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Audio - The Kingmaker
The Kingmaker
(Nev Fountain)

 The release for April 2006 was "The Kingmaker" by Nev Fountain a Fifth Doctor story staring Peter Davison, with companions Peri and Erimem played by Nicola Bryant and Caroline Morris.

This story was originally due to be released in November 2005 but had to be postponed. "The Kingmaker" is directed by Gary Russell and was recorded on the 20th, 21st November 2005 and 7th December 2005.

 Guest starring is Dead Ringers impressionist Jon Culshaw - playing at one point a cameo of the Fourth Doctor – and comedian/writer Arthur Smith. Also starring are: Michael Fenton-Stevens, Stephen Beckett, Marcus Hutton, Chris Neill, Katie Wimpenny and Linzi Matthews.

 The Doctor and his companions encounter one of the most notorious characters from the past - but in slightly different time-zones thanks to a "hiccupping" TARDIS.

Peter Davison
Peter Davison
When a publishing robot from the end of time materialises in the TARDIS, threatening The Doctor that he needs to finish his book "Doctor Who Discovers Historical Mysteries" or else. And because when their visit to an early performance of Shakespeare’s Richard III proves unsatisfactory, The Doctor feels obliged to take Peri and Erimem to investigate that notorious King of England and the Princes in the Tower first-hand.

But things go wrong straightaway – when The Doctor walks out of the TARDIS it’s 1485 but mysteriously the TARDIS lands for a second time and his companions find themselves at the same location but back a couple of years.

 After taking advantage of the time difference and The Doctor’s ability to use a future self Peri and Erimem are instructed to lie low and under no circumstances become involved with the Princes in the Tower – and so they become serving wenches at a local tavern. But after finding a strange body in the woods, that turns out to be recognised as one of the princes, this becomes impossible.

Peri

Peri

But for Peri and Erimem things become worse – coerced into looking after the princes, then caught up in a plot to kill them and then used to replace them, so as to hide the fact the princes are in fact robots, things become very complicated for The Doctor’s travelling companions. Especially when a mysterious time traveller is involved – one that Peri recognises as could being someone from The Doctor's own past - The Master.

 With The Doctor being forced to decide the fate of the princes will he actually be the one to kill his companions… or maybe the princes are dead already… or maybe the princes aren’t really princes at all?

 London in the 1480’s can be a turbulent place, especially when another time traveller with a ray gun is in town... What happens when the meddling comes to light? What unexpected truth can the Tower of London hide and what will the outcome be when The Doctor becomes mixed up with Richard III himself, as he tries to unravel the perplexing problem of who exactly killed the Princes in the Tower?

Caroline Morris
Caroline Morris
And what of the mysterious time traveller – surely it can’t be The Master?

 With his companions having to bide their time until their timelines converge The Doctor has to try and deduce what has happened to his two companions while at the same time investigate the fate of the two princes and to prevent a fellow time traveller and writer from unravelling the true course of history.

So who did murder the Princes in the Tower? Perhaps it’s best not to ask a question like that as you might not like the answer. And will The Doctor be able to get rid of the large, threatening robot in his TARDIS?


Big Finish Magazine - Issue 7 (Spring 2006)

Audio - Big Finish Magazine - Issue 7
Big Finish Magazine
- Issue 7
 Issue 7 of the 'Big Finish Magazine', a series of behind-the-scenes CDs given away free to subscribers, was also sent out with this release.

 On this issue...

    1. INTRODUCTION

    2-7. SARAH JANE SMITH – An in-depth look at the second run of Big Finish’s Sarah Jane Smith spin-off. Star Elisabeth Sladen, producer John Ainsworth and the cast talk us through the series.

    8-10. NIGHT THOUGHTS – We hear from the actors Bernard Kay, Andrew Forbes and Lizzie Hopley.

    11-12. SIMON GUERRIER – The new story editor of the Professor Bernice Summerfield range of audios and books drops by for a chat about future of the series.

    13-16. PIER PRESSURE – Writer Robert Ross and guest stars Roy Hudd and Doug Bradley.

    17-19. THE KINGMAKER – April 2006’s Doctor Who release is The Kingmaker, the latest story from Nev Fountain. We talk to Nev and his star-studded cast – including Arthur Smith, Jon Culshaw, Michael Fenton Stevens and Chris Neill.

    20. THE SETTLING – A look ahead to May’s Doctor Who release, The Settling.


 Presented by Nicholas Briggs. Sound design, post-production and CD mastering by David Darlington. Sleeve by Stuart Manning. Compiled by David Darlington. Produced by John Ainsworth & Ian Farrington. Length 1 hour 20 minutes.

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Notes:
  • Featuring the Fifth Doctor, Peri and Erimem.
  • Serial Number: 6QI
  • Number of Episodes: 4
  • Cover Length: 140 minutes
  • Episode Lengths: 1 = 34'35", 2 = 33'09", 3 = 37'38", 4 = 33'58"
  • Total Story Length: 139'20"
  • This story takes place between "Planet of Fire" and "The Caves of Androzani" and after "Council of Nicaea".
  • Early Titles: "The Tower of Secrets", "The Bloody Tower" and "The Mystery in the Tower".
  • Cover Illustration: Stuart Manning
  • Recorded: 20th, 21st November 2005 and 7th December 2005
  • Recording Location: The Moat Studios
  • Released: April 2006
  • ISBN: 1-84435-161-0

On the Back Cover:

Doctor Who encounters one of the most notorious characters from the past, as he journeys through time to solve the great Historical Mysteries...

 Not surprisingly The Doctor becomes mixed up with Richard III himself, as he tries to unravel the perplexing problem of who exactly killed the Princes in the Tower.

 Peri and Erimem also encounter a suspicious time traveller. Someone from The Doctor's own past. Someone who shouldn't really be there at all.

 So who did murder the Princes in the Tower? Perhaps it's best not to ask a question like that.

You might not like the answer...

 

On the Inside Cover:

 We all know The Doctor. He’s a hero. He helps the oppressed, stamps out tyranny thwarts evil and helps the underdog. That’s what he always does. Except, of course, when he doesn’t. When he thumbs his nose at the oppressed, helps tyranny, rubber-stamps evil and stuffs the underdog in a binbag and throws it in the canal with a couple of bricks tied round his neck.

 This is the big contradiction about The Doctor. About the whole series, in fact. He’s a good guy who does good things, and has a strong sense of right and wrong, but he’s sworn to keep history intact. Bad things happen in history. Right almost never triumphs and evil often wins. To keep the universe ticking over, The Doctor has to let bad things happen to good people. This paradox has been skated around many times: you only have to see The Doctor scuttling away from the doomed Aztec civilization or doing nothing to prevent the Massacre of St Bartholomew’s Eve to realise that. We see The Doctor breezily setting the TARDIS controls, leaving the Great Fire of London to take hold, but we don’t see the dozen or so people dying as a result of that fire (some historians say it claimed thousands of lives).

 These historical adventures turn The Doctor into one of the few fictional heroes who’s allowed to bump up against the real world. They mean The Doctor doesn’t always live in a carefully constructed fantasy world of daring-do, like a Buck Rogers or a Dan Dare. They give us a chance to get The Doctor’s hands well and truly dirty. Now, let’s find a suitable animal to produce some manure so we can push those pristine Gallifreyan digits in until he’s in it up to the wrists.

 
All together now: ‘A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!’

Nev Fountain,
December 2005

Nev Fountain started his professional association with Doctor Who as script editor of the webcast Death Comes To Time, and went on to write for Big Finish. His first Doctor Who audio was the 2003 story Omega. Normally, he writes comedy and is mainly known for the BBC2 and BBC Radio 4 series Dead Ringers, of which he and Tom Jamieson are the principle writers. He has contributed to more radio and television series than he cares to remember, including 2DTV, Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression and Have I Got News for You.
 

Who's Who?

The Fifth Doctor

First television appearance: "Castrovalva"
First chronological Big Finish audio appearance: "Land of the Dead"

 He has been exploring the universe for hundreds of years. He fights injustice. He defeats evil. He helps people. Always accompanied by travelling companions, The Doctor has lately found his TARDIS shared by Peri and Erimem, two lively young girls from different points in Earth’s history. They can be a handful - as the intense teasing he endures testifies to...


Peri Brown

First television appearance: "Planet of Fire"
First chronological Big Finish audio appearance: "Red Dawn"

 Perpugilliam Brown has been travelling with The Doctor for a while now. Their relationship can be fractious - but is generally lighthearted and friendly. A keen botanist, resourceful and compassionate, Peri also has a edgy side; a wry sense of humour that can infuriate her travelling companion. Lately, the two have been joined in their travels by Erimem, with whom Peri has immediately bonded. Slightly older than the former Egyptian Pharaoh, Peri has taken it upon herself to play the older sister.



Erimem

First Big Finish audio appearance: "The Eye of the Scorpion"

 Upon the death of her father, Erimemushinseperem - Erimem for short - became Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. During an attempt on her life she met The Doctor and Peri, who were instrumental in saving her. Before her coronation, the officials decided upon a different, male, Pharaoh - a decision that did not completely disappoint Erimem, who then joined The Doctor and Peri on their travels.

 

The Cast Gallery:

The Fifth Doctor - Played by Peter Davison

‘History is like a sleeping giant. Best observed, never tampered with.’

   
 Erimem & Peri - Played by Caroline Morris & Nicola Bryant

ERIMEM ‘So this is the country of England The Doctor loves so much.’
PERI ‘Yep... This is it, in all its muddy glory. Beats me why he keeps coming here. It does get better though. In four hundred years’ time they get the Beatles and fashion sense.’

   
 Richard, Duke Of Gloucester - Played by Stephen Beckett

‘You see past, present and future and make sure we all act according to the rules. You’re worse than a god. At least a god allows his subjects to repent.’

   
 Clarrie - Played by Arthur Smith

‘I got my nickname from when I had me arm broke... ooh... two years ago now... I had it in a sling for a whole two months. The lads all noticed and, with a flash of wit that they’re famed for, came up with me nickname, and there you are... One-armed Clarrie.’

   
 Henry, Duke Of Buckingham - Played by Marcus Hutton

‘My Lord, the very idea I would make sport about your physical prowess. The Lord strike me down if l even contemplate such a thing.’

   
 Sir James Tyrell & Mr Seyton - Played by Chris Neill & Michael Fenton Stevens

‘Thing? Thing? For your information sir, this is my travelling machine. My magic cabinet that takes me to places beyond your imagination.’

   
 Earl Rivers - Played by Jon Culshaw

‘Fancy meeting you. Here I am, escorting the young prince to be crowned, and his uncle, who I thought was in Scotland, pops up here of all places.’

   
 Susan & Judith - Played by Katie Wimpenny & Linzi Matthews

‘Good evening, sir, I will be your serving wench for this evening. That’s Judith. She’s my sister. Would you like to sit in carousing or non-carousing?’

 

Full Cast List:

The Doctor Peter Davison
Peri Nicola Bryant
Erimem Caroline Morris
Richard, Duke of Gloucester Stephen Beckett
Earl Rivers Jon Culshaw
Mr Seyton Michael Fenton Stevens
Henry, Duke of Buckingham Marcus Hutton
Judith Linzi Matthews
Sir James Tyrell Chris Neill
Clarrie Arthur Smith
Susan Katie Wimpenny

The Production Team:

Writer Nev Fountain
Director Gary Russell
Sound/Music Andy Hardwick
Theme Music David Darlington
Producers Gary Russell and
Jason Haigh-Ellery
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