Firstly
I wanted to say hello and thank you for the interview.
Where
did your love of science fiction begin, and as a child were you always the
quiet one busy reading the many magazines, comics and books, a mind full of
imagination, whisking yourself off on many adventures in your head, or were you
into other things as a child?
Nick: I
don’t think I was often that quiet. Mind you, I did used to beaver away writing
stories and drawing my own comic book adventures from a pretty young age. My
two main obsessions were war stories and Doctor
Who. I also used to love Thunderbirds
and all the Gerry Anderson series, Lost
in Space, Voyage to the Bottom of
the Sea, Land of the Giants and Tarzan. I was pretty noisy, acting out
all these things. Running round with toy guns, playing with toy Daleks, trying
to get the whole school to play Doctor Who and the Daleks… that worked on a
few, mad memorable occasions: the whole school running around, it seemed, with
half of them being scared humans and the other half holding arms stiffly out in
front, screaming, ‘Exterminate!’. It probably wasn’t the whole school… it just
felt like it was.
Had
you always been interested in writing, or did you have another career choice
before you settled to the career you have, and how many jobs have you taken
before you reached this point and what were they?
Nick:
I’ve always been interested in stories. So, as a kid, writing them down seemed
just a part of acting them out and telling them. I also used to record my own
stories on tape, often improvising all the characters. Crazy, really. I spent
ages mucking about with tape recorders and making sound effects too. As for
career choices, I went to drama school to train to be an actor at the age of
18. I had a great training and got a degree in Theatre Arts. But it was a long
old struggle getting to where I am now. Much of it extremely enjoyable, but
with plenty of poverty along the way. I got diverted into publishing and PR for
a while, but I was always, relentlessly, finding ways of writing and acting
throughout.
Although
I’m not suggesting that your parents were also proud voices of Daleks but are
you following in your parents footsteps with regards to writing or were you
inspired by another and if so, who?
Nick:
My parents had nothing to do with entertainment. My late father worked in the
motor industry most of his life and also loved boats. My mother did a lot of
secretarial work, but also trained in first aid and was a school nurse right up
until her retirement. Both of them were always good storytellers, though. My
Mum still will tell me a good tale about the old days or about something that’s
happened to her in her life recently. My brother has been a broadcaster,
producer and newsreader for many years, though. He works for the BBC in
Newcastle.
You’ve
provided the voices for a good many alien creatures over the years, but how
many alien creatures have you provided the voices for?
Nick:
Oh, I’ve no idea. You can count them, surely!
Roy
Skelton and Royce Mills were the voices of the Daleks prior to 2005. When
Russell T Davies brought back Who the voice of the Daleks was so much
different, it had tone and each Dalek had a different ‘voice’ as it were. How did the role come about and how, when
you’ve got a multitude of Dalek voices to deal with, do you remember which
voice you need for each gold/bronze Dalek, and the Cult of Skaro?
Nick:
It’s part of the acting job of doing Dalek voices to remember which ones go
with which Daleks. I got the job because I’d been doing Dalek voices for Big
Finish for about five years. And I’d written an article about Dalek voices in DWM. Russell listened to the Big Finish
audios and liked my Dalek voice. He also saw from the DWM article that I knew how they were created technically, so he
saw me as a total solution.
Which
era of the Doctor is your favourite and why?
Nick: I
don’t really do favourites. Patrick Troughton is my favourite Doctor and I
would die happy if they found Evil of the
Daleks. But I really do love all of them. I suppose the ones who were on
when I was younger have a more special place in my heart. It’s been
particularly brilliant to work with Tom Baker on the Big Finish stories in
recent years. But I also very much admire Peter, Colin and Sylvester – and
Paul. They all have such enthusiasm and affection for the role and they’re all
really lovely to work with.
Not
only do you provide the voice for the Daleks but you also co-wrote a book about
them “The Dalek Survival Guide (ISBN 0-563-48600-7) published by BBC Books in
2002. Which is your favourite Dalek and
were you seated behind the sofa with the rest of us during Doctor Who or were
you brave and sat ON the sofa during the programme? What was the first episode of Who that you
remember growing up and who would have been YOUR Doctor?
Nick:
Loads of questions sneaked into that one. In order… My favourite Dalek? I like
the Emperor in Evil of the Daleks.
When I was a kid, I used to get very scared of Doctor Who, but would never stop watching. If my Mum thought it was
scary, she would put the newspaper in front of my face until she thought the
scary bit was over. I have a lot of newsprint memories! I’m not quite sure
which was my first Doctor Who
episode. It was certainly in the last William Hartnell series. I remember The Tenth Planet quite well. But I also
have some memories of The Celestial
Toymaker. I remember also being very upset that William Hartnell was
leaving.
Which
has been your favourite Dalek to provide the voice for? I liked the Cult of
Skaro, each Dalek appeared to have a different tone to their voice.
Nick:
So hard to judge. There’s always a challenge. But I suppose the greatest
challenge was the first one in the episode entitled Dalek. Even though I always have a great time on set, you can’t
really beat your first experience. It was truly a wonderful job to get. I never
stop thanking Russell!
When
you’re not working, how do you shut off from everything and chill, or are you
always busy writing and planning for the next event, schedule etc?
Nick:
You’ve put your finger on my big problem. I find it very hard to relax, because
in so many ways, much of my work doesn’t feel like work, because it’s stuff I
love. But, of course, all the schedules and planning is proper, hard, grown-up
work. But whenever I try to relax, I find myself writing a story or piddling
around with sound effects and music. My main form of relaxing is going out for
a meal with my wife and son. Walking on the beach or watching a movie. I love
old black and white war movies.
Overall
what are your top 5 favourite villains?
Nick:
Daleks, Cybermen, Ice Warriors, Zygons, Silurians.
Do
you visit many of the Conventions and will you be at any events this year that
we can find you at?
Nick: I
often go to conventions. I’m having a bit of a rest from them at the moment,
because although all the attention is lovely in so many ways, it’s also a bit
stressful. The way some people get very cross if you don’t have time to give an
autograph is really quite stressful. I guess it’s my duty to sign things, so I
shouldn’t grumble. I can’t remember where I’m going to events this year.
Are
you involved in any new projects that you can share with us?
Nick:
I’m writing some lovely stories for Tom Baker at the moment. I’m also working
on the music for the Charlotte Pollard
series for Big Finish. Charlotte Pollard was our first Eighth Doctor companion.
She’s brilliant and is getting her own series. I’m also doing the music for Survivors and Counter-Measures. And there are other scripts in the pipeline. It
never stops, I’m pleased to say.
When
you’re on a break with your family do you hope nobody will recognise you or are
you quite happy to be asked for autographs and photographs while you’re sunning
yourself on the beach or mid way through a meal? (I’ve often wondered if people
groan when they see a bunch of people nudge each other and point in the direction
of the celebrity and quickly locate all the exit points)
Nick: I
don’t mind if people are polite. No, it’s a thrill. Don’t mind that at all. I
think I’d mind if I was relentlessly followed around. But let’s face it, that
really isn’t likely to happen.
You
run Big Finish how did that opportunity come about and how many audio dramas
have you been involved in, and how many have you made for Big Finish? How many genres do you cover?
Nick:
I’m the executive producer, along with Jason Haigh-Ellery, who owns the
company. Paul Spragg is our production assistant and part of the team, David
Richardson is the line producer. We all run it together, with loads of other
people here, too numerous to mention. I couldn’t begin to tell you what we do.
There’s too much. Just go to bigfinish.com and discover the great stuff we do.
Sherlock
Holmes is a really interesting character, what is your favourite story written
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?
Nick: I
never know which one to choose. The Final
Problem?
What
was the last book you read?
Nick: I
never have time to read books these days. I’m too busy writing. Isn’t that odd?
I can’t remember the last book I read. I did read Any Human Heart by William Boyd, which is amazing. Actually, I
think the last book I read was AE Van Vogt’s War Against the Rull. I love that. True space opera. I’d read it
when I was a teenager and lost the book. So I ordered it on Amazon and re-read
it, mostly in the bath.
If
you were ever able to meet your 12 year old self what advice would you give
him?
Nick:
Don’t be so scared.
The
role of Yates in Torchwood Children of Earth seemed quite a cold character, no
family ties; it was just a business deal.
Politics! Do you enjoy playing
these types of characters, or are you comfortable playing any? Which is your favourite role to date?
Nick:
I’ll play anything anyone wants me to play, within reason, if it’s well
written. I’ve loved so many parts I’ve played, particularly Sherlock Holmes.
But I also loved playing Larry in Closer.
With
the new season of Doctor Who currently in production, will you be involved in the
new series and will you be providing all the voices for the creatures?
Nick: I
can neither confirm nor deny any involvement in the new series.
What
has been the most challenging role you’ve played?
Nick:
Probably Larry in Closer. It’s a
play about dysfunctional relationships and is full of really harrowing stuff.
Not suitable for kids and that’s for sure. But it was a great, if emotionally
exhausting, experience.
Questions
from fans
Denise
Amparo: If there will be a crossover of DW and any
sci-fi film, which film would it be and which of the characters you voice will
you bring and why?
Nick: I
love The Andromeda Strain. But I
can’t think of any voices I’d do in that.
Pauline
Howard: You have done so many alien voices in Dr
who I wondered if you had a favourite and why?
Nick: My
favourite is the Daleks, because they are, in their own stunted way, very
expressive. It’s also very therapeutic, getting out all that hatred. I also
like the fact that most people find Dalek voices thrilling. They always get a
good reaction on set and at the read-through.
Mickie
Newton: How did it feel to be offered a role in Torchwood where you would be
seen as well as heard? Out of all the
voices you have done for Doctor Who, which has been the most challenging? Which do you most enjoy acting to the camera
or sat behind the camera only using your voice?
Nick: It
was great to get the part in Torchwood.
But I have spent most of my acting career being seen, on stage. It was fun. The
most challenging voice is the Cyberman, because it has no emotion, so it’s
always a struggle to get anything interesting into it. The Daleks are also a
challenge, because they’re so exhausting! At the moment, I’d say I most enjoy
acting with my voice or in theatre. But I’d love to have the chance to do more
acting for the camera. I’ve done more that just Torchwood. I’ve been in a couple of movies and done some other
television and video stuff. Yeah, I’d like to do more.
Echo
Fain As an executive producer at Big Finish, do
you have any hopes of seeing a line of Torchwood audio plays in the near
future?
Nick:
I’d love it if we could do that. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
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