I said he was a Grayson Hall fan, but looking back on the interview, he doesn't really say that. He compares Grayson to Tom Baker. I think it's probable that he is a fan of the great lady, but I want to make that correction.

Here's a link to the Vortex issue in which he's interviewed about DS.  https://www.bigfinish.com/vortex/v/27

I've often wondered how many viewers were lost when they went full tilt into the supernatural on DS. I've never run across anyone who told me that she watched the show in the beginning and dropped it when it became "silly" but I'm sure there must have been a segment of the viewership that did so.

I agree it's a pretty lame celebration of the 50th anniversary, BUT for someone who doesn't have it already, the 1795 condensed storyline disk alone is worth the 12 bucks or so Amazon is charging. It's not perfect, but the story is boiled down to about 4 hours or so. The same is done for the "Turn of the Screw" ghost story featuring Quentin. That one ends on a cliffhanger though. That's about the best I can say about this collection.

Van Helsing is a character from the original novel. He's Dutch if I recall correctly and has a very strong accent. He is very intelligent but English is obviously not his first language. He's commanding and imposing but also elderly. He is not the action figure type and had never encountered Dracula before. He knows a great deal about the undead, but I got the impression it was all from books. He may have encountered other monsters before but I believe it was implied he'd never battled vampires before. It's been a while, and I could be wrong about that.

The Hugh Jackman movie was entertaining but bore little connection to the actual characters or situations as chronicled in the actual novel.

Thank you!

Wasn't Depp-as-Barn's cane handle made from ivory?

I said gold earlier, but I ivory rings a bell. That might be what I was thinking of.