Audio Visuals

Audio Visuals and Big Finish Productions

During the 1980s, a group of fans, including Nicholas Briggs, began to produce unlicensed audio dramas called the Audio Visuals. Four "seasons" were released between 1985 and 1991, which starred Briggs as the Doctor. Fueled by the lack of Doctor Who produced during its 1985 hiatus year, the Audio Visuals produced adventures in an attempt to fill the gap. Following the show's return, a lack of satisfaction with on-screen adventures resulted in a continuation of the Audio Visuals. The Audio Visuals were highly popular with fans, and circulated amongst many of the show's fan clubs during the 1980s. During the 1990s, Briggs, alongside Gary Russell, went to the BBC and obtained the license for Doctor Who, allowing them to produce Doctor Who audio dramas officially. Briggs wrote their first official release, The Sirens of Time, which was released in 1999. Briggs and Russell roped in many writers for other Doctor Who spin-off material to help with the project, and the group eventually evolved into the company Big Finish Productions.