Big Finish Launches Paul Spragg Memorial Doctor Who Short Trip Competition

By John Freeman on May 9, 2016

Sophie Aldred, Paul Spragg and Sylvster McCoy. Photo: Big Finish

Two years ago, Big Finish, producers of a huge number of Doctor Who audio adventures, lost the much-loved Paul Spragg, producer’s assistant by role, but a vital contributor across the company as a whole and to the people working within it.

To mark the anniversary of his death, the company has announced they are establishing an annual Doctor Who short story competition, aimed at writers new to Big Finish, hoping to encourage them in the same way that Paul often did through his considerate caretaking of the Enquiries emails, letters and forum and Facebook posts.

Entrants to the competition are invited to submit a single page synopsis, and a single page of text from their story, with a deadline for entries of midnight on June 30th, 2016.

All entries which conform to the rules of entry (see here) will be read by Short Trips producer, Ian Atkins, with the winner having their story commissioned, recorded by Doctor Who actor and Big Finish Executive Producer Nicholas Briggs, and presented on the Big Finish website as a free Doctor Who – Short Trips download from the end of 2016.

“It’s an honour to be involved this,” says Nicholas. “Ian has come up with this brilliant idea that commemorates Paul in a way he might well have approved of. Those of us who worked with him for many years miss him and talk of him often. He’s never very far away in my thoughts.”
• The closing date for all entries is 30th June 2016. Full details of entry can be found on the Big Finish website

• The Just Giving page that was set up for people to donate to the British Heart Foundation charity in Paul’s name is still active and can be found here

• Read the Big Finish tribute to Paul here

About the Author
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John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

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Categories: Audio, Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, Television