123. HEATHER CHALLANDS - "Go To Your War Room!"

This week we celebrate the release of Gallifrey: War Room 1 - Allegiance with producer Heather Challands. We chat with Heather about her love of Doctor Who and how she came to be working for Big Finish, and we hear some of her insights about the work involved in producing Doctor Who on audio. 

Gallifrey: War Room 1 - Allegiance can be purchased from https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/gallifrey-war-room-1-allegiance-2592

Philip recommends The Mutoid Podcast - https://mutoidpodcast.libsyn.com/

Dwayne recommends the most recent single from Machines of Indeterminate Origin, This Ship Rights Itself/Reckless - https://moio.bandcamp.com/album/this-ship-rights-itself-reckless

M010 are making this two track download available with all proceeds going to support Ukranian refugees and also Amnesty International’s continued push for better gun laws internationally, especially what has happened (again) in the USA.

www.unrefugees.org.au/emergency-response/ukraine-emergency/

www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/arms-control/gun-violence/  

This download is setup as ‘name your price’, so consider what you would like to give to these charities, all proceeds, split evenly, go to them.

Original theme composed by Joe Kraemer | http://www.joekraemer.com/about/

Email: sirensofaudio@gmail.com

Website: https://www.sirensofaudio.com/

Audio Feedback: https://anchor.fm/sirensofaudio

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrU3MLlOeJTLnAbLl35QgeQ

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

Review | Torchwood - Empire of Shadows by James Goss

Click image to see the product page

Torchwood: Empire of Shadows demonstrates how far the format of Torchwood can be pushed and still make riveting drama. This story falls in the midst of a great run of stories by author James Goss. One of the great things about Goss’ writing is the fact that every story can be so different from one another by change of character, location, time or tone. The only consistent thing about his writing is the brilliance. 

Empire of the Shadows takes Torchwood in a whole new direction as the story moves into the far future Earth Empire and re-visits Zachary Cross Flane, who was last seen rescuing Ood from the Impossible Planet. In that story the Torchwood archive is mentioned in passing. But this passing mention becomes the central conceit of this drama.

Zachery works for the Torchwood Archive and that connection is going to lead him into a mystery and conspiracy which can turn from suspenseful to comedic in a couple of sentences. A cross between Tomb Raider and House of Cards, no one can be trusted. 

Shaun Parkes returns from the television episodes to play his first role with Big Finish - and here’s hoping it’s not his last visit. Shaun imbues Zachery with a warmth and charm which allows us to accept him as the hero of the story without question. But his frivolity underlies a wisdom and seriousness that you don’t want to cross. 

The sound design requirements for this story were huge. Naomi Clarke does a great job portraying future spaceships and landscapes, echoing temples and city wide destruction. Supported by a strong score by Blair Mowat, the dialogue has a convincing backdrop on which to rest. 

As always, Scott Handcock works his directorial magic. He manages to take a small cast and make a huge, future epic adventure. 

A must listen for anyone who loves Torchwood or want to know more about the Future Earth Empire. 

Philip Edney

Bonus: Geronimo! Exclusive Chat with Producer ALFIE SHAW on the New Eleventh Doctor Chronicles Season

In this exclusive chat with writer and producer Alfie Shaw, we discuss and preview the exciting new Eleventh Doctor Chronicles season starring Jacob Dudman and Safiyya Ingar, with the first set to be released in October 2022.

To pre-order your copy and for more information, visit https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/the-eleventh-doctor-chronicles-are-back

Preview clip courtesy of Big Finish Productions.  

Theme music by Husky By The Geek

Email: sirensofaudio@gmail.com

Website: https://www.sirensofaudio.com/

Audio Feedback: https://anchor.fm/sirensofaudio

Twitter: http://twitter.com/audiosirens

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrU3MLlOeJTLnAbLl35QgeQ

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

122. Remembering Bernard Cribbins

We celebrate the legacy of Bernard Cribbins in Doctor Who on audio, as Kenny Smith joins us to discuss his only two audio releases for Big Finish, the Eighth Doctor adventure, Horror of Glam Rock and Tenth Doctor Adventure, No Place. 

We also reminisce about our early memories of Bernard and his immense contribution to Doctor Who on television as Wilfred Mott. 

Plus, we each give our Bernard Cribbins' recommendations to close out the episode. 

Kenny's podcast Pieces of Eighth can be found at https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/doctor-who-pieces-of-eighth/id1568889213

Original theme composed by Joe Kraemer | http://www.joekraemer.com/about/

Email: sirensofaudio@gmail.com

Website: https://www.sirensofaudio.com/

Audio Feedback: https://anchor.fm/sirensofaudio

Twitter: http://twitter.com/audiosirens

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audiosirens/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/audiosirens

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrU3MLlOeJTLnAbLl35QgeQ

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

121. NICHOLAS BRIGGS Part Two - Finishing Big

In Part Two of our discussion with Big Finish Executive Producer Nicholas Briggs, we delve into the history of the company from the early days when The Sirens of Time was still an idea, to today, where we look at where the company is going now. 

Thank you so much for your time Nick!

Philip recommends Doctor Who: Out of Time 3 - Wink - https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-out-of-time-3-wink-2297

Dwayne recommends The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield Volume 6: Lost in Translation - https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-the-new-adventures-of-bernice-summerfield-volume-06-lost-in-translation-2228

Original theme composed by Joe Kraemer | http://www.joekraemer.com/about/

Email: sirensofaudio@gmail.com

Website: https://www.sirensofaudio.com/

Audio Feedback: https://anchor.fm/sirensofaudio

Twitter: http://twitter.com/audiosirens

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audiosirens/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/audiosirens

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrU3MLlOeJTLnAbLl35QgeQ

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

120. WILL HADCROFT - The Resurrection Plant

We are joined by writer Will Hadcroft as we discuss his exciting new Second Doctor BBC Audio release Doctor Who: The Resurrection Plant, his fandom and writing journey to this point, and we take a side-step into the worlds of John Christopher and The Tripods. 

We also give our weekly recommendations. 

Original theme composed by Joe Kraemer | http://www.joekraemer.com/about/

Email: sirensofaudio@gmail.com

Website: https://www.sirensofaudio.com/

Audio Feedback: https://anchor.fm/sirensofaudio

Twitter: http://twitter.com/audiosirens

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/audiosirens

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrU3MLlOeJTLnAbLl35QgeQ

Clips are copyright BBC. No infringement is intended.

119. JAMES MORAN - The Fires of Pompeii - Audiobook

We speak with James Moran, author of Doctor Who: The Fires of Pompeii, released as an audiobook on 14th July 2022. 

Available from - https://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Who-Fires-Pompeii-Novelisation/dp/B09SZMSBFH

Original theme composed by Joe Kraemer | http://www.joekraemer.com/about/

Email: sirensofaudio@gmail.com

Website: https://www.sirensofaudio.com/

Audio Feedback: https://anchor.fm/sirensofaudio

Twitter: http://twitter.com/audiosirens

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audiosirens/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/audiosirens

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrU3MLlOeJTLnAbLl35QgeQ

Clips are copyright BBC. No infringement is intended.