sign in sign up
<<
Home , Abby (Doctor Who), Adrift (Torchwood), Christopher Ryan, Dan Starkey (actor), Day One (Torchwood), Eddie Robson

ISSUE: 123 • MAY 2019 WWW.BIGFINISH.COM

TORCHWOOD GOD AMONG US DEITY TROUBLE IN SOUTH WALES!

DOCTOR WHO SURVIVORS SHORT TRIPS THE END IS NIGH A QUICK SPIN IN THE TARDIS! WILL THE SURVIVORS SURVIVE?

JENNY, STRAX AND VASTRA… AT LONG LAST THE GANG COMES TO AUDIO! We make great full-cast audio dramas and audiobooks that are available to buy on CD and/or download

WE LOVE STORIES! SUBSCRIBERS GET

Our audio productions are based on much-loved MORE! TV series like , , Dark If you subscribe, depending on the Shadows, Blake’s 7, The Avengers, The Prisoner, range you subscribe to, you get free The Factor, Terrahawks, Captain audiobooks, PDFs of scripts, extra Scarlet and Survivors, as well as classics such as behind-the-scenes material, a HG Wells, Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes, The bonus release, downloadable audio Phantom of the Opera and Dorian Gray. We also readings of new short stories and produce original creations such as Graceless, discounts. Charlotte Pollard and The Adventures of , plus the Big Finish Originals range featuring seven great new series including ATA Secure online ordering and details of Girl, Cicero, Jeremiah Bourne in , Shilling & all our products can be found at: Sixpence Investigate and Blind Terror. www.bigfinish.com

WWW.BIGFINISH.COM @ BIGFINISH THEBIGFINISH COMING SOON

DOCTOR WHO

RAVENOUS 4 KNOW THAT I wasn’t the only one who was Y THE time you read The three stories are I heartbroken when Jago & this you’ll know Whisper and Planet of Litefoot came to an end following B EXACTLY how the Dust, both by Matt Fitton the sad passing of Trevor Baxter. third series of the Eighth and the concluding I had the pleasure of interviewing Doctor’s ongoing adventures two-parter Day of the Trevor twice for Vortex, and concluded in Ravenous 3. Master by John Dorney. listening to Jago & Litefoot Forever And you’ll know that having John says: “Day of the definitely brought a tear to my faced earlier this Master was possibly the most eye when I heard the archival year, four incarnations of the exciting and yet terrifying clips giving us a final farewell Master will take on the brief I’ve ever had. Finishing to the professor. So it’s with Doctor in the fourth and off theRavenous arc was a big great joy that we can now return final run, Ravenous 4. enough responsibility on its to Victorian with the In October, Michelle own... but throw in wanting arrival of The Paternoster Gang – Gomez, Derek Jacobi, to give great material to Sir Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax. Geoffrey Beevers and Eric Derek Jacobi... and Michelle The torch was passed on from Roberts become embroiled Gomez... and that’s before Jago & Litefoot & Strax, ensuring in ’s latest we even get to the heart- there was a link between the two adventure and meet his stoppingly fantastic prospect series. These are different tales companions, Liv, Helen of bringing Eric Roberts’s told in different ways, but the and the Eleven – played Master back face to face with Victorian period just lends itself by Nicola Walker, Hattie the Doctor again for the first to the Doctor Who universe. Morahan and Mark Bonnar. time in over 20 years... We also have the conclusion to It’s of particular note that “Well, you can see why Torchwood series six – God Among this will be the first time it might be intimidating! Us 3 to come, and I can’t wait to the has faced But honestly it was one of hear it. The Torchwood box sets are Eric Roberts’s incarnation the best times I’ve EVER something I look forward to with of the villainous had writing a Doctor glee, as I love the mix of science since the 1996 TV movie. Who story!” fiction, real life, and more than a dash of danger. I have no idea where the series is heading... but I like it! And talking of where things Managing Editor: Jason Haigh-Ellery Design: Mark Plastow are heading, we bid farewell to Executive Producer: Nicholas Briggs Copy Editor: Stephanie Hornett Survivors. After nine series it’s all Senior Producer: David Richardson Marketing: Steve Berry, Kris Griffin, coming to an end, and when doing Editor: Kenny Smith Paddy Freeland this issue’s interviews, no one let The Big Finish Team: Ian Atkins, BFP Administration: Cheryl Bly, slip who’s going to live or die... Sue Cowley, Emily de Fraine, Karen Parks, Brenda Smith, Alison Taylor But I don’t mind. I do like Hannah Peel, Alfie Shaw, Paul Spragg Publisher: Ltd. a surprise!

VORTEX | PAGE 3 ORDER NOW AT BIGFINISH.COM

Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh), (was that five years ago?), but THE PATERNOSTER GANG Jenny Flint (Catrin Stewart) and it’s taken a while for everything n Released: June 2019 Strax () – or as we to fall into place. So we’ve had know and love them, The plenty of time to think about it n Format: CD and download Paternoster Gang. And now the and tackle questions like, ‘It’s time is finally right for the in the same time period and warrior, her human wife setting – how does this differ ORDER NOW AT: and their butler to from Jago & Litefoot?’ (an HTTP://BIT.LY/GETSTRAX return to audio life. answer to that came easily). Producer David Richardson “We started pre-production was delighted to welcome the with a meeting that Neve NE OF the most popular Paternoster Row residents to and Dan came along to (sadly requests for a new Big Finish. He reveals: “I’d been Catrin was away), where we O Doctor Who audio pitching the idea of a Paternoster just threw ideas around – many spin-off series from Big Finish has Gang spin-off from the moment of which will be incorporated been for more adventures for we got the new series licence into this 12-episode run.

VORTEX | PAGE 4 DOCTOR WHO THE PATERNOSTER GANG

“It’s great that we’ve been able to have a degree of input into the wider arc. It’s exciting to see what’s going to develop.”

HE SERIES begins with a story from a Doctor Who T veteran writer – The Cars That Ate London! by Jonathan Morris. He says: “It’s flattering to

YOU ONLY HAVE TO WATCH THE FIRST HALF OF TO SEE EXACTLY HOW A VASTRA, JENNY AND JONATHAN MORRIS Above (l–r): STRAX SERIES WOULD WORK… Catrin Stewart, Dan Starkey and Neve McIntosh

be entrusted with such responsibility, but in this case it doesn’t really feel like a step into the unknown because the format had already been established. “You only have to watch the first half of The Crimson Horror to see exactly how a Vastra, Jenny and Strax series would work, it’s all there. And, of course, The Cars That Ate London! isn’t the first story that Big Finish has released with these characters. “If anything, my responsibility was just to set up the tone of the series; to establish what makes it different from all the other series that have gone before. So my story is, quite deliberately, what Above (l–r): Beth Goddard, Arthur you might expect a ‘traditional’ Hughes and Paternoster Gang story to be like. Then other people can “For a brand new series, this who was thrilled to return to come along and go off on weird hit the ground running when playing Strax. Dan says: “Neve and wonderful tangents.” we got into studio. Neve had had an idea, that we – her, What kind of brief was Jonny played Vastra for us before myself and Catrin – should given by script editor Matt Fitton? (The Churchill Years 2), Dan have a meeting with David “Basically to set up the series, had appeared as Strax in Jago & Richardson and Matt Fitton, showcase the three characters Litefoot & Strax, and Catrin had and they said, ‘It’s your series and establish the ‘world’ and appeared in Torchwood – albeit – have you got any ideas about the scale of their adventures. not as Jenny. So they all knew what you’d like in it?’ Sadly Specifically, to tell stories with the process, and of course knew Catrin wasn’t able to make it, aliens, scares, and - their characters, and they just but it was a good meeting. style humour and storytelling, got in front of those microphones “It’s very unusual to be and make it clear that, although and had a brilliant time.” asked to do something like also set in 19th-century London, Bringing the series to life that, when the producer this is an entirely different series has delighted Dan Starkey says, ‘What do you think?’ to Jago & Litefoot and will be

VORTEX | PAGE 5 DOCTOR WHO THE PATERNOSTER GANG

Above (l–r): Lucy Briggs-Owen, Catrin Stewart, Joseph Kloska, Neve McIntosh, Trevor Cooper, Dan Starkey and Daisy Ashford telling different kinds of stories. “Our heroes investigate a factory in East London where a sinister genius called Fabian Solak is producing a new type of electric car... a car that has a mind of its own!” Recording was a delight for Dan. He explains: “It was good being back in character again, and we all have a very easy chemistry between us. We’ve hung around with each other on and off set since we first appeared – and it’s now over five years since we worked together on screen. “But being in studio for Big Finish is a bit different for Above (l–r): Catrin Stewart, Neve Neve and myself as we can Mcintosh and Dan Starkey actually hear ourselves speak! “When I came in to do Jago & Litefoot & Strax, it was very different for me as I didn’t have do a convention people have television. For example, we’ve to shout quite as much to hear asked us when the Big Finish got Victorian Transformers! myself. With the part of Strax, spin-off series is going to “The era is so rich for the voice partly came from happen – and now we know. storytelling. Big Finish did the the fact my ears were blocked “It’s nice that people have such Jago & Litefoot series for so long, up by 2–3cm of latex. It’s all affection for the characters, playing with aspects of Victoriana, about projecting – Strax barks and we want these stories to but we’re very vague about the at people as if he’s still on the live up to their expectations. date of when these stories are set. Sontaran parade ground! You can do so much on audio There was so much happening “It’s lovely being back that would require a budget historically in the real world at together again. Every time we of millions to realise on this time which we can put a

VORTEX | PAGE 6 DOCTOR WHO THE PATERNOSTER GANG

about them, and spend more time in their company. I was always a bit sad they didn’t turn up again opposite , but instead we get to give them their own series on audio! “Matt and David were keen that we might look into unusual areas of Victoriana. My storyline touches on some surprising aspects of Victorian photography – usefully I’d done some research into that for The Omega Factor (although this is a very different sort of story – and a different sort of photography!). I also did some reading on the craze for spiritualism. There are a few little details that made it into this that people might think are bizarre enough to have been made up but are actually true! “Vastra is investigating some people who seem to have come back from the dead. Meanwhile, Jenny and Strax have an afternoon off – and

THEY HAVE VERY HUMAN QUIRKS AND FOIBLES AND AFFECTIONS – EVEN IF TWO OF ROY GILL THEM ARE ALIENS.

find themselves at an unusual exhibition. Who or what are the Bloomsbury Bunch, and what are they up to?” Ah yes – the Bloomsbury Above (l–r): Neve McIntosh Bunch. As we’re about to discover, and Catrin Stewart Vastra, Jenny and Strax aren’t the only Silurian, human and sci-fi spin on, and we can feature unlikely family in the Sontaran living in London. things that haven’t appeared in picture. Roy says: “I don’t know if Roy says: “The Bloomsbury Jago & Litefoot. And the pictures Steven Moffat always intended Bunch are a wideboy Sontaran are definitely better on audio! the Paternosters to be running – Stonn; his human boyfriend, “We have some great stories characters, but they certainly pop Tom; and Silurian warrior and guest casts with Alan Cox off the screen from their very first Vella. They’re sort of like the as a Tesla-type of figure.” appearance! They’re fun and they Paternoster Gang, but up to no have very recognisably human good and not very competent! PHOTOGRAPH TO quirks and foibles and affections They’re going to be recurring Remember by Roy Gill – even if two of them are aliens. characters. A lot of my script A puts London’s most You just want to know more introduces the Bunch. I had

VORTEX | PAGE 7 DOCTOR WHO THE PATERNOSTER GANG

Above (l–r): Catrin Stewart, Arthur Hughes, Neve McIntosh, Beth Goddard, Dan Starkey and Christopher Ryan a lot of fun with them!” screwdriver – but spookily I “The Ghosts of Greenwich is Director Ken Bentley says: submitted my script the same primarily a mystery, a genre “I’ve worked with Beth Goddard day her first episode went out!” I return to a lot and which a couple of times before and This first series concludes feels particularly appropriate she was my first choice to play with The Ghosts of Greenwich for Madame Vastra. It’s also, Vella. Beth’s always great to by Paul Morris, who admits as the title suggests, a ghost work with, but it was a joy that he’s delighted to return story (of a kind). And at its to see her throw herself into to the Victorian era. heart is a big sci-fi idea that playing a Silurian warrior.” He explains: “I’ve often dreamt I’m quite pleased with. The Dan was delighted to be joined of the day that Big Finish usual mixture of genres that in studio by his former Sontaran would be able to play with the you get with Doctor Who!” commanding officer, in the Paternoster Gang – working on form of Christopher Ryan. Jago & Litefoot it sometimes IRECTOR KEN Bentley He says: “We have got felt as if they were just around had previous experience Chris Ryan back, and we the corner (especially after D of launching a new had some great fun with Strax took his first tentative Doctor Who spin-off series photographs and zombies!” steps into that world). having worked on UNIT, and he Roy adds: “I wasn’t in studio “Now that it’s finally happened was delighted to work on The for this so I’m really keen to it’s a joy to be here at the start Paternoster Gang. hear it. Dan Starkey tells me as we discover just how the He reveals: “It’s always exciting he especially enjoyed some of gang get on when the Doctor to work on a new series, but his scenes facing off against isn’t around. And while this I particularly like working Chris Ryan, so I’m particularly new series is its own thing and on comedy so I’m keen now looking forward to those! not a replacement for Jago & for this to be released and to “There’s a throwaway line Litefoot, it’s great to be back hear what listeners think. about Vastra’s blade being in those foggy backstreets. “Every now and then we’ve had made of ‘Scottish steel’ – it “The brief was very brief! It fun with an episode of Doctor is, of course, a nod to Neve’s just had to be a standalone story Who, but The Paternoster background (and accent as as this first set is intended to Gang must be amongst demonstrated opposite Peter showcase the Paternoster Gang the most overtly comedic Capaldi). I’m sure people will themselves before throwing any characters in the Whoniverse. think it’s a reference to Jodie’s complicated story arcs at them. It’s brilliant.”

VORTEX | PAGE 8 VORTEXMAIL

OLD AND NEW I really loved Classic Doctors: New Monsters not only for the mix of classic meets modern Doctor Who but for the fact that there were stories with different incarnations of the Doctor. My questions are: a) Any plans to do any other box sets combining different Doctors (not a multi-Doctor story or necessarily another volume of CD:NM) and b) Now Big Finish have the rights to the era, is there scope for another volume of CD:NM? These guys spring to mind – the Scovox Blitzer and the Mire! @CParry90 Nick: There are some top secret plans underway! Sorry to be cryptic but we must get our popular The Iron Legion rights to Dark Shadows? Are metaphorical ducks in a row and The Star Beast are as there storylines from the TV before announcing anything… yet. If they do well, we would show or characters you can’t certainly like to do more. use? Is there a limit to how HOLMES AND far you can go with certain THE DOCTOR CHARLEY CHAT characters/relationships? Any plans for original Nick mentioned a third @SpaceAndTina stories with the Seventh and finalCharlotte Pollard Dark Shadows producer Joseph Doctor teaming up with series several Vortexes ago. Lidster: We can use basically Sherlock Holmes? I really Is any more information anything from the original TV loved the All-Consuming on that available? series and all our storylines Fire adaptation and would @Scraxiatel have to be approved by Jim love more stuff like that. Nick: No information yet. Pierson/MPI Media Group who @KevinCV First draft scripts have been own the rights to the series. So Nick: Glad you enjoyed written by Iain Meadows far they haven’t rejected any All-Consuming Fire, it was and I have been working on of the horrible stuff that we a blast to do, Kevin. But them – Iain and I are sharing put the characters through! no plans at the moment. the writing duties on this. But India Fisher is primed and IN THE PICTURE CHAINSAW REACTION ready, and so is James Joyce. Please can we have a book of I know these things can be It will be a glorious, heart- the wonderful cast photos fraught with rights issues rending finale for Charley. from the studio sessions but with of the amazing audios? Adaptations, is there any LURKING IN THE Phil Smith chance the Star Tigers and SHADOWS Nick: Now that’s an interesting Abslom Daak might appear? Bit of an odd one but I’ve idea, thank you Phil. We’ll @Maxkrank always wondered what is look into that one. Nick: It’s too early to see how the extent of Big Finish’s

VORTEX | PAGE 9 ORDER NOW AT BIGFINISH.COM

years later and it’s time to bring maybe a hint of a beginning too.” SURVIVORS: SERIES NINE everything to an end in the Matt Fitton, the series ninth box set of Survivors. script editor, adds: “We knew n Released: June 2019 Producer David Richardson when Series Seven was being n Format: CD and download explains: “We knew we were planned out that the idea was reaching an end point with the always to lead into a civil war full-cast Survivors stories – which would cover Series ORDER NOW AT: we’ve run for nine box sets of 36 Eight and Nine, introducing HTTP://BIT.LY/GETSURVIVORS episodes (that’s just two short of characters like Robert, and the TV series), and the longevity of bringing back Peter. The final a series is only guaranteed by sales. big story for this particular INCE JUNE 2014 Big “There’s a law of diminishing range was always planned Finish has been taking returns with any audio series, and out as the last two series. S us to the end of the so we felt that by the ninth box “We’ve almost done as many world. The majority of set it would be best to conclude episodes as the TV show, so that’s humanity was wiped out by the our ongoing storyline. It was quite a good run – I don’t think ‘Death’, and we’ve followed a great to have that notice, to be I ever believed it would last this small but determined group of able to plan for a proper, final long. Because it’s going into people who refused to give in end. And I think the end is perfect territory we don’t usually cover, I and battled on – to live. Five – powerful, credible and with thought we would get two, three

VORTEX | PAGE 10 IT’S ALL WOMEN, AND I HAD Above (l–r): Carolyn Seymour THE IDEA OF THEM ALL BEING IN and Lucy Fleming

“The Abby/Peter dynamic is THIS TENKO-STYLE CAMP. JANE SLAVIN also explored further following their first reunion in Series Eight and that could take Abby in an interesting direction. or four series at most out of it, but We’ll see a lot more of what it picked up momentum and word Robert Malcolm is capable of of mouth gave it great reviews, so and what he’s willing to do.” it was able to run for twice as long as I initially thought it would. N THE first story of this “Once I started listening to it set, we return to the and hearing back what the cast I group in The Farm by Jane was doing, and how the whole Slavin. She said: “The whole thing sounded, we hoped people concept of Survivors is such an would pick up on it and give it amazing idea – what worked for a longer life. And they did.” me personally as a listener was that all the scripts are so very Above: George Watkins HE MAJORITY of the different – wonderful, horrific, Series Eight writing daring storylines, never afraid to T team have returned for no point in exerting herself in go dark and with fabulously this final set with Jane Slavin, helping rebuild the infrastructure different characters, even the lead Christopher Hatherall and of society. She’s left it to the characters are given new Roland Moore – and with Andrew likes of Jenny and Greg and the challenges with each passing Smith stepping in to write the Federation to get on with the season to keep it interesting. fourth episode as Lisa McMullan hard work, and she’s now ready Louise Jameson is (as always) was tied up on other work. to swoop in and take over. phenomenal. It’s just such a Looking at the overall arc of “Meg’s not a wartime leader, she brilliant premise. Series Nine, Matt explains: “We’ve sees herself as a peacetime leader, “I had a lot fun writing this one had a hint of the person behind but in order to get there she has – it’s all women, and I had the idea everything, the one pulling the to run a coup to take power away of them all being in this Tenko- strings – Meg Pritchard – and from the Federation. She’s very style camp. I am such a fan of we finally get to meet her. She manipulative and offers Jenny a Tenko! All women, full of humour has been playing a very canny, role in her new world order. We’ll in adversity, and they really are strategic game, and there’s been see how well that goes down! going through a kind of hell.

VORTEX | PAGE 11 SURVIVORS SERIES NINE

“Actually, there’s one man in it – we had just Leighton Pugh in studio! He was wonderful. I think possibly intimidated, but brilliantly supportive of the idea. “It does push you as a writer, as people are failing in adversity, rather than coming together and triumphing, and that’s quite a liberating thing to write about. Failure is so much more interesting than rampant success, I think. We all recognise failure. “Matt is a wonderful script editor. He begins with, ‘This is where we are, what have you got for us?’ and you make an informal pitch, and so far, mine have been accepted, partly because often they’ve been born from a meeting between four or five of us and the other writers Above (l–r): George Watkins and Joel Davison are inspiring – you’re sitting together chewing over the plot of something and you get an idea from the side of your brain that you didn’t expect, and that’s when you go away and start writing.” Hearts and Minds by Christopher Hatherall is the second story of this set. He says: “As always, the brief from Matt was crafted and focused enough to frame a fitting final series, but also freeing within itself to allow us to indulge ourselves and expand our chapters to suit the Above (l–r): Carolyn Seymour, Joel Davison, overall series needs. There is a Hywel Morgan, Helen Goldwyn, George Watkins and Lucy Fleming new power structure in place in the Survivors world which is bigger and more organised a surprising decision about the Can we really do that? And than anything our heroes future. Hopefully it is engaging sometimes, Should we really do have faced before, so we were and compelling through the that? But as it’s Survivors, the encouraged to explore the well- excitement and jeopardy of the answer is nearly always YES! known characters in the midst action and also through the “So my brief was – without of another challenge that their conflicting morality and principles giving too much away – to post-apocalyptic world presented. of the characters too. Typical intensify the division between two “It’s an action adventure story Survivors material, dare I say…” of the main characters. We wanted that embellishes the status-quo them to be facing a collision of the new world order, pitting HE THIRD story of the course in which the listener will a small but committed group of series, Fade Out, is written realise that only one of them will rebels against the superior power T by Roland Moore, and the walk away at the end of the series. that has taken control. Within conflict continues. He explains: “And I was instructed to end the that exists conflicting opinions “The writers and Matt Fitton all journey of another main character on methods and approaches discussed the story arc and where – so that’s suitably traumatic!” that threaten to destabilise it would end up. These meetings Summing up the story, Chris both sides. And at the end of it are always great fun as we thrash says: “I hope it’s a claustrophobic someone we know so well makes out ideas and get excited, thinking, little tale with a sense of

VORTEX | PAGE 12 SURVIVORS SERIES NINE

LONG WITH David and Matt, another person who A has worked on the whole series is director Ken Bentley. He reveals: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of Survivors. The thrill for me hasn’t just been about what we’ve put the characters through, but what we’ve put listeners through. All the choices we’ve made have been to impact the listening experience. It needed to be tough going, and I’m really proud of the response we’ve had from listeners and the loyalty they’ve had towards the series.” Ken has been particularly pleased by the team work he has experienced on Survivors. He says: “The thing I love most about my job is that it’s collaborative, and Survivors has been such a delightful company of people impending doom but with moments of quirky humour. I have some characters trapped in a disused cinema and they ONLY ONE OF THEM know they won’t all get out alive. It’s intriguing as the WILL WALK AWAY AT THE characters have to decide which of them will live and which will sacrifice themselves. It’s END OF THE SERIES. ROLAND MOORE a real dilemma motivated by self-interest and duty. “But there are also fun things like them playing an old film had a meeting early on, when to work with. Carolyn and Lucy as they wait. So there’s a slight Matt, myself, Jane and Roland are brilliant and such lovely change of tone as we have met in the Big Finish office; Chris people – even when we challenged lighter moments with scenes wasn’t free to make it. We chatted them with some quite unsettling from a 1950s B movie.” our way through the series and storylines, they never blinked an And so, it comes to an end where we would be at the end. eye. And from I’ve loved in Conflict by Andrew Smith. “This will be the culmination the post-production process. Benji Andrew tells Vortex: “I was so of the civil war that’s been going Clifford and Nicholas Briggs put chuffed to be asked to write it. on. The Federation are going to be so much work into each episode, Series Six was the last time I’d making the final pushed to resolve with such keen ears for detail and written a Survivors script so things. We also had to consider for dramatic potential. It’s been when Matt asked if I’d like to do where we were going with Abby a labour of love by everybody.” the last one, I said yes straight and Peter – and it might not go The final word goes to David away. I re-listened to Series Seven the way people think it will…” Richardson. He concludes: “I’m so and was sent the scripts for Andrew adds: “With Survivors proud of this series. We’ve been Series Eight to catch up with the we’re in a dangerous environment able to work with brilliant scripts continuing narrative and to get and hostile world – I hope people and fantastic actors – Carolyn, a handle on the new characters will like how we resolve things. Lucy and Ian were all heroes of Malcolm and Meg Pritchard. We’re left with a catalogue of nine from my childhood, and they’ve “Being asked to round it off was series – and within them there are remained so. Lovely, kind people very special. I always knew where some of the best stories Big Finish who I’m sure will be back at Big we were going and what the very has ever done. I can honestly say, Finish. Maybe in more Survivors final scene was going to be – we it’s one of my favourite jobs.” one day? Who knows…!”

VORTEX | PAGE 13 ORDER NOW AT BIGFINISH.COM

the January release this year, into the same body/persona. DOCTOR WHO: SHORT TRIPS with stories related to new Regeneration is such a series Doctor Who now sitting fascinating concept, I love n Released: Monthly alongside the classics. it when the show explores n Format: Download Alfie told Vortex what we can the ramifications of it. Julian look forward to in the next few Richards has put together a months: “May’s story, Under story that’s full of political ORDER NOW AT: ODIN’s Eye, sees the Doctor and intrigue and I can’t wait HTTP://BIT.LY/GETSHORTTRIPS Peri tackling an interplanetary for people to find out what shop called ODIN. Alice Cavender happens when a Time Lord has done a brilliant takedown of tries to keep the same face! ITH A host of new corporations and how they can “Battle Scars is the Who releases take over our lives to a dangerous story from Paul Spragg W each month, Big Finish degree. With lovely humorous Opportunity winner Selim Ulug. brings us stories in a selection of touches thrown in here and He did a great character study of styles, full-cast and narrated. In there, it’s a story that grabs you the in Landbound, the Short Trips range, a from the off and doesn’t let go! and I knew I wanted a story bite-sized story at a bargain price “June’s release, The Same with a similar focus but for the is released every month. Face, tackles the issue of . While it’s not the Alfie Shaw has been what happens when a Time Ninth Doctor’s first adventure, producing the range since Lord keeps regenerating it does take place before the TV

VORTEX | PAGE 14 DOCTOR WHO SHORT TRIPS

Trips, we do two series at once for logistical reasons. So while the temptation is just to do a Doctor a month and get them all released in a year, that would preclude you from doing stories where the Doctor isn’t really the focus, such as [previous producer] Ian Atkins did with and Jago & Litefoot. “I’ve tried to make sure that there is a story with each Doctor over the 2019–2020 run, but some Doctors feature more heavily in one year than the other. You do need to leave some leeway for approaches with other characters that people love. That’s something the range is uniquely positioned to do with ease and I’m very keen to explore that going forward.” With a host of storytelling styles, what does Alfie think makes a good Short Trip? He grins: “In a word, simplicity. It needs to keep the number of characters at a minimum, examining a single theme or setting. A lot of the great Short Trips have been character pieces, and that’s the kind of story that the range excels at.

A LOT OF THE GREAT SHORT TRIPS HAVE BEEN CHARACTER PIECES, AND THAT’S THE KIND OF STORY THAT THE RANGE

EXCELS AT. ALFIE SHAW episode, Rose, and we see the me! has created “It’s not the place to do Doctor coming to terms with a gem of a story, it’s glorious massive sprawling stories, the being the Doctor once again. fun from beginning to end.” intimacy of the audiobook “#HarrySullivan is the first Big Finish has the rights to format lends itself neatly to Big Finish Harry Sullivan use the first 12 incarnations of doing smaller scale stories. Of story and I could not be more the Doctor, excluding the War course, I say all this, but the thrilled! Harry is a character Doctor, for the Short Trips range’s other main strength I’ve loved for ages, and as soon range. How tough is it to get a is its flexibility and now I’ve as I took over I knew I wanted mixture of all TV eras – and Big committed this to print, to do a story with Harry. And Finish ones too – when you’ve someone is going to come luckily, when we announced got just 12 slots each year? along and pitch me the perfect these four releases, it seemed Alfie explains: “When it comes half an hour epic. I’m open that a lot of people agreed with to planning and making Short to being proven wrong!”

VORTEX | PAGE 15 DOCTOR WHO SHORT TRIPS

THE RECEPTION TO THE ASTREA CONSPIRACY WAS FABULOUS. ALFIE SHAW

ITH ALFIE having been in the job for just a few W months, he has been delighted by the response to the first few releases, especially as he got to oversee Big Finish’s first story in the world of the Twelfth Doctor, The Astrea Conspiracy. He adds: “It’s been great! Since you’ve singled it out, the reception to The Astrea Conspiracy was fabulous. It being the first Capaldi story Big Finish has ever released, there was a lot of pressure to get it right, but Lizbeth Myles wrote a magnificent story, Neve McIntosh gave a superb reading and Nicholas Briggs did a fabulous job directing. It came together beautifully and the fans seem to have responded really well to it.”

ORTEX ASKS Alfie to tell us more about what’s V still to come. He reveals: “For the rest of this series, or the rest of the 2019–2020 run? Hmmm, let’s see… For the rest of this series we have another adventure for a classic Big Finish and Doctor pairing and we dip back into the new series era. Other than that, well, time will tell! “As for the rest of the run I should probably save something to tell you next time, but one of the stories is a new format for the range. It’s completely different to anything we’ve done with Short Trips before and I’m very excited by it. But naturally, I can’t tell you who is in it, when it’s set or who is reading it. Not yet anyway. Is that vague enough as a tease for you?!”

VORTEX | PAGE 16 BIG FINISH BOOKCLUB www.bigfinish.com/offers/v/bookclub ACCESS CODE: STORIES

DOCTOR WHO DEATH AND THE QUEEN

HE DOCTOR and that his outstanding Donna. Donna and thought when he thinks T the Doctor. The of the play comes from Doctordon/Donnadoc. the sound designer. However you think of He explains: “Howard them, and Carter’s sheep. They’re ’s characters award winning. The are a tremendous double placement of them, the act. The duo were first sheer comedy value of reunited for new audio them, is a thing which adventures in 2016 in a delights me every time I Producer David Richardson series of three stories, the hear it. And I’ve listened to was the one who cast Donna’s third of which is Death Death and the Queen a lot. nemesis in this tale – the Queen and the Queen. Unlucky “Although I’ve not heard Mother – with Borg Queen in love Donna is getting the German version. Big Alice Krige taking on the part. hitched again, this time Finish sent me a copy He adds: “Nick let me cast to royalty after meeting of it and I stared at it in all three plays and I was very her prince. amused delight, but have careful to hire people that we But Donna being Donna never dared to play it. How knew were accomplished actors it doesn’t go to plan, with does it sound? Is it weird? and fun to be around, but also a skeleton army marching Are the jokes in German to have some people who David on her future castle home... funny? How does Donna’s and Catherine would know and Written by , love of Jackie Collins feel comfortable working with. he succinctly sums the translate into German? “I cast Alice Krige because play up as: “ And can German Donna she really is one of my is getting married again. really equal Catherine’s favourite actors, and one of The Tenth Doctor’s trying delivery of ‘Lucky pants’?!” my favourite people to be with to help. What could Director Nicholas Briggs in studio. I’ve worked with possibly go wrong?” was delighted with the first Alice three times now and we James wrote the script three Tenth Doctor plays, have the most extraordinary months before it was and explains: “I think my conversations about life. She’s recorded and adds: “So personal highlight was wonderful. Death and the often these things are when Catherine found so Queen is bonkers and touching done in a tearing hurry many poignant moments and brilliant.” but this one was able in Death and the Queen. to sit on a shelf, gently I had, rather unfairly, maturing. I re-read it the pigeon-holed it as pure DOCTOR WHO DEATH AND night before the recording knockabout comedy. But THE QUEEN IS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD NOW AT THE and sweated fear!” Catherine saw past that SPECIAL PRICE OF £2.99. Looking at the finished and at one point brought release now, James grins a tear to my eye.”

VORTEX | PAGE 17 ORDER NOW AT BIGFINISH.COM

THERE’S MORE TROUBLE THAN EVER IN SOUTH WALES IN THE THIRD VOLUME OF TORCHWOOD SERIES SIX…

VORTEX | PAGE 18 TORCHWOOD GOD AMONG US 3

ARDIFF IS in trouble. Not A Mother’s Son is by Alexandria just the usual trouble that Riley, better known as C the Torchwood team have Torchwood’s Ng. Scott reveals: to protect it from, but BIG trouble. “I love that we were able to get Not only are the alien Committee Alexandria onto the writing on in an old folks’ home and team. We’re always on the a god is walking the streets of lookout for new talent, and I was Cardiff, but a huge tidal wave is lucky enough to be invited to heading towards the Welsh a read through of a piece she’d capital. Yes, things are bad. written in Cardiff. She has such A new Torchwood team has a brilliant sense of character, been assembled, killed and… and such emotional intelligence well, I shall say no more for fear too, so I knew she’d be a perfect of spoilers – but things are not fit for our opening storyline, looking good in God Among Us 3! and she really delivered.” Producer James Goss says: James adds: “A Mother’s Son “There’s been a massive is a companion to an episode catastrophe in Cardiff and it’s called . Torchwood used just a prelude to the planet to be able to do terrible things being wiped out and taken and get away with it, but now over by an alien life form. You with everyone live streaming can find out more in these everything, how easy is it to four amazing single stories.” cover stuff up? It’s about what Director Scott Handcock adds: “God Among Us 3 has been an enormous IT’S ABOUT WHAT undertaking, especially as our HAPPENS WHEN cast are so spread out, but it’s also TORCHWOOD COMES hugely exciting. Whether it’s a UP AGAINST A GRIEVING more emotional episode or action- MOTHER WHO ISN’T based, every script JAMES GOSS presents its own GOING TO STOP… challenges, and TORCHWOOD: Cardiff has been GOD AMONG US 3 becoming a more n Released: June 2019 and more dangerous city to live happens when Torchwood n Format: CD and download in! We up the stakes but never just comes up against a grieving move on. The fallout from God mother who isn’t going to stop Among Us 2 casts a long shadow until she has all the answers.” ORDER NOW AT: over this box set and affects how Alexandria admits: “I used to HTTP://BIT.LY/GETTORCHWOOD6 Torchwood operate – when they’re write quite a lot – scriptwriting able to – so it’s lovely to build was actually part of my course those elements up and give our at university. I mentioned to cast something different to play. Scott Handcock that I wanted It’s never just business as usual.” to get back into the writing side of things and he told me they HILE were after more writers for the and Gareth new block of Torchwood. He W have both written was helping me out on a radio Torchwood stories in audio, novel play I’d written for the Royal and comic strip form, one of the Welsh College at the time and new Torchwood team contributes he really liked my writing. So the first story of this set. he asked if I’d be interested in

VORTEX | PAGE 19 TORCHWOOD GOD AMONG US 3

tackling a Torchwood episode says: “ScrapeJane was inspired by that can’t stop altering the and I jumped at the chance! a talk I went to about the Slender power of belief.” “I found it extremely nerve- Man phenomenon. Slender Man wracking to write for Torchwood is a made-up monster, but AY ZERO by Tim in general, let alone writing researchers discovered that the Foley continues the an episode after such a huge more people read about Slender D ongoing story in which disaster. I wanted it to be truthful Man the more they believed in it, the population of Cardiff have to and respectful. It was quite a even though they knew it was cope without water. heartbreaking thing actually. fictional. It was a short step Tim says: “Normally for “Ng doesn’t really appear in from that to Torchwood having a God Among Us story we’re the episode I wrote, which was to deal with a fictional monster given a theme and asked to a little easier. However, I think it would have been alright to write for her. I’d like to think I’ve got to know her pretty well so could present her in an accurate way!” Vortex asks Alexandria to explain what happens in A Mother’s Son. She pauses: “Hmm, how would I sum it up... there’s never a simple explanation when it comes to Torchwood! So many twists and turns! All very complex, and this one is no different. However, it is a unique episode in the sense that it’s more of a personal account of someone’s heartbreaking journey. Someone taking a very different look atTorchwood (duh duh duuuuuuh!).”

TORY TWO is ScrapeJane by Robin S Bell, another newcomer to writing Torchwood. James Above (l–r): Mina Anwar and Aaron Anthony

Above (l–r): Paul Clayton, Samantha Béart and Ramon Tikaram

VORTEX | PAGE 20 TORCHWOOD GOD AMONG US 3

Above (l–r): Taj Atwal, Tom Price, Jacqueline King, Jonny Green, IT’S EXCESSIVE, EVEN FOR Tracy-Ann Oberman and Timothy Blore THEM! BUT THERE’S A REASON EVER. And some of them will WHY THEY’RE EXPERIENCING survive long enough for answers!” James adds: “Day Zero took its EVERY CALAMITY EVER! TOM FOLEY cue from Cape Town’s countdown to ‘Day Zero’ – the day when the city ran out of clean drinking water. We’ve been saying that pitch around it, but we were all “An episode premise like there’s something wrong with handed a completely plotted this could’ve filled a whole the city’s water supply for a outline this time. This is the Torchwood mini series. I went while – and this sees the city final box set, this is the endgame, into it thinking I wanted to write trapped in a drought and the so we’re all singing from the a Miracle Day (the final TV episode madness that comes from that.” same hymn sheet. I’m sure the of Torchwood) in an hour… God Among Us 3 reaches its gods would approve of that. and of course that was far too climax with Thoughts and “The joy of research is always ambitious but you’ve got to have Prayers by James Goss. seeing how much you have to that mindset. This is huge.” Vortex asked James to sum jettison for the final product! I Given this box set starts with a up the events of the story – had great fun scouring Cardiff , there’s definitely an irony without giving too much away! council and water company in this situation – which Tim James gives an enigmatic smile: websites and working out admits he enjoyed playing with. “Thoughts and Prayers sees Jack the freshwater routes. You He grins: “Absolutely. It’s Harkness going on a date with find yourself discussing particularly cruel because of how god as the world ends. There!” alternative sources, and what damaged the whole of Cardiff is the consequences are beyond post-floods. Every disaster ever is NE OF the real treats of the expected ‘people get thirsty’. being thrown at what’s left of the working on the Comparing it to other similar team. It’s excessive, even for them! O production of the new real world crises is useful in But there’s a reason why they’re Torchwood series is getting to see showing you how people react. experiencing EVERY CALAMITY how the stories are brought to life.

VORTEX | PAGE 21 TORCHWOOD GOD AMONG US 3

society takes certain basics for granted; and a climactic finale. I can’t really say much about the final episode, other than it is a final episode. “I couldn’t single out any of our leads because they’re all utterly, utterly brilliant to work with. You can throw anything at them, and not one of them is fazed, even when we’re leaping through Above (l–r): Paul Clayton random scenes from episode and Alexandria Riley to episode. And every one of them brings their A-game. James explains a highlight We’ve been hugely lucky with for him is: “The cast – the cast our guest casts in these too. are so good and work so hard, Jacqueline King returns as the and really love the characters. alien god, as you’d probably “It’s been an utter joy hearing expect, but we also have the them say this year, ‘Would my brilliant Mina Anwar in the character say that?’ They all opening episode offering up adore working on Torchwood, a really sensitive, considered and they love the response from performance. It’s great when fans. Especially the fan art. actors really care about the “The days we spend work, whether they’re a regular recording down in Cardiff or recurring character, or just coming in for a guest part.” As Scott mentioned, due to cast availability, the stories I CAN’T REALLY SAY MUCH are usually recorded at different times in different ABOUT THE FINAL EPISODE, studios, but he was able to bring some of them together OTHER THAN IT IS A FINAL for the first time this series. He says: “From a personal EPISODE. SCOTT HANDCOCK point of view, it’s just nice to see actors whose characters have known each other for so long finally meet. So on this Bay are the most fun we can box set, Tracy-Ann Oberman have. The studio is behind finally got to meet Jonny Splott Market, so if it’s Green, and Samantha Béart a Thursday you can get an met Ramon Tikaram... things absolute steal on sausages!” like that are particularly Scott continues: “The funny satisfying because they all thing about these Torchwood feel like a family, especially box sets is, because we have having heard each other, so it such a large ensemble cast, was great to cement that.” we never get to record a story Alexandria Riley concludes: straight through as we would “I am absolutely loving being a on other ranges. So I don’t part of the Torchwood team. It’s think of stories so much as interesting for me, as a director, a complete blast! Great people. recording days, at least until and for the actors. In this one, Like a little family! I’m ecstatic we reach post production. But we get a very personal, human and petrified at the same time! we’ve been really lucky with take on the fallout from God The fans are phenomenal and these new box sets that each Among Us 2; a modern kind the stories are incredible. It’s script delivers a very different of ghost story; an exploration been an honour to be part of kind of story, which makes it of how much Western the creating side.”

VORTEX | PAGE 22 COMINGSOON THE BIG FINISH RELEASE SCHEDULE

FOR FULL DETAILS AND UPDATES VISIT, WWW.BIGFINISH.COM

MAY 2019 Battle Scars (9.07) DLO ■ ■■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: ■ Torchwood: Serenity (29) The of Vulpana ■■ Blake’s 7: Restoration Part 2 (251, and Mags) (Box Set) ■ ■ DW • The Tenth Doctor Adventures: ■■ The Omega Factor: Festival of No Place Darkness (Audiobook) DLO (3.1, Tenth Doctor and Donna) ■ NEON VINYL ■ DW • The Tenth Doctor Adventures: AUGUST 2019 One Mile Down (3.2, Tenth Doctor and Donna) ■■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: OF DEATH! ■■ DW • The Tenth Doctor Adventures: Emissary of the The Creeping Death (254, and Peri) (3.3, Tenth Doctor and Donna) ■■ DW • The Eighth Doctor: ■ The 3 (Box Set) THE BIG Finish invasion of the ■ DW • The Tenth Doctor Adventures: Volume 3 (Box Set) ■■ DW • The Diary of River Song: UK’s leading retailers will ■■ DW • The Third Doctor Adventures: Series 6 (Box Set) T continue in 2019 in the form of Volume 5 (Box Set) ■■ DW • Short Trips: DLO an exclusive vinyl release in supermarket ■■ DW • Short Trips: #HarrySullivan (9.08) ASDA. A limited edition run of 1,000 Under Odin’s Eye (9.05) DLO ■■ Big Finish Originals: DLO copies of the new Tenth Doctor story The ■■ Torchwood: Sync (27) Transference ■ Creeping Death, starring David Tennant ■■ Dark Shadows: Bloodline: Volume 2 ■ Torchwood: The Hope (30) ■ and Catherine Tate, will be released on ■■ Big Finish Audiobooks: ■ The Prisoner: Volume 3 (Box Set) DLO ■ Friday 24th May (available only in the UK). After the Breakup ■ The Confessions of Dorian Gray: The Lost Confessions DLO Writer Roy Gill said: “Being asked to write for David Tennant and Catherine JUNE 2019 SEPTEMBER 2019 Tate was already a huge thrill, but ■■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: An Alien in London ■■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: how awesome to hear The Creeping (252, Seventh Doctor, and Mags) TBA (255, Sixth Doctor and Peri) Death will be getting a vinyl release ■■ DW • The Companion Chronicles: ■■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: too! I think this 1950’s tale of a band The : Volume 3 (Box Set) Tartarus (256, , and Tegan) of London misfits against whatever- ■■ DW • The Paternoster Gang: ■ it-is that lurks in the smog will work Heritage 1 (Box Set) ■ DW • : ■ The Dimension Cannon (Box Set) beautifully on a neon green LP! ■ DW • Short Trips: The Same Face (9.06) DLO ■■ DW • Short Trips: TBA (9.09) DLO “I’m a big vinyl fan already – I share my ■■ Torchwood: Sargasso (28) ■■ Torchwood: The Vigil (31) flat with three record decks, goodness ■■ Torchwood: God Among Us 3 (Box Set) knows how many records and one long- ■ OCTOBER 2019 suffering partner – so I’m super-eager ■ Survivors: Series 9 (Box Set) ■ to get my hands on a copy myself!” ■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: JULY 2019 TBA (257, TBA) Released this month on CD and ■■ DW • The Eighth Doctor Adventures: ■■ DW • The Monthly Adventures: download too, The Creeping Death sees a Ravenous 4 (Box Set) Memories of a Tyrant deadly smog envelop the streets of London (253, Sixth Doctor and Peri) ■■ DW • The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 2 (Box Set) in 1952. The Doctor and Donna find that ■■ DW • The Legacy of Time (Box Set) ■■ DW • Short Trips: TBA (9.10) DLO there’s something lurking within its mists ■■ DW • The War Master: – and not everyone will make it out alive. Rage of the Time Lords (Box Set) ■■ Torchwood: Smashed (32) Following on from previous Tenth ■■ DW • Eighth Doctor Adventures: ■■ Bernice Summerfield: DLO Doctor record releases, Infamy of the The Futher Adventures of The Squire’s Crystal (Audiobook) (Box Set) ■ Zaross and Cold Vengeance featuring ■ Dark Shadows: The Tony & ■■ DW • Short Trips: Cassandra Mysteries (Volume 3) as Rose Tyler, this is the first Tenth Doctor and Donna story to be released on vinyl. DLO = DOWNLOAD ONLY • DW = DOCTOR WHO

VORTEX | PAGE 23 ISSUE: 123 • MAY 2019 WWW.BIGFINISH.COM

DOCTOR WHO SHORT TRIPS A QUICK SPIN IN THE TARDIS!

SURVIVORS THE END IS NIGH WILL THE SURVIVORS SURVIVE?

DOCTOR WHO JOIN THE GANG VICTORIAN ADVENTURES WITH THE PATERNOSTER GANG!

WILL THE TORCHWOOD TEAM BE FACING A REVELATION IN GOD AMONG US 3?