TDP 1450: 5.1 #StarCops: Conflict Suspicion and Sabotage REVIEW #Bigfinish

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TDP_1450_5 1 Star Cops: Conflict  Suspicion and Sabotage

 

It's the near future, and mankind has expanded its presence in space. Maintaining law and order beyond Earth is the responsibility of the International Space Police Force, known colloquially as the Star Cops. Their leader is Commander Nathan Spring.

With Earth’s vital mineral resources running low, and worldwide suspicion over the true purpose of a mission to mine the asteroid belt, international tensions are running high.

A series of suspected sabotage incidents at the Moon’s south pole, and an attempted assassination on Earth, threaten to provoke tensions to the point of war.

Can the officers of the International Space Police Force avert an escalating catastrophe?

 

Recorded on: 5-7 November 2024

Recorded at: The Soundhouse

 

Producer Emma Haigh said: "I’m always thrilled to see a new Star Cops script arrive in my inbox and these new stories brought just as much excitement as ever.

"In these six fresh stories, the Star Cops are tested to their limits, both physically and mentally, with huge professional and personal conflicts, against the backdrop of a global crisis. Andrew Smith and our team of writers – Roland Moore, Mark Wright and Georgia Cook – take us on a journey for which it's worth flying to the moon and back."

Writer and script editor Andrew Smith said: "The scale of Star Cops: Conflict is easily bigger than any set of stories we’ve told before. World peace is in the balance, international tensions are reaching boiling point, and the cause of those tensions is rooted in space. The Star Cops' actions have greater consequences than ever before.

"The writers who have worked with me on this have once more delivered exceptional episodes, and it's been a particular treat to have Big Finish veteran Mark Wright - a huge Star Cops fan, it turns out! - join us for the first time.

"It has again been a joy to see and hear our regulars from the original TV show back together. David, Linda and Trevor have such happy memories and affection for the series. And this time around, we have a love interest for one of them. But will it last? Relationships aren’t easy for a Star Cop...

"The starting point for this series was the issue of the shortage of minerals in the future, which is a genuine threat that is being looked at technologically at the moment. The asteroid belt is a potential solution to that, with the mineral-rich asteroids out there, but if this led to a world conflict, it'd be the first one where space is a real battleground. "This episode is very much about setting things up for the five episodes that follow, which are more or less standalone episodes, but with a continuing thread of the world tensions that are always there in the background."

Linda Newton, who plays Pal Kenzy, added: "I really enjoy these episodes. The stakes are very high, higher than they've ever been, and that's clear from the first episode. And Kenzy, who is normally very impenetrable emotionally, does let her guard down and become involved with someone - like many an Australian girl, she falls for his English charms!

That someone is Howard Lesser, a new character played by Ben Miles, star of Andor and Coupling. Miles said: "Howard is quite a mysterious character. He runs an ice collection station on the moon, and seems to be having trouble with a neighbouring station, so calls our fabulous Star Cop Kenzy up to have a look at it. There seems to be something from the off between Kenzy and Howard, and he insists on taking her for a little tour in his moon rover!

 

• Written by Andrew Smith
• Senior Producer John Ainsworth
• Cover Art by Rafe Wallbank
• Director Helen Goldwyn
• Executive Producer Jason Haigh-ElleryNicholas Briggs
• Music by Howard Carter
• Producer Emma Haigh
• Script Editor Roland Moore
• Sound Design by Steve Foxon
• Based on the format created by Chris Boucher

• Product Format: 0-digital download
• Duration: 63 minutes
• Physical Retail ISBN: n/a
• Digital Retail ISBN: 978-1-80240-792-1
• Production Code: BFPSCOPS08CON01

• David Calder (Nathan Spring)
• Trevor Cooper (Inspector Colin Devis)
• Linda Newton (Chief Superintendent Pal Kenzy)
• Jessica Martin (Alexandra Myers / Leader)
• Ben Miles (Howard Lesser)
• Lynsey Murrell (Inspector Alice Okoro)
• Philip Olivier (Inspector Paul Bailey)