Doctor Who - Pieces of Eighth: Recent Episodes
Doctor Who - Pieces of Eighth
Rebecca Chapman and Kenny Smith travel through time, space, comics, audios, books, records and more, as they chat about everything and anything to do with Paul McGann's eighth incarnation of Doctor Who
The end is near for Samantha Jones's travels with the Eighth Doctor and Fitz.
But before she departs, she and her friends need to survive SS officers and a beings from another dimension.
As ever, author Steve Cole joins us with his insights, while David A McIntee recalls his experiences of writing the book.
Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman return for their third (and final) Eighth Doctor Adventure.
We chat with Jon about writing a story that's a sequel to the TV Movie, and range editor Steve Cole drops by too.
And did you know - this story features the Doctor's dad...? (Possibly)
This episode of Pieces of Eighth takes us to Sweden... and there's not a Muppet chef in sight.
We discuss this 1990s take on UNIT, and are joined by editor Steve Cole and writer Nick Walters, as we discuss the 22nd Eighth Doctor novel from the BBC Book.
Kenny and Matt also discuss the DWM review of Dominion.
We're heading back to the 1960s with the Doctor, Sam and Fitz.
There's a revolution in the air - and something else that smells a bit funny.
We're joined by range editor Steve Cole and author Paul Leonard, to discuss this EDA which was a big favourite of both Matt and Kenny when it was first published.
The Doctor and Sam have a new friend onboard the TARDIS - his name's Kreiner. Fitz Kreiner.
Find out what happens on Space Station Vega, and how it ties in with a host of other books in the expanded Whoniverse.
We chat with Julian Richards, son of author Justin, as well as books range editor Steve Cole, and cover artist Tony Fleetwood.
We're back - at long last - for a brand new season of episodes.
Kenny is joined by Matt Michael for this run of 18 episodes, as we take a look back at the Eighth Doctor novels from BBC Books, starting with the arrival of Fitz Kreiner in Doctor Who and the Taint.
We've got lots of new content for you - the original character outline, his DWM reveal, plus what the DWM review said at the time, as well as chats with author Michael Collier (COUGH, COUGH), editor Steve Cole, and Rebecca Levene, who helped to co-create Fitz.
Our new series starts here...
And so, we're nearly there - Christmas is just a day away.
But we're going back to 21 December for today's episode, as we celebrate Winter of the Demon, Roy Gill's Eighth Doctor adventure with Charley and Audacity, which was released earlier this month.
We chat to Roy, sound designer Benji Clifford - and India Fisher pops by too!
Christmas Day. It's always easy to remember, as it's on 25 December each year.
Except, in 2001, it wasn't - as the Eighth Doctor finds Harry Sullivan doing a crossword outside a cafe.
We're looking at 2018 Short Trips subscriber exclusive Tuesday, which was written by Tony Jones. We speak with producer Ian Atkins about this little gem.
We continue our adventures with the Eighth Doctor and his friend, journalist James Macfarlane, in BBC Audio's series of original adventures.
Today, we look at The Teeth of Ice, which is the third outing in the series, which began with The Scent of Blood, and continued with The Code of Flesh. And, because it's the winter, it's apt that we join them in Antarctica!
We speak with range editor Michael Stevens and writer Andrew Lane about it!
There's so many Eighth Doctor Christmas stories to choose from.
It all began with The Chimes of Midnight in 2002, but since then, there's been so many others, in Big Finish Short Trips collections in print and on audio, in full cast adventures, and in BBC Christmas collections too.
Today, we've asked YOU, our lovely listeners, to nominate your favourite festive frolics for Paul McGann's incarnation.
We've returned to the world of Eighth Doctor comics for our episode today.
Pieces of Eighth turns back the clock by a decade to mark the Doctor's appearance in a 50th anniversary story, and we're NOT talking Night of the Doctor.
We chat to writers Scott and David Tipton about Prisoners of Time, the IDW comics celebration of the show, and in particular, the eighth episode, The Body Politic. We also speak to artist Roger Langridge.
Christmas is coming, and we're starting to feel very excited about it.
Today, we take a look at one of the lesser-known Big Finish Short Trips, as we put The Caves of Erith - a subscriber-only exclusive - under the microscope.
We chat with producer Ian Atkins, and writer Alice Cavender, as we go batty for the festive season!
Brrrrrr! It's winter, so we thought we'd tie in with the season and do a story set in the snow.
So, brace yourself, get your anti-gravity ski boots on, and prepare for some extreme wintersports on the Martian moon of Phobos. There's nothing to fear... is there?
We look at this Eighth Doctor and Lucie adventure, as we chat with author Eddie Robson, and guest star Tim Sutton.
Also, find out what Becca and Kenny's biggest fears are too!
We're back - and it's definitely about time!
Our seventh season is a shorter run than normal, as we bring you some episodes which tie in with the Doctor Who 60th anniversary, winter and Christmas.
We begin with a look at Endgame, the first Doctor Who Magazine comic strip featuring Paul McGann's Doctor.
We chat with artist Martin Geraghty, comics expert Paul Scoones, and feature the words of writer Alan Barnes (who sadly couldn't join us), as we look at the beginning of a nine-year run of stories.
IT'S ANOTHER Pieces of Eighth exclusive.
This week, we take a look at the 'lost' Eighth Doctor Adventure, Freaks, by Rebecca Levene, which was originally scheduled to be released in June 2000.
And now, we take a look at it, as we bring this adventure with the Doctor, Fitz and Compassion to life.
IN THE week of this episode's release, Big Finish were giving away the eighth Doctor's first audio adventure, Storm Warning, for free.
So, to celebrate, 16 of our listeners have sent in their thoughts on the story, which saw the Doctor meet his new best friend, Charley Pollard, onboard the doomed airship, the R101.
And who's that co-hosting? Their voice might be familiar...
WE'VE only gone and done it again - we've tracked down someone who worked on the TV Movie, and got an exclusive interview with them!
This week, we hear from Patrick Lussier, the man who edited the film, whilst working with director Geoffrey Sax.
It was a dream come true for Patrick, who was a Doctor Who fan long before being hired - and even now, he still listens to the Eighth Doctor with Big Finish.
Get ready for chat about D3: The Mighty Ducks, working on the Scream films with Wes Craven (and his thoughts on the spoof, Scary Movie), as well as branching out and directing in his own right.
JUST when you thought there was no more Eighth Doctor to novelise, he pops up in a Fourth Doctor book.
Stephen Gallagher recently wrote a new short story featuring Paul McGann's Doctor, which was included as part of his novelisation of Warriors' Gate.
Kenny and Matt chat their way through the story, which includes a brief reading from it, before hearing from editor Steve Cole and the writer himself.
A fuller chat with Steve Gallagher appears in The Power of Three podcast, episode 128.
IT'S THE end of an era on audio, as the Doctor's friend C'rizz departs in spectacular style.
We're talking about Absolution, Big Finish's 101st monthly range release, which was written by Scott Alan Woodard.
He joins us to discuss the story, and then C'rizz himself, Conrad Westmaas, shares his thoughts on his departure.
PAUL McGann is back in costume! Woohoo!
This week we find out how his new Night of the Doctor costume came about, as we speak to Long Island Doctor Who convention organiser Ken Deep, tailor Steven Ricks and prop maker James Sutton.
And Kenny is joined by Eighth Doctor cosplayer/the most famous Belgian in the world, Tinne Peeters.
Find out more about Long Island Doctor who at https://longislanddoctorwho.com/.
Follow Steven on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stevenrickstailoring/?hl=en
REMEMBER when we didn't know what caused the Eighth Doctor to regenerate? And then in 2013 we found out, in The Night of the Doctor?
Little did we know that Russell T Davies had also plotted out the end of Paul McGann's incarnation, for a short story, which ultimately never saw the light of day until the Doctor Who: Adventures in Lockdown series, first published in the BBC website and later, in print.
We bring you a full reading of the story this week, complete with music and sound design, as well as Russell T Davies' introduction to the story brought to life by Big Finish's Narvin himself - Seán Carlsen!
Join Kenny and Matt for a discussion on the story, as they find a large number of similarities between Doctor Who and the Time War and The Night of the Doctor.
WE MAKE a fast return to the world of Big Finish Short Trips this week, as we explore The Hall of the Ten Thousand.
The Ten Thousand represent everything the Doctor admires. Ingenuity, creativity and triumph of peace over war. So, naturally, he’s taken Charlotte Pollard to see them.
Kenny and Tinne take a look at this tale, featuring interviews with producer Alfie Shaw and writer Jaine Fenn. You can find out more about her work at www.patreon.com/jainefenn
WHO WANTS to live forever?, asked Queen in their song.
We find out the answer to this question in Immortal Beloved, as the Eighth Doctor and Lucie encounter Zeus, Hera and a number of other gods.
Today, Kenny and guest co-host Tinne Peeters chat about Lucie Miller's fourth episode, and have exclusive chats with writer Jonathan Clements, talking about the story for the first time on a podcast, and actor David Dobson, who played Tayden/Ares.
We've taken a while to enter Eighth Doctor comics territory again, having featured one in our second episode, and now we've featured two in one season!
Today, we're taking a look at The Forgotten, a six-part comic series published in 2008/09 by IDW Comics, and featured the Eighth Doctor in one part.
We speak with writer Tony Lee, in another conversation recorded at Gallifrey in February.
WE'RE BACK looking at a Big Finish Short Trip, but this time, it's a more recent one.
Kenny and guest co-host Matt Michael discuss Death Will Not Part Us, before producer/writer Alfie Shaw explains where the story ideas came from, and sound designer/composer Richard Fox reveals how it all came together in the editing stage.
HAD YOU ever heard of Gef the Talking Mongoose before listening to The Dalby Spook? We hadn't!
This week, Kenny and guest co-host Dave Steel learn all about the mysterious Gef, a mongoose who apparently spoke, whilst living on the Isle of Man in the 1930s.
We're joined by co-author Stewart Pringle, actor Harry Myers, sound designer Benji Clifford and musician Jamie Robertson, to find out more. Was Gef real? We want to believe!
Thanks to Jana on Twitter (@JanaJa1) for permission to use her cover art for this story.
SHADA - the incomplete Doctor Who story that's been completed so many times over the years.
Today, we're taking a look at the version from 2003, when Big FInish went into studio to record the audio for the story, which was coupled with Lee Sullivan's art, and animated for the BBC website as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations.
This week we chat with producer Gary Russell, illustrator Lee Sullivan and musician Russell Stone, as we take a look at the adaptation of Douglas Adams's script.
Our guest co-host this week is everyone's favourite Belgian, Tinne Peeters.
WE HEAD into new territory for Pieces of Eighth with this week's episode, as we look at a Short Trip from one of Big Finish's early audio collections.
We chat with Simon Guerrier about Letting Go, which was commissioned by editor Xanna Eve Chown and appeared on the second volume of the Short Trips audios.
It was narrated by India Fisher, and Becca gets jealous (again) that Kenny spoke to someone for the podcast whilst in LA...
DON'T CRY for me, Weeping Angels! The Doctor, Liv and Helen encounter those blinking assassins again, and it leads to a hugely emotional adventure.
It's our biggest episode yet this season, with a fantastic four guests, including writer Roy Gill, Albie himself, Mr Barnaby Jago, musician Jamie Robertson, and sound designer Benji Clifford.
We also have Song for Helen - get those hankies ready!
ONE OF the great crimes of the 90s, with regards from Doctor Who (aside from a lack of a TV series for the Eighth Doctor) was the fact that the show never got an annual that year.
Something of a British tradition, each Christmas, children are given a hardbacked book, containing comics and stories with their favourite characters from TV, film, toys, etc, as well as puzzles and games.
But now, 27 years after it should have been published, The Doctor Who Annual 1997 has arrived, from Terraqueous Distribution.
With Becca on maternity leave, Kenny's joined by his Power of 3 co-conspirator David Steel, and chat with editor Mark, as well as one of its many writers, Rob Nisbet.
Find out more HERE.
WHO doesn't like a good, in-depth interview? After all, that's what Pieces of Eighth is all about!
This week, we take a look at Reeltime Pictures' release of The Doctors: Paul McGann Years, which features a chat with the Eighth Doctor actor, co-stars Daphne Ashbrook, Yee Jee Tso and Eric Roberts, as well as executive producer Philip Segal, and TV Movie director Geoffrey Sax.
We chat with Reeltime's Keith Barnfather, who tells us about the origins of the range in the 1980s, and how it's become a vital repository for people wanting to know all about the classic series era, in the words of those who made the show.
IT'S A SHORT Trip that has been released four times, it's THAT good.
We're talking about Museum Peace, written by James Swallow, which sees Kalendorf from Big Finish's Dalek Empire series encountering the Eighth Doctor in a museum. And there's a Dalek in it too.
We speak with James, and also Nicholas Briggs, who narrated the story, as well as doing the music and sound design, for its release as an audio Short Trip.
You can find out more about James' work at https://jswallow.com/ and Museum Peace can be bought from the Big Finish website.
It's another one of Kenny's chats in person from Gallifrey, as we welcome back our old pals Matthew Jacobs and Vanessa Yuille.
They chat about the impact of their film, Doctor Who Am I?, and find out how Matthew now views his place in the Whoniverse.
Becca's not jealous of the trip at all...
WE'RE back into the territory of the original Lucie Miller adventures, to the delight of one of your co-hosts.
We have a chat with Paul Sutton, the writer of No More Lies, the sixth story in the first run of Lucie Miller adventures.
It's the first time Paul's chatted about the story, and he reveals how his research into Hungarian folk songs played a part in the tale.
WE'RE BACK - and it's about time we featured another comic featuring the Eighth Doctor.
This week, we feature Titan Comics' Empire of the Wolf, in a chat with editor Jake Devine, and writer Jody Houser - recorded by Kenny in person at Gallifrey in February this year. It's the first of several interviews from Stateside, for this run of episodes.
Find out more about Titan's Doctor Who range at https://titan-comics.com/?tag__series=doctor-who
Ahead of the launch of our sixth season, we're delighted to bring you some rare material, with these trailers for Invaders From Mars, as originally broadcast on Radio 7 in 2005.
Here's four short teasers, to get listeners hooked - aren't they great?
HAPPY NEW Year! Doctor Who's 60th anniversary year is upon us in 2023.
And to kick off the celebrations, we asked our listeners to share with us their favourite Eighth Doctor stories, on TV, audio, books, comics, etc.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of our friend Si Hodges, who kindly provided us with images to use in several season three episodes, including the Beyond the Vortex episodes, and creating us a special piece of art for The People's Temple episode.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! We didn't originally plan to do this episode, but the opportunity arose, to bring you some special presents on Christmas Day.
Firstly, we've a present for you, dear listener. We've married up Gordon Tipple's original opening narration for the TV Movie, with the soundtrack, to hear how it may originally have sounded.
Secondly, we've a present for Becca, as we're joined by a special Christmas Day guest!
And finally, we've another present for you all, as we have a reading of the Short Trip Evergreen, which is performed by its original author.
We're DEFINITELY finished for this year now - this is our 70th episode of 2022!
"CHRISTMAS wouldn't be Christmas without my plum pudding!"
So Mrs Baddeley tells us throughout The Chimes of Midnight, and now, for many Doctor Who / Big Finish fans, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without The Chimes of Midnight.
This Christmas Eve, we're joined by our friends all over the world, as we celebrate the story regarded by many as the greatest Doctor Who audio story, if not the greatest Doctor Who story of all, in Robert Shearman's tale from 2002.
IT'S CHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISTMAS! We're continuing our countdown to the festive season with the Eighth Doctor, as we take a look at one of his Christmas specials.
We're looking at Better Watch Out and Fairytale of Salzburg, from Ravenous 2, as the Krampus rises and nothing stands in its way as it looks to destroy the world... only once man can stop him, and it's not the man you were expecting...
Writer John Dorney joins us for a natter, as does Robert Whitelock, who plays the Krampus and a host of other parts in this adventure. Benji Clifford tells us about how he sound designed the story, and composer Jamie Robertson talks us through his creative process, in a bumper episode.
IT PROBABLY hasn't escaped your notice, but we're just three days away from Christmas, so it's time we got into the festive spirit.
Today, we bring you a reading of a complete Christmas Short Trip, Decorative Purposes. It was the twenty-first short story in the Big Finish printed anthology Short Trips: The Ghosts of Christmas, published in 5 December 2007. It was written by Eddie Robson and featured the Eighth Doctor and Lucie Miller (Kenny's so excited!).
After our reading, Eddie joins us for a chat, so sit back, get those chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and enjoy...
TODAY we have our final Short Trip, as we look at The Queen of Eros from Short Trips and Sidesteps.
We bring you a full reading of the story, with sound design, followed by a chat with author Trevor Baxendale, and, of course, editor Steve Cole.
And that it - the complete run of Sam and the Eighth Doctor on their own!
WE MAY have finished our run of episodes looking at the Eighth Doctor and Sam's adventures in full novel form, but we're completists. There's still gaps.
We continue our look at the official BBC Short Trips, as we look at Femme Fatale, by Paul Magrs, as the Doctor and Sam encounter Andy Warhol and Iris Wildthyme.
We've a full reading of the story, by James Hadwen-Bennett, followed by chats with editor Steve Cole and Paul.
WE'VE comprehensively covered the first 18 EDAs with the Doctor and Sam... but we don't want to stop there!
There's still a few stories featuring this pair to be covered, before Fitz arrives, so we're turning our eye to the world of Short Trips. We've previously covered Bounty, Dead Time and The People's Temple, and since we're completists, it would be wrong not to do their other adventures, published in the BBC Short Trips books.
Today, we've got Steve Cole telling us about Model Train Set, as well as a chat with its author, Jonathan Blum.
THE FACE-EATER is the 18th and final novel in our run of episodes looking at the early Eighth Doctor Adventures, and his stories with Sam Jones.
We're joined, as ever, by range editor Steve Cole, and writer Simon Messingham talks us through his journey as a Doctor Who writer - and we find out which of his good friends became a 21st century TV series writer.
It's the end of our current run looking at the books, but is it the end of season five? Tune in and find out!
IT WOULD be fair to say that Beltempest is a Doctor Who novel with a high-concept science fiction idea at its heart. There's no moustache-twirling villains, or bases under siege.
Not only is Beltempest a story of note, but this is an episode with a difference - we don't have a 'live' interview with author Jim Mortimore, but he kindly agreed to record his answers to the questions, which we sent him, and we've created a full chat with him.
As ever, Steve Cole tells us about things from his side as the range editor too, for another engrossing chat.
WE'RE nearing the end of our look at this first phase of novels in the Eighth Doctor Adventures novelatic universe (to make up a phrase).
Today, it's The Janus Conjunction, as we look at a fondly-remembered adventure in which the Doctor's companion, Sam Jones, DIES at the end. She does. Dead. She's an ex-companion. She has ceased to be (etc).
And we get author Trevor Baxendale's preferred pronunciation of Janus. Is it Janus or Janus? Tune in and find out!
SHE'S BACK... and it's about Thyme... Iris Wildthyme!
The Doctor Who universe was given a kick up the backside with the arrival of Iris Wildthyme in Paul Magrs' first Who novel, The Scarlet Empress.
Get ready for a crazy ride, as Paul, editor Steve Cole and cover artist Colin Howard join us on the Number 22 to Putney, as we find out about this EDA from 1998.
WE LEAVE no stone unturned in our quest to bring you interviews with as many of the EDA authors as possible - and today, we bring you the elusive Christopher Bulis.
Chris gives us a fantastic rare interview, with his memories of watching Doctor Who in its earliest years, and how he became a writer in the 90s with Virgin, and then the BBC - and his fascinating notes on the Eighth Doctor's personality, as we chat Vanderdeken's Children.
It's a great listen - and we're also joined by Steve Cole, who reveals the legal difficulties the cover got into, plus artist Colin Howard (who didn't cause the court case!).
AN ICE WARRIOR! Foamasi! Wirrrn (with three 'R's)! And they're all in the one book!
Gary Russell's Placebo Effect is the subject of today's episode of Pieces of Eighth, and he tells us which monsters originally featured in the outline for the book before changing to the creatures from The Leisure Hive and The Ark in Space.
As ever, Steve Cole joins Kenny and Becca on their voyage, as we hit the lucky thirteen episode of this run.
THE DOCTOR's been put in prison, and despite his best efforts, can't escape. Sam, meanwhile, spends three years, having a series of relationships, as he friend tries to find freedom.
We're joined by Jonathan Blum, co-author of Seeing I (the other half being his wife, Kate Orman), to chat about this novel, which concluded the 'missing Sam' trilogy, and reset the relationship between the Time Lord and his friend.
And, of course, Steve Cole pops by for a quick chat about it too!
THE Doctor and Sam have been separated, and Dreamstone Moon seems them nearly reunited... but not quite!
Sam's on her on, stuck on an out-of-control Kusk spaceship, and the Doctor has troubles of his own to resolve...
We're joined by range editor Steve Cole and author Paul Leonard to discuss this little gem (gettit?) of a novel.
THEY'RE BACK! We'd waited years for a new Dalek story, and then two came along in the space of six months in the EDAs!
Today, we put Legacy of the Daleks under the microscope, as editor Steve Cole tells us how he picked it up from his predecessor Nuala Buffini, and author John Peel (not that one) tells us about writing for the Eighth Doctor, Susan, David Campbell, the aftermath of the Dalek Invasion of Earth... and the Master!
It's an interesting insight...
LONGEST Day by Michael Collier is a Doctor Who novel that's carried a mystery about it for more than two decades.
Fan rumour and speculation suggested that Mike wasn't actually a real person, and it had actually been written by range editor Steve Cole.
Today, Pieces of Eighth can reveal the full story behind this tale, as the Doctor and Sam face the Kusks, as we speak to Mike, live from his home in Latvia, Steve, and cover artist Colin Howard, as the truth can finally be revealed!
OPTION Lock marks the arrival of Justin Richards to the BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures range.
The future editor of the series makes an impressive debut with aliens, businessmen, the Philosopher's Stone and space stations with nuclear weapons...
We're joined by editor Steve Cole, Justin's son Julian, and cover artist Colin Howard.
THERE'S no need to cry wolf - just tune in to this episode of Pieces of Eighth!
We've got werewolves in a fun park, as author Peter Anghelides and BBC Books Eighth Doctor Adventures range editor Steve Cole join us, to tell us about this novel, from 2008.
And, trivia fans - The Kursaal is a Grade II listed building in Southend-on-Sea, in Essex, England, which opened in 1901 as part of one of the world's first purpose-built amusement parks. The venue is noted for the main building with distinctive dome, designed by George Campbell Sherrin, which has featured on a Royal Mail special edition stamp.
In 1998 the main Kursaal building was reopened after a multi million-pound redevelopment by the Rowallan Group containing a bowling alley, a casino and other amusements. The building originally contained a McDonald's, but the fast food chain left in 2008.
The bowling alley closed permanently in 2019, and the casino closed permanently in 2020. This currently leaves only a Tesco Express store occupying part of this historic building.
IT'S THE Eighth Doctor Adventure that shook up the line, as Lawrence Miles arrives on the scene with Alien Bodies.
We're joined by range editor Steve Cole, and we hear from Lawrence in an archival clip talking about the book from the London science fiction podcast Reality Check, after he declined our invitation to take part. Huge thanks to Alex Fitch for allowing us to use an excerpt.
DWM reviewer Matt Michael also joins us to discuss the book and its legacy.
IN OCTOBER 1997, BBC Books achieved something that their predecessors at Virgin had been unable to achieve with the New and Missing Adventures - an original novel with the Daleks.
Written by John Peel, a friend of Dalek creator Terry Nation, it saw the Eighth Doctor, Sam, Davros, Thals, Movellans and Daleks all feature.
Today's episode features a chat with the writer, as well as range editor Steve Cole.
IT'S HORSES for courses today on Pieces of Eighth, as we chat about the Eighth Doctor Adventure, Genocide.
We've got three readings from Paul Leonard's novel, the fourth in the series, as well as a chat with editor Steve Cole, and the author himself - who took a lot of tracking down.
WHAT'S THAT, you say? Pieces of Eighth covering the EDA The Bodysnatchers? But haven't you already done that in season two?!
Why yes, yes we have, dear listener, but we're not going to short change you for your time. We've gone back to scratch, re-edited the content and added all-new material, including a chat with range editor Steve Cole, Doctor Who Magazine reviewer and Eighth Doctor superfan Matt Michael, and added a second reading from Mark Morris' 1997 novel.
So yes, it's a good old remix - we've retained the original interview and reading from first time around, so this should be an all-new experience. Mostly!
THE EIGHTH Doctor's back in the city where he was born - San Francisco.
Accompanied by his new friend Samantha 'Sam' Jones, the pair encounter vampires and UNIT - but there's not a peep from his old pal Dr Grace Holloway.
Co-author Jonathan Blum joins us for a chat about writing the book - sadly, his wife and co-writer Kate Orman had gone down with COVID-19, so was unable to join us, so sit back and find out just what happened to Grace, as we also mention a vampire called Spike - and it's not THAT one!
WE'RE BACK after a very short break - it's our long-awaited look at the BBC Books Eight Doctor Adventures range.
Over the coming 18 days, we're going to be covering the first 18 novels in the range, from The Eight Doctors up to The Face Eater.
Today, we kick off with The Eight Doctors by Terrance Dicks, featuring an archival interview with the author, BBC Books editor Steve Cole, an extract from our friends at the All-New Doctor Who Book Club discussing some handwritten notes on the first page of the book, plus a chat about the book with Doctor Who Magazine reviewer Matt Michael.
WE LIED! We told you episode 4.16 was the last of the run, and it really, really was planned to be... and now, it's the penultimate episode of season four!
Before our fifth season kicks off, looking at Phase One of the EDA (we like that phrase - we'll have to use it more in future), we present an overview of the BBC Books series, as not all of our listeners will be aware of the ins and outs of the ongoing adventures.
In September 2003, Panini published the fifth of their Doctor Who Magazine specials, The Complete Eighth Doctor, which looked at the Wilderness Years, the making of the TV Movie, and looks at this incarnation in audio, comics and books.
The feature on the books was written by friend of the podcast Matt Michael, and only featured the novels up to Reckless Engineering, with a further 10 to follow before the range came to an end, so the feature is not fully complete.
In it, Matt considered the highs and lows of the Doctor's novel outings, and to set the scene for the next 18 episodes, we present the feature, Hallo Spaceboy, read by its author.
IT'S DOCTOR Who's 59th anniversary today, and to mark the occasion, and Paul McGann's birthday last week, we're looking at The Night of the Doctor.
Our fantastic listeners have shared their thoughts on when they first saw the Eighth Doctor's shock return to our screens in 2013, and we present their thoughts on the surprise mini-episode, which debuted on 14 November, 2013.
And keep an ear out - you may recognise some of the names and voices in this episode!
BBC Audio brought us a new adventure for the Eighth Doctor, in the form of The Code of Flesh.
The sequel to last year's The Scent of Blood, writer Andrew (Andy!) Lane and narrator Dan Starkey were reunited, to bring us another terrifying tale set in Victorian England.
This week, we're joined by Andy, as well as BBC Audio's commissioning editor Michael Stevens, and audiobook producer Neil Gardner, from Ladbroke Audio, to bring you an episode that's actually LONGER than the audio that inspired it!
HAVE YOU ever had one of those dreams, where everyone and everything around you just... stops?
That's exactly the situation Liv Chenka finds herself in, in the Big Finish Short Trip The World Beyond The Trees, written by Jonathan Barnes and produced by Ian Atkins - and read by Nicola Walker.
We've got two of the three named creatives involved in this episode - can you guess who?!
WE TAKE a look at the final release in the Big Finish Doctor Who monthly range, The End of the Beginning.
Author Robert Valentine talks us through the four episodes, Part One: Death and the Desert; Part Two: Flight of the Blackstar; Part Three: Night Gallery (the Eighth Doctor one) and Part Four: The Lost Moon, as we learn what goes into the making of a multi-Doctor story.
IT'S ANOTHER first for Pieces of Eighth - normally we don't do review episodes, but on this occasion we've broken our rule.
Today, we feature Kenny's roadtrip to Edinburgh with his Power of 3 co-host David Steel, as they travelled to watch Doctor Who Am I on the big screen, the documentary charting Matthew Jacobs' journey with fandom, from being (as he perceived it) an unwanted embarrassment after the TV Movie, to fully embracing the fact that people like - and indeed love - his work.
It's a moving film, directed by Vanessa Yuille, and Kenny and Dave give their thoughts en route to the cinema in the car, in the cinema beforehand, and give their instant reaction on the streets of the Scottish capital.
Becca's gutted not to have seen the film - yet - but we're also joined by seven listeners who share their thoughts on the film too.
IT'S 31 OCTOBER, which means it's Halloween, and we've decided to bring you a suitably scary episode to mark the occasion.
We're dipping into the first Doom Coalition box set, as the Doctor and Liv Chenka encounter Helen Sinclair for the first time. Unfortunately for them, people are dying in mysterious circumstances if they look at artworks from a collection which its late owner ordered to be hidden away.
Yes, we're talking about The Red Lady - and definitely not looking at her - as author John Dorney returns for a chat about this chilling tale from 2015.
Our hosts also reveal their memorable Halloween costumes from the past - but who was the Fluffy Green Zip Up Hulk?
VIEWERS of Doctor Who in the 21st century have become accustomed to watching how the show is made behind the scenes, through DVD and bluray extras, and Doctor Who Confidential.
However, back in 1996, these things were unheard of, with the only additional content coming in the form of an official electronic press kit, with interviews with Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann and Daphne Ashbrook, plus the likes of Philip Segal.
But Bill Baggs was ahead of his time, and sent a small guerilla team to Canada, accompanying Sylvester McCoy, to record a video diary of his final days of the Doctor, before handing over the TARDIS key to Paul McGann.
This is the story of how Bidding Adieu came to be.
You can order it HERE directly from producers BBV.
In a change to the scheduled episode 4.9, we had to bring you something new, given Paul McGann's just been back on our screens as the Doctor!
His brief appearance in The Power of the Doctor, alongside David Bradley, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, has been warmly greeted by fans all over the world.
So, here's our celebration of his return, complete with the views of fan friends all over the world - thanks to one and all for taking part and sending us their audio clips.
In addition: you'll also find out which popular TV show Kenny loathes, and why Mr Becca's Dad was a knob for a few minutes!
THE Doctor and Charley Pollard are on the hunt for adventurer Pieter Montemarche, a hero of the Edwardian Adventuress in her youth.
But when the duo fail to meet him at several of the locations he's reputed to have visited, they begin to wonder if he has been taken out of time completely...
We go behind the scenes of this Big Finish Short Trip from 2016, as writer Ian Atkins and sound designer Rob Nisbet pop in for a chat about bringing this little tale to life.
IMAGINE how thrilling it must have been to have Doctor Who back in production, after a seven year gap - and then flying to Canada to see it unfold before your eyes.
That's exactly what happened to Gary Gillatt during his tenure as the editor of Doctor Who Magazine, becoming one of just a handful of British journalists who were given access to the set in Vancouver, and had the thrill of walking through Richard Hudolin's control and cloister room sets.
In this episode, he shares his memories of how the trip came about, and how his writing for The Independent made a big impression on Paul McGann.
WHEN the Eighth Doctor was forced to regenerate, it all came after a spaceship crash with a pilot named Cass.
The Night of the Doctor gave us a new and unexpected insight into the Time War, as we heard about the conflict through the eyes of Cass - played by Emma Campbell-Jones - and did so much world building in seconds.
This week we chat with Emma about her experiences in The Night of the Doctor, to the delight of Kenny - it's another Scot on the podcast!
LET'S BE honest - as a Doctor Who fan, we'd all love to appear in the show in one form or another, whether as an actor, writer, director, producer, or even just in the background.
It would, of course, be an impossible dream to think that you could get a small on-screen speaking part, especially if you were a fan who lived in Canada....
But dreams can come true, and that's exactly what happened for Jeremy Radick, who got to appear in the part of Gareth the security guard in the TV Movie.
This week, we meet Jeremy, and discover what a huge fan of the show he is!
DOCTOR Who TV Movie screenwriter Matthew Jacobs has a new Time Lord-related project on the way - and he's spoken to Pieces of Eighth all about it.
Matthew and his friend, documentary filmmaker Vanessa Yuille, follows him in Doctor Who Am I, as he is reluctantly pulled back into the fandom that universally panned his writing and narrative twists in 1996.In a film that is funny and moving, the American ‘Whoniverse’ is explored during the biggest conventions dedicated to the cult of the Doctor.
Jacobs’s journey is often hilarious and emotionally perilous, but it also sparks a provocative and touching showdown between American Doctor Who fans and the writer himself.Paul McGann, Daphne Ashbrook, Eric Roberts, and many others, offer Jacobs words of wisdom and help him realize just how personal and ambivalently entangled the show has been in his life. Matthew unexpectedly finds himself a kindred part of this close-knit, yet vast, family of fans.
Yuille’s directorial debut documentary addresses the desire to belong to a community, and how people can become nourished and enriched by the experience.
IT'S AN interview we've wanted to do for some time, and now, at long last, we've got hold of TV Movie designer Richard Hudolin, to chat about his work on creating a new look for Doctor Who.
Kenny caught up with Richard at his home in Canada (via Zoom, sadly), and chatted about his career, which includes credits on Superman 3, Battlestar Galactica, Stargate and many others.
Prepare for some all-new anecdotes from the filming of the TV Movie in Vancouver, as well as the pleasure Richard still feels looking back on his work on Doctor Who today.
AT LONG last, we've covering some Doctor Who comic strips featuring the Eighth Doctor, as we travel back to 1996/97.
We chat with writer Gary Russell and illustrator Lee Sullivan in depth, about the 42 episodes of the comic strip which featuring each week in the Radio Times, with the Doctor being joined by new companions Stacy Townsend and Ssard the Ice Warrior.
They share how the strip came to be, the excitement of crafting adventures each week - Dreadnought, Descendance, Ascendance, Perceptions and Coda - which were set on a spaceship in the future, on Mars, and in Victorian London, as well as the hurried two-part conclusion to what was ultimately planned as an 18 month arc.
And, courtesy of Stephen Day, we've got some of the dialogue from the opening story, Dreadnought, being brought to life.
PIECES of Eighth returns for a mini-fourth series! Before we bring you our extensive look at the first 18 BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures, we're bringing you a short run of all-new episodes!
We kick off with Paul McGann's finale in the role, as we look at the making of The Night of the Doctor, as Kenny has a chat with a fellow Scot, in producer Denise Paul.
Denise - in her first-ever podcast chat - reveals how she came to work on Doctor Who, as well as working with Karen Gillan before and during her spell on Doctor Who, and the highlights of her career.
Oh, and they're not the only two Scottish people who have a chat this episode - there's a mysterious third person making a cameo appearance, and they are a Scot too... but who could it be? Tune in and find out!
THE new triple pack of Eighth Doctor action figures is about to hit B&M stores in the UK - and we've got an exclusive chat about them.
Character Options' Alasdair Dewar returns to Pieces of Eighth, to discuss how the set came about - and how this podcast played a part in his thinking too!
Al also chats about the latest Tenth Doctor and Dalek sets, in the final episode of our third season. This is episode 28 - not bad, considering we only planned to do 13!
And make sure you listen until the very end...
OUR look at the Mary Shelley adventures with the Eighth Doctor comes to a close in this episode, as we go behind the scenes on Army of Death.
We have a rare podcast appearance from script editor Alan Barnes, who tells us how the trilogy came to be, as well as Mary's original encounter with the Doctor in A Company of Friends, we meet actor Mitch Benn who plays several stories in the tale, as well as sound designer/musician Kelly Ellis from Fool Circle Productions, who shares his experiences of bringing the adventure to life.
It's the penultimate episode in this series - a 13 part run that's become 28! It's just least Tom Baker's last season on TV, except neither Kenny nor Becca are going to regenerate into Peter Davison next week. Promise!
AFTER bringing you all eight episodes of the making of series which accompanied the first season of Doctor and Lucie adventures on BBC7, we this week bring you the second batch.
Kenny and Becca are joined by producer Martin Montague, as they discuss the making of the series which accompanied Dead London, Max Warp, Brave New Town, The SKull of Sobek, Grand Theft Cosmos and The Zygon Who Fell To Earth in 2008.
There's also plenty of cat talk, as both Becca and Martin own cats called Merlin - and it's the purr-fect combination!
WE'RE DELIGHTED to bring you an exclusive chat with one of the most prolific Doctor Who writers from the 'Wilderness Years', from 1989-2005, Paul Leonard.
Paul wrote several Doctor Who novels for Virgin's New Adventures and Missing Adventures ranges, before carrying on and writing for the Eighth Doctor throughout his adventures, with his books including Genocide, Dreamstone Moon, Revolution Man, the acclaimed and much-loved The Turing Test, and The Last Resort.
Thanks to fellow EDA writer Nick Walters, we've been able to speak to Paul, and our first chat with him covers the Short Trip The People's Temple, which was later brought to life by Paul McGann, who read it for the Earth and Beyond audio cassette release.
We also speak with the story's editor Steve Cole, who explains the background to this story.
And thanks to Si Hodges for this week's graphic!
WITH THE sad news last week of the passing of the late, great Bernard Cribbins, we wanted to celebrate his life at Pieces of Eighth.
In a change to the advertised programme (again!), we've done a special episode marking Bernard's return to Doctor Who after some 40 odd years, in Big Finish Eighth Doctor Adventure Horror of Glam Rock, the third story in the Lucie Miller series of adventures.
Kenny and Rebecca celebrate Bernard's life, and they're joined by writer Paul Magrs, who explains where the story came from, his memories of writing it, and his joy at having one of Big Finish's most stellar casts, ever.
This episode also contains Kenny telling a British tabloid newspaper to go away, in colourful language - for the second week in a row!
And stay tuned until the end, as we've got an added little treat, which will hopefully make you smile.
ONE of the wonders of Doctor Who is that it can be set anywhere - a space station, an army base, a service station or even a care home for the elderly.
And it's to the latter that we travel this week, as Kenny and Becca find out about another Short Trip from Big Finish, Curse of the Fugue, as they discuss the tale, written by Alice Cavender, and she joins us for a chat, along with producer Ian Atkins and sound designer/musician Steve Foxon.
We hear about the recording session that was up against the clock - and why narrator Sheridan Smith was a real star on the day, seeing the job through until the end. The tale was released in April 2016.
Also: Be warned! This episode contains Kenny dropping three F bombs at the mention a particular British daily 'newspaper', which is filled with hate and venom, and once turned its ire on our poor beloved Sheridan Smith when she was going through the traumatic loss of her father.
THE FIFTH, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Doctors are united in one story - except, well, they aren't really... in The Four Doctors.
This week, Becca and Kenny go behind the scenes of this Big Finish subscriber exclusive audio, released in 2010.
We're joined by writer Peter Anghelides, actor/cover artist Alex Mallinson and sound designer/composer Steve Foxon, in this first-ever look behind the scenes at this tale - as there's no official CD extras with the Big Finish release!
CAST your mind back to 2006/07, when BBC7 broadcast all-new Doctor Who, starring Paul McGann and Sheridan Smith.
Accompanying each release, from Blood of the Daleks to Human Resources was Beyond The Vortex, a making-of series going behind the scenes to reveal just what went into making the whole series.
This week, Kenny and the returning Becca (hurrah!) celebrate Beyond The Vortex, have a chat with its producer Martin Montague, and bring you all eight episodes of this insightful series.
Beyond The Vortex is copyright BBC, and we bring you this series because it's unavailable everywhere else.
Illustration: Si Hodges
IT'S OUR first dive into the world of Stranded, the most recent series of box sets from Big Finish, in which the Doctor, Helen and Live are stranded (surprisingly enough!) in London, 2020, at the Time Lord's Baker Street residence.
Kenny and Matt (with poor Becca still recovering from COVID) chat about UNIT Dating, in which the Doctor dips into his past to help TARDIS repairs in the present, and Andy joins him on a trip to UNIT. In the 1970s, young soldier Ron Winters has just met lab assistant Tony Clare. But in 2020, they need Liv and Helen’s help when their memories start falling apart...
We're joined by writer Roy Gill, in a rare podcast appearance, as well as sound designer Benji Clifford, who tells about writing the song Wizards of the Universe.
Image: We Are Cult
WE'RE BACK in the thick of the Time War in this week's episode, as we find the Fifth Doctor's companion Nyssa caught up in the conflict, on her ship, the Traken.
Kenny and Matt discuss the story - as Becca recovers from COVID - and we're joined by writer Rob Nisbet and producer Ian Atkins to discuss A Heart on Both SIdes, a Big Finish Short Trip, released in 2017.
And it's only £2.99 - go on, you know you want to buy it, if you've not already heard it!
EARLIER this year, Charlotte Elspeth Pollard returned for four new adventures alongside Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor, in a box set set after Minuet in Hell.
This week, Kenny and Matt have a chat about the return of everyone's favourite Edwardian Adventuress, and we've got interviews with writer Lisa McMullan, sound designer Steve Foxon and musician Joe Kraemer.
We're also still sending out love to Becca and hope she'll be back very soon.
This week we look at Fear Itself by Nick Wallace - the BBC Eighth Doctor Adventure that isn't an Eighth Doctor Adventure, sort of...!
Sadly, Becca's had COVID and can't join us this week, so Matt Michael steps into her shoes once more - although they are a little too small for him.
We chat with the author, and gain an insight into the Eighth Doctor PDA...
THIS week's episode of Pieces of Eighth brings you a first - we actually have a reading of a full, officially licensed BBC Doctor Who story (except we've done it unofficially!).
We bring you a full reading of Tara Samms' Totem, which originally appeared in the book More Short Trips. It's been performed by Becca, with Kenny on sound design.
And then, to top it all off, we've got an interview with Steve Cole, who was the editor of the collection and tells us more about Totem.
(And we've got to say thanks to our friends over at Fiction Paradox, the world's only Eighth Doctor BBC Books-dedicated podcast, that they know of) for reminding us of the story, and to those cheeky chappies at The Sirens of Audio podcast, who've previously brought Short Trips to life as readings, for the inspiration to do this)
THIS episode of Pieces of Eighth is released on June 2, 2022 - exactly 25 years to the day since BBC Books began publishing original Doctor Who fiction.
Sadly, Becca's still not able to join us due to the difficult news she was given last week, but with her blessing, we're carrying on and our good friend Matt Michael has stepped in - with just two hours' notice - to help bring this episode to you.
We discuss the launch of the Eighth Doctor Adventures range, featuring exclusive interviews with Steve Cole, his assistant Lesley Levene, and James Macey from Black Sheep, who were responsible for the cover designs, the latter two giving their first Doctor Who interviews.
Kenny also opens up his personal archive, as he and Matt bring you the original BBC press releases and publicity material which were given out to the media back in 1997 -isn't it a good job Kenny NEVER throws away anything?
It's our longest episode yet, at 132 minutes!
THE TARDIS brings us to one of the Doctor's most favourite planets this week, as we discover The Truth of Peladon.
Sadly, Becca's not able to be with us this week, but Kenny's carrying on and trying to keep the good ship Pieces of Eighth going.
We're joined by writer Tim Foley and director Barnaby Kay, as we reveal the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth.
IMAGINE a story where the Doctor met Road Runner, Scooby Doo, Tom (off of Tom and Jerry) and Penelope Pitstop...
That's exactly what happened in June 2002, when BBC Books released the 57th Eighth Doctor Adventure, The Crooked World. The Doctor, Fitz and Anji found themselves in a world full of cartoon characters, but very soon, things change forever as the time travellers introduce new concepts into the world.
Becca and Kenny are joined by its author, Steve Lyons, as they find out just how it all came about, and how he looks back on it now.
YES, dear listener, you did read that correctly - Memoirs of an Edwardian Adventurer, not Adventuress!
This week, we're chatting about the unofficial companion to the Big Finish audios featuring the Eighth Doctor and Charley, C'rizz, Tamsin and Lucie, featured in the book written by Will Brooks and Nick Mellish.
We meet the pair and found out what led them to write about the audios, as they go through the episodes, one by one, on a daily basis, and find out how they look back on their work now.
If you've not read the book, it's available on the Kindle for a bargain £1.99!
WE'VE GOT a magical story this week, as we take a look at Big Finish monthly range Eighth Doctor tale The Witch from the Well.
The story title is pretty self-explanatory, as Kenny and Becca are joined by the story's writer Rick Briggs, as well as sound designer and musician Steve Foxon.
Find out just what goes into bringing a story with a supernatural element to life - and just where did the idea of Odic energy come from? It's all explained, as we continue our adventures with the Doctor and Mary Shelley.
WE HEAD back to the world of Big Finish Short Trips for this week's episode - WHICH HAS SPOILERS!.
Kenny and Becca discuss the adventure Foreshadowing, written by Julian Richards and narrated by India Fisher, and Julian joins us for a chat about the creative process, and feature a brief special guest appearance later on from someone who is related to the SPOILER.
If you've not heard it, pop over to the Big Finish website, buy it for £2.99, listen, and then listen to us!
BECCA, Kenny and their guest co-host Matt Michael from DWM are still on the trail of the Time Lord Victorious.
This week, they turn their attention to the Eighth Doctor's involvement with the novel All Flesh Is Grass - complete with two enhanced readings from the book - and speak with author Una McCormack, and, as the saga concludes in Mutually Assured Destruction, writer Lizzie Hopley shares her experiences of writing Die Hard with a Crashing Dalek Time Ship...
PIECES of Eighth ventures into that multi-platform release from 2020 and 2021 this week, as we uncover some of the secrets of Time Lord Victorious.
Over the next two episodes, we'll feature all of the Eighth Doctor's stories from the run, starting this week with Big Finish vinyl release Echoes of Extinction - which featured Paul McGann and David Tennant, and have an exclusive chat with its writer, Alfie Shaw, speaking about the release for the first time ever on a podcast.
Kenny and Becca are joined by another co-host this week, in the form of Matt Michael (who you may know from his reviews in Doctor Who Magazine), as they look at Big Finish audio pair He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not and The Enemy of My Enemy, before having a chat with musician Ioan Morris, who created the amazing score for the audio stories.
Next week, Becca, Matt and Kenny will feature the novel All Flesh Is Grass, and speak with Una McCormack, as well as the concluding story of the series, Mutually Assured Destruction, with writer Lizzie Hopley.
THE Cybermen are back - and we join the Doctor and Mary Shelley as they face his old foes in Vienna.
It's a return to the Big Finish full cast audio worlds, as they take a listen to The Silver Turk, which was released in 2011.
And Becca informs Kenny of another fascinating real-life fact about Mary - which once again shocks him! - as the pair meet the story's writer Marc Platt, as well as musician and sound designer Jamie Robertson.
The award-winning Black Archive is a bi-monthly series of independently-published book-length looks at Doctor Who stories - and they've featured both of the Eighth Doctor's outings on TV.
In Doctor Who (1996)Paul Driscoll looks at the Paul McGann TV movie as a functional series pilot, as a reinvention of the Doctor and of the 20th-century Doctor Who formula, and as a ‘bridge’ to the 21st-century revival, while James Cooray Smith examines seven exceptional minutes of Doctor Who, suggesting The Night of the Doctor is a revisionist return to Doctor Who’s past, typical of showrunner Steven Moffat, and a televisual coup despite its online release.
Kenny meets range editor Stuart Douglas, and later, Kenny and Becca discuss their love of a good critical study.
You can find out more about these two books from http://obversebooks.co.uk/theblackarchive/eighth/.
The miracle has happened! Believe it or not, we've actually spoken with the Eighth Doctor himself in an exclusive chat!
We discuss playing the Doctor, whether Paul McGann still regards himself as the George Lazenby of Time Lords, working with Nicola Walker in Scotland, and
Kenny was delighted to chat with Paul, and sadly Becca was detained elsewhere... at her boyfriend's brother's birthday drinks in a Southampton pub!
Pieces of Eighth returns to the worlds of the Big Finish Short Trips, those sometimes forgotten little gems, bringing us more Doctor Who adventures.
This week, Becca and Kenny talk about The Turn of the Screw, and have a ball as they interview producer Ian Atkins about his thinking in commissioning the adventure-packed story, writer Eddie Robson about the creative process, and Yee Jee Tso tells all about performing what was his first audiobook reading.
This 'making of' podcast is actually longer than the original story!
EATER of Wasps - the title of this Doctor Who adventure alone is enough to make you feel unwell... imagine having not just one wasp in your mouth, but lots of the stingy wee buggers?!
This week, Becca and Kenny discuss the 45th novel from the BBC Books range, Eater of Wasps, written by Trevor Baxendale.
The pair discuss their loathing of the titular insects, chat with Trevor, and bring you two scenes from the book, brought to life with narration and sound design.
Over the course of season three, we're going to be meeting the people involved in the making of the Big Finish Mary Shelley Trilogy, a trilogy in four parts.
Kenny and Becca kick off their journey with a trip to Switzerland, as we discover how Mary's Story came about, as Jonathan Morris reveals he wasn't intended to be involved as its writer, and sound designer Thea Cochrane (another Scottish person - so Kenny's pleased!) reveals how she did the sound design.
Brace yourselves - it's a stormy night out there at the Villa Diodati!
Pieces of Eighth returns for its third season, and we open with someone who was involved in the TV Movie.
The movie's soundtrack is one of the most popular things about it, so listen in and hear Becca get jealous of Kenny, as he spoke with John Sponsler, the co-composer on the 1996 score.
Our third run kicks off here - and we've got plenty more exclusive interviews lined up for this season.
Join Character Options' Al Dewar and Big Finish's unofficial archivist Kenny Smith, as they take another trip back in time to chat about the origins of some Doctor Who action figurers.
This time, the pair discuss the figures related to the audio series - the Sixth Doctor in blue coat, as first seen in Real Time, plus the B&M twin packs featuring the Seventh, Eighth and War Doctors, plus new Daleks.
It's Christmas time... there's no need to be afraid... apart from from a giant trans-dimensional fish which has escaped inside the TARDIS!
Join Kenny and Becca as they discover how Relative Dimensions came into being for the Big Finish Eighth Doctor Adventures range.
Christmas is a time for family, they say – which is why the Doctor has invited his granddaughter Susan, and great grandson Alex for Christmas dinner in his time and space machine. But who, or what, is the spectre at their yuletide feast?
Venturing deep into the dark heart of the TARDIS, Susan uncovers her past, Alex is told his future – and the Doctor finds himself caught in a deadly, dangerous present!
Our hosts meet writer Marc Platt and sound designer/musician Jamie Robertson.
The second season of Pieces of Eighth comes to a close with the rest of our exclusive chat with the writer and co-producer of the Doctor Who TV Movie, Matthew Jacobs.
We chat about his feelings on the film now, how he came to embrace it, and we discover that he knows about Big Finish!
Plus, Becca and Kenny reveal when they'll be back, and what's in the next episode!
Pieces of Eighth reaches the climax of its second season, and we welcome another guest who worked on the Doctor Who TV Movie.
This week, in the first of a two-part interview, we chat with Matthew Jacobs, the man who wrote the scripts for the film which introduced Paul McGann as the Doctor.
Plus, we have more of your TV Movie memories from where you were when it was first screened.
BELIEVE it or not, November 14 marks eight years since The Night of the Doctor first appeared on YouTube and the BBC red button service.
Paul McGann's surprise/triumphant return to the part was a shock for many, and gave proper canonicity to his incarnation, with some having failed to recognise it (for some reason or another). And it also mentioned five Big Finish companions, which was rather lovely too.
To mark the event, we present a segment of The Power of 3, another Doctor Who podcast which our Kenny co-hosts, in which he and his co-conspirators Tom Harris and David Steel discuss the minisode.
THIS week we celebrate the Time Lord who's arguably the Eighth Doctor's most memorable foe to date.
Yes, we're talking about The Eleven, that villain who retains his previous personalities when he regenerates, as they burst through at inopportune moments.
Played by Mark Bonnar, he joins us for a chat - and an exclusive introduction - and we also speak with Ken Bentley, who was involved with the creation of the character, and writer John Dorney.
BACK in the early 2000s, Telos Publishing was granted a licence by BBC Worldwide to print authorised Doctor Who novellas.
In this week's Pieces of Eighth, Becca and Kenny meet David Howe, the range's publisher and editor, and they speak about the three Eighth Doctor novellas published by the range, Riptide, Fallen Gods and Eye of the Tyger.
We speak with authors Jonathan Blum and Paul McAuley about working on the range, and we feature an archive radio interview with Riptide writer Louise Cooper, who sadly passed away in 2009.
Get ready for our longest episode yet, in a packed 80 minutes!
Back in the noughties, BBC7 broadcast the old Doctor Who audio dramas Slipback, The Paradise of Death and The Ghosts of N-Space to death.
This week, with speak with Martin Montague to find out how some Eighth Doctor audios from Big Finish found their way onto the station - and how the Lucie Miller series came to be.
And we've got trailers you've probably not heard before!
YOU'D never know it from our finished episodes, but Becca and Kenny are good friends who giggle a lot.
What you hear in the finished episodes isn't always exactly what gets recorded. Sometimes, just sometimes, they laugh at daft things, and you'd never know from the finished episode that anything every happened... Well, probably not...
Today, we present our first outtakes, from our episode about the TARDIS console... and the pair are laughing at silly innuendoes. Such children!
The Eighth Doctor - one of the most joyous, vibrant incarnations of the Doctor, has come face to face with the most vicious of Masters on a couple of occasions.
We delve into the universe of the War Master, as Paul McGann faced off against Sir Derek Jacobi, in two Big Finish box sets, Rage of the Time Lords, and Hearts of Darkness.
We meet two of the writers, David Llewelyn and Lisa McMullan, to find out how these sets came together.
Earlier this year, your Pieces of Eighth co-host Kenny recorded an episode of another podcast he co-presents, The Power of 3, which marked 20 years of the Eighth Doctor at Big Finish.
He and co-conspirator David Steel look at Storm Warning, Sword of Orion, The Stones of Venice and Minuet in Hell, as well sharing their excitement at the return of Paul McGann to the part of the Doctor.
Zygons! The Skarasen! Professor Litefoot! Victorian London!
It sounds like a checklist for things that appear in some of the greatest Fourth Doctor stories, but they all come together in The Bodysnatchers, the third Eighth Doctor Adventure published by BBC Books, way back in August 1997.
Kenny and Becca are joined by the author of The Bodysnatchers, Mark Morris, as they look back on the novel - including a dramatic reading of a short section of the book!
We continue to bring you rare material, with these trailers for The Stones of Venice, as originally broadcast on BBC Radio 7.
Four short, teasers, to get listeners hooked - aren't they great?
Last week, Pieces of Eighth took a step into the Time War... and this week, we're staying there.
However, we've gone from a full-cast adventure to a Short Trip, which was written by Eddie Robson, a man who's no stranger to writing Eighth Doctor full cast audios for Big Finish, and produced by Ian Atkins.
Join Becca and Kenny as they find out how Susan entered the Time War - and how she got a full-cast box set out of it too...
Join Character Options' Al Dewar and Kenny Smith as they venture through the worlds of the plastic fantastic, as they look at the making of the Character Options Doctor Who figures.
Their journey begins with the first 2021 wave of B&M figures, comprising the First Doctor and two Sensorites, Ian Chesterton and a pair of Voord, plus the latest releases in the History of the Daleks series, from The Power of the Daleks and Day of the Daleks.
Way back in 2005, several Eighth Doctor adventures starring Paul McGann and India Fisher, which were produced by Big Finish, were broadcast on BBC Radio 7.
To promote these, original trailers were produced, and here, for the first time, Pieces of Eighth have compiled the promotional pieces for that second story, Sword of Orion.
We join the Eighth Doctor on his first audio adventure set during the Time War.
Andrew Smith, writer of The Sontaran Ordeal, and Dan Starkey, who played Commander Jask in the adventure, join Becca and Kenny to explain how their involvement with this Big Finish release, part of the first series of Classic Doctors, New Monsters, came about.
In 2005, a number of Eighth Doctor adventures produced by Big Finish were broadcast on BBC Radio 7.
To promote these, original trailers were produced, and here, for the first time, Pieces of Eighth have compiled the promotional pieces for Storm Warning.
Be honest - who hasn't dreamed of having their own TARDIS console to play with, with buttons to press and levers to switch?
But one man can do that every single day of his life, if he so chooses. This week, Pieces of Eighth meets Paul Salamoff, the man who owns the original TARDIS console from the TV Movie - as well as a few other screen-worn items.
FInd out just what he has in his amazing collection, aside from that glorious wooden console.
Earlier this year, the Radio Times marked the end of Big Finish's monthly range with a series of polls to find the top five stories for each Doctor.
The Eighth Doctor was no exception, with The Chimes of Midnight taking the top spot, followed by The Silver Turk, The Natural History of Fear, Scherzo and Seasons of Fear.
This week, Becca and Kenny are joined by Matt Michael to give their thoughts on the top stories - as well as suggesting stories they thought could have been there too.
In 1998, the most exciting thing in the world happened - Paul McGann returned as the Doctor... Well, sort of.
BBC Audio released a twin cassette story, featuring three Doctor Who short stories - Bounty, Dead Time and The People's Temple - all of which were read by Paul McGann. And, best of all, we heard McGann perform all-new lines as the Doctor, for the first time in two years in Dead Time, as he spoke with a future version of himself.
This week, Kenny and Becca have a chat with producer Steve Cole and writer Peter Anghelides, as they discover how this release came to be, and just who Andrew Martin is...
It's good news - Pieces of Eighth has been renewed and is back for a second season!
Over the course of the next 13 weeks, we're going to bring you all-new, exclusive interviews with the people who have made the Eighth Doctor who he is, whether as writers, actors, artists, musicians or anything else.
Having finished last season with a two-part Philip Segal interview, Rebecca and Kenny are continuing with people with TV Movie credits, as they chat with Chang Lee himself, Yee Jee Tso, from his home in Vancouver.
They talk about his casting, turning up late, working with Eric Roberts, the TARDIS set, and publishing his book of TV Movie photographs.
Doctor Who TV Movie executive producer Philip Segal joins us from his home in the USA, for the second part of his exclusive chat with Pieces of Eighth.
He reveals how he felt the TV Movie rating could have gone in modern methods were taken into account, how he's about to build the TARDIS console room again, and how he looks back on the whole movie.
Find out more about Philip's work at www.sprueverse.com.
And we preview the first guest of season two, which will launch soon!
We reach the end of the first season of Pieces of Eighth, and we present the opening half of our exclusive chat with the man whose persistence led to the creation of the Eighth Doctor.
Executive producer Philip Segal is our special guest, and chats about his love of Doctor Who, working in television, meeting Alan Yentob, casting Paul McGann, and bringing the team together to create the TV Movie.
Plus we share your memories of the TV Movie, as your listeners join in the fun!
This week, Pieces of Eighth takes its first dip into the BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures, a series of original paperback novels featuring the Eighth Doctor, which were published by BBC Books from June 1997 until June 2005.
In that time, a total of 73 books were released, charting the adventures of the Doctor, with his friends, Sam Jones, Fitz Kreiner, Compassion, Anji Kapoor and Beatrix 'Trix' Macmillan. Along the way, they faced Daleks, the Master, Wirrrn, and new foes, like Sabbath - who stole the Doctor's second heart.
Becca and Kenny chat with Colin Brake, who penned Escape Velocity, the 42nd novel in the series, which concluded a story arc in which an amnesiac Doctor was trapped on Earth for a hundred years - and was finally reunited with Fitz, meets a new friend in Anji, and the TARDIS is restored.
Prophetically, it also features a space race between Pierre Yves-Dudoin and Arthur Tyler III, both competing to be the first privately funded man in space...
Kenny and Becca stay on Target in our latest episode.
They have a chat with Gary Russell, who novelised the TV Movie for BBC Books in 1996 and revamped it for the 2001 reprint from Target.
They're also joined by Anthony Dry, who created the amazing art for the reprint cover.
Pieces of Eighth stays in audio territory - but probably not the one you were expecting.
Becca and Kenny this week venture into the lands of BBC Audio, as they discover how The Scent of Blood, released in 2019, came to be. Kenny has a chat with writer Andy Lane, before he and Becca chat with actor Dan Starkey, who narrates the adventure - and Becca tries not to fan girl while talking to Strax...
Plus, courtesy of sound designer and musician David Darlington, you can hear a clean version of the Doctor Who theme which appears in this story.
Previous episodes of Pieces of Eighth have touched on Big Finish adventures for the Eighth Doctor, but this week we cover our first full-length story in the form of Max Warp.
Becca and Kenny chat with writer Jonathan Morris about writing the script - and reveal its origins in an unused idea from several years beforehand - and musician Andy Hardwick tells it was it was like to write a theme tune that most definitely ISN'T the Top Gear theme.
This week's Pieces of Eighth takes another trip into the Big Finish universe, this time to feature the highly-acclaimed Companion Chronicle, Solitaire.
This week, Becca and Kenny discuss the tale, starring India Fisher as Charley Pollard and david bailey as the Celestial Toymaker. The reveal their mutual fear of puppets, have a chat with writer John Dorney, and cover artist Alex Mallinson who created the puppet for the cover.
Pieces of Eighth heads into new territory this week, as we feature a Short Trip from Big Finish.
Flashpoint was read by co-host Kenny Smith's favourite, Sheridan Smith, so we have a chat with the range producer Ian Atkins, and writer Andrew Smith, about how Lucie Miller's return to Doctor Who came about.
We should point out that Becca is also part of the Smith family, as her dad is one.
So really, it's all about the Smiths this week (Morrissey not included).
We celebrate the plastic fantastic this week in Pieces of Eighth.
Becca and Kenny are joined by Alasdair Dewar from Character Options, who explains the origins of the various action figures of the Eighth Doctor.
EPISODE four of Pieces of Eighth sees us joined by an actor who has encountered Paul McGann's Doctor in two very different roles.
Seán Carlsen was first cast in The Natural History of Fear, in which he played a variety of roles, and made an impression producer/director Gary Russell, who subsequently cast him as CIA Co-ordinator Narvin in the Gallifrey spin-off series.
Narvin has since become one of Big Finish's most beloved original creations, and Sean joins us to share his experiences of working with Paul McGann and Sir Derek Jacobi, as well as meeting War Doctor Sir John Hurt.
We take our first tip into Big Finish Eighth Doctor territory, with a look back to a little gem from 2003.
Becca and Kenny are joined by producer/director Gary Russell, as well as Conrad Westmaas, who recalls his time in studio as Thon, in Scott Gray's witty 22-minute long episode.
We promised to bring you all things related to the Eighth Doctor, and we most definitely are in this week's episode.
We discuss the Titan Eighth Doctor comic A Matter of Life and Death with the people who brought it to life, as writer George Mann and artist Emma Vieceli exclusively share their thoughts and experiences on creating an oft-forgotten little slice of Paul McGann's Doctor, set in the period before Night of the Doctor.
Kenny and Becca are Doctor Who fans.
He's been a fan since 1978, and Becca was born in 1995, so their experiences of the show are completely different.
But something they both love is the Eighth Doctor, played by Paul McGann. In this podcast series, they will travel through time and space, finding the many different aspects of this incarnation of the Doctor who was only seen twice on TV - but has had more original adventures than virtually any other Doctor in different spin-off media.
So, get to know the pair of them, as Becca (in their podcast debut) and Kenny (editor of Big Finish's Vortex, and co-host of The Power of 3 podcast) crash land in San Francisco, on December 31, 1999... There's been a shooting - someone had better call a Doctor...