Continuing our interview withDoctor WhoandPrimevalaudio/novel/comic writer Simon Guerrier.
Youll find the link to part one, if you missed it, down at the bottom…
Which Doctors do you prefer writing for, either for audio or in novels/short stories?
Any favourite companions to bring to life?
I like them all, really.
And as I said [in the previous piece], I dont often get a choice.
Theyd been brilliant, so it was exciting to write something else for them.
Do you find it difficult when writingWhoto remember which audiences youre pitching things at?
Theres a huge difference between the Bernice Summerfield listeners and the readers ofThe Slitheen Excursion.
My three Benny plays are all quite different tonally, too.
I make a run at vary the kinds of things I write, to stretch myself a bit.
And double-check I dont get bored.
We wanted to raise the stakes right from the beginning.
Thats relatively easy to do on audio, where it would be very expensive on television.
As a result, that sort of structure isnt really part of the conventions ofDoctor Whoas we know them.
They took a chance on me and Im really very grateful.
But that also established that all sorts of Earth animals have been made into servant-class hybrid species.
Hence space-pirate meerkats and fiddler crabs.
I think Annie suggested the meerkats, again because theyd look good.
And then the talented John Ross takes your script and makes you look good.
How did that come about, and what did you set out to achieve with regards to writing it?
Cath Trechman, an editor at Titan Books, got in touch, having read the Pirate Loop.
So I read outlines and then scripts, and then went along to the filming.
That was good fun: everyone was really helpful and let me ask lots of questions.
And I hope its a rollicking adventure that fits neatly between episodes five and six.
Well have to see what people think.
I dont regret editing or producing, it just ate up all my time.
you’ve got the option to see it on the Cyberman Collection, which came out this week.
But theres a Robin Hood audio book out in June, read by Richard Armitage.
And thenDrowned Worldis out in July.
Um… Off the top of my head… Maybe a celebrity historical.
With Mozart and an army of vampires.
Thank you, Simon Guerrier.
