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ISSUE: 122 • APRIL 2019 WWW.BIGFINISH.COM

DARK SHADOWS BLOODLINE WE RETURN TO THE TOWN OF COLLINSPORT!

UNIT: THE NEW SERIES INCURSIONS A RIVER RUNS THROUGH THE NEW UNIT BOX SET!

DOCTOR WHO NEW VOICES THE BRIGADIER AND RETURN!

WIBBLY WOBBLY

THE TENTH DOCTOR ADVENTURESVOLUME THREE We make great full-cast audio dramas and audiobooks that are available to buy on CD and/or download

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WWW.BIGFINISH.COM @ BIGFINISH THEBIGFINISH HIS MONTH’S edition has proved to be one of the T biggest challenges I’ve had COMING SOON since I started writing Vortex – there was so much to fit in! (Especially when I realised I’d submitted 350 DORIAN GRAY extra words for two features!). We’ve got a preview of the Tenth Doctor’s third run of adventures THE LOST CONFESSIONS with Big Finish – and I cannot wait to hear more from David EADING ACTOR Confessions of Dorian Gray Tennant and . I we said the story had ended... love this pair, and after having L reprises his role in a and it had. However, fast written the production notes for brand new set of The forward a couple of years the special edition box set, I know Confessions of Dorian Gray and we remembered some these are going to be just brilliant. later this year. Created by scripts we’d written but never There’s a fantastic booklet to go producer, director and writer recorded: two from before with it and having read it over it’s , the Big Finish commissioned worth getting – especially as it’s Confessions range follows the the series and an alternate beautifully illustrated with extras life of Oscar Wilde’s hedonistic finale to Series Five.” by and June Hudson. and immortal Dorian Gray. Due for release in August, We’ve got two doses of UNIT past But these new adventures The Lost Confessions will and present with The are not a continuation nor a be narrated by Alexander Adventures and UNIT: Incursions sequel to the fifth series of Vlahos. The first episode, – the eighth box set of UNIT: The The Confessions of Dorian Last Man Standing is set in New Series. I particularly can’t Gray, but ‘lost’ stories from France, 1915; the second, wait to hear more of Jon Culshaw’s earlier in Dorian’s timeline. There Are Such Things… set in Brigadier as, having spoken to him Dorian Gray – The Lost England, 1930; and the third for this issue, he slipped into the Confessions contains three episode, Confession voice with ease. Jon understands brand-new readings of is set in . the Brig and brings him to life with unmade scripts written by such affection. And with Caroline Scott Handcock and adapted Please note: The Confessions John’s daughter Daisy Ashford by Scott Harrison. Scott of Dorian Gray contains taking over as Liz Shaw, we’re Handcock explains: “When adult material and is not going to be in really safe hands. Alex and I wrapped up The suitable for younger listeners. And then we’ve got – Bloodline. I recently re-listened to Bloodlust to get ready for the new series, and wow, it’s fantastic! Managing Editor: Jason Haigh-Ellery Design: Mark Plastow If you enjoy a bit of horror and Executive Producer: Copy Editor: Stephanie Hornett fantasy it’s a great range to get into, Senior Producer: David Richardson Marketing: Kris Griffin especially if you’re a newcomer to Editor: Kenny Smith and Paddy Freeland Collinsport like me. And Bloodlust The Big Finish Team: Ian Atkins, BFP Administration: Cheryl Bly, is a great introduction – what Sue Cowley, Emily de Fraine, Karen Parks, Brenda Smith, Alison Taylor are you waiting for? Go and Hannah Peel, Alfie Shaw, Paul Spragg Publisher: Ltd. buy it immediately!

VORTEX | PAGE 3 AT LAST! AND DONNA ARE BACK!

HE DOCTOR and Donna are going to be working with get on with everyone. When Noble are arguably one of two of the biggest stars in this you’re sitting having a cup of T the most popular Doctor country, and you want them to tea with talking and pairings ever, and have a brilliant time and for the about The Avengers or whatever, their adventures in space and time whole thing to run smoothly. you’re really just chatting to continue in The Tenth Doctor “The night before recording I a lovely human being.” Adventures Volume Three. David just told myself, forget the nerves, It was director ’s Tennant and Catherine Tate reprise treat it like any other production first time directing David and their TV roles for a second run of and it will be great. And actually Catherine, and before recording audio adventures from Big Finish. by the time David and Catherine began he admitted to Vortex: “I’ve Producer David Richardson arrived at Moat Studios, the not had much time to think about says: “I actually got very nervous nerves had totally evaporated. it as we’ve been extremely busy in the weeks before recording, as “David and Catherine don’t through August and September. I did on their previous box set. behave like stars – they walked I only just managed to squeeze You are just so aware that you in as two normal people who in the time to schedule it!

VORTEX | PAGE 4 DOCTOR WHO THE TENTH DOCTOR

“I’M LIKE ANY FAN, DYING TO HEAR WHAT THE NOBLES, WILF AND THE DOCTOR GET UP TO. WHAT A DREAM CAST!”

Above (l–r): David Tennant and Catherine Tate

“I always get excited about could bring the Bernard because working on a new range. The bit wider Noble family he’s so gorgeous! I love the most about directing is into it by having He and I did the working with actors, and to work Donna and Sylvia quiz show . with actors new to me is always together, so we gave James And Catherine was in something I look forward to. that brief. It meant it had to be a play which Bernard and I “In my line of work it’s set on Donna’s contemporary went to see together, so that was the rehearsal room and the Earth, since her mum isn’t aware lovely. We’ve just not been all recording studio where the of her space and time travel yet.” together so there was so much magic happens, and it’s always Former Doctor Who to catch up on. I felt desperately a treat to watch professionals showrunner Russell T Davies, maternal towards Catherine, bringing roles to life. creator of Donna, Sylvia and wanting to know how she was! “All actors work and respond Wilf, tells Vortex: “I’m so excited “I was very jealous that David differently. Part of my job is to about the return of the Noble and Catherine were going on to quickly figure out how an actor family. I put in a request to Big do more stories over the next likes to work so I can help make Finish never thinking they’d couple of days without Bernard the recording go as smoothly actually pull it off. But, I might and myself. Bernard and I were as possible for them – and for have known, they’re unstoppable! joking, asking, How can you everybody else. It’s a challenge Marvellously, I haven’t heard do that? That’s just disloyal! I enjoy and I like to get it right. the adventure myself yet, so I’m “It was lovely, and if we could So it’s exciting for me to work like any fan, dying to hear what have carried on I would have but with an entirely new team and to the Nobles, Wilf and the Doctor it was just one day. It would be figure out what makes them tick.” get up to. What a dream cast!” heaven if we could do more!” Jacqueline King was delighted Matt continues: “James HE FIRST story in the set to be back as Sylvia. came back with this ‘haunted is No Place by . She says: “Since we finished makeovers’ idea which was great, T Script editor Matt Fitton on TV I’ve seen David a couple of and as it was being developed we says: “We knew straightaway we times, and I keep in touch with asked James to keep in mind a

VORTEX | PAGE 5 DOCTOR WHO THE TENTH DOCTOR

role for Wilf in case we were able to get – perhaps “IF YOU’RE A just a cameo role. As it turned out FAN OF EITHER we learned fairly early on that we could have Bernard for the whole BUZZFEED day, so it all worked out perfectly and Wilf was fully included in the UNSOLVED OR episode at the storyline stage.” HOMES UNDER In a similar vein to what the TV show did at the time, No THE HAMMER Place taps into the zeitgeist of YOU’LL FIND what is currently popular on TV, which in this case brings LOTS TO LOVE in the feed of ghost and home makeover reality TV shows. IN THIS.” JAMES GOSS James explains: “Honestly, when you think about it most horror films are home makeover shows! Family moves into house on haunted graveyard. Tries to

Above: David Tennant

of how great the writing, performances and direction are.”

NE MILE Down by T Colgan continues the O Doctor and Donna’s adventures when they find themselves in an underwater city and encounter the . Matt continues: “In terms of using new series monsters, the Judoon are one of the most do it up. Ends up running away light fittings, we’ve mysterious recognisable and the Tenth screaming/being dead/finds voices, we’ve endless discussions Doctor has some history with out they were always dead so about plumbing. The one thing them, meeting them several probably shouldn’t have bothered we couldn’t do was Hammer’s times during his era. wallpapering the downstairs endless, appalling punning “Because of what’s been bathroom. This was inspired by music track. (Presenter: ‘They established on screen there are that. Imagining a horror film but really do love this hopeless certain monsters he’s meeting for with Kirsty Allsop following our place.’ Music: ‘We Found the first time, but with the Judoon screaming family about. And Love in a Hopeless Place’)!” he knows what they’re about making the screaming family the Producer David Richardson and how they work. They are Doctor, Donna, Sylvia and Wilf. adds: “I’m struck by how not power-crazed evil monsters, “If you’re a fan of either creepy it all sounds. Some they are mercenaries working for Buzzfeed Unsolved or Homes of the sequences in the old other people, and their agenda Under the Hammer you’ll find house are really unsettling isn’t always immediately clear. It’s lots to love in this. We’ve got a even without any effects or nice to have that bit of potential ghostbox, we’ve got replacement music, which is a sure sign uncertainty – are they an ally?

VORTEX | PAGE 6 DOCTOR WHO THE TENTH DOCTOR

but when we checked with Russell to write – and yes please, if the he watched it back and felt opportunity ever comes up, I there was no reason why Donna absolutely want to do more!” couldn’t have met them before. Roy travelled from his “What’s clearly a surprise to her Edinburgh home to attend the is the Doctor speaking Judoon, so recording at Moat Studios in we were very careful not to have , and has plenty of happy him doing that in front of her.” memories from the sessions. Roy adds: “Oh, loads! David ONCLUDING THIS series asking, ‘Is that a Scottish accent?’ is The Creeping Death by as soon as he met me – and then C Roy Gill. me kind of over-explaining David explains: “We asked the where I’m from (sorry, David...). writers for short pitches – I think Catherine cracking up over her they might have sent in three lines about ‘bad air’ and cheese ideas each. I’ve actually been and onion crisps… How quickly keeping a list of things I want all the big, exciting scenes flew to see in a Doctor Who story, by in the recording booths.

Are they a threat? We get to play with that in this story.” “We have individuals in the Judoon ranks which we’ve touched on before. There’s the trainee, Klo, who starts to side with the Doctor and Donna, realising they can do some good during the story, which is a fun thing to play with.” The story’s setting lends itself to a good one of which was ‘The “Stephen Critchlow talking over soundscape, with a London Fog of 1952’, lunch about the classic Who he’d city beneath the waves. so it was a no-brainer been watching with his daughter. Matt explains: “In the TV when Roy pitched that one!” Lauren Cornelius telling me she’d episode Smith and Jones, the Roy was delighted to be able to loved her character and the story first thing we see the Judoon do write for David Tennant, a fellow so much that when she got the is control the rain and send it Scotsman, as well as Donna. script she read it from cover to upwards with their H2O scoop. He admits it was: “Hugely cover then immediately turned “That means we can make use exciting. They’re one of my it over and read it again! Theo of their technology which lends Doctor Who dream teams, Stevenson saying he’d watched itself perfectly to an audio story.” really. The Doctor and Donna David Tennant’s Doctor when Of course, Donna has also are best friends, they’re fast and he was about 10 or 12. He was encountered the Judoon on TV, funny, they wind each other thrilled to be in a Doctor Who and Matt adds: “Watching Donna up but most importantly they – making us all feel ancient!” in The Stolen Earth, we get a make each other stronger and Producer David adds: “This reaction from her to the Judoon, better. Their dialogue was a joy story is brilliant! Just a character

VORTEX | PAGE 7 DOCTOR WHO THE TENTH DOCTOR piece about a group of people “THE WHOLE if there’s more time I will always lost in the fog and there’s spend longer (I’m a composer something really nasty out THING FEELS by trade!). At this point I know there… David has some terrific the play well so will have a sense speeches, Catherine gets to play LIKE IT WAS of the mood, style and pacing. out some lovely relationships BACK “If I’m working on a completely with the guest characters, and ON TV new play I’ll create a template the whole thing feels like it IN 2008.” and start adding instruments and was on TV back in 2008.” DAVID RICHARDSON sounds as I see fit in order to start Director Ken Bentley was with a completely fresh palette. relieved when recording Every play is different so I don’t was complete after three have one fixed approach. There are successive days in studio – if there are any background or scene breaks which usually need which Big Finish rarely do. atmosphere tracks that reappear a cue, and there are sometimes He explains: “It’s great to throughout the play, or any musical directions in the script, know we have a complete individual recurring effects but otherwise a lot of the process box set in the bag! These days (specific vehicles or weapons, for is instinctive. A play may need a availabilities are such that we’re example). If so I will create these lot of music to keep energy levels squeezing in recordings as and in advance and add them to the up and maintain a sense of pace, when we can, sometimes over project library so they are ready or it may need the music to really quite long periods of time. to drag and drop in when I’m take a background role and just It’s rare to record three days working. I’ll record the foley glue certain elements together. straight and know you’ve got sound as I go and layer up all the Each one is unique.”

THE TENTH DOCTOR ADVENTURES VOLUME THREE IS OUT IN MAY ON CD AND DOWNLOAD.

The special edition release comes complete with exclusive production notes, storyboards from it all, but given the schedule relevant backgrounds and effects Mike Tucker and costume we’re all on it’s a huge relief!” scene by scene. Once the full play designs from June Hudson. is assembled I’ll send a draft off esponsible for music and to the director and move on to FOR FULL DETAILS VISIT, sound design is Howard the score. WWW.BIGFINISH.COM R Carter, who says: “I’ll “I will usually spend a couple usually go through and work out of days scoring a play although

VORTEX | PAGE 8 VORTEXMAIL

Nick: No decisions yet, AUDIO Richard. We’re still waiting With all exposure lately I was wondering... is Alex to see how well they do. Macqueen’s Master going to make a comeback any time soon? It feels he’s been somewhat forgotten lately in favour of the SHORT BONUS War Master, especially with him meeting the . Will the bonus Short Trips It’s a shame to see him somewhat left behind in comparison released alongside the Main to the other Masters’ exposure lately, since he is Big Finish’s Range be available on the first original Master. We were told when James Dreyfus was app? Would it be possible to cast as the First Master that he had recorded three stories download individual episodes already at that point, but he seems to have disappeared too. from box sets on the app? Any word on when those stories will see the light of day? LEIGH WOOD SAM GEDEN Nick: We are looking into Nick: All good questions, Sam. Spoiler alert if I answered, though! these thorny technical issues, Leigh. No news yet.

AUDIO LIVES V2 FOR 9, 10 & 11? Academy gang return for Ridiculously exciting about Are there plans for more Class audios? Safe Adam Adamant Lives! Volume Two of the Ninth, to say that I’m hoping for coming to Big Finish! When Tenth and Eleventh some more amazing stories. can we expect any details? Doctor Chronicles? Or JAMIE Dying to know if it’s Gerald maybe a Nick: We’d certainly like Harper and Juliet Harmer or Chronicles as well? to do that, Jamie. recast. With they be original @OPROPRIOGUIGU stories or lost stories? Nick: There are plans for BOURNE ORIGINAL KARL WILLIAMS more of those Chronicles and What likelihood is there Nick: Ah yes. I leaked this at some other top secret plans. of second series for One to see how far any of the Big Finish the news would spread! No BACK TO SCHOOL? Originals, particularly news on casting yet, Karl, but Is there any chance we Jeremiah Bourne? I do have the first draft of might see the Coal Hill RICHARD MARKS the first box set…

VORTEX | PAGE 9 THE THIRD DOCTOR ADVENTURES RETURN FOR THEIR FIFTH SERIES – AND THERE ARE SOME VOICE FAMILIAR-SOUNDING VOICES IN THE MIX…

VER SINCE The Third us until now to even consider times before and she’s a brilliant Doctor Adventures began doing it, not least because we actress – and she’s her mother’s E with adored both daughter! At the recording Katy stepping into ’s shiny and Caroline John so much. They Manning said to Daisy, ‘When shoes, the stories have been were just such special people, and you smiled just then, I saw your restricted to series eight to ten of their characters are so beloved. mother’, and it’s true. There’s the TV show. The sad passing of “So yes, there were demons on something really reassuring and regular cast members Nicholas my shoulder saying, ‘It would lovely about that. If Daisy had Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge- be madness to recast those turned us down we’d decided we Stewart, Caroline John as Liz Shaw roles’. But then you realise that would not move on with using and as Sarah Jane if it’s done in the right way a different Liz. It was Daisy or Smith had limited when the with the right people, then it we wouldn’t have done it at all. adventures could take place. would be a really lovely tribute “For the Brigadier we asked But now Big Finish has boldly to the originals. Elliot Chapman about a dozen actors to audition added to the cast with Jon has similarly reprised the role for it. Every one of them did Culshaw taking on the part of of Ben Jackson in the Second something really lovely, and the Brigadier, and Daisy Ashford Doctor stories, honouring the the only reason they didn’t get keeping things in the family original work of Michael Craze.” the role was there was just an reprising her mum’s role as Liz. What led Big Finish to the essence of Nicholas Courtney that Producer David Richardson doors of Jon and Daisy? was missing. The performances admits it wasn’t an easy decision David reveals: “In recasting Liz, were great, but they hadn’t quite to make: “It was very difficult, we offered it to Daisy first. We caught the Brigadier as we know of course. As you can see, it took have worked with Daisy many and love him. And then one day I

VORTEX | PAGE 10 DOCTOR WHO THE THIRD DOCTOR

Brig. “He’s such a well-loved character with that wonderful richness when he speaks. Nick had a great voice when you hear him in interviews, and then as the Brigadier he gave a more clipped tone to it... ‘Doctor, come back at once!’” “What a terrific character Nick created. I just love that era. I hope they will let me do some Third Doctor Short Trips...”

“IT WAS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A VERY SPECIAL THING TO BE DOING…” DAISY ASHFORD Above (l–r): Tim Treloar and

HERE ARE two very sat down and listened to the BBC T different Audiobook of stories in this new set read by Jon Culshaw and there, with Liz Shaw and Jo suddenly, was the Brigadier in Grant meeting each my ears. I got straight onto Nick other, as well as the [Nicholas Briggs] and said, ‘Listen return of the to this – Jon is perfect’. This Primords from the TV was a Sunday and by the next episode . day Jon had been signed up!” Primord has been Daisy tells Vortex that she was written by John delighted to be offered the role. She Dorney, also the script explains: “When David Richardson editor on this set, and asked me if I’d be interested in it’s a special story for playing Liz, I said yes immediately! him. John admits: “I I didn’t even have to think about it. asked to write a Jon It was a real honour to be asked to Above (l–r): Tim Treloar Pertwee adventure and Jon Culshaw play my brilliant mum’s character, because I was aware it and I was very moved. I know was the Doctor I she would have been thrilled! hadn’t written for yet “It’s always wonderful to be Fresh from stepping into the steel – I wanted to get all the past welcomed back into the Big Finish shoes of as , Doctors done! family. And it really is a family. I Jon Culshaw is also resurrecting “There were a few of us Big have always loved doing Big Finish another Doctor Who regular as he Finish writers at Guy Adams’s stories, but this was the best yet! plays Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge- birthday party, and I was speaking I’d previously worked with Tim on Stewart. Jon says: “The Jon Pertwee to James Goss. He said, ‘I’d love my first theatre job at the Orange era was the firstDoctor Who I to write for Liz,’ and I said if Tree Theatre, so it was great to remember, and I loved it. I met the part was recast, it should see him again and have a familiar Nicholas Courtney on a number of be offered to Daisy Ashford. face to play opposite. He’s sounds occasions and he was the warmest, “The next day, I went out for a so like Jon Pertwee it’s amazing! loveliest, funniest fellow you drive and my brain was ticking “It was clear that this was a could ever wish to know. What over, and then all of a sudden I very special thing to be doing, wonderful company he was. It’s thought, Oh! Would that be an and I hope we all did justice to a real honour to take that on.” interesting thing to do? It would the brilliant actors whose rather At this point, Jon slips into a bring things together with her big shoes we were filling!” note-perfect impression of the background in science and having

VORTEX | PAGE 11 DOCTOR WHO THE THIRD DOCTOR

met the Primords before… So, I emailed David and said, ‘What about this?’ He emailed Nick and they both came back, all enthusiastic, saying it could open up the season if Daisy was up for it. I started developing the story once she said yes.” Daisy adds: “I loved the story and had a wonderful time rewatching Inferno as research. John Dorney writes great scripts so it’s always a pleasure to be working on them.”

“I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING INSPIRED Above (l–r): Daisy Ashford BY HAUNTOLOGY AS A and Katy Manning PRINCIPAL.” GUY ADAMS

John continues: “All the Primords from the other world have gone. But there’s every possibility that if someone else went drilling into the Earth’s core, then there would be some of this slime stuff still around. No one would go drilling again in the immediate aftermath of Inferno, but it’s not unthinkable it could happen in the future. “You need to find ways of dealing with this as a potential problem – if it has happened once, Above (l–r): Daisy Ashford and Jon Culshaw you should find ways of happening a lot in music – there dealing with it to stop if are whole labels set up creating from happening again. electronica using old equipment Particularly if you are worried with lots of shininess, or it’s and sounding as if they were about the slime substance, you Earth-based and UNIT-orientated. recorded in the 1960s or 70s. In would be foolish to just leave This was an Earth-based story. many ways, that’s what Big Finish it. There would be experiments “I wanted to do something is doing on a daily basis!” and studies of it, and that’s inspired by hauntology as a where the story started from.” principal. It’s quite a complex The adventures continue plan. It’s the idea of creating THE THIRD DOCTOR ADVENTURES in this set with The Scream modern works of nostalgia but at VOLUME FIVE IS OUT IN MAY ON CD AND DOWNLOAD. of Ghosts by Guy Adams. what point is something new or Guy explains: “Usually with old? If you create something now FOR FULL DETAILS VISIT, the Third Doctor it’s a pretty that’s seeking to evoke the spirit WWW.BIGFINISH.COM simple brief: to either do a story of the past, is it something old set in the wide universe of space fashioned or is it new? You find it

VORTEX | PAGE 12 BIG FINISH BOOKCLUB www.bigfinish.com/offers/v/bookclub ACCESS CODE: STORIES

DARK SHADOWS DREAMS OF LONG AGO

HERE’S FAR more Rock by Kate Webster and to Dark Shadows at by Aaron Lamont. T Big Finish than you “Only Aaron had written might think… Co-producer for the Dark Shadows range David Darlington tells us before so we knew we’d be to readers of Vortex as Doctor more: “The short story getting something terrifying Who’s companion – has collections came about from him. And Cobwebs is performed for us a couple of times around the time of the genuinely terrifying! It’s a but I knew he was a brilliant writer anniversary release, Blood & one-man play featuring an as well so asked him for an idea.” Fire. We were making a astonishing performance David adds: “Matthew actually special piece to put out by Christopher Pennock wrote an early draft of what around the time of the about a man losing his sanity became Old Acquaintance in script show’s 50th anniversary, and it’s just… you’ve never form with the thought that it but as we were developing it heard anything like it. might become a dramatic reading. we sort of felt we were Alan Ronald had contacted In that form it scared the heck out missing something. Because me a few times in the past. of us – but not completely for the it had been decided that Alan’s a big beardy bloke right reasons! It would have been there weren’t going to be who loves slasher movies so about three discs long with a cast any more ‘dramatic I was expecting something of dozens! But once re-worked it readings’, it felt as though visceral and horrific and fit the brief for the short-story there was only one flavour blood-thirsty… and instead releases beautifully.” Joe agrees: of story left in the mix and in The Reflected Man he’s “Old Acquaintance is a gorgeous we wanted to address that written one of the most piece performed by the amazing – hence the launch of the moving pieces about grief David Selby. It’s basically a feature short stories collection with I’ve ever read. It’s beautifully film but told as a short story.” Echoes of the Past.” performed in first person Joe concludes: “None of these Co-producer Joseph by Lisa Richards.” short story special releases Lidster continues: “With the Joe continues: “Kate require any previous knowledge short story collections we Webster had written some of Dark Shadows, so if you’re wanted to get a real variety lovely stuff for fringe theatre looking for an evening or two of writers and performers so I asked her to submit of listening to some spooky in each release. When we some ideas. Devil’s Rock is a adventures then this is the knew what we were getting creepy, Stephen King-style perfect range for you.” from each of the writers piece about a village in Maine we were then able to decide with some very Wicker which story should be in Man-esque ideas about how each collection. For Dreams to keep the fishermen busy. DARK SHADOWS DREAMS OF LONG AGO IS AVAILABLE FOR of Long Ago we went with It’s a lovely, introspective DOWNLOAD NOW AT THE The Reflected Man by Alan reading by Andrew Collins. SPECIAL PRICE OF £2.99. Ronald, Old Acquaintance by “And Matthew Waterhouse, Devil’s – obviously most well-known

VORTEX | PAGE 13 America’s most haunted town is back in a new series of Dark Shadows…

HE AMERICAN east and episodes being released in Bell – arriving in town and coastal town of quick proximity. The sequel, meeting the local residents. T Collinsport is full of Bloodline, being released this “For anyone new, Dark mysteries, secrets and lies. But month follows the same form. Shadows is about the Collins that’s hardly surprising given Producers David Darlington family who live in a big old that it’s the location for and Joe Lidster tell Vortex: “It’s spooky house in 1980s America. legendary horror soap opera, a format which worked for The family has battled curses Dark Shadows! Collinsport is a the original TV series and for and monsters since they first town which includes witches, Bloodlust, so it was worth using arrived in the country back vampires, werewolves and near again as it really helps new in 1690. Bloodline is about immortals in its population. listeners find their way around the wedding of David Collins In 2015, Big Finish released the place. While Bloodline is a to his fiancée Amy Jennings, Bloodlust, which returned the bit less newbie-friendly than so there’ll be no curses or audio series to its original Bloodlust, it does still feature monsters involved. It’s simply format with an ongoing story a new character – Vivian going to be a lovely happy

VORTEX | PAGE 14 DARK SHADOWS BLOODLINE

a series of books, a 1990s remake, a Tim Burton movie… “It was never a particularly huge thing in the UK so to try and get the Big Finish audience to come on board has always been a challenge. Bloodlust proved to us – and to the Big Bads who run Big Finish – that the audience are definitely willing to try it if we have the confidence to really go for it and to market it well. It’s all about telling a good story with strong characters and amazing bonkers cliff-hangers – and saying, ‘Go on, see what you think’.” Fans of the original series will be pleased to meet some Above: Alec Newman old favourites again. David tells us more: “Quentin Collins –

wedding day, where absolutely nothing will go wrong…!” With the production team based in London and the original TV cast members in the , it gave David and Joe an immediate challenge. “Dark Shadows is a curious thing…” DAVID DARLINGTON and JOE LIDSTER Above: Stephanie Ellyne

They laugh: “You’d think we’d have learned the size of the task of creating a multi- basically becoming Sapphire think meets Dorian voice drama where even the and Steel, where the vampire Gray – and his new wife, Lela. cast who live in the same and his Van Helsing travel David Collins, who has spent country are spread far and throughout time and into half of his life possessed by wide over thousands of miles. parallel universes to try and save various ne’er-do-wells, and his Apparently, though, we didn’t! the family from various baddies. fiancée Amy Jennings who has “We can say however, without “Dark Shadows was, at first, an unfortunate habit of losing wanting to sound boastful, that mildly popular, then it became those she loves. Maggie Evans – what we learned from Bloodlust this absolutely huge thing Barnabas’s first victim – will be is that it is possible to make it on a par with Beatlemania returning to town alongside the work. Dark Shadows is a curious and Dalekmania, and then it TV series’ original bad boy, Burke thing. The television series burnt out less than five years Devlin. And Carolyn Stoddard morphed from being about a after it started! But, as with – David’s cousin – is coming posh family with secrets, into vampires and phoenixes, it back from her university course being about a vampire, into never really died. There was studying the supernatural.”

VORTEX | PAGE 15 DARK SHADOWS BLOODLINE

Joe continues: “The big returns are Barnabas Collins – ancient vampire – and his Van Helsing-turned-best-friend, the amazing Doctor Julia Hoffman. Julia is a character we haven’t featured before because sadly the original actress who played her on TV is no longer with us. We wanted to wait until we could find an actress and storyline that truly made Above: Lachele Carl her return worthwhile and we think that Bloodline and Julie Newmar (yes, THE Julie Newmar) does just that.” Of course, it’s not only Aaron Lamont and Rob it before. Of course, it’s a bit of about the original cast as we Morris. David and Joe say: a mystery as to why we chose meet some new characters “As with Bloodlust, Bloodline four writers with such dark too. The producers explain: had to be written by writers twisted minds because there “The series opens with new who were geographically is no horror in Bloodline. It’s

“The big returns are Barnabas Collins and his Van Helsing-turned-best-friend, the amazing Doctor Julia Hoffman.” JOE LIDSTER

character Vivian Bell arriving close to each other. These just a lovely romantic story in Collinsport played by the thirteen-part serials can only about a lovely wedding…!” glorious Georgina Strawson. work if there’s an actual real Designing the covers and Vivian is British, she’s a bit of physical writers’ room so iconic imagery for this series an enigma, and she’s funny everyone can get together – is Alistair McGown. With the and manipulative and brilliant usually over a bottle of wine horror genre being so well and… well, why she’s come or two – and bounce ideas defined, does that make it to town is a bit of a mystery. back and forth. The writers easier for him as an artist to She has knowledge of the also really needed a good work within the established Collins’ family – but is she knowledge of Dark Shadows. styles, or more difficult to a friend or is she a foe?” “For listeners Bloodline works create something original? Four writers have brought if you know Dark Shadows He reveals: “Yes, you can have Bloodline to life: Alan but it works equally well if a lot of fun with the clichés Flanagan, Will Howells, you’ve literally never heard of like skulls and moons and

VORTEX | PAGE 16 DARK SHADOWS BLOODLINE

cover! They were thinking in terms of a Stephen King novel or something like that. “Quite often Big Finish releases try and get as many of their brilliant guest actors on the cover so there are a lot of faces. Hopefully we’ve managed to get a good balance between a strong idea and featuring faces of some of the famous Dark Shadows guest stars assembled for this serial. “there’s an actual real physical writers’ room so everyone can get together – usually over a bottle of wine or two…” DAVID DARLINGTON and JOE LIDSTER

“Remember all the covers have to be passed by Jim Pierson, our American producer, and of course he Above: Georgina Strawson wants the fans to know who is in the guest line-up, so one tries to strike a balance. “We went through a few tries that kind of thing, but what to pare those back, to make it on this one – I wasn’t sure if I always try to bring to it is more graphic and understated, we could make the big cake that Dark Shadows is not an and try not to go over the work initially and tried instead all-out gothic horror show. It’s top with fogs and haloes for a montage of faces and a modern (or rather 1960s/70s) which is always a temptation. putting our wedding couple take on it. So design-wise I am With Bloodline we’re being front and centre. Joe and David always keen to take steers from very careful to make the were right all along though, the 60s merchandise for the two volumes match as a set and once I went back to plan show. When I got involved in and yet look immediately A, I think it worked!” the range the first thing I did different at first glance.” was introduce a font close to As with Bloodlust, Bloodline DARK SHADOWS that used on the old Gold Key features strong imagery that BLOODLINE VOLUME comics. You want to bring a will capture the imagination. ONE IS OUT IN APRIL ON gothic feel to it, yes, so fog and Alistair adds: “Bloodline CD AND DOWNLOAD. lightning do feature, but also is very much taken from a I try to bring in an element of concept by the producers ALL EPISODES ARE 60s design, so there’s a hint of Joe and David. They came ALSO AVILABLE FOR James Bond in there at times up with the idea of the INDIVIDUAL DOWNLOAD. and plenty of colour hopefully.” bleeding wedding cake Bloodlust had some very dominating – and hopefully FOR FULL DETAILS VISIT, distinctive covers which that is quite different and WWW.BIGFINISH.COM Alistair created: “I was trying striking for a Big Finish

VORTEX | PAGE 17 Sylvester McCoy and Jessica Martin are reunited as and werewolf in the Doctor Who Main Range…

OMETHING WHICH Big Jessica tells Vortex: “A lot of up character. Sylvester has the Finish’s Doctor Who people have been telling me same personality and energy I S stories have always been there was a feeling of unfinished remember him having before. good at is picking up on dangling business after The Greatest Show “The ultimate compliment is to threads. Interesting characters in the Galaxy. But wonderfully have a guest character promoted who appeared briefly on TV have now all the dots have been to companion – when does that been further developed on audio, joined up and I’ve come back at ever happen?! It’s brilliant.” and now Mags – the punk werewolf the right time. Listeners want a Script writer Matt Fitton adds: from The Greatest Show in the strong female protagonist: sci-fi “Bringing back Mags was Alan Galaxy – is the latest to benefit. has acquired this nowadays, but Barnes’s idea and he offered the Jessica Martin returns to the role maybe it wasn’t quite there when first story to me. I think he had 30 years after the first recording, I was in the TV series. There’s the whole of the trilogy concept for three new stories starting in a renaissance in characters worked out, but I’ve written the April with The Monsters of Gokroth like Mags and I’m riding that story that brings her back.” by Matt Fitton. We discover wave with great pride! In May’s release, the Doctor that the people of Gokroth live “I’ve made the transition into and Mags travel to The Moons in fear of the monsters in the comics in recent times which of Vulpana written by Emma forest, but worse than them, I think helped to light the fuse Reeves, but it’s not the savage perhaps, is the strange doctor with Big Finish. It was fantastic homeworld that Mags was taken who does unspeakable, unholy to work with Sylvester again – from but Vulpana in an earlier work in the high castle on the he’s such a lovely man, he never era. The Golden Millennium mountain… And then this changes. In studio he looked a when the Four Great Wolf doctor receives a visit from Mags, bit older than I remembered, but Packs – each devoted to one formerly of the Psychic Circus… the Doctor was always a grown of the planet’s four moons –

VORTEX | PAGE 18 DOCTOR WHO MAGS

her attitudes – and she’s very much a 21st century feminist. “Then, in the last one, An Alien Werewolf in London it’s just bonkers! There’s a puzzle to be solved – Doctor Who fans will be able to decipher the ins and outs. We have British and Australian vampires in it – and is in there too!”

ITH MAGS returning in this trilogy, is there a W chance she could be back in future stories? Jessica continues: “That’s not for me to say! I don’t know. Sam Clemens, who’s a first-timeDoctor Who director for Big Finish, had a ball doing this trilogy and if he’s got anything to do with it he will be

Above (l–r): Jessica Martin lobbying for more Mags stuff. and Sylvester McCoy Let’s hope there’s someone excited enough to write another little story for her! “It’s obvious that with Big Finish these stories are infinite – they are not shoe-horned, they are really well thought through and can stand on their own. You don’t early 1990s. Ace has brought need to know the backstories “The ultimate the old gang back together as to enjoy a ripping yarn.” she’s on a mission to rescue Life Drawing – A Life Under compliment an alien being held prisoner Lights, a graphic novel written in a massive mansion. and illustrated by Jessica, is also is to have Jessica is delighted with the being released this summer. It scripts which give Mags plenty follows her extraordinary life a guest to do. Indeed, it’s something story and includes her dad being for her to get her teeth into! a Singaporean jazz musician character “Oh, they’re very good,” Jessica and an extensive chapter on The explains: “Mags travels through Greatest Show in the Galaxy. A promoted to these different worlds and in large number of Doctor Who the first story by Matt we’re in a fans helped to crowdfund the companion…” kind of parallel Universal Studios novel which is due out in late JESSICA MARTIN reminiscent of the gothic horrors June/early July – just as the of the 1930s and European last of the Main Range Mags castles with mad scientists in trilogy is released. oversaw the height of Vulpanan them. Plus there are the very civilisation. A time when the angry villagers who don’t like noblest families of the Vulpanan outsiders and monsters. aristocracy found themselves “In The Moons of Vulpana, DOCTOR WHO THE in need of new blood… Mags discovers she’s part of this MONSTERS OF GOKROTH Completing the trilogy, June’s very high family. It’s kind of IS OUT IN APRIL ON CD release is An Alien Werewolf in Game of Thrones with feudal AND DOWNLOAD. London by and a systems and family in-fighting space-time summons brings and some people courting FOR FULL DETAILS VISIT, the TARDIS to the strangest Mags, which is a fun aspect. WWW.BIGFINISH.COM place Mags has yet visited: You never know about her in a Camden Lock, London in the relationship, you don’t know

VORTEX | PAGE 19 A Song of

Two of Big Finish’s most popular And, you know, capitalising on UNIT-YDoctor Who spin-offs come together… a success is never a bad thing! “Matt and David were enthusiastic about the idea, so T SEEMS no time at all and then we will be back with then I had to go away and come since Kate Stewart, a new era for this UNIT team. up with an actual story. As Static I Osgood and UNIT first “And with this set we say ended with the Doctor calling arrived at Big Finish in November goodbye to script editor Matt UNIT and telling them to destroy 2015. And now, some three-and- Fitton who has been across the stone circle, my thought a-half years later, we’re on series 32 episodes and two specials. was, Well, they’re not going to eight. And there’s a third woman He’s done fantastic work.” destroy something as potentially in the mix this time – none other Series eight opens in Abbey useful as that, are they? They’re than Professor . Marston, UNIT’s dark secret – a going to hang on to it, in case Producer David Richardson place where the laws of space of emergencies. So then I had to says: “There’s a slight sense and time, life and death, can be come up with a reason for them of ‘the end of an era’ with this suspended. Written by Jonathan to want to go back and use the box set as it brings our series Morris, This Sleep of Death is a stone circle, and when they got of eight releases to a close. sequel to the Main Range story there to participate in a very But it closes in style with the Static, released in December 2017. contained, very claustrophobic fabulous River Song stepping Jonny explains: “Matt Fitton story. It is mostly Kate, Osgood, into Kate and Osgood’s lives. asked me if I’d be interested in Carter and one other UNIT soldier “And never fear, UNIT isn’t writing an episode without any trapped together in a bunker!” ending! We’ll have a longer than TV monsters, so I suggested a How much do listeners need to usual break between sets as story using the monsters from know before hearing this? Jonny myself and incoming script editor my Static story as they had reveals: “Nothing at all. Well, Andrew Smith bash out ideas, gone down particularly well. some familiarity with the world

VORTEX | PAGE 20 UNIT: THE NEW SERIES INCURSIONS

Above (from left to right): Enzo Squillino Kr, , James Joyce, , and Ken Bentley

“I had a very Trumpian of Doctor Who and UNIT may thought, What if there help. But do they need to have heard Static first? No. I made sure was something alien everything for a first time listener is clear, and everything you don’t behind climate change?” need to know is left out. But This LISA McMULLIN Sleep of Death does contain some ‘spoilers’ for its predecessor,

What if there was something alien behind climate change? At this point, I’d like to make clear that it’s not aliens destroying the planet, it’s humans. But that’s where the idea sprouted. “I wanted somewhere remote, cold and windy and I’d just come back from a holiday in the Highlands so... I can’t imagine the character of Mother McCracken as anything other than Scottish (I love Scotland it’s stunning – and very weathery!).” Lisa also had fun with the series’ two main leads. She adds: “Kate and Osgood are fab fun to write. Kate because she is so so you might want to listen to Sam Bishop head to a remote dry, takes no nonsense and gets Static first to get the full effect.” Scottish island, while Kate Stewart the job done – I’d vote for her visits a deep-sea oil-rig. for Prime Minister if she were NOTHER WRITER new to Lisa tells Vortex: “The weather in politics (and not fictional). UNIT is Lisa McMullin. In idea came before the location idea. And Osgood is so enjoyable A Tempest, when the I have climate change on my mind because she’s whipsmart planet’s weather systems start at the moment (who doesn’t?) and but also a massive Doctor behaving strangely, Osgood and I had a very Trumpian thought, geek – Osgood is all of us!”

VORTEX | PAGE 21 UNIT: THE NEW SERIES INCURSIONS

worth, and various elements of the plot are broken down so everyone gets their own thread to follow, to make sure they all have their time in the spotlight.” With the characters from the TV series being so well defined, does that make it easier or more difficult for Guy as a writer? He admits: “The more defined the character, the easier it is to write for them – their voices are so clear. That’s the easiest part of the job – I find that with most of the characters we work with. I can’t remember ever particularly struggling with a character. “Whether the characters are defined on paper or not, they Above (l–r): Ingrid Oliver, Alex Kingston are very well-defined in the and Jemma Redgrave performance and that’s across the whole of Doctor Who, not just

Director Ken Bentley adds: “I love Lisa’s episode, Tempest, I’m really enjoying her writing. Every time Lisa gives me something refreshing to work on, and with some delightful characters thrown in. We all fell in love with Alexandra Mathie playing Mother McCracken. There’s always a marked increase in energy and enthusiasm in studio when writers give us a classy script to get our teeth into.” was fresh for both ranges, and River or UNIT, where they are HE BOX set concludes getting all the characters to strong. I’m sure we could look at with The Power of River bounce off each other in a way some earlier companions where T Song by Guy Adams, in that made it worth doing. there are gaps or inconsistencies which, perhaps unsurprisingly, the “It’s quite a complicated plot. such as Steven speaking Barbara’s Doctor’s wife arrives on Earth. David came up with the fun dialogue, but because of the UNIT has been assigned to idea of modern UNIT in an performance of the actor, you monitor the switch-on of a old fashioned UNIT setting, don’t really notice. I just close my revolutionary new power system, with a remote research facility eyes and hear it, I don’t have a while Osgood and Lieutenant where something goes very problem finding their characters.” Bishop investigate mysterious wrong indeed. Not only that Guy adds: “The thing I disappearances – and appearances but the person running the particularly wanted to achieve was – of trans-temporal phenomena. research centre seems familiar pace – a self-imposed challenge. When a corpse is found, River but is, in many ways, not…!” When I looked at the storyline I Song is the prime suspect. Guy “It’s a case of finding enough had submitted and had approved, says: “I was trying to find the story for them all to roam. It’s I realised if I could take what was right balance with stuff that a two-part story, it’s two hours’ effectively the first half hour, the

VORTEX | PAGE 22 first half of the episode, and drop all of that in pre-title, what would SOON that do to the speed of my story... COMING and that’s what I tried to do.” THE BIG FINISH RELEASE SCHEDULE

“David came up with the fun FOR FULL DETAILS AND UPDATES VISIT, WWW.BIGFINISH.COM idea of modern

UNIT in an APRIL 2019 ■■ DW • Short Trips: TBA (9.06) DLO ■ ■■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: ■ Torchwood: Sargasso (28) old fashoned The Monsters of Gokroth ■■ Torchwood: God Among Us 3 (Box Set) (250, and Mags) ■■ Survivors: Series 9 (Box Set) UNIT setting.” ■■ DW • Eighth Doctor Adventures: GUY ADAMS Ravenous 3 (Box Set) JULY 2019 ■■ DW • Short Trips: DLO Year of the Drex Olympics (9.04) ■■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: ■■ UNIT: The New Series: Memories of a Tyrant Incursions (Box Set) (253, and Peri) HIS SET has been ■ ■■ Benice Summerfield: ■ DW • The Legacy of Time (Box Set) directed by Ken Bentley The Gods of the Underworld ■■ DW • The War Master: DLO T who has worked on both (Audiobook) Rage of the Time Lords (Box Set) ■ UNIT and River Song box sets, ■ Torchwood: The Green Life (26) ■■ DW • Eighth Doctor Adventures: and he enjoyed bringing the two ■■ Dark Shadows: Bloodline: Volume 1 The Futher Adventures of (Box Set) ■ different strands together in ■ Dark Shadows: DLO DLO ■■ DW • Short Trips: TBA (9.07) studio. He grins: “I’m loving the Bloodline Eps 1–13 ■■ Torchwood: TBA (29) way River can pop up here there MAY 2019 ■■ Blake’s 7: Restoration Part 2 and everywhere, but I try not to (Box Set) ■ follow the chronology of who’s ■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: The Moons of Vulpana allowed to know who she is. At (251, Seventh Doctor and Mags) AUGUST 2019 ■ first I tried to keep up but now I’m ■ DW • The Tenth Doctor Adventures: ■■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: not convinced many of the writers No Place Emissary of the (3.1, Tenth Doctor and Donna) even know for sure! David and (254, Sixth Doctor and Peri) ■ ■ Matt seem clued up and that’s all ■ DW • The Tenth Doctor Adventures: ■ DW • The Eighth Doctor: One Mile Down The 3 (Box Set) that matters. (3.2, Tenth Doctor and Donna) ■■ DW • The Diary of River Song: ■ “It was a hoot having Alex ■ DW • The Tenth Doctor Adventures: Series 6 (Box Set) join the UNIT team, and it all The Creeping Death ■ DLO (3.3, Tenth Doctor and Donna) ■ DW • Short Trips: TBA (9.08) got very festive very quickly. ■ ■■ Big Finish Originals: ■ DW • The Tenth Doctor Adventures: DLO For logistical reasons we were Volume 3 (Box Set) Transference ■ recording at Wisebuddah in the ■■ DW • The Third Doctor Adventures: ■ Torchwood: TBA (30) West End, and since it was so Volume 5 (Box Set) ■■ The Prisoner: Volume 3 (Box Set) close to Christmas everybody ■■ DW • Short Trips: TBA (9.05) DLO ■■ The Confessions of Dorian Gray: DLO was champing at the bit to take ■■ Torchwood: Sync (27) The Lost Confessions advantage of all the shopping that ■■ Dark Shadows: Bloodline: Volume 2 was on our doorstep.” SEPTEMBER 2019 ■ JUNE 2019 ■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: TBA (255, Sixth Doctor and Peri) ■ ■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: ■ An Alien Werewolf in London ■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: TBA (256, TBA) UNIT: THE NEW SERIES (252, Seventh Doctor, Ace and Mags) ■ INCURSIONS IS OUT ■■ DW • The Companion Chronicles: ■ DW • : The Dimension Cannon (Box Set) IN APRIL ON CD AND The : Volume 3 (Box Set) ■ ■■ DW • Short Trips: TBA (9.09) DLO DOWNLOAD. ■ DW • The Paternoster Gang: 1 (Box Set) ■■ Torchwood: TBA (31) FOR FULL DETAILS VISIT, WWW.BIGFINISH.COM

DLO = DOWNLOAD ONLY • DW = DOCTOR WHO

VORTEX | PAGE 23 ISSUE: 122 • APRIL 2019 WWW.BIGFINISH.COM

DOCTOR WHO TIMEY WIMEY THE TENTH DOCTOR AND DONNA RETURN!

DARK SHADOWS UNIT: THE NEW SERIES BLOODLINE INCURSIONS WE RETURN TO THE TOWN A RIVER RUNS THROUGH OF COLLINSPORT! THE NEW UNIT BOX SET!

THE BRIGADIER AND LIZ SHAW RETURN IN THE THIRD DOCTOR ADVENTURES