Flip Jackson and Constance Clarke return to Doctor Who
Sixth Doctor Colin Baker’s popular companion duo, Mrs Constance Clarke and Phillipa ‘Flip’ Jackson, are set to return in a trilogy of exciting four-part adventures in 2020.
Story titles and details are still under wraps, but we can exclusively reveal that this ‘odd couple’ companion team are back in the studios after quite a break.
“Their backgrounds are so different,” explained executive producer Nicholas Briggs, “but they just hit it off. Constance is a very prim and proper and from World War Two. Flip is a proper Cockney from the early 2000s.”
Miranda Raison (Spooks, Dirk Gently, Nightflyers) who plays wartime heroine Mrs Constance Clarke recalled: “It must be over two years since we’ve been in a Big Finish studio, because the last time I was here I was eight months pregnant, and now my daughter is over two years old!”
Lisa Greenwood (The Hour, Call The Midwife, Top Boy), who plays streetwise Flip, says, “It’s great to be back! I love playing Flip and it’s lovely to be working with Miranda and Colin again.”
Flip’s journey with the Doctor started way back in 2011 with The Crimes of Thomas Brewster. Back then, she wasn’t a companion, but producers David Richardson and Nicholas Briggs spotted her potential and immediately asked writer Jonathan Morris and Lisa herself if they’d like her to become a regular. This led to The Curse of Davros in 2012 and since then she’s never looked back, battling Doctor Who foes old and new.
In 2015, Flip was joined by Constance Clarke. “Miranda joined us in Colin Baker’s finale box set The Last Adventure,” explained Nicholas. “But her real origins were revealed in a different story, Criss-Cross, later that year. She’s an extraordinary character played by a brilliant actor — who’s also a remarkably lovely person.”
Nicholas also confirmed what fun it is working with Lisa. “She calls me Dalek-face!” he laughed. “Lisa and I have become great chums, having spent a lot of time together at big Doctor Who conventions.”
More details of the return of these great characters will be revealed next year.
Big Finish have been producing Doctor Who audios since 1999, starring Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, David Tennant and John Hurt.
Colin Baker reprises his role as the Sixth Doctor, or “ol’ Sixie” as he refers to the character he’s played for many Big Finish productions!
Miranda Raison, playing a war time WREN travelling with the Doctor, is a highly-regarded British actor from stage and screen, including a notable run in BBC1’s Spooks.
Sales enquiries – Tel: 01628 824 102 / Email: sales@bigfinish.com
Press enquiries – Tel: 020 3755 0589 / Email: press@bigfinish.com
ABOUT BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS
Big Finish Productions is an audio production company and publisher best known for its range of Doctor Who plays (with its many spin-offs). The company also produces a wide range of audio drama and audiobooks featuring the characters from Blake’s 7, Space: 1999, Dark Shadows, Torchwood, Timeslip, Terrahawks, The Avengers, The Prisoner, Survivors and The Omega Factor, as well as classics such as HG Wells, Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes, The Phantom of the Opera and Dorian Gray. Big Finish also produces original creations such as Graceless, Charlotte Pollard and The Adventures of Bernice Summerfield, plus the Big Finish Originals range featuring seven great new series including ATA Girl, Cicero, Jeremiah Bourne in Time, Shilling & Sixpence Investigate, Blind Terror and Transference.
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Class Series Three & Four Coming Soon From Big Finish
Big Finish is going back to Coal Hill Academy for six new full cast audio adventures, based on the television series created by Patrick Ness, in arrangement with BBC Studios.
Class is back in session! Due for release in April 2020, the Doctor Who spin-off series returns for two new volumes, each available for pre-order now as a limited edition box set for £19.99, or on download at £14.99 at www.bigfinish.com.
Alongside the series regulars, Greg Austin (Charlie Smith), Fady Elsayed (Ram Singh) and Sophie Hopkins (April MacLean), two new faces are joining the cast.
Dervla Kirwan, familiar to many as the star of TV series Ballykissangel and Goodnight Sweetheart, takes over from Katherine Kelly in the role of witty alien exile, Miss Quill. And Joanna McGibbon steps into the shoes of Vivian Oparah as student prodigy, Tanya Adeola.
The six new stories included in the forthcoming Class box sets are as follows:
Volume Three
The Soers’ Ditch by Carl Rowens
Catfish by Kate Thorman
Sweet Nothings by Michael Dennis
Volume Four
Mock by Alfie Shaw
The Creeper by Lizzie Hopley
The Queen of Rhodia by Blair Mowat
Producer and director of Class, Scott Handcock, said: “When we first announced we were reviving Class on audio, I think the response took everyone by surprise, and it became clear to everyone there was an appetite for more adventures with these characters. And now we have even more! As before, they’re set within the television series, tackling urban legends, intergalactic romances, mock exams and an abandoned Shoreditch house on Halloween!
“Greg, Sophie, Fady and Jordan return as Charlie, April, Ram and Matteusz respectively, with a couple of new cast members lending their vocals to familiar characters. Although we were unable to secure the talents of Vivian Oparah and Katherine Kelly, I’m thrilled to welcome Joanna McGibbon as Tanya Adeola and Dervla Kirwan as Miss Quill into the Class family. They’re both such brilliant actors and really capture the unique attitudes of their characters.”
Class Volumes Three and Four are available for pre-order now at £19.99 each as a limited edition CD box set (only 1,000 will be pressed of each volume) or £16.99 each on download from the Big Finish website. Both volumes will remain at this price until general release when they will be available for £24.99 on CD or £19.99 on download.
Class: The Audio Adventures can also be purchased as a bundle together at the price of £38 as a limited edition CD and £28 on download. All CD purchases from the Big Finish website unlock a download exclusive from the Big Finish website and app.
To mark this announcement, and the appearance of the Class cast at the Chicago TARDIS convention this weekend, Class Volumes One and Two have been reduced in price and are now each £14.99 (usually £19.99) on download, or £28 if bought together. This offer will be available until 23:59 (UK time) on 03 December 2019 at www.bigfinish.com
Coal Hill School (later Academy) was introduced in the first television episode of Doctor Who, An Unearthly Child, in 1963, and has had numerous appearances ever since including the 50th Anniversary Special, The Day of the Doctor.
Class, a Doctor Who spin-off series created by young adult author Patrick Ness, consisted of eight episodes that were produced for BBC Three in 2016. But Coal Hill Academy still has more secrets hidden in its walls…
Class returned as an audio drama in 2018, with six audio adventures made in arrangement with BBC Studios. Both volumes sold out of their original limited edition box set run on CD – only 1,000 were pressed. They are still available to purchase on download.
Dervla Kirwan joins the cast as Miss Quill, a part previously portrayed by Katherine Kelly. Dervla Kirwan also appeared in the 2008 Doctor Who Christmas special, The Next Doctor, playing the ruthless Miss Hartigan.
Big Finish has been producing Doctor Who audios since 1999, starring Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, David Tennant and John Hurt.
CLASS: VOLUMES 3 & 4
Duration: 195 minutes each approx.
Released: April 2020, exclusively from the Big Finish website.
Director: Scott Handcock
Producer: Scott Handcock
Senior Producer: David Richardson
Written by: Carl Rowens, Kate Thorman, Michael Dennis, Alfie Shaw, Lizzie Hopley, Blair Mowat
Created by: Patrick Ness
Executive Producers: Nicholas Briggs, Jason Haigh-Ellery
PRICING
Pre-release price: £19.99 (each, strictly limited edition CD) £16.99 (each, download) from www.bigfinish.com
RRP: £24.99 (each, strictly limited edition CD), £19.99 (each, download)
Sales enquiries – Tel: 01628 824 102 / Email: sales@bigfinish.com
Press enquiries – Tel: 020 3755 0589 / Email: press@bigfinish.com
ABOUT BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS
Big Finish Productions is an audio production company and publisher best known for its range of Doctor Who plays (with its many spin-offs). The company also produces a wide range of audio drama and audiobooks featuring the characters from Blake’s 7, Space: 1999, Dark Shadows, Torchwood, Terrahawks, The Avengers, The Prisoner, Survivors and The Omega Factor, as well as classics such as HG Wells, Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes, The Phantom of the Opera and Dorian Gray. Big Finish also produces original creations such as Graceless, Charlotte Pollard and The Adventures of Bernice Summerfield, plus the Big Finish Originals range featuring seven great new series including ATA Girl, Cicero, Jeremiah Bourne in Time, Shilling & Sixpence Investigate, Blind Terror and Transference.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: @BigFinish
Facebook: TheBigFinish
Instagram: @BigFinishProd
YouTube: bigfinishprod
SoundCloud: big-finish
Big Finish’s The Prisoner Series 3 is Released
Volume Three of Big Finish’s audio reimagining of the ITV classic series, starring Mark Elstob as Number Six, is now available to buy as a collector’s edition box set or download.
Glowing reviews are already coming in for Big Finish’s The Prisoner Volume Three, released today. This third (and quite possibly final) series of four hour-long episodes stars Mark Elstob (Number Six), Lucy Briggs-Owen (Kate Butterworth), Jim Barclay (Control), Genevieve Gaunt (Number 43), Alicia Ambrose-Bayly (Number 999) and Lorelei King (Number Two).
I’ve been fighting for so long. That’s all I’ve become. The fight itself. The fight for freedom. And if that fight is over. Who am I? What’s left of me?
The Prisoner Volume Three is now available as a collector’s edition box set or via download from £19.99 at www.bigfinish.com
With an ending very different from the original TV series, the box set has already been well-received. Nicholas Briggs said: “It’s been absolutely lovely and such a relief that people like what we’ve done. I knew I was entering controversial territory so there was a big danger that our version would be seen as terrible, sacrilege, or at the very least an irritating irrelevance. So many people have been really generous and encouraging.”
Here are some extracts from the pre-release reviews. The first is written by Rick Davy of The Unmutual, a news website dedicated to The Prisoner:
“In terms of audio drama, there are few greater visionary talents in the medium than writer, director, and executive producer Nicholas Briggs, and he has delivered his strongest set of episodes yet. Big Finish’s Series 3 of The Prisoner is the zenith of its output, a triumph of nerve-tingling tension and storytelling with some truly frightening and foretelling moments which rank at the very top of the franchise’s peak.”
The second is written by Debs McDougall from Six of One, The Prisoner Appreciation Society:
“The writing is nothing short of a masterpiece and the voice actors are all amazing, none more so than Mark Elstob as Number Six. Some of the episodes were recorded out of order just like in the original TV series, the voice actors doing a marvellous job of working out where they were in the plot! The ending is not what I expected and is cleverly written to leave a door open, once again, just as in the original series and maybe as controversial? Nick Briggs has very cleverly kept the essence of The Prisoner alive. A must for all Prisoner appreciators.”
The Prisoner Volume Three contains four new stories:
Free For All
Time for an election in the Village. The regime seems to want Six to stand as a candidate to be Number Two. But when Two’s manifesto seems to be based on the notion of freedom, what platform will Six decide to stand upon? And can there ever be freedom in the Village?
The Girl Who Was Death
Six finds himself free again, back in London. But how did he get here? An explosion rocks the city and Six must work out who he can trust. Will it be Control, Danvers, Number 43, Kate, Number Two or Potter?
The Seltzman Connection
Potter and ZM-73 think that if they go back to the beginning of it all, they’ll be able to solve the mystery of the Village. But can Professor Jacob Seltzman really provide all the answers?
No One Will Know
From London, to Kandersfeld to the Village… will an end to it all ever be possible?
The Prisoner Volume Three is available now as a collector’s edition box set at £24.99 or on download from the Big Finish website at £19.99.
Based on the classic ITV series originally created by and starring Patrick McGoohan, The Prisoner is the story of a man known only as Number Six. He has committed no crime but is being held against his will in ‘The Village’ – a location from which there is no escape.
Number Six can trust no one and is under constant supervision by his ever-changing adversary Number Two – the leader of the Village. Number Six attempts to trace the real identity of his captors, and the mystery of the ever-elusive Number One, but is forever thwarted. A mysterious large white orb known as ‘Rover’ helps to maintain order, and will engulf any who attempt to escape.
THE PRISONER VOLUME THREE
Duration: 300 minutes approx.
Released: 26 November 2019, exclusively from the Big Finish website.
Director: Nicholas Briggs
Producer: Emma Haigh
Written by: Nicholas Briggs
Music: Jamie Robertson
Sound Design: Iain Meadows
Executive Producers: Nicholas Briggs, Jason Haigh-Ellery
PRICING
RRP: £24.99 (collector’s edition CD box set) / Digital £19.99 (download) from www.bigfinish.com
Sales enquiries – Tel: 01628 824 102 / Email: sales@bigfinish.com
Press enquiries – Tel: 020 3755 0589 / Email: press@bigfinish.com
ABOUT BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS
Big Finish Productions is an audio production company and publisher best known for its range of Doctor Who plays (with its many spin-offs). The company also produces a wide range of audio drama and audiobooks featuring the characters from Blake’s 7, Space: 1999, Dark Shadows, 2000AD (Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog), Terrahawks, The Avengers, The Prisoner, Survivors and The Omega Factor, as well as classics such as HG Wells, Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes, The Phantom of the Opera and Dorian Gray. Big Finish also produces original creations such as Graceless, Charlotte Pollard and The Adventures of Bernice Summerfield, plus the Big Finish Originals range featuring seven great new series including ATA Girl, Cicero, Jeremiah Bourne in Time, Shilling & Sixpence Investigate, Blind Terror and Transference.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: @BigFinish
Facebook: TheBigFinish
Instagram: @BigFinishProd
YouTube: bigfinishprod
SoundCloud: big-finish
Goran Višnjić and Robert Glenister To Appear In Series 12 of Doctor Who
With the countdown well and truly underway for the return of Doctor Who, television and film stars Goran Višnjić and Robert Glenister are set to appear in an episode of series 12 as the show makes an explosive return in early 2020.
After previously starring in Doctor Who over three decades ago, Robert Glenister is no stranger to the TARDIS and as he takes on a new character, it’s safe to say emotions will be charged as he meets the Doctor and her friends…
Making his Doctor Who debut, Goran Višnjić has plenty of experience around doctors after playing Luka Kovač on the television series ER, but how will he fare when he comes face to face with the Time Lord?
Robert Glenister said “I first appeared in Doctor Who in The Caves of Androzani at the tender age of 24 in 1984. Thirty five years later I got to be in it again at the not so tender age of nearly 60. How time flies!”
Speaking ahead of his debut Doctor Who appearance, Goran Višnjić said “I’ve always been a huge fan of Doctor Who, so when the offer to play one of my favorite people in history came, it made me so happy to be part of the show and it turned into this awesome, dream job!”
Matt Strevens, Executive Producer said: “One of the great joys of Doctor Who are the legendary actors who want to come and join in the Doctor’s adventures. We were thrilled to welcome Goran and Robert, whose worked we’ve loved and admired for years. They create two iconic characters who are going to delight and entertain.”
Doctor Who will return in early 2020.
Jodie Whittaker will reprise her role as the Thirteenth Doctor alongside Tosin Cole (Ryan) Mandip Gill (Yaz) and Bradley Walsh (Graham) who are all returning for their second series.
Chris Chibnall returns as Showrunner with Matt Strevens as Executive Producer.
Stephen Fry and Sir Lenny Henry CBE to Appear in the Twelfth Series of Doctor Who
With the TARDIS hurtling full throttle on its way back to BBC One, it is only right that two TV legends will be making their Doctor Who debut.
TV icons Stephen Fry and Sir Lenny Henry CBE will both appear in the series opener when the TARDIS lands once more, with Jodie Whittaker reprising her role as the Thirteenth Doctor. Armed with a wealth of acting, comedy and writing credentials both are more than equipped to come face to face with the Time Lord and her friends, but will they be friend or foe remains to be seen…
Speaking ahead of his Doctor Who appearance Stephen Fry said “Short of being picked for a British space exploration programme and I readily concede that I’m past the age where I’d be considered (if I was ever the right age for such a posting) – then being in an episode of Doctor Who will certainly do as a very sweet second-place excitement.”
Sir Lenny Henry CBE added “It was absolutely brilliant to be welcomed into the fantastical world of Doctor Who. The nearest I have been to the TARDIS was when I played the Caribbean Doctor in the Lenny Henry Show , so as a life-long (hiding behind the sofa type) Doctor Who fan this is a very special moment for me.”
Chris Chibnall, Showrunner said “Doctor Who is coming back with a bang – with two great British icons in major roles. One of the great joys of Doctor Who is getting to work with actors from your wish list. Stephen and Lenny are two of my absolute favourite actors – and to be able to bring them into Doctor Who, in our one of our biggest ever stories to kick off the new series, is an absolute thrill.”
Doctor Who will return in early 2020.
Jodie Whittaker will reprise her role as the Thirteenth Doctor alongside Tosin Cole (Ryan) Mandip Gill (Yaz) and Bradley Walsh (Graham) who are all returning for their second series.
Chris Chibnall returns as Showrunner with Matt Strevens as Executive Producer.
Radio Free Skaro #715 – State of Temporal Grace
Radio Free Skaro #714 – Watch This Space
 Watch this space! Keep watching, as the BBC Doctor Who Twitter presence consistently teases us with a trailer or announcement or something or other, apparently coming on the show’s 56th anniversary of November 23, 2019. Now watch some more! Or just listen to the other news on hand, including Britbox launching in the UK, a BFI screening of the feature-length documentary about John Nathan Turner in the Series 26 Blu-Ray set, Sonic Screwdriver tat, and the resumption of the Doctor Who Series 11 Commentaries with “It Takes You Away” with Nicole Hill! |
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– Support Radio Free Skaro on Patreon! Commentary: |
Radio Free Skaro #713 – I Know So Little About Telebiogenesis
 Animated Doctor Who reconstructions, off-the-cuff HBO Max reveals of future Doctor Who series, Jodie Whittaker being a Coldplay superfan and most importantly MORE STAR COPS are all in the news mix this week, and our feature interview is with Gavin Rymill and Jon Green, the Youtube documentarians behind the Dalek 6388 deep dive known as “Terry Nation Army”. Take a listen and find out how they plumb the depths of BBC administrivia to bring you a comprehensive look at how Doctor Who’s most iconic villains go from script to screen to shopping mall openings! |
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– Support Radio Free Skaro on Patreon! Interview: |
Radio Free Skaro #712 – Stay On Target
 The #WhoForSchools initiative has officially launched, and we have the list of commentators on hand for you! Special guests include Sophie Aldred, Andrew Cartmel, Vinay Patel, Peter Harness, and a veritable buffet of Doctor Who podcasters commenting on Series 26 and having fun for a good cause! We also have a release date for “The Edge of Time” VR game, alternate covers for the Thirteenth/Tenth Doctors crossover event from titan Comics, and an interview with Simon Guerrier about the newly released Doctor Who: The Target Storybook! |
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– Support Radio Free Skaro on Patreon! Interview: |
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Radio Free Skaro #716 – We Watched That Space
Posted on November 24, 2019 by Chris
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Links:
– Support Radio Free Skaro on Patreon!
– Happy Doctor Who day!
– Series 12 trailer
– Radio Times trailer breakdown
– Nerdist trailer breakdown
– S12 wrapped filming
– Chibnall mentioned series 13 is in the works, with him at the helm
– Sir Lenny Henry and Stephen Fry confirmed for series 12
– Robert Glennister and Goran Visnjic confirmed for series 12
– Whovian complaint form
– First 8 selections in the World Cup of Terrance Dicks
– Final 2 selections in the World Cup of Terrance Dicks
– DWAS charity appeal in the name of Terrance Dicks
– Celestial Toyroom reaches issue 500
– Edge of Time soundtrack available on all major streaming services
– Delia Derbyshire Day, and a video about the founding women of electronic music
– Big Finish Diary of River Song series 7 due January 2020
– Big Finish ATA Girls series 2 due for International Women’s Day 2020
– Big Finish Legacy of Time fan art competition
Commentary:
– Resolution
– Danica LeBlanc
Happy 56th birthday, Doctor Who! And what better way to celebrate than with a new Series 12 trailer featuring Cybermen, a giant scorpion, guest stars like Lenny Henry and Stephen Fry, and most importantly, the Doctor in a tux! Of course there’s always other tat and such to celebrate, such as goodies from Big Finish, the World Cup of Terrance Dicks, and Big Finish releases, and we have our final Series 11 commentary for “Resolution” with Danica LeBlanc!