PS Audio 3.1: A Baron For All Seasons - CD NOW AVAILABLE!

[Martin Penny]

I see him as Pip, with Brian Blessed's beard!

[Pip Madeley]

I think this is the reason why the Baron won't be making the cover of a PS Audio!

[Si Hunt]

Si.

[Rob McCow]

Here he is, running into Colin Baker's Doctor.

[Pip Madeley]

That's how Martin sees the Baron - this is how Paul sees him:



I want a beard like that when I grow up.

[Andrew Curnow]

You look like a thin Geoff Capes, Pip!!

[Pip Madeley]

You can't see the kilt I'm wearing there...

[Andrew Curnow]

Where's the "Phew" emoticon?

[Dirk Gently]

You can't see the kilt I'm wearing there...

No, but I think Nicola can & she doesn't look too pleased with the view.

[Pip Madeley]

The moment has come!

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The episode is split into five MP3s contained in a ZIP file for ease. Go on Doctor, go now! If you enjoy the episode, please consider donating to Refuge, our chosen charity for this season. Refuge is a UK charity for women and children experiencing domestic violence, providing emergency accommodation and emotional and practical support.

Although not made specifically for Refuge, this powerful short film starring Keira Knightley shows what's were talking about here - please note that it may distress you as it contains harrowing images of domestic violence. Your money will help change a life, so if you enjoy this half an hour of us overacting (some more than others!) and Si's marvellous production, spare whatever cash you can. Thank you.

[Jon Masters]

"The Baron is appalled "

Edited to add - How typical that when the French gain the presidency of Earth that.....

[SiHart]

I think it's a great little taster for the forthcoming season. Si'd production and the performances- especially P-Bal's really lift the episode.

It's left me wanting to hear more- and I know what's coming!

Si xx

[Ian Lethbridge-Stewart]

That was terrific. Everyone performed really well. I'd forgotten what a great character Tor Geraine is, and Pip's Baron is very funny.
I'm always amazed by P-Bal's accents too!!!
I can't wait for the rest of the Season

[Si Hunt]

I think everyone was amazed by P-Bal's accent. There was no warning given that he was going to play it as a woman, let alone as Vicki Michelle from "'allo 'allo".

Si.

[Paul Monk]

P-Bal makes a very good woman!
I enjoyed that. A very good intro to the season.

[Martin Penny]

I'm glad everyone is enjoying it.

I think the performances really make it. Everybody has such an interesting voice (even a character written to be dull!), and Pip is excellent as the Baron.

[Si Hunt]

A word about how this story came about.

This was never meant to be a complete episode - instead, we asked Martin to come up with a short "minisode" to go on the disc with the story he'd written for our forthcoming season. I have to confess I didn't have time to look at it much until close to recording, so I've still got little recall about what the original version was like, but when we planned to tape it with P-Bal and Dexter, I anticipated that they might feel a little "shortchanged" if they got geared up to record something and then it was only half an episode; so the night before, I had an idea and asked Martin to expand it to a whole episode, to give them some more to do. I have to say, he responded to this sudden demand wonderfully, and an evening of typing later, a full script arrived.

The interesting thing is, not only did we have huge fun recording it, but I actually think the plotting is among our best - which is even more admirable when you consider it was a shorter work fleshed out (in the space of an evening). The beauty is that the story is much bigger than one episode; it feels more like a feature film (a little bit "Star Wars", a little bit "Daleks Masterplan") but with most of the action recalled or commented on, rather than seen. There's this whole world of political intrigue going on just outside the barriers of the story! And then you get a lovely action scene to round things off, and a great twist to boot.

So I think it's a great example of economy of writing, and of course if you enjoy the taste of the Earth-future we glimpse here, do tune into our new season next month too, as we (you, me, Doctor Who and Rob and Nick) actually go there...

Si.

[Paul Monk]

Can't wait.

[Andrew Curnow]

Really enjoyed it - having just read Si's post, I'm even more impressed knowing Martin knocked much of it up in a night. A really tight little script, establishing various political set-ups & shenanigans without ever confusing the listener, and at the same time giving the characters a chance to shine. Pip's Baron is a legend, and Martin's Garane is if anything even more slimey than he was last time round.

A great little taster for the new series!

P.S. I hope we hear more from Madame President of Earth!!

[Antony Cox]

It's very good, isn't it?

Quite a complex plot in such a short story but it's done so well!

[Martin Penny]

I think extending the episode really helped add some extra layers to the Baron and the President's characters (I really must start giving world leaders names).

The Duke of Drakon also did very little in the original minisode, then suddenly became a major player when I expanded the script - and when I listened to the finished thing, I wished I hadn't killed him off! Though he does have an excellent death scream.

[P-Bal]

You know I don't think I remember recording this. But one day when I was in a play in London a gang of students all turned up at the stage door IN OUR PINK WIGS!

How we laughed.

[Si Hunt]

You can order the CD, containing all P-Bal's out-takes, very soon.

Si.

[Pip Madeley]

Nice to see Botcherbys advertising for us

[SiHart]

Blimey! He did that without any prompting from me either!

Si xx