SINS OF THE FLESH wins at the SCRIBE AWARDS 2024 + MAHABHARATA NOW gets a REPEAT OUTING on BBC R4 ...

 

Quite a nice little flurry of good news this week ... firstly the splendid announcement that 'SINS OF THE FLESH' (part of the 'EVERYWHERE AND ANYWHERE' audio box set compilation) from BIG FINISH has only gone and won the BEST AUDIO DRAMA AWARD at this years prestigious SCRIBE AWARDS!!! It's already garnered so many outstanding reviews from the audio world of Doctor Who, not least for it's no holds barred story telling - it seems only right that writer of 'SINS OF THE FLESH' and producer of the 3 part compilation ALFIE SHAW should come away with this years award. 

The Scribe Awards is a yearly event held by the IAMTW (The International Association of Media Tie-In Writers) which celebrates and honors excellence in the field of writing tie-in fiction for media franchises. These works include novels, short stories, audio dramas, and graphic novels tied to licenses of movies and TV shows, as well as video games, comics, songs, and even book series.

The winners were rather excitingly announced at this years SAN DIEGO COMIC CON last Friday, July 26. Congratulations should also go to all the nominees but in particular to the other two adventures featured in the box set; GEORGIA COOK'S 'SPIRIT OF THE SEASON' and ALL'S FAIR by MAX KASHEVSKY which were also nominated in the same category.

Lastly but not leastly, congratulations to our esteemed director on all three stories HELEN GOLDWYN, thank you for casting me in one of the best roles I've had in recent years in 'SINS OF THE FLESH' ... HUZZAH!!!

'MAHABHARATA NOW', a B7 MEDIA production for BBC RADIO 4 was first transmitted last year gets a welcome repeat outing over the next two Saturdays, the 3rd & 10th August at 3pm on BBC Radio 4. Written by Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle, produced by Helen Quigley and Andrew Mark Sewell and the director was Jatinder Verma ... 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001rgxs

I was delighted to be a small part within this RADIO ADAPTATION of 'THE MAHABHARATA', an epic that comprises one hundred thousand stanzas of verse divided into eighteen books, or parvas. It is the largest single literary work in existence. 

In Episodes 3 & 4 - Yash and Padma arrive in Manchester to begin their four year exile. I pop up as the WAREHOUSE SUPERVISOR in Episode 3 and in Episode 4, I can be heard playing a myriad of characters ... 

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 Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

Doctor Who - The Eleventh Doctor Chronicles - Everywhere and Anywhere - SINS OF THE FLESH - OUT NOW!!

Well I've really been looking forward to listening to this terrific ELEVENTH DOCTOR box set since I recorded the final adventure 'SINS OF THE FLESH' last year and boy it doesn't disappoint!! It's been universally praised across the Doctor Who Audio world. Very proud to have played the guest lead role of the not terribly pleasant ROBERT MCINTOSH (no he's not Scottish!) in this brave and hard hitting story ... This is the blurb from the BIG FINISH website:

"Is your child exhibiting sinful behaviour? Have they set themselves on the road of eternal damnation? Has everything you tried failed? Feel like you’re out of options?

Don't worry. We can help. Bring them to the Rebirth Organisation today. Bring them to be converted."

What an amazing script! NO SPOILERS ... but McIntosh is the founder of the REBIRTH ORGANISATION where there just 'might' be some CONVERTING going on!!!!!!!!

It was extra special because amazingly I had never been involved in a CYBERMAN story for BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS until now, so it was fabulous to be in such a special one!! This particular adventure 'SINS OF THE FLESH' was written by THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR CHRONICLES producer ALFIE SHAW and directed by the lovely HELEN GOLDWYN ... 

(from left to right) Alexandra D'sa (Lilly), Sean Connolly (McIntosh), Maddison Bullevent (Carmen), Brad Shaw (Jason), Safiyya Ingar (Valarie), Jacob Dudman (The Doctor)

The full cast list is as follows:

The Doctor / Harry  JACOB DUDMAN

Valarie Lockwood  SAFIYYA INGAR

Carmen  MADDISON BULLEYMENT

Lilly  ALEXANDRA D'SA

McIntosh  SEAN CONNOLLY

Jason  BRAD SHAW

Cyberleader / Cybermen  NICHOLAS BRIGGS

In this penultimate ELEVENTH DOCTOR CHRONICLES box set there's a brilliantly talented cast involved, lead by the extraordinary JACOB DUDMAN sounding faultlessly like the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) ... Seek it out here 

Linktree linktr.ee/SeanConnolly

 Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY DOCTOR WHO ... A small selection of memories.

With it being 'DOCTOR WHO'S' 60th BIRTHDAY today, I thought I'd put together a little montage of COVERS and PICS from my time working in the wonderful AUDIO WORLD of DOCTOR WHO with BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS over the last 18 YEARS!

You'll find above a COMPLETE SET of CLASSIC DOCTORS that I've worked with (including COMPANIONS!), minus William Hartnell as The First Doctor, Patrick Troughton as The Second Doctor and Jon Pertwee as The Third Doctor .. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS!

It was interesting that over the years I've worked on quite a lot of BIG FINISH adventures that haven't featured the DOCTOR HIMSELF ... 

I'd like to thank all the directors at Big Finish (past and present) who have given me the joyous opportunities of working alongside The Doctor! So proud to have been a little part of the incredible WORLD OF DOCTOR WHO, long may that continue!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOCTOR!!

Linktree linktr.ee/SeanConnolly

 Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

OUT IN JULY - Re-uniting with the SIXTH DOCTOR in a new BIG FINISH ADVENTURE - 'Memories Of A Tyrant' ...

The cover for the new SIXTH DOCTOR ADVENTURE from BIG FINISH - 'Memories Of A Tyrant' ...

I'm more than a little delighted to announce that I recently had the opportunity to reacquaint myself with the SIXTH DOCTOR - COLIN BAKER and his companion PERI played as ever by the wonderful NICOLA BRYANT. 

The occasion was of course to record a BRAND NEW ADVENTURE from the fine folk at BIG FINISH called 'MEMORIES OF A TYRANT', part of the regular DOCTOR WHO MONTHLY RANGE - written by ROLAND MOORE and directed by JOHN AINSWORTH.

So what's it all about and hear you cry ..?

Without giving too much away, here is the official blurb from the BIG FINISH website.

"What if you’d committed a truly dreadful crime but couldn’t remember?

The Doctor takes Peri to the Memory Farm – a state of the art space station where hidden memories can be harvested and analysed. To their surprise, they find the station in lock-down and all its resources dedicated to probing the memories of an elderly man. Garius Moro may, or may not, have been responsible for the deaths of billions of people many years ago, but he simply can’t remember.

The assembled representatives of two opposing factions, each with their own agenda, anxiously wait for the truth to be unlocked from Moro’s mind. But when a memory does eventually surface, everyone is surprised to learn that it is of Peri..."

John assembled a great cast for this FOUR-PART ADVENTURE which is RELEASED THIS JULY, including Diane Keen (Varish), Caleb Frederick (Offram), John Green (Otwoe), Joseph Mydell (Garius Moro), Charlotte Strevens (Naras) and Steven Wickham (Grisk / Venorg). Oh I nearly forgot ... I play KENNEDY - Head of Security on the Memory Farm! and that's ALL you're getting out of me at this point!!

It's always a pleasure to work alongside Colin and Nicola but it was a particular thrill to meet and work with DIANE KEEN (below) having been a big fan of her classic television comedy series' 'THE CUCKOO WALTZ' and 'RINGS ON THEIR FINGERS' and of course latterly spending NINE YEARS on the daytime television series 'DOCTORS' (I'm surprised we hadn't met before!) ...

Actor and Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY with DIANE KEEN during a break from recording 'Memories Of A Tyrant' for BIG FINISH ...

More details to follow, nearer the time of release. It's sure to be a good one, a great time was had over the two days in the studio ... Check back soon!

'The War Doctor' poem 'THE MAN IN THE BANDOLIER' is released. Read by SEAN CONNOLLY with WINK TAYLOR and written by BARNABY EATON-JONES ...

  

'The Man In The Bandolier' | Written by Barnaby Eaton-Jones | Performed by Sean Connolly | Featuring Wink Taylor as The War Doctor | Sound Design by Iain Meadows.

I am more than delighted to share a little something I've recorded for BARNABY EATON-JONES at CHINBEARD BOOKS ... 'THE MAN IN THE BANDOLIER' was a poem written by Barnaby for the charity 'SEASON'S OF WAR' Doctor Who anthology featuring the late, great JOHN HURT'S portrayal of The War Doctor. This audio version is a thank you to everyone who supported the charitable project ... what better way than to breathe life into Barnaby's words!! 

I narrate the poem with the spectacular DOCTOR WHO IMPRESSIONIST WINK TAYLOR voicing THE WAR DOCTOR ... Check out all of Wink's Doctor Who impressions on his YOU TUBE CHANNEL, they really are quite extraordinarily accurate!!

'SEASONS OF WAR – TALES FROM A TIME WAR' edited by Declan May was initially released as an e-book raising money for the charity CAUDWELL CHILDREN. The e-book raised £8000 for the charity, a limited edition paperback, published by CHINBEARD BOOKS, was also made available to purchase earlier this year. Again, all the money raised from the purchase of the paperback went to Caudwell Children. This limited edition paperback SOLD OUT within days!!

With wonderful SOUND DESIGN by IAIN MEADOWS, it's been a fabulous project to be part of ... LISTEN & ENJOY!!!

“Great men are forged in fire. 'Tis the privilege of lesser men to light the flame.” - The War Doctor.

'DOCTOR WHO' connections in 'PATHFINDER LEGENDS' Series 3 ...

Some of the guest stars for 'PATHFINDER LEGENDS' Series 3; Sean Connolly, Nisha Nayar and Aaron Neil ...

Once again I've just had the privilege of recording another episode of 'PATHFINDER LEGENDS' for BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS at the wonderful SOUNDHOUSE STUDIOS in London ...

Rather joyfully this time I had the opportunity to reprise a character from earlier in this series ... perhaps I should explain. Rather like SEAN BEAN, I do seem to have an unerring ability to be cast in audio roles that die in that episode, well not this time ... I'm back!! At this time, I'm not at liberty to divulge the nature or name of my role, but it is rather excellent. More news to come when I'm allowed ...

This time it was not only great to work with the four main characters played by Stewart Alexander, Kerry Skinner, Trevor Littledale and Ian Brooker but this time crossed swords (is this a clue, probably not?!) with the likes of NISHA NAYAR and AARON NEIL ...

Nisha has had a distinguished career but perhaps she is best known for high profile TV appearances in 'OUT OF HOURS' (which my lovely actress wife BELLA HAMBLIN also appeared in), 'LAW AND ORDER', 'THE BUDDHA OF SURBURBIA', 5 series of 'THE STORY OF TRACEY BEAKER' and 'DOCTOR WHO - BAD WOLF' with the NINTH DOCTOR CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON ... She also appeared in the Oscar Nominated film 'IN AMERICA' ... I also discovered that we have a BIG FINISH connection, as she appeared in the recent 'CLASSIC DOCTORS, NEW MONSTERS VOLUME 01' release 'HARVEST OF THE SYCORAX' alongside my own appearance in the boxset ... 'THE SONTARAN ORDEAL'.

Aaron also has some very impressive credits including; 'TRACEY ULLMAN'S SHOW', 'PEAKY BLINDERS' and last years 'DOCTOR WHO - THE MAGICIAN'S APPRENTICE' opposite PETER CAPALDI the TWELFTH and current DOCTOR as well as the very imminent 'DOCTOR WHO' teenage spin-off 'CLASS' which airs on BBC 3 on October 22nd.

In the studio with (from left to right) Kerry Skinner, Nisha Nayar, Sean Connolly and Stewart Alexander ...

Hopefully I'll be able to share some release news soon. It promises to be a fantastic Series 3 ...

Series 3 of the adventures based on the Role Playing Game 'PATHFINDERS' was directed by JOHN AINSWORTH and written by DAVID BRYHER and is produced by BIG FINISH for Paizo ...

'SONTAR-HA!' : Sean Connolly is Sontaran Ensign Stipe in new BIG FINISH Box-set ...

The cover of one the adventures included in 'DOCTOR WHO: CLASSIC DOCTORS, NEW MONSTERS VOLUME 1' - 'THE SONTARAN ORDEAL'

OUT TODAY! Almost 10 years to the day that I first worked with BIG FINISH, comes the much anticipated release of 'DOCTOR WHO: CLASSIC DOCTORS, NEW MONSTERS VOLUME 1'...

Sontaran brethren; 'THE YOUNG ONES' actor Christopher Ryan and Sean Connolly ...

I play ambitious Sontaran ENSIGN STIPE alongside 'THE YOUNG ONE'S' star CHRISTOPHER RYAN playing Sontaran GENERAL STENK (see above) in the FOURTH ADVENTURE of the Box-Set called 'THE SONTARAN ORDEAL'.

The wonderful cast includes 'BLAKES 7's actress JOSETTE SIMON as SARANA TEEL and new era #DoctorWho Sontaran, DAN STARKEY as JASK with PAUL McGANN as the 8th DOCTOR ...

Director is BARNABY EDWARDS across all FOUR ADVENTURES in the BOX-SET and writer for 'THE SONTARAN ORDEAL' is ANDREW SMITH ...

For other posts about my work with BIG FINISH including that VERY FIRST ADVENTURE I recorded back on the 31st JULY 2006, called 'I, DAVROS', where I ended up playing the BIOLOGICAL FATHER of DAVROS, hence laying my claim to the title of 'GRANDFATHER OF THE DALEKS' ... please CLICK HERE ... It's been a great decade of mostly 'DOCTOR WHO' related work ... SONTAR-HA!

Sean joins Glorious Ninth Sontaran Battle Fleet in new Big Finish audio adventure - 'SONTAR-HA!'

Great news! 'DOCTOR WHO: CLASSIC DOCTORS, NEW MONSTERS VOLUME 1' from BIG FINISH is COMING VERY SOON ... in fact THIS MONTH ...

The trailer has just been released for this FOUR ADVENTURE BOX SET featuring Classic Doctors; Peter Davison (5th Doctor), Colin Baker (6th Doctor), Sylvester McCoy (7th Doctor) and Paul McGann (8th Doctor) meeting New Era Monsters such as The Weeping Angels, The Judoon, The Sycorax and The Sontarans ...

I play a rather fiery (is there any other kind!), ambitious SONTARAN called ENSIGN STIPE in the FOURTH ADVENTURE of the Box-Set called 'Doctor Who: Classic Doctors - New Monsters - The Sontaran Ordeal'.

Director BARNABY EDWARDS has assembled an impressive cast to support PAUL McGANN'S 8th DOCTOR with 'THE YOUNG ONE'S' star CHRISTOPHER RYAN playing Sontaran GENERAL STENK, 'BLAKES 7's JOSETTE SIMON as SARANA TEEL and television's 'GO TO' 'DOCTOR WHO' Sontaran, DAN STARKEY as JASK ...

Click here to go to my previous post about 'The Sontaran Ordeal' ...

It has been written by 'THE FIRST SONTARANS' writer ANDREW SMITH, who remarkably, as a 19 year old also wrote the TOM BAKER (4th Doctor) 4-part television story 'FULL CIRCLE' back in 1980.

'FULL CIRCLE' featured LALLA WARD as ROMANA (above) and the very first appearance of MATTHEW WATERHOUSE as ADRIC (above) as well as THE MARSHMEN (below) ... 

So clearly 'The Sontaran Ordeal' has a very good pedigree with Andrew on writing duties. I can't wait to hear the outcome when it's released in a matter of weeks. "SONTAR-HA!"

A happy return to Big Finish for 'PATHFINDER LEGENDS' Series 3 ...

I had the greatest of pleasures returning to the cast of 'PATHFINDER LEGENDS' on Monday at The Soundhouse Studios in London.

The majority of the cast are pictured here; Back row: Richard Katz, Kate Brown, Stewart Alexander, Imogen Church, John Green Front Row: Ian Brooker, Trevor Littledale, John Ainsworth, Kerry Skinner, Sean Connolly and David Bryher.

Series 3 of the adventures based on the Role Playing Game 'PATHFINDERS' is produced by BIG FINISH for Paizo ...

Release details have yet to be announced ...

Doctor Who Audio Covers & Vocal Samples - BIG FINISH.

Following my recent work with BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS, I thought it might be fun to look back at some of the Audio Adventures I've been involved in so far. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the design guys at Big Finish are going to come up with for the individual cover of 'Doctor Who: Classic Doctors - New Monsters - The Sontaran Ordeal'.

From my SOUNDCLOUD site, here's some audio samples of my work with Big Finish. 

Sean The Sheep ..? Nope Sean The Sontaran!

Christopher Ryan, Josette Simon and Sean Connolly, cast members on 'Doctor Who: Classic Doctors - New Monsters - The Sontaran Ordeal' from Big Finish Productions. 

I had the great thrill to be back in the Big Finish Productions studios recently to record a terrific new audio adventure called 'THE SONTARAN ORDEAL'. It's one story from a brand new box-set of four adventures, featuring Classic Doctors (PAUL MCGANN on this occasion) with monsters from the new series of Doctor Who! The casting news of 'THE SONTARAN ORDEAL' was broken a few days ago on the BIG FINISH website.

It is with much delight that I can announce that I will be playing a SONTARAN called Ensign Stipe (more character details to come!).

Cover for the 4 adventure box-set release of 'DOCTOR WHO: CLASSIC DOCTORS - NEW MONSTERS'

Great fun in studio as always and director BARNABY EDWARDS had assembled an excellent cast, including CHRISTOPHER RYAN, the first actor to portray a Sontaran in the new 'DOCTOR WHO' era.

Of course for many he will also be known as MIKE (The Cool Person) from the BBC comedy series 'THE YOUNG ONES'. He has also appeared in 'ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS', 'BOTTOM' and 'ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES'.  

We shared many positive stories about being a short actor. He is five foot nothing and I tower above him at five foot three! I joked that he was probably the reason I had never been cast as a Sontaran 'on the telly'! Once the BBC had cast Chris as GENERAL STAAL back in 2008, it was never going to be. With the Sontarans being a clone race, once they had settled on Chris as their Sontaran template, even I was always going to be TOO TALL FOR A SONTARAN!! Thankfully on audio, actual height doesn't matter in the slightest. I remember once playing a six foot burly builder in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of AMANDA WHITTINGTON'S stage play 'BOLLYWOOD JANE'. So in the same spirit of playing 'up' height-wise, I can also play 'down', hurrah for audio!!

Sean Connolly and Christopher Ryan relax on a break in the recording of 'THE SONTARAN ORDEAL'

Then there was The Doctor played on this occasion by PAUL MCGANN, in his element with JOSETTE SIMON and DAN STARKEY completing the cast. It was great to be in studio with such experienced actors with so many credits between them. Paul is probably best known for being the 8TH DOCTOR as well as playing Marwood in the iconic film 'WITHNAIL AND I' opposite Richard E. Grant and the BBC series 'THE MONOCLED MUTINEER'. More recently he has been seen in 'LUTHER', 'WAKING THE DEAD' and 'RIPPER STREET'. It was great to finally work with him in a 'DOCTOR WHO' context after last working with him on a Non-Who related play for BBC Radio 4, almost 20 years ago!

After working with 'BLAKE'S 7' actor GARETH THOMAS last month with SPITEFUL PUPPET (see 15th JUNE Blog Post), it was another big thrill for me to work with yet another cast member, the ageless Josette Simon. Josette played Dayna Mellanby in the classic 1980's BBC Sci-Fi series, as well as appearing in 'CRY FREEDOM' with Denzel Washington.

Completing the SONTARAN ROYALTY was DAN STARKEY who in recent years has taken over CHRISTOPHER RYAN'S mantle as chief 'DOCTOR WHO' Sontaran actor, playing 'STRAX' and 'COMMANDER SKORR'. Dan has also appeared in 3 seasons of the CBBC Sci-Fi series 'WIZARD'S AND ALIENS', as well as 'THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES' and a recent episode of 'INSIDE NO.9'.

'Doctor Who: Classic Doctors - New Monsters - The Sontaran Ordeal' is to be released in 2016 ... can I wait that long! Check back for further news on an exact RELEASE DATE.

Doctor Who Audio specialists Big Finish Productions release third adventure based on best selling RPG 'PATHFINDER'

‘PATHFINDER LEGENDS: RISE OF THE RUNELORDS - THE HOOK MOUNTAIN MASSACRE' from Big Finish Productions is released.

The second of the two adventures I recorded for Doctor Who Audio specialists BIG FINISH has just been released on CD and Download. ‘PATHFINDER LEGENDS: RISE OF THE RUNELORDS - THE HOOK MOUNTAIN MASSACRE’ is a non-Who series based on the best selling global role playing game by Piazo.

I play the dual roles of heroic ogre-killing ranger Jakardros Sovark, one of the last remaining Black Arrows and Haldmeer Grobaras, the rather unpleasant Mayor of Magnimar. Director for Big Finish was John Ainsworth.

A Jakardros Sovark character card and mini figure with Lord Mayor of Magnimar - Haldmer Grobaras. 

Sean is back at Big Finish Productions recording new non-Who audio adventure series.

The fantastic cover for 'PATHFINDER LEGENDS: RISE OF THE RUNELORDS - THE SKINSAW MURDERS' from Big Finish Productions.

Great news, I've just recorded a brand new audio adventure for Doctor Who Audio specialists BIG FINISH. This time it’s a non-Who series called 'PATHFINDER LEGENDS: RISE OF THE RUNELORDS'. The first of the two adventures 'THE SKINSAW MURDERS' in which I play Zombie-fied Farmer Grump (below), will be released in MAY next year. 

Some of the cast below are from left to right; Helen Goldwyn, John Ainsworth (Director), Kerry Skinner, Sean Connolly, Stewart Alexander, Ian Brooker and Trevor Littledale.