PSAudios 2.1. Heart of the Haniad

Heart of the Haniad was written over a long weekend. Si Hunt phoned Steven Alexander and asked him to write a new story that introduced a new companion, to be played by Martin Penny. After a bit of head scratching and a few days thinking, Steve agreed to take the challenge and Si was able to hang up the phone - he's still paying off the bill for that one .

The idea from the story came from writing down a few random words on a bit of paper. 'Giant' 'Space' and 'Tree'. The other aim was to make the production as difficult as possible. So the story featured all kinds of freaky sci-fi stuff going on - from space-cars racing down the branches of a giant tree to a monstrous being tearing it's ribcage open.

The character of Edward Bradley evolved out of other TV companions. The idea was for the Doctor to turn up and annoy the new companion, while at the same time saving his life and making friends. This set off a slightly peevish relationship between the two.

In an early version of the script, Wayne Jeffries was to play Grexos, with Ant Williams as the Chi-Haniad.

The inspiration for the 'jazzy' music at the start of Episode 1 came from "The Chase" and it's tinkly-jazz leanings. When the TARDIS goes wrong in the same episode, the idea was to parody the scene in "The Horns of Nimon" when the Doctor's ship similarly fails and makes sounds including a horn and a fire engine. Si Hunt relished creating his own version, including a baa-ing sheep. "I always try and push against the perceived vision of the writer," babbled Hunt, with a gleam in his eye. "In other words to annoy them."

P-Bal swept into studio to record his lines in a big hat, and relished changing the script as much as possible. There are out-takes lasting several hours while he initially tried to pronounce his characters name, and to this day when asked to perform in PlanetSkaro Audios he is heard to loudly ask "is it going to be another one like that one with the Tree? What was that all about?".

David Barnes recorded his lines remotely, with plenty of passion. The sounds of the tree all came from an ancient Sound Effects CD - "I was going for a comic strip feel," said Si Hunt. "You know, like in Polly the Glot, the idea of a huge organism sort of swimming through space... maybe howling, like a Whale. All very Original Star Trek, too."

This story originated the "Computer Voice of the Future" that was eventually to be introduced as the character Nathaniel Westbridge in "Blood Money".

"Well done to all concerned, a great start to the season, and I'm looking forward to the Doctor's adventures in Logop-- sorry, in a Megropolis (oh yes - Ed's To Do list made me laugh too). Tree-mendous!"
Andrew Curnow

"Just listened to it. Good stuff! Well done to the 'new' cast members Penny, P-Bal & Barnes. I must admit, i did think the scenes on the bridge of Uxan's ship were especially good. Complete with the music & sound effects, it all sounded quite a professional production, & even strangely had the feel of an early to mid Tom story about it, somehow."
Wayne Jefferies

"The cast are all on top form (and I really like the character of new companion Ed, as well as P-Bal and David as the villains of the piece) and the script made me laugh a good few times too. As mentioned above "You crushed my flowers" was a brilliantly delivered line!"
Alex Finch

"I just want to say one thing Dallas, sometimes people can be creatively edited to sound less affable than they are. I'm breezy, BREEZY you hear? And I love everyone. And it was a joy to take part in the wonderful audio adventure Doctor Who and the Cart of the Hanniard."
P-Bal