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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Sunday 25 January 2015

Romance and The English...

...and do the two things ever go together? Well, as far as this month's Big Finish releases are concerned, they certainly do and in multiple formats! The two stories, The Romance of Crime and The English Way of Death, featuring Fourth Doctor Tom Baker and Romana II Lalla Ward, are available either as separate editions, or in a very smart looking box set collection. Here's some artwork by Tom Webster and a synopsis of each story:



 

The Romance of Crime

The TARDIS brings the Doctor, Romana and K9 to the Rock of Judgement; a court, prison and place of execution built into a rocket-powered asteroid. When involved in an investigation by the system's finest lawman, they find they must seek answers to some disturbing questions.

Tom Baker The Doctor Lalla Ward Romana John Leeson K9 Graham Seed Pyerpoint Miranda Raison Margo/Xais Phil Mulryne Shom, Hogan, Ogron 6 Marcus Garvey Frank Spiggot Michael Troughton Stokes James Joyce Zy, Ogron 5, Barman Joshua Silver Charlie Nisbett John Dorney Eddie Nisbett/Ogrons Jane Slavin Blakemore, Bailiff, Librarian




 

 The English Way of Death

The Doctor, Romana and K9 arrive in 1930s London to return some overdue library books. They plan to take a rest after their recent adventures, but Romana detects a distress signal from the future and the Doctor is attacked by a suffocating green mist.

Tom Baker The Doctor Lalla Ward Romana John Leeson K9 Terrence Hardiman Stackhouse Derek Carlyle Orlick Richard Braine Percy Closed Abigail McKern Felicia Annabel Mullion Julia Mark Bonnar Porteus Tim Bentinck Colonel Radlett Andrew Bone Woodrow Jane Slavin Harriet





This is a five-disc limited Special Edition in deluxe premium packaging, which includes a behind the scenes interview disc, a cover exclusive to this release, and a stunning array of professional photos of the cast:



I mentioned in the previous posting that I'd had some involvement in these recordings, although I wondered at the time, whether or not I'd be credited. It now seems that I'm not actually credited with playing any specific role/s in either story, although my photo appears on the inner sleeve artwork. As far as I remember, I possibly added to the general Ogron melee and filled a few of the continuity gaps. It's a little confusing I agree, but there are quite a number of stories I'm uncredited with, although my photo doesn't usually find it's way on to the sleeve art in such instances.

I found myself signing a number of those CD sleeves at Big Finish Day 6 last weekend, which, I must say was thoroughly enjoyable once again and which seemed to fly by. It was a pleasure to meet and chat to so many Big Finish fans, both at the signing area and at the Sherlock Holmes panel. I had the impression that it was the busiest BF Day so far and the pace didn't seem to slacken at all until final close of play. So thanks indeed to all who came, I hope you had as much fun as I did and I hope we'll meet up again at a future BF Day.

Earlier in the week just gone, I was in studio working on a new Doctor Who adventure and having a fabulous time with the company; the morning's work started a little late as the stories and anecdotes were in full flow, as indeed were the tears rolling down my face - quite an effective 'warm up' really.

...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