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Many of those involved in the Audio Visuals went on to work on [[BBV Productions]] (founded by Bill Baggs) or Big Finish Productions, which in 1999 began producing licensed ''Doctor Who'' audio drama under the guidance of Gary Russell. Nicholas Briggs has worked for both BBV and Big Finish as an actor and as a writer. He also worked on additional Doctor Who-related/inspired productions for [[Reeltime Pictures]] and beginning in 2005, has done vocal work as [[Dalek]]s and other roles for the new ''Doctor Who'' series.
Many of those involved in the Audio Visuals went on to work on [[BBV Productions]] (founded by Bill Baggs) or Big Finish Productions, which in 1999 began producing licensed ''Doctor Who'' audio drama under the guidance of Gary Russell. Nicholas Briggs has worked for both BBV and Big Finish as an actor and as a writer. He also worked on additional Doctor Who-related/inspired productions for [[Reeltime Pictures]] and beginning in 2005, has done vocal work as [[Dalek]]s and other roles for the new ''Doctor Who'' series.
== List of Audio Visuals stories ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season || Title || Writer || Released || Notes
|-
|0
|''The Space Wail''
| [[Gary Russell]]
| December 1984
|Pilot episode. [[BABE]] later appears in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|-
|rowspan=5|1
|''The Time Ravagers''
|[[Nicholas Briggs]]
|1985
|Introduction of [[Fred|Nicholas Briggs Doctor]]. Features Briggs as the [[Dalek]]s. [[Temperon]] later appears in ''[[The Sirens of Time (audio story)|The Sirens of Time]]''.
|-
| ''Connection 13''
|Stuart Palmer
|1985
| [[Rigellon]]s later mentioned in ''[[Legacy (novel)|Legacy]]''.
|-
| ''Conglomerate''
|Nicholas Briggs
|1985
|Introduces [[Conglomerate]] and [[Drudger]]s.
|-
| ''Cloud of Fear''
|[[Alan W. Lear]]
|1985
|Introduces [[Psionovore]]s.
|-
| ''Shadow World''
|[[Richard Marson]], Deborah Marson
|1985
|Introduces [[Renegade Time Lord]] Askran and the drug [[Sargol]], later mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|-
|rowspan=7|2
| ''Maenad''
|Gary RUssell
|1986
|Introduces [[Ria (Party Animals)|Ria]]. Doctor is exposed to Sargol. [[Calfadoria]] mentioned again in ''[[The Sirens of Time (audio story)|The Sirens of Time]]'' and ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''. [[Cal 2 Medical Research Facility]] and [[Ayn Kranton]] seen in ''Deadfall''. [[Tri-Planet Alliance of Calfadoria]] mentioned in ''[[Business Unusual (novel)|Business Unusual]]''.
|-
| ''The Mutant Phase''
|Nicholas Briggs
|1986
|Daleks return. Adapted as ''[[The Mutant Phase (audio story)|The Mutant Phase]]''.
|-
| ''The Destructor Contract''
|Nicholas Briggs
|1986
|Introduces [[Cuthbert (The Sands of Life)|Cuthbert]]. Temperon reappears.
|-
|''Vilgreth''
|Nicholas Briggs
|1986
|Adapted as ''[[Last of the Titans (audio story)|Last of the Titans]]''
|-
| ''The Trilexia Threat''
|Timothy Holbrooke (Nicholas Briggs & [[John Ainsworth]])
|1986
|[[Trilexia]] return in ''[[Adorable Illusion (novel)|Adorable Illusion]]''
|-
| ''Minuet in Hell''
|Alan W. Lear
|1986
|Psionovores return. Adapted as ''[[Minuet in Hell (audio story)|Minuet in Hell]]''.
|-
| ''Blood Circuit''
|[[Jim Mortimore]]
|1986
|[[Llandros]] mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|-
|rowspan=7|3
| ''Second Solution''
|Jim Mortimore
|1986
|Initiates "Justyce" story arc. Adapted for ''[[Audio Adventures in Time & Space]]'' as ''Republica'', later novelized as [[Republica (novelisation)|Republica]]''.
|-
| ''The Secret of Nematoda''
| Nicholas Briggs
|
|[[Truman Crouch]] introduced. [[Nematodian Border]] mentioned in ''[[Legacy (novel)|Legacy]]''. [[Posedor]] mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|-
| ''Enclave Irrelative''
| Alan W. Lear
|
|Cuthbert returns. [[Frijor III]] mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|-
| ''More than a Messiah''
|[[Nigel Fairs]]
|
| Adapted for ''[[The Stranger (series)|The Stranger]]'' as movie of same name. [[Majus Seventeen]] later mentioned in  ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]''.
|-
| ''Sword of Orion''
|Nicholas Briggs
|
| [[Orion War]] and [[Orion android]]s mentioned in ''[[Legacy (novel)|Legacy]]'' and ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''. Adapted as ''[[Sword of Orion (audio story)|Sword of Orion]]'', leading to further Big Finish use of Orion War, Androids, and [[Garazone]].
|-
| ''Carny''
|Jim Mortimore
|
|Doctor succumbs to Sargol withdrawl.
|-
| ''Planet of Lies''
|Alan W. Lear
|
|Depicts the destruction of [[Gallifrey]] by [[Dalek]]s. This ended up being a plot point within licensed ''Doctor Who'', although in a very different context, in the [[Last Great Time War]].
|-
|rowspan=9|4
| ''Deadfall''
|Gary Russell
|
|Garazone returns and [[Ardethe]] is explored. Adapted into ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|-
| ''Requiem''
|[[Andy Lane]]
|
|Conglomerate returns. [[Gregori Glasst]]  is referenced in ''[[Invasion of the Cat-People (novel)|Invasion of the Cat-People]]'', ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]'', and ''[[Dalek: The Astounding Untold History of the Greatest Enemies of the Universe (short story)|Dalek: The Astounding Untold History of the Greatest Enemies of the Universe]]''. ''Deadfall'' further mentions [[Proot]] and [[Requiem Suite]].
|-
| ''Cuddlesome''
|Nigel Fairs
|
|Askran dies. Adapted as ''[[Cuddlesome (audio story)|Cuddlesome]]''.
|-
|''Endurance''
|Nicholas Briggs
|
|Lord Barset's [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] expedition referenced in ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'' and ''[[City of Devils (comic story)|City of Devils]]''. Lord Barset's grandson attempts to find the [[Silurian]]s' Antarctic city in ''[[Frozen Time (audio story)|Frozen Time]]'' by [[Nicholas Briggs]], who wrote the original story under a [[pseudonym]].
|-
|''Mythos''
|Jim Mortimore
|
|
|-
| ''Truman's Excellent Adventure''
|Gary Russell
|
|
|-
|''Subterfuge''
|Nicholas Briggs
|
|Posedor returns. [[Throxill]], [[Congress of Galactic Ecologists]], [[AMS Horatio]], ''[[Future Hope]]'', and [[Ellinsford]] are mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|-
| ''Geopath''
|[[Stephen Bowkett]]
|
|
|-
| ''Justyce''
|Nicholas Briggs
|
|[[Solaados]], [[Lucinda Vrana]], and [[AMS Sithnar]] are mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|}
=== Season 5 ===
Some further stories were planned but never actually produced.
* ''Spawn of the Beast''<ref>[http://justyce.org/nick-briggs-03-april-2000.html Nick Briggs interview]</ref>
* ''Boom City''<ref>[http://www.justyce.org/gary-russell-interview.html Gary Russell interview]</ref>
* ''Legacy''
* Untitled story by Nigel Fairs<ref>[http://www.justyce.org/nigel-fairs-sept-2000.html Nigel Fairs interview]</ref>


== Relationship to mainstream ''Doctor Who'' universe ==
== Relationship to mainstream ''Doctor Who'' universe ==
Line 37: Line 200:


Separately from this, [[BBV Productions]]' ''Cyber-Hunt'', an audio play in the ''[[Audio Adventures in Time & Space]]'' range which did not feature licensed DWU concepts, and also notable for introducing the [[Cyberon]]s, introduced an amnesiac character going by "Fred" or "the Wanderer", played by Nicholas Briggs. As freely discussed by Briggs in interviews,<ref>[http://justyce.org/nick-briggs-03-april-2000.html Interview of Nicholas Briggs and Gary Russell on Justyce.org in 2000]</ref> Fred was intended to come across as an amnesiac version of his ''Audio Visuals'' Doctor, with the amnesia device allowing the story to continue in a professional context without impinging on the BBC's copyright. Fred reappeared in a second audio, ''Vital Signs'', without the Cyberons. Many years later, BBV Productions published ''[[Cyber-Hunt (novelisation)|Cyber-Hunt]]'', a novelisation of the original audio play which also featured further legal ties to the DWU. The novel reified the effective "decanonisation" of the ''Audio Visuals'' by later licensed media into an in-universe rewriting history, revealing that Fred had formally sacrificed his former identity, allowing another version of him to replace him, as a way of removing the destruction of his homeworld from [[history]].
Separately from this, [[BBV Productions]]' ''Cyber-Hunt'', an audio play in the ''[[Audio Adventures in Time & Space]]'' range which did not feature licensed DWU concepts, and also notable for introducing the [[Cyberon]]s, introduced an amnesiac character going by "Fred" or "the Wanderer", played by Nicholas Briggs. As freely discussed by Briggs in interviews,<ref>[http://justyce.org/nick-briggs-03-april-2000.html Interview of Nicholas Briggs and Gary Russell on Justyce.org in 2000]</ref> Fred was intended to come across as an amnesiac version of his ''Audio Visuals'' Doctor, with the amnesia device allowing the story to continue in a professional context without impinging on the BBC's copyright. Fred reappeared in a second audio, ''Vital Signs'', without the Cyberons. Many years later, BBV Productions published ''[[Cyber-Hunt (novelisation)|Cyber-Hunt]]'', a novelisation of the original audio play which also featured further legal ties to the DWU. The novel reified the effective "decanonisation" of the ''Audio Visuals'' by later licensed media into an in-universe rewriting history, revealing that Fred had formally sacrificed his former identity, allowing another version of him to replace him, as a way of removing the destruction of his homeworld from [[history]].
Minor continuity references to Lord Barset's [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] expedition from ''Endurance'' appear in ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'' and ''[[City of Devils (comic story)|City of Devils]]'' by Audio Visuals veteran [[Gary Russell]]. Lord Barset's grandson attempts to find the [[Silurian]]s' Antarctic city in ''[[Frozen Time (audio story)|Frozen Time]]'' by [[Nicholas Briggs]], who wrote the original story under a [[pseudonym]].
The novel ''[[Legacy (novel)|Legacy]]'', which originally intended to be an Audio Visual, references several things from the series: the [[Nematodian Border]] from ''The Secret of Nematoda'', the [[Orion android]]s from ''Sword of Orion'', and the [[Rigellon]]s from ''Connection 13''. The novel also mentions [[Sargol]], the drug which the Doctor became addicted to across the ''Audio Visuals''.
[[Majus Seventeen]] from ''More Than A Messiah'' is mentioned in the novel ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]''.
The ''Audio Visuals'' story ''Planet of Lies'' depicts the destruction of [[Gallifrey]] by [[Dalek]]s. This ended up being a plot point within licensed ''Doctor Who'', although in a very different context, in the [[Last Great Time War]].
[[Gregori Glasst]], antagonist of ''Requiem'', is referenced in the novels ''[[Invasion of the Cat-People (novel)|Invasion of the Cat-People]]'' and ''[[Dalek: The Astounding Untold History of the Greatest Enemies of the Universe (short story)|Dalek: The Astounding Untold History of the Greatest Enemies of the Universe]]''.
[[Carson's Planet]], originally from ''Cyber-Hunt'', reappeared in ''[["Death to the Daleks!" (audio story)|"Death to the Daleks!"]]''.
The [[Temperon]]s, the [[Conglomerate]], and [[drudger]]s, which first appeared in the Audio Visuals, have also appeared in stories made by Big Finish Productions.


The recurring Audio Visuals villain [[Cuthbert (The Sands of Life)|Cuthbert]] and his [[Conglomerate]] served as arc antagonists for [[series 2 (4DA)|series 2]] and [[series 5 (4DA)|5]] of Big Finish's ''[[Fourth Doctor Adventures (audio series)|Fourth Doctor Adventures]]''.
The recurring Audio Visuals villain [[Cuthbert (The Sands of Life)|Cuthbert]] and his [[Conglomerate]] served as arc antagonists for [[series 2 (4DA)|series 2]] and [[series 5 (4DA)|5]] of Big Finish's ''[[Fourth Doctor Adventures (audio series)|Fourth Doctor Adventures]]''.
Line 76: Line 225:
* ''More Than a Messiah'': ''The Stranger'' series.
* ''More Than a Messiah'': ''The Stranger'' series.
* ''In Memory Alone'': ''The Stranger'' series, based on ''Conglomerate''.
* ''In Memory Alone'': ''The Stranger'' series, based on ''Conglomerate''.
== List of Audio Visuals stories ==
=== Pilot episode ===
* ''The Space Wail''
=== Season 1 ===
* ''The Time Ravagers''
* ''Connection 13''
* ''Conglomerate''
* ''Cloud of Fear''
* ''Shadow World''
=== Season 2 ===
* ''Maenad''
* ''The Mutant Phase''
* ''The Destructor Contract''
* ''Vilgreth''
* ''The Trilexia Threat''
* ''Minuet in Hell''
* ''Blood Circuit''
=== Season 3 ===
* ''Second Solution''
* ''The Secret of Nematoda''
* ''Enclave Irrelative''
* ''More than a Messiah''
* ''Sword of Orion''
* ''Carny''
* ''Planet of Lies''
=== Season 4 ===
* ''Deadfall''
* ''Requiem''
* ''Cuddlesome''
* ''Endurance''
* ''Mythos''
* ''Truman's Excellent Adventure''
* ''Subterfuge''
* ''Geopath''
* ''Justyce''
=== Season 5 ===
Some further stories were planned but never actually produced.
* ''Spawn of the Beast''<ref>[http://justyce.org/nick-briggs-03-april-2000.html Nick Briggs interview]</ref>
* ''Boom City''<ref>[http://www.justyce.org/gary-russell-interview.html Gary Russell interview]</ref>
* ''Legacy''
* Untitled story by Nigel Fairs<ref>[http://www.justyce.org/nigel-fairs-sept-2000.html Nigel Fairs interview]</ref>


== External links ==
== External links ==

Revision as of 07:08, 22 January 2022

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This subject is not a valid source for writing our in-universe articles, and may only be referenced in behind the scenes sections or other invalid-tagged articles.

The Audio Visuals were an unlicensed series of fan Doctor Who audio dramas produced in Britain during 1980s and the early 1990s. Many of the personnel involved would go on to professional work connected with the revived version of Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Big Finish Productions. Twenty-eight audio plays in all were recorded and distributed on cassette between 1984 and 1991.

History

The pilot episode, "The Space Wail", featuring the Doctor as voiced by Stephen Payne, was recorded in 1984. The first full seasons (1985-1988) were produced by Bill Baggs and starred Nicholas Briggs as his own version of the Doctor. The fourth and final season (1989-1991) was produced by Gary Russell. Briggs and Russell would have healthy careers ahead of them in the worlds of Doctor Who and, in the case of Russell, Torchwood as well, both before and after Russell T Davies' revival of the series.

Although the Audio Visuals productions were in violation of copyright, the BBC chose to look the other way. Gary Russell later told an interviewer

We were fans doing some stuff for a handful of people. We never advertised in professional magazines, we kept ourselves to ourselves. In doing so, we broke every copyright rule in the book (hell, Terry Nation would have crucified us — although I think our Dalek stories knocked spots off Saward's!) JNT was certainly aware of us, but he didn't care. Why should he? We were no more than any other fan product and at least we weren't printing articles about him or the show. I doubt Saward knew or cared. He wouldn't know drama if it bit him.Gary Russell [src]

Professional actors, Nabil Shaban (Sil) and Michael Wisher (the first actor to play Davros, as well as the voice of the Daleks in several stories) lent a hand.

Many of those involved in the Audio Visuals went on to work on BBV Productions (founded by Bill Baggs) or Big Finish Productions, which in 1999 began producing licensed Doctor Who audio drama under the guidance of Gary Russell. Nicholas Briggs has worked for both BBV and Big Finish as an actor and as a writer. He also worked on additional Doctor Who-related/inspired productions for Reeltime Pictures and beginning in 2005, has done vocal work as Daleks and other roles for the new Doctor Who series.

List of Audio Visuals stories

Season Title Writer Released Notes
0 The Space Wail Gary Russell December 1984 Pilot episode. BABE later appears in Deadfall.
1 The Time Ravagers Nicholas Briggs 1985 Introduction of Nicholas Briggs Doctor. Features Briggs as the Daleks. Temperon later appears in The Sirens of Time.
Connection 13 Stuart Palmer 1985 Rigellons later mentioned in Legacy.
Conglomerate Nicholas Briggs 1985 Introduces Conglomerate and Drudgers.
Cloud of Fear Alan W. Lear 1985 Introduces Psionovores.
Shadow World Richard Marson, Deborah Marson 1985 Introduces Renegade Time Lord Askran and the drug Sargol, later mentioned in Deadfall.
2 Maenad Gary RUssell 1986 Introduces Ria. Doctor is exposed to Sargol. Calfadoria mentioned again in The Sirens of Time and Deadfall. Cal 2 Medical Research Facility and Ayn Kranton seen in Deadfall. Tri-Planet Alliance of Calfadoria mentioned in Business Unusual.
The Mutant Phase Nicholas Briggs 1986 Daleks return. Adapted as The Mutant Phase.
The Destructor Contract Nicholas Briggs 1986 Introduces Cuthbert. Temperon reappears.
Vilgreth Nicholas Briggs 1986 Adapted as Last of the Titans
The Trilexia Threat Timothy Holbrooke (Nicholas Briggs & John Ainsworth) 1986 Trilexia return in Adorable Illusion
Minuet in Hell Alan W. Lear 1986 Psionovores return. Adapted as Minuet in Hell.
Blood Circuit Jim Mortimore 1986 Llandros mentioned in Deadfall.
3 Second Solution Jim Mortimore 1986 Initiates "Justyce" story arc. Adapted for Audio Adventures in Time & Space as Republica, later novelized as Republica.
The Secret of Nematoda Nicholas Briggs Truman Crouch introduced. Nematodian Border mentioned in Legacy. Posedor mentioned in Deadfall.
Enclave Irrelative Alan W. Lear Cuthbert returns. Frijor III mentioned in Deadfall.
More than a Messiah Nigel Fairs Adapted for The Stranger as movie of same name. Majus Seventeen later mentioned in The Scales of Injustice.
Sword of Orion Nicholas Briggs Orion War and Orion androids mentioned in Legacy and Deadfall. Adapted as Sword of Orion, leading to further Big Finish use of Orion War, Androids, and Garazone.
Carny Jim Mortimore Doctor succumbs to Sargol withdrawl.
Planet of Lies Alan W. Lear Depicts the destruction of Gallifrey by Daleks. This ended up being a plot point within licensed Doctor Who, although in a very different context, in the Last Great Time War.
4 Deadfall Gary Russell Garazone returns and Ardethe is explored. Adapted into Deadfall.
Requiem Andy Lane Conglomerate returns. Gregori Glasst is referenced in Invasion of the Cat-People, Deadfall, and Dalek: The Astounding Untold History of the Greatest Enemies of the Universe. Deadfall further mentions Proot and Requiem Suite.
Cuddlesome Nigel Fairs Askran dies. Adapted as Cuddlesome.
Endurance Nicholas Briggs Lord Barset's Antarctic expedition referenced in The Scales of Injustice and City of Devils. Lord Barset's grandson attempts to find the Silurians' Antarctic city in Frozen Time by Nicholas Briggs, who wrote the original story under a pseudonym.
Mythos Jim Mortimore
Truman's Excellent Adventure Gary Russell
Subterfuge Nicholas Briggs Posedor returns. Throxill, Congress of Galactic Ecologists, AMS Horatio, Future Hope, and Ellinsford are mentioned in Deadfall.
Geopath Stephen Bowkett
Justyce Nicholas Briggs Solaados, Lucinda Vrana, and AMS Sithnar are mentioned in Deadfall.

Season 5

Some further stories were planned but never actually produced.

  • Spawn of the Beast[1]
  • Boom City[2]
  • Legacy
  • Untitled story by Nigel Fairs[3]

Relationship to mainstream Doctor Who universe

Continuity references

The series' version of the Doctor and his companion Ria appeared in the Doctor Who Magazine comic story Party Animals, also written by Gary Russell, with the Audio Visuals Doctor depicted as a future incarnation of the Seventh Doctor. He reappeared in The Incomplete Death's Head (set in part during the events of Party Animals). The multi-part Eighth Doctor story Wormwood saw Shayde, posing as the Doctor, faking a regeneration into a fictitious Ninth Doctor who was identical to the Audio Visuals Doctor. Nicholas Briggs himself would go on to portray alternative versions of the Doctor on two occasions, although neither of them were otherwise depicted as overly similar to the Audio Visuals incarnation, unlike the character's appearances in the aforementioned comics.

Separately from this, BBV Productions' Cyber-Hunt, an audio play in the Audio Adventures in Time & Space range which did not feature licensed DWU concepts, and also notable for introducing the Cyberons, introduced an amnesiac character going by "Fred" or "the Wanderer", played by Nicholas Briggs. As freely discussed by Briggs in interviews,[4] Fred was intended to come across as an amnesiac version of his Audio Visuals Doctor, with the amnesia device allowing the story to continue in a professional context without impinging on the BBC's copyright. Fred reappeared in a second audio, Vital Signs, without the Cyberons. Many years later, BBV Productions published Cyber-Hunt, a novelisation of the original audio play which also featured further legal ties to the DWU. The novel reified the effective "decanonisation" of the Audio Visuals by later licensed media into an in-universe rewriting history, revealing that Fred had formally sacrificed his former identity, allowing another version of him to replace him, as a way of removing the destruction of his homeworld from history.

The recurring Audio Visuals villain Cuthbert and his Conglomerate served as arc antagonists for series 2 and 5 of Big Finish's Fourth Doctor Adventures.

Remakes

A number of remakes or sequels to Audio Visuals stories (some very loosely adapted) have been produced mainly in the form of another audio story created by Big Finish Productions.

Novels

Virgin New Adventures

Audio

Big Finish Productions

Video

BBV Productions

Remakes not based in the Doctor Who universe.

  • More Than a Messiah: The Stranger series.
  • In Memory Alone: The Stranger series, based on Conglomerate.

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Nick Briggs interview
  2. ↑ Gary Russell interview
  3. ↑ Nigel Fairs interview
  4. ↑ Interview of Nicholas Briggs and Gary Russell on Justyce.org in 2000
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