Coming June 6th…

Coming June 6th…
The Mercy Chair
"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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Saturday 18 October 2014

The Doctor's Tale


Released today from Big Finish Productions  -  Dr Who: The Doctor's Tale



 

England, 1400. Winter. Blood in the snow. Henry IV has usurped the throne, and deposed King Richard II languishes in Pomfret Castle.

Meanwhile the Doctor and his companions preside over New Year revels at Sonning Palace.
But Sonning is a prison, treachery is in the air and murderous Archbishop Thomas Arundel will stop at nothing to crush the rebellion.

As the Doctor and Barbara take the road to Canterbury, Vicki finds a royal friend and Ian is dragged into a dark web of conspiracy at whose heart sits that teller of tales, Geoffrey Chaucer.

William Russell Ian Chesterton/The Doctor     Maureen O’Brien Vicki/Barbara Wright/Narrator  
Gareth Armstrong Geoffrey Chaucer     Joseph Kloska Sir Thomas de Wensley  
Alice Haig Isabella     John Banks Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury

Written by Marc Platt
Directed by Ken Bentley




Here's a link to Paul Simpson's review in Sci-Fi Bulletin: Dr Who: The Doctor's Tale

...more news just as soon as it happens!

Friday 17 October 2014

back to the future...


The end of quite an amazing week in the studio; feeling a bit 'done in' now to be honest, but what a great time. There's a limited amount I can say at the moment, as I'm sure you'll appreciate. However, it's no secret that I've been recording Series II of Survivors and as I've mentioned previously, it's an absolute treat to work on such brilliant scripts. Not only that of course; it's also a treat and quite a thrill to work with some of the original cast from the 1975 television series.

As with many other Big Finish stories, I'm regularly amazed to be sharing a studio and chatting in the green room and actually working with people I could never have imagined even meeting when I first saw them on television. This week's Survivors has been a full on example of that with people such as the fabulous Louise Jameson and from the tv show, Ian McCulloch, Lucy Fleming and Carolyn Seymour, whom I met for the first time at BF Day 5 - where, I think it's safe to say, we got on extremely cordially!



It's a bit of a wait till Survivors is released next June and there's much technical, creative and 'musical' work to be done on creating the audio landscape between now and then, but if it sounds as good as I remember from this week's recording, then fingers crossed that we'll all be in for quite a treat!



....all for now, more just as soon as it happens!




Sunday 12 October 2014

Survivors Series II


Big Finish have revealed that the second series of Survivors is soon to be recorded - and when I say soon, I mean we start recording Episode 1 in the morning!

I first read the Series II scripts several weeks ago and as previously mentioned, I think the stories are remarkably good and take each of the central characters on journeys through fascinating and uncharted emotional territory; each to their own 'Heart of Darkness'.

For the moment at least, I can say no more about the specific nature of the unfolding events in Series II. What I will say, is that I'm very much looking forward to the challenge of telling these stories and can't wait to to start work - only a few hours to go!


Thursday 2 October 2014

October-fest...


The artwork above, which features on the first of my Big Finish releases this month, is by Tom Webster - which I hope you'll agree, is fantastic. The cover art was released quite a while ago on the BF web site and I've really been looking forward to posting it here - and now it has pride of place as the opener to this update, which I have to say, feels like its been a long time coming.

I didn't manage to post much in September, but as is often the way, that doesn't mean not much was happening, I just didn't have time to update properly and now it looks as though October is set to be an even busier month, I shall just have to try harder to keep the updates flowing...


Now, it has been the case that on occasion, I haven't been credited with an appearance in a Big Finish production, at least on the web site and this month's first release is an example of just such secrecy. Here are the details of The Doctor's Tale, to which I have added my name!



England, 1400. Winter. Blood in the snow. Henry IV has usurped the throne, and deposed King Richard II languishes in Pomfret Castle.

Meanwhile the Doctor and his companions preside over New Year revels at Sonning Palace.
But Sonning is a prison, treachery is in the air and murderous Archbishop Thomas Arundel will stop at nothing to crush the rebellion.

As the Doctor and Barbara take the road to Canterbury, Vicki finds a royal friend and Ian is dragged into a dark web of conspiracy at whose heart sits that teller of tales, Geoffrey Chaucer.


William Russell, Maureen O’Brien, Gareth Armstrong, Joseph Kloska, Alice Haig, John Banks

Written by Marc Platt
Directed by Ken Bentley

I'm sure there'll be further updates to come on this, not least in terms of 'who plays what, or whom?', but until then, I'll just say how good a story I thought this was when we were recording it back in February 2013, (how brilliant is Marc Platt???) and having forgotten much of the detail, I'm now really looking forward to giving it a thorough listen.

 * * * * *

My 'listening list' is getting ever longer. I'm aware that many Big Finish fans have trouble in just keeping up with the numerous monthly releases and now I'm finding myself in a similar position. At the moment, I'm listening to Andrew Smith's story, Domain of The Voord and enjoying it immensely. I also thought I'd better catch up on Pathfinder Legends as my first story, Rise of The Runelords: Fortress of  The Stone Giants was released last month and before listening to it, I need to put it into context by listening to the three preceding episodes. At some point too, I must re-re-listen to the first series of Survivors (nice little 'segue' coming up...) because in a few weeks time, we're all back in studio to record Series II.

Unusually for Big Finish, some advance details of Survivors Series II have been allowed to filter out of BF Towers. Producer David Richardson confirmed that Series II is about to be recorded and Series III is currently being written. David even commented briefly on the direction the stories were taking at the BF Day 5 Survivors discussion panel. I've now read the stories in the new series and must say that in my opinion, they are quite remarkable and I can't wait to start working on them.Survivors Series II is currently scheduled for release in June 2015.

Below are more images from the Survivors panel at Big Finish Day 5 taken by Marcus Pointer*, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for allowing me to use them here:


l-r above: Matt, Neil, Andrew, me, Terry, Chase, Carolyn, Ken

 *Marcus Pointer has a Facebook page which you might be interested in: MP-eventphotography
 
* * * * * 

Next week, I'm back in studio with the Hokus Bloke himself, Mr Neil Gardner, to record an audio book for Audible.co.uk - which could be both tricky and interesting in equal measure; we shall see. But more of that at a later date. There's more BF for me in studio next week too, but no details of that recording can be revealed at all - for the time being anyway! 

So there we are, the first posting of October, but as promised, there's much more in the pipeline. It's just like waiting ages for a bus to show up and then two arriving together; as I mentioned above, there's not one release this month, but.... you've guessed!  

The Doctor's Tale is surprisingly, my first Dr Who release since Moonflesh back in April and yet this month also sees the release of The Widow's Assassin, written by Nev Fountain featuring the Sixth Doctor played by Colin Baker, along with companion Peri Brown, otherwise known as Nicola Bryant! 

...but more of that - and everything else - coming very soon!

* * * * *

A final thought for today's update: here's something you might be interested in to 'kick start' the month:



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