"John Banks is one of the UK's most prolific audiobook narrators, working for the likes of Big Finish, Audible, Random House and Games Workshop.

He is a true multi-voice, creating everything from monsters to marauding aliens.

He is also an accomplished stage and TV actor."

audible.co.uk 2018

Hello...

...I'm John Banks - welcome to my website.

The majority of my working life has been spent in the theatre with companies including
York Theatre Royal, Cheltenham Everyman, Sheffield Crucible, Bristol Old Vic, Manchester Royal Exchange and the National Theatre in London.

Television work includes Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and 'Allo, Allo!'. I have also worked on a number of radio drama and comedy productions with the BBC.

Since March 2009, I have enjoyed playing a huge variety of characters in more than 270* audio-drama stories with Big Finish Productions, together with The Black Library/Games Workshop, details of which can be found in the postings below.


There are also details listed here of the 214* audio books & stories I've recorded since March 2013,
including the unabridged New Revised Standard Version of The Bible, for companies including audible.co.uk, Hachette, Audible Studios, Podium Audio Publishing, HarperCollins, RNIB, W.F. Howes, Little Brown Group, Penguin Random House, Games Workshop, Orion, Fantom Films & Ladbroke Audio.

(*figures at April 2021)

I hope you find something of interest here and come back soon for further updates.


For all posts, reviews and audio samples, please scroll down...

The Runewar Saga: Book 2

The Runewar Saga: Book 2
The Crown of Fire & Fury

The Botanist

The Botanist
Washington Poe Series: Book 5

Skaven Deathmaster

The Babel Books

The Babel Books
The Fall of Babel - click image above for link to audible

Doctor Who: Back To Earth

Throne of Light: Dawn of Fire Book 4

Throne of Light: Dawn of Fire Book 4
Release Date: 13th November 2021

Soul Wars

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Friday 13 April 2012

April 2012

Oh to be in England, now that April's there... or April In Paris, April Fool or April Showers - whatever associations April has, I must say that 2012's incarnation has been pretty good fun so far and there's much to look forward to before the month's end.

This week, I've been thoroughly enjoying myself recording a new Doctor Who story. However, it might be quite some time before the story is released and unfortunately, until Big Finish publish details and dates, I'm unable to say much more at the moment. What I can say, is that once again I felt greatly privileged to find myself working with such a distinguished cast and look forward to the time when all can be revealed!

April is another month without a BF release for me to specifically talk about, although next month, there should be some interesting updates and artwork to look at with the release of the first box-set trilogy of  Stargate SG-1 and my first Fourth Doctor story, Trail of The White Worm starring Tom Baker and Louise Jameson, both of which I'm really looking forward to hearing.

In the meantime, here's a poster for the forthcoming Series 3 of Doctor Who: The Lost Stories:

The series begins in May with the release of  The Guardians of Prophecy and my first of the series,  
The First Sontarans, is scheduled for release in July.

...and another poster revealing details of a new Doctor Who mini-series starring Peter Davison, 
Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson, the first of which is released this month. I'm in the third part of the trilogy, The Butcher of Brisbane scheduled for release in June.


To round off this posting, I must just mention that during this week's recording, I was asked to voice introductions for two forthcoming Doctor Who stories, which will be used on the Big Finish web site. How amazing! I couldn't quite believe that I'd been afforded such a rare privilege - I won't say which stories they are; maybe you'll guess if or when you listen to the trailers.

Quick update 25th April:  Apparently one of the intros mentioned above had already been recorded, which meant that only one of mine was needed after all. So close! At least the 'chosen one' is now up on the Big Finish web site - but which one???

Just finished recording another audio-drama, full details of which will be revealed in a few months time. The story required quite a big company of actors and I had enormous fun working with friends old and new, something I'm looking forward to saying more about nearer the time of release. 

Another busy month and there'll be much more to talk about in May. 

A bientot!

PS: My original web site at actor-johnbanks.com will be taken down on April 30th. Sad to see it go in some ways, but it means that I can concentrate on maintaining this site, which has always been technically an easier task. Many thanks to all those who visited and supported the site over the last few years.

Dalek Universe 2

Kragnos Broken Realms

Age of Sigmar Dominion

The Moggotkin of Nurgle

Kragnos Broken Realms

Dawn of Fire Book 1: Avenging Son

The Lore of Direchasm

Direchasm

A C'tan Shard Rises 3

Indomitus: Necrons 2

A Lord Among the Stars 1

Angels of Death Preview

Ultramarines

Psychic Awakening

Warcry: Death or Glory

Warhammer 40,000

Flight. Redefined.

Reviews & comments:

The Malazan Empire

Over the course of this 8 book series, the amazing John Banks has had to create and voice 648 distinct characters!

Neil Gardner - producer

The Door In The Wall & War of The Worlds

Not often I buy another version of an audiobook I own, but after hearing John Banks' narration of The Door in the Wall by Ladbroke Audio, I had to buy their version of The War of the Worlds. Banks has a great reading voice.

Andy Frankham-Allen - writer

The Books of Babel: Senlin Ascends, Arm of The Sphinx & The Hod King

Mr. Banks does superb work, and I recommend the audiobooks wholeheartedly!

Josiah Bancroft - writer

Mervyn Stone: The Axeman Cometh

John Banks is a voice genius...

Nev Fountain - writer

Mervyn Stone... played by the note-perfect John Banks.

Matt Hills - Reviews in Time and Space

Dr. Who: The Sleeping City

I also must draw attention to John Banks who is an exceptional voice artist and in this one story performs more characters that I can count. ... it is listening to episodes like this one that really do let his talents shine through.

Tony Jones - Red Rocket Rising

Highlander:

...playing several parts, was the brilliant Big Finish regular John Banks - it was as if there were about 40 different actors in the other booth.

James Moran - writer

I went for the best of the best and brought in voice artiste extraordinaire John Banks.

Paul Spragg - producer

Vienna:

...also features the mind - bogglingly versatile and reliable John Banks

Jonathan Morris - writer

Dead Funny:

The acting is first rate… wonderfully played by John Banks as Richard – his impersonation of Eric Morecambe is worth the admission money alone.

Beverly Greenberg: Bolton Evening News

Mr. Happiness:

This early and unfamiliar play by David Mamet is a character study of a 1930s radio counsellor, dispensing suave advice to his devoted listeners. John Banks brings out the wry comedy of this – comedy quite unappreciated by the character – with a clever range of gesture and vocal tone.

Jeremy Kingston: The Times


All My Sons:

This is a beautifully crafted piece ...and it affords a wonderful opportunity for John Readman* to do his All-American Boy act as Chris Keller. This most polished and well observed performance as the blighted son of a blighted father must rank as one of his finest accomplishments yet. ( * see Profile)

The Stage

The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes

Kudos should also go to John Banks. Lestrade can be a thankless part, but Banks rose to the challenge, playing a pivotal role in this decades long arc.

Raissa Devereux - SciFiPulse

The Judgement of Sherlock Holmes

John Banks is multi-tasking, both as the superb Lestrade and also the villainous and no doubt moustache twirling Sebastian Moran. They sound completely different and I bow to his talent.

Sue Davies - SFcrowsnest


Further reviews and comments are included with specific postings throughout the site.

The War Doctor

The War Doctor
December 2015