Christmas 2015

So this is Christmas - 2015 style.

December has been unusually busy for me, although miraculously, apart from one much coveted job which unfortunately clashed with another, everything somehow found its place and all the various pieces of work fitted together perfectly.

I've thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of this month's recording work, which includes six audio-books, four audio-dramas and a voice over for an educational project. In all honesty, I did initially wonder whether I'd bitten off more than I could chew, but with the supportive collaboration of some highly professional colleagues, it all worked out very well. I must particularly thank producer Niel Gardner, who helped me to record an audio book in three days rather than the scheduled five by suggesting we work all day till late at night and over a weekend - what a team!

Most audio drama scripts and books are now usually sent to me online in pdf format rather than as printed texts. I then mark them up and read from my i-pad in the studio. Although I have been and will be working from pdf copies for this epic new series of fantasy audio books that Neil and I have embarked upon, the publisher has also sent paperback editions of the books. They arrived a couple of days ago in a small crate and without revealing details of what they are, I've posted a photo of them here.

Seeing the actual books and appreciating in a physical sense the sheer volume of words to be recorded, let alone character voices to come up with, presents itself as a bit of a daunting prospect to say the least. The first book of the seven volume saga has been recorded (that's what we were doing in our very intensive three days in the studio) and will be released in February as far as I know. In addition to continuing with those books, there's also a book, drama and drama narration to prepare for Games Workshop. Think I'd better get on with some reading over the holidays!

In the midlle of all this new year activity, there's Big Finish Day 8 which I'm very much looking forward to; if you plan to go along, do come and say 'hello'.

In the meantime, thank you for stopping by this web site over the last year, your support is much appreciated. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and have a fantastic 2016!

...all for now, more just a s soon as it happens!

Only The Monstrous... or not?

I know, I know - I apologise; it has, yet again, been quite a while since the last posting and once again, my only excuse is that I've been busy recording stuff. "What stuff?" I hear you ask. Well, ok; since 26th November, I've recorded six audio-books and two audio dramas. This week, I'm recording an educational documentary film and two further dramas with Big Finish. The positive spin to all of this is, of course, that there will soon be more to post and talk about - 'circle of life' and all that...

In the last posting, I mentioned a few projects in oblique and sketchy form. I'm delighted to confirm that the 'hugely challenging and exciting project' I mentioned has indeed worked out and we have just finished recording the first of a seven book 'fantasy' genre saga. For those like me with limited patience and keen curiosity, it can be irksome not to know everything immediately and this month particularly, there are quite a number of really fascinating projects I'd like to talk about right now - but alas, no, it can't be done; not yet at least. It's almost always the case that until the publicity machinery of each particular company gears up to promote the 'new product', those of us involved in its creation are bound to secrecy - sometimes officially, by being required to sign 'non-disclosure' clauses in contracts.

What I can talk about this fine December day, is the release of the following audio drama and audio book productions. First to mention is the box set collection of stories from Big Finish, featuring Sir John Hurt as The War Doctor. Here are some details:

Taking place before the apocalyptic events portrayed in the 2013 Doctor Who TV special The Day of the Doctor, this new four-disc box set finds the War Doctor recruited for the war effort by the scheming Cardinal Ollistra (Jacqueline Pearce). A desperate mission will send the Time Lord deep behind enemy lines – where the Daleks await!

Written and directed by Big Finish Executive Producer Nicholas Briggs, Doctor Who – The War Doctor 1: Only the Monstrous contains the following three stories, along with a bonus documentary disc.





The Innocent

As the Daleks mass their time fleet for a final assault on Gallifrey, something ancient is waiting for them at Omega One. And a sacrifice must be made.
Arch-manipulator and Time Lord strategist, Cardinal Ollistra receives shock news of the Doctor’s death.
Meanwhile, on the planet Keska, a parochial war has returned to plague a peaceful civilisation after decades of tranquillity. But how can such a war have any connection with the great Time War which, at any one moment in the whole of eternity, could threaten to tear the universe apart?
If only the Doctor were still alive.



 


The Thousand Worlds

With the high-ranking Time Lord Seratrix behind enemy lines, the War Doctor finds himself assigned to a rescue mission. But any room for manoeuvre is severely restricted by an area of space known as the Null Zone.
Times have changed on Keska, and a countdown to destruction is beginning.
But who are the Taalyens and what is their part in the great and terrifying Dalek plan?






The Heart of the Battle

Trapped in a citadel swarming with Daleks, the Time Lord rescue force must find a way to overcome insurmountable odds. With the Daleks apparently planning to rule the Null Zone, perhaps their thirst for universal conquest and victory has been quenched…
The War Doctor doesn’t believe so — but how can he prove it without destroying any chance of peace?
As the countdown to the destruction of Keska proceeds, a deadly choice must be made... A choice that will define this Doctor, and perhaps forever cast him in the role of ‘monster’.

John Hurt    Jacqueline Pearce    Lucy Briggs-Owen    Carolyn Seymour

 Beth Chalmers    Alex Wyndham    Kieran Hodgson    Barnaby Edwards    Mark McDonnell

 John Banks   &   Nicholas Briggs

* * * * *

The next release this month comes from Games Workshop and is the third instalment of the quest of The Stormcast Eternals in which I play Lord Relictor Ramus:

Mannfred von Carstein leads his Stormcast allies into the deathly city of Helstone... What does he seek, and why does Lord-Celestant Tarsus feel a connection to the forsaken place?

 

The quest to find the Nine Gates that lead to the underworlds of Shyish and an audience with Nagash continues... Tarsus of the Hallowed Knights leads his Stormcast Eternals into the unearthly city of Helstone. Their enigmatic guide, Mannfred von Carstein, assures them that what they need to find his necromantic master lies within its halls, but there is more than darkness lurking in the ruins. Chaos has already taken root and a reckoning against the servants of the Plague God awaits.

Performed by:

 Gareth Armstrong  John Banks  Jonathan Keeble  Toby Longworth  Luis Soto &  Ramon Tikaram

Written by Josh Reynolds and Produced by Matthew Renshaw

* * * * *

And finally; released this month from Fantom Films, is the audio-book version of Karen Louise Hollis's biography of Anthony Ainley: 

Although known to an audience of millions the world over for his portrayal of The Doctor's arch nemesis The Master in Doctor Who during the 1980's, Anthony Ainley had a prolific career which encompassed starring roles in Spyders Web and It's Dark Outside, as well as appearances in renowned dramas such as The Pallisers, Elizabeth R, Nicholas Nickleby, Upstairs, Downstairs, and cult films including Blood On Satan's Claw and The Land That Time Forgot.

But the dramas in Anthony's real life were far more fascinating than any of the many parts he played on screen. Born the illegitimate son of actor Henry Ainley, and taken into care at the Actors' Orphanage at the age of four, the hidden story behind one of Doctor Who's most enigmatic characters is brought to life by author Karen Louise Hollis.

Using exhaustive interviews with friends and colleagues from every aspect of Anthony's life, including his best friend from school, fellow children from the Actors' Orphanage, cricketing friends, colleagues, and those who remained close to him until his death in 2004, this book aims to uncover the real Anthony Ainley - The Man Behind The Master.

* * * * *
 

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Audio updates...

What with computer meltdowns and furious bouts of activity, it's been quite a while since I've just been able to post a general update about what's going on in my professional world, tiny as it is.

First thing to mention perhaps is the astonishing realisation that our recording of the New Revised Standard Version of The Bible, read by me and produced by Neil Gardner, is complete.

After 18 days in the studio, we finished last Friday evening, although as the editing process has reached Galatians, Book 66 of 84, there will still be a number of pick ups and corrections to be made over the next several weeks.



The greatest 'surprise' when reading The Bible as a narrator, was just how many names there are, both of people and places and how fearsomely tricky some of them are to say, especially if one wishes to give a flowing, seamless read, which is of course, a minimum requirement. Here's a very small example of what I mean, taken from The Book of Numbers, although there are many other exhaustive 'lists' throughout The Bible:

Numbers Chapter 1: Verses:

4 A man from each tribe shall be with you, each man the head of his ancestral house.
5 These are the names of the men who shall assist you: From Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur.
6 From Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
7 From Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab.
8 From Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar.
9 From Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon.
10 From the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
11 From Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni.
12 From Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
13 From Asher, Pagiel son of Ochran.
14 From Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel.
15 From Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan

For reasons unknown, one of the trickiest names to read 'fluently' was King Ahasuerus; getting the pronunciation right drove us both to distraction. Anyway, here's Rembrandt's impression of what he might have looked like, bless 'im!

The next item on the agenda is to mention a couple of BBC Radio Drama Award nominations. Checking the Big Finish web site the other day, it came as a bit of a surprise to realise that four of their productions have been nominated for the 2016 Awards and I'm delighted to be acting in two of them - I know! Third year in a row to be nominated, which is hugely gratifying, as I'm sure you can imagine.

The two nominated productions I'm involved with are The Judgement of Sherlock Holmes, written brilliantly by Jonathan Barnes, in which I play Inspector Lestrade and The Hunted from the second series of Survivors, again, superbly written and directed by Ken Bentley, in which I play Daniel Connor. Congratulation to the entire cast & crew involved in the nominated productions - what larks!


And so, to round off with teasingly minute scraps of information about what's coming up. You will, I know, sympathise with me in regard to a situation that arose a couple of days ago; I was offered a really exciting job that I'd been hoping to get for weeks. My joy lasted for mere seconds however, when I realised that it clashed with another job already agreed and in the diary; to add to the carpet chewing frustration, the jobs only clashed because the original dates had been altered - oh, the agony and the ecstasy - only in reverse!

Moving on; I'm very much looking forward to co-narrating a fascinating new novel next week. It's a highly original work, full of twists, turns, red herrings and wrong-footings and I hope both the book and our audio-book do very well.

At the end of next week, I start recording the biography of an actor, who might well be of great interest to classic Doctor Who fans and I shall say much more about both projects at the appropriate time.

Following that, in a couple of weeks, I'll be recording more audio drama for Games Workshop and for the first time in several years, I'll also be narrating some short stories and a novella for them, which I'm really looking forward to and very excited about. Plans are also afoot for a hugely challenging and exciting project, but I really can't say anything about that at the moment because I'm still waiting to be 'approved' by the powers that be; if it works out, and I ought to find out fairly soon, there will definately be much more to come on that particular update - much more!

Exciting and busy times ahead, for which I am very grateful.

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

The Realmgate Wars: Sands of Blood

And so, onto November's other audio release and this is the next story in the Realmgate Wars epic saga from Games Workshop. It's always good fun to record Warhammer stories and a particular pleasure to find myself working with such a talented bunch of people, some of whom I've also worked with at Big Finish. There's much more to come from this series of adventures and indeed, there are other stories in the pipeline featuring Space Marines, but more of that when details are available and I'm allowed to talk about them.

In the meantime, here are some details about Sands of Blood:

Part two of the Realmgate Wars audio drama series:

The Hallowed Knights – and their vampire ally, Mannfred von Carstein – continue their quest to find the gates of the underworld and an audience with Nagash.

A bunch of Stormcast are exploring the Realm of Death in search of an immortal god who's not too fond of their master. There's no way things could get worse for Tarsus and his Bull-hearts. Is there? Well, with the treacherous Mannfred von Carstein as their guide (and it doesn't get much more treacherous than ending the world-that-was by literally stabbing someone in the back...) the scope for "worse" is limitless...

In the quest to find the Nine Gates to the underworld of Styxx and an audience with the great Nagash, Tarsus of the Hallowed Knights leads his Stormcast Eternals to the Blood Wastes. His guide, Mannfred von Carstein, warns that this is a tempestuous land, full of ill-intent.

Whilst rescuing a conclave of priests from a Bloodbound warband, Tarsus and his men are forced to seek refuge from a spectral storm in a strange bastion. As the Bloodbound follow them and lay siege, Tarsus discovers this Temple of Final Rest carries a dark secret, one that could either save or destroy them.



Performed by

Gareth Armstrong  John Banks  Ian Brooker  Beth Chalmers  Steve Conlin  Toby Longworth  
Luis Soto & Ramon Tikaram

Written by Josh Reynolds

Produced by Matthew Renshaw

...only the faithful! 

Survivors ...as I was saying

The first blog update on a new PC! The last one, ten years old, went into terminal decline a couple of weeks ago, just when I wanted to talk about the new series of Survivors and turned into something resembling the 13th Doctor that I played in Trial of The Valeyard - a bit demented, jibbering, confusing history and plain refusing to function. The new gadget is working well so far and most of the essential files have been transferred, so at last, time for an update - or two!

If Survivors is your cup of audio tea, you will probably have heard the latest series by now; I haven't received my 'contributer copy' yet, so I'll have to rely on my recollection of events until it arrives. A number of reviewers have expressed opinions on Series 3 and I'm pleased to say that they seem to be very positive, for which of course, I am grateful.

If, like me, you're still a bit in the dark about this latest series, here's an idea of what it's all about:

It begins with just a few people falling ill. Another flu virus that spreads around the globe. And then the reports begin that people are dying…When most of the world's population is wiped out, a handful of survivors are left to pick up the pieces.
Cities become graveyards. Technology becomes largely obsolete. Mankind must start again…

     Cabin Fever by Jonathan Morris

After weeks of searching for her son across a devastated Britain, Abby Grant and her allies head into London in pursuit of new leads. One of the party is quarantined, holed up with a fever. They remember the very first days of the Death, and the actions of a man called John Vincent…

       Contact by Simon Clark

A lonely voice on the radio calls out across the ether. Maddie Price is a long way from home, but not yet ready to give up hope.

        Rescue by Andrew Smith

When his friends' lives hang in the balance hundreds of feet above London, Jimmy Garland leads a daring rescue mission into the capital.

         Leaving by Matt Fitton

Down on the coast, plans are being made to reach out across the world. It could mean a new beginning for some, and the long-awaited chance to return home for others.

                                                

Carolyn Seymour Abby Grant   Richard Heffer Jimmy Garland   Chase Masterson Maddie Price  
John Banks Daniel Conner   Fiona Sheehan Molly   Andrew French Dalton Roberts 

Paul Thornley John Vincent   Damian Lynch Marcus   Miranda Raison Janet   John Voce Walter

Lisa Bowerman Gloria   Christopher Hatherall Tyler   James Joyce Jonathon   Louisa Clein Pam 

Script Editor Matt Fitton

Directed by Ken Bentley

 Producer David Richardson

'With an astonishingly accomplished sound design and acting almost literally to die for... the audio revival of Survivors has now proven itself easily the best and most consistent work that Big Finish has taken on, and with a format that allows for a greater involvement in characters and storylines there are ways in which producer David Richardson is even improving upon the TV original.'

                                                    J.R. Southall  Starburst 
 
'I could talk for hours, but I'd be giving away too many spoilers. It's basically dark, it's scary. It gives you a glimpse of so many of us. It's the human condition taken to its extremes... if you are tempted even remotely to embrace the Survivors, you will not regret it.'
                                                                  TinDog Podcast

Surviving?

Imagine then, you've survived 'The Death' only to realise that life as it was once known, has gone for ever and all the modern conveniences we've become so used to and feel so exposed and helpless without, are set to incrementally disappear - food, medicine, shelter and computers...  as I sit here, I am intensely aware that the machine on which I write, is hanging on by a thread and has crashed so many times in the last 72 hours, that I'm already looking for it's replacement - oh, the irony! To survive only to witness the death of one's 'puter!

Having finally managed to open my email program and got something other than a sharp 'boink' sound out of it, I decided to write to the BBC. That, of itself, took a while but then took a further hour to properly send. Only then did I notice the error I had corrected... hadn't actually corrected at all. Boink!

Moving on; yes indeed, Survivors Series 3 was released on Monday and I suppose by now, some keen listeners will have hoovered up every last episode and may even be looking forward to series 4. More of that anon.

Having spent quite some time trying to write and post more about Survivors, I'm afraid the computer gremlins have beaten me and I'll have to postpone further details - maybe until I get a new computer!

My apologies for such a minimalistic posting, but I will post properly about this release and others just as soon as I am able. How frustrating!

I hope you 'enjoy' Survivors - more anon...

The Tenth Doctor

It's been quite a time; the last several weeks of my ongoing audio odyssey have provided some amazing and extraordinary experiences - and I use the word 'extraordinary' as someone who fervently believes that any 'artist' caught in the act of lazily using it to describe anything and everything, should be heavily fined by the Acting Police - so be assured that if I'm employing the word here, it's because events have indeed been extraordinary.

And here's why; not only have I recently had the immense honour of working with one of my professional heroes, Sir John Hurt, but last week, also had the great pleasure of working with a couple of Doctor Who icons, whose work both inside and outside the series, I admire very much, viz - David Tennant and Catherine Tate - oh yes!!!

News of the Tenth Doctor audio series we've been recording has been released today and here are some details from Big Finish, along with some fabulous artwork. Incidentally, I'm delighted that my character - octopus and chief villain Gully - features quite prominently in the artwork...

David Tennant portrayed the Doctor on screen from 2005 until 1 January 2010, returning to play alongside Matt Smith and John Hurt in the 50th Anniversary special The Day of the Doctor in 2013. Catherine Tate made her debut as Donna in December 2006, and after a series and two festive specials she made her last appearance alongside David on 1 January 2010. Their on-screen partnership is generally regarded as one of the great high-points of the enduring science fiction phenomenon.

Technophobia by Matt Fitton

When the Doctor and Donna visit London’s Technology Museum for a glimpse into the future, things don’t go to plan.

The most brilliant IT brain in the country can’t use her computer. More worrying, the exhibits are attacking the visitors, while outside, people seem to be losing control of the technology that runs their lives.
Is it all down to simple human stupidity, or is something more sinister going on?

Beneath the streets, the Koggnossenti are waiting. For all of London to fall prey to technophobia...

 Time Reaver by Jenny T Colgan

Calibris. The spaceport planet where anything goes. Where anyone who doesn't want to be found can be lost, and where everything has its price. Where betentacled gangster Gully holds sway at the smugglers’ tavern, Vagabond’s Reach.

The alien Vacintians are trying to impose some order on the chaos. Soon the Doctor and Donna discover why. An illegal weapon is loose on the streets. A weapon that destroys lives… Slowly and agonisingly.
The Time Reaver.

 Death and the Queen by James Goss

Donna Noble has never been lucky in love.

So when, one day, her Prince does come, she is thrilled to have the wedding of all weddings to look forward to. Though the Doctor isn’t holding his breath for an invitation. And her future mother-in-law is certainly not amused.

But on the big day itself, Donna finds her castle under siege from the darkest of forces, marching at the head of a skeleton army.

When it looks like even the Doctor can’t save the day, what will Queen Donna do to save her people from Death itself?

David Tennant The Doctor   Catherine Tate Donna Noble

Technophobia

Niky Wardley Bex   Rachael Stirling Jill Meadows   Chook Sibtain Brian   Rory Keenan Kevin

Jot Stevens Lukas

Time Reaver

Alex Lowe Soren   Sabrina Bartlett Cora   Terry Molloy Rone   John Banks Gully   Dan Starkey Dorn

Death and the Queen

Blake Ritson Rudolph   Alice Krige Queen Mum   Beth Chalmers Hortense   Alan Cox Death

Other roles played by the cast

 Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Adventures is produced by David Richardson,

 script edited by Matt Fitton and James Goss 

and directed by Nicholas Briggs

* * * * *

So just to round off for now; my audio narration of The Bible is well underway and indeed, should be completed sometime in the next couple of weeks. This week, I'm also off to Games Workshop again to record further adventures of Ramus, in the Realmgate Wars series, which I'm very much looking forward to. Further details of all these projects will be released and published as they become available and I'm sure there'll be much more artwork to drool over.

Coming soon:

Series 3 of Survivors next month and The War Doctor the month after, along with further releases from The Age of Sigmar - phew!

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Doctor Who: Doom Coalition

"Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends, we're so glad you could attend, step inside, step inside!"...

And coming very soon to a galaxy near you, Doctor Who: Doom Coalition. So what's it all about?

Starring Paul McGann, Nicola Walker and Hattie Morahan, this brand new set of four-adventures sees the Eighth Doctor drawn back to Gallifrey to face The Eleven (Mark Bonnar) – a Time Lord criminal who retains each of his personalities every time he regenerates.

The new story will see the Eighth Doctor and Liv cross paths with new companion Helen Sinclair. Together, they'll journey from Sixties London to Renaissance Italy and a meeting with famed astronomer Galileo Galilei (John Woodvine).

It all comes down to a stunning showdown with the Eleven – one that will have dire consequences for the Doctor across the series!

You'll have to trust me on this, but unless I've hit the digital cutting room floor, I am actually in this series, although I'm probably not going to be credited. I'll have to give it a forensic listen, but it might be fun just not to mention specifically what my contribution to the whole thing really was; bit of mystery, bit of surprise perhaps...?

In any case, it should be a fantastic production and I'm very much looking forward to its release on Monday 12th October - yes, Monday! Hope you enjoy, hope I'm in it! 

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Lurid, Cute and Monstrous?

A couple of quick updates:

This morning, Big Finish announced the beginning of a very exciting series of audio dramas featuring the superstar actor, Sir John Hurt, who is playing The War Doctor. I am beyond thrilled to be involved in this series and very keen to listen to the first box set when it's released in December. In the meantime, here are some details of what's in store, with much more to follow...

In December 2015, the Time War will rage and only one man can save us. 

John Hurt is The War Doctor!

John Hurt, the world-renowned star of film and television, is returning to the role of The War Doctor, in twelve full-cast Doctor Who audio plays.

The War Doctor was introduced for Doctor Who’s Fiftieth Anniversary, and played a key part in the record-breaking television special The Day of the Doctor, alongside David Tennant and Matt Smith’s Doctors. He is the secret incarnation of the Time Lord — but he has shunned the title ‘Doctor’ in order to fight in the Time War against the Daleks.

“I have been a huge fan of John since first seeing him in the repeats of I, Claudius in the 1980s and in his Oscar-nominated role as the eponymous The Elephant Man,’ says Big Finish executive producer Jason Haigh-Ellery. ‘Watching his performance in The Day of the Doctor I did find myself fantasising that some far off day we might have the chance to work with him on the audio adventures of Doctor Who and now two short years later it’s happened! John wove a fantastic character together from a great script by Steven Moffat. Now we have the chance to get to know that character more and hear John stretch in the role. We’re all in for a hell of a ride as the War Doctor engages in battle. But who are the greater threat - the Daleks or the Time Lords?”

The audio adventures of The War Doctor will be told over four box sets, each containing three linked hour-long episodes. The first box set is entitled Only The Monstrous, and is written and directed by Nicholas Briggs, whose many successes for Big Finish include the BBC Audio Award-winning masterpiece Doctor Who: Dark Eyes.

“The story of the Doctor who refuses to call himself the Doctor in order to do the unthinkable upon the ultimate battlefield — all of space and time — was irresistible to me,” says Nicholas. “Such a deeply disturbing and engaging character created by the formidable talents of writer Steven Moffat and actor John Hurt. It’s such a privilege to be working on this.”

The cast of The War Doctor also includes Jacqueline Pearce, who plays Time Lord Cardinal Ollistra — an arch manipulator who is waging the Time War against the Daleks. Jacqueline’s work includes The Avengers, Callan, Doctor Who: Death Comes to Time, Moondial and Russell T Davies’ Dark Season, and she is known to many science fiction fans for her role as Servalan in the cult classic Blake’s 7.
Only The Monstrous will be released in December 2015, and will be followed in February 2016 by the second volume, Infernal Devices, which is written by John Dorney, Phil Mulryne and Matt Fitton. Volumes Three and Four are currently in pre-production.

“What an utter privilege it is to work with such an iconic actor, playing such a brilliantly devised role,” says producer David Richardson. “This is Doctor Who at its darkest — the era in which our hero casts aside his core values in order to try and save the galaxy in its most terrible hour. We promise bold and brilliant story-telling with gripping character drama, and epic and cinematic audio productions.”

* * * * *

In August, audible.co.uk released the audio book version if Adam Thirlwell's novel, Lurid&Cute which I narrated. Here are some details:
  
Shortlisted for the 2015 Goldsmiths Prize

This yarn takes place in the suburbs of a giant city. In Brasilia they’re coming off their night shift, in Tokyo they’re having their first whisky sours – that’s what’s happening elsewhere in the world when our hero wakes up. Together with his wife and dog, he lives at home with his parents. He has had the good education and, until recently, the good job. In other words, the juggernaut of meaning was not parked heavily on our hero’s lawn.

But then the lurid overtakes him – and whether this lurid tone is caused by our hero’s new unemployment, or his feelings for a girl who is not his wife, or the return of his old friend Hiro, it’s hard to say. What’s definite is that a chain of events begins that feels to those inside it, narcotic and neurotic, like one long and terrible descent – complete with lies, deceit, and chicanery; one orgy, one brothel, and a series of firearms disputes.

While if you start to notice minute doubles and repeats, or wonder if what you took as some trick of perspective might in fact be a kink of reality, perhaps that shouldn't be so much of a surprise... For very possibly this suburban noir as the story of a woebegone and global generation – and our hero, the sweetest narrator in world literature, may well also be the most fearsome.

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

The Prisoner of The Black Sun

Just released from The Black Library: The Prisoner of The Black Sun

Cast into the Vale of Sorrow upon thunder and lightning, the Stormcast Eternals of Lord-Celestant Tarsus Bull-Heart seek the Starless Gates and an audience with the fabled lord of the Undead, Nagash.

But when the Hallowed Knights are ambushed by Khorne's own Bloodbound, they are forced into a pact with a creature from an elder age, a vampire of dubious provenance, one whose name resonates throughout history... von Carstein.

  Gareth Armstrong  John Banks  Toby Longworth  Luis Soto  Ramon Tikaram

  

Sound design and music by Jamie Robertson

Directed by Matthew Renshaw 

Warhammer: Nathaniel Garro

For several postings now, I've been rattling on about new audio releases from Games Workshop; this release however has come as a bit of a surprise, albeit a very welcome one and isn't one of the 'other' releases I actually had in mind...

So, this very handy collection of stories follows the story of Nathaniel Garro and here are some details from The Black Library:

Long has been the road of Nathaniel Garro. After surviving the treachery of Isstvan III and the terror of his escape aboard the Eisenstein, he has become a paragon of loyalty and protector of the innocent. Whilst his Death Guard brothers faltered and fell, his belief in Emperor and Throne remained true. For his charge is a most sacred one, given unto him by none other than Malcador the Sigillite, to recruit the Knights Errant and lay the foundation for a secretive order dedicated to the eradication of Chaos.

 Oath of Moment - Sword of Truth - Legion of One - Burden of Duty - Ashes of Fealty - Shield of Lies

It's the whole compelling journey of the fan-favourite character, from his first mission to his discovery of Malcador's true plan. Explore dark corners of the Horus Heresy and see Legions, loyal and traitor, in new ways across more than eight hours of action-packed audio drama.

Performed by:

   John Banks, Jane Collingwood, Jonathan Keeble, Toby Longworth, Ramon Tikaram & David Timson

I should perhaps mention that I'm playing characters in Sword of Truth and Burden of Duty

 * * * * *

In other news; recording of The Bible continues this week, I'm also back in the Big Finish studio next week to work on a Doctor Who adventure and of course, it's Big Finish Day 7 on Saturday - so maybe see you there?

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness...

September. Autumn. My favourite time of year. In a number of ways, I still think of autumn as the beginning of the year. It must be because of the beginning of the new school - university - theatre term or season; I suppose I never really got out of that way of thinking. After many months of high activity, there should be quite a bit to come in the next several weeks in terms of audio releases. But before getting into what's new and what's on the horizon, the first point of focus for this particular posting has to be: Big Finish Day 7.

 For further details of the event, the guests and the venue, follow this link: Big Finish Day 7

  

September sees the release of the two stories which make up Volume 1 of Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Adventures, namely, Prisoners of The Lake and The Havoc of Empires. However, if you are feeling particularly impatient and just can't wait to wrap your ears around the whole thing when it's released tomorrow (Wednesday 2nd), Big Finish in their generosity have made the first part of The Havoc of Empires available to download now - yes now - and there's a box set trailer! Amazing! 

Here are some more details of who does what:

Tim Treloar Narrator - The Doctor   Katy Manning Jo Grant   Richard Franklin Mike Yates 

Prisoners of the Lake by Justin Richards

Captain Mike Yates is investigating the disappearance of artefacts from an archaeological site deep below Dunstanton Lake. It’s hardly a job for UNIT. But when the team discover a mysterious ancient structure buried deep underwater, all that changes.

When chief archaeologist Freda Mattingly ventures inside, she soon realises that her skills do not begin to equip her to deal with what she finds. As an ancient menace begins to stir the Doctor, Jo Grant and Mike Yates must dive down to the lake bed and discover the secrets hidden there. Secrets that could mean the end of all life on Earth…

Carolyn Seymour Freda Mattingly  

Robbie Stevens Johnny Repford - Director Pennard - Statue - The Prosecutor

 John Banks Chief Dastron - Lieutenant Macintyre - UNIT Operative - Archaeologist

The Havoc of Empires by Andy Lane 

The Doctor and Jo take Mike Yates on his first trip in the TARDIS, but instead of the historical cricket match they were aiming for they end up on a futuristic space station in the middle of a diplomatic crisis that might escalate into galactic war. 

The alien leader of the Chalnoth Hegemony is marrying the human Director of the Teklarn Incorporation, but there are forces that will stop at nothing to disrupt the ceremony. The Doctor is accused of murder while explosions occur across the station, and only Jo Grant, pretending to be a security consultant, can save the day. 

But then, there’s the Eels to consider…

Helen Goldwyn May Zalrick - Harmony Station AI    Hywel Morgan Regent Tharlar - Alex Filton  

Lucy Briggs-Owen Tina Andresson    Joanna Bacon Lady Gurlen  

George Layton Louis Markell - Human Guard

Directed by: Nicholas Briggs

Producer David Richardson

With an added air of mystery, BF are keeping enigmatically silent about the specific release date of the second of this month's adventures (that I've had some involvement with) - and why not? All adds to the level of keen anticipation...

Once it was a mining facility. Then later its corridors rang with screams generated by grotesque military experiments. However when the Doctor and Mel arrive on a hostile alien world after detecting a distress signal, the base they find themselves in is almost deserted.

But not for long. Soon the Doctor's old enemies, the Sontarans, have landed, and are searching for the remnants of their previous research team. Before long they uncover evidence of strange occurrences on the planet. Of madness and death.

They are warriors bred for war, strong of spirit and unafraid of death. To fear the enemy is an act of betrayal. Nothing holds terror for the Sontarans.

Until now...

Sylvester McCoy The Doctor   Bonnie Langford Melanie Bush  

Daniel O'Meara Ketch   Jon Edgley Bond Anvil Jackson - Technician Gyte  

Andree Bernard Tethneka - Carter/Thing #1 and #2  Dan Starkey Field-Major Kayste - Skegg - Stodd
 John Banks Adjutant Commander Klath - Stettimer  John Dorney Glarr 

Other parts played by the cast.

Written by John Dorney and Dan Starkey
Directed by Ken Bentley

At some time this month, hopefully there'll be news from Games Workshop about their various new audio drama releases, which I'm very much looking forward to as it's been quite some time since my last outing as a Space Marine, several years in fact. In the meantime, I should perhaps mention that our recording of The Bible is now well under way - so many names, so many places - and work will continue on it later this week. Thanks for dropping by.

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

From Genesis to Revelation...

Yet another long blogging break - apologies and thanks for coming back! My usual excuse for longer than expected blogging breaks (bit of a tongue twister...) is that I've been on the go somewhere and doing something else, something akin to 'work'. That's true once again, but it's also true that despite there being a number of audio releases 'in the pipeline', not many, i.e. none, were scheduled for August, at least with me in them, with the exception of a 'sneeze and you'll miss it' role buried somewhere deep in Return To Telos. 

Big Finish scheduling is also part of the reason, as is the fact that this time last year, I'd just finished working for a couple of months in the theatre, which largely took me out of the recording loop. I am of course thrilled to be once more consumed by the loop in it's many forms and thrilled again that next month, there are a couple of potentially very interesting releases - well, I'm looking forward to them at any rate. Further details to follow in September, but the stories I'm thinking of are Terror of The Sontarans with Sylvester McCoy and Bonnie Langford together with the first box set of Third Doctor adventures, featuring Tim Treloar as The Doctor, Katy Manning as Jo Grant and Richard Franklin as Mike Yates - should be fun to give them a listen.

 So what's all this 'Genesis to Revelation' stuff in the post title? Good question. I am indeed a life-long fan of Genesis the band and the individual members of it, who have done some amazing and fantastically creative original solo work. But no, that's not it. The eagle eyed and observant dipper into this blog, will probably know by now that I've been recording audio books fairly regularly for the past two and a half years. Steep learning curve, quite challenging but generally, really good fun and a pleasing thing to do. There are currently three audio books in my 'yet to be released' pipeline and yesterday, we started recording the next audio book; the 'we' refers to Producer Neil Gardner and me.

Preparatory work has been going on for a few weeks already, test recordings have been made and a not inconsiderable amount of time has been spent in getting my tongue around the text and my head around the very idea of the project itself. So far, the overall project has been in the planning stages for over a year, although until Neil offered me the job a few weeks ago and my participation as narrator was finally approved, I knew nothing of it. But what a great challenge it is and although somewhat overawed, I'm beyond excited to say that yesterday, we began recording... The Bible, from beginning to end, unabridged, from Genesis to Revelation.


Sooooo, that'll take a few weeks to complete, but in the meantime, I'm off to Nottingham tomorrow, to record more audio drama next week for Games Workshop, which is also very exciting - I love playing Space Marines!

Incidentally, I'm hoping that next month will also see Games Workshop starting to release some of the audio drama recordings, which, as you may remember, I've been working on over the last few months. I'm really looking forward to posting more about them at the time of release and to seeing the accompanying artwork for the CDs, which is usually quite stunning.

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Coming very soon...

...and of course, there's this:

...appetite whet, or dry?

...although the opposite of whet, isn't actually dry  - as we all know.

In any case, Big Finish have released information about a new four episode box set, which is scheduled for release in 2016, not all that far away in time.

 And here it is; a little appetite whetter:

" Doctor Who: The Churchill Years is a box set of four stories starring Ian McNeice as the legendary war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Ian first took on the role in the Eleventh Doctor story Victory of the Daleks, and the new set details his further adventures with the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors. Each story is narrated from Churchill's viewpoint and is ably supported by a full guest cast of actors."

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Survivors: Series Three

Branching out from the harrowing events of the recently released second series, Series 3 focuses on a new group of Survivors, living in the ruins of London during the events of the original TV series. 

Returning from the first box set is Maddie Price (Chase Masterson), still looking for a way back to the USA.

 Her desperate search will lead her to cross paths with some old friends – and some new enemies.

 

Scheduled for release November 2015

...so what's happening?

Good question. I've just been looking over the last posting, which only seems like a couple of days ago, but is in fact, a couple of weeks ago. That's really been the story of 2015; the time has zipped by and we're already more than half way through the year. The dominant event of July has been the recording of Adam Thirlwell's novel, Lurid&Cute. I was a little nervous before recording began, for a couple of reasons; primarily because L&C is the first audio book I've done this year and I wondered if I was going to be a bit rusty when recording began. Also, as I mentioned in the previous posting, the text is quite 'quirky' in construction and sentences don't always go in the direction you think they might. Punctuation is also used in unconventional ways, again setting potential traps for the narrator. These technical obstacles aren't always apparent when reading silently to ones self but become acutely apparent when reading aloud. Odd syntax and the use of non English words focussed my attention too and I noted that one particular sentence was 92 lines long! L&C is the third Adam Thirlwell novel I've recorded, the others being Politics and The Escape, and I've enjoyed working on all of them; I think if somehow you can hit the appropriate 'tone' and let the narrative roll along, it all seems to work pretty well - in my head at least!

So what else? Well, Big Finish have released Doctor Who: The Fate of Krelos, starring Tom Baker and Louise Jameson. The second part of the adventure, Return To Krelos, is released next month. Full details appear on the Big Finish web site, but here's the cover artwork and a general synopsis of each story:


There are dark skies on Krelos… and something gigantic is descending.

Meanwhile, the Doctor and Leela set off for some fishing in the mountain pools of Krelos. K9 has interfaced with the TARDIS and has reactivated the architectural configuration from the days of the Doctor’s second incarnation. In passing, the Doctor notes it could do with a good clean. And there’s a familiar piece of material snagged on the console.
Far up the mountain, an aged explorer is in trouble. Will the Doctor and Leela be able to save him and his planet?

And what is it that K9 has discovered in the TARDIS?


The Doctor reveals to Leela that they’re heading for the planet Telos. And K9 has new masters...

On Telos, in the past, the Second Doctor and Jamie are exploring the ‘tomb of the Cybermen’.

Meanwhile, the Cyber-Controller and Cyber-Planner consolidate their plans. Spare parts from Krelos are being used to construct a mighty Cyber army. The Doctor must be captured.

Out of control, the TARDIS tumbles down a chasm and the Doctor and Leela find themselves caught up in full-scale planetary invasion.

Written and directed by Nick Briggs, the cast includes:

Tom Baker The Doctor    Louise Jameson Leela    John Leeson K9    Frazer Hines Jamie  

Michael Cochrane Geralk   Bernard Holley Peter Haydon   Veronica Roberts Relly 

Nicholas Briggs The Cybermen

I've just added Krelos to my phone and look forward to giving it a listen. I worked on both stories, although I'm fairly sure I won't be officially credited. There's nothing unusual in that, although it does make keeping track of what I've done a bit trickier that it might otherwise be! 

Before the month ends, I'm looking forward to being back in the studio to record further Big Finish stories, details of which will no doubt appear here, when I'm allowed to reveal them. 

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

Summertime and the livin' is... busy!

Indeed, very busy. And that's my only excuse for once again being a bit of a slacker when it comes to updating the site. There's been a lot going on this month (Big Finish, Games Workshop) and much of what's coming up needs time to fully prepare. I'm starting work on an audio book next week, which I'm really looking forward to; Lurid & Cute by Adam Thirlwell. It will be the third book of Adam Thirlwell's I've recorded and the second with producer Chris Sharp. I'm currently reading through and making notes and will hopefully be ready when recording starts on Monday - should be fun.

Yesterday, I was in the studio to record some Doctor Who with the Big Finish gang and although silence must prevail on the whole enterprise, I can tell you that the cast and script were excellent and an enjoyable day was had by all of us. As usual, I'll be much more forthcoming about this story nearer the time of release, although I suspect that might be quite some time hence.

There's more Big Finish before the end of the month, some intriguing corporate voice over stuff to do and I have to prepare and submit a recorded vocal audition, for which I'll have to brush up my classical Persian pronunciation! If it all works out, we should hopefully start to record the project fairly soon.

And finally for now; arriving home last night, I found that this quite handsome APA Finalist Medallion had arrived from the USA - it looks fab! Many thanks to the APA!

Tempting to wear it at the next recording; whaddya think - good idea? No? Oh, ok...

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!

 

Hello sweetie...

An epic four-hour adventure that takes River Song across space and time, seeking out the secret rulers of the universe. 

More details to follow soon!

#BF27June

...sssshhhhhhhhhhh!

future indicative...

...insofar as there's some lovely stuff coming up in the recording studio over the next few weeks, with both Big Finish and Games Workshop and I'm very much looking forward to getting stuck into a bunch of scripts in preparation.

Survivors 2 is now available and I'm happy to say that the general reaction has, so far, been very positive. There have been a number of highly enthusiastic tweets on the subject and some very good formal reviews have appeared on-line. Big Finish have also released details of the forthcoming Series 3, which I've included below. This time the wait between box sets will be much shorter, with a proposed release date of November 2015 - a mere five and a bit months away!

I'm hoping that I'll soon be able to reveal further details of the Games Workshop stories already recorded; I've seen some of the artwork and I have to say, I think it's quite stunning. Artwork for Warhammer stories is always fascinating and full of story telling detail; can't wait to see what the final CD covers will look like.

And so, another brief update; more to come as always, but in the meantime, here are some details of Survivors Series 3:

Branching out from the harrowing events of the recently released second series, Series 3 focuses on a new group of Survivors, living in the ruins of London during the events of the original TV series. Returning from the first box set is Maddie Price (Chase Masterson), still looking for a way back to the USA. Her desperate search will lead her to cross paths with some old friends – and some new enemies.

 

1: Cabin Fever by Jonathan Morris
Introducing: Andrew French as Dalton Roberts, Paul Thornley as John 'Vinnie' Vincent After weeks of searching for her son across a devastated Britain, Abby Grant and her allies head into London in pursuit of new leads. One of the party is quarantined, holed up with a fever. They remember the very first days of the Death, and the actions of a man called John Vincent…

2: Contact by Simon Clark
Introducing: James Joyce as Jonathon A lonely voice on the radio calls out across the ether. Maddie Price is a long way from home, but not yet ready to give up hope.

3: Rescue by Andrew Smith  
When his friends' lives hang in the balance hundreds of feet above London, Jimmy Garland leads a daring rescue mission into the capital.

4: Leaving by Matt Fitton
Down on the coast, plans are being made to reach out across the world. It could mean a new beginning for some, and the long-awaited chance to return home for others.

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!