Audio Visuals (fan work): Difference between revisions

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The '''''Audio Visuals''''' were an [[Fan fiction|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 (TV series)|Torchwood]]'', and [[Big Finish Productions]]. Twenty-nine audio plays in all were recorded and distributed on cassette between 1984 and 1991.
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 (TV series)|Torchwood]]'', and [[Big Finish Productions]]. Twenty-eight audio plays in all were recorded and distributed on cassette between 1984 and 1991.


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


{{quote|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 [[Eric Saward|Saward]]'s!) [[John Nathan-Turner|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]]|http://justyce.org/gary-russell-interview.html}}
: ''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 [[Eric Saward|Saward]]'s!) [[John Nathan-Turner|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.''


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.
: [[Gary Russell]]<ref>http://justyce.org/gary-russell-interview.html</ref>
 
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. During the fourth season's production, [[Nigel Fairs]] began developing his original sci-fi series ''[[Pisces (series)|Pisces]]'', which had several Audio Visuals regulars in it and shared continuity with the fan series.[http://www.justyce.org/nigel-fairs-sept-2000.html] 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. During the fourth season's production, [[Nigel Fairs]] began developing his original sci-fi series ''[[Pisces (series)|Pisces]]'', which had several Audio Visuals regulars in it and shared continuity with the fan series.[http://www.justyce.org/nigel-fairs-sept-2000.html] 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.
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|[[Nicholas Briggs]]
|[[Nicholas Briggs]]
|1985
|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]]''.
|Introduction of [[Fred|Nicholas Briggs Doctor]]. Features Briggs as the [[Dalek]]s. [[Temperon]] is mentioned in ''[[Food for Thought (comic story)|Food for Thought]]'' and features in ''[[The Sirens of Time (audio story)|The Sirens of Time]]''.
|-
|-
| ''Connection 13''
| ''Connection 13''
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|Nicholas Briggs
|Nicholas Briggs
|1985
|1985
|Introduces [[Conglomerate]] and [[Drudger]]s.
|Introduces [[Conglomerate]] and [[Drudger]]s. Adapted for BBV's ''[[The Stranger (series)|The Stranger]]'' series as ''In Memory Alone.''
|-
|-
| ''Cloud of Fear''
| ''Cloud of Fear''
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|Alan W. Lear
|Alan W. Lear
|1986
|1986
|Psionovores return. Adapted as ''[[Minuet in Hell (audio story)|Minuet in Hell]]''.
| Loosely adapted as ''[[Minuet in Hell (audio story)|Minuet in Hell]]''. [[Gosolus]] and the [[Gosolan conflict]] are mentioned in ''[[The Infinity Doctors (novel)|The Infinity Doctors]]''
|-
|-
| ''Blood Circuit''
| ''Blood Circuit''
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| ''The Secret of Nematoda''
| ''The Secret of Nematoda''
| Nicholas Briggs
| Nicholas Briggs
|
|rowspan=15|N/A
|[[Truman Crouch]] introduced. [[Nematodian Border]] mentioned in ''[[Legacy (novel)|Legacy]]''. [[Posedor]] mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|[[Truman Crouch]] introduced. [[Nematodian Border]] mentioned in ''[[Legacy (novel)|Legacy]]''. [[Posedor]] mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|-
|-
| ''Enclave Irrelative''
| ''Enclave Irrelative''
| Alan W. Lear
| Alan W. Lear
|
|Cuthbert returns. [[Frijor III]] mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|Cuthbert returns. [[Frijor III]] mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|-
|-
| ''More than a Messiah''
| ''More than a Messiah''
|[[Nigel Fairs]]
|[[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]]''.
| 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''
| ''Sword of Orion''
|Nicholas Briggs
|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]].
| [[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''
| ''Carny''
|Jim Mortimore
|Jim Mortimore
|
|Doctor succumbs to Sargol withdrawl.
|Doctor succumbs to Sargol withdrawl.
|-
|-
| ''Planet of Lies''
| ''Planet of Lies''
|Alan W. Lear
|Alan W. Lear
|
|Depicts the destruction of [[Gallifrey]] by [[Dalek]]s, alluded to in ''[[The Infinity Doctors (novel)|The Infinity Doctors]]''{{'}}s introduction of [[Last Contact]]. This ended up being a plot point within licensed ''Doctor Who'', although in a very different context, in the [[Last Great Time War]].
|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
|rowspan=9|4
| ''Deadfall''
| ''Deadfall''
|Gary Russell
|Gary Russell
|
|Garazone returns and [[Ardethe]] is explored. Adapted into ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|Garazone returns and [[Ardethe]] is explored. Adapted into ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|-
|-
| ''Requiem''
| ''Requiem''
|[[Andy Lane]]
|[[Andy Lane]]
|
|Conglomerate returns. [[Gregori Glasst]] and [[Proot]] are referenced in ''[[Invasion of the Cat-People (novel)|Invasion of the Cat-People]]'' and ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''; ''[[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]]'' also names Glasst. ''Deadfall'' further mentions the ''[[Requiem Suite]]''. Adapted as ''[[Requiem (novel)|Requiem]]''.
|Conglomerate returns. [[Gregori Glasst]] and [[Proot]] are referenced in ''[[Invasion of the Cat-People (novel)|Invasion of the Cat-People]]'' and ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''; ''[[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]]'' also names Glasst. ''Deadfall'' further mentions the ''[[Requiem Suite]]''.
|-
|-
| ''Cuddlesome''
| ''Cuddlesome''
|Nigel Fairs
|Nigel Fairs
|
|Askran dies. Adapted as ''[[Cuddlesome (audio story)|Cuddlesome]]''.
|Askran dies. Adapted as ''[[Cuddlesome (audio story)|Cuddlesome]]''.
|-  
|-  
|''Endurance''
|''Endurance''
|Nicholas Briggs
|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]]''. [[Barset|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]].
|[[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]]''. [[Barset|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''
|''Mythos''
|Jim Mortimore
|Jim Mortimore
|
|
|
|-
|-
| ''Truman's Excellent Adventure''
| ''Truman's Excellent Adventure''
|Gary Russell
|Gary Russell
|
|References secrets of [[cat]]s from Russell's ''[[The Legacy of Gallifrey (short story)|The Legacy of Gallifrey]]''. A version of [[Smokey (Deadfall)|Smokey]] reappears in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|References secrets of [[cat]]s from Russell's ''[[The Legacy of Gallifrey (short story)|The Legacy of Gallifrey]]''. A version of [[Smokey (Deadfall)|Smokey]] reappears in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.
|-
|-
|''Subterfuge''
|''Subterfuge''
|Nicholas Briggs
|Nicholas Briggs
|
|Cuthbert, Conglomerate, Drudgers, and Posedor return. [[Throxill]], [[Congress of Galactic Ecologists]], ''[[Future Hope]]'', and [[Ellinsford]] are mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''. [[Griffelian V]] and [[Griffelian]]s mentioned in ''[[City of Devils (comic story)|City of Devils]]''. Loosely adapted as ''[[The Pursuit of History (audio story)|The Pursuit of History]]'' / ''[[Casualties of Time (audio story)|Casualties of Time]]''.
|Cuthbert, Conglomerate, Drudgers, and Posedor return. [[Throxill]], [[Congress of Galactic Ecologists]], ''[[Future Hope]]'', and [[Ellinsford]] are mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''. [[Griffelian V]] and [[Griffelian]]s mentioned in ''[[City of Devils (comic story)|City of Devils]]''. Loosely adapted as ''[[The Pursuit of History (audio story)|The Pursuit of History]]'' / ''[[Casualties of Time (audio story)|Casualties of Time]]''.
|-
|-
| ''Geopath''
| ''Geopath''
|[[Stephen Bowkett]]
|[[Stephen Bowkett]]
|
|
|
|-
|-
| ''Justyce''
| ''Justyce''
|Nicholas Briggs
|Nicholas Briggs
|
|[[Solaados]], [[Solaadon]]s, [[Lucinda Vrana]], [[AMS Horatio]], and [[AMS Sithnar]] are mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''. Solaadons also mentioned in ''[[Prelude Legacy (short story)|Prelude Legacy]]''. ''[[Cyber-Hunt (novelisation)|Cyber-Hunt]]'' directly follows from the ending of this story.
|[[Solaados]], [[Solaadon]]s, [[Lucinda Vrana]], [[AMS Horatio]], and [[AMS Sithnar]] are mentioned in ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''. Solaadons also mentioned in ''[[Prelude Legacy (short story)|Prelude Legacy]]''. ''[[Cyber-Hunt (novelisation)|Cyber-Hunt]]'' directly follows from the ending of this story.
|}
|}
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* ''Spawn of the Beast''<ref>[http://justyce.org/nick-briggs-03-april-2000.html Nick Briggs interview]</ref>
* ''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>
* ''Boom City''<ref>[http://www.justyce.org/gary-russell-interview.html Gary Russell interview]</ref>
* ''Legacy''
* ''Legacy''{{fact}}
* ''Ice''<ref>http://www.justyce.org/gary-russell-28-march-2000.html</ref>
* Untitled story by Nigel Fairs<ref>[http://www.justyce.org/nigel-fairs-sept-2000.html Nigel Fairs interview]</ref>
* 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 ==
=== Continuity references ===
=== Continuity references ===
The series' [[Fred|version of the Doctor]] and his companion [[Ria (Party Animals)|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 (comic story)|The Incomplete Death's Head]]'' (set in part during the events of ''Party Animals''). The multi-part [[Eighth Doctor]] story ''[[Wormwood (comic 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 [[Previous Doctor (Seven Keys to Doomsday)|two]] [[Previous Doctor (Exile)|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.
The series' [[Fred|version of the Doctor]] and his companion [[Ria (Party Animals)|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 for one panel in ''[[The Incomplete Death's Head (comic story)|The Incomplete Death's Head]]'' (set in part during the events of ''Party Animals''). The multi-part [[Eighth Doctor]] story ''[[Wormwood (comic 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 [[Previous Doctor (Seven Keys to Doomsday)|two]] [[Previous Doctor (Exile)|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 [[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]].


As noted in this page's story notes, minor continuity references to the ''Audio Visuals'' have since appeared in many official ''Doctor Who'' stories, particularly in the early work of [[Gary Russell]] and various [[Big Finish Productions]] releases. [[Jim Mortimore]]'s ''[[The Natural History of Fear (audio story)|The Natural History of Fear]]'' used a version of the ''Doctor Who'' theme which Mortimore had composed for the ''Audio Visuals''. [[Cavan Scott]], a fan of the ''Audio Visuals'', originally intended to feature the recurring villain Askran in ''[[Project Twilight (audio story)|Project: Twilight]]'' in the role which was later filled by [[Nimrod]]; Scott has since included several small nods to the ''Audio Visuals'' in his work.<ref>''Project Valhalla'' afterword</ref> 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]]''.
As noted in this page's story notes, minor continuity references to the ''Audio Visuals'' have since appeared in many official ''Doctor Who'' stories, particularly in the early work of [[Gary Russell]] and various [[Big Finish Productions]] releases. [[Jim Mortimore]]'s ''[[The Natural History of Fear (audio story)|The Natural History of Fear]]'' used a version of the ''Doctor Who'' theme which Mortimore had composed for the ''Audio Visuals''. [[Cavan Scott]], a fan of the ''Audio Visuals'', originally intended to feature the recurring villain Askran in ''[[Project Twilight (audio story)|Project: Twilight]]'' in the role which was later filled by [[William Abberton|Nimrod]]; Scott has since included several small nods to the ''Audio Visuals'' in his work.<ref>''Project Valhalla'' afterword</ref> 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]]''.


=== Remakes ===
=== 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]].
A number of remakes 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 ====
==== Novels ====
===== [[Virgin New Adventures]] =====
{| class="wikitable"
* ''[[Legacy (novel)|Legacy]]'': Based on an unproduced season 5 Audio Visual script.
|-
* ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''
! Series || Title || Author
|-
|[[Virgin New Adventures]]
|''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''
|[[Gary Russell]]
|-
|[[Cwej: The Series (series)|Cwej: The Series]]
|''[[Requiem (novel)|Requiem]]''
|[[Andy Lane]], adapted by [[James Hornby]]
|}


==== Audio ====
==== Audio ====
===== [[Big Finish Productions]] =====
{| class="wikitable"
* ''[[Last of the Titans (audio story)|Last of the Titans]]'': A close remake of the Audio Visuals' story ''Vilgreth''.
|-
* ''[[The Mutant Phase (audio story)|The Mutant Phase]]''
! Series || Title || Writer || Notes
* ''[[Sword of Orion (audio story)|Sword of Orion]]''
|-
* ''[[Minuet in Hell (audio story)|Minuet in Hell]]''
|rowspan=4|''[[Main Range]]''
* ''[[Frozen Time (audio story)|Frozen Time]]'': A sequel to Audio Visuals' story ''Endurance''.
|''[[The Mutant Phase (audio story)|The Mutant Phase]]''
* ''[[Cuddlesome (audio story)|Cuddlesome]]''
|rowspan=3|[[Nicholas Briggs]]
|
|-
|''[[Last of the Titans (audio story)|Last of the Titans]]''
|A close remake of the Audio Visuals' story ''Vilgreth''.
|-
|''[[Sword of Orion (audio story)|Sword of Orion]]''
|rowspan=3|
|-
|''[[Minuet in Hell (audio story)|Minuet in Hell]]''
|[[Alan W. Lear]], [[Gary Russell]]
|-
|''[[The Fifth Doctor Adventures]]''
|''[[Cuddlesome (audio story)|Cuddlesome]]''
|[[Nigel Fairs]]
|-
|rowspan=2|''[[The Fourth Doctor Adventures]]''
|''[[The Sands of Life (audio story)|The Sands of Life]]'' / ''[[War Against the Laan (audio story)|War Against the Laan]]''
|rowspan=2|Nicholas Briggs
|A loose adaptation of the Audio Visuals' story ''The Destructor Contract''.
|-
|''[[The Pursuit of History (audio story)|The Pursuit of History]]'' / ''[[Casualties of Time (audio story)|Casualties of War]]''
|A loose adaptation of the Audio Visuals' story ''Subterfuge'', and a sequel to the two-part story ''[[The Dalek Contract (audio story)|The Dalek Contract]]'' and ''[[The Final Phase (audio story)|The Final Phase]]'', both of which also use many Audio Visuals concepts.
|}


==== Video ====
==== Video ====
===== [[BBV Productions]] =====
===== [[BBV Productions]] =====
Remakes not based in the [[Doctor Who universe|''Doctor Who'' universe]].
{| class="wikitable"
* ''More Than a Messiah'': ''The Stranger'' series.
|-
* ''In Memory Alone'': ''The Stranger'' series, based on ''Conglomerate''.
! Series || Title || Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|''[[The Stranger (series)|The Stranger]]''
|''More Than a Messiah''
|
|-
|''In Memory Alone''
|Based loosely on the Audio Visuals' story ''Conglomerate''.
|}
 
===Sequels===
Sequels were made which were to carry on the continuity of the Audio Visuals, each in unique ways. These were stories typically designed to bridge the gap between the Audio Visuals and the continually shifting timeline of ''Doctor Who'' proper.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Series || Title || Author || Notes
|-
|[[Virgin New Adventures]]
|''[[Legacy (novel)|Legacy]]''
|[[Gary Russell]]
|Based on an unproduced season 5 Audio Visuals script. Also accompanied with a [[Prelude Legacy (short story)|prelude]] including many more references to AV continuity.
|-
|rowspan=5|''[[Pisces (series)|Pisces]]''
|''Deja Vu''
|rowspan=5|[[Nigel Fairs]]
|rowspan=5|A series billed as being in the same continuity, later adapted into stories under BBV's ''[[The Time Travellers (series)|The Time Travellers]]'' banner.
|-
|''Blood Sports''
|-
|''The Huntress''
|-
|''Guests for the Night''
|-
|''Lyr''
|-
|rowspan=2|''[[Audio Adventures in Time & Space|The Wanderer]]''
|''Cyber-Hunt''
|[[Nicholas Briggs]]
|rowspan=2|A series of continuing adventures starring "[[Fred]]."
|-
|''Vital Signs''
|[[Tim Saward]]
|-
|''[[Main Range]]''
|''[[Frozen Time (audio story)|Frozen Time]]''
|Nicholas Briggs
|A sequel to Audio Visuals' story ''Endurance''.
|}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{iwx|wiki=dwexpanded|wiki name=Doctor Who Expanded}}
{{iwx|Audio Visuals|wiki=dwexpanded|wiki name=Doctor Who Expanded|page name=Audio Visuals}}
* [http://www.justyce.org Justyce: A fan site for the Audio Visuals, with interviews and an episode guide.]
* [http://www.justyce.org Justyce: A fan site for the Audio Visuals, with interviews and an episode guide.]
* [http://audioreviews.org.uk/audio-visuals Files released] by writer [[Jim Mortimore]]
* [http://audioreviews.org.uk/audio-visuals Files released] by writer [[Jim Mortimore]]
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{Audio Visuals}}
{{Audio Visuals}}
[[Category:Fandom]]
 
[[Category:Real world production companies]]
[[Category:Fan works]]
[[Category:Non-DWU audio stories]]

Latest revision as of 02:15, 2 August 2024

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As a work of unlicensed fiction, subject is not a source for writing our in-universe articles, valid or invalid, and may only be referenced in behind the scenes sections.

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-nine audio plays in all were recorded and distributed on cassette between 1984 and 1991.

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

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[1]

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. During the fourth season's production, Nigel Fairs began developing his original sci-fi series Pisces, which had several Audio Visuals regulars in it and shared continuity with the fan series.[1] 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[[edit] | [edit source]]

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 is mentioned in Food for Thought and features in The Sirens of Time.
Connection 13 Stuart Palmer 1985 Rigellons later mentioned in Legacy.
Conglomerate Nicholas Briggs 1985 Introduces Conglomerate and Drudgers. Adapted for BBV's The Stranger series as In Memory Alone.
Cloud of Fear Alan W. Lear 1985 Introduces Psionovores, later mentioned in Placebo Effect and seen in Minuet in Hell.
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, Legacy, and Deadfall. Cal-Med One mentioned in Legacy and Death in Blackpool. Cal 2 Medical Research Facility and Ayn Kranton seen in Deadfall. Tri-Planet Alliance of Calfadoria mentioned in Business Unusual and Instruments of Darkness.
The Mutant Phase Nicholas Briggs 1986 Daleks return. Adapted as The Mutant Phase.
The Destructor Contract Nicholas Briggs 1986 Introduces Cuthbert and reuses Temperon. Kurgon system reappears in The Sirens of Time. Loosely adapted as The Sands of Life / War Against the Laan, with the Temperon replaced by the Laan.
Vilgreth Nicholas Briggs 1986 Adapted as Last of the Titans
The Trilexia Threat Nicholas Briggs & John Ainsworth 1986 Trilexia return in Adorable Illusion
Minuet in Hell Alan W. Lear 1986 Loosely adapted as Minuet in Hell. Gosolus and the Gosolan conflict are mentioned in The Infinity Doctors
Blood Circuit Jim Mortimore 1986 Llandros mentioned in Deadfall. The version of Tersurus established here is mentioned in A Life of Matter and Death.
3 Second Solution Jim Mortimore 1986 Initiates "Justyce" story arc. The Doctor's rubber duck from this story reappears in Lungbarrow.
The Secret of Nematoda Nicholas Briggs N/A 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, alluded to in The Infinity Doctors's introduction of Last Contact. 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 and Proot are referenced in Invasion of the Cat-People and Deadfall; Dalek: The Astounding Untold History of the Greatest Enemies of the Universe also names Glasst. Deadfall further mentions the Requiem Suite. Adapted as Requiem.
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 References secrets of cats from Russell's The Legacy of Gallifrey. A version of Smokey reappears in Deadfall.
Subterfuge Nicholas Briggs Cuthbert, Conglomerate, Drudgers, and Posedor return. Throxill, Congress of Galactic Ecologists, Future Hope, and Ellinsford are mentioned in Deadfall. Griffelian V and Griffelians mentioned in City of Devils. Loosely adapted as The Pursuit of History / Casualties of Time.
Geopath Stephen Bowkett
Justyce Nicholas Briggs Solaados, Solaadons, Lucinda Vrana, AMS Horatio, and AMS Sithnar are mentioned in Deadfall. Solaadons also mentioned in Prelude Legacy. Cyber-Hunt directly follows from the ending of this story.

Season 5[[edit] | [edit source]]

Some further stories were planned but never actually produced.

Relationship to mainstream Doctor Who universe[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity references[[edit] | [edit source]]

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 for one panel 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,[6] 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.

As noted in this page's story notes, minor continuity references to the Audio Visuals have since appeared in many official Doctor Who stories, particularly in the early work of Gary Russell and various Big Finish Productions releases. Jim Mortimore's The Natural History of Fear used a version of the Doctor Who theme which Mortimore had composed for the Audio Visuals. Cavan Scott, a fan of the Audio Visuals, originally intended to feature the recurring villain Askran in Project: Twilight in the role which was later filled by Nimrod; Scott has since included several small nods to the Audio Visuals in his work.[7] 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[[edit] | [edit source]]

A number of remakes 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[[edit] | [edit source]]

Series Title Author
Virgin New Adventures Deadfall Gary Russell
Cwej: The Series Requiem Andy Lane, adapted by James Hornby

Audio[[edit] | [edit source]]

Series Title Writer Notes
Main Range The Mutant Phase Nicholas Briggs
Last of the Titans A close remake of the Audio Visuals' story Vilgreth.
Sword of Orion
Minuet in Hell Alan W. Lear, Gary Russell
The Fifth Doctor Adventures Cuddlesome Nigel Fairs
The Fourth Doctor Adventures The Sands of Life / War Against the Laan Nicholas Briggs A loose adaptation of the Audio Visuals' story The Destructor Contract.
The Pursuit of History / Casualties of War A loose adaptation of the Audio Visuals' story Subterfuge, and a sequel to the two-part story The Dalek Contract and The Final Phase, both of which also use many Audio Visuals concepts.

Video[[edit] | [edit source]]

BBV Productions[[edit] | [edit source]]
Series Title Notes
The Stranger More Than a Messiah
In Memory Alone Based loosely on the Audio Visuals' story Conglomerate.

Sequels[[edit] | [edit source]]

Sequels were made which were to carry on the continuity of the Audio Visuals, each in unique ways. These were stories typically designed to bridge the gap between the Audio Visuals and the continually shifting timeline of Doctor Who proper.

Series Title Author Notes
Virgin New Adventures Legacy Gary Russell Based on an unproduced season 5 Audio Visuals script. Also accompanied with a prelude including many more references to AV continuity.
Pisces Deja Vu Nigel Fairs A series billed as being in the same continuity, later adapted into stories under BBV's The Time Travellers banner.
Blood Sports
The Huntress
Guests for the Night
Lyr
The Wanderer Cyber-Hunt Nicholas Briggs A series of continuing adventures starring "Fred."
Vital Signs Tim Saward
Main Range Frozen Time Nicholas Briggs A sequel to Audio Visuals' story Endurance.

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

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ http://justyce.org/gary-russell-interview.html
  2. ↑ Nick Briggs interview
  3. ↑ Gary Russell interview
  4. ↑ http://www.justyce.org/gary-russell-28-march-2000.html
  5. ↑ Nigel Fairs interview
  6. ↑ Interview of Nicholas Briggs and Gary Russell on Justyce.org in 2000
  7. ↑ Project Valhalla afterword
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Audio Visuals
References
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Locations
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Adaptations
Audio
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Deadfall • Requiem • Legacy (based on an unproduced script)
Video
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Related Series
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