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 20 July 2019

Blackshields

Good afternoon - and news of another audio release; the third this week! The Broken Chain is also the third in the Blackshields series, in which I play 'renegade' space marine, Endryd Haar. Now, it's not unusual for me to say that I've enjoyed recording particular stories or specific characters, but I have to make a special mention of the sheer joy of playing 'lovable rogue' Endryd Haar - the 'Tony Soprano' of the Imperium.

A fabulous cast was assembled by producer Matt Renshaw for this story and I really can't wait to listen to it; perhaps the fun we had in the studio will somehow manifest itself in this dark tale - we shall see!

Here are some details:

Blackshields: The Broken Chain

A Horus Heresy Audio Drama

Hounded by the Sons of Horus and betrayed by his second in command, Blackshield Endryd Haar must enact his riskiest gamble yet if he is to fulfil his oath to kill the traitor Warmaster Horus.


Hounded by the Sons of Horus, legendary Blackshield Endryd Haar battles enemies from within and without his ranks. Betrayed by his second in command, Erud Vahn, Haar finds himself imprisoned and facing a slow death. Determined to escape and stay one step ahead of the traitors, Endryd must enact his riskiest gamble yet if he is to fulfil his oath to kill the Warmaster Horus.



Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Steve Conlin, Toby Longworth, 
Richard Reed & David Seddon

Written by Josh Reynolds and Produced by Matthew Renshaw

Running time 70 minutes






















* * * * *

I must also mention in this posting, that July 19th was the 20th 'birthday' of Big Finish Productions. Followers of this web site will know that I've contributed to more than 200 Big Finish audio dramas since my first Doctor Who story, 'Paper Cuts' with Colin Baker, in March 2009.



Had it not been for Nick Briggs at Big Finish 'giving me a break', along with further personal recommendations to subsequent employers from David Richardson, none of the audio books and dramas I've recorded since would have happened and I'm deeply grateful to the production team, (very much including the late and much missed Paul Spragg), at Big Finish, for their faith and loyalty over the last decade.


Happy Birthday Big Finish!

 

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

Wednesday 17 July 2019

The Hollow Mountain

Still with me? Excellent! So here we go with the second July release: The Hollow Mountain by Chris Wraight, which follows on directly form the first volume of this series, The Carrion Throne and indeed, from the audio drama, The Interrogation of Salvor Lermentov, which I recorded with David Seddon. It isn't necessary to have heard 'Lermentov' in order to continue the story arc, though you migh enjoy listening to it; 22 minutes well spent perhaps?

It had been some time since the release of Carrion Throne, so my first task in preparing Hollow Mountain, was to remind myself of how the recurring characters sounded, I spent quite some time listening and my fingers are firmly crossed, that they sound like the same people!

Here are the details:

The Hollow Mountain

Vaults of Terra Book 2

Inquisitor Erasmus Crowl and his acolyte Spinoza face new dangers as the Great Rift opens and a new, bloody age dawns. Can Crowl stay true to his course and expose the horror that lies at the heart of the Hollow Mountain?



Inquisitor Erasmus Crowl has discovered a terrible plot, its roots firmly planted in the very highest levels of Terra. Pursuing it is fraught with risk, but Crowl’s sense of duty compels him to persevere. He and his acolyte Spinoza run down their leads in secret, knowing that their every move invites danger, but even as they begin to reveal the truth, a greater peril is unfolding in the skies – the Great Rift is becoming manifest.

During the madness that threatens to tear Terra asunder, Crowl’s Inquisitorial base of operations comes under attack and is badly ravaged. As his world begins to unravel and a new, bloody age dawns, can Crowl stay true to his course and expose the horror that lies at the heart of the Hollow Mountain?

Written by Chris Wraight, Produced by Matt Renshaw & Narrated by John Banks




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

Venators

Good eveining! I can't quite believe how long it's been since the last posting; compounded by the fact that I seem to have promised a speedy follow up - 'my bad'! My nose has been buried in a mountain of prep for some pretty chunky audio books, the first of which, I'm scheduled to start recording next week. After that, it's back-to-back recording & prep till October!

And so, without further excuse, here's the first of July's audio releases:

Venators

A Necromunda audio anthology

In the nightmare depths of Necromunda’s underhive, a trio of bounty hunters face challenges and trials as they try to scrape a living by bringing the guilty to justice.

 
In the lower reaches of Necromunda's Hive Primus, countless hired guns and bounty hunters seek to make their fortune by using their deadly skills to bring in criminals, outlaws and those unlucky souls who've fallen foul of the Guilders. Each of these rogues and killers is different, with particular skills that put them on their path. Neither heroes nor villains, they live in the grey areas – and in these three audio dramas, a trio of bounty hunters have their tales told.

The Deserter by Justin D Hill

A chance encounter with a stranger known only as ‘The Deserter’ might be just what Corenne needs as she struggles to survive in Necromunda’s underhive.

Expectatio by Matt Keefe

When he claims a rare artefact in place of an unpaid fee, underhive bounty hunter Baertrum Arturos is set on a quest that could make his fortune – if he survives it.

Half-Horn by Josh Reynolds

Three underhive fugitives shelter around a fire in the midst of a storm. They must be safe here, for the only one who could track them is Gor Half-horn. And he’s a myth, isn't he?

Performed by John Banks, Steve Conlin, Matthew Hunt, Toby Longworth, Carla Medonca, Gesella Ohaka, Richard Reed, Andrew Wincott & Jo Woodcock

Produced by Matt Renshaw

Total running time: 71 minutes 


...all for now, more very,very 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