Tag: Big Finish

Big Finish review-Torchwood: Goodbye Piccadilly

Sgt Andy Davidson wakes up in the 1950s. He’s chained to a bed, his clothes are missing and the building’s on fire. Norton Folgate needs his help. The streets of Soho are swarming with gangsters, rumours and betrayals. Somewhere out there is a mysterious alien artefact, and Andy and Norton have to get to it first. Because tonight they’re going to save Torchwood.

I’ve been looking forward to another adventure with Andy and Norton, since last year’s Ghost Mission. There’s just something about this pairing that works so well. Norton Folgate, played brilliantly by Samuel Barnett, is a welcome addition to the Torchwood range. His witty and flamboyant personality is the perfect foil for Andy’s more serious demeanor.

Goodbye Piccadilly is absolutely gripping, from start to finish, the script is sensational.

The direction is smooth, the sound design is flawless. Tom Price gives another fantastic performance as Andy Davidson, capturing the character’s determination and vulnerability. His chemistry with Samuel Barnett is electric, and their banter is a joy to listen to.

What’s great about this audio, is that all of the London events-bar the alien invasion and the time travel, are real. James Goss took his research for this story extremely seriously, he looked at books such as ‘hidden London’ for inspiration and it shows. The life drawing class, the police raids and, gay men being hosed down are all things that actually happened in the 1950’s.

Big Finish has once again proved that Torchwood Big Finish, is Torchwood at its best. Goodbye Piccadilly is a must-listen for any Torchwood fan. Just remember, Torchwood contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

REVIEW: BIG FINISH: JENNY — THE DOCTOR’S DAUGHTER

She’s got planets to save, civilisations to rescue, creatures, to defeat… and an awful lot of running to do!

It’s difficult to believe the character of Jenny debuted in Doctor Who 10 years ago. Since then fans have wondered whatever happened to The Doctor’s daughter?

The character was rife for further exploration and it’s amazing the BBC never thought to bring her back.

Thankfully, we have Big Finish. They’ve taken the character and given her a range of her own.

The scripts are sharp, funny and perfectly honed. A lot of work and love has clearly gone into this box set. The stories are kinetic and full of real-world allegories; which in lesser hands could’ve come across as clunky.

Georgia Tennant and Sean Biggerstaff have instant chemistry as Jenny and Noah. A personal highlight is they allow Jenny to be fun. She makes jokes, which work well and relieves tension in scenes. The mystery surrounding Noah is intriguing and you finish the audios with even more questions about him.

Big Finish has done it again. The Doctor’s daughter is fantastic, a breath of fresh air. The theme music is epic. familiar but different. It perfectly encapsulates the Doctor’s nature in Jenny. The stories and the cast are engaging. The sound design is flawless.

Jenny-The Doctor’s daughter is firing on all cylinders. A perfect synergy between cast and crew. I’m practically begging for series 2.

Written By: Matt Fitton, John Dorney, Christian Brassington, Adrian Poynton

Directed By: Barnaby Edwards

Cast

Georgia Tennant (Jenny), Sean Biggerstaff (Noah), Siân Phillips (COLT-5000), Stuart Milligan (Garundel), Sarah Woodward (Vesh Taralesh), Clare Corbett (Lukaku), Arabella Weir (Angie Glazebrook), Silas Carson (Ood Leader), Rosalyn Landor (Vanessa Elledge), Olivia Darnley (Emily Cole), John Dorney (John Macguire), Pik-Sen Lim (Old Woman), Arina II (Shoon-Wei), Sara Houghton (Alitta), Paul Courtenay Hyu (Po), Adèle Anderson (Dreyda), Anthony Calf (Cal). Other parts played by members of the cast.

Producer: David Richardson
Associate Producer: Georgia Tennant
Script Editor: John Dorney, Matt Fitton
Executive Producers: Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

Sylvester McCoy interview

Recorded at London’s MCM expo, here’s an interview with the seventh Doctor himself, Sylvester McCoy.

Sylvester McCoy is a Scottish actor, best known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1987 to 1989—the final Doctor of the original run—and briefly returning in a television film in 1996. He has also featured on countless Big Finish audio plays.

He also featured in the Hobbit trilogy, as Radagast the Brown.

The podcast is available from all good podcast services, such as but not limited to Amazon Music, Podchaser, Player FM, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts.

Check out our Youtube.

If you’d like to support the show, then please shop via our Amazon link. A small percentage goes our way, at no extra cost to you.

Socials:

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Martyn – @BadWilf

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Check out our podcast interview with the cast of Class.

Big Finish review-Torchwood: We always get out alive

In “We always get out alive,” Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams are faced with a cataclysmic event and must flee as fast as they can. As Torchwood operatives, they’re no strangers to danger and uncertainty, but this time there’s something else in the car with them, heightening the tension and suspense.

The audio production is a testament to the perfect synergy between writer Guy Adams and director Scott Handcock. While the premise of two characters sitting in a car for 98% of the audio may sound dull, Adams and Handcock have crafted an imaginative and captivating story that is both epic and intimate in scope.

Through the course of the audio, we gain deeper insight into the personal lives of Gwen and Rhys, and their struggles to balance their duties as Torchwood operatives with their responsibilities as parents. The natural chemistry between actors Eve Myles and Kai Owen shines through, adding to the authenticity and emotional resonance of the story.

Adams skillfully uses the audio format to his advantage, leveraging the constrictive nature of the car and the medium of audio to create a gripping and immersive experience for listeners. The audio is a strong character-driven piece, with well-crafted dialogue and superb acting that draws you in and keeps you engaged.

“We always get out alive” is a must-listen for fans of the Torchwood series and audio dramas in general. It is a well-crafted and engaging production that showcases the talents of everyone involved, earning it a solid 5/5 rating.

Big Finish Review-Torchwood:Believe

The Church of the Outsiders is on a mission to lead mankind to a new era of evolution, one that takes them beyond the stars. But Torchwood’s Owen Harper believes they must do everything in their power to stop them. With the original Torchwood team back together in full-cast audio, fans have been eagerly awaiting this moment. Despite the actors recording their parts separately, the result is flawless. You won’t be able to tell the difference, and it’s a joyous reunion.

Set before the end of series 2, Guy Adams has perfectly captured the era, creating an episode that feels like it was plucked straight from 2008. The performances are outstanding, with John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Burn Gorman, Naoko Mori, and Gareth David-Lloyd all shining. Each character is given the opportunity to develop, but the Owen/Tosh relationship is a particular highlight. Owen pushes Tosh to do unspeakable things while attempting to prove himself as a capable leader.

John Barrowman’s performance in this audio is absolutely fantastic. Despite recording his parts separately from the rest of the team, his chemistry with his co-stars is still palpable. He effortlessly slips back into the role of Captain Jack Harkness and delivers a performance that is both charming and commanding. Barrowman’s energy and enthusiasm for the character and the series shine through in every line, making it a real treat for fans to hear him back in action as the iconic Torchwood leader.

Prequel stories can be challenging, but Guy Adams’ script and Gareth David-Lloyd’s performance are so compelling that there’s one moment in particular where you’ll be genuinely concerned for Ianto’s fate. With such high quality, 2018 is shaping up to be an excellent year for Torchwood on audio. This is a must-listen, earning a 10/10 rating.

Big Finish review-Torchwood-The Last Beacon

In Torchwood: The Last Beacon, a distress signal from a Welsh mountain summons an ancient battlefleet to Earth, prompting Owen Harper and Ianto Jones to venture into the Brecons to put a stop to it. This buddy comedy offers a lighter tone than most Torchwood stories in the Big Finish range, making it a refreshing and amusing addition to the series.

Owen and Ianto’s unlikely partnership is an inspired concept, and their conflict in a small Welsh community allows for deeper character exploration. Ianto feels at home among his people, but Owen is out of his element and met with distrust from the locals.

It’s also worth noting the excellent performance of Burn Gorman in the audio play. He brings his unique talents to the role of Owen Harper, capturing the character’s wit and cynicism with ease. Gorman’s delivery of the dialogue is impeccable, and he brings depth to the character that is both engaging and entertaining. His chemistry with Gareth David-Lloyd’s Ianto Jones is fantastic and adds to the overall enjoyment of the story. Gorman’s performance in The Last Beacon is a testament to his talent and a highlight of the audio play.

Gareth David-Lloyd’s first foray into writing an audio play is impressive, as the story flows seamlessly and offers further development of the leads’ relationship. This quintessentially Big Finish Torchwood story is a fun and highly recommended listen. Hopefully, David-Lloyd will write another audio play in the future.

Review-Torchwood: The Death of Captain Jack

Torchwood: The Death of Captain Jack is difficult to review, without spoiling. So, I won’t be discussing the storyline.

This is a very ambitious audio, from David Llewellyn who once again proves himself to be one of the greatest writers Torchwood has ever had. He perfectly manages to encapsulate the history of Jack and John and give the Torchwood franchise a fresh new spin, all within an hour-long adventure. It’s an absolute joy. James Marsters absolutely shines as Captain John Hart and, instantly reminds us why he was so popular amongst Torchwood fans. He’s the perfect foil to John Barrowman’s Captain Jack.

There’s also a slight dig at Torchwood: Miracle Day.

Director Scott Handcock and producer James Goss have their awesomely unique style all over this release. Torchwood on Big Finish is the best Torchwood has ever been. They just get it, it’s ambitious, it’s loud, it’s sexy and over the top. Which is just how it should be.

10/10.

Torchwood contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

Episode 189: The Justice Leauge of River Song

Back like a regrettable Tinder date, that won’t stop calling you.

It’s the first Bad Wilf Podcast of 2018, after 8 years of podcasting are we any better?

No, but here’s our spoiler-free review of The Diaries Of River Song and, our spoiler-filled review of Justice League.

The Diary of River Song is an audio play series from Big Finish Productions. Alex Kingston reprises her character River Song from the television series Doctor Who.

Justice League is a 2017 superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is the follow-up to 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the fifth instalment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

The film is directed by Zack Snyder, written by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon, and features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, and Ray Fisher as the title team, with Amy Adams, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, and J. K. Simmons in supporting roles.

In the film, Batman and Wonder Woman recruit The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg after Superman‘s death to save the world from the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons.

The podcast is available from all good podcast services, such as but not limited to Amazon Music, Podchaser, Player FM, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts.

Check out our Youtube.

If you’d like to support the show, then please shop via our Amazon link. A small percentage goes our way, at no extra cost to you.

Socials:

Twitter:

Martyn – @BadWilf

Gerrod –@InGerrodsMind

Pete – @BeeblePete

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Interview-David Bradley and Claudia Grant

Recorded, at MCM London 2017, here’s the full press panel with David Bradley and Claudia Grant.

Both talk about their involvement with An adventure in space and time and Big Finish. David talks about his experiences on the upcoming Christmas special, twice upon a time.

David Bradley is an English actor, known for playing Argus Filch in the Harry Potter film series, Walder Frey in the HBO series Game of Thrones and Abraham Setrakian in The Strain. He is also an established stage actor with a career that includes a Laurence Olivier Award for his role in a production of King Lear.

Claudia Grant is a British Actress, she trained at LAMDA graduating with a degree in Acting. She is perhaps best known for her appearance as Carole Ann Ford in the BAFTA nominated BBC Drama, An Adventure in Space and Time (2013) directed by Terry McDonough and written by Mark Gatiss. As well as Headlongs’ production of Spring Awakening directed by Ben Kidd (2014).

Big Finish Review-Torchwood: Aliens Among Us-Part 2

Torchwood: Aliens Among Us 2 is a bold and gripping addition to the Torchwood series. Picking up where Miracle Day left off, the Torchwood team finds themselves in a Cardiff that’s darker and more dangerous than ever before. The four episodes included in this set explore complex storylines and pack an emotional punch, leaving the audience eagerly anticipating what comes next.

The first episode, “Love Rat” by Christopher Cooper, sets the tone for the rest of the set with a complex storyline that brings Captain Jack back from the dead with a surprising twist. The subsequent episodes, “A Kill to a View” by Mac Rogers, “Zero Hour” by Janine H Jones, and “The Empty Hand” by Tim Foley, continue to up the ante with a mix of action, drama, and suspense.

The addition of Yvonne Hartman to the mix adds a layer of intrigue and excitement, with the Torchwood team facing their toughest challenge yet. The writers skillfully weave together the various storylines, and the performances by the cast are top-notch.

The standout episodes of the set are “A Kill to a View” and “Zero Hour,” which delve into the mysterious rift and bring back fan-favourite character Bilis Manger. Murray Melvin’s performance as Manger is nothing short of exceptional, adding depth and complexity to the character and the story.

Overall, Torchwood: Aliens Among Us 2 is a must-listen for fans of the series and newcomers alike. With its intricate plotlines, strong performances, and cliffhanger ending, it leaves the audience eagerly anticipating the next instalment of the Torchwood saga.

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