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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Wednesday 1 November 2017

The Hunt for 'Read' October...

Dear patient reader, many thanks for keeping the faith and coming back to check out the blog after such a long period of posting inactivity; you are most welcome.

As ever, posting activity is usually a good indicator of how busy, or otherwise, I am. Since the last posting on 18th September, which is an absurdly long time to wait for an update, I've been busy indeed; so busy in fact, that I've had to look at my diary and note book to remind myself of what's been going on. So, here's what's been going on...

October audio releases include the following:

Gold: My Autobiography by Nick Skelton 

 

"With a show-jumping career spanning over 40 years, Nick Skelton is a legend in the equestrian world. No other rider has won so many major competitions on so many different horses, and he is as popular at Olympia and Hickstead as he is at Aachen, Geneva, Paris and Spruce Meadows.

Skelton has competed in eight Olympic Games. He was part of the gold medal-winning Great Britain team at London 2012 and made history by winning the individual Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016, riding at the age of 58 his beloved horse Big Star.

He began riding at the age of 18 months on a Welsh pony called Oxo. At the age of 17 in 1975, Skelton took team silver and individual gold at the Junior European Championships. He has competed many times at the European Show Jumping Championships, winning numerous medals, both individually and with the British team.

In 1980 he competed in the Alternative Olympics, where he helped the British team to a silver medal. He still holds the British Show Jumping High Jump record that he set in 1978. In 2000 Skelton was forced into an early retirement after he broke his neck from a serious fall. But following an amazing recovery, he came out of retirement in 2002 to compete again.

Now he tells the full story of his eventful life and matchless achievements."


Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins 

 ©2017 Nick Skelton (P)2017 Orion Publishing Group

* * * * *

Hammerhal & Other Stories

 

A hand-picked selection of stories and novel extracts designed to introduce you to both Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Black Library fiction.

 

 Hammerhal by Josh Reynolds *
Vengeance Eternal by Matt Westbrook *
The Prisoner of The Black Sun by Josh Reynolds *
Beneath The Black Thumb by David Guymer
Assault on the Mandrake Bastion by Josh Reynolds *
Skaven Pestilens - an excerpt by Josh Reynolds *
Great Red by David Guymer *
Heartwood by Robbie MacNiven *
Overlords of the Iron Dragon - an excerpt by C L Werner *
City of Secrets - an excerpt by Nick Horth *

  Narrated by John Banks* and Jonathan Keeble

From the desperate defence of a city of Order against rampaging hordes of Chaos-tainted foes, to tales of Sigmar's Stormcast Eternals, their trusted allies and their many hideous enemies, this anthology brings together a collection of stories perfect for learning about the various factions of the Mortal Realms, the setting of Warhammer Age of Sigmar – it's your ideal first step into the adrenaline-fulled fiction of Black Library's stories. 


Running time is 14 hours 47 minutes

 

Crusade & Other Stories 

 

A hand-picked selection of stories designed to introduce you to both Warhammer 40,000 and Black Library fiction.


Crusade by Andy Clark *
The Lost King by Robbie MacNiven *
Honour of the Third by Gav Thorpe *
The Word of the Silent King by L J Goulding *
Extinction by Aaron Dembski-Bowden *
Sarcophagus by David Annandale *
The Purity of Ignorance by John French *
Red & Black by James Swallow
The Zheng Cipher by Josh Reynolds *
A Sanctuary of Wyrms by Peter Fehervari
Howl of the Banshee by Gav Thorpe 
Culling the Horde by Steve Parker *
The Lightning Tower by Dan Abnett *

 Narrated by John Banks* and Penelope Rawlins.

From a battle between the valiant Ultramarines and their plague-ridden Death Guard foes, to tales of alien enemies and the Imperium's many brave defenders, this anthology brings together a collection of stories perfect for learning about the various factions of the Warhammer 40,000 universe – it's your ideal first step into the adrenaline-fulled fiction of the 41st Millennium.


Running time is 13 hours 1 minute

* * * * *

OK; so, those are the three releases for October and as we're now already into the first day of November, a whole new tranche of releases are scheduled for... well, 'release'. Quite a few of the Black Library audio books I've recorded are now to be found here, on the audible web site, (click the link to go to the page) along with a couple of 'coming soon' audio books, which I shall of course mention on these pages at the appropriate time.

Having then, checked my note book and diary, I'm reminded as to why I've had no time to post. Since September 18th, I've acted in 6 audio dramas, narrated 5 audio dramas, narrated 3 full length audio books and I'm currently recording a 4th - and here's a photo of me in studio, doing it!  



 













And as a final image for this posting, the 2017 APA Audie Finalist Medallion, which arrived from New York a few weeks ago - which was nice.

It actually goes quite well with most of the clothes I wear; the yellow silk ribbon looks particularly good with jeans, although I do sometimes feel a little self conscious wearing it in local shops etc - in London, no one really pays too much attention...
 
And so, on that note of fabricated whimsy, I have two more days in the recording studio this week, so I'd better get back to my homework and wrap up this update in the usual manner by saying...



...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