The artwork above, which features on the first of my Big Finish releases this month, is by Tom Webster - which I hope you'll agree, is fantastic. The cover art was released quite a while ago on the BF web site and I've really been looking forward to posting it here - and now it has pride of place as the opener to this update, which I have to say, feels like its been a long time coming.
I didn't manage to post much in September, but as is often the way, that doesn't mean not much was happening, I just didn't have time to update properly and now it looks as though October is set to be an even busier month, I shall just have to try harder to keep the updates flowing...
Now, it has been the case that on occasion, I haven't been credited with an appearance in a Big Finish production, at least on the web site and this month's first release is an example of just such secrecy. Here are the details of The Doctor's Tale, to which I have added my name!
England, 1400. Winter. Blood in the snow. Henry IV has usurped the
throne, and deposed King Richard II languishes in Pomfret Castle.
Meanwhile the Doctor and his companions preside over New Year revels at Sonning Palace.
But Sonning is a prison, treachery is in the air and murderous
Archbishop Thomas Arundel will stop at nothing to crush the rebellion.
As the Doctor and Barbara take the road to Canterbury, Vicki finds a
royal friend and Ian is dragged into a dark web of conspiracy at whose
heart sits that teller of tales, Geoffrey Chaucer.
William Russell, Maureen O’Brien, Gareth Armstrong, Joseph Kloska, Alice Haig, John Banks
Written by Marc Platt
Directed by Ken Bentley
I'm sure there'll be further updates to come on this, not least in terms of 'who plays what, or whom?', but until then, I'll just say how good a story I thought this was when we were recording it back in February 2013, (how brilliant is Marc Platt???) and having forgotten much of the detail, I'm now really looking forward to giving it a thorough listen.
* * * * *
My 'listening list' is getting ever longer. I'm aware that many Big Finish fans have trouble in just keeping up with the numerous monthly releases and now I'm finding myself in a similar position. At the moment, I'm listening to Andrew Smith's story, Domain of The Voord and enjoying it immensely. I also thought I'd better catch up on Pathfinder Legends as my first story, Rise of The Runelords: Fortress of The Stone Giants was released last month and before listening to it, I need to put it into context by listening to the three preceding episodes. At some point too, I must re-re-listen to the first series of Survivors (nice little 'segue' coming up...) because in a few weeks time, we're all back in studio to record Series II.
Unusually for Big Finish, some advance details of Survivors Series II have been allowed to filter out of BF Towers. Producer David Richardson confirmed that Series II is about to be recorded and Series III is currently being written. David even commented briefly on the direction the stories were taking at the BF Day 5 Survivors discussion panel. I've now read the stories in the new series and must say that in my opinion, they are quite remarkable and I can't wait to start working on them.Survivors Series II is currently scheduled for release in June 2015.
Below are more images from the Survivors panel at Big Finish Day 5 taken by Marcus Pointer*, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for allowing me to use them here:
l-r above: Matt, Neil, Andrew, me, Terry, Chase, Carolyn, Ken
*Marcus Pointer has a Facebook page which you might be interested in: MP-eventphotography
* * * * *
Next week, I'm back in studio with the Hokus Bloke himself, Mr Neil Gardner, to record an audio book for Audible.co.uk - which could be both tricky and interesting in equal measure; we shall see. But more of that at a later date. There's more BF for me in studio next week too, but no details of that recording can be revealed at all - for the time being anyway!
So there we are, the first posting of October, but as promised, there's much more in the pipeline. It's just like waiting ages for a bus to show up and then two arriving together; as I mentioned above, there's not one release this month, but.... you've guessed!
The Doctor's Tale is surprisingly, my first Dr Who release since Moonflesh back in April and yet this month also sees the release of The Widow's Assassin, written by Nev Fountain featuring the Sixth Doctor played by Colin Baker, along with companion Peri Brown, otherwise known as Nicola Bryant!
...but more of that - and everything else - coming very soon!
* * * * *
A final thought for today's update: here's something you might be interested in to 'kick start' the month:
