2024 Big Finish Review Including Our Top 5 Lists

We celebrate the 5th anniversary of the podcast and give you our selection of favourite releases from Big Finish in 2024.

Once again we are joined by Vortex editor and podcaster, Kenny Smith.

00:00 Intro

06:33 January Releases

17:24 February Releases

27:11 March Releases

36:04 April Releases

45:36 May Releases

53:29 June Releases

1:03:41 July Releases

1:12:56 August Releases

1:19:46 September Releases

1:27:22 October Releases

1:34:47 November Releases

1:42:42 December Releases

1:50:43 Dwayne's Top 5

1:58:56 Philip's Top 5

2:06:40 Kenny's Top 5

 
For those in Australia, grab your tickets to our forthcoming events with Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse from ⁠https://www.sirensofaudio.com/p/live-events.html⁠

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

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Conrad Westmaas - Death of a Doctor Who Companion

As we continue our exploration of the Big Finish Doctor Who Monthly range, we are thrilled to be joined by Conrad Westmaas, who played Eighth Doctor companion C’Rizz.

C’Rizz left the TARDIS crew in Absolution, and Conrad discusses his final story with us, and we also engage in some other tasty Doctor Who chat.

We take a look at the Fifth Doctor, Peri and Erimem release, The Mind’s Eye, which also contains the single-part adventure, Mission of the Viyrans.

For those in Australia, grab your tickets to our forthcoming events with Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse from https://www.sirensofaudio.com/p/live-events.html

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

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The Best New Doctor Who from Big Finish in December 2024

Philip and Dwayne give their reviews of the Doctor Who related releases from Big Finish released in December 2024.

They also share their thoughts on the recently released Doctor Who at the Proms, The War Games in Colour and Joy to the World.

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

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Katy Manning & Gary Russell | The Wormery & The Natural History of Fear

In our penultimate episode of 2024, we take a look back at two classics from the Big Finish Doctor Who range, The Wormery by Paul Magrs and Steve Cole, and The Natural History of Fear by Jim Mortimore.

To top it off, we are joined by director and producer Gary Russell, who provides his memories of both stories, and Katy Manning drops in to talk with us about that temporial adventuress, Iris Wildthyme.

You can find our interview with Rob Shearman here - https://www.sirensofaudio.com/2022/06/ep111.html

You can find our interview with Seán Carlsen here - https://www.sirensofaudio.com/2021/11/ep82.html

You can find our interview with Conrad Westmaas here - https://www.sirensofaudio.com/2023/10/ep174.html

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

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November 2024 Big Finish Releases with Gary Russell and Nicholas Briggs

We take a look back at the Big Finish Doctor Who related releases for the month of November 2024.

https://bigfinish.com/whats_new/month/11/2024

We are priviledged once again to be joined by two of the most important figures in Big Finish history, Gary Russell and Nicholas Briggs. They talk about their own releases for the month, Nick's Redux version of The Sirens of Time, and Gary's contribution to Gallifrey: Echoes Through Eternity, celebrating 20 years of Gallifrey.

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

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Dalek Empire Series 1 with Nicholas Briggs

This time we go right back to the original Big Finish spinoff that started them all, Dalek Empire. We'll share our thoughts on the four individual episodes and chat with creator Nicholas Briggs about the evolution of the story.

We'll also take a look back at our most recent series of live events featuring Janet Fielding and Sylvester McCoy, and reflect on whether we were totally insane to attempt to take on five cities around Australia in three weeks.

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

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The Sirens of Time | Phantasmagoria

To celebrate 25 years of Doctor Who at Big Finish, Philip and Dwayne take a look back at the first two monthly adventures, The Sirens of Time by Nicholas Briggs, and Phatasmagoria by Mark Gatiss.

We’ll also jump down the rabbit hole and read out a few of our YouTube audience comments, and we’ll share what we’ve been listening too, watching and reading recently.

Our interview with Barnaby Eaton-Jones on Greatest Show in the Galaxy sequel, Children of the Circus, can be found here: https://www.sirensofaudio.com/2024/09/barnabyeaton-jones.html

Dwayne’s reading of Doctor Who – Short Trips: The Last Days can be found here: https://youtu.be/bsHG6Ydp17I?si=QX_RuiEsp73rngK5

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

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Reviews - Operation Werewolf and Deathworld

In this episode we review the recent Big Finish releases in the Lost Stories range, the second Doctor adventures Operation Werewolf, and forerunner to The Three Doctors, Deathworld.

Get the releases here:

Operation Werewolf - https://bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-operation-werewolf-2930

Deathworld - https://bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-deathworld-2929

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

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Spearhead from Space Commentary with Stephen Noonan

In this special edition of the podcast, released to celebrate Doctor Who Podcast Day 2024 #dwpd2024, we are joined by actor Stephen Noonan to record our live commentary of the third Doctor introductory story, Spearhead from Space.

#dwpd

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

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197. Review: Novel Adaptations - The Highest Science & Cold Fusion

Take a break from reviews of TV Doctor Who and join us with our guest Dave from The Doctor Who Show as we discuss two Big Finish novel adaptations, Gareth Roberts' The Highest Science and Lance Parkin's multi-Doctor adventure, Cold Fusion.

Theme music by Joe Kraemer

195. LOUISE JAMESON - Torchwood: Double

Louise Jameson joins us to chat about her recent adventures in India, her time on Emmerdale, and her recent Big Finish releases including Torchwood: Double.

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

194. Time Lord Victorious - Success or Failure?

We explore every audio Time Lord Victorious release and chat with Genetics of the Daleks writer, Jonathan Morris, and producer of the Big Finish range and writer of Echoes of Extinction, Alfie Shaw.

These reviews were originally done for the boys at Progtor Who and Around the Console. Check out their podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/around-the-console/id1593947980

00:00 - Intro

03:54 - Master Theif / Lessor Evils

17:11 - Echoes of Extinction - 8th Doctor side

23:57 - He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not

39:03 - The Enemy of My Enemy

49:12 - The Minds of Magnox

1:01:10 - Mutually Assured Destruction

1:3:34 - Genetics of the Daleks

1:24:53 - Interview with Jonathan Morris

1:36:05 - Echoes of Extinction - 10th Doctor side

1:49:43 - Interview with Alfie Shaw

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

193. DAVID K. BARNES - The Silent Devil

Our guest is Big Finish writer David K. Barnes. He'll join us down the rabbit hole, chat about his career, and we'll go through each of his Big Finish releases to date, including his most recent releases, Storm of the Sea Devils and The Silent Priest/The Silent City.

This is a conversation not to be missed.

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

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189. Revolution in Space | Buried Threats

We review two recent Big Finish Doctor Who releases.

Third Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith adventure, Revolution in Space and Ninth Doctor box set, Buried Threats.

Theme music composed and produced by Joe Kraemer.

186. The Best of Big Finish 2023

Here is our annual chat about our favourite stories from Big Finish from the previous year, with our guest host, Kenny Smith.

Theme music by Joe Kraemer.

https://sirensofaudio.com

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REVIEW: The Giggle | SIrens Sound Off

After last week's fiery discussion, can Philip and Dwayne find some healing after the final 60th Anniversary Doctor Who Special?

REVIEW: Wild Blue Yonder | Sirens Sound Off

Well this is our most heated disagreement yet. Leave your thoughts on the episode below and we will read them out and discuss them next time.

https://sirensofaudio.com

REVIEW: The Star Beast - Destination Skaro - The Daleks in Colour | Sirens Sound Off

In the very first "Sirens Sound Off", Philip and Dwayne give their first impressions of the brand new Doctor Who off the telly, The Star Beast.

They also talk about the recent Children in Need skit, Destination Skaro, Russel T. Davies controvertial comments about the changing of Davros and The Daleks in Colour.

REVIEW | The World's of Blake's 7 - Heroes and Villains

This sixth box set in the Worlds of Blakes 7 has grabbed three villains from the television programme and given them all a prequal performance. The Amagon where a bit of a dud in a story that was a bit of a dud – Bounty. But Trevor Baxendale has written a story that is so much better than its source material. Jenna and Cally are both so much cleverer than they were on the tele and their strength of character really shines.

The Deal with Dorian by Mark B Oliver lets us have a look at Dorian before he met the crew after the destruction of the Liberator. The recast of Dorian by Matthew Grabelle necessitated by the early passing of the original actor has been so well done. Dorian is far more dangerous here – and we know what is coming.

And finally Andrew Smith shows his love of the show in a love letter, of sorts, to the torturer Shrinker who we only met briefly in Rumours of Death. Although he must wait for the TV story for the character to get his comeuppance this is a pretty good start. 

Sally Knyvette and Jan Chappell are both brilliant. They have recreated their characters with ease but also pushed beyond many of the limitations that the show placed on the as women of the ship. There is no doubt that they are more than capable of taking on any many – good or bad – and won’t be left behind to make the tea any longer.

Lisa Bowerman, as always, is an actors director and you can hear the dialogue sing through her notes. Unusually sound design and music is done by a different pair of hands for each story and due to the quirky way the website combines everything together in box sets (shame) it is hard to tell who did what on what. But Jamie Robertson, Benji Clifford and Alistair Lock are all so reliable and accomplished it doesn’t really matter that there isn’t one consistent sound designer and musician across each story. All the stories just work.

Blakes 7 is a joy and these sets continue to entertain and extend the universe. Long may they continue.

Philip Edney

REVIEW | Sherlock Holmes -The Fiends of New York by Jonathan Barnes

Sherlock Holmes: The Fiends of New York by Jonathan Barnes, is a gripping play that transports listeners to the world of London at the turn of the century. Once again, Jonathan has written a story worthy of the great Conan Doyle himself. The story is full of twists, shocks and great character moments. It is a carry on from The Seamstress of Peckham Rye.

The production values of this audio drama are top-notch. Benji Clifford has created a rich and immersive atmosphere, effectively capturing diverse settings such as the ambiance London streets, the bustle of the theatre and the intimacy of Baker Street. Scored by Jamie Robertson the music sets expectations, reveals emotions and embeds the story well into its time and place.

Nicholas Briggs delivers an exceptional performance as Sherlock Holmes. Holmes is older now but Briggs still is able to capture the character's eccentricity, deductive prowess, and unwavering determination. Richard Earl's portrayal of Dr. John Watson is equally praiseworthy, perfectly embodying the loyal companion and also husband with unwavering support and astute observations. The chemistry between the two lead actors is undeniable, and their dynamic brings the iconic detective duo to life.

All the cast are sensational from the evil Seamstress played by Juliet Aubrey and Watson’s wife with secrets, Lucy Briggs-Owen. Supported by a regular repertory of Big Finish actors in the likes of Timothy Bentinck, John Banks, Glen Macready and James Joyce (or is that Jez Fielder)

Ken Betley as always does a solid job as director. With so many scenes, such a large cast and so much essential plot to unfold it must have been a logistical nightmare plotting out the recording of this story, But as always, Ken pulls it all together. 

The Fiends of New York is an enthralling audio adventure that successfully captures the essence of the beloved detective's world.

Philip Edney