David Croft

Tuesday 27th September:

I couldn't let the day end without mentioning David Croft, who sadly passed away earlier today. I worked with David on two series' of 'Allo,Allo!, one of a number of hugely successful comedy shows that he wrote, directed and produced for the BBC over many years; shows which have become part of the fabric and culture of the nation, especially perhaps, Dad's Army, which he created with Jimmy Perry.

I can't claim to have known David well and I'm sure many other people will write much more about him in the days to come. What I can say, is that he was always immensely kind to me, very generous with his time and in sharing his vast experience in comedy.

Our first meeting was at the read through for my first studio episode, having previously worked only on location with another director, Susan Belbin. The call was for 11.30 am and I arrived at the studio at 9.30 so that I knew exactly where I needed to be. I wanted to arrive at the huge table already set up in the middle of the cavernous sound stage with a few minutes to spare, so that in my trepidation, I didn't have to meet the cast of very well known actors and be too nervous to function. At 11.25 I breezed into the room only to find the table fully occupied and David Croft reading in my lines. The call was not 11.30 as I had been informed, but 11 o'clock - what a great start!

Of course, I apologised profusely to everyone at the end of the reading and tried to explain that I'd been there for hours 'killing time'. David just smiled and said something comforting and it was never mentioned again. Others in his position might have fired me on the spot.

I remember once sitting with him in the BBC canteen at TV Centre, having a bite to eat, before recording sections of the programme in front of a live Friday night audience. I was telling him how much I loved Dad's Army and he was kind enough to talk to me about it and pass on a few anecdotes about some of the cast members - perhaps you can imagine how I felt at the time.

Knowing of my keen interest in how things were done in tv comedy, he would invite me into the director's gallery to watch him direct the show, cutting between five cameras on the studio floor and having the generosity and patience to explain to me what he was doing. There I would be, in make-up and costume as Corporal Caponi, watching him and the crew, waiting to go down to do my bit..

Such knowledge and insight gave me a better idea of what I needed to be doing as an actor. He would also sometimes invite me to look through the camera lens so that I could see how a shot was being framed, giving me a better understanding of how to play the scene. One day, we were filming in Nouvion Town Square at Elstree Studios and David gave me a note: he said that in the shot we had just rehearsed, if I were to stand with my weight 'on the other leg', it would be funnier. I did - and it was. That was the only acting note he ever gave me, apart from suggesting that I shouldn't learn my lines too well because the show was like a 'a soufflé' and should feel light and fresh. He would often go with a first take, even if there were a few mistakes, rather than lose the 'spontaneity' of it.


In his calm, quiet way, he taught me a huge amount and I shall remember him always with great affection and respect. In my opinion, he was a genius, who created some of the best loved television comedy this country has ever produced. It was a great privilege and an absolute pleasure to have known and worked with him.

                                                                You have been watching...    


                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ...David Croft.       

Vixens From The Void

Now that Nev Fountain's brilliant trilogy of novels, Geek Tragedy, DVD Extras Include: Murder
& Cursed Among Sequels are available in paperback, I think it's an appropriate time to post the first episode of his complimentary series of pod-casts, released under the collective title, Vixens From The Void.

I hope you enjoy listening to this recording, the series was great fun to do. The novels are brilliantly original, engaging and funny; so much so, that I've just started reading them again.

 

In the pod-casts, I'm playing Mervyn Stone & Laurence Warwick and Nicola Bryant is playing Vanity Mycroft & Sally Pride; Nick Briggs is narrating.

There's much more at Mervyn's official website:  Mervyn Stone 

September 2011

Following quickly on the heels of last month's update, September is upon us and there's a new  
Doctor Who release to mention:

The Doomsday Quatrain

Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor),
David Schofield (Nostradamus/Conclave Leader), John Banks (Brors/
Captain of the Guard/Bernardo),  
Caroline Keiff (Garilund/Computer Voice),
Derek Carlyle (Kren/Second Nuncio),  
Nicholas Chambers (Larrett/Milo/First Nuncio)

"When the river is gone, ships shall sail in the sky, monsters bring fire from the heavens. All will fall into a grey and endless sea, and Doomsday has come."

Florence, the sixteenth century. No one thought to pay much attention to the prophecies of the so-called seer Michel de Nostradame,

 otherwise known as Nostradamus. Until the canals of Venice dried. Until the soothsayer's sayings started coming true…

Because Master Nostradamus is right, in all respects. The end of the world is nigh. The ships are coming. The monsters are coming. The fire is coming. There's only one thing he didn’t see coming, in fact: the sudden apparition of a certain strange Doctor, in his even stranger TARDIS. Today, the Earth dies screaming. And all the Doctor can do is watch.

 

I'm back in the studio tomorrow evening (Michael Shanks is on Vancouver time) to continue working on the Stargate SG-1 series, which began in early June. Should be interesting...  

Update: 8th September:  ...and indeed it was interesting! Arriving at the studio, I was slightly surprised to be given scripts for two episodes of SG-1 which I'd never seen and hadn't prepared for - at least it helped to keep things fresh and spontaneous!

The delay on the line between London and Vancouver was a bit of a lark; that aside, I had ten characters to play - some of them human - and had great fun giving it 'the beans' opposite
Michael Shanks, who played Dr. Daniel Jackson.

Update: 20th September. Two more episodes 'in the can' and no delay on the line this time. By coincidence, I still had ten characters to play although, as I had previously worked on and recorded both scripts, I had a bit more of an idea of who was who and what the stories were about. Here's a tweet from producer Paul Spragg:    

'Second day with Michael Shanks and we're on episode four. Some disturbingly good chemistry with John Banks as he fills in as Vala...'

I'm sure I don't know what he means. Two more episodes left to record.

Next week I'm working on a project for Big Finish which is ultra top secret - at least for now! More anon...

August - update:

In the previous August posting, I mentioned the recording of another Doctor Who audio drama, promising to follow up with more details. And here they are: as soon as I knew this particular project was going to happen, I felt excited and nervous in equal measure - perhaps you can understand why...

The reason for my eager anticipation of working on these stories was in no small part due to the fact that two of  my 'new' colleagues were to include:

 

Tom Baker as The Doctor and 

Louise Jemeson as Leela.

We recorded two stories,

Trail of The White Worm. 
and another, details of  which are to be announced at a future date.

In the meantime, a huge 'thank you' to Tom and Louise for being so welcoming and friendly and for being so easy to work with. It's quite something to be in a small recording studio with such iconic performers - definitely an 'is this really happening?' kind of moment. There have been quite a few such moments during my time with BF, working with some amazing and wonderful actors, but I'm sure any Doctor Who fan will appreciate why this was such a special occasion.

As ever, the cast and production crew were fantastic and, when details are announced, I'm sure you'll understand even more clearly, why I feel so privileged to have been involved.

Also of course, great thanks are due to director Ken Bentley, whose consummate skill and generosity are an inspiration and delight - 

'Things won are done, joy's soul lies in the doing.'  *  

There's more to talk about next month from BF, with the release of a Doctor Who story I'm particularly looking forward to, The Doomsday Quatrain, which stars Sylvester McCoy and David Schofield.

More anon....


* Troilus and Cressida

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!'

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

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                                                

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

                                                                                                                                       

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.

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

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?

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.

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...