Big Finish Update

Saturday, 1 May 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Big Finish updated their website with details they released earlier in the week, including the cover for the anthology Short Trips: Life Science (at right; click for a larger version), the cover blurb for next February's The Juggernauts (not Jugganauts or other spellings as DWM and other websites have incorrectly reported), which features not only the return of Terry Molloy as Davros but also guest stars Paul Grunert (Bonnie Langford's husband) in one role, and the cover and details for the first Dalek Empire III serial, which bears the subtitle "The Exterminators," as well as the subsequent five chapters. The article on the site also corrects the proper name of the December 2003 serial as being The Next Life (not "Rassilon") and notes why the planned end of the Divergent universe storyline in the McGann serials was moved up. Says producer Gary Russell, "The arrival of a new series on TV in 2005 has caused us to move things around our schedule somewhat," explains Big Finish Doctor Who co-producer Gary Russell. 'With hopefully lots of new viewers coming to the show next year, Big Finish, like BBC Books and everyone else, are hoping they'll want to investigate the past of the show as well and thus we thought it might not be the best time to have running through the early part of the year an ongoing series of plays with running themes, alternate universes and no TARDIS. I think it's very important to make potential newcomers welcome to the stories and not feel as if they've missed out on so much they can't ever catch up." Russell also told Outpost Gallifrey that, despite comments in DWM and the BF site, he (not Nick Briggs) is directing "Faith Stealer" and the other McGann audios.

DALEK EMPIRE III, by Nicholas Briggs

Part One: The Exterminators
Twenty years ago, Siy Tarkov set off from planet Velyshaa, making his way back to the Galactic Union, carrying vital information about a deadly race known as the Daleks. But now, he's lost in deep space... Meanwhile, the Graxis Wardens have a new recruit. But their ecological paradise is about to be plunged into chaos.

Part Two: The Healers
The Border Worlds are gripped by a terrible plague... Galanar's mission takes him right to the heart of the tragedy. The Dalek plans for 'Geo-forming' are already in operation.

Part Three: The Survivors
Frey Saxton and Galanar must decide who they can trust. The Daleks have orders to take 'no prisoners'.

Part Four: The Demons
Georgi Selestru's fears about the Dalek threat may not be shared by his superiors. Galanar's very survival is at stake. And the Dalek plan is gaining momentum. But who are the Demons, and whose side are they on?

Part Five: The Warriors
The fight against the Daleks must succeed now. But while the Wardens are outnumbered and without a strategy, the Dalek Supreme is sensing victory.

Part Six: The Future
'Maybe this chapter of history will be a bad one. Another one in which the Daleks win. But maybe it won't be.' It would seem that not even Saloran Hardew knows what the future will hold.

Starring William Gaunt (Selestru), David Tennant (Galanar), Ishia Bennison (Frey Saxton), Stephen Elder (Siy Tarkov), Laura Rees (Kaymee), Claudia Elmhirst (Amur), Octavia Walters (Japrice), Peter Forbes (Culver), Oliver Hume (Carneill), Dot Smith (Mivas), Greg Donaldson (Telligan), Karen Henson (Saloran), Dannie Carr (Morli), Jeremy James (Sergic / Snubby), Sean Jackson (Seth), Ian Brooker (Mietok), Jane Goddard (Roozell), Philip Wolff (Chauley), Colin McIntyre (Jake), Nicholas Briggs (Dalek voices) and Sarah Mowat (Susan "Suz" Mendes). Directed by Nicholas Briggs.

The Juggernauts, by Scott Alan Woodard

Within a small mining colony on the dark and distant planet of Lethe, events are occurring the results of which could dramatically affect things on a universal scale. For within the dingy corridors of the artificial biosphere, the lone survivor of a devastating crash has expertly wormed his way into the lives of the colony?s personnel. A scientist known as Davros.

Separated from one another across space and time, the Doctor and Mel find themselves in very different predicaments: Mel has been employed on Lethe, while the Doctor has been imprisoned aboard an alien spacecraft. Both situations are inexorably linked, however,and at the apex of the two sits Davros and the terrifying possibility of a new threat even more powerful than the Daleks!

Rescuing Mel and stopping Davros should be the Doctor?s primary goals, but could it be that this time, Mel does not wish to be rescued? And might Davros actually be working on something for the benefit of the civilised galaxies...

Starring Colin Baker (the Doctor), Bonnie Langford (Melanie Bush) and Terry Molloy (Davros), with Paul Grunert (Brauer), Bindya Solanki (Sonali), Klaus White (Geoff), Peter Forbe (Kryson), Julia Houghton (Loewen) and Nicholas Briggs (Dalek / Mechanoid voices). Directed by Gary Russell.




FILTER: - Audio - DWM

big finish addenda

Thursday, 29 April 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
A couple of updates to yesterday's Big Finish news article. Nicholas Briggs is the director of Faith Stealer; the single-disc McCoy story is not mentioned as being a DWM giveaway, but will instead initially be given free to BF subscribers (a la The Maltese Penguin); January 2005's Game Time will, like Rassilon, be a three-CD release, and both the triple-disc releases will retail for less than "Zagreus" but the final price has not been fixed. (Thanks to Steve Tribe and DWM)




FILTER: - Audio - DWM

the end of an eighth doctor era

Wednesday, 28 April 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Twin developments will occur in the next year that will formally mark the end of the era of the Eighth Doctor (as played by Paul McGann) as the "current" Doctor, although it won't mark the end of his appearances. According to the latest issue of DWM,Big Finish will be releasing one final "season" of McGann audios from September through December of this year (possibly bumping the previously announced "Dead Man's Hand" to early 2005), which will tie up the current story arc (the Divergent universe)... and which will conclude with a special three-disc release (a la "Zagreus") in December. Individual stories starring Paul McGann will then become part of the monthly rotation like the other three Doctors as of 2005. Meanwhile, BBC Books will feature one final 'official' book from the Eighth Doctor Adventures series -- written by Lance Parkin ("The Infinity Doctors"), according to a post of Parkin's on the Jade Pagoda mailing list. After this, the Eighth Doctor will become part of the monthly book series like the other seven Doctors, which is expected to continue unabated into 2005 and beyond. (Thanks to DWM, Lance Parkin)




FILTER: - Audio - DWM

wheel in space press release

Wednesday, 28 April 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
BBC Worldwide has finally issued a press release about the upcoming CD release of The Wheel in Space, starring Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury, due out May 3 from the BBC Radio Collection. "Patrick Troughton stars as the second Doctor in this six-part story from 1968 - only two episodes of which survive in the BBC Television Archives. With linking narration by Wendy Padbury, who plays the Doctor's new c




FILTER: - Audio - Classic Series

big finish update

Wednesday, 28 April 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Big Finish have announced details of their upcoming releases through next March 2005 in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine. As noted in a news item earlier today, the final 'season' of stories featuring Paul McGann as the 'current' Doctor begins in September, with India Fisher as Charley, Conrad Westmaas as C'Rizz, and Stephen Perring as the Kro'ka. The four-story arc begins with September's Faith Stealer by Graham Duff, then continues with October's The Last by Gary Hopkins, November's Caerdroia by popular BBC Books author Lloyd Rose ("City of the Dead," "Camera Obscura") and concludes with a three-CD story by Alan Barnes tentatively entitled Rassilon. January 2005 will see Game Time by Darin Henry, a Fifth Doctor serial with companions unknown, followed in February 2005 by The Juggernauts by Scott Alan Woodard, featuring the Sixth Doctor and Mel with Terry Molloy reprising the role of Davros, plus the Daleks and the Mechanoids; and March 2005 sees the release of Dead Man's Hand by John Ostrander, featuring the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Hex, in a story previously announced for release this coming September but delayed due to the McGann stories.

Additionally, Big Finish has announced their next mini-series, a four disc UNIT series that runs from December to next March, produced by Ian Farrington; the writers and casting is currently unconfirmed (although we're sure you're likely to see Nicholas Courtney in there somewhere!) The Unbounds will continue with a special one-shot two-CD Unbound release this November produced by John Ainsworth; as previously reported, it'll be a sequel to one of the original Unbound audios with the return of that Unbound star. And DWM will also run a single-disc Seventh Doctor story as they've done in the past, possibly next January; the author and story are as yet unconfirmed. Producer Gary Russell also wants Christopher Eccleston to hopefully do one someday (who wouldn't?) but says it's time to let him get settled into the role first! For all these and other details pick up the new issue of DWM on sale this week.




FILTER: - Audio - DWM

sladen returns for bbc audio

Saturday, 24 April 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Elisabeth Sladen will be returning to the studio to record links for the second volume of the BBC Radio Collection's Doctor Who at the BBC audio release, a documentary CD series featuring rare audio clips from BBC Radio's long history of coverage of the program. According to an interview conducted with the American Who radio program, recording of the material will take place in early May in Bath. Sladen's interview will be broadcast on the American Who website in late May or early June; we'll keep you posted. (Thanks to Joey Reynolds)




FILTER: - People - Audio

benny summerfield update

Thursday, 15 April 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Big Finish has confirmed a few details for 2004 releases on their Bernice Summerfield line, continuing the adventures of the former Doctor Who novel companion. Lance Parkin pens the first Benny novel in some time, The Big Hunt, due out in May; July sees the release of The Benny Trilogy (title to be announced) featuring three novellas in one volume, by Jacqueline Rayner, Paul Sutton and Joseph Lidster; and A Life Worth Living, the fourth Benny short story anthology, is due out in September, and is edited by Simon Guerrier. These are in addition to their previously announced audios and non-fiction books due later in the year (see the release guide for details!)




FILTER: - Audio

big finish update

Thursday, 15 April 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Big Finish updated their website with some further details of coming releases, including the cover, cast and cover blurbs forMedicinal Purposes and The Harvest and the cover blurb for the forthcoming anthology Short Trips: Life Science, all below (click on the thumbnails for larger versions of the covers). Also in the news: the first of the four part Gallifrey series,Weapon of Choice is now out but there have been reports of faulty discs; see the Big Finish site for details about returning them for replacements. Big Finish also has trailers for all four Gallifrey audios.

The Harvest, by Dan Abnett

On the morning of October 12th, 2021 Hex woke up. He was expecting to go to work at St Gart's in London as normal and, that evening, have a great time in the bar of the White Rabbit, celebrating his 23rd birthday.

But after his ex-flatmate is wheeled into A&E following a bike accident, and the strange young woman from Human Resources tries to chat him up and an eight-foot tall guy in a Merc tries to run him down, Hex realises things are not going quite as he expected.

Then in a Shoreditch car park he meets the enigmatic Doctor who explains that he's an extra-terrestrial investigator and something very strange is going on up on the thirty-first floor of St Garts.

Therefore, aided and abetted by the Doctor and his other new friend 'Just McShane', Hex decides to investigate. Trouble is, everything that goes on at the hospital is being observed and noted by the occupants of the thirty-first floor. Occupants who are none too pleased that people are poking their noses into business that doesn't concern them. Occupants who will go extraordinary lengths to ensure that no one discovers the truth.

Starring Sylvester McCoy (the Doctor), Sophie Aldred (Ace) and Philip Olivier (Hex), with William Boyde (Subject One), Richard Derrington (Doctor Farrer), David Warwick (Garnier), Paul Lacoux (Doctor Mathias), Janie Booth (System), and Mark Donovan (Polk). Directed by Gary Russell.

Short Trips: Life Science

Once, we believed our lives were sacred, that we had souls. Now we know we are mere machines; genetic data. We are science.

But even as we learn, the properties of life remain uncertain. How does life acquire consciousness, or rights? Does a robot dream? If a person transforms into an oak tree, is it science, or the work of gods? Did the Victorians find a way to resurrect the dead?

To science, such questions are invitations to explore. Who better to explore with, than the Doctor?

Includes "The Changes" by Gareth Wigmore, "The End" by Alexander Leithes, "The Age of Ambition" by Andrew Campbell, "A Star is Reborn" by Richard Salter, "Mortal Thoughts" by Trevor Baxendale, "Sea Change" by Kate Orman, "Jonah" by Todd Green, "Observation" by Ian Farrington, "The Reproductive Cycle" by Matthew Griffiths, "Syntax" by David Bailey, "A Rose by any other name" by Jim Mortimore, "Sight Unseen" by John Seavey, "Land Land" by Jonathan Morris, "Northern Sights" by Mark Stevens, and "The Destroyers" by Steve Lyons.

Medicinal Purposes, by Robert Ross

Edinburgh, 1827. The infamous body snatchers William Burke and William Hare are at large. The local prostitutes dull their fear with cheap whisky. The graveyard owls are hooting. Business is good.

When accidental tourists the Doctor and Evelyn Smythe stumble upon one of Britain's most lurid, illuminating chapters in history, a simple case of interest in the work of dedicated man of science Doctor Robert Knox, quickly turns sour.

Just what is that time bending Scots mist? What ever it is may put the very fabric of the universe under threat.

As always.

Starring Colin Baker (the Doctor) and Maggie Stables (Evelyn Smythe), with Leslie Phillips (Dr. Robert Knox), David Tennant (Daft Jamie), Glenna Morrison (Mary Patterson), Kevin O'Leaery (William Burke), Tom Farrelly (Billy Hare) and Janie Booth (Old Woman). Directed by Gary Russell.




FILTER: - Audio

big finish news

Thursday, 1 April 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine announces that Big Finish will soon publish Doctor Who: The Audio Scripts Volume Four, which will feature the full scripts, production notes and essays on the company's "villains" trilogy and anniversary special: Nev Fountain's "Omega," Lance Parkin's "Davros," Joseph Lidster's "Master" and Alan Barnes & Gary Russell's "Zagreus". The book will be out in September. Meanwhile, the issue also mentions that famed character actor Leslie Phillips will appear in the forthcoming "Medicinal Purposes" (the August CD release) as Dr. Robert Knox. Also, at the recent United Fan Con East convention, Terry Molloy confirmed that he was returning to the role of Davros for a Big Finish audio to be released later this year, an audio that he performs in with Colin Baker and Bonnie Langford. And according to Nicholas Briggs, William Gaunt, best known to Doctor Who fans as Orcini in "Revelation of the Daleks", will be in the forthcoming "Dalek Empire III" series; Briggs also confirmed, at the recent "Dr. Who and the Daleks" convention, that there would be a fourth 'season' of stories with Paul McGann, India Fisher and Conrad Westmaas in early 2005. (Thanks to DWM, Steve Tribe)




FILTER: - Audio - DWM

Audio Release Confirmations

Wednesday, 31 March 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
BBC Worldwide sent us confirmation of our earlier reports about the releases of The Wheel in Space (narrated by Wendy Padbury, due out May 3), Death Comes to Time (MP3-CD version due out June 7), Tales from the TARDIS(both installments due out July 5) and the individual re-releases of Power of the Daleks and Evil of the Daleks (due out August 7). The news is that the "Death Comes to Time" MP3-CD release will contain not only the audio but the actual webcast itself. "This incredible and groundbreaking special edition combines MP3-CD and CD-ROM elements to present, for the first time, the original BBCi webcast animation of Death Comes to Time plus the award-winning remastered CD version," says the press release. "Also included are cast video interviews, outtakes, spoofs, online character biographies, full-colour illustrations, initial artwork æroughsÆ, a TARDIS-themed web viewer, and excerpts from other Doctor Who CDs." Screen shots from the release are seen below; click on each for a larger version. (Thanks to Laura Burch/BBC Worldwide)




FILTER: - Audio - Classic Series