"John Banks is one of the UK's most prolific audiobook narrators, working for the likes of Big Finish, Audible, Random House and Games Workshop.
He is a true multi-voice, creating everything from monsters to marauding aliens.
He is also an accomplished stage and TV actor."
audible.co.uk 2018
Hello...
...I'm John Banks - welcome to my website. The majority of my working life has been spent in the theatre with companies including York Theatre Royal, Cheltenham Everyman, Sheffield Crucible, Bristol Old Vic, Manchester Royal Exchange and the National Theatre in London.
Television work includes Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and 'Allo, Allo!'. I have also worked on a number of radio drama and comedy productions with the BBC. Since March 2009, I have enjoyed playing a huge variety of characters in more than 270* audio-drama stories with Big Finish Productions, together with The Black Library/Games Workshop, details of which can be found in the postings below.
There are also details listed here of the 214* audio books & stories I've recorded since March 2013, including the unabridged New Revised Standard Version of The Bible, for companies including audible.co.uk, Hachette, Audible Studios, Podium Audio Publishing, HarperCollins, RNIB, W.F. Howes, Little Brown Group, Penguin Random House, Games Workshop, Orion, Fantom Films & Ladbroke Audio.
(*figures at April 2021)
I hope you find something of interest here and come back soon for further updates.
For all posts, reviews and audio samples, please scroll down...
The Runewar Saga: Book 2
The Crown of Fire & Fury
The Botanist
Washington Poe Series: Book 5
Skaven Deathmaster
The Babel Books
The Fall of Babel - click image above for link to audible
Doctor Who: Back To Earth
Throne of Light: Dawn of Fire Book 4
Release Date: 13th November 2021
Soul Wars
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The start of a new year with quite a bit to mention and so, without further ado, here we go....
For many Big Finish Doctor Who fans, 2012 will be a time of keen anticipation as well as, hopefully, lots of fun and enjoyment. The new Fourth Doctor stories, starring Tom Baker, accompanied by original companions and pitted against a formidable array of adversaries, will be released from January onwards.
As mentioned in the August 2011 posting, I was privileged indeed to work with Tom and Louise Jameson on two audio dramas, Trail of The White Worm andThe Oseidon Adventure, which also sees the return of The Kraals. For full details of which Fourth Doctor stories are being released and when, I would urge you to go to the Big Finish web site - here's the link: Big Finish - where all will be revealed and explained. In the meantime, here's a poster to further whet the appetite:
and here's a preview from BF:
This month also has the release of my final Sherlock Holmes story, The Tangled Skein, which was another hugely enjoyable adventure with Nick, Richard and the rest of the company.
The Tangled Skein
Nicholas Briggs (Sherlock Holmes), Richard Earl (Dr Watson), Barnaby Edwards (Mr Jack Stapleton), Beth Chalmers (Mrs Hudson/Delia Lydgate/Mary Gardner/The Phantom Lady/Catherine Hunter Landlady), John Banks (Professor Abraham Van Helsing Inspector Lestrade/Policeman/Meinster
Silas Gardner), Giles Watling (Count Dracula/Matthew Boulton
Dr Collins)
A threat to Holmes’s life, murders on Hampstead Heath
and a deadly phantom lady lead Holmes and Watson into the most dangerous
investigation they have ever undertaken… An encounter which brings them
face to face with evil itself, embodied in Count Dracula, the Lord of
the Undead.
23rd May 2011...
...trying to look vaguely 'serious' for the camera during recording of The Tangled Skein...
...but the true nature of a day with Big Finish can't be contained for long!
L-R in the photos are: Beth Chalmers, John Banks, Barnaby Edwards, Giles Watling
and in the foreground, Richard Earl and Nick Briggs.
More as it happens, but in the meantime, a very Happy New Year to all!
...and finally: if you'd like a signed copy of The Children of Seth, which was released last month, there are a limited number available from tenthplanetevents.co.uk
Over the course of this 8 book series, the amazing John Banks has had to create and voice 648 distinct characters!
Neil Gardner - producer
The Door In The Wall & War of The Worlds
Not often I buy another version of an audiobook I own, but after hearing John Banks' narration of The Door in the Wall by Ladbroke Audio, I had to buy their version of The War of the Worlds. Banks has a great reading voice.
Andy Frankham-Allen - writer
The Books of Babel: Senlin Ascends, Arm of The Sphinx & The Hod King
Mr. Banks does superb work, and I recommend the audiobooks wholeheartedly!
Josiah Bancroft - writer
Mervyn Stone: The Axeman Cometh
John Banks is a voice genius...
Nev Fountain - writer
Mervyn Stone... played by the note-perfect John Banks.
Matt Hills - Reviews in Time and Space
Dr. Who: The Sleeping City
I also must draw attention to John Banks who is an exceptional voice artist and in this one story performs more characters that I can count. ... it is listening to episodes like this one that really do let his talents shine through.
Tony Jones - Red Rocket Rising
Highlander:
...playing several parts, was the brilliant Big Finish regular John Banks - it was as if there were about 40 different actors in the other booth.
James Moran - writer
I went for the best of the best and brought in voice artiste extraordinaire John Banks.
Paul Spragg - producer Vienna:
...also features the mind - bogglingly versatile and reliable John Banks
Jonathan Morris - writer
Dead Funny:
The acting is first rate… wonderfully played by John Banks as Richard – his impersonation of Eric Morecambe is worth the admission money alone.
Beverly Greenberg: Bolton Evening News Mr. Happiness:
This early and unfamiliar play by David Mamet is a character study of a 1930s radio counsellor, dispensing suave advice to his devoted listeners. John Banks brings out the wry comedy of this – comedy quite unappreciated by the character – with a clever range of gesture and vocal tone.
Jeremy Kingston: The Times
All My Sons:
This is a beautifully crafted piece ...and it affords a wonderful opportunity for John Readman* to do his All-American Boy act as Chris Keller. This most polished and well observed performance as the blighted son of a blighted father must rank as one of his finest accomplishments yet. ( * see Profile) The Stage
The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes
Kudos should also go to John Banks.Lestrade can be a thankless part, but Banks rose to the challenge, playing a pivotal role in this decades long arc.
Raissa Devereux - SciFiPulse The Judgement of Sherlock Holmes John Banks is multi-tasking, both as the superb Lestrade and also the villainous and no doubt moustache twirling Sebastian Moran. They sound completely different and I bow to his talent. Sue Davies - SFcrowsnest
Further reviews and comments are included with specific postings throughout the site.