Tonight at 8pm on Resonance 104.4FM in an hour long Clear Spot, Alex Fitch investigates the best science fiction heroine most people have never heard (of) - Professor Bernice Summerfield, Benny to her friends.
Starting off as a Doctor Who companion in the novels published by Virgin books after the original TV series was cancelled in 1989, Benny has since appeared in over a hundred books, over 60 without the Doctor and 40 full cast 'radio' plays released on CD in specialist shops. Alex talks to the actress who plays Benny - Lisa Bowerman - the actor who plays her fictional husband - Stephen Fewell - and outgoing producer of the series, Simon Guerrier. Simon in turn interviews actress Sophie Aldred who appeared alongside Lisa in a few of the dramas and Gareth Roberts (Doctor Who: The Shakespeare Code) who has written Benny adventures. Finally, Sci-Fi critic and writer Graham Sleight interviews the character's creator Paul Cornell plus there's even a preview of Benny's next adventure and a competition as well...
Links: Wikipedia entry on Bernice Summerfield
Read the Doctor Who novels: Human Nature and The Dying Days which feature Benny
Buy Benny books and audio CDs from Big Finish
Simon's blog
Graham's website
Paul's blog
2 comments:
That was a thoroughly fascinating show for me. I've only lately discovered Benny Summerfield, via the eBook of "Human Nature" and then some "Classic Who" novels and Big Finish Short Story collections, so I learnt a lot from this show. Congratulations to everyone involved.
Thanks!
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