obverse Books |page= |isbn=}}

The series won the 2013 Parsec Award for Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama (Short Form).{{Cite magazine |date=September 3, 2013 |title=2013 Parsec Awards Winners |url=https://locusmag.com/2013/09/2013-parsec-awards-winners/ |magazine=Locus}}

Another world: Kitty is a barmaid at the Traveller's Rest in the occupied city of Tantillion. One night, a stranger walks in, and through a door and over the Frost Bridge between worlds - and Kitty follows him.

• Durian - Paul McGann
• The King - Tim McInnerny
• Major Apper - Simon Bugg
• Spider Guard - Beccy Meany
• The Spider - Richard Oliver
• Princess Didi - Scribble
• Segway Rider - Lee Oulton

In Dylan Rees' reference book Downtime - The Lost Years of Doctor Who, Rees praised the film for the locations and effects, as well as McInnery's performance as the Minister. He did, however, criticize the use of DSLR cameras, stating that it, "leaves the film looking cheap and amateur".{{cite book |last=Rees |first=Dylan|author-link= |title=Downtime - The Lost Years of Doctor Who |url= |location= |publisher= Obverse Books |page= |isbn=}}

{{Infobox book

|italic title=no

|name = The Minister of Chance

|image = File:The Minister of Chance Novel.png

|caption =

|author = Dan Freeman

|editor = James Hornby

|cover_artist = Dave Palser

|release_date = 30 June 2022

|publisher = Arcbeatle Press

|pages = 202

|isbn=

}}

“I know the formula for doors,” says the Minister, vanishing through the one he has just created in mid air. Teenage barmaid Kitty isn’t the sort to be dismissed easily, though. Armed only with her bad attitude, foul mouth and mysterious strength, she follows him through the glowing doorway, onto the frost bridge between worlds, and into adventure.

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|tt4730872}}

{{Doctor Who}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minister of Chance, The}}

Category:2010s audio plays

Category:Doctor Who spinoffs