Torchwood: Sir Michael Palin joins Big Finish for upcoming audio
By James Aggas
You read that headline right. The legendary Sir Michael Palin has joined Big Finish Productions to narrate a brand new Torchwood story in April!
It’s difficult to describe just how much of a legend Sir Michael Palin is. Whether you know him more from his work in comedy – especially Monty Python’s Flying Circus, of which he was a key member of – or from his many documentaries where he travels around the world, there’s no question that he’s a British icon. A British icon that’s about to feature in a new Torchwood story.
In April, after taking a month’s break, Big Finish will continue their monthly Torchwood audios with Tropical Beach Sounds and Other Relaxing Seascapes #4. While these audios usually feature a full-cast, this one will be solely narrated by Michael Palin. But this is no ordinary narrated story, as producer James Goss reveals.
"Our director, Scott Handcock, had the idea of telling a story entirely through a haunted self-help tape, and we immediately suggested it to Tim Foley, the master of the unusual dramatic style (if you’ve not heard his podcast, The North West Footwear Database, you’re in for a treat). We were only too delighted when Scott secured the services of a national treasure to play the self-help tape. This really is a release to listen to in a darkened room."
Tropical Beach Sounds and Other Relaxing Seascapes #4 will be a very different kind of Torchwood story…
Image Courtesy Big Finish Productions
Palin’s new adventure!
So what drew Sir Michael Palin to this story? The man himself describes what we can expect from a story like this.
"I don’t normally get offered something like this. I’m used to doing The Clangers. It definitely attracted me because there’s an awful lot to it. It’s such a complex piece – from larky-jokey to very, very violent. It’s quite an adventure for me."
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It certainly sounds like this will be quite an audio to experience, although that’s not exactly surprising. Tim Foley has emerged in recent years as perhaps one of the best regular writers for Torchwood. (I say “perhaps” because Torchwood really does include a lot of fantastic writers, including James Goss, Guy Adams and David Llewellyn, to name a few.) In fact, while Palin admits that he isn’t a fan of the Doctor Who spin-off, it was the quality of the story that drew him to it.
"I didn’t do it because it was Torchwood. I haven’t seen a lot of it. But I did a bit of research – I don’t watch much television. Mainly Match Of The Day. I did it because it was a rather fascinating piece of writing."
With this major piece of casting news, Tropical Beach Sounds and Other Relaxing Seascapes #4 has gone from a story with a strange title to one that sounds like an essential listen. I’ll definitely be checking out this audio when it’s released in April on CD and download.
dark. Next. The Fourth Doctor Adventures: Series 9 continues today!
Are you excited about this news? Will you be checking out Tropical Beach Sounds and Other Relaxing Seascapes #4? Are you hoping that Sir Michael Palin will feature in more audios from Big Finish Productions? Let us know in the comments below.