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ISSUE: 140 • OCTOBER 2020 WWW.BIGFINISH.COM

THE TENTH DOCTOR AND TOGETHER AGAIN, BUT IN WHAT ORDER?

PLUS: BLAKE’S 7 | : SISTERS BIG FINISH

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WELL, THIS is rather exciting, isn’t it, more fantastic THE DIARY OF adventures with the Tenth Doctor and River Song! For many years script editor Matt Fitton and I have both dreamed of RIVER SONG hearing stories like this. We know that River has met the Tenth Doctor before RETURNS AS RIVER SONG as we discovered on screen in in WITH THE TENTH DOCTOR NEXT MONTH  BUT the Library/The . And THAT ISN’T HER ONLY SET OF FORTHCOMING it’s clear when meets River for the second time in The Time of NEW ADVENTURES FROM BIG FINISH. Angels/ that the pair have had further encounters. I’m a daughter, Salome Haertel), huge fan of the Tenth Doctor and I love IN JANUARY 2021, 24th century war criminal River, and we’re in for a real treat with River is back in The Annam Henic (played by this new trio of tales all recorded Diary of River Song Derek Griffiths), (John during lockdown. Series Eight, Leeson), cat FE-LINE The COVID-19 outbreak across affectionately dubbed (Tracy Wiles) and the the planet has been dreadful with ‘River and the Robots’. Mechonoids (played by so many losses and tragedies being In Slight Glimpses of ). felt. I lost my friend, Hamish Wilson Tomorrow by , A There’s also an ( Jamie in The Mind Robber), Brave New World by Tracy appearance by Jane Slavin to it in the first few weeks. Ann Baines, A Forever who reprises her role of But out of this horrible situation, Home by Alfie Shaw and Anya Kingdom – the Space Big Finish has worked miracles to Queen of the Mechonoids by Security Service officer carry on functioning and creating , the from The audio adventures, keeping actors, archaeologist encounters Adventures – who is on writers, directors, cover artists, sound android Rachel from The a rescue mission with designers and musicians in work – as Diary of River Song Series a difference. VORTEX well as studio engineers. And, of Two (played by Alex’s course, writing Vortex has kept me sane during my furlough from the day job. Big Finish – reasons to be cheerful, DOCTOR WHO parts one, two and three! VORTEX THE DIARY OF RIVER SONG SERIES EIGHT z RELEASED: JANUARY 2021 z FORMAT: CD”DOWNLOAD ORDER NOW AT: bgfn.sh/mechonoids FOR YEARS WE’VE HAD RIVER SONG SKIRTING love to do, and in the early days of lockdown we discovered that both AROUND THE DOCTOR SO THEY DIDN’T MEET David and Alex had availability and OUT OF ORDER, BUT NOW THEY CAN FULLY the means to record at home. So we pitched the idea of a box set to them EXPLORE SPACE AND TIME TOGETHER… and in an instant we were underway with storylines and scripts.” THE DOCTOR and River Song more about River Song, and to see Script editor Matt Fitton tells have a complex history. The more of Alex Kingston interacting Vortex: “It’s a thing I’ve always Tenth Doctor knows what her with . But it wasn’t wanted to do and I’m gutted I didn’t fate is when he’s young, while to be – although we did of course have the time to write one of these she knows everything they are see her with and Peter myself, but we’ve got three exciting to go through when she meets Capaldi’s Doctors. Producer David adventures from James Goss, Lizzie him for the first time. Wibbly Richardson reveals: “A meeting Hopley and Jonathan Morris. wobbly, timey-wimey indeed. between the Tenth Doctor and River David continues: “I wanted James After the television episodes Song came along, as these things to write the first story because /Forest of the should, a little by surprise. It had he’s done such lovely, effervescent Dead, we were left wanting to know long been on our list of things we’d work on two previous Tenth Doctor

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scripts and he’s written one of my fun to work with him. He came THE FIRST story in this set is favourite episodes in The Diary up with something very fitting Expiry Dating by James Goss. of River Song – Signs. Lizzie was for the era, appropriately in the The first time the Doctor met actually underway with a script for style of both and River Song, he saw her die. And a different project but I loved it so , with the Doctor now she’s asking him on a date. much that I instantly suggested we and River meeting ghosts. Well, not a date, exactly... more should switch it to a full-cast drama “And James has written for the of a mission. But the Doctor isn’t at and use it here. And Jonny should Tenth Doctor before, and came up anyone’s beck and call. Or so he really have written for the Tenth with something very clever. The thinks. With billions of lives hanging Doctor range before now, so this Doctor finds himself trying to find in the balance, can the Doctor afford was the chance to put that right!” out more about River but she won’t not to do whatever River wants? Matt says: “Lizzie wrote for The give him any spoilers. She’s got a job Whichever one of him she asks? Eighth of March set, which was she wants this Doctor to do, so if he Vortex asks James what his the first time I’d worked with won’t do it, she’s not above getting reaction was when asked to write her, and as I knew she could do other Doctors involved as well.” Expiry Dating: “Wheeeeeeeeee.

(l–r): Alex Kingston and David Tennant IT’S A COP OUT TO HAVE really great work quite quickly, I Then realising there’s a gap between set her the challenge of the Tenth HIM FIND OUT their first and second meeting and Doctor and River meeting. Lizzie that it’s a carefully limited gap. The writes things that are fun with EVERYTHING Doctor still doesn’t entirely know an emotional heart to it all. In who this amazing woman is and Precious Annihilation we have ABOUT HER can’t find out, but it’s a cop-out 17th century jewels which are AND THEN to have him find out everything exploding and killing people, so about her and then get hit on the Doctor and River set off on GET HIT ON the head with a time spanner. the trail of a ship of mutineers. “I was scratching my head about “Jonny has written for so many THE HEAD what to do and Matt pointed out Doctors it seemed only fitting WITH A that he’d already asked me about that he should get to do the TIME it a couple of months before and Tenth as well! I’ve always been SPANNER. I’d suggested writing it as a tribute a fan of his writing, back to the to those glorious 18th century BBC Books days, and it’s always JAMES GOSS epistolary novels (like ’s

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Lady Susan). I thanked my past self and got on with writing it. It’s a series of letters between two people who don’t know or trust each other, and it ends up being a heist movie told through love letters.” James, a regular scribe for The Diary of River Song and who has written for the and River before, told Vortex: “It was a great joy not having to wipe the Doctor’s memory combined with the fun challenge of not moving things along – the Doctor has to end up stunned and entranced by River but also intrigued. “Matt (who is the king of River continuity) pointed out there’s one fact about River that the Doctor has learned by the TV episode , so we put it in here.” The story also features other Doctors, which was a highlight for James. He agrees: “The ’s cameo. Actually all the cameos. Matt was saying, ‘Go for it see what happens.’ I also love the title which WITH DAVID wasn’t mine – Nicholas Briggs came up with it and it’s perfect.” TENNANT YOU PRECIOUS ANNIHILATION by CAN’T TAKE jewels and why but thanks to the is the second book I discovered the extraordinary story in the set. When jewels YOUR FOOT of Gerrard Pullman, the become lethal in the of gem dealer. I kept a lot of truth 1912, both River and the Doctor OFF THE GAS, about him in the audio adventure turn up to find out why. A and set part of it on the East India mystery takes them centuries into the YOU NEED Company ship he travelled on. past and onto the high seas, where a TO KEEP HIM “The story of his risky voyage superstitious crew edges towards was unbelievable. He paid £100 mutiny. The star-crossed couple are GOING. to travel from Persia to England about to find out that, while with his entire collection of jewels. LIZZIE HOPLEY gemstones inspire jealousy, love can be There were so many crates they the deadliest treasure of all… filled the ship. I couldn’t help Lizzie tells Vortex: “David thinking of the crew, knowing they Richardson was looking for a high What was this jewellery? Where did were being paid buttons but were octane adventure for the Doctor it come from? The time difference making this voyage with a man and River. Having those two actors alone was immediately alien-y! who (true story) kept the biggest made the story just write itself as “I missed the exhibition of the jewels strapped to his body, talking it’s mainly just the two of them Hoard at the Museum of London as to them as if they were children! with some guest characters. my husband didn’t want to see “a “They had this amazing temptation “I’d been toying with a story load of jewellery!” and by the time thrust before them and, I don’t want about the Cheapside Hoard for I returned to London the jewels to give away any spoilers, but my some time. It was an extraordinary had been dispersed back to their Gerrard has a very similar fate… find in Victorian London by some owners. But I remembered them “That whole period just lends builders who dug up a haul of Stuart during lockdown and bought a itself to an audio adventure. You and Tudor jewellery that had been book on them. The book is actually have the soundscape of the ship and buried in mud for many years. really satisfying as big pictures are the bustle of Elizabethan England, “It’s a fabulous basis for an printed next to ‘actual size’ photos then you have the jewel mine in adventure. There’s the obvious thrill and the real jewels are tiny!” India and the pubs of Victorian of finding buried treasure but the The story has a basis in history, London – I can’t wait to hear what fact it comes from a different period which is fascinating. Lizzie the sound team have done with it!” of history puts a mystery right at the confirms: “It’s still a massive Lizzie is thrilled, in particular, to centre of it. Who buried it and why? mystery as to who buried the have had the chance to write for

VORTEX | PAGE 6 I STILL GET EXCITED. I STILL HAVE TO GO AND TELL these leading actors. She explains: “My main thought was that “Each of the Doctors have their own MY WIFE THE I wanted to keep it simple kind of humour and a different GOOD NEWS in terms of continuity, so it way of talking. David Tennant is wouldn’t be explaining how River just such a smart actor. He’s very IMMEDIATELY. ended up in the Stormcage or attentive to his scripts and you anything like that. It needed to have that confidence knowing AND I STILL be a straightforward, standalone what he will do with your lines. story with a small cast that “Big Finish employ such GET FIRED UP could be recorded remotely. wonderful actors which keeps “My starting point was to tell a you confident when you write WITH IDEAS. ghost story. Ghost stories usually but with David Tennant you can’t JONATHAN MORRIS have small casts, they are very take your foot off the gas, you contained in terms of location need to keep him going. He kind of and have a simple structure of drives the pace in your writing. investigate, the truth of what’s our heroes uncovering a mystery “The syntax between him and happening on the planet of ghosts with escalating scares. That gave River is so good – she’s a great match may prove deadly for them both. me a setting – they would visit for him. I loved writing for the Jonny says: “I was thrilled to the most haunted planet in the two of them. There’s one scene in be asked to write this. You would galaxy! A planet where there are particular that made me laugh while think I would be jaded and cynical so many ghosts, and where their writing it as I could hear David by now but that hasn’t happened. appearances are so regular, they and Alex saying it in my head.” I still get excited. I still have to go have become a tourist attraction. and tell my wife the good news Then the next thing to do was THE FINAL story of the set is immediately. And I still get fired to think about a twist…” Ghosts by Jonathan Morris. up with ideas. At the time I was Was there a special excitement River and the Doctor meet a bit busy doing the Monster for Jonny, getting to write for on the most haunted planet Vault book as well as coping with David Tennant? He smiles: “The in the galaxy. The Doctor’s the collapse of civilisation as really beautiful thing in writing not sure it’s an ideal date we know it, but this was such a for the Tenth Doctor is that, as – until they discover a mystery. great, joyous opportunity that I you write the lines, you can hear Something is wrong with the ghosts. knew I would have to make time him saying them, and then after Something might even be killing for it somehow. And it did help a while it becomes like them… And as the Doctor and River take my mind off the pandemic. and he’s got ahead of you and

VORTEX | PAGE 7 resist having the Doctor saying, ‘I ain’t afraid of no ghosts!’ And then River replies, ‘Doctor, please, and I cannot express this too strongly, never, ever, do that again.’ Oh, I laughed when I wrote that. Naughty Jonny. “There were also a few moments where as I was writing, a twist or an emotional moment naturally occurred to me, and because of the freedom of the ‘ghost story’ structure I could go with the flow and include that twist or emotional moment rather than being constrained by the dictates of the plot. It’s a much more organic way of writing which is not my normal approach, but for this type of story it’s good to always be ‘in the moment’.”

DIRECTOR NICHOLAS Briggs has been responsible for bringing the scripts to life, working from home. Nick says: “We were in the early days of remote recording but I think this was the first time we used a system called Cleanfeed which records across the internet. We also had all the actors recording remotely at their locations so we ended up with two sets of recordings just in case there were any technical hitches. I jokingly tell people that directing AS IT’S A GHOST STORY, I remotely is approximately 15 times more stressful than directing in COULDN’T RESIST HAVING person – but it’s sort of true. There are so many variables and the simplest THE DOCTOR SAYING, technical hitch can suddenly eat into hours of time and the schedule goes ‘I AIN’T AFRAID OF NO out of the window. We had minimal hitches recording these but I seem to GHOSTS!’. JONATHAN MORRIS recall a few things went wrong. But we had a great sound engineer in Wilfredo Acosta who really guided you’re writing the lines down after always an emotional journey as he everyone through.” you’ve heard him say them. It’s gets put through the wringer.” How different is it working from always great to write with a specific The script did, however, pose a afar when it comes to getting actor in mind where you know challenge. Jonny says: “It is quite the performances you want? how each line will be delivered, tricky to portray ghosts on audio Nick reveals: “It’s not that much because then you can ‘hear’ how as they are mostly visual. But what different because quite often in another character will hear it, and the story is about – what I thought studio the actors can’t really see how they respond accordingly. was even more scary – was the you, they’re listening to what you It just makes the process so idea of what ghosts are. This idea are saying to them. Only very rarely much easier and more fun. that you might die and then find have I ever managed to get a specific “The other thing that’s interesting yourself wandering the Earth, performance out of someone with the Tenth Doctor is how, not alive, but unable to move on, by physically demonstrating in almost every story, he starts unable to end it. So aside from all something. Admittedly, there’s a off cracking jokes and taking the imagery there’s something really whole lexicon of unspoken signals nothing seriously... and by the scary about the thought, What that often aid communication in end he’s absolutely committed, would it be like to be a ghost? life generally but when working in absolutely serious. So there’s “As it’s a ghost story, I couldn’t the audio medium, as a director,

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I use the dexterity of my voice where actors wait to be called actors are more relaxed and therefore as much as the actors do. And, and relax over lunch. Vortex asks more likely to do better work. as all Big Finish directors always Nick if he has been able to create “It’s a fine balance, a tightrope of say, if you’ve got the casting right a similar atmosphere virtually. titters. On one side, there’s efficient you’re not pushing hard to get a He nods: “I make it my business work and on the other, there’s an performance that isn’t forthcoming. to build lots of nonsense into any abyss of time-wasting. But it’s sort “I’d actually never directed Alex recording day, and I make an extra of like steering a boat. You keep a before although I’d attended studio special effort on that front with light touch on the tiller most of the sessions with her and met her on remote recording. Noses constantly time but when it’s needed – and set with Doctor Who. Everyone I stuck against the grindstone only experience can really help you know who has worked with her a lot for a whole solid day of acting with this – you can bring everything had told me how lovely and brilliant is not productive. It wears out under firm but friendly control.” she was to work with and I wasn’t the creative imaginations of all Producer David Richardson adds: disappointed. There were quite a few involved. So I always deliberately “It was of course a glorious time technical challenges for Alex, not bring up irrelevant subjects. beset by a few technical difficulties.

DAVID HAS AN INSPIRING least her iPad running out of power PASSION FOR THE PART OF THE at a crucial moment, but she bears it all with such a light touch; she has a DOCTOR AND ASKED A LOT OF firm sense of perspective. She’s very responsive to direction and very VERY RELEVANT QUESTIONS THAT keen to discuss things to get to the real nub of a scene. I’ve worked with HELPED US IMPROVE THE WORK David quite a lot before so I feel very AS WE WENT ALONG. . NICHOLAS BRIGGS at home with him. He and Alex really worked together well. And David has an inspiring passion for the part of “Those not used to my style often , when we recorded Expiry the Doctor and asked a lot of very have a slightly querying tone in Dating, had more than its fair share relevant questions that helped us their voice, but those who know me of holdups and problems, and at improve the work as we went along.” of old sit back and join in with the one stage I wondered if we’d get it Big Finish recording days are giggles. And although you sacrifice recorded but of course all issues were well known for the warm, friendly a bit of time doing this you actually resolved by our remote engineer atmosphere in the green room, end up gaining time, because the Wilfredo Acosta. By 6pm it was all in

VORTEX | PAGE 9 VORTEX |PAGE 10 the can andsoundingwonderful!” creative theexistingmaterial with but utilisinglibraries andbeing too much originalrecording outside lockdown itwasn’t possible todo problem. During theheight of for thestoriesisn’t generally a hear. “Findingsounds He explains: indeed foreground, noisesthat we to creating thebackground, and sounds towork from when itcomes to theusualBigFinishstandard.” anomalies toensure thedialogueis removing andacoustic artefacts and we oftimemanually spendalot from thevarious remote studios between thediffering acoustics acceptable. We have tofindabalance work toget sounding everything there ofpost-production isstillalot are asclear anddryaspossible effort toensure their recordings Although theactors are makingevery patchwork ofthesetwo sources. actors’ local orhomestudio. recording web system andoneinthe recorded over thenew remote- sets ofrecordings for each actor:one the higheststandard. We have two enabling ustocontinue working at more complicated buttechnology is of assembling editshasbecomealot usual? process Howard “The explains: Howard hasavast library of editusually consistsofa “The AND RIVERSONG THE TENTH DOCTOR HOWARD CARTER CREATIVE. MORE BECOME FORCED TO YOU ARE RESOURCES STARVED OF YOU ARE WHEN HOWARD CARTER isworking recordings, compared tothe dialogue editsoftheseremote different isitcombiningthe for thistriooftales. How on thesounddesignandmusic sending each pictures other ofour a humour highlight. We allstarted whatwith we’d hadfor lunch was inspiration. Andourobsession fromscripts ourwriters was an deliverysessions: “The ofgreat his highlights from therecording thematic legacy oftheproduction.” exciting while alsonoddingtothe sure everything sounds fresh and identity sothechallenge ismaking have auniquesoundandmusical always want every storyandsetto ideas into theoriginalscore. I incorporating thesemotifs and work sotheprocess with involves pre-existing thematicmaterialto there isusually amount of acertain before Ibegin.Withthesestories instruments for thearrangement some timemakingthepaletteof come tothemusic.thenspend I’ll can hittheground runningwhen I the sounddesignfor aproject soI tend tosketch outideas asIcreate my favourite oftheprocess. part I forced tobecomemore creative. are starved ofresources you are impossible. Sometimeswhen you we hadmeant was thatnothing Director Nick, shares Vortex with “Scoring thesestoriesisalways Alex Kingston

to hearing theedits.” thing. I’mreally looking forward sense ofjoy about thewhole the days! There was justagenuine my floral ononeof patternedshirt everyone of was very ‘admiring’ we allwere. AndIremember food, aswell aspictures ofwhere z z AND RIVER SONG THE TENTH DOCTOR DOCTOR WHO FORMAT: RELEASED: bgfn.sh/spoilers ORDER NOW AT: CD”DOWNLOAD NOVEMBER 2020 VORTEX

WWW.BIGFINISH.COM‚OFFERS‚V‚BOOKCLUB ACCESS CODEƒ STORIES and in the novel , so I knew the character fairly well. Hearing read the audiobook version of Silhouette was fantastic.” Did Justin find there were any challenges in writing a 21st-century style Doctor Who character, compared to classic style as Dan Starkey encountered Christopher Benjamin and the late Trevor Baxter? He confirms: “There was an element of working it out, though it wasn’t too much of a distraction. I did get notes on my original version saying it needs to move a bit quicker than usual!” Dan Starkey, who always enjoys playing Strax without having to undergo hours of make-up, says: “I thought it was a JAGO & LITEFOOT lovely idea bringing together people the & STRAX Doctor meets in the classic and in the z RELEASED: NOVEMBER 2015 modern series. The Doctor’s had a lot of z FORMAT: CD”DOWNLOAD encounters on his travels, and having ORDER NOW AT: spent a bit of time in 19th century bgfn.sh/haunting London it was inevitable that some of his mates would start coming together!

AS THE PATERNOSTER GANG RETURN FOR THEIR FOURTH BOX SET THIS MONTH IN HERITAGE , IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT’S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THEY WERE FIRST MENTIONED IN A BIG FINISH AUDIO.

NOVEMBER 2015 saw the release of Jago & Litefoot & Strax: The (l–r): Trevor Baxter, Dan Starkey and Christopher Benjamin Haunting, a two-disc special adventure that saw the beloved infernal investigators, Henry Gordon “What’s interesting is that I Jago and Professor George Litefoot, occasionally, very occasionally, suggest team up with Strax to solve a lines that could be tweaked for Strax but mystery in Victorian London. The with Justin’s script they felt absolutely Haunting was written by , right. It’s also spot on that this story has the script editor of the Big Finish Jago & a different dynamic for Strax as he’s not Litefoot range, and although and just there for . It’s great to Madame Vastra are mentioned in the tale, have a change where he uses his initiative they don’t actually appear. Justin explains: more and makes his own investigations. “When Big Finish first got the rights to use There’s a bit of added value too, as you get some elements from the current television to know more about him as a character.” series I suggested we had Jago and Litefoot Justin concludes: “Jago and Litefoot meet the whole Paternoster Gang but it completely complement each other. wasn’t possible for licensing reasons. So it They are totally different characters was a welcome surprise when I was later but they work well because of their asked to write a story with Jago, Litefoot differences. And when you add in and Strax. They are such an obvious a third character, who’s completely match-up. different again, it’s a very nice mix. “Finding Strax’s voice wasn’t too hard “With Christoper, Trevor and as I’d already written for him a couple Dan recording you always knew of times in prose in the novella Devil in that you were going to get great the Smoke, which is now available as performances – they really were an

WWW.BIGFINISH.COM‚OFFERS‚V‚BOOKCLUB ACCESS CODEƒ STORIES CODEƒ ACCESS WWW.BIGFINISH.COM‚OFFERS‚V‚BOOKCLUB as part of the Summer Falls anthology, absolutely brilliant trio.” VORTEX BOOK CLUB BOOK FALLING FROM GRACELESS THE FIFTH DOCTOR AND were a great hit with listeners Out for release in November,  ARE ON A QUEST so were given their own spin-off Doctor Who: Wicked Sisters is a range, Graceless, where Amy full-cast box set containing three  AND HE MAY HAVE TO became known as . The adventures: The Garden of Storms, KILL AN OLD FRIEND… sisters did their best to help The Moonrakers and The People those in need but lacked the Made of Smoke. All three stories IN THE Doctor Who The (other) worldly experience to were written by Graceless’s creator, Monthly Adventures in make appropriate decisions. , who also wrote 2009, the Fifth Doctor was And now, Abby and Zara’s past the first appearance of Amy and sent to find the Key to Time. is catching up with them as the Zara in The Judgment of Iskaar. Joined by a newly-created Doctor is recruited by Leela for a Producer Mark Wright said: being, Amy, the pair had to vital mission on behalf of the Time “It’s been ten years since we recover the Key from agents of the Lords. Together, they must track first took Abby and Zara off on Black Guardian, which included down and destroy two god-like their own adventures. It’s fun Amy’s twin sister Zara. beings whose extraordinary powers to get the team that’s worked The sisters, played by Ciara now threaten all of space and time. on every episode of Graceless Janson and Laura Doddington, Their names are Abby and Zara... together every couple of years.

VORTEX | PAGE 12 DOCTOR WHO WICKED SISTERS

ABBY AND ZARA MUST DIE!

(l–r): Ciara Janson, , and Laura Doddington LEELA TELLS THE DOCTOR THAT HIS OLDS FRIENDS ABBY “Simon Guerrier’s scripts always take us into unexpected AND ZARA HAVE BECOME TOO territory, and actors Ciara and Laura bring something new to POWERFUL AND RECKLESS, their performances each time Abby and Zara are back together. As it’s AND NOW THREATEN ALL OF been a decade since the first series of Graceless, we thought it was SPACE AND TIME. SIMON GUERRIER time to bring things and take the sisters back to where it all began – with the Fifth Doctor.” Finish big cheese Jason very close to Graceless, I live down WE LAST heard from Abby Haigh-Ellery, and Jason said that if the road from Laura (who plays and Zara in January 2017, we did a it would need to Zara) so see her about quite a bit. and writer Simon says: “As I be a Doctor Who story first, and “Once I had the storylines was writing the finale written in such a way that you approved and had to actually write episode of Graceless IV, I didn’t need to have heard any of the thing, I found it pretty hard. wanted to tease the exciting Graceless. So that’s where we There were some big changes adventures still to come so I put in started this one.” going on in my life as I’d just given a thing that they would one day How did Simon find returning up a part-time job I’d had for 13 meet the Doctor again and it to Graceless? He told Vortex: years to spend more time at home wouldn’t go well for them. I wasn’t “Exciting, fun and exhausting! I had doing childcare while my wife sure if I’d ever be allowed to do the nub of the story quite early on: returned to full-time work. But I that, and I’d not really put too that Leela would be in it (because I sorted myself out and delivered much thought into what that love working with Louise Jameson); the scripts in the summer of 2018 could be, but when we were that she would want the Doctor to by which time Mark was caught recording The Dance we talked destroy Abby and Zara; and that up in other projects and the about it in studio. Producer Mark he would be torn about doing so. I release was put back again! So the Wright then ran the idea past Big also had the setting in mind. I feel scripts sat quietly in a corner for

VORTEX | PAGE 13 THE PRODUCTION brings together not just the cast of Graceless, with producer Mark and writer Simon, but also director . She admits: “I’m so pleased to be back with the whole team again, with Simon, Mark, Ciara and Laura – and now we’ve got added Peter Davison and Louise Jameson! “I keep on thinking we’ve come to the end of Graceless, but they’ve kept saying, ‘How about another one?’, and here we are all these years later. “We started together with Key 2 Time which we recorded back in 2008, and I think it was always

I KEEP ON THINKING WE’VE COME TO THE END OF GRACELESS, BUT THEY’VE KEPT SAYING, ‘HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ONE?’, AND HERE WE ARE ALL THESE YEARS LATER. LISA BOWERMAN

intended to be a one-off but Jason saw how well the two girls worked together. We actually went through a pretty big casting process for that one. I remember holding auditions which was quite exciting. Aside from Ciara and Laura, we actually found a couple of actors we’ve Ciara Janson since used in other Big Finish projects! Ciara and Laura were a year, and then we picked it all “In The Garden of Storms, the both really young when we cast up again in the summer of 2019. Doctor and Leela find Abby and them, we’ve seen them both grow That was good, really, because I Zara in a garden paradise where up so much over the years since came at it again with some critical everyone is happy and young. the first recording. As their lives distance, some objectivity. And That’s because the people here are have changed so too, in dramatic also, pleasingly, Wicked Sisters killed when they reach 40 – which terms, have their characters in the is now in November is bad news for our heroes… series grown and matured as well. 2020, exactly 10 years after the “In The Moon Rakers, the gang “Their relationship with Peter release of the firstGraceless set.” battle on the lunar Davison hit the ground running on Looking at each of the three surface in the early days of human this one, purely because of the Key 2 stories, the writer reveals: “Abby colonisation. But these Sontarans, Time, there’s this lovely idea that he and Zara must die! Leela tells oddly, don’t seem to want to fight… meets them again and still has a sort the Doctor that his old friends “And in People Made of Smoke, of fatherly relationship with them. Abby and Zara have become too Abby and Zara face the awful It’s still there but this new thread powerful and reckless, and now consequences of their powers. addresses a much more serious threaten all of space and time. He What is the Doctor willing to subject – the girls are causing must, she says, destroy them… sacrifice to save them?” ruptions in space and time. With

VORTEX | PAGE 14 DOCTOR WHO WICKED SISTERS

the best of intentions they change people’s lives for what they think will be for the better, then of course we get into the land of ‘unintended consequences’ and they go back to try to change their actions only for the outcomes to become increasingly worse rather than better. Things spiral out of control.”

RETURNING TO the part of Zara is Laura Doddington. She laughs: “They tried to get rid of us and they didn’t manage to, we’re here! It’s been something like four years since series and it was so lovely to be back in studio

ABBY AND ZARA TRY THEIR BEST. THERE ARE ALWAYS GOOD INTENTIONS BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT DOESN’T NECESSARILY WORK OUT THAT WAY. LAURA DODDINGTON

with Peter Davison. It was like going back to the beginning with Key 2 Time, and having Louise there was awesome with such a lovely energy. We recorded it before Christmas last year, it seems so long ago, and it was great to be with Ciara again as we always have such a laugh. “Simon has let the characters develop so brilliantly over the course of the series, and it’s so enjoyable to have the wit and banter that he gives us. It’s really lovely to play. “Abby and Zara try their best. There are always good intentions but unfortunately it doesn’t necessarily work out that way. It’s never two-dimensional as they feel real – they are three- dimensional characters dealing with the complex stuff that’s going on. To start with I was the evil sister but we’ve changed it up a bit. Trying to do the right thing is the wonderful human

VORTEX | PAGE 15 the ability to create convincing high-drama moments which can be tricky on audio but she made them easier to do. She’s great.” Working on the series sound design is Lee Adams, who was a newcomer to Graceless. He admits: “I hadn’t listened to Graceless before so I had to cram some research in, and it is really good so it’s been a privilege to work on it. “It’s a timey-wimey story with a smokey villain behind the scenes. So that was fun – I like those kind of stories. I think the biggest challenge was creating the smoke creature: how do you go about making a voice smokey sounding? There was a lot of trial

IT WAS A VERY HAPPY TEAM, IT’S GOOD TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO GET ON, HAVING A BIT OF A GOSSIP, AND PETER’S ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE AROUND. LISA BOWERMAN

and error but I got my inspiration from the smoke creature in Lost.

Laura Doddington “And it has Sontarans, the first proper Doctor Who monster I’ve done at Big Finish so that element Simon has added to “We have the Sontarans in it was an added joy!” VORTEX them, giving them heart, which too so it was great to have Dan is really enjoyable to play.” Starkey join us, and we have a Looking back at the studio couple of newbies to Big Finish as sessions, Lisa adds: “It was a well which always helps the mix.” very happy team, it’s good to Laura continues: “Peter’s be able to work with people absolutely fantastic to work with. who get on, having a bit of a I grew up watching him in All gossip, and Peter’s always great Creatures Great and Small. He’s to have around. If you have a not a diva, he’s very amiable and happy working environment, part of the company. He sits and you generally produce good chats, and he’s really lovely. work and I think we have here. “Working with Louise was a “There was one glitch at the real highlight too. I did some very last minute when one of scenes with her and she’s an DOCTOR WHO our guest actors lost their voice absolute pro. And to play off her, WICKED SISTERS the night before recording that was really enjoyable for me. z RELEASED: NOVEMBER 2020 and I had to get my little black She’s a of her craft and I z FORMAT: CD”DOWNLOAD book of friends out… It was a love that. I can’t say what we did ORDER NOW AT: bit frantic but we got there! without giving it away, but she has bgfn.sh/wicked

VORTEX | PAGE 16 WRITE TOƒ FEEDBACK†BIGFINISH.COM USING VORTEX MAIL AS THE SUBJECT MAIL SCRIPT CONFERENCE tokeepascalm asyou. all try Nick: Many thanks, Ian. We should Ian Branch a calming factor inastressful world. a fan buthasfound what you dotobe the years tosomeonewho only isnot youimportance have played throughout come. Ihopethatyou doappreciate the six months, Icannot wait for what isto Having placed my orders for thenext loved listenalongasIdo. will partner the day today rigours. Even my much now. Thestorieshelpmeswitch offfrom go-to over theyears buteven more so I have found BigFinishtobeaconstant industryback difficult timestarting up. lockdownwith andultimately the difficult months we are going through all atBigFinish,especially duringthe I would like togive abigthankyou to CALM INTHECHAOS story! Ilove VORTEXamazing character toget inan audio Quesnel asDorothea Ameswould bean set inseriesoneorafter)?IthinkPooky try andsecure alicence todomore (either I was wondering ifyou were planning to stories. These12have now beendoneso past thatyour Class licence was for 12 It’s beenmentioned several timesinthe BACK TO CLASS? this isquiteamountaintoclimb). productions tooffer scriptsbutI’m told PDFs. (Iwouldactuallylike allBig Finish these newindividualranges tooffer script own individualrange andmy aim isfor together. Sotheywilleach begiventheir Doctors anditseemsoddtolumpthem a mixture ofFifth,SixthandSeventh are ismonthly!They actually everything Monthly Adventures’just whatis‘The – website for thefirstbigfinish.com time, newcomers. For example, ifyouvisitthe so thatourreleases are alotclearer for big change,weare justreorganising things Nick: Don’tworry, Sabrina,it’s notsucha Sabrina Tirabassi toimproveme alot my English. a foreign subscriber, andhave helped arethem asscripts for important meas our future box sets? I’d besorrytolose Can we hopefor anything similarin to receive ourmonthly with story? of thePDF we scripts subscribers used I was wondering, thisbetheend will step totake anditworries mealittle. monthly range. Thisseemsquiteabig you are going todoaway the with I read Magazine that inDoctorWho Class somuch butdidn’t want Finish meetingtimetable. James, butIwillputtheidea onaBig planning for thatalready, I’m afraid Nick: We’ve missedthebuson James Hadwen-Bennett TARDISexpanded team somuch! Bus? Idon’t thinkI’ve ever wanted an and thepassengers ontheBrighton theTenthDeath with Doctor, Donna we get afullbox Creeping setsequeltoThe release year’s for next PrideMonth, that Could Itherefore suggest, maybe asafun The world isadifficult placeright now. TAKING PRIDE but Ithinkit’s idea. agreat Nick: Nothing planned yet,Benjamin, CleaveBenjamin could beeitheralliesorbitterrivals). mysterious both (they’re andperhaps the War MastermeetingBilisManger of theoriginalteam who hasn’t) ormaybe meeting theDoctor(he’s theonly member Torchwood crossovers? Like Owen Are there any plans for any/ DoctorWho CROSSING OVER possibilities butnothingtoreport yet. . WeClass are looking intofurther gladyou’veenjoyed Nick: HiJack, very Jack Snelling are going not toorunlikely tohappen. to get my hopesupfor thefuture ifmore for the Doctor? looks VORTEX VORTEX |PAGE 17 BLAKE’S 7 RETURNS IN AN EXCITING NEW BIG FINISH AUDIOBOOK…

BLAKE’S 7 has been a popular addition to Big Finish since the release of the first volume of The Liberator Chronicles audios in 2012, in which an original cast member narrates and performs new adventures set during the first three series of the . Big Finish has also published a number of original novels/ audiobooks featuring the characters and full-cast audio dramas which began in January 2013. THE CHOSEN ONE

Sadly the passing of Blake’s 7 stars , and has meant that the audio releases have come to an end in their current format, but there’s good news as Big Finish is continuing to produce original books. Big Finish novels editor Xanna Eve Chown tells us more: “The next original book is called Chosen by Niel Bushnell which sort of has three streams that all come together at the end. “There’s the story of Chana, an alien boy, who Cally is seeing in her mind; then the story of the Liberator caught in an asteroid field with only Gan and Avon on board to stop it disintegrating; and finally Blake, Jenna and Vila are on a supposedly abandoned Federation planet that actually has killer robots. Niel was great to work with – very professional, lovely writing.”

VORTEX | PAGE 18 BLAKE’S 7 CHOSEN

Xanna adds: “Olivia Poulet, who THE BIGGEST heroes, which at the same time plays Emma Peel in the Big Finish brought its own pressures. He The Avengers range, has a home CHALLENGE explains: “The biggest challenge studio set up and has been in WAS TRYING was trying to make sure the Big Finish Blake’s 7 productions voices of the characters remained in the past, which made her the TO MAKE authentic while at the same ideal actor to narrate Chosen.” SURE THE time trying to push them in Niel – whose work as a CGI artist different directions. I think may be known to Doctor Who VOICES OF THE I’ve managed to explore some fans through the Blu-ray classic CHARACTERS new aspects of the characters, series releases – is no newcomer especially one in particular to crafting fiction having written REMAINED who is at the heart of Chosen. novels for adults and children. His “It was really strange to finally first novel, Sorrowline, won the AUTHENTIC be writing for Blake’s 7 having Northern Promise Award in the WHILE AT THE been a fan for so long. In many 2011 Northern Writers’ Awards. ways it was a dream job but I Niel said: “This is my first writing SAME TIME also felt a tremendous burden gig for Big Finish although I’ve TRYING TO to ensure I was doing it justice. wanted to work for them for years. The writing of Chosen coincided I’ve bought all the Blake’s 7 audio PUSH THEM with my dad going through a very adventures, plus lots of Doctor IN DIFFERENT serious injury and recuperation. Who and Sapphire & Steel. I’m During the hardest times I would a firm believer in persistence DIRECTIONS. find solace in writing Chosen. so I found out the name of the Wallowing in such familiar NIEL BUSHNELL person who was responsible for childhood favourites really did the range [John Ainsworth] and help me to cope with everything THE CHOSEN ONE

emailed him to let him know conduct repairs and hide from going on in the real world. Dad I’d love to write for Blake’s 7. the Federation, and he thinks he’s passed away earlier this year so “At this point I’d had several novels found the perfect planet. While he, writing this book will always published and I’d written a sit-com Vila and Jenna teleport down to be interlocked with cherished for Radio 4 (which sadly didn’t get the surface to explore, the others memories of him.” VORTEX past script stage) so at start repairing the failing ship. least I could show some indirect But Cally accidentally activates a experience in audio storytelling. dormant defence system and finds Over a period of about two years herself sealed on the flight deck, I kept in touch and happily John her mind flooded with images asked me to submit some ideas for of a teenage boy growing up in Blake’s 7. I sent in three or four brief a ruined city on an icy planet. outlines, one of which was the story “As Cally fights a personal that eventually become Chosen. battle for control of her mind, “I wasn’t given a brief as such. Avon and Gan struggle to save I submitted a page of ideas and the ship from destruction. And they were narrowed down and Blake’s hope of finding refined until we got to a satisfactory quickly turns into a battle for outline. Chosen is set early in the against a horde of killer Blake’s 7 adventures, so the crew robots. But at its heart, Chosen is is still getting to know each other a story of a secret, a secret that CHOSEN when the Liberator is damaged in I hope readers will embrace.” BLAKE’S 7: z RELEASED: NOVEMBER 2020 a flight through an asteroid field. As a lifelong Blake’s 7 fan it z FORMAT: DOWNLOAD “Blake thinks a base might meant Niel was able to capture ORDER NOW AT: be a good idea, somewhere to the voices of his childhood bgfn.sh/chosen WHOWOOD BELIEVE IT?

THERE’S PLENTY OF maybe this is part two of a trilogy errors ruin the lives of ‘small’ DANGER IN STORE FOR with part three featuring Bilis people (part of it is inspired by the Manger and the Giant Blowfish…). utterly appalling computer system THE TORCHWOOD TEAM “I’ve probably said this before that ended up putting people FOR THE REST OF 2020… but Tim Foley and I busked a running small post offices in jail for script each. We’d already recorded accounting errors that the system TORCHWOOD HAS a strong December’s release, The Crown, was creating). It’s also a story about cast of regular characters who and had a pile of scripts ready to how the ‘little’ people win.” feature in its monthly range, go but they just weren’t recordable Although they weren’t a TV and the rest of this year is no (either for complexity or actor partnership, Andy and Owen have different as Owen Harper, PC availability), so there were two gaps. a brilliant rapport. James agrees: Andy Davidson, Rhys “Tom and Burn had both said “They’re just so great together – the Williams, and Her they could record at home so we world’s biggest optimist and the Majesty Queen Victoria all feature. quickly got an outline approved and world’s biggest cynic – it’s bliss The Three Monkeys, released this then I sat in bed for a weekend and spending time with them. The month, has been written by the wrote my story around the cat!” recording was an utter dream to producer James Goss and stars Summing up the tale, James says: to – especially when Tom’s and . “Owen joins Andy on a stakeout children came into Tom’s home James says his starting point was of a corrupt local businessman. studio during bits where he was simple: “Could we do a story that Together they decide to take doing proper acting! They even both was just Andy and Owen sat in a him on. It’s a satire on late-stage suggested the next adventure we car on stake out? (We’ve already capitalism using a toy monkey. could do, and it’s a great, great idea.” made We Always Get Out Alive with “There’s also some stuff about James tells Vortex his Gwen and Rhys driving in a car, so IT scandals and how their tiny personal highlight: “There’s an

VORTEX | PAGE 20 TORCHWOOD COMING SOON

TOM’S CHILDREN extraordinarily long scene where Owen has sent Andy into danger CAME INTO HIS HOME and is locked in a police car and has to try and explain himself STUDIO DURING BITS away to a passing constable while WHERE HE WAS DOING remotely saving Andy’s life – it’s utterly awkward to listen to.” PROPER ACTING! JAMES GOSS

NOVEMBER’S RELEASE stars and Gareth How much fun is there to be had David-Lloyd in Rhys and with Rhys and Ianto, and making a Ianto’s Excellent Barbecue normal situation into a Torchwood written by Tim Foley. James story? Tim admits: “When I was first says: “Tim has written an offered this duo, I thought it was extraordinary story about toxic such a bizarre pairing. There’s just masculinity and sausages and it’s so something inherently funny about great. It’s light-hearted and these two being smushed together heart-breaking and absolutely a joy for a story. So I ran with that. And to spend time with two people who then you see how well they work aren’t friends and don’t get along together – the fact they’re both in but are forced to.” the orbit of flashy partners, the fact (l–r): Tom Price and Burn Gorman Tim continues: “I was asked to they’re both extremely funny. And write a story for Rhys and Ianto. in this story they’re both united by Apparently Kai and Gareth had been “There’s no plot, it’s just Rhys and pain. I found it cathartic in a way, requesting one for a while and they Ianto attempting to do a barbecue navigating the perils of 2020 with both had their home studios ready for an hour! You have these two these two good souls beside me.” to go. And since schedules were guys, stuck together, trying to work The story also has a fantastic being rejigged because of lockdown out some issues. They laugh and cover, and the writer adds: it was the perfect time to strike! I bicker and probe some surprising “Oh I adore it. Lee Binding is a was given lots of freedom in terms depths, all while trying to cook some wizard, isn’t he? I love that the of subject matter, I had the whole . I would listen to these two do individual art can bring a whole universe up for grabs, so naturally the washing up together. Actually, new dimension to the listening I plumped for Rhys’ back garden. maybe that’s what I’ll pitch next…” experience. And it can affect the

VORTEX | PAGE 21 TORCHWOOD COMING SOON

writing too. I saw an early draft comes across as the complicated, of the Tropical Beach Sounds and difficult creature she was in real Other Relaxing Seascapes # 4 cover life rather than a sweet old lady.” when I was finishing rewrites, Jonathan says: “This was and it inspired me to add the another unexpected, and lovely, nasty sting to the climax. May invitation from Big Finish! I never Lee forever make my work look thought I’d be asked to write for awesome. Maybe Big Finish should Torchwood but I was absolutely sell Rhys’s apron as merch.” thrilled to do so. My brief was basically ‘a spooky story with WE CONCLUDE the 2020 Victoria at the heart of it.’ I pitched Torchwood year with The three separate suggestions and Crown written by Jonathan this was the one they went for. THE THREE MONKEYS Barnes. James explains: “The “It’s a story about Victoria but STARRING: BURN GORMAN AND TOM PRICE Crown is the third part of our this time it’s told from a different z RELEASED: OCTOBER 2020 celebration of Queen point of view. Dr Gideon Parr is z FORMAT: CD”DOWNLOAD one of the most brilliant minds ORDER NOW AT: of his age – a celebrated alienist bgfn.sh/monkeys with a willingness to accept the impossible. It’s Christmas Eve when a stranger arrives at his door to tell him of a patient at a nearby who has a strange story to tell: she believes herself to be the Queen. In spite of the season, Parr’s curiosity means that he has to visit the woman and hear her tale – an encounter from which neither of them will emerge unchanged.” Jonathan adds: “This is my tribute to the wonderful BBC strand, ‘A Ghost Story for Christmas’. I hope it has a similar tone and feel to the most authentic of them – I’ve drawn RHYS & IANTO’S inspiration from MR James’s EXCELLENT BARBECUE story, A Warning to the Curious. STARRING: GARETH DAVIDLLOYD AND KAI OWEN “I attended the recording z RELEASED: NOVEMBER 2020 day and it was very special. z FORMAT: CD”DOWNLOAD ORDER NOW AT: bgfn.sh/excellent THIS IS MY TRIBUTE TO THE WONDERFUL BBC STRAND, ‘A GHOST STORY FOR CHRISTMAS’. JONATHAN BARNES

Victoria’s bicentenary. Jonathan has Wonderful performances from all written a magnificent tribute to MR of the cast with Rowena Cooper James’s Ghost Stories for Christmas being simply magisterial. It was – a mad old lady in an asylum all very skilfully marshalled by claims to be Queen Victoria and director Lisa Bowerman too, tells a story about a cursed crown. and I left feeling quite proud “It’s a glorious slice of of it all. I’m delighted that it’s atmosphere and I’m so proud that going to be the December release THE CROWN we’ve now filled in the minutiae from this range. It should be STARRING: ROWENA COOPER of how Victorian Torchwood ran perfect to listen to on Christmas z RELEASED: DECEMBER 2020 z FORMAT: CD”DOWNLOAD but without ever sitting down Eve when the fire’s banked and spelling it out. I’m also really high and the rain is tapping ORDER NOW AT: bgfn.sh/ferryman pleased that Queen Victoria at the window…” VORTEX

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OCTOBER 2020 ■ TORCHWOOD™ Rhys and Ianto’s ■ DW • THE MONTHLY Excellent Barbecue Ÿ44¡ ADVENTURES™ Shadow of the 1 ■ BLAKE’S 7™ Chosen Ÿ269, FIFTH DOCTOR¡ ŸAUDIOBOOK¡ DLO

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PLUS: BLAKE’S 7 | TORCHWOOD THE TENTH DOCTOR & RIVER SONG