Doctor Who : The Sirens of Audio

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Dalek Universe Prologue Released Today

The power is on and the Daleks are coming for the Fourth Doctor in Doctor Who – The Dalek Protocol, which sets the scene for this month’s epic Dalek Universe adventures.

Released today from Big Finish, this four-part adventure features the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker), Leela (Louise Jameson) and K9 (John Leeson) as they are stranded on the parrinium planet, Exxilon – which also happens to be where the Daleks are headed...

The tale also features Anya Kingdom (Jane Slavin) and Mark Seven (Joe Sims), as we meet them before the events of Dalek Universe.

Doctor Who – The Fourth Doctor Adventures: The Dalek Protocol is now available as a collector's edition box set (on CD at £14.99) and as a digital download (at £12.99), exclusively from www.bigfinish.com.

The Earth mission to Exxilon is nearing completion after many long years. Enough parrinium has been mined to stop the spread of the deadly space plague. But suddenly, the power-draining beacon from the Exxilon city is inexplicably reactivated, stranding the humans.
The Doctor, Leela and K9 are stuck too, right on top of the remains of the city – under attack!
Somewhere nearby, the android agent Mark Seven is enacting his secret orders while the Doctor’s estranged future companion, Anya Kingdom, is hoping for redemption.
And heading inexorably towards them all… the Daleks!

The cast is completed by Jez Fielder (Dalek Empire, The Prisoner) Anna Mitcham (Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures) and Nicholas Briggs as the Daleks.

Producer David Richardson said: “The Dalek Protocol is an exciting sequel to Death to the Daleks. It’s also a launching pad for our Dalek Universe series – presenting Terry Nation’s thrilling world of the battle between the Space Security Service and the Daleks. One that the Tenth Doctor will soon find himself mysteriously thrown into… But, for now, it’s his fourth incarnation facing up to his oldest foes, accompanied by Leela and K9, and watched from afar by Anya, a companion who left him long ago – and, for him, yet to arrive in his life...”

Writer and director Nicholas Briggs added: “The Dalek Protocol sets up the relationship between Anya Kingdom and Mark Seven, essentially. And they work really well together. It’s a nice vibe.”

“It’s a story that’s very much in two parts (even though it’s a four-parter). Some of the story is on a spaceship, heading into danger. The other part is on Exxilon with an old friend of the Doctor’s and a new enemy for him too. But there are plenty of Daleks as well!”

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Arthur Darvill Finds "Emotional Truth" in the Ridiculous - The Lone Centurion - Volume One: Rome is OUT NOW

All roads lead to Rome for Rory Williams in The Lone Centurion – Volume One: Rome, released today from Big Finish Productions.

Companion to the Eleventh Doctor. Father of River Song. And, for 2000 years or thereabouts, an immortal Auton replicant watching over his beloved Amelia Pond. Arthur Darvill stars in a brand-new Doctor Who spin-off series of full-cast audio dramas.

This first volume features three thrilling tales of the time-travelling centurion, taking him from the gladiatorial ring to the heart of conspiracies and plots – all while trying to find the Pandorica, which he happens to have lost...

The Lone Centurion – Volume One: Rome is now available as a collector's edition CD (at £19.99) or digital download (at £16.99), at www.bigfinish.com.

Legend tells of the Lone Centurion - a mysterious figure dressed as a Roman soldier who stood guard over the Pandorica, warning off those who would attempt to open it; a constant warrior whose story appeared in the folk history of a dozen civilisations.

Only... he seems to have misplaced it.

Travelling to Rome in search of the Pandorica, Rory finds himself forced to perform as a gladiator in the Colosseum... where he attracts the attention of the Imperial household.

Director and producer Scott Handcock said: “The episodes are fantastically silly. They’ve been a joy to record, and an even greater joy to listen to in the edits. That’s the wonderful thing about working with someone like Arthur – even in the most ridiculous of situations, he finds the emotional truth.

“Our first volume opens with Rory in the gladiatorial ring, and events spiral out from there. It’s actually a perfect place to set a series like this. It’s a world populated with so many larger-than-life characters – emperors and assassins and soothsayers – that plunging Rory (with all his memories of the 21st century) into the thick of it proves a really enjoyable clash.”

Arthur Darvill added: “On audio, it’s so much fun to be able to play things with such variety, and just go for something – it feels like playing because there’s no pressure. You get to do the spectrum, from hammed-up, silly things to really heartfelt, tender stuff, and it’s always working with really nice people.

“And Rory’s such a fun character to play in the way he questions the world, and I think that works really well with these stories.”

The Lone Centurion – Volume One: Rome is now available as a collector's edition CD (at £19.99) or digital download (at £16.99), exclusively from the Big Finish website.

Plus, The Lone Centurion – Volume Two is due for release in July 2022 and is currently available to pre-order as a collector’s edition box set (on CD at £19.99) and as a digital download (at £16.99). Big Finish listeners can save money by ordering both volumes together in a bundle for £38 on CD or £33 on download.

Blake's 7 News - Travis and Bayban the Butcher Return!

The Worlds of Blake’s 7 are set to expand more than ever before, as some familiar faces take centre stage in a range of full-cast audio adventures from Big Finish Productions.

Three brand-new box sets and three tie-in audio novels are due to be released over 2021 and 2022, featuring beloved cast members reprising their original television roles, including Michael Keating, Sally Knyvette, Jan Chappell, Stephen Greif, Brian Croucher and... Colin Baker.

Producer David Richardson said: “I’ve had this in my mind for nine years. When we first started making Blake’s 7 at Big Finish, I had vague plans to do a series of box sets that centred on characters originally created for the series by Chris Boucher. At the time, it never came to pass… but now, here we are!

“The Clone Masters explores that enigmatic race which was introduced in the brilliant Season B episode, Weapon. We have Jenna and Cally on a mission together. We have the return of Travis, in which he comes face to face with… another Travis. (Fear not, it’s not down to time travel and it all makes sense within the series story world). And we have Hinton, a psychostrategist who… ah, but that’s for later.

“It’s taken nine years, but it’s been worth the wait!”

Script editor Peter Anghelides added: “It's such a treat to delve into previously unexplored parts of Blake’s 7. What are the unrevealed secrets and motivations of the Clone Masters, who on TV we met briefly before later hearing of their untimely demise? What further influence across the galaxy do the Terra Nostra have, when we know that they are involved in whatever is dirty, degrading, and cruel on every civilised world?

“And how did Bayban become the Butcher that the Liberator crew encountered in his startling original appearance… and how could he possibly have survived that?

“Our new full-cast audios offer nine thrilling and stylistically different adventures, featuring aspects based on those tantalising first experiences in the TV show. It’s brilliant to hear the original cast members facing these brand-new challenges. And the novels broaden that even more in three exciting, wide-ranging journeys in the Blake’s 7 universe.”

Each new box set is paired with a related tie-in audiobook, as follows:

Due for release in September 2021, The Clone Masters revisits original script editor Chris Boucher’s enigmatic race from the second television season’s episode Weapon. This box set is released alongside The Rule of Death, a full-length audiobook written by Trevor Baxendale.

The Worlds of Blake’s 7 – The Clone Masters is now available to pre-order as a collector's edition CD box set (at £19.99) or digital download (at £16.99) at www.bigfinish.com.

Blake’s 7 – The Rule of Death is now available to pre-order as a digital download (at £9.99) at www.bigfinish.com.

The Worlds of Blake’s 7 – The Clone Masters & The Rule of Death are now available to pre-order as a bundle on collector's edition CD (at £28) or digital download (at £25) at www.bigfinish.com.

Then in December 2021, Colin Baker returns as the eponymous career criminal Bayban the Butcher, first seen in 1980’s City at the Edge of the World. Accompanying this release is Bayban Ascending, a full-length audiobook written by Nigel Fairs.

The Worlds of Blake’s 7 – Bayban the Butcher is now available to pre-order as a collector's edition CD box set (at £19.99) or digital download (at £16.99) at www.bigfinish.com.

Blake’s 7 – Bayban Ascending is now available to pre-order as a digital download (at £9.99) at www.bigfinish.com.

The Worlds of Blake’s 7 – Bayban the Butcher & Bayban Ascending are now available to pre-order as a bundle on collector's edition CD (at £28) or digital download (at £25) at www.bigfinish.com.

And there’s more – in January 2022, three new full-cast audio dramas dive deep into the murky underworld of the Terra Nostra, the dangerous organisation first encountered in the TV story, Shadow. The tie-in audiobook, entitled Zero Point, is written by Scott Harrison.

The Worlds of Blake’s 7 – The Terra Nostra is now available to pre-order as a collector's edition CD box set (at £19.99) or digital download (at £16.99) at www.bigfinish.com.

Blake’s 7 – Zero Point is now available to pre-order as a digital download (at £9.99) at www.bigfinish.com.

The Worlds of Blake’s 7 – The Terra Nostra & Zero Point is now available to pre-order as a bundle on collector's edition CD (at £28) or digital download (at £25) at www.bigfinish.com.

Big Finish listeners can save more by pre-ordering all three box sets – The Clone Masters, Bayban the Butcher & The Terra Nostra – for £80 on collector’s edition CD and £70 on download, exclusively from the Big Finish website.

52. GARY RUSSELL Part 2 - Being the B.O.S.S. at Big Finish

We continue our discussion with founding Big Finish producer and director Gary Russell on the early years of Big Finish, talking about projects such as the Gallifrey and Sarah Jane Smith series, as well as the creation of Evelyn Smythe, played by the lovely and sorely missed Maggie Stables.

Part 3 coming soon.

Next time on The Sirens of Audio... Annette Badland discusses her career, and her work with Big Finish, 16 years after her debut TV appearance in the Doctor Who universe in 2005's Aliens of London. (I know we said 21 years during the show, that was Philip's fault for not doing his maths properly and Dwayne's fault for believing everything that comes out of Philip's mouth.)

Philip Edney on Twitter

Dwayne Bunney on Twitter

The Sirens of Audio on YouTube

Theme music by Husky by the Geek

Email: sirensofaudio@gmail.com

Website: sirensofaudio.com

Twitter: @AudioSirens

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/sirensofaudio/

Clips and music are copyright BBC and Big Finish. No infringement is intended.

Thursday, April 1, 2021

51. ROBERT VALENTINE on Doctor Who: The End of the Beginning and Master! starring Eric Roberts

It's the end... of the monthly range at Big Finish and our special guest is writer of the final story in the range, Rob Valentine. The finale is called "The End of the Beginning" and features the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Doctors.

Rob gives us some insight into writing for multiple Doctors, the inspiration for some of his settings, and how the pandemic affected the story.

Master! starring Eric Roberts as the Doctor's arch nemesis is also released this month from Big Finish, and Rob speaks about his episode in the set entitled "Faustian".

Recommendations

Philip recommends Survivors (Big Finish Productions)

Dwayne recommends Space 1999 Volume One (Big Finish Productions) & Red Moon by Robert Valentine (Wireless Theatre Company)

Philip Edney on Twitter

Dwayne Bunney on Twitter

The Sirens of Audio on YouTube

Theme music by Husky by the Geek

Email: sirensofaudio@gmail.com

Website: sirensofaudio.com

Twitter: @AudioSirens

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/sirensofaudio/

Clips and music are copyright BBC and Big Finish. No infringement is intended.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Episode 50 - The Big Finish Introduction Agency

To celebrate 50 episodes of The Sirens of Audio, Philip and Dwayne help introduce new fans to the worlds of Big Finish by sharing their stories for new listeners to Doctor Who in the audio medium for Doctors 1-8 and 10.

Philip recommends Flight Through Entirety (podcast)

Dwayne recommends Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (music)

Dwayne's background art is by Millie McKenzie @CowBearCreates

Philip Edney on Twitter

Dwayne Bunney on Twitter

The Sirens of Audio on YouTube

Theme music by Husky by the Geek

Email: sirensofaudio@gmail.com

Website: sirensofaudio.com

Twitter: @AudioSirens

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/sirensofaudio/

Clips and music are copyright BBC and Big Finish. No infringement is intended.

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Episode 49 - MILES RICHARDSON - The Many Lives of Irving Braxiatel

We have a fascinating conversation with the multi-talented MILES RICHARDSON, best known by Doctor Who fans as Irving Braxiatel, first mentioned the the 1979 tv story, City of Death, and immortalized by Miles on audio in the Bernice Summerfield and Gallifrey ranges for Big Finish.