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{{inuse}}{{title dab away}}
{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{Infobox Series
{{Infobox Audio Series
|image            = Oh No It Isn't audio cover.jpg
|image            = Oh No It Isn't audio cover.jpg
|image2            =
|release year     = 1998
|broadcast year = 1998
|release year2     = 2000
|broadcast year2 = 2000
|release count     = 6
|nth season      = 1
|story count       = 6
|ep count       = 6
|first story      = Oh No It Isn't! (audio story)
|story count     = 6
|producer         = Gary Russell
|first ep        = Oh No It Isn't! (audio story)
|exec prod         = Jason Haigh-Ellery
|producer       = Gary Russell
|first release    = September [[1998 (releases)|1998]]
|exec prod       = Jason Haigh-Ellery
|end release      = September [[2000 (releases)|2000]]
|start date      = [[September (releases)|September]] [[1998 (releases)|1998]]
|production codes  = BFPCD1–BFPCD6
|end date        = September [[2000 (releases)|2000]]
|runtime          = 2 CDs
|network        = Big Finish Productions
|publisher        = [[Big Finish Productions]]
|publisher        = Big Finish Productions
|series            = ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]''
|runtime        = 1 or 2 CDs
 
|series            = ''[[Big Finish Bernice Summerfield series|Bernice Summerfield]]''
|number            = 1
|number            = 1
|main character    = [[Bernice Summerfield]]
|main character    = [[Bernice Summerfield]]
|enemy            =
|starring         = Jason Kane
|writer            =
|director         =  
|sound            =
|music            =
|cover            =  
|cover            =  
|release date      =
|format            =  
|format            =  
|ref book          = The Big Finish Companion: Volume 1
|ref book2        = Bernice Summerfield: The Inside Story
|isbn              =  
|isbn              =  
|next              = Series 2 (BFBS)
|next              = Series 2 (BFBS)
|trailer          =
|soundcloudtrailer = https://soundcloud.com/big-finish/big-finish-professor-bernice-summerfield-oh-no-it-isnt
|soundcloudtrailer =  
}}
}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the first series of audios released by [[Big Finish Productions]] in [[1998 (releases)|1998]]–[[2000 (releases)|2000]]. It focused on the character of [[Bernice Summerfield]], created by [[Paul Cornell]]. Unlike all the following seasons, these audios were adaptations of novels from [[Virgin Bernice Summerfield New Adventures]] and some [[Virgin New Adventures]] (with [[the Doctor]] removed or replaced). It was on the strength of these adaptations that Big Finish was granted a licence from the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] to produce original ''[[Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories|Doctor Who]]'' audio dramas in [[1999 (production)|1999]].
The '''first series''' in the ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]'' range of audios was released by [[Big Finish Productions]] in [[1998 (releases)|1998]]–[[2000 (releases)|2000]] and marked the first commercially produced audios by Big Finish. The titular character of the range, [[Bernice Summerfield]], was originally created by [[Paul Cornell]] for [[Virgin New Adventures]] novels. In contrast to the following seasons and, indeed, to most of the audios produced by Big Finish, the first series consisted of six adaptations, or "dramatisations" as they were called on the covers, of [[Virgin Bernice Summerfield New Adventures]] and some Virgin New Adventures (in the latter, the character of [[the Doctor]] had to be omitted or replaced). It was on the strength of these adaptations that Big Finish were granted a licence from the [[BBC]] to produce original ''[[Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories|Doctor Who]]'' audio dramas in [[1999 (production)|1999]].
 
The season included 6 regular releases and one limited-edition bonus release. Three of the releases (3–5) formed the "Time Ring Trilogy". [[Lisa Bowerman]] was cast for the titular role of Benny and remained the only actress to embody the role for 20 years and counting. For supporting roles, Big Finish were able to secure the talents of several prominent actors of televised ''[[Doctor Who]]'' fame, including [[Colin Baker]] and [[Nicholas Courtney]], best known as the [[Sixth Doctor]] and Brigadier [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Lethbridge-Stewart]] respectively. The producer [[Gary Russell]] had been even more recently involved in writing the [[The Novel of the Film (novelisation)|novelisation]] of the [[1996 (releases)|1996]] ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'' TV movie. [[Nicholas Briggs]], who directed several of the adaptations, came into the production with the fresh experience of making unlicensed ''[[Audio Visuals (fan work)|Audio Visuals]]'' ''Doctor Who'' audios.


== Overview ==
== Overview ==
''to be added''
With all six regular stories being adaptations, their original authors were credited alongside [[Jacqueline Rayner]], who "dramatised" all stories except for ''[[Beyond the Sun (audio story)|Beyond the Sun]]'', which was adapted by its author [[Matt Jones (writer)|Matt Jones]]. The bonus ''[[Buried Treasures (audio anthology)|Buried Treasures]]'' release featured two original short stories by Rayner and [[Paul Cornell]]. These two stories held the distinction of being the first original stories recorded by [[Big Finish Productions]], but were overtaken on the release stage by ''[[The Sirens of Time (audio story)|The Sirens of Time]]''.
 
The first five regular releases were produced in two variants: on two cassettes or two CDs. Only ''[[Dragons' Wrath (audio story)|Dragons' Wrath]]'' was squeezed into one CD, whereas the cassette format has been abandoned altogether. The bonus release was also distributed on a cassette or CD, but, being limited edition, has long been out of print and became a rarity. The cassette releases have been discontinued. {{As of|2021|4}}, all stories from the season were available as downloads, with some also  remaining in stock on CD.
 
Apart from actors already known to ''Doctor Who'' fans, the series witnessed debuts of many actors who would later have an extensive career in Big Finish dramas and sometimes beyond. [[Mark Gatiss]], [[Barnaby Edwards]] and [[Maggie Stables]] are all graduates of this season, to name just a few.
 
The production process was not yet completely stabilised sometimes causing significant delays. For instance, the problems with the recording studio and post-production for the sixth story ''Dragons' Wrath'', adapted with all the others, resulted in a 12-month gap between the recording and the final release. But by the end of the season many recognisable fixtures of the series were already in place, including the "Professor Bernice Summerfield" logo by [[Paul Vyse]] and the music theme.


== Actors featured on covers ==
== Featured actors ==
* [[Lisa Bowerman]]
* [[Lisa Bowerman]]
* [[Nicholas Courtney]]
* [[Nicholas Courtney]]
Line 48: Line 48:
* [[Stephen Fewell]]
* [[Stephen Fewell]]
* [[Richard Franklin]]
* [[Richard Franklin]]
Aldred, Baker, Courtney, Franklin, Sladen and Wills were all known for their ''Doctor Who'' roles, which they would all eventually reprise in [[Big Finish Productions|Big Finish]] audio dramas.
== Stories ==
=== Regular releases ===
{| {{prettytable}}
! # || Title || Author || Director || Featuring || Released || Pr. code
|-
|1
|''[[Oh No It Isn't! (audio story)|Oh No It Isn't!]]''
|[[Paul Cornell]] and [[Jacqueline Rayner]]
|[[Nicholas Briggs]]
|
|rowspan=2|[[September (releases)|September]] [[1998 (releases)|1998]]
|BFPCD1
|-
|2
|''[[Beyond the Sun (audio story)|Beyond the Sun]]''
|[[Matt Jones (writer)|Matt Jones]]
|rowspan=2|[[Gary Russell]]
|[[Jason Kane]]
|BFPCD2
|-
|3
|''[[Walking to Babylon (audio story)|Walking to Babylon]]''
|[[Kate Orman]] and Jacqueline Rayner
|rowspan=2|{{il|Jason Kane|[[John Lafayette]]}}
|[[January (releases)|January]] [[1999 (releases)|1999]]
|BFPCD3
|rowspan=3|{{il|The Time|Ring|Trilogy}}
|-
|4
|''[[Birthright (audio story)|Birthright]]''
|[[Nigel Robinson]] and Jacqueline Rayner
|Nicholas Briggs
|[[February (releases)|February]] 1999
|BFPCD4
|-
|5
|''[[Just War (audio story)|Just War]]''
|[[Lance Parkin]] and Jacqueline Rayner
|See [[Just War (audio story)#Notes|note]]
|Jason Kane
|[[August (releases)|August]] 1999
|BFPCD5
|-
|6
|''[[Dragons' Wrath (audio story)|Dragons' Wrath]]''
|[[Justin Richards]] and Jacqueline Rayner
|[[Ed Salt]]
|
|September [[2000 (releases)|2000]]
|BFPCD6
|}
=== Special release ===
Alongside ''Just War'' in August 1999, subscribers to the Time Ring Trilogy received an additional bonus release ''[[Buried Treasures (audio anthology)|Buried Treasures]]'' with two original short stories:
{| {{prettytable}}
! Title || Author || Director
|-
||''[[Making Myths (audio story)|Making Myths]]''
|| Jacqueline Rayner
| rowspan="2" | [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]
|-
|| ''[[Closure (audio story)|Closure]]'' || [[Paul Cornell]] 
|}


== Production ==
== Production ==
{{section stub}}
{| class="wikitable"
=== Crew ===
|-
==== Producers ====
!# || Title || Recorded on || Recorded at
''to be added''
|-
|1
|''[[Oh No It Isn't! (audio story)|Oh No It Isn't]]''
|[[25 June (production)|25]] and [[26 June (production)|26 June]] [[1998 (production)|1998]]
|[[Intergalactic Arts]], [[London]]
|-
|2
|''[[Beyond the Sun (audio story)|Beyond the Sun]]''
|[[6 August (production)|6]] and [[7 August (production)|7 August]] 1998
|rowspan=4|[[Crosstown Studios]], London
|-
|3
|''[[Walking to Babylon (audio story)|Walking to Babylon]]''
|rowspan=2|[[5 November (production)|5]] and [[6 November (production)|6 November]] 1998
|-
|4
|''[[Birthright (audio story)|Birthright]]''
|-
|5
|''[[Just War (audio story)|Just War]]''
|[[13 March (production)|13]] and [[14 March (production)|14 March]] [[1999 (production)|1999]]
|-
|6
|''[[Dragons' Wrath (audio story)|Dragons' Wrath]]''
|[[7 September (production)|7 September]] 1999
|[[Harvey Summers]]' Studio, [[Hastings]]
|}


==== Writers ====
== Cover art ==
''to be added''
The cover art for the season was heavily based on the book cover art of the adapted novels. The only exception was the cover for ''[[Walking to Babylon (audio story)|Walking to Babylon]]'', which still represents the same scene as the book cover but drawn anew from a different angle.


==== Directors ====
Despite this uniform basic idea, the covers went through several styles during the season. The first two releases added the image of reclining [[Bernice Summerfield]] as drawn by [[Lee Sullivan]] overlayed in the bottom right corner of the cropped book cover. This image also formed the cover of the subscriber-only special release ''[[Buried Treasures (audio anthology)|Buried Treasures]]''.
''to be added''
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true" caption="Covers with Lee Sullivan's art">
Oh No It Isn't audio cover.jpg|''[[Oh No It Isn't! (audio story)|Oh No It Isn't!]]''
Beyond the Sun audio cover.jpg|''[[Beyond the Sun (audio story)|Beyond the Sun]]''
Buried Treasures.jpg|''Buried Treasures''
</gallery>


For the releases 3–5, which form the "Time Ring Trilogy", the cover style was modified to include a ring motif. In addition to several typographical changes, photos of featured actors were placed on the cover.
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true" caption="Covers with the ring motif">
Walking to Babylon audio cover.jpg|''[[Walking to Babylon (audio story)|Walking to Babylon]]''
Birthright audio cover.jpg|''[[Birthright (audio story)|Birthright]]''
Just War audio cover.jpg|''[[Just War (audio story)|Just War]]''
</gallery>


== Stories ==
Finally, the last, sixth regular release of the season saw the introduction of "Professor Bernice Summerfield" logo designed by [[Paul Vyse]]. It has become a standard fixture for the range and was even applied retroactively when the first five regular stories were rereleased. The placement of the logo in the top left corner required using mirror images for some of the covers. The Time Ring Trilogy retained its ring motif, but Sullivan's Benny was gone. With the hindsight of [[Jason Kane]]'s role in the range, [[Stephen Fewell]], the actor portraying him, was added as "starring" on the covers of stories he appeared in, whereas the authors of the original novels were removed.
''to be added
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true" caption="New covers with Paul Vyse's logo">
OhNoItIsnt cover without Benny.jpg|''Oh No It Isn't!''
BeyondTheSun cover without Benny.jpg|''Beyond the Sun''
WalkingToBabylon cover with logo.jpg|''Walking to Babylon''
Birthright cover with logo.jpg|''Birthright''
JustWar with logo.jpg|''Just War''
Dragons Wrath audio cover.jpg|''[[Dragons' Wrath (audio story)|Dragons' Wrath]]''
</gallery>


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
Line 69: Line 178:


== External links ==
== External links ==
 
{{bigfinish|releases/popout/oh-no-it-isn-t-8|Series 1 trailer}}
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}




Line 77: Line 184:


{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:Audio overviews]]
 
[[Category:BFBS audio series]]
[[Category:BFBS series]]

Latest revision as of 07:42, 29 June 2024

RealWorld.png

The first series in the Bernice Summerfield range of audios was released by Big Finish Productions in 1998–2000 and marked the first commercially produced audios by Big Finish. The titular character of the range, Bernice Summerfield, was originally created by Paul Cornell for Virgin New Adventures novels. In contrast to the following seasons and, indeed, to most of the audios produced by Big Finish, the first series consisted of six adaptations, or "dramatisations" as they were called on the covers, of Virgin Bernice Summerfield New Adventures and some Virgin New Adventures (in the latter, the character of the Doctor had to be omitted or replaced). It was on the strength of these adaptations that Big Finish were granted a licence from the BBC to produce original Doctor Who audio dramas in 1999.

The season included 6 regular releases and one limited-edition bonus release. Three of the releases (3–5) formed the "Time Ring Trilogy". Lisa Bowerman was cast for the titular role of Benny and remained the only actress to embody the role for 20 years and counting. For supporting roles, Big Finish were able to secure the talents of several prominent actors of televised Doctor Who fame, including Colin Baker and Nicholas Courtney, best known as the Sixth Doctor and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart respectively. The producer Gary Russell had been even more recently involved in writing the novelisation of the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie. Nicholas Briggs, who directed several of the adaptations, came into the production with the fresh experience of making unlicensed Audio Visuals Doctor Who audios.

Overview[[edit] | [edit source]]

With all six regular stories being adaptations, their original authors were credited alongside Jacqueline Rayner, who "dramatised" all stories except for Beyond the Sun, which was adapted by its author Matt Jones. The bonus Buried Treasures release featured two original short stories by Rayner and Paul Cornell. These two stories held the distinction of being the first original stories recorded by Big Finish Productions, but were overtaken on the release stage by The Sirens of Time.

The first five regular releases were produced in two variants: on two cassettes or two CDs. Only Dragons' Wrath was squeezed into one CD, whereas the cassette format has been abandoned altogether. The bonus release was also distributed on a cassette or CD, but, being limited edition, has long been out of print and became a rarity. The cassette releases have been discontinued. As of April 2021, all stories from the season were available as downloads, with some also remaining in stock on CD.

Apart from actors already known to Doctor Who fans, the series witnessed debuts of many actors who would later have an extensive career in Big Finish dramas and sometimes beyond. Mark Gatiss, Barnaby Edwards and Maggie Stables are all graduates of this season, to name just a few.

The production process was not yet completely stabilised sometimes causing significant delays. For instance, the problems with the recording studio and post-production for the sixth story Dragons' Wrath, adapted with all the others, resulted in a 12-month gap between the recording and the final release. But by the end of the season many recognisable fixtures of the series were already in place, including the "Professor Bernice Summerfield" logo by Paul Vyse and the music theme.

Featured actors[[edit] | [edit source]]

Aldred, Baker, Courtney, Franklin, Sladen and Wills were all known for their Doctor Who roles, which they would all eventually reprise in Big Finish audio dramas.

Stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

Regular releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

# Title Author Director Featuring Released Pr. code
1 Oh No It Isn't! Paul Cornell and Jacqueline Rayner Nicholas Briggs September 1998 BFPCD1
2 Beyond the Sun Matt Jones Gary Russell Jason Kane BFPCD2
3 Walking to Babylon Kate Orman and Jacqueline Rayner
Jason Kane
John Lafayette
 January 1999 BFPCD3
The Time
Ring
Trilogy
4 Birthright Nigel Robinson and Jacqueline Rayner Nicholas Briggs February 1999 BFPCD4
5 Just War Lance Parkin and Jacqueline Rayner See note Jason Kane August 1999 BFPCD5
6 Dragons' Wrath Justin Richards and Jacqueline Rayner Ed Salt September 2000 BFPCD6

Special release[[edit] | [edit source]]

Alongside Just War in August 1999, subscribers to the Time Ring Trilogy received an additional bonus release Buried Treasures with two original short stories:

Title Author Director
Making Myths Jacqueline Rayner Jason Haigh-Ellery
Closure Paul Cornell

Production[[edit] | [edit source]]

# Title Recorded on Recorded at
1 Oh No It Isn't 25 and 26 June 1998 Intergalactic Arts, London
2 Beyond the Sun 6 and 7 August 1998 Crosstown Studios, London
3 Walking to Babylon 5 and 6 November 1998
4 Birthright
5 Just War 13 and 14 March 1999
6 Dragons' Wrath 7 September 1999 Harvey Summers' Studio, Hastings

Cover art[[edit] | [edit source]]

The cover art for the season was heavily based on the book cover art of the adapted novels. The only exception was the cover for Walking to Babylon, which still represents the same scene as the book cover but drawn anew from a different angle.

Despite this uniform basic idea, the covers went through several styles during the season. The first two releases added the image of reclining Bernice Summerfield as drawn by Lee Sullivan overlayed in the bottom right corner of the cropped book cover. This image also formed the cover of the subscriber-only special release Buried Treasures.

For the releases 3–5, which form the "Time Ring Trilogy", the cover style was modified to include a ring motif. In addition to several typographical changes, photos of featured actors were placed on the cover.

Finally, the last, sixth regular release of the season saw the introduction of "Professor Bernice Summerfield" logo designed by Paul Vyse. It has become a standard fixture for the range and was even applied retroactively when the first five regular stories were rereleased. The placement of the logo in the top left corner required using mirror images for some of the covers. The Time Ring Trilogy retained its ring motif, but Sullivan's Benny was gone. With the hindsight of Jason Kane's role in the range, Stephen Fewell, the actor portraying him, was added as "starring" on the covers of stories he appeared in, whereas the authors of the original novels were removed.

  • New covers with Paul Vyse's logo
  • Oh No It Isn't!

    Oh No It Isn't!

  • Beyond the Sun

    Beyond the Sun

  • Walking to Babylon

    Walking to Babylon

  • Birthright

    Birthright

  • Just War

    Just War

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]


v • e
Bernice Summerfield
 
Audio stories
The original series of Bernice Summerfield ran from 1998 to 2013, followed by The New Adventures.
Series 1
Series 2
Series 3
Series 4
Series 5
Series 6
Series 7
Series 8
Series 9
Series 10
Series 11
Epoch
Road Trip
Legion
New Frontiers
Missing Persons
The New
Adventures
of Bernice
Summerfield
The New Adventures of
Bernice Summerfield
The Triumph of Sutekh
The Unbound Universe
Ruler of the Universe
Buried Memories
Lost in Translation
Blood & Steel
The Eternity Club 1
The Eternity Club 2
The Eternity Club 3
The Story So Far
Volume One
Volume Two
The Christmas
Collection
Special releases
 
Prose
Anthologies
Novels
 
Webcasts
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