Farewell, Lucie Miller

From Big Finish: The Doctor and Lucie Miller are soon to go their separate ways. Big Finish has confirmed that Death in Blackpool, the first episode of the fourth season of Eighth Doctor Adventures, which is out in December 2009, ends with an emotional parting for the time travellers. “It may seem strange to begin the season with Lucie’s exit,” says executive producer Nicholas Briggs, “but we have some interesting twists and turns planned.”The following adventure, Situation Vacant by Eddie Robson, finds the Doctor auditioning for a new companion – and there are four contenders. The name of the lucky candidate will not be divulged until the story’s release in 2010.The season continues with Nevermore by Alan Barnes, which is followed by The Book of Kells by Barnaby Edwards, in which the Doctor and his new pal travel to Ireland in the year 1006. The starry guest cast of Kells includes Jim Carter (The Golden Compass, The Singing Detective), Terrence Hardiman (Secret Army, The Demon Headmaster) and Ryan Sampson (Doctor Who: The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky).Next up, the Eighth Doctor will encounter the Ice Warriors for the first time in Deimos, a two-parter set on one of the moons of Mars. The story is written by Jonathan Morris, and the guest cast includes David Warner (Wallander, Titanic), Nicky Henson (Syriana, Vera Drake), Susan Brown (Torchwood: Children of Earth), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Yvonne Hartman in Doctor Who: Army of Ghosts/Doomsday) and Nicholas Briggs (voice of the Daleks and Cybermen) as the Ice Warriors.