" ... in the tradition of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop ... "
April 16, 2012 2:03 PM Subscribe
"We're bringing you a new Time Lord, an amazing world where Tolkien meets Star Wars, and a universally acclaimed standard of audiophonic experience." So say the people behind The Minister of Chance, an audio drama set in the world of Doctor Who. Julian Wadham plays The Minister, who is, "like The Doctor, a Time Lord," a role originally played by Stephen Fry. The series also stars former Doctors Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann. It is two episodes in, and has accumulated some strong reviews.
Interesting - I believe there's a couple of characters like this, where they were created for Doctor Who spin offs and the rights ended up with the creators. Big Finish has a bunch of them.
posted by Artw at 2:16 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by Artw at 2:16 PM on April 16, 2012
The Minister of Chance is an audio Science Fiction Fantasy series in the tradition of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and the best in radiophonics.
I think they might be confused. The BBC Radiophonic Workshop was a sound-effects unit, not a audio program production unit.
posted by grouse at 2:18 PM on April 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think they might be confused. The BBC Radiophonic Workshop was a sound-effects unit, not a audio program production unit.
posted by grouse at 2:18 PM on April 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
I haven't checked this out, so I can't recommend it (though I'm not exactly the most unbiased when it comes to such things) but Death Comes to Time was enjoyable enough (and, given that it was new Who produced by the BBC in 2001, it was, in certain circles, a Pretty Big Deal at the time), so I certainly have planned on checking it out.
Let me be the first to state the probably obvious statement (and often heard to anyone who pays any attention to Who fandom) that the openness of the format and creativity of fans (and to a not-insignificant degree the BBC when it comes to trademark patrol) is pretty much the #1 reason anybody who became a Doctor Who fan post-2005 was able to do so. It's possible that the world would have still wrapped its welcoming arms around the show if those who did hadn't kept the embers of the fan fires burning from 1989 to 2004, but I'm really glad we didn't have to take that chance.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:23 PM on April 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
Let me be the first to state the probably obvious statement (and often heard to anyone who pays any attention to Who fandom) that the openness of the format and creativity of fans (and to a not-insignificant degree the BBC when it comes to trademark patrol) is pretty much the #1 reason anybody who became a Doctor Who fan post-2005 was able to do so. It's possible that the world would have still wrapped its welcoming arms around the show if those who did hadn't kept the embers of the fan fires burning from 1989 to 2004, but I'm really glad we didn't have to take that chance.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:23 PM on April 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
jbickers: "a role originally played by Stephen Fry."
I can't think of any roles originally played by Stephen Fry that should not continue to be played by Stephen Fry.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 2:23 PM on April 16, 2012 [9 favorites]
I can't think of any roles originally played by Stephen Fry that should not continue to be played by Stephen Fry.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 2:23 PM on April 16, 2012 [9 favorites]
I'm beginning to suspect that Inspector Spacetime may be canonical.
posted by smcbride at 2:39 PM on April 16, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by smcbride at 2:39 PM on April 16, 2012 [7 favorites]
Paul McGann is my Doctor. Thanks for this!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:43 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:43 PM on April 16, 2012
Doctor Who is part of the Marvel Universe via Death's Head.
posted by Artw at 2:46 PM on April 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 2:46 PM on April 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Shame on the OP! You did not mention Avon! This has Avon!!! Avon in Dr Who! That's all we needed to know.
It's like having Spock turn up in Star Wars. It's probably worth mentioning.
posted by EnterTheStory at 2:50 PM on April 16, 2012 [6 favorites]
It's like having Spock turn up in Star Wars. It's probably worth mentioning.
posted by EnterTheStory at 2:50 PM on April 16, 2012 [6 favorites]
Shame on the OP! You did not mention Avon! This has Avon!!! Avon in Dr Who!
Avon, as in the actor who played him, or the actual character? Because if it is the latter...
*Nerdgasms*
posted by charred husk at 3:05 PM on April 16, 2012
Avon, as in the actor who played him, or the actual character? Because if it is the latter...
*Nerdgasms*
posted by charred husk at 3:05 PM on April 16, 2012
>Avon, as in the actor who played him, or the actual character?
Well officially he's someone different, but we all know that he didn't die at the end of series 4. The new Blakes 7 was supposed to have him in as an older character, then Darrow left due to creative differences. Then he got involved in this. Plenty of lines to read between there. :) The great thing about audio is that we can imagine him looking like whatever we want...
posted by EnterTheStory at 3:17 PM on April 16, 2012
Well officially he's someone different, but we all know that he didn't die at the end of series 4. The new Blakes 7 was supposed to have him in as an older character, then Darrow left due to creative differences. Then he got involved in this. Plenty of lines to read between there. :) The great thing about audio is that we can imagine him looking like whatever we want...
posted by EnterTheStory at 3:17 PM on April 16, 2012
I am intrigued.
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:27 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:27 PM on April 16, 2012
Oh, I am all over this. Haven't heard a Doctor Who audio drama I didn't enjoy.
posted by bettafish at 3:53 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by bettafish at 3:53 PM on April 16, 2012
It features Jenny Agutter.
But it's audio only. I can't see her.
YOU MONSTERS.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:55 PM on April 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
But it's audio only. I can't see her.
YOU MONSTERS.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:55 PM on April 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
As ever I'm going to recommend Spare Parts, my fave of the audios that I've heard, and basically Genesis of the Daleks for Cybermen.
posted by Artw at 4:01 PM on April 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 4:01 PM on April 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
Oh my goodness. I generally don't do Who-related audio (I still need to catch up on my classic Who telly!) but I could be persuaded for this.
posted by immlass at 4:20 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by immlass at 4:20 PM on April 16, 2012
>It features Jenny Agutter.
>But it's audio only. I can't see her.
>YOU MONSTERS.
Just close your eyes. She is forever seared onto our collective retinas, always 20-something, always wearing that costume from Logan's run.
posted by EnterTheStory at 4:23 PM on April 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
>But it's audio only. I can't see her.
>YOU MONSTERS.
Just close your eyes. She is forever seared onto our collective retinas, always 20-something, always wearing that costume from Logan's run.
posted by EnterTheStory at 4:23 PM on April 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Grouse: I don't think they're confused. In the 60s, 70s and 80s, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop contributed enormously to the BBC's output, across the board, and had its own distinct set of styles. It was far, far more than a sound effects unit - HHGTTG exists specifically because DNA could work with Paddy Kingsland et al. It's not all robots falling down shafts.
posted by Devonian at 4:50 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by Devonian at 4:50 PM on April 16, 2012
She is forever seared onto our collective retinas, always 20-something, always wearing that costume from Logan's run.
Haven't seen Walkabout, eh, mate? Those retinas, they would be well seared.
posted by dhartung at 4:58 PM on April 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
Haven't seen Walkabout, eh, mate? Those retinas, they would be well seared.
posted by dhartung at 4:58 PM on April 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
This has Avon!!! Avon in Dr Who!
:D
Blakes 7
:(
... I thought you meant Avon Barksdale.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:10 PM on April 16, 2012
:D
Blakes 7
:(
... I thought you meant Avon Barksdale.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:10 PM on April 16, 2012
... I thought you meant Avon Barksdale.
I'm just glad I'm not alone.
posted by moss at 6:22 PM on April 16, 2012
I'm just glad I'm not alone.
posted by moss at 6:22 PM on April 16, 2012
Haven't seen Walkabout, eh, mate? Those retinas, they would be well seared.
I, for one, am upset that Jenny Agutter's never gone on an aboriginal walkabout with me.
posted by zombieflanders at 7:29 PM on April 16, 2012
I, for one, am upset that Jenny Agutter's never gone on an aboriginal walkabout with me.
posted by zombieflanders at 7:29 PM on April 16, 2012
Doctor Who is part of the Marvel Universe via Death's Head.
Not to mention all the cameos in Excalibur, which i love to death, and miss. :(
I, for one, am upset that Jenny Agutter's never gone on an aboriginal walkabout with me.
Don't tell me what i can't do!!! Sorry, mixing fandoms here i think. ;)
posted by usagizero at 9:24 PM on April 16, 2012
Not to mention all the cameos in Excalibur, which i love to death, and miss. :(
I, for one, am upset that Jenny Agutter's never gone on an aboriginal walkabout with me.
Don't tell me what i can't do!!! Sorry, mixing fandoms here i think. ;)
posted by usagizero at 9:24 PM on April 16, 2012
an amazing world where Tolkien meets Star Wars... set in the world of Doctor Who.
No need to continue. I'll have as much of this as you can dish up.
posted by Edison Carter at 8:35 AM on April 17, 2012
No need to continue. I'll have as much of this as you can dish up.
posted by Edison Carter at 8:35 AM on April 17, 2012
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posted by Sidhedevil at 2:07 PM on April 16, 2012