Audio Visuals (fan work)

The Audio Visuals were an unlicensed series of fan Doctor Who audio dramas produced in Britain during 1980s through the early 1990s. Many of the personnel would go on to professional work connected with the revived version of Doctor Who, Torchwood and with Big Finish. Twenty-six audio plays in all were recorded and distributed on audio cassette between 1984 and 1991.

History
The pilot episode, "The Space Wail", featuring the Doctor as voiced by Stephen Payne, had been recorded in 1984. The first full seasons (1985-1988) were produced by Bill Baggs and starred Nicholas Briggs as his own version of the Doctor. The fourth and final season (1989-1991) by future Doctor Who novelist and Torchwood script editor Gary Russell.

Although the Audio Visuals audios were a violation of copyright, the BBC chose to look the other way. Gary Russell wouldlater told an interviewer,


 * "We were fans doing some stuff for a handful of people. We never advertised in professional magazines, we kept ourselves to ourselves. In doing so, we broke every copyright rule in the book (hell, Terry Nation would have crucified us - although I think our Dalek stories knocked spots off Saward's!) JNT was certainly aware of us, but he didn't care. Why should he? We were no more than any other fan product and at least we weren't printing articles about him or the show. I doubt Saward knew or cared. He wouldn't know drama if it bit him."


 * Justyce.org interview with Gary Russell

Professional actors, Nabil Shaban (Sil) and Michael Wisher (previously the first actor to play Davros, as well as the provider of the voice of the Daleks in several stories, among other characters) lent a hand.

Many of those involved in the Audio Visuals went on to work on BBV (founded by Bill Baggs) or through Big Finish Productions (which in 1999 began producing licensed Doctor Who audio drama under the guidance of Gary Russell). Nicholas Briggs has worked for both BBV and Big Finish as an actor and as a writer; he also worked on additional Doctor Who-related/inspired productions for Reeltime Pictures and, beginning in 2005, provided vocal work as Daleks and other roles for the new Doctor Who series.

Continuity
Apart from minor continuity references in The Scales of Injustice by Audio Visuals veteran Gary Russell, the Nicholas Briggs version of the Doctor and his companion Ria appeared in the Doctor Who Magazine comic Party Animals (also by Gary Russell). This version of the Doctor (or rather a simulacrum of him) would also appear in Wormwood and possibly also, under a different name in two unlicensed BBV audio productions, Cyber-Hunt and Vital Signs.

The Audio Visuals story "Planet of Lies" shows the destruction of Gallifrey by Daleks, which would later occur in mainstream Doctor Who continuity, though in a very different context from the Last Great Time War.

The Temperons and drudgers first appeared in the Audio Visuals have also appeared in Big Finish Productions.

Re-makes
A number of re-makes of Audio Visuals stories (some very loosely adapted) have appeared.

Novels

 * Deadfall

Audio plays

 * Last of the Titans (close remake of the Audio Visuals story "Vilgreth")
 * The Mutant Phase
 * Sword of Orion
 * Minuet in Hell
 * Frozen Time (sequel to Audio Visuals story "Endurance")
 * Cuddlesome

Independent video

 * More Than A Messiah (not based in the Doctor Who Universe)