Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Christopher Benjamin, Trevor Baxter, David Collings, Conrad Asquith, Chloe Howman, Lisa Bowerman, Alex Mallinson.

Jago and Litefoot are as inseparable as fish and chips, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding…the Doctor and his companion…As Series Two starts with the eminent professor forming a new working relationship with his equal Gabriel Sanders, it seems that the dynamic duo, the investigators of all incidents infernal have gone their separate ways and the cold reality of their friendship hits Henry Gordon Jago hard.

Litefoot And Sanders starts as Series One ended; leaving no space for George Litefoot to recuperate after the events of The Similarity Engine and barely enough time for the theatre impresario to get his first order of drinks in from his favourite bar-maid Ellie Higson. However Henry Jago is nothing but resourceful and hearing that women are being killed on the streets of Whitechapel and wondering why his old friend doesn’t trust him enough to solve the mystery with him, he sets about investigating the problem himself…with a small amount of help from an array of friends including the superb Chloe Howman as the blind match girl.

Justin Richards’ script deals with the horror that stalks London’s streets in the form of another realm’s visitor with due deference to the world of Bram Stoker and with the classic sense of humour that listeners have come to expect from these two sage older men but with the added bonus of having the talented David Collings turn up as the main protagonist for this series. It seems so long ago that this actor was touted as being a possible Doctor on the back of his guest appearances as the enigmatic Silver in the hit television series Sapphire and Steel but as he utters his carefully laden words, it really is possible to roll back the clock and revel in what might have been for a while. Not only has he kept the well-trained inscrutable voice but he plays malevolent with consummate ease.

Returning alongside the exquisite Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter is Lisa Bowerman as Ellie and also to the much vaunted Director’s chair but also Conrad Asquith as the newly promoted Sergeant Quick. It is this feel of familiarity that serves the series well and makes Jago and Litefoot two of the best non-travelling companions that the classic series ever had.

Jago and Litefoot may have returned but there is a nip in the chilled London air.

Litefoot And Sanders is part of Series Two of Jago and Litefoot which is available to purchase from Worlds Apart on Lime Street.

Ian D. Hall