ISSUE #23 january 2011 FREE! NOT FOR RESALE

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JAGOJAGO && LITEFOOTLITEFOOT RETURN!RETURN! JUSTINJUSTIN RICHARDSRICHARDS ONON THEIRTHEIR LATESTLATEST ADVENTURESADVENTURES plus! maggie stables • • DAVID RICHARDSON editorial I just wanted to take a moment to thank our And if I may make a personal observation, this brilliant mail order staff properly. I wonder if any is all part of my ongoing mission to make sure the of you can remember a different time, about a right jobs are being done by the right people. That’s year ago, when it seemed like we were living in a how anything works properly. Of course it’s essential different universe. Mail order delays, our forums to have the right levels of investment and planning, buzzing with complaints… but it all comes down to people and jobs and how Well, the appalling weather over few happy they are in their work and how suited they months aside, you may have noticed a change are to the work. Which is why, as time passes, and in recent months. Paul Spragg, David Richardson contrary to my expectations over three years ago, and I certainly have noticed. For reasons too I enjoy my role at Big Finish more and more. I love painful to go into here, we were having a lot of it because of the team: because we have a brilliant trouble with our mail order service and, to be line producer who not only organizes everything honest, we kept letting our customers down very beautifully, but has such great creative insight. We badly. But with the arrival of two new people in have a producers’ assistant who not only assists 2010, namely (and in alphabetical order, because to perfection, but anticipates and creates at every they’re both as vital as each other) Adam Williams turn. And I could go on praising every part of BF and Alison Taylor, everything has changed. (the energetic genius of Alex Mallinson, the tireless Suddenly, all the complaints have vanished and, attention to detail from Frances Welsh) but you’re as I say, leaving the appalling weather to one probably bored now and, to be honest, I’m actually side, everything is running smoothly. The reason indulging in the most self-congratulatory show for this is quite simple: Alison and Adam are both of slapping myself on the back. Yes… MYSELF! brilliant at their jobs. Because I wanted all these people to work for Big They are highly skilled in their fields and they’ve Finish: all the sound designers, the composers, the brought a new sense of purpose to their team. artists, the actors. I either decided we needed them, Frankly, there’s not a day that goes by when I or someone who I trust implicitly decided. So all don’t thank my lucky stars that they took those I want to do really is thank the whole BF team for jobs. Alison and Adam, you have transformed Big making me feel so proud. Finish’s customer relations and mail order service. You’ve given us all pride in BF’s image again. sneak previews and whispers

Companion Chronicles: Tales from the Vault So what do you do when you have the chance to work with two actors who have played companions, but don’t actually have the rights to their characters? With Daphne Ashbrook and Yee Jee Tso in the UK in November 2010, it seemed crazy to miss the opportunity to record with them – so we invented two new characters for them, Ruth Matheson and Charlie Sato. They are two specialist UNIT personnel whose job is to look after The Vault – a massive repository of stuff left over from alien invasions. Joining the biggest cast ever assembled for a single Chronicle are as Steven, Wendy Padbury as Zoe, Katy Manning as Jo and Mary Tamm as . The script is by and is – according to producer David Richardson – “simply unique and brilliant”. Out July 2011

Managing Editor Assistant Editor BFP Administration Publisher Jason Haigh-Ellery Paul Spragg Frances welsh Big Finish Editors Design and Layout Catrin Hubbarde Productions Ltd. Nicholas Briggs Alex Mallinson Marcin Rogoszewski David Richardson Web Editor Alison Taylor Paul Wilson Adam Williams 3 IN THE STUDIO harpo speaks So what’s an average day like 1000 in the Big Finish studio? One of By now, the cast is in. I always make sure the universe’s hardest-working that everyone is offered a tea or coffee the producers, David Richardson, moment they step through the door – it’s presents his diary from the important, I feel, to welcome actors, make recording of one day during them feel at home, then let them settle in the production of the next Fifth for the day and have fun. Today it’s a huge Doctor trilogy… team because this set of stories has four regulars – it’s Peter Davison, Mark Strickson, 0530 and . Bluuurgh. Wake up. Feed the cats Mark, bless him, has flown in from (we have three). Get straight onto the New Zealand to do this. It’s taken loads Clockwise from top left are: Lizzie Roper, Lucy Adams, Mark Strickson, , Ken Bentley, John Banks, computer and do emails. Big Finish of planning and prep, and Ken has the Michael Maloney, David Richardson, Sarah Sutton and Janet Fielding is a machine that never sleeps. The most intricate schedule we’ve ever worked working on my laptop while keeping one for the CD extras. And it’s cold in there – email traffic is huge and constant – so with. It’s a six day recording, and we have ear on the different takes we’re doing. freezing, in fact. We sit in thermal coats, anything between 20-50 emails can Mark for four days (he has to fly back to We may be recording, but that Big Finish sipping hot tea, while our teeth chatter. arrive overnight, because our writers and NZ at the weekend), Peter for four days (he machine is still churning onwards – so I’m editors are night owls. And they have has four jobs this week – this, a West End setting up a lot of recordings for January. 1500 been beavering away while I’ve been musical, and two TV shows!), and Janet and We’ll be doing the subscriber 2012 special Oooh! Just the kind of email I like to get. having my kip. Sarah for all six. Fear not – and (yes, 2012), Jago & Litefoot series four, I’ve been chasing a really brilliant actress Turlough are in the stories just as much as Lost Stories series three… and all this has for one of our Lost Stories. It’s a really 0730 ever, but Ken is a little bit greyer. to be cast, contracted, scripts sent out… exciting script and a pivotal role. And this Get the train from Bromley. I’ve recently Thank heavens that Paul Spragg is back in performer has said yes. I tell Ken, who does bought an iPad and it’s become 1015 the office, able to action the paperwork as a little dance and texts his girlfriend. This indispensible for this job. It means I can We start recording. I must say, the moment soon as we’re in ‘go’ mode. person is a legend. always have my scripts with me – so while Peter, Mark, Janet and Sarah get into the I’m commuting to the studio I can also be sound booths it just sounds so… special. 1300 1700 reading the scripts for Jago & Litefoot So authentic. That brilliant TARDIS team Lunch. Toby has made a massive curry It’s all gone well, and we finish the day with series four. Other people in the carriage comes back to life, and suddenly it’s worth today – so many choices and pickles and wildtracks. Mark joins in, and does some probably wonder why I’m chortling to all the extra planning and head-scratching. things. Again, it just adds to the sense of brilliant monster sounds. Then Ken leads a myself, but Jago has just been very funny. They’re just so funny off-mic as well, firing enjoyment and occasion. No one ever goes merry band to the pub, and I set off on the off sparkling repartee and wicked jokes. home from a Big Finish day saying they long journey home. 0915 And Janet calls me Harpo, constantly. I can haven’t had fun. Arrive at the studio. Engineer Toby has be in another room and hear this voice yell 1900 been here since 7am, as he gets in early ‘Haaaaarpoooooo!’ The one time she called 1400 Home at last. And an hour’s catch-up with to make the lunches (of which you’ve no me David left me feeling deeply troubled. I do the photography, even though Janet work and emails before making dinner. doubt heard a lot). Director Ken Bentley says that Harpo is the world’s worst also gets in early, because there would 1100 photographer. She’s joking. I think. Then it’s 2030 be nothing worse than the train breaking We’re well underway now. Ken has a very back to the booths. Now everyone is getting Time at least for one hour’s telly. Heading down and the cast sitting around waiting relaxed, assured approach to directing. into the swing of things, I’m keeping an eye toward the end of Upstairs, Downstairs. for the director. Today I grab Ken for 10 Nothing phases him. He creates a fun on the schedule to check the actors’ breaks. minutes to record his interview bits for the atmosphere and it brings the best out in If they have 10 minutes off, then I drag them 2200 CD extras of yesterday’s story. people. I tend to sit in the control room, into the little side room for an interview Bed time! I set the alarm for 0530…

4 5 Hello Maggie. Good to have you back after went to the theatre in the West End and so long. there he was in Enron, playing a big part! Oh, that’s very nice of you to say that. Do you prefer making full cast dramas How’s your return been so far? or two-handers like the Companion Great fun! I always enjoy myself so much. Chronicle? You get a great bunch of actors and I think I prefer full cast drama really, because director/producers and the lovely sound it’s more fun. You bounce off one another, engineer, Toby. It’s like coming home. It’s you know? And of course it’s always fun really, really lovely. when you’re not actually recording and people are telling stories and you’re having How long since you were last here a good laugh. It’s more jolly. People have alongside ? always got wonderful stories about work Since I did one with Colin it must be well they’ve done or work that they didn’t get and over a year. I’ve done one with Sylvester people they’ve known years ago. [McCoy], meanwhile, and I’ve done a Companion Chronicle since then, but This series of stories features Thomas with Colin it’s been quite a while. Brewster (John Pickard) as a companion. What do you make of him? Has he changed? That’s quite an interesting one, isn’t it? No, bless him. He doesn’t change at all! Because I sort of approve of him, as Evelyn. I want to give him another chance. The You mentioned A Death in the Family with Doctor’s a bit wary; he’s tougher on him Sylvester… than I am. But to work with of course, It was nice to work with Sylvester again. I [John’s] absolutely fine. Lovely. hadn’t worked with him for a long time, 10 years it must have been. But of course we’d Without giving too much away, what was seen each other at conventions and things, your favourite Evelyn moment? so I got a great welcome when I turned up; I like the spacewalking bit. That was great fun! Sylvester said, ‘Hello darling! How are you?’ which is always nice.

After that you were in for Companion Chronicle A Town Called Fortune. That was great fun. I hadn’t realised exactly how they were going to do the Companion Chronicle but I enjoyed Back playing Evelyn Smythe it very much. And because it’s set in the Wild West, as you know, I said to alongside the the director [Lisa Bowerman], ‘I don’t this month, Maggie know what my American accent’s like’ Stables chats to Paul and she said, ‘Well, you don’t have Spragg about her to worry about that because it isn’t much-requested return actually you, it’s Evelyn’s American accent so it didn’t really matter too much’. But it was a good story and I enjoyed it. And I was with a very nice, very good actor, Richard Cordery, and after we’d done it, I think two or three weeks later I EVELYN ALL 7 Is there still room for Evelyn to develop? Conspiracy because that was where we sort Oh yes. I think that she can be developed of worked round each other and discovered even further. We’ve only ever seen a what the other one was like. That’s where really nice side of Evelyn. I think she is a the relationship was forged and I think it’s nice person, but there could be occasions, stayed like that. I suppose, when she might not be quite so nice. That’s a possibility, isn’t it? I think There are often requests from the fans for there are lots of things she could do. She’s more of Evelyn. a versatile, intelligent woman, so I think That’s very nice! Thank you to all the fans! she can go anywhere the scriptwriters want her to. And you’ve done many conventions now. I’ve done quite a few, yes. They’re always You’ve been with Big Finish from the great fun, of course, the conventions. I’m beginning. not sure I would now be so keen to do I did my first recording in 1999, but not as conventions that are a long way away. If Evelyn. I played an alien in The Sirens of it’s in London it’s on your doorstep. These Time. Evelyn was invented for The Marian ones in the States, they’re great fun when Conspiracy. There’s been a great variety you get there but flying these days is not as in the places we’ve been and the people enjoyable as it used to be. I don’t mean the we’ve met and the adventures we’ve had, actual being on the plane; it’s all the security but basically the relationship between the and all the fuss you have to go through Doctor and Evelyn hasn’t changed; it’s still before you get on the plane, you have to be very much as we forged it in The Marian there hours before and all that…

Clockwise from top left are: Peter Forbes, Bernard Holley, Andrée Bernard, Chook Sibtain, John Pickard, Colin Baker and Maggie Stables 8 So, are you happy to keep on adventuring around the universe? Oh, absolutely! Plenty of adventures with Colin, that sounds really good!

What about with one of the other Doctors? Maybe Peter Davison or Paul MGann… I hadn’t thought about it, but that would be enjoyable, yes! I do love working with Colin because we get on personally so well, and I think on recordings it comes over just as it comes over on the stage; if you’re working in a stage play and the company all get on well together, it comes over the footlights and the audience enjoys that.

It doubtless helps that Colin’s said you’re the kind of companion he wishes he could have had alongside him in the series. They were all youngsters in those days! I think it makes sense because Colin’s a very thoughtful and rather intellectual Doctor and it makes sense if he’s got a fairly intelligent companion; Evelyn’s a professor of history so she’s clearly no slouch and somebody who, in a way, can talk to him on his own terms.

What’s it like to be flying the flag for the older generation of companions? Oh, I’m delighted to be! Delighted!

Doctor Who - The Crimes of Thomas Brewster is out this month. The Feast of Axos follows in February and Industrial Evolution completes the trilogy in March

10 Has there been anything you’ve had to veto due to it being out of character or out of era? Oh, loads of stuff. ‘Veto’ is a bit harsh – we reserve that reveals how to successfully pleased with how series one worked out so do something very different and very much for things that transgress BBC guidelines. merge script editing and writing, and make they asked me to do it again. One of the better! But there are lots of anachronisms that Jago & Litefoot ‘utterly brilliant’ criteria – one of the main criteria, actually Then, when the scripts come in, I go we have to put right in the early stages – that I have for agreeing to do any work through each one – as does David – and of scripting. I had someone singing Roll Hi Justin. This month sees the release of the is that it must be fun. It has to be something make comments and suggestions. Those Out The Barrel in one of my scripts, for second series of Jago & Litefoot, and for that I’m going to enjoy doing. I had such might be to do with tweaking dialogue example – which is actually from the the second time you have a story in the box fun writing for series one and working with so it’s more in character, or restructuring 1920s. But it’s easy to get caught out set. How did you get involved in it? the other writers that agreeing to do series a story so it is more dramatic, or maybe and I’m sure there will be things we’ve For series one, producer David Richardson two and rearranging other work to fit in pointing out an anachronism, or when it missed despite our diligence. It’s mid- asked me if I’d be willing and able to with it was an easy decision. isn’t clear to the listener exactly what’s December now, and I’ve recently been to write an episode. David and I have been going on… Sometimes I end up writing a Christingle Service. Now, you’d think friends for longer than either of us cares to What is the role of the script editor? small sections that have to tie in with Christingles are an old tradition, and you’d remember, and he’s been trying to persuade I think it probably varies according to the another script or develop a character in a be right as they first had them in Germany me to write for the Big Finish Companion series, and depending on the working particular way. So, for example, I wrote in the 1700s. But Christingles weren’t Chronicles for years. I’ve never really had relationship between the producer and the closing scene of the last episode of actually introduced to Britain until 1968. the time, but when he mentioned a Jago the script editor. On Jago & Litefoot, series two, as it had to finish the series in a One anachronism we won’t put right is & Litefoot series I just had to make time. basically David Richardson as producer very particular way. Jago’s alliterative showmanship. That’s all They’re such interesting characters, and is the boss – he’s in charge of everything from the TV show The Good Old Days, ’s The Mahogany Murderers was from the scripts to the direction and sound How tricky is it to find the voices of Jago & where Leonard Sachs invented all that a terrific story, so how could I resist? Also, design and marketing. I’m responsible, Litefoot? patter and banter with the audience and the the Victorian era fascinates me. I’ve written quite simply, for the scripts. So I work It gets easier with practice! Actually, it clever introductions. Actually, in Victorian several novels set in the 1880s – The with David to map out an overall shape can be quite hard, but it’s easy to tell Music Halls and theatre shows the acts Death Collector, The Parliament of to the series – the ongoing story elements, when you’ve got it wrong. All the writers were usually introduced just by changing a Blood and The Chamber of Shadows how the characters will develop, what have said that the characters are so well board at the side of the stage. Except at the – so it’s an era I know quite well. Having sort of locations will make for interesting defined in The Talons of Weng-Chiang Palace Theatre, where Henry Gordon Jago’s already done the research, as it were, was soundscapes and so on. that you can just tell when they aren’t unique style set a precedent that Leonard a big help. behaving or speaking as they should – as Sachs picked up on when he set-up The Having persuaded me to write for the Which came first? The script editing or the they actually would. Players Theatre Club – the template for The series, David then asked if I’d like to be writing? Good Old Days – with Peter Ridgeway in script editor. I’ve script edited several Big It’s an iterative process – the editing starts What methods do you use to set you in the 1937. That’s our story, anyway. Finish productions and used to be quite before we have scripts and ends after right Victorian frame of mind? involved with the proposal and synopsis they’re finished. We decide which writers As I said before, it’s a place I’m sort of used How do you feel about helping finally give stage of development for BBC Licensing from those we’d love to work with are to, so that isn’t as hard as it used to be for Jago & Litefoot a life away from the Doctor? a while back so David knew I had some best suited to the stories we want to tell. I me. But suitably Victorian music is a help. Actually, while a lot of what they do in Talons relevant experience and expertise in the provide a brief that includes all the ongoing Recently I’ve found it helpful to play the is inspired by the Doctor and the adventure audio medium as well as having done a elements and anything that has to happen soundtrack from the Guy Ritchie Sherlock he’s got them caught up in, Jago and Litefoot lot of editing for print publishing. Luckily it to contribute to the series’ overall story, Holmes movie while writing or planning both spend a lot of time investigating and all fitted into a relatively quiet time in my and maybe some ideas for the individual Jago & Litefoot. And obviously I dress up getting stuck in without the Doctor. Of schedule. story within the episode. Some writers in a big cloak and deerstalker and smoke a course, we don’t have the Doctor in Jago & Then, having done it all once, I guess find that useful and develop my ideas and pipe while writing. Well, actually, that’s not Litefoot, but I think his influence is still felt – David and everyone else at Big Finish was improve them, others abandon them and true. Not the pipe, anyway. he’s an inspiration to them. 12 13 What adventures can we expect from Jago Trevor Baxter – all of which have stood the & Litefoot in series two? greatest test of all: time. The challenge for It’s tempting to say ‘more of the same’ but us writers – and for David and myself and that doesn’t do it justice. We’ve built on the Lisa [Bowerman, director] – is to use what success of series one and taken it a step we’ve been blessed with to the greatest further. The stories are bigger and bolder, and effect, and to keep doing that. in a way more personal. There’s an emotional What are Trevor and Chris depth to the characters like in studio? that we can draw on Professional, talented, now we’ve established generous to the material them properly with the we give them and first series – not just Jago appreciative of it. They’re and Litefoot, but Sergeant great fun to work with, Quick and Ellie too. and each of them has so much experience Aside from your story, and knowledge that it’s which is your favourite a bit like attending a so far? cross between an acting That’s a tricky question. masterclass and an after- I could be tactful and dinner speech. just dodge it, but to be honest they’re all You’ve been closely favourites for one reason associated with Doctor or another. It also gets Who for a long while now, hard to separate them in especially considering your my mind as I work on the whole series as a role in the BBC books range. What’s your complete story – I can think of some terrific favourite medium to work in? dialogue that I wish I’d written, but I can’t I don’t really distinguish, actually. It’s all necessarily recall which script it’s actually story-telling, whether it’s prose fiction or in. And in some cases, maybe I did write it! an audio script, or even a Monster Files Each and every story has several stand-out mini-movie for the BBC Doctor Who scenes. It isn’t just that it wouldn’t be fair to website or linking material for the Sarah single out any episode for particular praise, Jane Adventures website. There’s a I really do think they’re all utterly brilliant. different way of approaching each, different So there. techniques and strengths that you get to know from experience. But even in what Were you surprised the first series was such others consider a single medium, the way I a big success? Is there a desire to top each approach a short story is different from how successive series? I work on a novel, which is different again I wasn’t at all surprised that it was a critical from working on a novel series like The success and hugely popular. It’s really School of Night. The trick is just to tell gratifying to see that translate into sales and the best possible story in the best possible downloads – which is what we need, to be way, whatever the medium. With Jago & honest, to justify doing more. And it’s great Litefoot I think we’re doing that! that we are doing more. It’s testament to the original characters as devised and written The School of Night: Demon Storm by Justin by the incomparable Robert Holmes, and to Richards and published by Faber & Faber is available the perfect casting by David Maloney, and now. The School of Night: Creeping Terror will the acting talents of Chris Benjamin and be published in April. 14 EddieREADY, Robson talks about writing looking forward to hearing how Sheridan’sEDDIE, How much do you feel you’ve shaped worked reallyGO! well, as we both had minor Adventures and trying approached it – she’s always great as Lucie Lucie’s character? plot problems where we couldn’t see the to out-joke Jonathan Morris and I’m keen to hear how she tackles a Lucie/ She was originally going to be a hairdresser, wood for the trees and we fixed each other’s Not-Lucie figure as she does here. but after Human Resources became such fairly easily. In particular Jonny managed to Hello there Eddie. You’re the writer of this a key story for her, her back-story was simplify a pointlessly convoluted bit in mine. month’s Eighth Doctor adventure, Prisoner You originally came to the attention of Big reworked and she became a temp. I also Of course, I also put some jokes in his which of the Sun. This being the final story before Finish through Short Trips. Can you explain thought of her surname! But in terms of I’m hoping listeners will say are the best the grand finale of the Eighth Doctor how that happened? her character, it was pretty well laid out ones, because that will hopefully annoy him. adventures, what was your brief? Back when I was at university, I pitched a in the original character document. All the Actually, for the first time in a while this novel to BBC Books. They didn’t pick it up, first season writers discussed her, and then What’s next for you, from Big Finish and was a McGann story with no brief. It was but Jac Rayner said she’d keep me in mind when Sheridan was cast the character came outside the worlds of Doctor Who? originally an idea I’d pitched as a solo for the next Short Trips the BBC did. I wrote together. It seems amazing now that when I’ve been working on an original novel Doctor four-parter. Alan and Nick hadn’t had a story and then the BBC decided not to do we wrote those episodes we didn’t know called Silent Dust, which is finally complete a chance to consider any more Short Trips. who’d play her. I originally wrote her as Liz – I literally broke off from preparing to send where it might go However, Jac was kind White, but was told to think more abrasive. it out to agents to do this interview – so in the schedule yet, enough to remember I got to do a good storyline with Lucie fingers crossed for that. And if you are and then when they me and, when BF took in , where she starts Russian then you can read my stories and were planning the over Short Trips, it did questioning what she does with the Doctor. comic strips about the Teenage Mutant next McGann season get used. I was on I think that brought out how Lucie isn’t the Ninja Turtles in the show’s official Russian they saw a gap for BF’s radar, and from type to over-think things, she just goes for magazine (don’t ask). it. It ended up being there I convinced Gary it. We know something’s wrong with her crunched down to Russell to let me pitch because she stops trusting her gut. Doctor Who - The Eighth Doctor Adventures: a two-parter, which for the Who audios. is out this month makes it much pacier That was Memory Which aspects are you most proud of from and more exciting and Lane. the Eighth Doctor Adventures? was generally a good I think the Doctor/Lucie idea. To make up for You’ve been very relationship has been taking two episodes involved in the really successful and many off that, they gave me Eighth Doctor people have responded to to Adventures over it. With those characters I write at the same time and they were total the years. How has your approach think it’s developed into a very opposites – with Situation the brief was very changed, and what keeps drawing you accessible series, a good entry specific, Prisoner was an idea I had out of back to Paul McGann’s portrayal? point for new BF listeners. the blue. I enjoy his casualness, making it up as he goes along – I always remember that the You’ve also been involved in The Crimes How did you deal with writing for Lucie first wave of novelists writing for the Eighth of Thomas Brewster and Industrial Evolution; Miller without it actually being ? Doctor went for that approach, to contrast how did you and Jonathan Morris decide Very easily, because it wasn’t originally going with the meticulous control-freakery of the to work together on these, and what can to be Lucie, it was just going to be an android Seventh Doctor, and I think it suits Paul’s listeners expect? with a generic voice. The idea that Sheridan performance very well. Lucie has brought It was Alan Barnes’ idea. Jonny and I each could play the part came later – it made out a boyish nerdiness in him too – his had a script that needed a few tweaks, sense; the Doctor’s been alone for a long enthusiasm for trains in Grand Theft Cosmos plus each of us was writing a character time here and so he programs his android and satellites in The Eight Truths. In Prisoner created by the other and neither of us had assistant with the voice of a friend. It was a we see chinks in his confidence – he’s less quite nailed it. So Alan asked if we’d like to case of changing a handful of lines. I’m really bullish than his immediate predecessors. swap and do each other’s second drafts. It 16 17 Hello Nicola! This month finds you at I’m not sure I drove the actual story. I the centre of your first Companion think it would be more accurate to say that Chronicle, Peri and the Piscon Paradox. Nev has good instincts, and wrote the kind How did it compare to doing a full cast of drama he thought I would love, and he drama? did. I don’t recall making any suggestion It’s quieter! When it’s really only you in that he turned down, but perhaps the the studio, there’s less witty repartee and rejection was just too traumatic and I’ve lunch is much quicker, though the helpings blanked it from my mind… of puddings are larger. But You play two seriously, Spragglet different Peris in this – I may call you story. How did you Spragglet…? set about finding voices for each of Oh, go on then. them? Is the original It was a pretty Peri easy to slip intense process. back into still? Exhausting but I’ve been lucky exhilarating. It was enough to play Peri also very hard to for over half my complete one of the life, so I didn’t find scenes with Colin it difficult to create [Baker, back as the an older and a Sixth Doctor] as both younger voice for his lines and his her. The truth is, the performance were so older Peri’s voice funny. evolved from the story – I read the Tell us a little about script and it was the plot. seeing who Peri Sorry Paul, I really had become and don’t want to say what she’d been anything about the Nicola with Piscon writer Nev Fountain at the Moat studio through that led me plot. It’s essential to find her timbre. that you listen to it from beginning to end, and not cheat yourself of the journey. What were your favourite voices to do? The ? Sadly you never get to play the Fair enough. Writer Nev Fountain says Sixth Doctor as Colin did his own voice… you were instrumental in driving events I didn’t really think of it as ‘doing voices’ in the story. What elements were your – it sounds a bit tricksy, like it’s all about suggestions, and were there any Nev doing an impression, and I don’t believe Nicola Bryant talks to Paul politely declined to use? Peri should be any better at ‘doing Spragg about life beyond the I had always imagined that if Peri had gone voices’ than your average American TARDIS in audio adventures and back to Earth and had remembered all that college student. It wasn’t something she much, much more… had happened to her, she might very well use demonstrated a skill for in the TV series – AUDIO that knowledge to become like Dana Scully, so what I did was try to remain authentic investigating paranormal or alien activity, to Peri telling her story rather than an actor and Nev did partly use this suggestion… But I doing impressions. And knowing I felt like can’t say any more because, as I said earlier, this, Nev put something very simple into I don’t want to give the plot away. my dialogue to address this point. EXPERIMENT 19 How do you feel about your exit from Plus on TV we’ve seen you as a very close LETTERS write to: [email protected] the show on The Trial of a friend of Keith Barron in My Family, now, and does Piscon Paradox go some which you’d been in once before; how were Just thought I’d take a few minutes out encountered a website that required Just read and loved A Death in the way to addressing it? Keith and Robert Lindsay to work with? of a cloudy Sunday afternoon to write me to sign up and sign in before being Family, well done all. It’s been a brilliant I was very happy with my original It was a great privilege to be asked back you a quick note. allowed to buy what I want. (eBay BF year with the Klein, Land of Fiction exit – that is to say, I loved the shaved to My Family, and both Keith Barron I’ve never heard an audio play of probably does but there’s a social aspect and Tegan--Turlough trilogies, but head, the mind transplant and Yrcanos and Robert Lindsay were a joy to work any kind before, except maybe bits to that which plain old buying-from-an- my pleasure has been tainted by seeing blowing my body to smithereens. It was with. We had so much fun rehearsing and pieces of The Archers as I’m doing online-store does not need.) that 2011 will kick off with the return of dramatic, poignant and shocking. So of and recording on set, and of course, it my daily work going from customer Worse, you’re dropping obstacles in my Thomas bl**dy Brewster! Please make course I hated it when they retconned was wonderful to be back working with to customer. So imagine my surprise way. I was happy enough to key in some this his last outing and spare us hearing (I’m told this is the word!) my exit. director Ed Bye who cast me in The 10 at how fantastic I found , The credit card details – that’s expected – but any more of this infuriating, cod- I simply adore how Piscon Paradox Percenters many, many years ago. Whispering Forest and The Cradle of the you’re asking me to jump through more cockernee character PLEASE!!!!!! explains the truth of Peri’s situation. Snake to be. hoops than necessary. User interface Gary W Because once again it is dramatic, If you put the My Family role alongside your I’m also writing to thank you for a very design wisdom states that every choice Nick: Well, Gary, I guess everyone’s entitled poignant and shocking… appearance in Doctors this year, you could prompt and friendly service. I ordered you give a user is another opportunity for to their opinions. But I have to tell you that say that you seem to be getting a reputation the above titles at about 3.30 Thursday them to choose to give up. there’s nothing cod about the way John You’ve had a busy time with Big Finish for playing women of a certain type… afternoon, and they were on my doorstep For the record, I gave up. Sorry. If you Pickard speaks. That’s just his accent. But I lately thanks to the Lost Stories; which Let’s say no more than that, shall we the following day. feel you need my email address for no expect you’re a genuine cockney yourself, were your favourites to do, and will you Spraggers? I fully intend to order more stories, visible good reason then I automatically so I won’t question your expertise. We be back for more? hopefully all of them, and also become tend towards thinking there’s a bad loved Thomas Brewster and were anxious I’ve simply loved doing the Lost Where can fans see you and/or hear you next? a subscriber. reason instead. to see him return to the series. But I can’t Stories on so many levels, so you won’t I have just been seen on an episode of Thank you all again. I’m still curious as to why you think honestly see any reason why his returning be able to stop me doing any more! And the children’s comedy Scoop this week; Edward Bennett you need such a system, though. in some stories next year would spoil your yes, there are others in the pipeline… funnily enough it was all about time travel! PS: The Fifth Doctor is my period of Joel Fagin enjoyment of stories this year… From Peri’s perspective, I enjoy it At the moment I’m looking forward to Doctor Who, and these new stories take Nick: Hi Joel, this kind of system is when she’s got something exciting to doing more Big Finish, and for a change I me back to 1983. How fantastic is that!! standard to all online retailers as far as I’m Please pass the word on to the rest of do, like going undercover in Paradise won’t be doing just Peri. I’ll also be in the PPS: Do you sell signed copies of aware. I do sympathize, though. I get put the people involved. Here is a major 5 or dressing up as Queen Elizabeth in guise of a variety of interesting characters. audio plays? off when people ask for my email address. thank you for offering the releases in Point of Entry and becoming delirious in Next week I’ll be working on an excellent Nick: Dear Edward, thanks so much I automatically think that it’s going to be iTunes Audiobook format. That is just The Song of Megaptera. But on top of episode of Dark Shadows, written by for writing. I’m really thrilled to hear used to bombard me with spam. But in what I wanted. Now the stories go from those three I personally enjoyed listening Jonathan Morris, and in the new year I that you enjoyed your first audio play! our case, it’s there so that we can keep my account right to my phone and I’m to Leviathan and The Nightmare Fair. hope to reprise the role of Vanity Mycroft And so glad to hear that your customer you informed if there are any matters or listening to them as soon as possible. Sorry, I just couldn’t name one favourite! on CD. That’s all I can say for now! service experience was good. That’s problems arising from your order. This You guys are great. something we’ve really improved kind of registration process is a way of Steve Holyer You’ve also been one of the faces of the Peri and the Piscon Paradox is out this month recently, so I’ll pass on your thanks to keeping all your details safe from prying Nick: This is something that our hard- Mervyn Stone Mysteries and have the two new people running the team eyes and is completely secure. working webmaster Paul Wilson was been doing readings from the books. at our warehouse, Alison and Adam. keen to do. He spends a lot of his time What’s it been like breathing life into a I’m afraid we don’t sell signed copies of Just a quick question: I loved the Sea reading all your posts, so gets a very whole new world of characters? the plays, although we do offer them at Devils in Benny audio The Poison Seas good feel for what people would prefer. It’s always exciting to be involved in the conventions if we sponsor a guest and and would like to know is there any Thanks to Paul and very glad we’ve birth of a new ensemble of characters. they sit at our table. Also, we have a chance of possibly seeing them appear in delivered what you want on this point. I’ve done a lot of new plays in my life, number of signed scripts that subscribers the future? Or maybe an audio featuring and it’s a process I particularly enjoy. can win. If you’re a subscriber, you’re in both Silurians and Sea Devils? I know in the past you have run short Vanity is such a dream part, as she is with a chance of winning. Keep up the good work. story competitions – have you any plans one of those larger than life characters Callum to repeat the idea? that one can come across in this Why do you have a registration system? Nick: No plans at the moment. We were Nick Boardman business, and I had plenty of people I’m computer savvy enough to be very thinking about a story in 2009, Nick: No firm plans, but it is something to draw on for inspiration! No names, careful and organised with the websites but the BBC asked us not to do it because we would like to do in the future. It all unless it’s your round… I sign up with, and I don’t like giving out of their then-upcoming battle between depends on whether the new Short my email address willy-nilly. I have never Matt Smith’s Doctor and the Silurians. Trips audios are a commercial success. 20 21 FORTHCOMING RELEASES

JANUARY 2011 MAY 2011 Doctor Who – The Crimes of Thomas Brewster Doctor Who – TBA (147, Fifth Doctor/Tegan/Turlough/Nyssa) (143, Sixth Doctor & Evelyn) Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – Crime of the Century Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures – (2.4, Seventh Doctor & Raine) Prisoner of the Sun (4.08, Eighth Doctor & Tamsin) Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – Ferril’s Folly Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – (5.11, ) Peri and the Piscon Paradox (5.07, Fifth Doctor, 2 discs) Doctor Who: Short Trips – Volume 3 (2 CDs, various readers) Jago and Litefoot – Series 2 Box Set (Four full cast adventures) Drama Showcase 3 – In Conversation with an Acid Bath Murderer (Nigel Fairs) FEBRUARY 2011 Doctor Who – The Feast of Axos (144, Sixth Doctor & Evelyn) JUNE 2011 Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures –Lucie Miller Doctor Who – TBA (148, Fifth Doctor/Tegan/Turlough/Nyssa) (4.09, Eighth Doctor, Lucie & Tamsin) Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – Animal (2.5, Seventh Doctor & Raine) Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – The Perpetual Bond Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – The Cold Equations (5.08, ) (5.12, First Doctor) Doctor Who: Short Trips – Volume 2 (2 CDs, various readers) Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – The Specials Box Set The Big Finish Companion – Volume 1 by Richard Dinnick (hardback) (The Three Companions, , ) Drama Showcase 4 – Unintelligent Design (Geoffrey Beevers) MARCH 2011 Doctor Who – Industrial Evolution (145, Sixth Doctor & Evelyn) JULY 2011 Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures – Doctor Who – TBA (149, Seventh Doctor) To the Death (4.10, Eighth Doctor, Lucie & Tamsin) Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – Earth Aid (2.6, Seventh Doctor & Raine) Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – The Forbidden Time Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – Odd, (5.08, Second Doctor) Tales from the Vault (6.01, First, Second, Third and Fourth Doctors) disturbing, – Season 4 (Box Set) Love Songs for the Shy and Cynical – Audiobook AUGUST 2011 heartbreaking, (read by India Fisher, Toby Hadoke and Jane Goddard) Doctor Who – TBA (150, Doctor TBA) and very, very Drama Showcase 1 – Not a Well Woman (Katy Manning) Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – Highlander – Series 2 Box Set (Four enhanced readings) (6.02, TBA) funny. Doctor Who: Short Trips – Volume 4 (2 CDs, various readers) APRIL 2011 Jago and Litefoot – Series 3 Box Set (Four full cast adventures) Doctor Who – Heroes of Sontar (146, Fifth Doctor/Tegan/Turlough/Nyssa) SEPTEMBER 2011 Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – Thin Ice (2.3, Seventh Doctor & ) Doctor Who – TBA (151, Doctor TBA) Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – Doctor Who – TBA (152, Doctor TBA) Seven scripts by The Sentinels of the New Dawn (5.10, ) Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – Drama Showcase 2 – Pulling Faces (Louise Jameson) The Memory Cheats (6.03, Second Doctor) Robert Shearman Mervyn Stone 1: Geek Tragedy by Nev Fountain (Paperback) Mervyn Stone 2: DVD Extras Include: Murder by Nev Fountain (Paperback) OCTOBER 2011 Mervyn Stone 3: Cursed Among Sequels by Nev Fountain (Paperback) Doctor Who – TBA (153, Doctor TBA) The Award-winning Caustic Comedies – The Stageplays by Robert Shearman (Paperback) Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – author of Love Songs The Many Deaths of Jo Grant (6.04, Thirdh Doctor) for the Shy and Cynical

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