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There won’t just be a drama release to mark this year’s International Women’s Day on 8th March at Big Finish.

The company is releasing a selection of brand-new interviews featuring the company’s inspiring female actors, producers, writers and directors.

Over a week, centred around the release of the Doctor Who audio special, The Eighth of March: Strange Chemistry, the women of Big Finish discuss their impressive careers and offer helpful advice in the series International Women’s Day: In Conversation With…

On the Big Finish Podcast, the brilliant Louise Jameson and Helen Goldwyn will discuss their directing work on ranges such as The Eighth of March, ATA Girl, The War Doctor Begins and The Ninth Doctor Adventures. The first part of this interview will drop on 05 March 2023.

Louise Jameson said: “It’s my privilege to be a cog in the machine that is Big Finish alongside Helen Goldwyn – one of the most talented and generous women I have ever met.”

Four video interviews will also be available to watch for free, exclusively at the Big Finish YouTube channel, premiering from 6 to 10 March 2023 (missing 8th March itself).

The first of these features Lisa Bowerman (who has played Bernice Summerfield at Big Finish for 25 years) and Tania Rodrigues (Cuckoo, Coronation Street, EastEnders) swapping stories from their acting careers.

Lisa Bowerman said: “It was wonderful to have a chat with Tania, whom I’ve known off and on for some considerable time. It’s fascinating to get the opportunity to compare and contrast our experiences in the acting industry over the years as well as find out more about ourselves and the challenges we might have faced. I’ve been lucky enough to work with some incredible female talent over the years and it’s great to have a chance to celebrate them.”

Then, talented writers Lizzie Hopley and Lisa McMullin share their career highlights, the challenges they’ve faced and helpful tips for aspiring writers.

In the penultimate video, prolific producers Emma Haigh and Emily Cook discuss their work on stories featuring iconic characters such as Rose Tyler, Rani Chandra, and Missy.

And finally, the video completing the series features members of the Big Finish team behind the scenes – the unsung heroines of the business.

The Eighth of March: Strange Chemistry, produced by Emma Haigh and directed by Helen Goldwyn, is the third volume in a series showcasing powerful Doctor Who women, due for release on International Women’s Day 2023.
It stars Louise Jameson as Leela (who also wrote the opening story featuring Marie Curie), Michelle Gomez as Missy and Caitlin Blackwood as a teenage Amelia Pond.

Big Finish’s artwork competition – closing on 08 March 2023 – is calling for talented artists to create traditional and non-digital portraits of any of the box set’s female leads.

Emma Haigh, who sits on the judging panel, added: “I’m really excited about this competition – I can’t wait to see the images that are created and how the characters from the world of Doctor Who take shape in new ways.

“We’re always on the lookout for new talent and I’m looking forward to making new connections with artists, both established and emerging.”

Three winners will be chosen (one winner per category) from all eligible entries and each will receive a £100 voucher to spend on ANY release at http://www.bigfinish.com. The full list of terms and conditions of the Big Finish Eighth of March Portrait Artwork Competition 2023 can be found on the Big Finish website and should be read by anyone planning to enter.