"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 25 April 2014

...under the Spotlight.

Good afternoon - and what a grey, damp and Aprilly afternoon it is! You find me currently preparing for next week's recording of a fascinating Dr Who story - but more of that later as I am of course, sworn to secrecy about the entire adventure at the moment. As part of my routine 'prep' for such a vocal work out, I would normally now be pacing the garden and yodelling gently to myself as a warm up exercise*. Alas, the weather has kept me indoors and in some ways, it almost feels like I've got the day off.

With that in mind and not wishing to fritter the time away, I decided to refresh the audio sample clips attached to my Spotlight page. The original '5 Minute Upload' appears with other clips further down this site, but these new clips have been uploaded individually in the order they're posted below. The maximum amount of time allowed for sample uploads is five minutes, which can be made up in any way you choose. I suppose if the point of the whole exercise is to demonstrate a bit of vocal versatility and technical competence to those in the industry who might be in a position to offer work, it makes more sense to use a variety of clips rather than uploading a single clip of five minutes. You get my drift...

Some of these clips might well be familiar, if not as samples, then perhaps because you've heard the full story they're taken from. I'm not convinced that anyone at all will listen to them via Spotlight, but hope you will find something here to enjoy.













...all for now, more soon!

*...not really!

Monday 14 April 2014

Audio update...

I'm aware of how few updates I've managed to post recently - my apologies! Paradoxically, that is not as a result of there being little to mention or talk about; there is in fact quite a lot going on at the moment in a variety of recording studios and on a variety of projects - which is good!

Unfortunately, on many of these projects, I'm sworn to secrecy, (yeah, I know - yawn, yawn), at least until they are about to be launched. What I think I'm allowed to say, is that I've recently been back in the studio with the Big Finish crew, with whom there are further dates scheduled both this month and next and which of course, I'm very excited about - as usual!

What I can also say this fine April evening, is that I was in the studio for a couple of days last week with producer Neil Gardner, to record an audio book for Audible.co.uk called Black Venus, written by James MacManus, which I very much enjoyed and later this week, have another audio book to record for the same company, Gabriel's Angel by Mark A Radcliffe. At a time nearer their respective release dates, I'll mention them again and add a synopsis for each; meanwhile, here's some artwork from their original book covers, which might well change along with the new format.


























...all for now - further updates coming soon!

Tuesday 1 April 2014

Dr Who: Moonflesh

"...whenever April showers come along."

Another month, another April and another brief update on recent events. Way back in November 2012 - yes, 2012 - a few of us gathered expectantly at Moat Studios to record Dr Who: Moonflesh and sometime very soon, it will become available for all to hear.

Now I know I almost always say how much I'm looking forward to listening to a particular release and often give the reason, especially if there's a specific memory or event associated with recording etc etc. Moonflesh was recorded so long ago, that I can't remember very much about the story at all, so there's one reason to look forward to catching up with it.

In the meantime, here is some fab cover art by Damien May and a synopsis from Big Finish:



Peter Davison The Doctor   Sarah Sutton  Nyssa   Tim Bentinck Nathaniel Whitlock
Rosanna Miles Phoebe Whitlock   John Banks Silver Crow   Francesca Hunt Hannah Bartholemew
Hugh Fraser Edwin Tremayne   Geoffrey Breton Hector Tremayne

One wouldn't normally expect to find elephants, gorillas and rhinoceroses roaming free in Suffolk in the year 1911. One wouldn't normally expect to find an extra-dimensional police box at the same time/space location either. Two aliens, named the Doctor and Nyssa, exit said box, only to find themselves pursued by a hungry lioness – for they've landed in the private hunting grounds of the famous explorer Nathaniel Whitlock, who's brought together a motley group of friends and acquaintances for a weekend's shooting.

But one of Whitlock's guests isn't all they seem. One of them wants the secrets of the Moonflesh, the mystic mineral looked after by Whitlock's retainer, a Native American known as Silver Crow. Because the Moonflesh is reputed to have the power to call down spirits from another realm…


…and soon, the hunters will become the hunted.

 Written by Mark Morris
  Directed by Ken Bentley 


Hugh, me, Francesca, Tim, Rosanna, Geoffrey
Peter & Sarah 

* * * * *

It's a funny old world. A couple of weeks ago and completely out of the blue, I was offered some voice-over work by Focalpoint Television, a production company I had applied to several years previously without success.

The work involved recording the narrative to an inter-active corporate training film for one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. The script was a tangle of jargon and extraordinarily tongue-twisty terminology with some multi-syllabic drug names thrown in for good measure; but in it's own strange way, was good fun and very satisfying to record. I'd love to say more, but given the commercial sensitivity of the content, I had to sign a 'Non Disclosure Agreement' and must remain silent on the subject. (!)

Don't worry, you haven't missed much and as an alternative, listening to Moonflesh should be much more entertaining - at least, I hope it is!

All for now, further updates coming soon!

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