September 16, 2026
Ahead of their return in a new series of audio adventures, Arthur Darvill speaks to Doctor Who Magazine about his character's timey-wimey relationship with his daughter...
Alex Kingston and Arthur Darvill are set to reprise their respective roles of River Song and Rory Williams in The Death and Life of River Song: River and Rory, an exciting new series of audio adventures from Big Finish Productions. Due for release in January 2027, the series will see River reunited with her father Rory in a quartet of timey-wimey adventures set between Doctor Who episodes The Wedding of River Song and Asylum of the Daleks.
Doctor Who Magazine caught up with Arthur Darvill about stepping back into Rory's shoes, working with Alex Kingston, and what we might expect from a family reunion of time travelers - you can read an exclusive excerpt below.
Doctor Who Magazine issue 634 is on sale from Thursday 17th September. You can order it here.
Arthur Darvill on Rory's relationship with River Song:
“There’s a lot of confusion with River. When she was Mels, spending a lot of time with Amy and Rory when they were growing up, they became very close. I think Rory feels quite betrayed by that. It’s not just the fact that Rory’s her father. It’s that also they had this friendship that was a lie for the whole of his childhood. There’s a lot there for him to unpick.
“River is so chaotic, she pokes at that thing in Rory where he’s trying to keep everyone safe. She barrels through in a way, even more so than the Doctor at times. It alerts something in him. He wants to keep everyone safe and keep his life simple…
“Rory and River were most successful when that comedy was front and centre. Despite the strange family set up, I think they’re really funny characters. It’s great to be in a room together. We always loved our scenes; it was so much fun. And we’re excavating that fun dungeon that we started back then!”
Read the full interview in issue 634 of Doctor Who Magazine.
Inside this issue:
- An in-depth interview with ANNEKE WILLS who, 60 years ago, was cast as companion POLLY opposite the First and Second Doctors. We chat with her about her Doctors, fighting Daleks and Cybermen, being a part of sixties culture, and her life up to the present day…
- ARTHUR DARVILL returns as Rory opposite River Song in a new series of audio dramas. We talk to him about being paired with his character’s wayward daughter, bringing his mum (actor Ellie Darvill) to work with him, and his passion for music…
- The Patrick Troughton Years… Ten things you might not have known!
- Meet the forgotten Romanas! YVONNE GALLAGHER speaks for the first time about her fleeting appearance alongside Fourth Doctor Tom Baker in 1979’s Destiny of the Daleks.
- We enter the ASYLUM OF THE DALEKS in this issue’s Fact of Fiction feature.
- THIS MONTH IN… 2008 – when daytime soap Doctors was inspired by Doctor Who…
- We consider the monstrous experiments of the wretched Rani.
- The first part of a brand-new comic strip featuring THE TENTH DOCTOR and ROSE.
Regular features
- GALLIFREY GUARDIAN: our monthly round-up of news, including Doctor Who screenings, the latest comic collection and audio drama releases, and a preview of the book included with next month’s DWM…
- Reviews of the audio dramas, print fiction and the latest action figure releases.
- Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
- Prizes to be won! Including the Circuit Breaker Blu-ray release.
Doctor Who Magazine issue 634 is on sale from Thursday 17th September. You can order it here.
