"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 22 September 2015

The Prisoner of The Black Sun

Just released from The Black Library: The Prisoner of The Black Sun



Cast into the Vale of Sorrow upon thunder and lightning, the Stormcast Eternals of Lord-Celestant Tarsus Bull-Heart seek the Starless Gates and an audience with the fabled lord of the Undead, Nagash.

But when the Hallowed Knights are ambushed by Khorne's own Bloodbound, they are forced into a pact with a creature from an elder age, a vampire of dubious provenance, one whose name resonates throughout history... von Carstein.

  Gareth Armstrong  John Banks  Toby Longworth  Luis Soto  Ramon Tikaram
  
Sound design and music by Jamie Robertson
Directed by Matthew Renshaw 

Monday 14 September 2015

Warhammer: Nathaniel Garro

For several postings now, I've been rattling on about new audio releases from Games Workshop; this release however has come as a bit of a surprise, albeit a very welcome one and isn't one of the 'other' releases I actually had in mind...

So, this very handy collection of stories follows the story of Nathaniel Garro and here are some details from The Black Library:



Long has been the road of Nathaniel Garro. After surviving the treachery of Isstvan III and the terror of his escape aboard the Eisenstein, he has become a paragon of loyalty and protector of the innocent. Whilst his Death Guard brothers faltered and fell, his belief in Emperor and Throne remained true. For his charge is a most sacred one, given unto him by none other than Malcador the Sigillite, to recruit the Knights Errant and lay the foundation for a secretive order dedicated to the eradication of Chaos.


 Oath of Moment - Sword of Truth - Legion of One - Burden of Duty - Ashes of Fealty - Shield of Lies

It's the whole compelling journey of the fan-favourite character, from his first mission to his discovery of Malcador's true plan. Explore dark corners of the Horus Heresy and see Legions, loyal and traitor, in new ways across more than eight hours of action-packed audio drama.

Performed by:

   John Banks, Jane Collingwood, Jonathan Keeble, Toby Longworth, Ramon Tikaram & David Timson

I should perhaps mention that I'm playing characters in Sword of Truth and Burden of Duty

 * * * * *

In other news; recording of The Bible continues this week, I'm also back in the Big Finish studio next week to work on a Doctor Who adventure and of course, it's Big Finish Day 7 on Saturday - so maybe see you there?

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

Tuesday 1 September 2015

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness...

September. Autumn. My favourite time of year. In a number of ways, I still think of autumn as the beginning of the year. It must be because of the beginning of the new school - university - theatre term or season; I suppose I never really got out of that way of thinking. After many months of high activity, there should be quite a bit to come in the next several weeks in terms of audio releases. But before getting into what's new and what's on the horizon, the first point of focus for this particular posting has to be: Big Finish Day 7.


 For further details of the event, the guests and the venue, follow this link: Big Finish Day 7
  
September sees the release of the two stories which make up Volume 1 of Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Adventures, namely, Prisoners of The Lake and The Havoc of Empires. However, if you are feeling particularly impatient and just can't wait to wrap your ears around the whole thing when it's released tomorrow (Wednesday 2nd), Big Finish in their generosity have made the first part of The Havoc of Empires available to download now - yes now - and there's a box set trailer! Amazing! 

Here are some more details of who does what:



Tim Treloar Narrator - The Doctor   Katy Manning Jo Grant   Richard Franklin Mike Yates 

Prisoners of the Lake by Justin Richards

Captain Mike Yates is investigating the disappearance of artefacts from an archaeological site deep below Dunstanton Lake. It’s hardly a job for UNIT. But when the team discover a mysterious ancient structure buried deep underwater, all that changes.

When chief archaeologist Freda Mattingly ventures inside, she soon realises that her skills do not begin to equip her to deal with what she finds. As an ancient menace begins to stir the Doctor, Jo Grant and Mike Yates must dive down to the lake bed and discover the secrets hidden there. Secrets that could mean the end of all life on Earth…

Carolyn Seymour Freda Mattingly  
Robbie Stevens Johnny Repford - Director Pennard - Statue - The Prosecutor
 John Banks Chief Dastron - Lieutenant Macintyre - UNIT Operative - Archaeologist


The Havoc of Empires by Andy Lane 

The Doctor and Jo take Mike Yates on his first trip in the TARDIS, but instead of the historical cricket match they were aiming for they end up on a futuristic space station in the middle of a diplomatic crisis that might escalate into galactic war. 

The alien leader of the Chalnoth Hegemony is marrying the human Director of the Teklarn Incorporation, but there are forces that will stop at nothing to disrupt the ceremony. The Doctor is accused of murder while explosions occur across the station, and only Jo Grant, pretending to be a security consultant, can save the day. 

But then, there’s the Eels to consider…

Helen Goldwyn May Zalrick - Harmony Station AI    Hywel Morgan Regent Tharlar - Alex Filton  
Lucy Briggs-Owen Tina Andresson    Joanna Bacon Lady Gurlen  
George Layton Louis Markell - Human Guard

Directed by: Nicholas Briggs
Producer David Richardson


With an added air of mystery, BF are keeping enigmatically silent about the specific release date of the second of this month's adventures (that I've had some involvement with) - and why not? All adds to the level of keen anticipation...



Once it was a mining facility. Then later its corridors rang with screams generated by grotesque military experiments. However when the Doctor and Mel arrive on a hostile alien world after detecting a distress signal, the base they find themselves in is almost deserted.

But not for long. Soon the Doctor's old enemies, the Sontarans, have landed, and are searching for the remnants of their previous research team. Before long they uncover evidence of strange occurrences on the planet. Of madness and death.

They are warriors bred for war, strong of spirit and unafraid of death. To fear the enemy is an act of betrayal. Nothing holds terror for the Sontarans.

Until now...

Sylvester McCoy The Doctor   Bonnie Langford Melanie Bush  
Daniel O'Meara Ketch   Jon Edgley Bond Anvil Jackson - Technician Gyte  
Andree Bernard Tethneka - Carter/Thing #1 and #2  Dan Starkey Field-Major Kayste - Skegg - Stodd
 John Banks Adjutant Commander Klath - Stettimer  John Dorney Glarr 
Other parts played by the cast.

Written by John Dorney and Dan Starkey
Directed by Ken Bentley


At some time this month, hopefully there'll be news from Games Workshop about their various new audio drama releases, which I'm very much looking forward to as it's been quite some time since my last outing as a Space Marine, several years in fact. In the meantime, I should perhaps mention that our recording of The Bible is now well under way - so many names, so many places - and work will continue on it later this week. Thanks for dropping by.

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


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