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Home , Big Finish Productions, Devious (Doctor Who), Exile (audio drama), Great Intelligence, Hidden (Torchwood), Jackie Lane (actress)

THE BIG FINISH MAGAZINE

The travels the big, wide universe armed with wit, a and psychic paper… JULY 2021 ALSO INSIDE ISSUE 149

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Secure online ordering and details of all our products can be found at: bgfn.sh/aboutBF EDITORIAL THE NINTH Doctor Adventures: Ravagers has been out for a few weeks DOCTOR WHO now and I’ve listened to it at least three times already. I never expected actor to metaphorically don his battered black leather jacket HOOFPRINTS again and return to that incarnation of which he created for thirteen & episodes on television. CONSPIRACY But he has, and wow, what a blisteringly The resumes his travels this great performance he gives. On listening October for another two stories in the eighth you would never know this was the . first time he’s returned to playing the volume of The Third Doctor Adventures Doctor again after such a long gap. I’ve never met or spoken to Chris but what struck me was just how much passion he has for Doctor Who. Just listen to his CONSPIRACY IN More than a century before, glee as he becomes the Doctor again and SPACE by overnight and during a gets to utter his famous catchphrase… sees the TARDIS diverted terrible blizzard, thousands “Fantastic!” A very large part of me thinks to Draconia where the of hoofprints appeared in that’s Chris himself expressing such Doctor and Jo fall foul of the snow. The tracks led on delight and not him being the ! the hawkish Lady Zinn. for miles... and no-one ever His joy in the CD extras is also evident. War with Earth seems identified who or what caused This month Vortex previews the second imminent as rumours of a them. That is until now… box set of The Ninth Doctor Adventures: super-weapon are rife… The Devil’s Hoofprints Respond to All Calls. Three new tales Conspiracy in Space producer producer David Richardson follow the mold that the BBC Books Heather Challands says: tells us: “The Third Doctor, range established when they first started “Conspiracy in Space is a Sarah Jane and the Brigadier publishing their original new series novels, wonderful action-packed are on Earth exploring with one episode set in the past, one in the adventure that really mysteries and terrifying present and one in – a perfect mix. celebrates the heart of Doctor events in Devon. What a And in other releases the War Master Who’s tenth television season, perfect story to release in is back with Jo and , the Doctor with brilliant performances the run up to Christmas and reunite in a story conceived from , Tim – it’s full of frosty frights by Philip Hinchcliffe, we have another Treloar and our guest cast.” and atmosphere.” VORTEX adventure with Cicero, more Torchwood And in The Devil’s Hoofprints and two Early Adventures. It’s going to by Robert Valentine, the be a veritable party in our ears… VORTEX Doctor, Sarah and the DOCTOR WHO: THE THIRD Brigadier have come to DOCTOR ADVENTURES Devon to visit a controversial VOLUME EIGHT scientific establishment in ■ RELEASED: OCTOBER 2021 ■ the wake of a mysterious FORMAT: CD/DOWNLOAD death and rumours of strange ORDER NOW: bgfn.sh/draconia occurrences in the vicinity.

| PAGE 3 The Ninth Doctor travels the big, wide universe armed with wit, a sonic screwdriver and psychic paper…

CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON is Producer David Richardson says: really enjoyed working with the well and truly back as the Doctor. “What I love about this set is that brilliant director Helen Goldwyn His return to the role with Big it contains three character-based who always balances creativity and Finish has received critical dramas – each of the writers has given detail with having a great time. acclaim but there’s no resting on the casts something really meaty “They are also three very the laurels following the release to play with. Chris remarked many contrasting stories – from present day of Ravagers. times how thrilled he was with the Scotland to post-WWII Paris to the In the second box set of The Ninth quality of the writing, and that after graveyard planet Occasus – each of Doctor Adventures, the Doctor is the high bar we’d set on Ravagers, the adventures in this CD box set (or roaming the universe doing his best we were continuing to deliver what download folder) offers something to avoid getting too involved – but he sees as ‘top drawer’ writing. new and exciting, with brilliant he just can’t resist the odd alien “My over-riding memory of new friends and terrifying foes.” signal or a distant SOS... Respond to this recording is that it was just Script editor Matt Fitton adds: All Calls, with three new standalone a blast – we laughed so much in “What’s lovely about this range is tales, is out for release this August. between the takes – and Chris that it’s a whole different era. We

| PAGE 4 DOCTOR WHO RESPOND TO ALL CALLS

to B. And while he might be tempted to invite them along for the ‘trip of a lifetime’, it’d strictly be a one-off and they won’t be staying onboard. “That’s an aspect that Chris really likes, a lonely wanderer who can’t settle down with anyone as he feels he has to keep moving. He’s falling through time, grabbing onto things as he passes, but he never stays in the one place. “He’s finding out who he is, what it means to be the Doctor in a universe after the when he’s got freedom to wander again, but he is wary of getting too close to anyone because of what might happen.”

THIS SERIES contains three very different adventures as Matt explains: “For this second set, we asked our three writers to pitch stories with the intention of doing one that was contemporary, one that was historical and one that was sci-fi/ future-y.” We start the adventures in Scotland with Girl, Deconstructed by Lisa McMullin. Marnie is missing. But she hasn’t run away, as her dad fears – Marnie is still very much at home. But not quite as she was. The Doctor joins forces with Missing Persons detective Jana Lee to help solve the mystery of a girl who’s gone to pieces. Matt tells Vortex: “Girl, Deconstructed is a bit Rose-like in a Christopher way, an introductory story with the Eccleston Doctor arriving on contemporary Earth and helping out where he can. He finds himself alongside a missing capture the flavour of the Russell persons detective looking for a girl T Davies television series but by who’s vanished from home – but setting our adventures beforehand, THAT’S AN she’s not that far away, really. the universe is our oyster. We can ASPECT “It’s what and Russell go anywhere and do anything – as T Davies do, find everyday things long as we don’t tread on the toes THAT CHRIS and make them scary, tapping into of the self-contained storyline that REALLY LIKES, childhood fears and that alienation runs through Chris’s series on TV. or just that worry, of disappearing “We can explore the Doctor A LONELY when you feel people aren’t listening before he meets Rose. The biggest to you, or you can’t talk to someone.” challenge is keeping him slightly on WANDERER the outside – he’s not ready to take WHO CAN’T LISA EXPLAINS more: “Girl, on a . That’s the thing Deconstructed all came from a we have to draw a line under, so SETTLE nightmare that I used to have, his relationship with Rose remains DOWN WITH which is a very Doctor Who way special. What the Doctor does in of getting ideas! When I was these stories, following on from the ANYONE… growing up, our house had some re-launch of the Doctor in Ravagers, MATT FITTON windows on the stairs which opened is help out where he can, maybe give outwards, fairly far, it would have people a ride in the TARDIS from A been easy for a child to fall out.

| PAGE 5 mixed up in her frustrated teenage emotions, and it all goes a bit wrong. Mirren “If I said I thought I might write Mack for Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor one day, I’d be lying! It was real surprise and delight when I was asked to be involved. I’m really looking forward to hearing how the cast take that childhood nightmare from my head and release it through the medium of audio!”

FOR THE second adventure we travel back in time for the wittily titled Fright Motif by Tim Foley. In post-war Paris, musician Artie Berger has lost his mojo, but gained a predator – something that seeps through the cracks of dissonance to devour the unwary. Luckily for Artie, the Doctor is here. Unluckily for

I’VE NEVER BEEN PART OF SOMETHING SO CLANDESTINE FOR BIG FINISH. TIM FOLEY

everyone, he needs bait to trap a monster… Matt says: “I’ve heard Christopher Eccleston talk on stage about the things he enjoys and what he’s been influenced by. He mentioned music so in Fright Motif we feature a jazz musician in Paris. We also discussed “My parents told me not to open setting it in New York or somewhere them saying if I did, I would never else in the States, but we thought Paris see them again… it was a weird thing would better capture the imagination. for a three-year-old. I didn’t think at “Music sets the theme for the story the time that it was because I would – it’s all about sound – and there is fall out and die, in my mind it would a creature within it that feeds on have created a situation where I could dissonance and the fact that the see them but they wouldn’t be able musician has lost his mojo. He can’t to see me or talk to me. You would make music as he used to and that be in the same space as your loved lets in an extra-dimensional being.” ones yet you wouldn’t be able to Tim tells Vortex: “When Matt connect with them. A child processes asked me to be involved, I couldn’t the world in such a different way! believe I’d been considered and “So, we have a girl who’s gone to then I honestly didn’t think The pieces in many senses of the word. Ninth Doctor Adventures were She’s not run away from home but really going to happen! Even after she was thinking about it. She’s a we bounced around ideas and teenager who’s feeling unsettled outlines and heard what Chris was and wanting to escape as she’s not Benjamin keen to do with the part, it still felt Davies able to connect with her father. so impossible. And then came the And unfortunately some aliens get big announcement that the Ninth

| PAGE 6 DOCTOR WHO RESPOND TO ALL CALLS

Christopher Eccleston

I’VE NEVER BEEN PART OF SOMETHING SO CLANDESTINE FOR BIG FINISH. TIM FOLEY

Doctor was coming back and we to mention, from conception actually got the thumbs-up to start to recording! But one absolute scripting… I think I have nearly come highlight was the comradery of to terms with the fact that this is now the writers guided beautifully by happening – I may need a sit down! Matt, because that made us push “I’ve never been part of something ourselves to write stories that so clandestine for Big Finish. I’m felt bold and fresh. Reading the glad my friend Timothy X Atack was scripts by Lisa and Tim X made involved as well so we could send each me appreciate how talented my other supportive squeels. I’m happy colleagues are and what excitement to report I’ve now learnt all of Big lay ahead. It feels like I’ve played a Finish’s secret winks and handshakes small part in shaping a whole new so as soon as they have another era for a wonderful Doctor, and secret project for me I’ll turn up the I’ll forever be grateful for that.” collar of my trench coat in a flash! “I wanted to write something that THE SET concludes with had all the blockbuster ingredients Planet of the End by Tim X Atack. of a story but stirred The Doctor arrives on a a little differently to feel a tad more Pearl mausoleum world for sightseeing Appleby raw. So we’re in post-war Paris just and light pedantry, correcting its before the Christmas of 1946. It’s planetary records. The resident AI a city free from occupation but has other ideas. Deep within a tomb, everyone is broke and bruised and capital at night, zipping through something stirs. Occasus is bitterly cold. There’s a hotel pianist empty hotels and grungy jazz clubs resting place of a species far too called Artie who seems to have lost and historic Parisian landmarks, all dangerous to exist. And the Doctor is his musical ability, and the Doctor whilst facing an impossible menace.” its way back. is worried this heralds something Does Tim have a particular Matt says: “Planet of the End is, much more disastrous. It’s a big highlight from the whole process? like the other stories in this set, emotional adventure through the He says: “There are just too many pretty much the first pitch that the

| PAGE 7 DOCTOR WHO RESPOND TO ALL CALLS

writer suggested. We get to explore a sense of loss and devastation as THE MOMENT THE we have this lonely Doctor visiting a mausoleum world to correct EMAIL FROM MATT some of their records. He’s keeping himself away from everything that’s ARRIVED MY BRAIN living and meets an AI that TIMOTHY X ATACK maintains the grounds. And then EXPLODED! we discover that everything in the mausoleum isn’t quite as dead as it should be – there is an alien presence keen to use the Doctor to escape…” Tim X says: “The moment the email from Matt arrived my brain exploded! That was it, the whole weekend gone… gone to daydreaming and plotting and, of course, an instant re-watch of the 2005 television series. Staying quiet about it during lockdown might not have been so tough except my niece and nephews have begun to fall in love with Doctor Who over the last few years, and I’ve been helping them write their own TARDIS stories via Zoom. One of my nephews has a particular fondness for the Ninth Doctor, and keeping schtum about the fact that I was writing an adventure for Chris Eccleston has some proper resolve... “There was a point, mid pitching- process, where creative director and Chris definitively decided to take the Doctor in a direction that didn’t have his personal grief as a driving force, and that felt like a real release, a whole new energy. Beforehand I’d sent through a few Akshay Khanna ideas that had the Doctor looking back a bit, even while running for his life, but we cast aside that ball and chain. “The 2005 series is such a brilliantly balanced run of stories, and the time war journey is handled so well, it felt like the best thing was not to mess with that. What it left us with was a Doctor giddy with freedom, setting about things anew. I was so excited to have him dive headlong into some vibrant, strange, unpredictable situations and I sense my fellow writers were chasing that feeling, too. Matt asked if I could write something set on another world and the only question was: OK, where?” Tim continues: “The Doctor detects a distress call in thousands of languages coming from the planet Occasus. This wouldn’t be all that unusual except Occasus is Damian Lynch a global necropolis, a sacred burial ground for thousands of long-extinct

| PAGE 8 DOCTOR WHO RESPOND TO ALL CALLS

species – and there’s absolutely anyone who tells you otherwise. the work. I really missed that and no-one alive on the planet. We’re back in the playground.” I think the actors did too. But the “Of course, the Doctor investigates fact we can carry on and work in but the artificial intelligence that RESPONSIBLE FOR bringing lockdowns is remarkable – we’re so guards the planet won’t allow the this series to life is director Helen fortunate to be able to do that.” Doctor any of his tech, assuming Goldwyn. She tells Vortex: “I was Helen, who has also directed the him to be a grave robber. So to track completely shocked when I was fourth box set for the Ninth Doctor, down the signal the Doctor has asked to direct these as I had no admits: “At the beginning everyone to set out across Occasus, on foot, expectation that it might is a bit tentative as you’re sussing through crumbling graveyards happen. I’d not thought about it, each other out! Chris doesn’t know and tombs of many kinds. imagined or hoped for it – I just never me, so I had to play it by ear and “Despite the setting, it’s not expected it to come my way. earn his trust. Nick had worked necessarily the darkest story “I was then very excited and wanted with him on the first series before I in the world. I wanted to write to play my part in making sure Chris came in to do mine, so it was great something that had a bit of a Studio to chat with Nick and establish what Ghibli [Japanese animation] feel kind of pace Chris likes to work at. to it, a landscape for the Doctor “Chris is very quick, he picks to travel through accompanied up direction speedily and likes by some unlikely, otherworldly to re-do takes straight away. By companions he picks up along the the time we were recording the way. Occasus is a very beautiful second adventure we were all very place so there’s a fairy-tale mystery much more relaxed and enjoying to it all – and a horrific lurking the banter, really feeling like we menace maybe, why not?!” were getting to know each other. Tim admits: “I’m the kind of writer “And it’s an absolute thrill getting that ‘embodies’ things as I write. to hear the Ninth Doctor again. At the very least I’m sitting at the There’s no question that it’s a desk pulling faces, and from time privileged position to be in. When to time I’ll leap up and act out what I heard the first edits it made my I think the pace and dynamic of a hair stand on end because Chris scene might be... I was like a kid in a gives it so much commitment schoolyard, it sent a shiver down my Helen and energy and conviction. He Goldwyn spine! That’s what every Big Finish really cares – he wants to get it writer is in it for – don’t believe as brilliant as he can.” VORTEX

I’D NOT THOUGHT ABOUT IT, IMAGINED OR HOPED FOR IT – I JUST NEVER EXPECTED IT TO COME MY WAY. HELEN GOLDWYN

had a great time. We were working entirely remotely so that changes the DOCTOR WHO: THE NINTH DOCTOR dynamic a bit, but really once you’re ADVENTURES – RESPOND TO ALL CALLS up and running and doing the scenes CD BOX SET it’s not that different from actually ■ RELEASED: AUGUST 2021 being in a studio. I can’t really see ■ FORMAT: CD/DOWNLOAD people in the studio anyway, I’m only able to see an elbow or a leg ORDER NOW: bgfn.sh/deconstructed through the partition window! “Once you’ve all got the LIMITED EDITION VINYL EDITION

headphones on and are acting, ■ RELEASED: AUGUST 2021 remote recording is pretty much the ■ FORMAT: TRIPLE VINYL same as a studio day. The bit that’s ORDER NOW: bgfn.sh/motif Nick missing is the stuff in between takes Fletcher and on the lunch breaks when you get to know each other outside of

| PAGE 9 WE’RE HEADING BACK TO THE SIXTIES FOR…

1960s. We had to use very modern many things that intrigued me techniques (all together now – home about The Invasion of Earth recording!) for The Secrets of Det-Sen, was how the society depicted in but due to the great cast and director, it had no futuristic technology as well as Toby Hrycek-Robinson despite it being the 22nd century. working his magic on sound design “So I ran with the idea that human and music, it evokes the 60s perfectly.” technology and innovation has The first release is After the been banned or destroyed by the by Roland Moore, where we find Daleks, and that once they’d been out what happened to Susan in the defeated the technology could be wake of the Dalek invasion of Earth. regained. For instance, we know How did Roland enjoy working in that 22nd century Earth had Ganger a desolate setting once again, given [doppelgangers formed from a type he’s written for Survivors before? of flesh] technology and the time DOCTOR WHO – The Early Roland says: “Tonally Survivors shot experiments of time traveller Adventures range captures the is a lot darker although After the Orson Pink – so where were those formative years of the television Daleks does have its moments… things during the Dalek invasion?” series. In two new releases “I was interested in that survivor available this August, there’s an instinct though. In After the Daleks THERE’S A new face in this adventure with Susan in After the we’re confronted, not just with adventure as Dodo Chaplet, Daleks and the in The getting the human race back on originally played by Jackie Lane, Secrets of Det-Sen. its feet, but also dealing with the has been taken on by Lauren Producer Alfie Shaw says: “When aftermath of an occupation.” Cornelius. Alfie explains: I started as producer of this range, How different is a post-Dalek “Lauren’s casting was a result of a both of these scripts had already world to a post-Death world? Roland conversation primarily between been commissioned and it was like explains: “On the surface there are creative director Nicholas Briggs and uncovering two lost stories from the some similarities but one of the Mark Wright who is producing The

| PAGE 10 DOCTOR WHO THE EARLY ADVENTURES

myself and script editor John Dorney as I developed the storyline. “It was fun to write. If you’ve seen the TV episode, The Abominable Snowmen, you’ll know that the Doctor came into the possession of the Ghanta [holy bell], just as we know there were thieves of some sort. So the real trick for me was to find a way to do something with the Ghanta, adding a few twists and details. Why is it so important, and just why did it get given to the Doctor? Around that, there was also the tale of the bandits that needed revealing. And in addition I wanted to include some interesting stuff with the regulars! “We’re a good three hundred years prior to the Great Intelligence’s IT WAS LIKE UNCOVERING TWO LOST STORIES FROM THE 1960S. ALFIE SHAW Sean Biggerstaff

introduction to the universe of Who, and indeed to the Doctor, which gave First Doctor Adventures. Nick’s me a lot of freedom to tell a different worked with Lauren before and it was story of Det-Sen, one we’d not seen his suggestion to cast her. She’s done a before. This adventure could be great job and I look forward to hearing classed as a pure historical. No sci-fi where Mark takes Dodo next.” as such, just a tale of pilgrims, bandits Lauren, who memorably played and monks, and the mysteries that Ivy Clark alongside surround Det-Sen, a little monastery in Big Finish’s The Creeping Death, on the hills of the Transhimalaya. says: “Since starting to work with It is, hopefully, a character-led Big Finish, I’ve dreamed of coming story, a story of self-discovery for on board as a companion to the our leads. And yes of course there Doctor – so this is a genuine dream will be ! A real yeti!” VORTEX come true! Dodo wasn’t around for very long but is still an established character – it’s been wonderful to be DOCTOR WHO: THE EARLY ADVENTURES able to study her previous adventures Lauren AFTER THE DALEKS Cornelius and bring her back to life in 2021. ■ RELEASED: AUGUST 2021 “I watched the old TV episodes ■ FORMAT: CD/DOWNLOAD which featured Dodo, and the original ORDER NOW: bgfn.sh/after actress Jackie Lane did a marvellous The Secrets of Det-Sen has been job with her! She’s got a real playful written by Andy Frankham-Allen. side, and she can be very quick witted He reveals: “A story around Det-Sen DOCTOR WHO: THE EARLY ADVENTURES and comical at times which is lovely. was one of the first ideas I suggested THE SECRETS OF DET-SEN I also really like how, even though she to Nick during our initial meeting. ■ RELEASED: AUGUST 2021 ■ had a tough upbringing, she’s still So I always had the basic idea of FORMAT: CD/DOWNLOAD got a wonderful caring, kind side – as what to do with the Doctor but then ORDER NOW: bgfn.sh/himalayas well as a little feistiness which she has it took a while to come to pass with had to develop in order to survive.” an extended back and forth between

| PAGE 11 The War Master is back in KILLING TIME, his sixth box set of adventures…

EVIL HAS many faces, of stories. Now, it’s difficult to old companions exactly. I mean, particularly when it’s the imagine not working with Derek. naturally you look for hooks from Master, and there’s no stopping “We’ve kept in touch, especially Doctor Who’s history that could be him (or her) on the eternal during lockdowns, and Derek is even worth exploring, but it was as much quest for universal domination, in a short film I’ve directed. But it’s me realising that both characters even if all of space and time is always lovely to unite with Derek for have a checkered history with their being ripped apart around them. these recordings. The War Master respective Masters – and wanting to The War Master, played by Sir feels like coming home. And I work with Katy and Sarah again. , has deceived Daleks absolutely adore . It’s such “Jo and the Delgado Master had and Time Lords alike in the first a brilliant character throughout an odd respect between them. five box sets of adventures. And all the incarnations, there’s always Meanwhile, Nyssa’s father was now he returns in Killing Time with something more to discover.” killed and his body possessed a couple of familiar faces from In Killing Time we have the by the Master’s spirit – not to the past – Jo Grant and Nyssa. Master encountering two old mention her whole family wiped Producer admits: companions of the Doctor. What out. So both have interesting takes “It’s strange looking back. When I made Scott choose Jo and Nyssa, to explore. Jo is meeting a man pitched The War Master idea back two people with long histories she knew but who’s now more in 2016, we had no idea if Derek with the Doctor’s arch nemesis? sadistic than suave, while Nyssa would be interested and thought He explains: “It wasn’t really has an opportunity to confront it might only be for the one set about having the Master meet the man who killed her family.”

| PAGE 12 THE WAR MASTER KILLING TIME

encounters first as a guard but who rises through the ranks to become a truly formidable opponent.” James has written the first and last episodes of the series. He tells Vortex: “I love how the War Master has a lot of different structures – it’s a properly daring range. In my episodes I provide the two layers of bread for Lou Morgan’s meaty filling! “Scott’s idea was essentially the Master going on a date. Seriously! How would the Master define a ‘date’? So the first three episodes are him meeting three remarkable women and how he changes their lives – and they change his. “The first adventure sees the Scott’s idea was essentially the Master going on a date. Seriously! Alexandria Riley and Derek Jacobi

Master meeting his match, only he doesn’t realise it. And the final adventure is the Master getting THIS SIXTH series centres his revenge. Both episodes are set around an empire populated by in an area of space where people a race that can never advance are damaged by the Time War – – a race the Master seeks to sterile and almost ageless. It’s a seize control of. However, he corrupt and stagnant empire and has a rival in the form of the Master has to work out how Calantha. to conquer it. It’s a proper epic.” There are four tales in the set: Lou was very excited to be asked The Sincerest Form of Flattery by to write for the War Master but James Goss, A Quiet Night In by Lou concedes: “It was a bit daunting Morgan, The Orphan also by Lou and at first: the War Master’s a tricky Unfinished Business again by James. one to invite into your head as he’s Scott says: “The set kicks off on the intimidating! You have to take Stagnant Protocol, a world where the worst thing you can imagine the populace are near-immortal him doing at any point, and dial it but unable to reproduce. It’s also up about 15 percent – everything a world of tactical significance about him is just that little bit during the Time War. So naturally extra. When you’re writing for the the Master arrives attempting to Master, it’s very much a case of ‘he’s hijack it and claim its power for a monster, but he’s our monster…’ himself but, unusually, he gets which is probably why I love him!” caught up in the bureaucracy of And Lou was also asked to write governments. It’s a witty set of for the Doctor’s old companions. stories as the Master tries to work his She confirms: “Yes, that was way into the corridors of power and Derek brilliant because Jo and Nyssa Jacobi manages not to succeed. Alexandria are phenomenal. We know that Riley is the most magnificent they’re both more than a match foil as Calantha: a character he for the Master, but for his plan to

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Derek Jacobi and (thankfully still standing!)

…when it was revealed succeed here he has no choice but Working with Derek came as a real to go through them. Individually, that the surprise to actor Sarah Sutton. She their strengths lie in different tells Vortex: “I was delighted with the places, so you know he’s going to Master script because I knew that it would try and weaponise that however give Nyssa’s character huge scope he can. The way the Master sees it, was to be to explore her incredibly difficult if he’s going to have to deal with relationship with the Master. them, he might as well have a little played by “But when it was revealed that fun (and perhaps settle a couple the Master was to be played by of old scores) while he’s at it. Sir Derek Sir Derek Jacobi I nearly fell over! “Being able to write for all three Surely Big Finish was having a of them was such a treat, but I Jacobi I laugh at my expense but no, they actually felt a little guilty because were in fact completely serious! Jo is such a lovely, genuinely good nearly fell Once I had recovered from the person that going out of your over! shock, the panic then set in. Over way to be horrible to her just feels all the years I have worked with SARAH SUTTON wrong – especially if you’re having Big Finish I have been lucky and fun doing it! But that’s exactly the privileged enough to work with kind of thing the War Master would some really amazing actors and the enjoy, isn’t it? His approach to Jo he uses with Jo: you get the feeling prospect of working with Derek was is to totally and utterly dismantle he sees Nyssa as something of a so exciting if not a little terrifying! her, almost as an act of vengeance. test. How far can he push it, how “Whilst Nyssa often appears to She has something he wants but much can he get away with before have her emotions and feelings it isn’t enough to just take it from she realises who she’s dealing in check she finds that actually her, he has to take everything. with? He likes being the cleverest when it comes to her relationship Which he does, with relish. in the room so you know he won’t with the Master, once exposed, “With Nyssa, the Master takes a be able to resist gloating if he can those emotions and feelings are slightly different tack to the one beat her. He’s not exactly subtle.” very raw – understandably so.

| PAGE 14 THE WAR MASTER KILLING TIME

I was able to pick out moments between the Master and Nyssa to add in that feeling. Nyssa has some lovely moments of reflection in this story so I’ve been able to really reflect her maturing and wisening with the music. Seeing her grapple with emotional baggage and dealing with it is really rewarding to hear and score. “Nyssa and Jo Grant both have some really traumatic history with the Master. Knowing this, I’m really hoping those moments between the person that caused such pain and suffering and the two companions comes across in the right manner – I really had to make sure this was the main focus of all of the music. The Master …it forces me to write music that could be considered more classical in Katy Manning influence. ROB HARVEY

here is such a predator in disguise and for me that’s been a really “Everyone had told me that such a cast because it forces me to interesting point to home in on.” Derek was really lovely and a joy to write music that could be Scott adds: “We recorded this act with and they were all spot on. considered more classical in in December 2019 so it was one When you work with someone who influence. This is quite a challenge of the last sets we managed to is so assured, sensitive and engaging for me because I have to really do my record with Derek and everyone you naturally respond to them. research. On the lead up to a War in the same room. And it was a There is a rhythm to the scenes and Master job I’ll listen to a lot of things delight. The scripts are, I think, the timing becomes instinctive. It like Elgar, Mahler, Chopin or the strongest Derek’s had to play feels as though your performance Rachmaninov so I can get myself to date. Plus seeing him interact is enhanced because of them. Well into that mindset. It’s quite a with Katy and Sarah was an in my case I certainly hope so! challenge but it’s a really fulfilling added joy. They all behaved as “I really didn’t want the ! In order to properly support if they’d known each other for to end but I am so proud to say such performances I have to years – you could actually imagine that I had the opportunity to essentially up my game to they’d been working together work with Derek Jacobi.” something more in line with what in the 1970s and ‘80s, despite the cast is delivering. never having met. Killing Time is MUSICIAN AND sound “As you may be aware, Nyssa a real treat of a box set!” VORTEX designer Rob Harvey had the already has a television theme in responsibility of realising the place though for licensing reasons adventure’s soundscape. He I can’t actually use it. So what I’ve DOCTOR WHO: THE WAR MASTER says: “The War Master series done is make a version of it using KILLING TIME has always been a fun one. the same musical DNA. I go into ■ RELEASED: AUGUST 2021 ■ Derek Jacobi’s portrayal of the detail about it in the extras of this FORMAT: CD/DOWNLOAD Master demands a certain level of set, but basically her theme is ORDER NOW: bgfn.sh/calantha class from everyone. I very much simple enough that you’re able to relish these times working with add tonality to it. Going through,

| PAGE 15 THE AND LEELA PREPARE TO FACE…

BIG FINISH is particularly There are currently three releases Phantoms is their fourth collaboration well known for two distinctive in the range with a fourth, The God and I think Philip and Marc working on kinds of Doctor Who of Phantoms now on its way. audio are as compatible as Philip and storytelling: those that push Producer David Richardson says: Robert Holmes were on the TV series. the Doctor and his friends in “The Philip Hinchcliffe Presents They share certain sensibilities and yet new directions, and those that adventures can take many months when their instincts do diverge Marc is perfectly capture the era of the time. and indeed years in the making. I skilfully able to adjust his writing voice The Philip Hinchcliffe Presents think it’s at least two years since Philip to be in line with Philip’s intentions. range fits most definitely into the suggested the bare bones of an idea “What we have here, as with latter camp. Philip Hinchcliffe for The God of Phantoms which was previous stories in the range, is an himself – the producer of Tom commissioned on the spot. What adventure that could easily have Baker’s first three seasons on then followed was a long gestation been on TV (had Philip continued television – provides the basis period in which Philip crafted the working on the show and produced a for story ideas before working detailed storyline, before going to fourth series with the Fourth Doctor with writer during Marc to develop into script form and Leela). It’s an era I love and so the scripting process to get and then back to Philip for notes. naturally this is a range I love too.” something as close as possible “It’s been lovely to see how well Marc – who has written Ghost to the feel of that time on TV. these two work together. The God of Light for the on TV

* No, not that one…

| PAGE 16 DOCTOR WHO GOD OF PHANTOMS

“It’s like a historical story set on the planet Sister Serene in the far future. A sort of cross between The Last of the Mohicans, The Crucible and The Revenant. There are battles and double crossings and a plague of ghosts. It’s about possession and identity and what you can believe in. “In the early 1980s there was a production of Hamlet at the Royal Court theatre in which Philip and I both saw. Actor Jonathan Pryce played both the prince and the ghost of his murdered father. He alternated the voices, arguing with himself: one voice normal, the other raw and gravelly. It THE IDEA OF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING INHABITING YOUR BODY IS HORRIFYING… Tim MARC PLATT Faulkner

was mesmerising, visceral and genuinely scary. The idea of and many Doctor Who novels and someone or something inhabiting audios – admits he was hoping for the your body is horrifying, but if you chance to do more work with Philip. are still there too, trying to fight He reveals: “We certainly talked back, then that’s twice as bad. about doing another story at the end “The God of Phantoms is about of the third one so it’s always exciting a war between various groups to hear from Philip again. I still have of settlers as their societies and to kick myself that I’m working on cultures start slipping backwards, another story involving and devolving under the influence of a – only 45 years after I third malign presence that inhabits was watching them on the telly! This the landscape itself. While the is our fourth release and they’ve all Doctor finds that he may be more been a huge, scary pleasure to work on. directly implicated in the battle “Philip always starts off a set-up with than he expected, Leela is entrusted details of possible characters, locations Aurora with a darker secret that tests her Burghart and situations. And it also usually faith and loyalty to the limit.” VORTEX involves quite a bit of background reading. It’s a bit like Philip filling up a firework with various ingredients, the start of part four, Philip says OK, DOCTOR WHO: PHILIP HINCHCLIFFE PRESENTS lighting the blue touch paper and then go ahead and see where it leads you. THE GOD OF PHANTOMS handing it to me – my job is to get it to Hopefully by then the characters ■ RELEASED: AUGUST 2021 explode in the most interesting way! have got their own steam up and ■ FORMAT: CD/DOWNLOAD “Philip is always very generous in it writes itself but Philip always allowing me the freedom to expand has the final stamp of approval.” ORDER NOW: bgfn.sh/ on his ideas. I fill in the details and the Looking ahead to the release of dialogue and then, usually around The God of Phantoms, Marc tells us:

| PAGE 17 Ancient Roman Cicero is back in the line of duty…*

THE BIG Finish Originals Roscius before the Big Finish “I studied Cicero during my range launched in 2017 with Originals range came into fruition A-Levels and the corrupt triumvirate Cicero, a collection of and it subsequently expanded into of Pompey, Caesar and Crassus adventures based on the real life the series. Then Jason suggested we has always stuck in my mind, so I of Marcus Tullius Cicero, a might like to tackle an ‘audio movie’ suggested that as a starting point lawyer in Ancient Rome. With – a longer-form drama – not unlike to David. His original idea had playing the titular the recent ATA Girl follow-up. So been to tell the story of Cicero’s character and George Naylor as his that just left us mulling over which death (when he’d have been in his brother Quintus, the series proved to period in Cicero’s life to place it.” sixties) which would have been be an instant hit. The Crossroads, out for release a stretch for Sam, George and Cicero was also a finalist in the in July, has been written by David Laura, so thankfully he leapt at the Best Audio Drama category of Llewellyn reuniting Sam, George opportunity to meet in the middle.” the Audie Awards, and now Big and actor Laura Riseborough as David reveals: “The initial idea was Finish chairman Jason Haigh- Cirero’s wife Terentia. Scott says: to have Cicero and Quintus holed Ellery has commissioned producer “Cicero’s a good twenty years older up at a remote villa; something Scott Handcock to create more. now (ironically a little closer to Sam’s we could record easily during the Scott tells Vortex: “Jason is very real age – I hadn’t really realised confines of the first lockdown. It pleased with the reaction to the how much younger than himself sounded nice and simple but I was Cicero audios. We made the one- Sam was playing before as he’s so really struggling to come up with off pilot about the Trial of Sextus brilliant at changing his energy!). ideas. Thankfully lockdowns and

* No, not that one…

| PAGE 18 CICERO CROSSROADS

a particular bird call, but when it works, it works well. “But in order to sell the soundscape for this particular time period we have to essentially take away those little latching points which actually allows more space to imagine what you might think it sounds like. I needed to take a more involved approach to the soundscape where lots of complicated and detailed things are happening, to create something more like what you’d experience if you, for example, visited a new town or city. “This makes you listen harder and then you find yourself being drawn in. If I were to place audio cues that seem familiar to you into

it’s a bit like one of those nineties ‘Yuppies in Peril’ thrillers.

Samuel the soundscape, there’s a danger Barnett that you might assume too much and be left with too clear a picture too early. We want to take you on a journey to formulate your own idea of what Ancient Rome was like. the plan changed and we had the Which is both the hardest thing to opportunity to do something epic. get right and the most rewarding.” “The Crossroads is set around Looking back on the first run, the time of the first triumvirate Scott concludes: “The reaction to of Caesar, Crassus and Pompey. Cicero has been lovely. It’s easy to Cicero finds himself on the dismiss historical drama as being a receiving end of a vendetta by his bit dusty or worthy but when you neighbour and nemesis, Clodius step back and take a look at what was Pulcher, so it’s a bit like one of those going on it’s really not very different nineties ‘Yuppies in Peril’ thrillers. George from our world. We have the same Naylor Except in this case the setting is kinds of characters, the same kind Rome in the 1st Century BCE! of political wrangling. The world “Thankfully I kept most of my may have been less sophisticated notes from the first series so I didn’t word for word, from the original. back then but the people and the have to read up on the minutiae of It’s possibly the only time I’ve attitudes were as complicated as everyday life in the Roman Republic, welled up while writing a script!” ever. And I think that makes for a but Plutarch’s biographies came in really interesting drama.” VORTEX very handy. Also, this is a period BRINGING THE script to life in which Cicero and Quintus were is musician and sound designer writing to one another frequently, Rob Harvey who wanted to BIG FINISH ORIGINALS so I was able to draw on their emulate ancient Rome in our CICERO: THE CROSSROADS correspondence from Shackleton ears. He explains: “A big part of ■ RELEASED: JULY 2021 ■ Bailey’s brilliant translations. The selling soundscapes is finding FORMAT: DOWNLOAD letters written in are incredibly that little bit of character that allows ORDER NOW: bgfn.sh/republic moving, and one of those featured you to latch on and create a visual. in The Crossroads is taken, almost This might be something as simple as

| PAGE 19 TORCHWOOD EMPIRE OF SHADOWS

WE’RE GOING INTO THE FAR-FLUNG FUTURE WITH A FAMILIAR FACE IN AUGUST’S TORCHWOOD RELEASE… FUTURETENSE

FROM LISTENING to Big library. But does Zachary want to “There’s been a lot of talk in Finish and watching Doctor Who find it? Writer and producer James the news about Presidential on television, we’ve encountered Goss said: “We’ve wanted to do an Libraries and this takes that idea: Torchwood in the past, present adventure with Zachary Cross Flane what if Earth Emperors have and future. We witnessed how since the start of the Torchwood audio libraries, and what if Torchwood Queen Victoria established the range but we thought, ‘Shaun’s so is responsible for maintaining institute in the television episode famous, the chances of getting him them? What secrets are in them? Tooth and Claw, heard it (dis)function are really small. But wait, what?!’ “Empire of Shadows is a story of in many adventures in the present day, “It was an absolute delight to conspiracies and corruption but it’s and had a glimpse into its future in the find out that Shaun was interested also about Zachary and his synth TV episodes The Impossible Planet/The in coming back to the part and colleague Chloe who feel like the last Satan Pit. we had a great day with him in two good people in the entire empire. And we stay in the future in August’s studio. He’d stayed up into the How does Torchwood fit into this Torchwood audio release, Empire of small hours the night before re- expanse of emperors and Shadows, which features the return watching his TV episodes and was courtiers and corrupt systems – and of Shaun Parkes as Zachary Cross full of happy memories of fighting what happens to Zachary Cross Flane Flane, the Torchwood Archive agent. the devil all those years ago. after The Impossible Planet?” VORTEX In the far future of the Earth Empire, “Zachary is a sort of a weary Torchwood is forgotten. So it’s a everyman figure. There are lots of surprise when Zachary Cross Flane of hints in The Impossible Planet that TORCHWOOD the Torchwood Archive finds himself there’s an Earth Empire and that EMPIRE OF SHADOWS summoned to the opening of the late Torchwood are sort of pushed to one ■ RELEASED: AUGUST 2021 ■ Empress’s Library. Her son believes side – Zachary’s crew aren’t on the FORMAT: CD/DOWNLOAD that the conspiracy which deposed USS Enterprise. There’s a wonderfully ORDER NOW: bgfn.sh/flane his mother is still active, and that the downbeat feel about him and his key to it is somewhere in the world, and that’s what we get to revisit.

| PAGE 20 VISIT: BIGFINISH.COM/OFFERS/V/BOOKCLUB USE THE ACCESS CODE: STORIES

“I’ve tried to tell stories that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle might have given us but with an edge – as if he’d had more time or greater license or some slightly different perspective, perhaps.” Entering the worlds of Sherlock Holmes was nothing unusual to Jonathan who reveals: “There’s never been a year, I don’t think, in the past 20 when I haven’t revisited at least some of the adventures. And being asked to write my own versions is the perfect excuse to go back to them once again. Watson’s voice, as Conan Doyle writes it, is highly distinctive and you really have to spend a lot of time immersed in the books to have a hope of sounding at all convincing.” Our heroes face some dastardly villains in this box set, and Jonathan admits: “One of the difficulties with Holmes – and you feel this even in the original stories – is how to present him with a worthy THE ORDEALS OF adversary. Professor Moriarty aside, the books are full of opponents who don’t really offer too much of a challenge to someone of SHERLOCK HOLMES Holmes’s genius-level intellect. “Female characters, however, seem to make particularly strong for the detective: Irene ONE THING that writers often lifelong friendship, and beyond… Adler in A Scandal in Bohemia; Gale struggle with is the perfect story Jonathan explains: “The Ordeals Sondergaard’s character in the 1944 title. Novels and scripts can be of Sherlock Holmes is – if it’s not film Spider Woman; Cecile Stapleton drafted, but that final elusive too grand a statement – my in Hammer’s The Hound of the element, the thing that might attempt to tell the ultimate Baskervilles. As to why this should be persuade a dithering customer new Sherlock Holmes story. so… well, I think he’s frightened of to purchase the work, can elude “The box set contains four one- them, frankly! And there are several them. But that most certainly isn’t hour dramas starring the classic strong female characters in The the case with The Ordeals of Sherlock Big Finish team of Nicholas Briggs Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes.” VORTEX Holmes where the title sounds and Richard Earl (as Holmes and authentically true to the works of Sir Watson). Each adventure is from Arthur Conan Doyle. a different period in Holmes’ life, THE ORDEALS OF Written by Jonathan Barnes and from the plains of Afghanistan to SHERLOCK HOLMES first released in December 2013, the alleyways of Victorian London, ■ RELEASED: DECEMBER 2013 ■ FORMAT: The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes sees from the dark heart of the English CD/DOWNLOAD the detective and Dr John Watson countryside to the ruin of Europe ORDER NOW: bgfn.sh/ordeal in a quartet of astonishing new after the Great War, and they build investigations which span their into a much bigger .

| PAGE 21 SEND LETTERS TO: [email protected] AND USE VORTEX MAIL AS THE SUBJECT

YOU KNOW I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to The Third Doctor Adventures volume seven. Perfectly timed for the 25th anniversary of ’s passing, by giving both television seasons seven and eleven an outstanding introduction on audio. With Sarah Jane and UNIT due to appear in volume eight, are there any plans to do a story involving them up against the serving as a sequel to Robert Holmes’ two other serials? That could actually work for a potential ninth volume! ANDREW HSIEH Nick: Hi Andrew, these are certainly some exciting suggestions…

PARALLEL WORLDS A thought has occurred to me regarding your Space: 1999. It would be so cool, if – when you adapt Another Time, Another Place – you could get as many of the surviving original cast members to voice their ‘alternate universe’ counterpart roles (i.e. Nick Tate to voice the Alternate Allan and Prentis Hancock to voice Alternate Paul, likewise Clifton Jones, Anton Philips et al). THE NINTH DEGREE to return but the Ninth Doctor KELD R HANSEN I recently started reading Vortex will be encountering all sorts Nick: Nice idea, Keld. That story isn’t so I thought I’d share my opinions of exciting other characters up for adaptation as yet but scripts are on the Ninth Doctor’s return in over the next few box sets. now in for Space: 1999 Volume Two Ravagers. The Ninth Doctor has and we hope to be recording them soon. always been a favourite of mine IT’S A SECRET and I was really excited when this I enjoy listening to your Doctor BACK IN TIME (WAR) was announced. Overall, the box Who and The Avengers audio I’m really enjoying your Time War set was amazing! Great story and dramas. Would you please consider audios. Whether it’s ideas, amazing characters and we doing new audio dramas using or , I’ve enjoyed them can’t forget Christopher Eccleston ’s The Secret all. I’m curious about what’s next who sounds like he never left. I also Service? My choice for the portrayal for the though, do really like Nova, the companion of of Father One would be either you have any plans to produce this set. She was really fun. Is there Tom Baker or Sylvester McCoy! more episodes for him during the any hope of her return? It really JOSEPH CULP Time War? I really hope so after lived up to expectations and I can’t Nick: I think The Secret Service is one the way you ended Volume Four wait for Responds to All Calls. of the oddest TV series ever made – I last year! Keep up the good work! EVAN CUNNINGHAM rewatched some of it recently! But JONATHAN WESTALL Nick: Many thanks, Evan, so glad we don’t have any plans to revive Nick: Without giving too much you liked it. There is currently no that delightful slice of Anderson away, Jonathan, I don’t think you’re arrangement in place for Nova eccentricity at the moment, Joseph. going to be disappointed! VORTEX

| PAGE 22 BIG FINISH RELEASE SCHEDULE

Please note that due to factors beyond our control, Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. Our warehouse remains open but the mail-out of collector’s edition CDs and vinyls may be delayed. However, all physical purchases of new releases will unlock a digital version that can be immediately downloaded, or played on the Big Finish app from the release date. CREDITS Managing Editor: FOR FULL DETAILS AND UPDATES VISIT: Jason Haigh-Ellery bgfn.sh/whatsnew Executive Producer: Nicholas Briggs Senior Producer: JULY 2021 SEPTEMBER 2021 David Richardson Editor: Kenny Smith DW | THE TENTH DOCTOR ADVENTURES DW | THE ADVENTURES Dalek Universe 2 (BOX SET) The Lost Resort and Other Stories The Big Finish Team: (BOX SET) Cheryl Bly, Sue Cowley, DW | THE TENTH DOCTOR ADVENTURES Emily Davis, Jackie Emery, Dalek Universe 2 (LIMITED VINYL EDITION) DW | THE ADVENTURES Sufyan Javaid, Karen Parks, The Eleven (BOX SET) Hannah Peel, Alfie Shaw, DW | THE AUDIO NOVELS Scourge of the Cybermen Paul Spragg DW | THE DOCTOR CHRONICLES (THE THIRD DOCTOR) DLO Graphic Designer: The : Volume 2 (BOX SET) Mark Plastow DW | LADY CHRISTINA Series 2 (BOX SET) Copy Editor: BIG FINISH ORIGINALS DW | MISSY Stephanie Hornett Cicero: The Crossroads DLO Series 3: Missy and (BOX SET) Marketing: Steve Berry SHERLOCK HOLMES THE WORLDS OF BLAKE’S 7 Chloe Cooper The Seamstress of Peckham Rye (BOX SET) The Clone Masters (BOX SET)

Publicity: BLAKE’S 7 THE WORLDS OF BLAKE’S 7 Caitlin Plimmer The Palluma Project (AUDIOBOOK) DLO The Clone Masters: The Rule of Death 149 BFP Administration: (AUDIOBOOK) DLO TORCHWOOD Madam, I’m (52) Reanne Hawking Brenda Smith TORCHWOOD Curios (54) Alison Taylor AUGUST 2021 Publisher: Ltd. DW | THE NINTH DOCTOR ADVENTURES OCTOBER 2021 Respond to All Calls (BOX SET) DW | THE TENTH DOCTOR ADVENTURES

ISSUE DW | THE NINTH DOCTOR ADVENTURES Dalek Universe 3 (BOX SET) Respond to All Calls (LIMITED VINYL EDITION) DW | THE TENTH DOCTOR ADVENTURES DW | THE EARLY ADVENTURES SOCIAL Dalek Universe 3 (LIMITED VINYL EDITION) After the Daleks BIGFINISH.COM (THE FIRST DOCTOR AND SUSAN) DW | THE THIRD DOCTOR ADVENTURES @BIGFINISH Volume 8 (BOX SET) DW | THE EARLY ADVENTURES THEBIGFINISH The Secrets of Det-Sen AND FRIENDS BIGFINISHPROD (THE , STEVEN AND DODO) Enter Wildthyme (AUDIOBOOK) DLO BIG-FINISH DW | PHILIP HINCHCLIFFE PRESENTS Wildthyme Beyond (AUDIOBOOK) DLO BIGFINISHPROD 4. The God of Phantoms The Polythene Terror (AUDIOBOOK) DLO (THE FOURTH DOCTOR AND LEELA)

DW | THE WAR MASTER THE OMEGA FACTOR

Volume 6: Killing Time (BOX SET) Immaculate Possessions DLO

TORCHWOOD Empire of Shadows (53) TORCHWOOD TBA (55)

DLO = DOWNLOAD ONLY • DW = DOCTOR WHO “Yeah, you could just call me, you know? On my mobile number, DATES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. ‘cause I’m always in.”

| PAGE 23 THE BIG FINISH MAGAZINE

The War Master is back in KILLING TIME, his sixth box set of audio adventures… JULY 2021 ALSO INSIDE ISSUE 149

THE NINTH DOCTOR HE WILL BE RESPONDING TO ALL CALLS…