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Home , Abby (Doctor Who), Alan Barnes (writer), Alexander Siddig, Andrew Cartmel, Barnaby Edwards, Big Finish Productions

ISSUE #15 may 2010 FREE! NOT FOR RESALE

the wreck OF THE TITAN! , mIRANDA rAISON & ALSO: aLEXANDER sIDDIG : KINGDOM OF THE DEAD ON A VOYAGE GRACELESS TO REMEMBER THE SONG OF MEGAPTERA PLUS: Sneak Previews • Exclusive Photos • Interviews and more! editorial

I’ve just finished writing the scripts for two development of the finale is something that stories in the fourth and final series! script editor and I wanted to plan As you may know, for over three years now the meticulously. Now we’re ready to go into the Eighth Doctor, played by Paul McGann, has been studio with it. I won’t give away too much here, but appearing in a special series of adventures standing it’s a truly shattering climax to a series of stories apart from our main range of stories. that began so long, long ago with Blood of the Previous to that, the Eighth Doctor was part of the . Alan and I have set out to give you a full- main range, but when BBC Radio 7 approached blooded drama with no punches pulled. The title of us about having a new series of adventures with the penultimate story, if revealed here, would give a brand new , we created far too much away, but I reckon I can tease you and a whole new strand of adventures ensued. with the title of the final story. It’s… To the Death. As you may know, the fourth series started back But never fear, the Eighth Doctor will not be in December with Death in , in which gone from Big Finish. We’re already planning for and Lucie parted company. The series his return to the main range. As for what will take continues this July with , when the the Eighth Doctor seasons’ place in the schedules… Doctor must choose a new travelling companion. But well, we’ve got some rather juicy plans we’re as the season progresses, more and more bizarre working on. things happen to the Doctor, culminating in the two- Right… I shall stop being a tease and simply story finale I’ve just finished writing. get on with writing up said juicy plans. All stories are in the bag and in the sound design and music phase. But the Nick Briggs – executive producer sneak previews and whispers

Doctor Who - The Companion Chronicles: The Invasion of E-Space Thirty years after he wrote for the TV series, Andrew Smith returns to Doctor Who for a Companion Chronicle. And, fittingly, it’s performed by as , and fits snugly into the E-Space trilogy between State of Decay and Warriors’ Gate. The story finds the travellers trying to find their way out of this new universe while, to their surprise, actually discovering that a warlike alien species has found its way in. Available in OCTOBER Doctor Who: Situation Vacant The fourth series of Eighth Doctor adventures continues, after a few months grace to allows us all to get over the sudden – and very upsetting – exit of Lucie Miller. But who can fill the mammoth hole that Lucie has left in the Doctor’s life? That’s the question without an answer, as a collection of four hopefuls step into the frame in the of becoming the Doctor’s new companion. It’s the most important day of their lives, and it’s a journey to remember. And only one of them will be stepping into the TARDIS by the time those end credits roll... Available in JULY

Managing Editor Assistant Editor BFP Administration Jason Haigh-Ellery Paul Spragg Frances welsh Editors Web Editor Catrin Hubbarde Paul Wilson Marcin Rogoszewski David Richardson Design and Layout Publisher Alex Mallinson Ltd. 3 IN THE STUDIO IN THE STUDIO

“I can’t quite hear you...” is probably what John Karlen is saying, as he seemed to have a cursed set of headphones that refused to stay put. We would have director’s diary the problem sorted, have them Dark Shadows returns in seated properly, and turn around July for Kingdom of the five minutes later to find that they Dead, a new four-part had turned themselves inside out story. Darren Gross was again. In the background, yours in the director’s chair, truly ponders the script. Writer and here he guides us Eric Wallace noticed that I only through Big Finish’s most seem to wear when ambitious Dark Shadows directing, which I assured him was project ever… coincidental, though I don’t think he was convinced. If I was directing Los Angeles, day one, and we’re audio dramas, it might be moments away from the start of a bad omen, since, as is well known, recording on a cold morning in the characters in red shirts on that Burbank. A giant script: over 220 always die horribly. What would pages, four episodes and dozens be the Dark Shadows equivalent? of peaks, valleys, revelations and Psychedelic frocks? Mini-skirts? u reversals. You need a cast that can deliver consistent performances, understand the script and take direction. Thankfully, we are blessed with a stalwart bunch of t When recording the audios, we usually work in who can turn it off and on two or three-page sections, which an , possibly like a water tap.u Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie), has spread out across the music stand, to save us from that bugbear of recording: the dreaded sound of pages turning being caught on mic.

t Most of our recording sessions utilized only three or four members of our talented cast at a u In this shot Andrew Collins is reading-in for time, but Kingdom of our new character, Seraph, and playing one of the Dead has several several scenes with him and Jerry Lacy. About half complicated ensemble of our sessions were recorded at Private Island scenes, which we saved Trax in Hollywood (where season one of the audio for the final recording dramas and where most of the Dark Shadows day. On our last day we dramatic readings were done), the rest at a studio had eight actors, and in Burbank called Action Audio & Visual. Happily there was much hopping we were able to use my preferred engineer, in and out of the booth. James Barth, for all of the sessions. Spirits were All of the bigger sequences extremely high on this day, and at one point were recorded on this day, It conjured up the moment in Bananas, where Andrew kept cracking everyone up, as the with the maximum ensemble Woody Allen acts as both defendant and attorney. absurdity of having to play Barnabas and Seraph scene featuring six of the After a few takes I stepped in and read, so that in the same scene became too silly for words. cast in at one time. Andrew could focus on being Barnabas. 4 5 interview

Welcome back, Colin. You’re practically living in these of that, and the fact that during the ’s studios at the moment, what with the Lost Stories and time he was marooned on Earth. But that aside, as now the pairing of Sixy and Jamie. How’s it been doing soon as he was free again, why didn’t he just go and the latest trilogy of stories? check? But then, if he can go back to any time at all, Fantastic! I am constantly amazed how they keep you can go back to a second after you left them and managing to find new and original material that check, and bring them back again. So in a sense maintains the standard, to be quite frank. We’ll be he’s never deserting anybody because you can go, having number 200 before you can ! I can’t pick them up, a thousand years later for him but the think of any stories I’ve done that would be called following day for them. But he doesn’t. Interesting, run-of-the-mill or ordinary. They’re all good and a lot isn’t it? of them are fantastic and some of them are superb, and they’re getting better all the time. There seems to Perhaps it’s all part of a need to move on. be a never-ending supply of writers with new ideas. I think it’s more to do with the fact that the programme They say there’s only, what, half a dozen stories needed to move on! [Laughs] A new actor was cast as in the world and you rearrange the words? Well, the Doctor and the companions wanted to leg it and do they’re being rearranged fantastically and I love something else. So we made a virtue of that. coming in and doing them; I look forward to it! I guess that’s been touched upon a little in the new What’s it been like, changing from Fisher’s series with Rose. Charley to ’ Jamie? It’s been done all the time; every time the Lone Ranger Well, of course, you’re used to that, aren’t you? As and Tonto rode away from the town. But he did leave an actor you’re always working with new people. them in a better state than Doctor Who has left some of And they’re all kind of family. I’ve never worked with his companions over the years. India before, but I’ve known her from various events I’ve been at over the last decade and always got Is there a sense of ‘chickens coming home to roost’ for on well with her. I’ve worked with Frazer before, of the Doctor, then? course, on , so I know Frazer well. There is an element of that to it, yes. There’s also that And this is a clever story. I don’t want to say too wonderful aspect of finding things in the canon way much about it… back that merit further investigation and see where it takes you. And, as always, the Doctor is prey to two Did you meet Frazer at conventions, prior to working things. One is a third party trying to make him do on The Two Doctors? something, and the other is the fact that the TARDIS I might have done the odd convention but I certainly tends to, thank God, throw a spanner in the works hadn’t met Frazer until he turned up to do The Two and not do quite what it’s supposed to do. Because if it Doctors. So that was the first time. Location filming always did what it was supposed to do, the adventures is a great way to get to know anybody and we had would be quite short! a great time over in Seville. It was the only what people might call ‘cushy’ number, in terms of going So, tell us a little bit about the stories. …? somewhere nice and filming, in the whole three years That’s the story when I meet Jamie, back in the I did Doctor Who. I never got to go to Blackpool. Highlands, and suddenly I find myself in the middle of was at Camber Sands. They’re not a pitched battle in Scotland, Redcoats and hairy Scots exotic locations! So Frazer and I got to go to Seville, having a bit of a punch-up and I’m forced to go and where he won the heart of a local Spanish lady, and meet their leader, Black Donald, who turns out to be we had to endure that, him mooning over this poor Jamie. He’s changed his name to Black Donald to be girl… but it was great fun. a chieftain in the Highlanders but he doesn’t have any As the and memory of the Doctor. So part of the story’s about the Jamie drop in on the What’s the Doctor’s relationship with Jamie in these Doctor trying to get him to remember but then there’s Titanic, Colin Baker talks stories? all these funny things going on with this strange Tonto, Time Lords and Well, the thing about this story is it does bring mythical creature called Red Cap that has vast speed Torquay with Paul Spragg out something about the Doctor which is kind of and great strength, who is dragooning the folks of the uncomfortable. That the Doctor, over the years we Highlands and digging for oil. have seen him in his adventures, has deposited And the second story with Jamie, who’s gradually a large number of people back into lives and is going along with this, because he’s interested and seemingly able to walk away and leave them behind is starting to believe that he knew this Doctor before without giving them another thought. It’s quite but still can’t remember, we’re on a ship called the uncomfortable to play that, because there is a scene Titanic. They think they’re going on holiday on the where Jamie says, ‘Were you not interested in what Queen Mary with first class tickets but in fact it’s the happened to me? Didn’t you care?’ There’s the whole Titanic and it’s on that day, of course, but things get thing of the memory wipe by the Time Lords and all a bit peculiar. 6 SEA SIX! 7 interview

It also works as a counterpoint to the last set of when she was quite young, and she’s managed Dan Berry chats to the guest stars of The Wreck of the Titan more emotional stories. to cope with that, bring him up on her own, and This has its emotion as well, because what the combine that with forging a career and learning ALEXANDER SIDDIG • MIRANDA RAISON Doctor learns about himself is interesting. how to do a difficult job, of acting. Well, I like to pretend it’s difficult anyway… Hello, Sid. This is your Who story for Big Hi Miranda! This is your third brush with Doctor Who, Once again you’ve had some big name guest stars; She played the part of , it was the wife of the Finish, after you were in two Paul McGann episodes… and your second using an American accent… who have you most enjoyed working with? engineer who created the City of Spires, and she was Yeah, although I never saw [Paul]. I did see this Obviously, they’re so different. At the same time, though, Charlie Ross, of course. Charlie I know well, I’ve just fabulous to work with, great fun and a lovely girl. amazingly beautiful other Doctor Who girl, Sheridan Myra Selfridge is relatively similar accent-wise to bumped into him at quite a few conventions, very And lovely to meet up with her, as an adult, having Smith. She’s gorgeous. Tallulah [from TV episode Daleks funny man, great comic and a very good actor, and known her as a child. We even went on holiday once Brilliant. She was in Manhattan] so she might sound he’s playing Rob Roy. together, the two families, down in Torquay. fantastic, so brightened familiar, even though they’re quite Both Frazer and I were weak at the knees, as the whole day when different characters. But working indeed was David Richardson, producer of these Did Peter pretend to regenerate into you halfway she was here, just as in television there’s a lot of waiting epics, at meeting Miranda Raison. I’m a great fan through to confuse the kids? Miranda is shaping around, and with someone like of , and Miranda Raison is that wonderful… [Laughs] No, we never did that! I was doing a play up to be brightening Tallulah, who’s such a ball of energy, well, she’s not short-haired any more, but the one with Georgia’s mother and my wife and my other the whole day being you can’t relax too much. Here, with the short hair and the piercing blue eyes. And daughter, then one, came down and stayed for a few here today! Which is we’re in our and jumpers and those eyes are for real! She really has got those days. They had a nice time together. Happy memories. amazingly misogynist, you just find it – it’s all in the voice. eyes! She’s just unbearably gorgeous and also a but what the hell! I don’t want to sound too very fine actress. She’s great and normal and funny; Then there’s . pretentious about it, but it’s all in it’s always a relief when people you think are good We’ve got our executive producer, Mr Briggs, You did a pretty the breath too. I was standing in on telly are actually decent folk too. strutting his stuff in foil. It’s just a fun romp. controversial guest spot the booth next to Colin and I was And, of course, in City of Spires, we had We’ve got , every boy’s dream of on Spooks – the show looking at him, thinking how much Georgia Moffett, daughter of somebody who played a companion, the wonderful Zoe, who’s all bright that Miranda’s best known for. we all move around – more than we probably would a part involved with Doctor Who once. Can’t and cheerful. And, of course, Wendy was my agent Yeah. I haven’t seen a lot of Spooks, but I know she’s done do on screen! You have to conjure things for yourself, remember his name. Davidson or something. But for about five years before she packed it all in and that for ages. I did an episode with Matthew MacFadyen, especially since we haven’t got the sound effects, so it’s him, anyway. [Laughs] I knew Georgia when she went off to live in France. I just adore her. Having but I don’t think she was on the show then – though I do almost a more exciting place to be, imagination-wise. was four years old, when she was at school with my Wendy around makes it all worthwhile. know she’s a household face. I don’t really know much daughter, Lucy, and they were in the same class. So about anybody else, because I don’t work here much – I’ve Is it more or less enjoyable to have that extra challenge; there were two girls in the same class whose father And finally: how much have you been tormented by just finished an English movie, but it was the first I’d done having to dig deeper to find the character? was Doctor Who, which made it quite ordinary Frazer? for 20 years! I’m really just not in the loop! I don’t know which is more or less enjoyable. I think they really, which was probably quite a good thing for Constantly! Frazer is like a gadfly, buzzing around just appeal to different sides... As an actor, it’s so exciting both of them. So, having seen Georgia over the in your ear. I’m having a very good time! You were saying in the green room that you watched a to have a character like Tallulah, with all the costumes years, I knew she was a good actress, but she’s lot of Doctor Who as a child... and make-up and stunning sets, so that is fun in itself. really quite impressive, is Georgia. She had a child The Sixth Doctor and Jamie trilogy continues this month with The Wreck of the Titan. I watched it like, you know, proper! As kids, we’d wait You have so much to help get you into it on screen. You for that show to come on every week. I started off with have more time, you have the read-through, you get to and then – they were my Doctor meet everybody, and you have the sets and costumes and Whos. And I loved them both – we had long discussions things. With this, you come in and you have to bite the about the various benefits and coolnesses of each bullet; if you don’t go for it straight away, you’ve blown it. Doctor, like we would about Sean Connery and Roger It’s good practice as an actor, but also good life practice, Moore as James Bond. getting stuck in and giving it your all.

You also mentioned that your family were friends with Sid’s said he was a big fan of Doctor Who as a child. Tom Baker… Did you watch it growing up? Yes, so he was a bit of a hero! But I was kind of blasé I was never a big fan as a kid, but I did watch it. I about it, when he came round. I was like, ‘Hi, yeah, hi, remember finding it quite creepy. was the companion I’m Sid, nice to meet you, yeah, whatever…’ when I was little, in the mid-1980s. I loved her and Sylvester McCoy, but never grew up knowing too much You famously spent seven years on Star Trek: Deep Space about it, but then getting the part of Tallulah was exciting. Nine. Are you a fan of Sci-Fi, or is it something that’s just Barnaby [Edwards], who is directing these, was a happened to recur in your career? when I was there, and there was a moment in Yeah, I love it! I watched Star Trek: The Next Generation the underground tunnels when everybody had gone for before I got the job on Deep Space Nine, and as I say, I their coffee breaks. I was in these ridiculous heels and a watched Doctor Who, so I must love them, even if I’m not leotard so I decided to stay there, and it was just me and always prepared to admit it! I think they occupy a really a Dalek in the corridor. I had this weird, seven-year-old great place, especially since the 1960s when kitchen sort of moment, where I just waved to the Dalek – and sink drama became the norm, and I think it all became a the Dalek waved back! Barnaby was in it, and he made little bit boring. I quite like the craziness of Sci-Fi, and the the plunger wave! He said that quite a lot of the time The Cast of the Titan: Matt Addis, Alexander Siddig, Miranda Raison, Colin Baker, Christopher Fairbank and Frazer Hines imaginative capabilities of it. people have a moment with ! 8 9 without a grace introduces Graceless, in which them. We swapped ideas to and fro across the Tracer twins and Zara return… table and quaffed inexpensive fizz. Obviously, it’s not quite as simple as that. Dinner and fizz ‘Explain Graceless to the fans,’ commanded my were just the start of the process, Jason testing bosses, ‘and how it came about.’ Easy, I thought, it’s the idea in principle without having to make the fans who made it happen. a commitment. I then had to pitch ideas and Saturday, 31 October 2009. I’m in Florida at a outlines before the series was fully greenlit. A Doctor Who convention. Big Finish big chief Jason mini-series is still an expensive thing to produce, Haigh-Ellery is using me as a human shield on a panel so these things are never decided lightly. where we’re quizzed about our work. We needed good, new stories to tell, about A particularly shining example of all that’s best in these two characters specifically. What would be humanity raises a nervous hand: ‘When are there going the point if we could tell the same adventures with Iris to be more stories with Amy and Zara?’ Amy and Zara, Wildthyme or ? (That’s no slur on for those not paying attention, first appeared in last either of those fine ladies, whom I have written for on year’s Doctor Who audio adventure The Judgement of previous occasions.) So I had a couple more meetings Isskar – which was written by me. Amy’s a living Tracer, with Jason – and the producer he assigned me, Mark built by beings called The Grace to track down half the Wright – before we got to contracts and money. segments of the Key to Time. Nice but naïve, Amy was As with Benny and Iris, there will be no Doctor Who only a few minutes old when she met the . But elements in Graceless. It’s its own, standalone series. Jason lucky for her that she did, as she is easily influenced by explained that it’s good for Big Finish to have a stock of anyone around her. characters all its own, running alongside its licences. It makes Amy’s twin sister, Zara, was not so lucky. She’d been built the company more secure. Standalone characters can inspire to the same pattern as Amy, and had to track down the the devoted followings. Bernice lost the Doctor as far back as other half of the segments. But rather than being influenced 1997 and is still going strong today. More importantly, without by a nice bloke like the Doctor, she struck up with an old her going it alone there would be no Big Finish today. rogue called Zink. Soon she was opening up a black hole on As with Benny, we worked on standalone stories for an unsuspecting Mars and all sorts of other unsavoury stuff. each CD but with an ongoing development of our lead After three adventures with the Fifth Doctor – and a characters. Amy and Zara face some very tough decisions Companion Chronicle in which Zara met the Seventh in the series, but having lost the Doctor and the Grace, Doctor’s friend Ace – it looked like the Tracer twins’ what else is there to lose? Well, there’s Amy’s name. story was over. Amy was off to to learn more That came up in discussion at one of Jason’s swanky about her powers. Zara, renouncing her wicked clubs, as he and Mark Wright looked over ways, left to live happily ever after with a nice chap my first outline. Wasn’t the new TV companion called Pargrave. going to be called Amy, they asked? Would we Jason and I mumbled that we’d consider the have to explain to every potential customer that idea. After the panel, more wise specimens of no, this wasn’t that Amy? Names are important, humanity came up to ask about Amy and Zara. the Doctor told our Amy when he gave her a Some listeners, we noticed, really took the two name. This series springs from the girls not girls to their hearts. Jason and I were both keen having the Doctor any more. So it became to work more with Ciara Janson and Laura part of the story and a good business decision Doddington, who play Amy and Zara. You meet for Amy to become Abby. (She’s named after good, talented people who are fun to work with someone we’ve met at a few conventions.) in this business and you cling on tight. We hope you’ll enjoy Graceless. Do tell us So Jason took me out to dinner to discuss what you think. how a series might work, with the girls getting into trouble what with having no Doctor to guide Graceless is out in October 2010

10 11 LETTERS write to: [email protected]

I would just like to say how sad I am to see (The Squire’s Crystal, The Infernal Nexus, The purchase in iTunes? The Lost Stories range the end of Lucie Miller. She was such a good, Glass Prison and A Life of Surprises) and that looks quite interesting as I am interested alive character, and although she started out they’re no longer available and cost a fortune in the 1985 hiatus and the original plans as a really stroppy teenager I really grew to on Amazon! Bit of a cop out, I think. Any for Doctor Who’s 23rd season in 1986. If like her. I think is amazing, plans? A text-only download perhaps? C’mon! they are, I was going to buy them as soon as her voice acting is first class and her sense Thanks, possible, starting with The Nightmare Fair. of timing was spot-on. She will be sorely Christopher Forbes Alexander Noonan missed. Can you reveal who will be replacing her? Nick: I shall bring that up at the next Nick: We are currently not available on I wondered if Big Finish has ever production meeting. I just sent your email to iTunes. In order to be able to fund our considered finding a totally blind companion Jason Haigh-Ellery and David Richardson so productions, it is more cost-effective for us for the Doctor? I think it’s a really interesting it goes on the agenda! to sell direct. As you will understand, I’m concept; she could have a dog for audio sure, when a production company distributes feedback so she would know when to duck, I thought The Architects of History was through another party such as iTunes, this scream or when to use her extremely extremely well done, and enjoyed it even other party needs to take a considerable cut effective laser gun located in her white cane. more than the other brilliant releases in of money, which would leave us without the I just thought I would throw that idea at the the Klein trilogy. It was the return of the funds to create the productions in the first team. character that finally convinced me to place. Thanks for the many happy hours of audio subscribe and it’s definitely been worth it. and for the podcasts. I find them very funny, Louise Hughes Just been listening to your March podcast, they really cheer me up and are full of very and wanted to add that the tour of Stop nice voices, my favourite being Nick himself. Nick: So glad to hear you’re on board, and Messing About will also be calling at I love the banter and how nice Nick is to getting more as a subscriber. Well, you know Theatre Royal Bath from Monday 26th April - everyone, he sounds like he’s always smiling that old slogan. Saturday 1st May (it hasn’t been updated on even when in Dalek mode! the play’s website yet). Always look forward Best wishes, After a particularly awful week I decided to to the podcasts, great stuff! Lori Duncan cheer myself up and subscribed to the Lost Matt Bragg Stories. Yes, I know it’s late but I am a poor Nick: I am always smiling, Lori… but student and had to save up. At this year, three of my usually out of fear! Paul Spragg and David I have only listened to disc one of The friends and I who have just recently gotten Richardson are very scary people. I’ve been Nightmare Fair but I can confidently say into cosplay decided to dress up as four of asking to have them play that if the rest are as good I will not be Big Finish’s best known audio companions: villains in the new series. I think they’d give disappointed. (from right to left in the photo) Erimem, children nightmares. In fact, they already You mentioned in a podcast or magazine Evelyn, Hex and Charley. We met Jason and do, just walking past them in the street. article that you were going for an Eighties Nick while in these outfits, and they asked us But… ho, ho (big ), seriously, Lori, I feel to them. To be honest I didn’t think you to send them a picture. I would’ve sent one can’t adequately express how much I agree would pull it off, but I was completely wrong. sooner, but since I was the girl who foolishly with you about Sheridan. But I’ll give it a I was playing it on my computer and found forgot her camera, it took me this long to go… She is utterly amazing. She’s so much myself glancing at the monitor hoping to track one down. This one was taken on Brian fun to be around and work with and she is, see the in all his glory. It Colky’s camera (who was our Hex). I was of course, a superb actress. I don’t think felt like the first new classic episode for 20 Charley. Sorry the quality’s not better, but it’s the industry has quite woken up to just how years! the best one I’ve found so far of the whole brilliant she is. The reason we decided that Rambling sleep deprived email over. I’m group. If you guys would like me to send any it was time for Lucie to part company with off to rob a bank and pre-order season two! better ones I find (if I get the photographer’s the Doctor was that we wanted her to be Richard Jackson permission, of course), let me know. remembered as brilliant. There’s always the Thanks so much for creating such inspiring possibility of having a character stay around Nick: We really appreciate your becoming characters! for too long. Some people, for example, a Lost Stories subscriber, but naturally Julie Jekel felt that about Charley (although India would not condone bank robbery as a way of is brilliant), which is one of the reasons funding subscriptions. Although if I was on Nick: Thank you for brightening up our why we gave her a whole new, fresh set the jury, obviously I would vote ‘not guilty’. letters page. It was quite a thrill to meet of adventures with the Sixth Doctor, which you all. It never occurred to me that people totally reinvigorated her. It’s a question of I have recently just downloaded the Doctor would dress up as audio characters, but I’ve not telling the same stories over and over Who Companion Chronicle encountered the phenomenon a couple of again. And we feel that we’ve left Lucie with the offer from . times now, and I think it’s fun. behind when the prospect of the character I really enjoyed it, and as a fan feeling repetitive was still a very long way brought up on the new series off. There’s an old adage in showbusiness, with a selection of Classic that you should leave ‘em wanting more. I Series DVDs, you’ve done think that’s the best way to go. That said, I a great job in getting me miss her dreadfully… and I really did feel interested in the Doctor’s massively privileged to work with Sheridan. audio adventures. As I am purchasing an iPod Having recently purchased series one to nano soon, I was wondering five of Bernice Summerfield I discover whether Big Finish audio that much of the plot lies in book releases stories are available to

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I attended shortly afterwards. I pass this on to aspiring writers if they’re not already aware of it or haven’t figured it out. Holding a post-mortem on Space Whale, I explained all the foregoing to him and then he interrupted me: ‘Was the commissioning editor the editor who cancelled it?‘ ‘No,’ I replied. ‘That’s why,’ he said. ‘Don’t look for other explanations. You would have APat Mills dicusses WHALE the voyage undertaken down to my own inexperience as aOF writer. It was AProbably TALE the nearest role model at that time stood very little chance of getting it through.’ to get this month’s Lost Story The Song of eventually accepted for TV and then some months would be the fast action thriller style that Eric Actually he said, ‘no chance’ but I’m sure there Megaptera into the studio. later they changed their minds and cancelled Saward was writing, notably with the Cybermen. must be exceptions. it. With the benefit of experience, the key to But I think they weren’t actually out when I was How did The Song of Megaptera first begin life? the whole thing was to have an appropriate revising and the pacing and tempo of other Who How did you feel when Big Finish approached It was a Doctor Who story submitted to the BBC template/role model. I find this essential in all stories was very different. you to adapt it as one of the Lost Stories? back in the days of Tom Baker and . forms of creative writing to stay in the tramlines A key factor was the Captain. I believed it was Delighted, because it’s a great story that deserves Then known as Space Whale, the script editor of what is expected. At that time there wasn’t a feasible for him to be a working class character to see the light of day. These days its fast pacing Chris Bidmead liked it and it was commissioned good role model – the character of the Doctor as he was the captain of a factory ship. Eric and sparser dialogue is far more valid than it for TV. It went through numerous versions, partly was going through considerable and ongoing Saward the script editor didn’t think this was was back then – for instance, the Bourne films down to the changes going on with the TV changes and it was hard to judge what was appropriate and he was never happy with my have a fast and furious tempo that would have version of Doctor Who at the time and partly actually appropriate. alternative. I think the audio version shows that been unthinkable years ago. it is feasible to have a working class captain, not least through the casting. But of course it was a Why did you choose to go with the Sixth Doctor very long time ago and views on working class and Peri version? heroes and villains were very different then. The final TV version before it was cancelled was written for Colin Baker. It’s worked out very well How many drafts were written in total? because I found Colin’s input on the audio I would guess about seven. Often very different script was fantastic. to each other because the castaways inside the whale were always changing. And the companions. I think it had Tegan, and (or Turlough) at one point. That’s a lot of companions in a story primarily suited to one companion.

Why do you think it never reached the screens? I know from other things I’ve written over the years that if an editor or a producer wants something to happen it will, and if he doesn’t, it won’t. He will find reasons which are valid enough, but they’re not always at the heart of why he is saying yes or no. A golden rule was pointed out to me by a BBC script editor Mills and his crew. Clockwise from top left are: Alex Lowe, Neville Watchurst, John Benfield, John Banks, and Toby Longworth at a script writers workshop

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He really cares about what he’s doing, the Are there any marked differences working on, Alex Mallinson on... Alan Barnes on… Paul Spragg on… characters and the story. I feel really privileged say, one of the Lost Stories to doing one of the Falling Over Wonders of South Park that he played the Doctor in my script. Eighth Doctor Adventures? I fell down the stairs yesterday, the Solar System Remember when South Not really. I think because the TV story was and as I lay on the hard cellar I always hated Physics the Park was everywhere, with What was the process of adapting it to audio like? already in existence and pretty polished, I floor, swearing loudly with a most. Easily the beardiest, endless merchandise and throbbing ankle, I remembered tweediest science, with added constant media attention? It is different insomuch as everyone needs was given more leeway, perhaps. Although I how much fun accidents were. Maths – I swear, even the Well, it’s still on. And the characterising. In TV, security guards can was having to recreate the story from memory There’s that odd sort of pain textbooks smelled of old beauty of attention having just go round with guns. For audio, they because I only had a very early TV draft to refer that makes you want to laugh men’s pipes – I switched off moved elsewhere is that need personality too. And there is one huge to. I’d thrown all the others away. and cry simultaneously, the altogether early in the Third Trey Parker and Matt Stone advantage audio has over TV: the factory ship moment of cold shock which Form, and I was actually can continue to do what can be a mile long! There’s an unlimited SFX What are you working on now? gives way to a glittering excluded from taking the the hell they like and get budget for audio. Provided the characters I’ve just signed off on draft seven of American endorphin rush that enables you O-Level, for fear (I presume) away with it. This week saw adequately describe scenes, they can be huge Reaper – a for Xingu Films who did to hop to your feet and carry of damaging my posh school’s transmission of the 200th and awesome. Moon. It’s an SF action thriller and this draft has on. Accidents and their resultant pass rate. Professor Brian episode, which is essentially been greenlit to go out to directors – which means scars are ready-made twitters Cox, on the other hand, a greatest hits of the show. and stories. I love the scar scene loved Physics, and the genius When Tom Cruise, now Was it fun attending the studio recording? there’s probably only about seven drafts to go. I’m in Jaws. We’re all Chief Brody, of his approach is to locate working in a factory where Yes – and so exciting seeing all these great joking – there’s probably loads more! So although wondering if our appendix his tour of the Solar System he packs fudge into boxes, actors bring the story to life. Especially Colin it was a tough experience endlessly rewriting scar will qualify. I once fell into on the ground, showing enlists 200 celebrities who’ve Baker. He picked up minor glitches in the Space Whale, it was a baptism of fire that has some broken glass which, from the processes shaping (say) been insulted by South plot and dialogue and was very proactive in served me well over the years and given me lots a distance, made it look like Saturn’s rings at work in an Park to file a class action suggesting alternatives. I really appreciated his of stamina. It taught me that I had to get used to I’d had a Chinese character Icelandic lagoon, or in the lawsuit against the town, it positive feedback on the story. rewrites and still keeping my edge, finding ways tattooed onto my cheek. Sahara. After five weeks of looks like the only hope is to put new energy into each draft. I think there’s Probably not a very flattering his boundless, uncynical, to hand over Muhammad so Are you satisfied with the production? lots of new energy gone into the audio version of one. My favourite was when I awestruck enthusiasm, I too that the celebrities can steal I haven’t heard the final version yet, but – Space Whale and I can’t wait to to it. plunged chin-first into a car’s heart Physics, in all its beardy, the Prophet’s power not to exposed wheel hub in Soho and tweedy, old-men’s-pipeyness. be abused by the public. judging by the studio recording – I’m sure it’s the paramedic said it looked Meanwhile, Cartman learns going to be great. Doctor Who: The Lost Stories - The Song of Megaptera is out this month. like I had ‘a second mouth’. Not David Richardson on… that he may have been lied that I need one. The first one is to about the identity of his big enough. So I’ll shut up now. When I saw the BBC’s Sally father… Lockhart mysteries, I was really Brilliantly, and knowingly, on… struck by the cast – particularly reusing long-gone characters Haiku JJ Feild, Hayley Atwell and and old plotlines (people keep Doctor Who haiku Matt Smith. JJ and Hayley have asking, ‘We’re not doing this Are harder than Drashigs’ teeth both worked for Big Finish; again, are we?’), the whole Try your own this spring Matt… well, we did try for him. thing culminates in the return I think it was around 18 months of the mechanoid Barbra Jason Haigh-Ellery on… ago. And he wasn’t available. Streisand from way back in Over the Rainbow But I suspect that he already the first series, now in full CG. In the footsteps of a load of knew he was the Doctor, and It’s insane, it’s satirical, it’s Nancys, Josephs and Marias, coming in to play a guest role unapologetically brazen, and Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber is for us might cause some sort it’s magnificent. on the hunt for a Dorothy to star of Space/Time implosion. Or in The Wizard of Oz. It’s a tried something. Toby Hrycek-Robinson… and tested format and a big Did you see Matt in Party Van Gogh: Painted with ratings winner. It’s also good Animals? Brilliant. And he’s Words entertainment, as all the finalists walked into the role of the With every word spoken by can sing and dance and have and created as Van a pretty good acting head on something really special Gogh sourced from letters their shoulders. indeed. He owned the role to his younger brother Theo, Okay – from the off, I’m from the very first scene of The this docu-drama successfully completely biased. My friend Eleventh Hour – quirky and avoided a simplistic ‘mad Lauren is in the final ten. If she’s vibrant and alien and humane as cheese’ portrayal of him, out by the time you read this, and just so infinitely interesting. revealing a sophisticated, it was a travesty of injustice. If Two episodes in and he’s highly intelligent and civilised she’s won – well, go and see the another one of my favourite man all too acutely aware of The Space Whale is snared by the mile-long Orcas, but the TARDIS hurtles to ! Artwork by Alex Mallinson show: she’s brilliant! Doctors. I’m impressed. his social ineptitude. 16 1717 EVENTS DIARY

May 1: Invasion FORTHCOMING RELEASES BF guests: Nicholas Briggs (Voice of the Daleks, BF executive producer) David MAY JUNE Richardson (producer), Lisa • Doctor Who – The Wreck of the Titan • Doctor Who – Legend of the Cybermen Bowerman (director), (134, Sixth Doctor/Jamie) (135, Sixth Doctor/Jamie/Zoe) (writer), (writer). • Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – • Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – Convention guests include The Song of Megaptera (1.7) (1.8) , Frazer Hines, • Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – • Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – , Nicholas The Time (4.10, ) (4.12, Eighth Doctor) Courtney, Wendy Padbury • Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – • Jago and Litefoot – Series 1 Box Set and more Night’s Black Agents (4.11, Sixth Doctor) (Four full cast adventures) • Dark Shadows: TBA – Audiobook 12 May 2 • Dark Shadows: TBA ­– Audiobook 13 London Science-Fiction Film Festival - Sci-Fi London JULY AUGUST , Simon Guerrier. • Doctor Who – • Doctor Who – The Whispering Forest and Sarah Mowat will give (136, Fifth Doctor/Tegan/Turlough/Nyssa) (137, Fifth Doctor/Tegan/Turlough/Nyssa) a live reading of Bernice • Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor • Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Summerfield story Closure Adventures – Situation Vacant Adventures – (4.02, Eighth Doctor and TBA) (4.03, Eighth Doctor and TBA) May 14-16: • Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – • Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – 2010 BF guests: David Richardson of the Solar System Echoes of Grey (5.02, Second Doctor) (producer), Lisa Bowerman (5.01, ) • Dark Shadows: Kingdom of the Dead 2 (director), John Ainsworth • Dark Shadows: TBA ­– Audiobook 14 (2.2 Full cast audio) (director), • Dark Shadows: Kingdom of the Dead 1 (director), John Banks (actor: (2.1 Full cast audio) , , City of • Dark Shadows: Kingdom of the Dead Spires, The Song of Megaptera Box Set (2.1 - 2.4 Full cast audio) and more), Alex Mallinson (cover artist/actor), (writer: Leviathan) SEPTEMBER OCTOBER June 11-13: • Doctor Who – Cradle of the Snake • Doctor Who – TBA (138, Fifth Doctor/Tegan/Turlough/Nyssa) (140, /Ace) David Richardson (producer), • Doctor Who – Project: Destiny • Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Lisa Bowerman (Bernice (139, Seventh Doctor/Ace) Adventures – Deimos Summerfield/director) • Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor (4.05, Eighth Doctor and TBA) Convention guests include Nicholas Briggs (Voice of Adventures –­ The Book of Kells • Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – the Daleks, BF executive (4.04, Eighth Doctor and TBA) The Invasion of E-Space producer), Christopher • Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – (5.04, Fourth Doctor) Benjamin and Trevor Baxter Find and Replace (5.03, Third Doctor) • Dark Shadows: Kingdom of the Dead 4 (Jago and Litefoot) • Dark Shadows: Kingdom of the Dead 3 (2.4 Full cast audio) (2.3 Full cast audio) June 26 Christopher Benjamin and NOVEMBER DECEMBER Trevor Baxter signing Jago and Litefoot Series One at The • Doctor Who – TBA • Doctor Who – TBA Who Shop (141, Seventh Doctor/Ace) (142, Fifth Doctor/Nyssa) • Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor • Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures – The Greater Good Adventures – TBA (4.06, Eighth Doctor and TBA) (4.07, Eighth Doctor and TBA) • Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – • Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – The First Doctor Box Set The Second Doctor Box Set (2.1 – Farewell, Great Macedon (2.1 – Prison in Space & The Daleks: The & The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance) Destroyers) • Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – • Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – A Town Called Fortune (5.05, Sixth Doctor) TBA (5.06, Doctor TBA) • Short Trips: Volume 1 (2 CDs, various readers) JANUARY FEBRUARY • Doctor Who – TBA • Doctor Who – TBA (143, Sixth Doctor/TBA) (144, Sixth Doctor/TBA) • Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor • Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures – TBA Adventures – TBA (4.08, Eighth Doctor and TBA) (4.09, Eighth Doctor and TBA) • Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – • Short Trips: Volume 2 TBA (5.06, Doctor TBA) (2 CDs, various readers)

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