These are the characters appearing in the UNIT spinoff of Big Finish Doctor Who, the Audio Play series based on Doctor Who.
Please keep in mind that, although the series is officially part of the Whoniverse, it encompasses many different timelines/continuities and includes adaptations of existing works from the Doctor Who Expanded Universe. Due to Big Finish's sheer size and complexity, it also plays by the rules of the Doctor Who Expanded Universe: the TV series can at times contradict or overwrite the timelines described here, or adapt them for the televised continuity.
For a still-growing recap list of the audio dramas featuring these characters, feel free to look here.
For the other cast pages relating to Big Finish Doctor Who, see:
- Big Finish Doctor Who – Doctors
- Big Finish Doctor Who – Companions
- Big Finish Doctor Who – Villains
- Bernice Summerfield
- Gallifrey
- Iris Wildthyme
Kate Stewart
The daughter of Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, who has worked hard to rebuild UNIT as a scientific organization rather than the paramilitary one it was. Although she'd rather have peace with alien visitors, she's not naive and has no trouble getting out the guns if necessary to defend the planet which is her primary mission.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Kate is usually professionally polite, but don't make her angry.
- Enraged by Idiocy: She's surrounded by people who don't quite understand the consequences of messing with alien tech.
- Iron Lady: She doesn't take orders from Cabinet Ministers; she gives them.
- Not So Stoic: In "The Sacrifice of Jo Grant", when she finds herself in the 1970s, circumstances lead to Kate having to communicate with the Brigadier over the radio. Although she holds herself together during the talk, simply introducing herself as the head of UNIT in the future, she breaks down crying when the Brigadier ends the call by complimenting her abilities and expressing confidence that UNIT is in safe hands, the strong leader briefly 'replaced' by the girl who still misses her father.
- Only Sane Man: She takes her job very seriously, and is very dismissive of government officials who don't appreciate security.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Although her job is to defend the Earth, she usually prefers peaceful negations with aliens if possible.
Osgood
Kate's right-hand woman. Osgood is UNIT's leading scientist as well as one of Kate's most trusted people. She has not so subtle crush on a certain chap in a bow-tie.
- The Baby of the Bunch: She's the youngest member of the UNIT Team and everyone always keeps an eye on her.
- Cowardly Lion: She often finds herself in dangerous situations that scare her to death but she soldiers on through it.
- Number Two: To Kate in science matters.
Colonel Shindi
One of Kate's most trusted military officers, he tends to be a stickler for the rules which puts him at odds with Captain Carter
- The Brigadier: As Kate's most trusted officer.
- By-the-Book Cop: He takes the rules very seriously.
- Commuting on a Bus: He's still recovering from the injuries he got in "Extinction" so he's not present in "Shutdown".
- Number Two: To Kate in military matters.
Captain Josh Carter
Another officer trusted by Kate. He tends to be hot-head and likes to take risks which puts him at odds with Colonel Shindi.
- Casanova Wannabe: He flirts with Osgood a lot, whether he's seriously interested in her or just teasing is up for debate.
- Empowered Badass Normal: Starts off as just a normal UNIT officer, before being fused with Auton technology, which dramatically increases his strength and durability.
- Expy: To Captain Mike Yates from the original UNIT days. Osgood explicitly tells Mike that Josh is "the new you" when she introduces them in "Assembled".
- Leeroy Jenkins: He rushes in a lot without thinking.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The impulsive, emotional and mouthy red to Sam's calmer, reserved and stoic blue.
- Will They or Won't They?: Picks up a bit of this with Osgood as the stories continue.
- You Look Familiar: James Joyce also plays Charley's companion Robert Buchan in the Charlotte Pollard series, with no changes to his voice and with the same photographs of him used on cover art as for UNIT. No connection between the characters has been established.
Lieutenant Sam Bishop
UNIT's troubleshooter. He travels the globe helping clean up the fall out of alien encounters, but helps Kate's team on numerous occasions.
- The Quiet One: He's not a chatty chap.
- The Reliable One: Kate can always count on Sam when she's in a pinch.
