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TOM BAKER M.B.E. stars in SIR SHERLOCK – The Sickle and the Sea
The game is afoot again! AUK Studios have announced the second adventure in their Sir Sherlock series— made possible by the support of the backers to our previous Kickstarter (‘The Red Letter Day’). We’re doing it all again! However, if you missed the first one, you can grab the CD in the Rewards section of this crowdfunder too. Sir Sherlock is a brand-new set of audio dramas starring Tom Baker M.B.E. as the world’s most famous detective. We weren’t content with an MBE for this amazing actor, so we’ve knighted him as Sir Sherlock Holmes instead! As he said, during the recording session… “I won’t let it go to my head. Unless the King wants to give me a gold deerstalker. Well, they can afford it, surely!” Producer/Director Barnaby Eaton-Jones is chuffed. In fact, he’s at his chuffiest. This may be the Hessian underpants he’s wearing. “Heartfelt thanks to everyone that backed the first in this new series. We’re delighted to be able to set sail with another mysterious and intriguing adventure, this time from the pen of Kenton Hall (‘Sherlock Holmes: The Woman Who Wasn’t’, and other literary treats). We hope you’ll support us in this one too, as Sir Sherlock and Watson are quite literally all at sea.” “Returning from a clandestine visit to the new Soviet Union – on behalf of His Majesty’s Government – Sir Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson and Sergeant Emily Lestrade find themselves in the centre of a baffling nautical mystery. On the Russian cargo ship ‘Ryzen’, a body is discovered – seemingly drowned but dry as a bone. Is it revenge? Or revolution? And can Holmes and company bring the killer to justice before all aboard are lost at sea?” HOLMES SWEET HOLMES… Rather than plunging Sir Sherlock and Doctor Watson back into the familiar surroundings of Baker Street, writer Kenton Hall rather brilliantly had them in much less-than-familiar surroundings to create something new for a new set of adventures. As he remembers: “‘Would you like to write…’ Barnaby Eaton-Jones’ message began. ‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘Can I finish my sentence for once?’ ‘Fine.’ ‘Would you like to write a Sherlock Holmes adventure to star Tom Baker and John Leeson?’ ‘Please see the above.’ And that was it. Obviously, my excitement was swiftly overcome by the terror of having to come up with a suitably knotty mystery for the newly knighted detective and his medical helpmeet. After banging my head against a bust of Lenin for an hour, I had it. Holmes in the 1920s meant a changing post-war world. From there, it was only a gangway’s stride to the shipboard Russian mystery that is ‘The Sickle and the Sea’. “I thoroughly enjoyed writing both the script and its novelisation. I hope you do too.” Of course, this clandestine mission meant the exclusion of two what-will-be series regulars, in the form of Lord Lestrade (Norman Eshley) and Norton (Nicholas Rowe) – who both will return in the third adventure, if we are able to crowdfund this one! The late Norman Eshley did record all his Lord Lestrade lines before he sadly passed away and we did manage to get Nicholas back to voice the rabble-rousing Alexander Ivanov for an impassioned call-to-arms at the beginning of ‘The Sickle and the Sea’, and then his tired, troubled self on board the ship sailing back to England, with his wife Lena (Kate Harbour). Aside from the returning talents of Wink Taylor and Conrad Westmaas, we’ve got a cavalcade of guests roles this time round. Michael Fenton-Stevens (fresh from playing the Wizard in the West End’s ‘Wicked’ and host of the hugely popular My Time Capsule podcast) says: “Taking part in this wonderful ensemble piece reminded me of the finest days of audio work, which through costs and Covid (that world famous double act) have sadly, mostly gone. To be one of a group of skilled and practiced professional actors, gathered in a room, willing each other to be better than they would be individually, was a joy.” Kate Harbour (voice actress supremo, for Aardman Animation, and many more), says: “I loved recording Lena Ivanov. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my birthday, doing something I love and being surrounded by super talented friends. I even got a cake and a badge! I can’t wait to hear all the episodes of Sir Sherlock Holmes.” Philip Pope (comedy maestro and composer of every catchy theme tune you can think of) says: “It’s always a joy being part of an ensemble cast for these audio dramas and Sir Sherlock was no exception.” And Ben Perkins (stage and voice actor) says: “AUK Studios have been jointly responsible for gifting actors like me – and the public at large – some unforgettable, genuinely one-off audio drama gems to enjoy. Sir Sherlock is another zinger. Just magic to be a part of, from page to production, and the audience will be thrilled by the results. Holmes is an ambitious property to attempt but Sir Sherlock delivers on every level. If anything ever deserved to, this new treatment of Sherlock Holmes ought to win an army of new fans. For anyone who’s yet to enjoy an AUK Studios audio drama, I couldn’t recommend a better place to begin.” A NOVEL IDEA… Like before, we’re delighted to be able to offer a novelisation of the story (all novelisations will be written by Kenton Hall – who had the ease of adapting his own script this time!). We are also bringing artist Andy Hosegood back to provide the internal black and white illustrations. Aside from Andy, we are super excited that Phillip James Allison has returned to provide the glorious cover for our CD and novelisation (with design by Robert Hammond). Philip’s artwork has been of such a high standard, and so unique in how he produces pieces, that we are grateful he wants to continue providing our evocative cover art for the Sir Sherlock series. SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED… This time we’ve also conjured up a little treat in the form of a glorious Holmesian photo from the archive of Tom Baker’s official photographer, Oliver McNeil. He has granted us usage for a limited set of signed prints (only 15 available, so don’t dilly-dally!). For proof of authentic signature (and signing), here’s Tom himself looking rather pleased with himself after gracing one with his moniker… FULL CREDITS… Sir Sherlock Holmes – TOM BAKER M.B.E. Doctor John Watson – JOHN LEESON Emily Lestrade – KATY ASHWORTH Andrews – MICHAEL FENTON-STEVENS Lena Ivanov – KATE HARBOUR Alexander Ivanov – NICHOLAS ROWE Captain Antonov – BEN PERKINS First Officer Volkov – CONRAD WESTMAAS Second Officer Lebedev – PHILIP POPE Babanin – WINK TAYLOR Vlad Andreev – MICHAEL FENTON-STEVENS Leo Andreev – BARNABY EATON-JONES Writer – KENTON HALL Sound Design / Editing – JOSEPH FOX Music (Theme and Score) – BARNABY EATON-JONES Artwork (Cover) – PHILIP JAMES ALLISON Artwork (Internal Illustration) – ANDY HOSEGOOD Graphic Design (CD & Novella) – ROBERT HAMMOND Script Editor / Casting – BARNABY EATON-JONES Recorded at Magpie Studios and Sound Shack Studios, with Charles Creese, Pippa Cross, Graham Lee, and Gregory Wilson-Copp. Executive Producer for AUK Studios – PAUL ANDREWS Producer / Director – BARNABY EATON-JONES Kickstarter Video: JEN CARLING Additional Content: JACOB TAYLOR If you wish to back this project the link to their kickstarter is here.
