Dawn of Fire: The Indomitus Crusade
"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

The Mercy Chair

The Mercy Chair

Hello...

...I'm John Banks - welcome to my website.

Much 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 Royal National Theatre.

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 numerous 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 many audio books and short 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, Brilliance Publishing, Podium Audio Publishing, HarperCollins, RNIB, W.F. Howes, Little Brown Group - Hachette and Orion, Penguin Random House, Games Workshop, Fantom Films & Ladbroke Audio. 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 Mercy Chair

The Mercy Chair
Washington Poe Series: Book 6

The Babel Books

The Babel Books
"Mr. Banks does superb work, and I recommend the audiobooks wholeheartedly!" Josiah Bancroft - author

Hand of Abaddon

Hand of Abaddon
Dawn of Fire Series: Book 8 of 9

Soul Wars

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Monday, 1 August 2011

August 2011

A very early post on the first day of the month, primarily because my first solo audio-book,  
The Madness Within, is released from The Games Workshop on the 4th.
I'm looking forward to hearing it and hoping that my errors aren't too glaring.


Desperate and isolated, Sergeant Estabann and Brother Cordoba of the Crimson Fists Space Marines are hunting the daemon that destroyed their battle-brothers. Their only hope remains with a Librarian on the edge of sanity, a potentially tainted Astartes who they are forced to trust. His psychic abilities can lead them to the daemon, where Estabann and Cordoba can avenge their brothers’ deaths. But is the greatest threat a foul denizen of the warp, or the power contained within a psyker’s mind?



Click this Black Library link to listen to an extract:  The Madness Within

or on this embedded link via Soundcloud:



Online reviews & comments:

'John Banks takes up the narrative duties this time round and shows us all why he’s pretty much got this Black Library audio book gig sewn up. Banks’ delivery captures the bleakness of the setting and the steadfast determination of the Marines who inhabit it. He also very much captures the urgency of Lyon’s plot and proves to be more than adept at moving with the plot’s natural ebb and flow.'  


‘The Madness Within’ is an urgently paced tale full of surprises and Space Marines doing what they do best (attacking stuff with dirty great chain swords and exhorting each other to further acts of courage). The atmosphere draws you in, the plot and interaction between characters makes sure that you stay.'
Graeme Flory
                                                        
'Working alongside Steve Lyons, we have John Banks, who brings the audio drama to life, and adds to the grim, dark and bleak setting of the monastery in the recruiting world...'


'Lyons and Banks manage to keep you listening and away from the pause button on your IPod'
                                                                                                                                    The Founding Fields

'What I liked about this audio drama in particular was the atmosphere it created with its use of sound effect and masterful voice acting.'                                                                                                                                Frost
 'I really liked this audio drama and go so far as to say that, together with Helion Rain, it is the best one the Black Library has published as of now. I really like the audio performance of John Banks.'

'I look forward to hearing more from John Banks in the future.'   

'one of the best audio dramas!'                                        Rated 5 out of 5 by Valorus

'...you have to acknowledge the skilled reading of John Banks who brings it to life...Great stuff!'
                                              Gareth Wilson  Falcata Times

'... the production values on display here are superb, from bolter fire, to daemonic howls to the Librarian’s spells, everything sounds right and accompanies the superb narration and voice acting to create the perfect atmosphere for the story.'
 
   Cover Artwork by  Hardy Fowler     


 'A truly bitchin' audio drama! Awesome!'

Saturday, 2 July 2011

July 2011

After a very busy time, really from the latter half of last year, things have now calmed a little, although hopefully 'the pipeline' might yet have something in store...

Update:
...and now it's July 27th and things have been very far from calm or quiet. In a nutshell; the pipeline did indeed come up with some very interesting opportunities, one of which was being asked to do my bit on a couple of episodes of Graceless, which are to be released in December as part of the Graceless II  Box Set. Produced by Mark Wright and directed by Lisa Bowerman, there was a fantastic atmosphere during recording and when details of the cast are made available, I'm sure you'll appreciate why.

From a personal and professional point of view, July has been hugely important to me because after a two year gap, I once again have an agent to represent my professional interests and contact details for Royce Management are listed above. Many thanks to Richard Earl, who introduced me to the agency. Without his kind influence, I might still be fending for myself - what a star!

Another time-gap which has also been recently bridged is my association with Carrie Stockton and her company 2b, with whom I have done most of my 'corporate' work over the last several years. Really good to be back in business with her and I look forward to many further adventures in the world of corporate training.

The pipeline also has a couple of other things in store, one project which I'm already keenly looking forward to and another which I hope will eventually 'work out'. Can't say any more at the moment but I will post updates as soon as there is more news.

In the meantime, July sees the release of Doctor Who: Earth Aid, details of which are as follows:

Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor),  
Sophie Aldred (Ace),  
Beth Chalmers (Raine Creevy),  
Paterson Joseph (Victor Espinosa),
Nadine Marshall (Shepstay),  
Basher Savage (Yanikov),  
Ingrid Oliver (Lt Baraki),  
John Banks (Metatraxi),  
Alex Mallinson (Grub)

Welcome aboard the space vessel Vancouver. Its mission: to guard a vast shipment of grain from Earth to the planet Safenesthome.

Its Captain is called Ace. She seems a little unsure of herself. In fact, some might almost think she was new to the job...

Its medical officer is called simply ‘The Doctor’, and he’s perhaps not all he seems either.

When mysterious ships target the Vancouver, Ace and the Doctor are pushed to the limit. Meanwhile, there’s something nasty in the grain containers. And it’s not very happy...
 ______________________

Once again, I look back on the recording of this story, in early October 2010, with great affection and happy memories. The guys at BF had yet again assembled a fantastic company and we had a ball working together.

                              
L-R: Toby Robinson, John Banks, Sophie Aldred, Ingrid Oliver, The Great McCoy, Andrew Cartmel, 
Beth Chalmers, Paterson Joseph, Ken Bentley & David Richardson


Tuesday, 14 June 2011

Big Finish Day

Having had such a great time at the inaugural Big Finish Day Convention on the 11th, I just want to thank all the many BF fans, friends and colleagues who attended for making it such an enjoyable and party-like occasion.

The day flashed by in a flurry of signings, interview panels, informal chats and happy encounters.
Huge thanks to all - what fun!

Also, although we didn't meet on the day, I was in the audience for the panel introducing
Lisa Greenwood, who is playing the Sixth Doctor's new companion 'Flip'
- a big welcome to her indeed!

A few images from the day:

 JB - Producer David Richardson - Sarah Sutton







 
Semi - mythical directing legend Ken Bentley (below, right)
with Richard Earl and Beth Chalmers                                                                        











Sophie Aldred and Sarah Sutton                                                

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

June 2011


Half way through the year - already!

Activity with Big Finish continues this month in the form of a completely new set of adventures on a forthcoming series of Stargate SG 1.                                                     



This is my first 'tour of duty' on Stargate and I'm currently reading and preparing the scripts for four new episodes, which we start recording very soon - better brush up my American accents!


James Swallow, Paul Spragg, Andrew Whipp,
John Schwab, John Banks, 
Regina Reagan & Anna Tolputt.

Other cast members included:
Harry Myers,  Ken Bones, Paul Hyu, Andrew Collins
and Stephen Hogan 

Michael Shanks, Claudia Black and Cliff Simon
are recording their roles in Los Angeles and Vancouver.

Released this month from BF:

                  Rat Trap

Peter Davison (The Doctor),
Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka),  
Mark Strickson (Vislor Turlough),  
Sarah Sutton (Nyssa),
John Banks (Clifford Andrews /  Scientist Rat 27), Alison Thea-Skot (Sally Lucas),  
Terry Molloy (Dr Wallace),
David Seymour (Kevin),
Andrew Dickens (Matthew/Major Harris),
Charlie Norfolk (Caitlin Jones)







1983: as the country goes to the polls, two ‘Urban Explorers’, together with a freelance journalist, break into the long-defunct Cadogan Tunnels, once a secret wartime facility… and later, so rumour has it, the site of an experimental laboratory with a nasty sideline in vivisection.

What they find, in its twisting underground corridors, is something the most cynical conspiracy theorist could never have imagined: a highly-evolved society of questing, intelligent creatures, living right under humanity’s nose for decades.

But there’s no way out of the tunnels – as the Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Turlough are about to discover when the TARDIS brings them, too, into the complex. It’s a rat trap – and they’ve all been caught!

Animal 
Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor),   
Beth Chalmers (Raine Creevy),  
Angela Bruce
(UNIT Brigadier Winifred Bambera), 
John Banks
(UNIT Sgt. Achterberg - Metatraxi - Numloks), Anthony Lewis (Scobie),
Dannielle Brent (Willa),
Alex Mallinson (Percy),  
Clare Fraenkel (Juno)




Margrave University in 2001, and Raine Creevy is enjoying her first trip into the future.

For the Doctor, there are mysteries to solve: what are the alien creatures imprisoned in the science labs? And what are the true motives of the student Scobie and his followers?

With enemies on all sides, the Doctor teams up with his old friend Brigadier Bambera and the forces of UNIT in a battle for the future of the whole world.

...and finally, for the time being, a quick reminder that June 11th is Big Finish Day 
Follow this link for details: tenthplanetevents
                                                                                                                                       

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

May 2011

A quick 'hello' at the beginning of a very busy month ahead - must just mention taking part in REDfest 2011 


I'm currently rehearsing the role of Eugene Phelts - a sinister assassin for a mysterious 'government' department. The play is Frequently Asked Questions written by Louise Singleton and directed by Rachel Illingworth; all details available via the link above.

There's much more to mention as the month progresses and I'll add to this post as soon as I can.

a bientot!

9th May: After a short, sharp and very hot run at The Old Red Lion, FAQ ended on Saturday night.
Thanks to all who packed out the tiny theatre and endured oven like conditions inside. Once we'd come to terms with a tricky new script, I very much enjoyed the process of working under the expert guidance of director Rachel Illingworth and was equally delighted to perform the play with Alice Havillyn and David Cullinane, who both did a magnificent job and made the whole event great fun to do.




So, big thanks to our little company, Rachel, David & Alice and to everyone at  
REDfest 2011.


Playing Peter Jennings in Emmerdale  










For the rest of this week, I'll be working on and preparing for three new Sherlock Holmes audio dramas, which we start recording next week; The Empty House, The Tangled Skein and The Hound of The Baskervilles.

I really am excited about working on these stories, for a number of reasons; great scripts, great company, great directors and great characters to play - who could ask for more!

Further details to follow...

23rd May     ...another festive day with BF,  recording 
Sherlock Holmes: The Tangled Skein.


L-R in the photo are: Beth Chalmers, John Banks, Barnaby Edwards, Giles Watling 
and in the foreground, Richard Earl and Nick Briggs.

Released this month from Big Finish:

Kiss Of Death was recorded in December and, as ever, was great fun to do - how boring it must be to keep reading how 'fab' everything is on BF productions - but it's true!  

We recorded a number of stories in quite a short period of time (end of November to the end of December) and the intensity of the work, coupled with our struggles to deal with the extreme weather, engendered quite a 'band of brothers' spirit - and then we all came down with the 'company cold'!

Kiss Of Death is released this month and here's the fantastic cover artwork by Anthony Lamb.
Peter Davison (The Doctor),
Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka),  
Mark Strickson (Vislor Turlough),
 Sarah Sutton (Nyssa),  
Lucy Adams (Deela),
Michael Maloney (Rennol),  
Lizzie Roper (Hoss),
John Banks (Kanch/The Morass)


'The TARDIS travellers take a break on the beach world of Vektris. Hot sun, cold drinks and all the time in the worlds. What could possibly go wrong?

A kidnapping, a spaceship heist and a desperate chase to a distant galaxy later, Turlough finds himself in a strange winter palace… along with a face from his past. The Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa, meanwhile, fight to escape its frozen catacombs, guarded over by a vast and deadly alien Morass.

But what connects Turlough to the ancient treasure hidden somewhere in the palace? And how far will he go to acquire it?'


Also released this month:

Crime of The Century:

Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor), 
 Beth Chalmers (Raine Creevy),  
Ricky Groves (Markus Creevy), 
 Derek Carlyle (Nikitin/Parvez),  
John Albasiny (Colonel Felnikov/Party Guest/Waiter), 
John Banks (Metatraxi/Walnuf/Gunman),  
Chris Porter (Sayf Udeen/Valentin)
 
The year is 1989. In London, safe cracker Raine Creevy breaks into a house – and finds more than the family jewels.

In the Middle East, the kingdom of Sayf Udeen is being terrorised by Soviet invaders and alien monsters.

And on the Scottish border, a highly guarded facility contains an advanced alien weapon.

These are all part of the Doctor's masterplan. But masterplans can go awry…



After a successful and enjoyable time at April's Act III Convention, Big Finish, in collaboration with tenthplanetevents, are to stage their first 'in house' convention - details in the June posting.


But first, a shot of Beth Chalmers and me signing CD covers at Act III.



Sunday, 3 April 2011

April 2011

Another early post this month, as there's quite a lot to mention and some wonderful art-work to upload. First thing's first; Emmerdale, as I mentioned last month, was enormous fun to do, made all the more so by the extremely friendly welcome from all at ITV Yorkshire; director Judith Dine, the cast, crew and last, but very definitely not least, from Corrinne Wicks who plays Ella in the series. Corrinne is an excellent actress and a genuinely lovely person; we have known each other for ages, but this was the first opportunity we've had to work together - hope it won't be the last!
 
My first day of filming in the studio was in fact, the last day of filming to take place in the 'Emmerdale' building. The entire facility, including wardrobe, green room, dressing rooms, make-up et al, was in the process of being packed up and shipped out to a new department in the main ITV building, just down the road. Whilst there, I also bumped into Jonathan Keeble, an actor I'd shared a dressing room with at The Royal Exchange when we worked on Cyrano together - small world! So, great thanks to all for such an enjoyable time and thanks to Casting Director Faye Styring for getting me involved in the first place.

Some art-work now from Big Finish; Heroes of Sontar is released this month and here are a couple of accompanying images:

Peter Davison (The Doctor),  
Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka),
Mark Strickson (Vislor Turlough),  
Sarah Sutton (Nyssa),
John Banks (Fleet Marshal Stabb/Trooper Jorr/Witch Guard),  
Duncan Wisbey (Field-Major Thurr/Adjutant/Orbital Command),
Alex Lowe (Sergeant Mezz/Trooper Nold),  
Andrew Fettes (Corporal Clun),  
Derek Carlyle (Trooper Vend)

Planet Samur was once a peaceful haven. Pilgrims journeyed across the seven galaxies to meditate in the courtyards of the vast Citadel that spanned its equator. It was Samur’s misfortune, however, to find itself situated on the furthermost frontier in the eternal war between the amoeboid Rutan Host and the belligerent, troll-like Sontarans…

Twenty years after detonating a bacteriological weapon over Samur, rendering it uninhabitable, the Sontarans are back: a select platoon of seven has landed here on a secret mission, carrying sealed orders given to them by Fleet Marshal Stabb.

The TARDIS has landed here, too, bringing the Doctor, Tegan, Turlough and Nyssa into the second great Battle of Samur. Fighting not only the Sontarans, but mystical mercenaries… and a deadly, decades-old curse


Thin Ice is also released this month:

Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor),  
Sophie Aldred (Ace),  
Ricky Groves (Markus Creevy),
Beth Chalmers (Lt Raina Kerenskaya/Sezhyr),  
Nicholas Briggs (Hhessh),  
John Albasiny (Major Maxim Alexandrovitch Felnikov), 
Nigel Lambert (Adjudicator/Vitali Semyonovitch Wolshkin/Glarva), 
John Banks (Yevgeni/Yasha Lemayev)

Moscow 1967. The Doctor and Ace have arrived behind the Iron Curtain, and the Soviet Union is seeking a new weapon that will give it mastery in the Cold War.


What is the secret of the Martian relics? As the legendary War Lord Sezhyr returns to life, the Doctor is faced with some of his oldest and deadliest enemies.

The fate of Earth – and the future of Ace – are now intertwined...

Here's a 'poster' of what's to come in this series:


...and finally, (for the time being at least!): after a short delay, the box-set of Highlander: Season 2 is due to be released this month:


Online reviews & comments:

'...the performances of each and every actor are nothing less than superb'

'I want more. Much, much, much more…'                            Tim       Mass Movement

'There is some great voice work from all the actors involved


A quick reminder that I will be at the Act III Doctor Who Convention on 24th April, details in last month's posting - look forward to seeing you there!


In the meantime, if you would like an autographed copy of Industrial Evolution, or Heroes Of Sontar please click the link below:

tenthplanetevents: signed copies of Industrial Evolution & Heroes Of Sontar



Thursday, 31 March 2011

April Fool !

A short message from Mr Nev Fountain, author of:

     The Mervyn Stone Mysteries











'I have decided to write an original and free Mervyn Stone short story - on TWITTER!  I'm going to start on April 1st as part of a month-long build-up to the paperback release.'

The story is entitled The Pen is Mightier Than the Nerd, and to read it, all you need do is follow Mervyn on Twitter @mervynstone and drop by frequently for updates.

To whet your collective appetite, here's a little synopsis for what's in store...

Mervyn Stone wakes up beside a corpse. The corpse used to be noted memorabilia collector Alistair McGuffin, who has been bludgeoned to death by an autograph. The autograph is a rare signed photo, encased in perspex to keep it mint... and it's in Mervyn's hand.

Mervyn tells the police he was only there to retrieve his chelsea boots... and then the boots turn up.

Beside the bodies of two more collectors, also killed that night.

At this point, Mervyn works out he's in a spot of bother.

Can Mervyn clear his name? And will he ever get his chelsea boots back?

Friday, 11 March 2011

March 2011 - Part Two, Act III ...breaking news!

March is certainly shaping up to be an interesting month...

During the last few days, completely out of the blue from my point of view, I've been offered some work on Emmerdale for Yorkshire Television, playing a character called 'Peter Jennings'. Recording starts next week and already, an interesting coincidence has occurred! I'll post further details after the event, probably in the April update.

To cap a busy week, I'm delighted to say that those fabulous fellows at BF have invited me to another Doctor Who convention, details of which, appear in the poster below; what fun!

ACT III Guests:
LOUISE JAMESON
JOHN NETTLES
BURT KWOUK
COLIN BAKER
MARY TAMM
WENDY PADBURY
DEREK MARTIN
CHARLIE ROSS 
  
Big Finish Sponsored guests: 
KATY MANNING
NEV FOUNTAIN
BETH CHALMERS
NICK BRIGGS
LISA BOWERMAN 
JOHN BANKS
JOHN DORNEY
ROB SHEARMAN
SIMON GUERRIER
NIGEL ROBINSON
PAUL FINCH
 MIKE MADDOX

NB: the guest list is subject to change.

Sunday, 6 March 2011

March 2011

In an attempt to improve on last month's late posting, here's an early update. This month sees the release of Doctor Who stories To The Death with Paul McGann and Industrial Evolution with Colin Baker. The artwork and synopses have been posted previously - scroll down a little - and Highlander Series 2 box-set is also scheduled for release this month.

Vortex 25  has the poster art below to announce the upcoming release.
Amazing artwork by Grant Kempster.


With the flurry of recent releases, there are quite a few things to listen to this month and I've just been enjoying listening to Lucie Miller, which arrived through my letter box a few days ago, along with The Feast of Axos. Part of the fun of catching up with the stories is that, because of the huge amount of work that goes into post-production, (editing, sound FX, orchestral and musical scoring etc.) they are usually released many months after recording and it's therefore possible to hear them with a fresh ear, as any other listener would. It's really only from this point onwards that the stories can be fully appreciated - and remembered! The actors have relatively little time to work on the scripts before recording and a similarly short time in the studio; indeed, we sometimes don't even meet each other. Consequently, it often comes as quite a surprise to hear the finished work, to hear what everyone else was doing while I was having coffee and chats in the green room and of course, to listen to the interviews they have given, which are often included as 'bonus' tracks on the finished CD or download.

So, having enjoyed listening to Lucie Miller for the first time, I can't quite decide whether to listen again immediately or make a start on Axos - tricky! Perhaps I should continue with Mission To Magnus, which, I know, was released many months ago, but which I've only just started? Tricky, tricky...

Sunday, 13 February 2011

February 2011

Halfway through February already, so a bit of a late posting this month. 

Big Finish have released details of The Children of Seth story, recorded last month and which I mentioned in the January posting. The information below is taken from the BF web site:

"Series three of The Lost Stories has moved forward in the schedule, with a trio of Fifth Doctor tales now planned for released in October, November and December 2011. The series will then break for four months, and return in May 2012 with the remaining five stories being released monthly.

The first title to be announced is The Children of Seth by Christopher Bailey, writer of the acclaimed Kinda and Snakedance. In The Children of Seth the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa arrive on a world that is at war with its evil enemy Seth, but anyone who questions the status quo is dispatched summarily to ‘Hell’…

The Children of Seth was recorded mid-January, and director Ken Bentley assembled a world class cast. Guest stars include Honor Blackman (The Avengers, Doctor Who: Terror of the Vervoids) plays Anahita, David Warner (Titanic, Doctor Who: Dreamland) is Siris, Vernon Dobtcheff (The Spy Who Loved Me , Doctor Who: The War Games) plays Shamur and Adrian Lukis (Pride and Prejudice) is Byzan.

“We knew we had to get the very best for this one,” says David, (producer David Richardson) “because it’s such a wonderful script. And it was beautiful to listen to in studio – I think we have discovered something very special indeed…”


I couldn't resist including an image here of Honor Blackman and saying what a pleasure and 'honour' it was to work with her. 

I've outlined previously, how rewarding an experience it is to work on a Big Finish production; the unfailing pleasure of such work comes as a result of the huge amount of care that goes into every detail, before, during and after the recording process. The production team somehow always manage to engender a relaxed, collaborative and truly creative working environment, which any actor would relish and recognise as an all too rare glimpse of how things should be. In this instance, my particular thanks go to Toby Hrycek-Robinson, David Richardson and uber-director, the Great Ken Bentley. 

   
  The Children of Seth will be released in December 2011.



There are a number of other things I should also mention for this half-elapsed month: 

Firstly, and I should have mentioned this last month, 25 years ago in January 1986, North One Management began trading as an actor's co-operative agency. The company came into being as a result of a bit of 'pub talk' I'd had with a few acting mates, wondering how we could improve our chances of gainful and worthwhile employment. 

The company really started to come together in mid '85 and with the invaluable contribution of a small group of university friends, especially founder members Marc Zakian, Lucinda Smith and Joanne Stoner, by January '86, we were open for business. The name, North One Management, came from a combination of our location at the old Hackney Hospital in Dalston, N1 and the fact that I am from the north, that I am a 'north one'.

All the original members of the co-op have now moved on. Nevertheless, as I'm sure you will appreciate, I'm immensely proud of what we achieved and of the reputation we established. I'm absolutely delighted that the company is still up and running - here's to the next 25 years!

...secondly,

Suzanne Hunter of Brooklands Radio has once again asked for a contribution to her show from my friend Mr. Silke and me. Consequently, we recently recorded five classic love poems for her Valentine's Day special programme, which was broadcast earlier today. 

...and finally:

Lucie Miller and The Feast of Axos are released this month form Big Finish. 

a bientot.

Sunday, 16 January 2011

January 2011

A new year, a new decade and a new job!


Despite December's extreme weather and consequent travel chaos, all three Doctor Who audio dramas were completed on time; in fact, just before the remaining few of us finally succumbed to the 'company cold', which had been doing the rounds - joy!


...moving on: 


Above right, is the newly released cover art from  
To The Death, with further artwork below.



'After a last, futile fight-back against the Daleks, Lucie, Susan and Alex are heading home to England in the desperate hope of saving the Doctor's life. But the true, terrible nature of the Daleks' plan is beginning to emerge and the Monk has blood on his hands. To defeat the Daleks, it can only be a struggle… to the death.'
 _________________________________________________________________
 
The Children of Seth, by Christopher Bailey and Marc Platt is being recorded this week and I'm playing Radulf Varidi, an arms manufacturer. As will be revealed at a future date, the cast for this production is truly amazing and I'm absolutely delighted to be taking part.


Who was it who mentioned always relying on the kindness of strangers? Well, not exactly strangers in this instance but someone I met quite recently, who very kindly 'put a word in' for me at a production company he's working with at the moment. 

The day after the initial suggestion, having submitted a couple of audio clips overnight via email, I was offered the job of  voicing William Wordsworth for The Open University, in a programme called Placing The Author: Wordsworth, De Quincey and Dove Cottage. Amazing! We recorded on Friday and I found the work to be quite detailed and exacting but enormous fun and highly satisfying to 'get right'. This was my first professional  'voice over' and I want to thank everyone involved for making it such an enjoyable experience - here comes the Oscar speech! - firstly, James McDonald and director Sarah Carr at Angel Eye Media, Bernie Attwell for The Open University, Sarah Faust at The Sound Company and last, but very definitely not least, Gareth Strachan for suggesting me in the first place; thank you all!

To conclude this update, January 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of my first professional engagement as an actor. Four of us in a van, touring schools, three short plays or one longer play, twice a day, doing all our own get ins and outs, everything in fact; all for £80 a week!          ...Ah, the glamour!

Saturday, 18 December 2010

December - a flurry of activity!



Currently having great fun recording three Doctor Who audio dramas, including a story involving The Sontarans!

Amazingly, the cover artwork for Heroes of Sontar is already viewable:



Hopefully, we'll all be able to get to the studios next week to finish recording, despite the deep and still falling snow!

Saturday, 11 December 2010

Industrial Evolution


'19th century Lancashire: where the white heat of the Industrial Revolution burns hottest at Samuel Belfrage's brass mill, a mill plagued by more than its fair share of work-related injuries.

While Thomas Brewster struggles to secure a fair deal for Belfrage's overworked hands, fellow travellers the Doctor and Evelyn follow the Copper King to Liverpool, there to discover the unexpected truth about Belfrage's business.

Back in Ackleton, the local MP voices the fears of many when he says that the machines are taking over. He's more right than he knows…'


RELEASE DATE: 31st March 2011

If you would like an autographed copy of Industrial Evolution, please click the link below:

tenthplanetevents: Industrial Evolution signed by John Banks

Thursday, 2 December 2010

coming soon to an audio galaxy near you...


“Axos calling Earth. Fuel system exhausted. Request immediate assistance.”


Many years ago, the vast space parasite Axos attempted to suck the planet Earth of its energy. Now it’s all but forgotten – a dried-up husk, marooned in orbit, still stuck in the time loop it was placed in by Earth’s defender, the Doctor.

Forgotten, that is, except by space tourism billionaire Campbell Irons – who’s hatched a plan to solve the world’s energy crisis by reviving Axos, and transmitting its power back to Earth. But the crew of the spaceship Windermere aren’t alone aboard the parasite. The Doctor has returned, to correct an error of decades past…

And Axos is waiting.  

CAST:

Colin Baker (The Doctor), Maggie Stables (Evelyn Smythe), John Pickard (Thomas Brewster), Bernard Holley (Voice of Axos), John Banks (Campbell Irons/Svenni Nilson), Andree Bernard (Joanna Slade), Chook Sibtain (David Brock), Peter Forbes (Craig Swanson), Duncan Wisbey (Philippe Lefevre)
 

RELEASE DATE: 28th February 2011
_________________________________________________________________

 


CAST:

Paul McGann (The Doctor), Sheridan Smith (Lucie Miller), Niky Wardley (Tamsin Drew), Graeme Garden (The Monk), Carole Ann Ford (Susan Campbell), Jake McGann (Alex Campbell), John Banks (Seb Andrews) Nicholas Briggs (The Daleks)

SYNOPSIS:
'Hello! Doctor, it's me. Lucie. Lucie Miller…'

Lucie Miller needs the Doctor's help. The whole planet Earth needs his help. But he is nowhere to be seen.While Lucie struggles to survive a terrible sickness, an even greater threat to the human race is about to be unleashed.And this will be the second Dalek invasion of Earth the Doctor's grand-daughter has had to endure.

'You must accept the reality of your situation. You have been defeated.'



 RELEASE DATE:
28 February 2011

Doctor Who: Back To Earth

Skaven Deathmaster

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