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 24 February 2019

Kellanved's Reach

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Kellanved's Reach by Ian C. Esslemont, read by John Banks. 

Well, that's not a bad start to a new posting! It's how audible.co.uk announced the release of the third volume of Ian C. Esslemont's 'Path To Ascendancy' series, itself, part of the much longer Malazan Empire series, which I've been involved in recording since the release of Night of Knives in April 2016. A quick calculation reveals that the entire story arc comes to 189.23 hours of narration and has, getting on for 1,000 character voices, so if these stories are your kind of thing, there's certainly plenty to listen to!

And so, without further ado, here are some details of this latest edition:

Kellanved's Reach


Path to Ascendancy, Book 3


The incessant war between the bickering city states of Quon Tali rages. So engrossed are the warring lords and princes in their own petty feuds that few notice that an upstart mage from Dal Hon has gained control of the southern seas. But some powers are alarmed.



And in the meantime, as Purge and Tali indulge in what seems like a their never-ending game of war, a mercenary caught up in the fight between the two states suddenly refuses to play along and causes all sorts of chaos. Simultaneously, a pair of escapees from Castle Gris make their way across this ravaged landscape of flame and butchery. Their intention: to seek out the legendary Crimson Guard.

And then there's Kellanved, who could not care less about any of this petty politicking or strategy or war. Something other and altogether more mysterious has caught his attention and he - together with a reluctant and decidedly sceptical Dancer - traverse continents and journey through the Realms in pursuit....

But this ancient mystery that has so captivated Kellanved is neither esoteric nor ephemeral. No, it is of an altogether darker and more dangerous hue. It involves the Elder races themselves and more specifically - certainly more alarmingly - the semi-mythic and universally dreaded Army of Dust and Bone.

Surely no one in their right mind would be so foolish as to embark on a journey from which none have returned? Well, no one except Kellanved, that is...

Returning to the turbulent early history of what would become the Malazan Empire, here is the third awesome chapter in Ian C. Esslemont's new epic fantasy sequence.


Length: 13 hours - 7 minutes


©2019 Ian C Esslemont (P)2019 Random House Audiobooks
 




















Produced by Neil Gardner & Narrated by John Banks


* * * * *


Once again, I find myself caught up in a very busy period of activity, preparing for and recording a number of projects this month, including an audio drama, three audio books and four more dramas in the week to come - starting at the crack of dawn tomorrow!

Two of the books are 'ongoing' in order to fit around my crazy schedule and I'm immensely grateful to the companies and colleagues involved in this process, for being so accommodating. Alas, one audio book project hasn't worked out, as we just couldn't find mutually convenient recording dates, which is a great shame. I lost out on nine audio books last year for that same reason; not enough time to record them.

One book started recording the week before last and continued through to last Wednesday. That project has now been suspended until late March in order to accommodate the latest book, which started recording on Thursday. It too has now been suspended until Friday, so that I can record the four drama stories mentioned above. We resume on Friday and record throughout the following week. Confused? Me too - almost...

So that lot should keep me out of mischief till the end of March, at which point, I shall start to focus on the next audio book project, which I'm very excited about and very much looking forward to. Sadly of course, I can't talk in detail about any of these projects until the various companies I'm working with, give their permission. All I can say at the moment, is that there's lots to look forward to over the next few months and I'll tell all as soon as possible! 

Just to round off this posting; a couple of days ago, I discovered that one of the four Doctor Who Short Trips I recorded back in 2012, was given a 'proper' release by Big Finish, in September 2018.

Here are the details and for the first time in relation to this recording, some 'official', rather than 'fan' artwork:

This Doctor Who: Short Trips Rarities title was first released as an exclusive title free to anyone subscribing to the Doctor Who Main Range. It is now also presented here for the first time as a general release.


James Willaker has been working late. He's tired. It's been a long day. All that awaits now is a taxi home before bed.

Conversations with taxi drivers are a factor of London commutes, indeed of every city.
They can't have any importance. They can't change the world. They can't affect the future.

Can they?

...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