"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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Tuesday 1 October 2013

Blake's 7, Radio 4 & The Father of English Football

October, autumn proper; "season of mists and mellow fruitfulness"; thanks JK, well said.

Before we dive headlong into the good stuff, I must just mention the various technical problems which have blighted this and other websites during September. It began with a bizarre and seemingly random change to the size of posted images, some of which became so big, they obscured the main body of the page. After much on-line forum trawling for help, I think the image problem has now been rectified, although the 'slideshow' element had a final flurry of misbehaviour a few days ago and as I tried to update the 'My audio releases' section of the blog this morning, it was refusing to save new text*. Apologies if these various gremlins have affected your visits to the site.

So, here we go: This month sees the release of Blake's 7: The Liberator Chronicles; Volume 6.
Here are some details of what's in the box:


Three enhanced audio books performed by the stars of the classic BBC television series. 
These stories are set during Series 3.

Incentive by Peter Anghelides

Paul Darrow as Avon, Steven Pacey as Tarrant and Adrian Lukis as Bracheeni The Liberator crew are recovering from a Galactic War and searching for their lost members Blake and Jenna. But it’s a search that leads them into terrible danger…

 
Jenna's Story by Steve Lyons

Sally Knyvette as Jenna and John Banks as Correl
Jenna's story is finally told - from her escape from the Liberator during the Galactia War, to her determination to continue the fight against the Federation alone… with the odds stacked against her.


Blake's Story by Mark Wright and Cavan Scott

Gareth Thomas as Blake and Paul Darrow as Avon
Blake's story is finally told - from his escape from the Liberator during the Galactic War, to his new life as a troubled, scarred man on a distant rebel world…

Directed By: Ken Bentley 


I must confess, that I don't know too much about the original B7 television series, so these stories are of particular interest. My lack of fore-knowledge and context in some ways feels like an advantage in terms of being able to appreciate these stories entirely on their own merits and therefore, I'm very much looking forward to giving them a thorough listen. Incidentally, I don't know about you, but my journey through last month's release, Dr Who: The Dark Planet has so far been hugely enjoyable. I quite like the format of dialogue combined with direct story telling; I find there's something fundamentally pleasing about being told a story.

Moving on. This 'business' we call 'show' is a strange one to be sure. It sometimes feels like playing the Lottery for a living; and sometimes, out of the blue, you win. I had a very pleasing 'win' a few days ago when I was offered a job on a BBC Radio 4 dramatised documentary about the formation of the Football Association. The program, called The Father of English Football is to be broadcast on Radio 4 at 11 am on 25th October and in it, I'm playing Arthur Pember, the first President of the FA (Link: Arthur Pember on Wikipedia). Directed by Richard Bannerman, I had the great pleasure of also working with fellow actors Barnaby Edwards and Michael Maloney. And thanks in no small measure to producer Neil Gardner at Ladbroke Audio, whose personal recommendation actually got me the job.

So there we are; first post of the month. In fact there's quite a lot happening over the next several weeks, but as usual, I'll have to mention specific events nearer the time of release. 

More news just as soon as it happens!


*Apparently, this is a 'known issue' and a fix should soon be available. In the meantime, I've used a suggested display work around to list my audio releases.  

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