William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. The three Dashwood sisters move to a cottage in Devon with their widowed mother. There, they experience love, romance and heartbreak. The older sister, Elinor, is more sensible, steadfast and wary; the middle sister, Marianne, is more impulsive and idealistic. Each will find love: but the routes that take them there will be very different. This beloved classic, famously adapted for film by Ang Lee and Emma Thompson, has all its wit and nuance brought to sparkling life by Prunella Scales.

Argo Classics

Sense and Sensibility

The vivacious Kate Croy finds herself torn between love and money, friendship and ambition; “the crown of Henry James’s achievement.” Now a critically acclaimed film. The vivacious Kate Croy finds herself torn between love and money, friendship and ambition; “the crown of Henry James’s achievement.” Now a critically acclaimed film. Kate Croy is a beautiful but impoverished young woman forced to live with her successful but astringent Aunt, Maude Lower. Lower intends Kate to marry the aristocratic Lord Mark, but she is already in love with a journalist, Merton Densher. Though their lack of money prevents the two from marrying, the destitute couple soon become friends with Milly Theale, an American heiress with an ambiguous ailment and an obvious affection for Densher. As Theale’s health grows worse, Kate weaves a web of intrigue that pushes Densher into Theale’s arms in the hopes of securing her fortune. Theale retreats to Venice in the last throes of her sickness, and Densher, realizing the extent of Kate’s manipulation, forces her to choose between money and love.

Wings of the Dove

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. Impressively witty, beautiful and vain, with a penchant for meddling, Emma Woodhouse is mischievous force to be reckoned with. Though she has convinced herself that she will never marry, she somehow has garnered skills for 'matchmaking'. The formidable Prunella Scales brings the satirical bite to this timeless comedy of manners, reigniting Austen's unfailing exploration of society's obsession with class, its influence on a woman's choices and a woman's right to love.

Emma

Brought to you by Penguin. The heartwarming, first-hand account of one of the most celebrated partnerships in the history of British entertainment, the 60-year marriage of TImothy West and Prunella Scales. This moving and memorable audiobook is read by Timothy West and also features Prunella Scales reading the letters she has written to Tim over the course of their marriage. Timothy West and Prunella Scales are – first and foremost – actors. Over seventy years they have delighted millions, portraying a host of larger-than-life characters that the nation has taken into their hearts. But their finest roles, it turns out, have always been as husband and wife – in the extraordinary and enduring double act that is Tim and Pru. In Pru & Me, Timothy West charts the course of their lives, from the years before they met – treading the boards in the 50s – to their secret courting, marriage and settling in Wandsworth. And then together as they established themselves at the heart of British theatre, television and film over the next seventy years, in some of the nation’s favourite shows, such as Fawlty Towers and Brass. Crammed full of stories, often funny, sometimes poignant and occasionally jaw-dropping, Pru & Me also vividly recounts the late blaze of glory that introduced the world to the real Tim and Pru via Great Canal Journeys. Here, the couple charmed the nation while at the same time charting Pru’s gentle struggle with dementia. An honest, charming and above all uplifting story of twin souls who, once they found one another, clung together through thick and thin. Pru & Me is a joyous portrait of a very, very special love story. 'A beautiful, witty, moving and joyful portrait of marriage' Red 'A memoir laden with laughter and love' Daily Mail 'Deeply moving, poignant and enthralling' Mail on Sunday ©2023 Timothy West (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Pru and Me

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. This curated collection of Jane Austen’s most beloved novels is read by Fawlty Towers’ and A Question of Attribution’s Prunella Scales. This collection includes: Sense and Sensibility The three Dashwood sisters move to a cottage in Devon with their widowed mother. There, they experience love, romance and heartbreak. The older sister, Elinor, is more sensible, steadfast and wary; the middle sister, Marianne, is more impulsive and idealistic. Each will find love: but the routes that take them there will be very different. Emma Impressively witty, beautiful and vain, with a penchant for meddling, Emma Woodhouse is mischievous force to be reckoned with. Though she has convinced herself that she will never marry, she somehow has garnered skills for 'matchmaking'. Persuasion An overlooked middle daughter destined to be a spinster. A handsome rejected naval officer. A family on the brink of financial ruin. Anne Elliot has never forgotten about the man to whom she was persuaded out of an engagement by her family. When he returns to Anne's life eight years later, will she be able to secure a second chance?

The Jane Austen Collection

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. An overlooked middle daughter destined to be a spinster. A handsome rejected naval officer. A family on the brink of financial ruin. Anne Elliot has never forgotten about the man to whom she was persuaded out of an engagement by her family. When he returns to Anne's life eight years later, will she be able to secure a second chance? Narrated by the incredible Prunella Scales, Persuasion is a story of missed opportunities, of family and class systems, love and heartache.

Persuasion

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. Three of the finest novels of the 19th Century are brought together in this wide-ranging collection. From the rumblings of provincial England in Silas Marner and Cranford to a wild and dangerous journey across the Holy Lands in Ivanhoe, these classic novels of the Georgian and Victorian period are as relevant and important today as they ever have been. These classic stories are read by Fawlty Towers’ Prunella Scales; The Jewel in the Crown’s Tim Pigott-Smith; and Dame Judi Dench. This collection includes: • Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell, read by Prunella Scales • Ivanhoe by Walter Scott, read by Tim Pigott-Smith • Silas Marner by George Eliot, read by Dame Judi Dench

Quick Classics Collection: 19th-Century Writers

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. In rural England, a female-dominated community runs on social customs and gossip. At its heart are spinster sisters Miss Matty and Miss Deborah, who must withstand the everyday dramas and hardships of provincial life. Gaskell’s vivid portrayal of 19th century country folk is reinvigorated by the narration of the inimitable Prunella Scales, star of Fawlty Towers.

Cranford

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. What did it mean to be a woman in the Georgian and Victorian periods? These beloved novels offer three dramatically different, but universally recognisable, experiences. Whether it is the drama of sisterhood, the trials and tribulations of romantic encounters, or the struggles of being a writer in a male world, each story holds just as much resonance for the female experience as they did on first publication. These classic stories are read by two-time Academy Award winner, Glenda Jackson; Fawlty Towers’ Pruncella Scales; and Dame Judi Dench. This collection includes: • Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, read by Glenda Jackson • Silas Marner by George Eliot, read by Dame Judi Dench • Emma by Jane Austen, read by Prunella Scales

Quick Classics Collection: Victorian Women

Arriman has decided to marry. His wife must be a witch of the darkest powers… To find the most fiendish, he holds a spell-casting competition. Glamorous Olympia performs the Symphony of Death and conjures up a thousand plague-bearing rats. The magic of gentle Belladonna, the white witch, goes hopelessly wrong. She produces perfumed flowers instead of snakes. Bats roost in her hair instead of becoming blood-sucking vampires. Belladonna longs to be an evil enchantress - but how?

Which Witch?

‘So your spell changed Basil into a bulldog?’ gasped Daniel. ‘Yes,’ said Heckie. ‘I adore bulldogs.’ Heckie is a good witch who wants to make the world a better place. So, with her Toe of Transformation and her Knuckle of Power she turns unpleasant people into animals. But to her surprise, Basil's parents want their son back...

Not Just a Witch

Instead of being ghastly and skeletal as a bloodcurlingly fearsome ghost, he's pink and fluffy, like a summer cloud. He longs to be like his brother, who's a Screaming Skull. Or his father, who has stumps for legs and a sword through his chest. Or even his cousins who are vampire bats. Poor Humphrey, though, can't scare anyone. But when the ghosts are in danger, it's clever Humphrey who comes up with a rescue plan...

The Great Ghost Rescue

An irresistible collection of sparkling stories featuring John Mortimer's beloved comic creation Horace Rumpole is the most erudite, astute, and seldom defeated of barristers in the annals of the Old Bailey. In these 32 dramas, arranged in order of broadcast, four distinguished actors don the wig and white band to portray our hero as he recalls his long, eventful career. Timothy West stars as the older Rumpole in eight cases in which he proves, despite scurrilous rumours to the contrary, that he is alive, well and as adept as ever at getting to the heart of crimes ranging from sexual assault to terrorism. He also has hopes of becoming a QC at last - but his marriage to She Who Must Be Obeyed is under pressure... Joining Timothy West for another seven legal adventures, Benedict Cumberbatch plays the young, feisty, devastatingly acute Rumpole. We flash back to the 1950s, as he meets and marries Hilda, embarks on his first big murder case 'alone and without a leader', and defends clients including an aristocrat, a shoplifting clergyman and a gardener accused of blackmail. Returning as young Rumpole, Cumberbatch takes us through six more curious cases. It is 1964, and Horace takes on a new pupil - Phyllida Trant, the 'Portia of our Chambers' - only to find himself becoming smitten with her. Forced to consider the path his life has taken, he comes close to giving up the law... With the Sixties swinging, Julian Rhind-Tutt gives us a Rumpole in his prime, recounting ten tales which find the tireless defender swapping sides to appear for the prosecution; coming to the aid of a doctor accused of unprofessional conduct; and suffering the indignity of wrongful arrest. We leave him facing a life-changing decision: after many years of falling in and out of love with both women, will he finally leave Hilda to be with Phyllida? Also included is a special 90-minute Christmas episode starring Desmond Barrit, in which Rumpole indulges in a little seasonal, charitable blackmail and solves an audacious crime at the panto. Production credits Written by John Mortimer Adapted by Richard Stoneman Directed by Marilyn Imrie. A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4 Sax quartet version of Gershwin's 'They Can't Take That Away From Me' arranged by Julie Hodge and performed by 'Sax' (Luiza Beddoes, Kate Mylnar, Janine Ng and Julie Hodge) Pantomime music written by Neil Brand Cast Older Horace Rumpole - Timothy West/Desmond Barrit Young Horace Rumpole - Benedict Cumberbatch/Julian Rhind-Tutt Hilda - Prunella Scales/Joanna David Young Hilda - Jasmine Hyde/Cathy Sara Phyllida - Cathy Sara/Patience Tomlinson 'Soapy Sam' Ballard - Michael Cochrane Claude Erskine-Brown - Nigel Anthony Fig Newton - David Shaw-Parker/Geoffrey Whitehead Bonny Bernard - Bruce Alexander/Nicholas Le Provost/Matthew Morgan Judge Bullingham - Christopher Benjamin/David Shaw-Parker/Stephen Critchlow Liz Probert - Elaine Claxton First broadcast BBC Radio 4 between 25 December 2001 and 9 May 2018 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Rumpole: A BBC Radio Collection

The BBC Radio 7 sci-fi comedy, starring Dan Mersh, Tim Key, Prunella Scales and Dan Tetsell Reporters Charlie Palmer and Moog Johnson are supposed to be exploring the galaxy in search of unimaginable news. But the beauty of an infinite universe is that if everything possible happens somewhere, there's no need to actually go there to check. So they may as well stay where they are - parked on Clapham Common disguised as a hedge - and simply make up their stories instead. Unfortunately, their terrifying boss at Inter-Galactic News, Korg, is on to them, and won't tolerate their fake news any longer. From now on, they have to provide real reports - or he'll have their spleens in a box... Aided by onboard computer Mother, who provides them with Bakewell tarts and Jammy Dodgers (her baking programme has overwritten pretty much all her other software), the duo prepare to take the IGN Indolent on a variety of perilous missions, including locating a missing ambassador, babysitting Korg's nephew, tracking down Mad Captain Pendulum and finding the perfect present for Mother's birthday. Can they avoid having their ship captured by pirates? Will they survive a messy meeting with the Emperor of the Toilet People? And when an evil planet tries to take over the universe while Mother's away, who will come to their rescue? Written by Stuart Sumner and Ian Simons, this light-hearted space comedy stars Dan Mersh as Charlie, Tim Key as Moog, Prunella Scales as Mother and Dan Tetsell as Korg. Guest stars include The IT Crowd's Chris O'Dowd and Geoffrey McGivern, who played Ford Prefect in the original radio production of The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy. Produced by Victoria Lloyd Original music by Ben Walker, with additional music by George Corporal First broadcast BBC Radio 7, 10 February-3 March 2007 (Series 1), 1-22 March 2008 (Series 2) Cast Charlie - Dan Mersh Moog - Tim Key Mother - Prunella Scales Korg - Dan Tetsell Fluffy/Claude/Postmaster General - Jot Davies Yecch - Margaret Cabourn-Smith Captain Grey/Sprout-Bunge- Colin Holt Captain Pendulum - Chris O'Dowd Aunty Genocide/Sam - Anna Bengo Eddie Chessington - Geoffrey McGivern Ben - Gus Brown

Space Hacks: The Complete Series 1 and 2

Welcome to Fawlty Towers, where attentive hotelier Basil Fawlty and his charming wife Sybil will attend to your every need - in your worst nightmare. With hapless waiter Manuel and long-suffering waitress Polly on hand to help, anything could happen during your stay - and probably will. John Cleese’s special introductions to each episode are included in this collection of all 12 TV soundtrack episodes: A Touch of Class The Builders The Wedding Party The Hotel Inspectors Gourmet Night The Germans Communication Problems The Psychiatrist Waldorf Salad The Kipper and the Corpse The Anniversary Basil the Rat Co-starring with John Cleese as Basil are Prunella Scales (Sybil), Andrew Sachs (Manuel) and Connie Booth (Polly), with a supporting cast including Ballard Berkeley, Bernard Cribbins, Joan Sanderson, Geoffrey Palmer, Nicky Henson and Ken Campbell.

BBC TV Soundtracks

Fawlty Towers: The Complete Collection

Timothy West takes on the role of Rumpole in these two thrilling dramas featuring the wily magician of the Old Bailey at his implacable best Rumpole on Trial Rumpole takes up the cause of young Bertie Timson, whose sole ‘crime’ seems to be playing football in the street. As he endeavours to defend our ancient freedoms, he becomes uneasy about exactly what his wife Hilda is up to in her continuing friendship with a high court judge. Going for Silk Having narrowly avoided an ASBO himself, Rumpole hopes to become a QC at last. But first he must turn his attention back to the Timson case, while also preparing to defend a young man charged with the murder of a prostitute. Timothy West stars as Rumpole and Prunella Scales as Hilda, with Nigel Anthony as Claude Erskine-Brown and Michael Cochrane as ‘Soapy Sam’ Ballard. Cast and production credits: Written by John Mortimer Directed by Marilyn Imrie Rumpole on Trial First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 May 2008 Horace Rumpole – Timothy West Hilda Rumpole – Prunella Scales ‘Soapy Sam’ Ballard – Michael Cochrane Bonny Bernard – Nicholas Le Provost Prosecutor Parkes – Roger May Madam Chair of Magistrates – Jillie Mears Graham Wetherby – David Holt Lars Bergman – Matthew Morgan Judge Bullingham – David Shaw-Parker Fig Newton – Geoffrey Whitehead Going for Silk First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 May 2008 Horace Rumpole – Timothy West Hilda Rumpole – Prunella Scales Bonny Bernard – Nicholas Le Provost Anna McKinnon – Jillie Mears Prosecutor Noakes – Matthew Morgan Police Doctor – Roger May Judge Barnes – Geoffrey Whitehead Graham Wetherby – David Holt Det Insp Belfrage – David Shaw-Parker

Rumpole: On Trial & Going for Silk

All four series of the hugely popular BBC radio sitcom – plus two Christmas specials After the death of her GP husband, widow Sarah is battling to bring up her strong-willed 18-year-old daughter Clare, hindered by her meddling mother Eleanor. Living on the middle floor of the family home, with Clare downstairs and Eleanor upstairs, Sarah finds herself besieged from above and below as she tries to cope with the demands of both her mum and her daughter. Luckily, she finds solace at work, where her best friend and boss at Bygone Books, Russell, provides a sympathetic ear. In these four series, Sarah dips a tentative toe into the dating scene, daughter Clare has boyfriend troubles, and Eleanor takes a keen interest in both their love lives – sharing all the gossip with her pensioner friends, the ‘geriatric Mafia’. Holidays, house tidiness and hospital visits all cause problems for Sarah, and there are disagreements over everything from hiring a builder to the correct way to prepare Sunday lunch... Also included are two special seasonal episodes, in which the three women bicker over the festive planning and Eleanor’s strict Christmas Day timetable. Created by award-winning detective novelist and sitcom writer Simon Brett, this much-loved generation gap comedy ran for four years on radio between 1985 and 1989. It was adapted for ITV by Thames Television and was extremely successful, attracting 14 million viewers. Prunella Scales stars as Sarah, with Joan Sanderson as Eleanor and Gerry Cowper as Clare. Cast Sarah – Prunella Scales Eleanor – Joan Sanderson Clare – Gerry Cowper Russell – Benjamin Whitrow Nick – James Griffiths Janie – Marion Bailey Terry – Leo Dolan Clifford – Richard Davies Gwen – Ellen McIntosh Vicar – John Nettleton David – Nigel Williams Chris – Mark Kingston Alison – Mary Maddox Miles – David Quilter Quizmaster – Graham Blockey Customer – Alan Thompson Aubrey – Lockwood West Delivery boy – David Learner Doctor – Peter Howell Sister – Deborah Findlay Policeman – Michael Hadley Percy Bradshaw/The television – Simon Brett James – Edward de Souza Valuer – Nicholas Le Provost Neville – Ian Thompson Julian – Jasper Jacob The doctor – Julie Berry Tom Wilkinson – Peter Rod – Paul Sirr Lady Newby – Fabia Drake Vernon – Frederick Treves Gary – Ian Michie Auntie Lilian – Jean Anderson Production credits Written by Simon Brett Produced by Pete Atkin

After Henry: The Complete BBC Radio Series 1-4

A sparkling collection of nine witty full-cast comedies from the early Restoration era Raunchy, risqué and rebellious, early Restoration comedies were a breath of fresh air for 17th century theatregoers. With Charles II restored to the throne in 1660, Oliver Cromwell's ban on stage performances was rescinded, and for the first time, women were invited to tread the boards as actresses. Playwrights developed a new style of social comedy, packed with amorous escapades, bawdy humour, wicked wit and sexual innuendo. This scintillating anthology showcases six leading lights of early Restoration drama, beginning with George Etherege, the creator of the 'comedy of manners': The Man of Mode, an irreverent portrait of the fops and libertines that populated London's beau monde; and She Wou'd If She Cou'd, a racy, fast-paced romp mocking society's double standards for men and women. Among the casts are Derek Jacobi, Anna Massey, Ian Richardson, Prunella Scales and Hattie Jacques. Also poking fun at hypocrisy and immorality was William Wycherley. However, his comedies were considered far more daring - especially The Country Wife, which was judged too obscene to be staged in its original form for over 200 years. Centred around a notorious rake who resorts to deception to pursue a naïve married woman, this effervescent BBC radio dramatisation stars Jonathan Pryce and Maggie Smith. Male playwrights were not the only ones penning scandalous dramas during this period. Aphra Behn, Britain's first professional female writer, was a poet, spy and the most prolific playwright of the 1670s and '80s. Her sex comedy The Rover, featured here, revolves around love, lust, intrigue and mistaken identity, and stars Julia Ford, Suzan Sylvester and Juliet Aubrey. England's first Poet Laureate, John Dryden, dominated Restoration literature to such an extent that it came to be known as the Age of Dryden. His 1677 play All For Love, a powerful reworking of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, is regarded as his finest work. John Turner and Barbara Jefford star in this heroic tragedy. A rival of Dryden, Edward Ravenscroft was the first British playwright to introduce characters from the 'commedia dell' arte' into his farces. His seminal comedy The London Cuckolds, featuring three ridiculous husbands, three beautiful wives, and one dissolute young cad, was hugely popular, and this BBC adaptation retains all the original's ribald wit. It stars Carleton Hobbs, Norman Shelley and Madi Hedd. Thomas Otway achieved his greatest success in the last five years of his life. Three of his acclaimed works appear here: his 1683 comedy The Soldier's Fortune and its sequel The Atheist, focussing on disbanded army officers looking for sex and money, and his masterpiece Venice Preserved, a dark political thriller about power, revolution, love and betrayal. The ensemble casts feature Dennis Quilley, John Rowe, Michael Turner and Donald Wolfit. Content list The Man of Mode First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 27 Jun 1986 She Wou'd If She Cou'd First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 6 Sep 1968 The Country Wife First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 22 Dec 1985 The Rover First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 22 Jan 1995 All For Love First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 7 Jul 1983 The London Cuckolds First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 30 Dec 1974 The Soldier's Fortune First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 24 May 1981 The Atheist First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 31 May 1981 Venice Preserved First broadcast BBC Third Programme, 10 Aug 1960 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Humour and Madness: Early Restoration Comedies

A collection of dramatisations and original radio plays by the award-winning playwright - plus bonus documentary Caryl Churchill is one of Britain's most innovative and influential dramatists. Versatile and prolific, she has written over 50 plays for stage and screen and is renowned for her revolutionary theatrical techniques and themes of feminism, social politics and the abuse of power. This box set brings together some of her best-known theatre plays, adapted for BBC radio with full casts. It opens with her landmark 1982 drama Top Girls, exploring the price women pay for success in a man's world. Serious Money satirises the corporate venality that followed the 1986 Big Bang; while The Skriker blends naturalism, horror and magical realism to tell a story of love, loss and revenge. Also included are A Number, a powerful look at human cloning and identity; Escaped Alone, a tale of four septuagenarian friends, afternoon tea and catastrophe; and Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, focussing on the millennial movements that erupted during the English Civil War in the 1640s. Churchill also wrote a number of original plays specially for BBC radio in the 1960s and '70s, seven of which are included here: her first professional audio drama The Ants; Identical Twins; Abortive; Not Not Not Not Not Enough Oxygen; Schreber's Nervous Illness; Perfect Happiness and Henry's Past. Among the stellar cast in these superb dramas are Daniel Craig, Maxine Peake, Lesley Manville, Hattie Morahan, Michael Gambon, Tobias Menzies, Bertie Carvel, Deborah Findlay, Kenneth Haigh, Prunella Scales, Monica Dolan, Dinsdale Landen and Clive Merrison. Concluding our collection is a bonus edition of Meridian, taking an in-depth look at Churchill's extraordinary oeuvre. NB: Contains strong language Production credits Written by Caryl Churchill Text copyright © Caryl Churchill 1962 (The Ants), 1968 (Identical Twins), 1971 (Abortive, Not Not Not Not Not Enough Oxygen), 1972 (Schreber's Nervous Illness, Henry's Past), 1973 (Perfect Happiness), 1976 (Light Shining in Buckinghamshire), 1982 (Top Girls), 1987 (Serious Money), 1994 (The Skriker), 2002 (A Number), 2016 (Escaped Alone) All rights reserved Content List Top Girls Serious Money The Skriker A Number Escaped Alone Light Shining in Buckinghamshire The Ants Identical Twins Abortive Not Not Not Not Not Enough Oxygen Schreber's Nervous Illness Perfect Happiness Henry's Past Meridian: Caryl Churchill ©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Caryl Churchill: Top Girls, The Skriker, Serious Money, A Number and more

BBC Radio adaptations of Nancy Mitford's most famous novels and acclaimed biography of Madame de Pompadour plus bonus programmes The eldest of the notorious Mitford sisters, Nancy Mitford was renowned for her comic novels of upper-class life. An aristocrat and socialite, she mingled with the 'Bright Young Things' in interwar London, and went on to satirise their foibles in razor-sharp, wickedly funny prose. Collected here are adaptations of her two bestsellers, the semi-autobiographical The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate; her delightful biography of Louis XV's chief mistress; and a pair of fascinating programmes exploring her own unconventional life. The Pursuit of Love This bittersweet tale follows the fortunes of Fanny Logan and her eccentric aristocratic cousins, the Radletts, as they embark on disastrous love affairs and misconceived marriages while searching for Mr Right. Cast Lord Radlett - Rolf Lefebvre Lady Radlett - Joan Matheson Fanny - Susan Maudslay Linda - Jane Knowles Matt - Brian Hewlett Captain Davey Warbeck - Godfrey Kenton Emily - Joan Hart Tony Kroesig - Michael Spice Lord Merlin - John Rye Bessie - Olwen Griffiths Mrs Fletcher - Barbara Mitchell The Bolter - Cecile Chevreau Other parts played by Sion Probert, George Raistrick, Alan Rowe and William Sleigh. Adapted by Alan Melville. Produced by Norman Wright. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 February 1974 Love in a Cold Climate A glamorous invitation to a grand party at Hampton - home of the fantastically rich Montdores and their beautiful daughter Polly - brings Fanny into the world of 1920s high society: and in and out of love when the temperature drops... Amanda Root stars in this sparkling sequel to The Pursuit of Love. Cast Fanny - Amanda Root Lady Montdore - Barbara Jefford Polly - Teresa Gallagher Veronica - Jenny Howe Uncle Davey - Jon Strickland Aunt Emily - Patience Tomlinson Aunt Sadie - Tessa Worsley Uncle Matthew - Ioan Meredith Boy Dougdale - Stephen Critchlow Jassy - Sarah-Jane Holm Victoria - Tilly Gaunt Cedric - William Hope Alfred - Tom Beard Dramatised by Claire Luckham. Directed by Marion Nancarrow. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 May 1999 The King's Favourite Based on Mitford's Madame de Pompadour, this three-part drama vividly evokes the colourful atmosphere of 18th Century Versailles, and Louis XV's tempestuous relationship with his adored mistress, Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour. Cast Narrator - Alan Melville Duc d'Orléans - Patrick Tull Madame de Ventadour - Katherine Parr Infanta Maria of Spain - Elizabeth Proud Louis XV (as a youth) - Nigel Anthony Duc de Bourbon - James Thomason The Queen - Pauline Letts Louis XV - Edward de Souza Lebel, concierge - Robin Browne Marquise de la Ferté - Margot Boyd Monsieur Poisson - Harold Kasket Madame d'Etioles - Moira Lister Monsieur d'Etioles - John Gabriel Lasmartre, a huntsman - David Timson Lady of the Court - Olwen Griffiths Produced by Norman Wright. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 10-24 December 1971 Dearest Evelyn, Darling Nancy Adapted from the witty correspondence of lifelong literary friends Evelyn Waugh and Nancy Mitford, this entertaining, gossipy 'conversation in letters' stars Timothy West and Prunella Scales. Cast Evelyn Waugh - Timothy West Nancy Mitford - Prunella Scales Adapted by Alan Bell. Produced by Pete Atkin. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 December 1993 Greatest Lives - Nancy Mitford Grace Dent loves Nancy Mitford for her wit, and for the way in which she showed women that it was possible to live your life fully and unconventionally. Matthew Parris asks what it is about Nancy that so inspires Grace, with the aid of Mitford biographer Lisa Hilton. Produced by Beth O'Dea. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 January 2013 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Nancy Mitford: Pursuit of Love, Love in a Cold Climate & More

15 of the finest works by the world-renowned playwright, as heard on BBC radio George Bernard Shaw - or Bernard Shaw, as he preferred to be known - was one of Ireland's foremost dramatists and thinkers. His plays range from contemporary satires to historical allegories, and are infused with ideas, insight, wit and wisdom. Included here are some of his best works, adapted for radio and brought together in reverse chronological order in one statement collection. We begin with his prophetic political comedy The Apple Cart, set in the future and pitting the fictional King Magnus against his Prime Minister. Next is his masterpiece Saint Joan, dramatising the trials of Joan of Arc, for which he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925. Heartbreak House lampoons England's ruling elite before World War I, as they sail heedlessly towards catastrophe; Pygmalion explores feminism and the class system through Cockney flowergirl Eliza Doolittle and irascible phonetics professor Henry Higgins; and in Androcles and the Lion, Shaw transforms Aesop's fable to impart his thoughts on human frailty, religion and martyrdom. The Dark Lady of the Sonnets imagines a meeting between William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I, while alternate history Press Cuttings sets the suffragettes against crotchety war veteran General Mitchener. Here, too, are the controversial The Shewing-Up of Blanco Posnet, banned in England for contravening blasphemy laws; the classic comedy Major Barbara, a tale of romance, rich privilege and a battle of wills; and the humorous philosophical drama based on the Don Juan theme, Man and Superman, directed for Radio 3 by theatrical icon Sir Peter Hall. Also featured are early works Caesar and Cleopatra, a dramatised account of the relationship between the Roman dictator and the Egyptian queen; The Devil's Disciple, set against the backdrop of the American War of Independence; The Man of Destiny, in which Napoleon enters into a battle of wits with a beautiful stranger; and Candida, about a vicar's wife whose life is turned upside down by a young poet. Finally, Shaw's acclaimed 'problem play', Mrs Warren's Profession, probes issues of Victorian prostitution and double standards. And in a bonus documentary, devotees of the great author discuss his life, work and legacy. Among the array of stars in these coruscating dramas are Ralph Fiennes, Judi Dench, Prunella Scales, Anton Lesser, Juliet Stevenson, Paul Merton, Ron Cook, Victoria Hamilton, Nicholas Le Prevost, David Suchet, Eleanor Bron, David Troughton, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Alistair McGowan, Al Murray, Morgana Robinson, Robert Bathurst, Leslie French, Marius Goring, Arthur Lowe, Denys Hawthorne, Rebecca Front, Alan Badel, Gregory Peck, Paul Ritter, Hannah Gordon, Edward Petherbridge and Maggie Steed. NB: This collection contains language that reflects the attitudes of the era in which the plays were written. Production credits Written by George Bernard Shaw First published 1893 (Mrs Warren's Profession), 1894 (Candida), 1895 (The Man of Destiny), 1896 (The Devil's Disciple), 1898 (Caesar and Cleopatra), 1902 (Man and Superman), 1905 (Major Barbara), 1909 (The Shewing-Up of Blanco Posnet, Press Cuttings), 1910 (The Dark Lady of the Sonnets), 1912 (Androcles and the Lion, Pygmalion), 1919 (Heartbreak House), 1923 (Saint Joan), 1928 (The Apple Cart), 2007 (Great Lives) Contents The Apple Cart Saint Joan Heartbreak House Pygmalion Androcles and the Lion The Dark Lady of the Sonnets Press Cuttings The Shewing-Up of Blanco Posnet Major Barbara Man and Superman Caesar and Cleopatra The Devil's Disciple The Man of Destiny Candida Mrs Warren's Profession Great Lives: George Bernard Shaw ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

George Bernard Shaw

In this BBC full-cast production of Henry IV Part 2, civil war is ravaging England. Rebels are rallying together, unified against Henry. Will Henry and his son, Hal, emerge victorious - or alive? Father and son Julian Glover and Jamie Glover star as King Henry and his son Hal in the powerful production which also stars Timothy West and Prunella Scales. BBC radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly-formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard. In this acclaimed BBC Radio Shakespeare series, each play is introduced by Richard Eyre, former Director of the Royal National Theatre. Revitalised, original and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the modern day.

Henry IV Part Two

1920s: In the coastal English village of Tilling, Miss Elizabeth Mapp sits like a watchful bird of prey at the bow window of her garden-room: perfectly situated to give an uninterrupted view of the main street. For her main occupation is observing and guiding the local inhabitants - from Irene Coles, the town bohemian who strides about the place in gentleman's clothing; to Isabel Poppit, who dares to infringe upon Miss Mapp's own patented recipe for iced red-currant fool - besides attempting to coax Major Benjamin Flint into the snare of matrimony. . .

Mapp and Lucia

Miss Mapp

First broadcast on Woman's Hour, Prunella Scales and Patricia Routledge star in this popular BBC Radio 4 comedy Ladies of Letters. This collection features all 11 series. When Irene Spencer meets Vera Small at her daughter Lesley's wedding reception they embark upon a correspondence that is quite unlike any other in the history of letter-writing. Both Irene and Vera are happily widowed and endowed with errant offspring. They live in a world of church fetes and amateur dramatics, but love nothing more than dipping their pens in the vitriol pot - while remaining the firmest of pen-pals. Feisty, naughty and endlessly funny, Ladies of Letters provides a hilarious insight into suburban friendships and modern family life as they really are! The series are: Ladies of Letters Ladies of More Letters Ladies of Letters.com Ladies of Letters Log On Ladies of Letters Make Mincemeat Ladies of Letters Spring Clean Ladies of Letters Go Global Ladies of Letters Say No Ladies of Letters Go Green Ladies of Letters Crunch Credit Ladies of Letters Go Crackers 'A hilarious double act by Prunella Scales and Patricia Routledge' - Northern Echo 'Beautifully scripted and perfectly acted' - Daily Express

Ladies Of Letters

Algernon Moncrieff, a bachelor-about-town, has invented an invalid friend called Bunbury in order to get out of tiresome family engagements. At the same time, his friend Jack Worthing has invented a wicked brother called Ernest to disguise his own misdemeanours. When Algernon poses as Ernest to win the heart of Cecily Cardew, confusion reigns, and it takes the discovery of an old black handbag to reveal the truth...   Oscar Wilde’s dazzling comedy about mistaken identities and secret engagements still delights audiences over a century after its first performance in 1895.   This BBC Radio production, first broadcast in 1977, features Jeremy Clyde as Algernon, Richard Pasco as Worthing, Prunella Scales as Cecily and Maurice Denham as the Rev. Canon Chasuble, and is the first broadcast of the original four-act version of the play.   The Classic Radio Theatre range presents notable radio productions of much-loved plays by some of the most renowned playwrights, and starring some of our finest actors.

The Importance Of Being Earnest

All 26 episodes of the much-loved 1960s sitcom, as heard on BBC radio Kate and George Starling are just beginning their lives as young newlyweds, and are already experiencing the frustrations, as well as the joys, of marriage. But although they have their ups and downs, their mutual love and mistrust gets them through. In these two series, they experience the downsides and delights of domesticity: from getting locked out of their new flat, sparring over nights out and coping with the next-door neighbours, to planning a holiday together and looking forward to a new arrival. Parenthood brings further challenges – including organising baby Helen’s christening and finding a family home – but a job abroad could offer new opportunities for the Starlings... Originally broadcast on BBC TV between 1963 and 1966, this absorbing comedy by Richard Waring was so popular that it was adapted on radio for the BBC Light Programme. It stars Richard Briers as George and Prunella Scales as Kate, with guest stars including Heather Chasen, Derek Waring, Joan Sanderson, Wallas Eaton and Derek Fowlds. Written by Richard Waring Produced by Charles Maxwell Recorded at the BBC Paris Studio in London First broadcast BBC Light Programme: 21 May-13 August 1965 (Series 1), 19 March-11 June 1967 (Series 2) Cast George – Richard Briers Kate – Prunella Scales Norah – Heather Chasen Peter – Geoffrey Matthews John – David Morton Miles – Rodney Diak/Derek Waring Ossie – David Graham Mr Reynolds – Leon Thau Ronald – Terence Alexander George’s father– Geoffrey Sumner Kate’s mother– Joan Sanderson Mr Cartwright – Wallas Eaton Mr Renfrew Smith – Felix Felton Arthur – Frederick Treves Denis – Peter Hawkins Jeanie – Audrey Nicholson Murray – Penny Morrell Mother – Diana King Pauline – Rosalind Knight Ronald – William Fox With John Baddeley, Norma Ronald, Philip Guard, Isabel Rennie, Elizabeth Morgan, Jo Kendall, Nigel Graham, John Graham, Charlotte Mitchell, Rosemary Miller, Peter Gilmore, James Taylor, Clive Morton, Noel Hood, Edward de Souza, Beth Boyd, Carol Marsh, Wilfred Babbage, Pearl Hackney, Ronald Hines, Fraser Kerr, Carole Boyd, Robert McBain, Lockwood West, Tim Barrett, Doris Rogers, Anna Gilchrist, Derek Fowlds, Gretchen Franklin, Alec Bregonzi

Marriage Lines: The Complete Series 1 and 2

Twelve make-believe spoof comedy documentaries charting the lives of celebrated fictional characters ‘Gorgeously silly’ The Independent Have you ever wondered what became of the protagonists from your favourite childhood stories? Well, wonder no more: in these hilarious mockumentaries, the astonishing afterlives of some of the most famous figures in fiction are revealed... The scourge of smugglers and the stalwart of the Famous Five, George, reflects on her life – and divulges the fate of the rest of the adventurous gang; Cinderella’s siblings The Ugly Sisters speak out, giving their versions of what happened after the ball; Doctor Who’s granddaughter Susan discloses the real story of her travels in time and space; and The Big Bad Wolf gives a perfectly plausible explanation for his behaviour towards the Three Little Pigs and Red Riding Hood’s granny. We also follow the fortunes of Billy Bunter’s beastly form master Horace Henry Samuel Quelch, angelic aristocrat Little Lord Fauntleroy, Popeye, Pinocchio, Mowgli, Postman Pat, The Seven Dwarves and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Their fates may surprise and even shock you – but they’re sure to make you laugh. Written by Adrian Mourby, who won the Sony Silver Award for Creative Writing on Radio for the first series, these witty tongue-in-cheek pastiches feature star casts including Warren Mitchell, Prunella Scales, Michael Williams, Eleanor Bron, Rosemary Leach, Jane Asher, Sir Michael Hordern, Leslie Phillips and Andrew Sachs. Production credits Written by Adrian Mourby Produced by Brian King George Popeye The Ugly Sisters Horace Henry Samuel Quelch Doctor Who’s Granddaughter Susan Little Lord Fauntleroy The Big Bad Wolf Pinocchio The Seven Dwarves Mowgli Postman Pat Dorothy © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Whatever Happened to….?  Popeye, Dorothy, The Ugly Sisters and more

Prunella Scales stars in this BBC Radio comedy following the trials and tribulations of Rosie Burns and her Brighton-based events management company Events manager Rosie Burns is used to coping with the unexpected, at work and at home. When her daughter Kate accidentally became a teenage mum, Rosie stepped in, raising her granddaughter Jo so that Kate could pursue her career in international banking. Now Jo works in the family firm alongside accountant Bob (who's nursing an unrequited love for Rosie) and Tess (whose love life never ceases to amaze). Things are ticking along nicely, until Rosie gets a phone call out of the blue - after fifteen years working abroad, Kate's lost her job and is coming home... In these four series, Rosie's life is shaken up as her dysfunctional family and recalcitrant clients cause problems on both the personal and the professional front. Confusion reigns when the company tackles a fundraiser for the Afghans, organising a town twinning causes complications, and, attempting to organise a literary prize, Rosie finds that not everything goes by the book... Meanwhile, Kate's angling for a position at a major finance company, Jo's got man trouble - and there's a potential romantic interest on the cards for Rosie. Created by award-winning author Simon Brett, whose sitcom credits include After Henry and No Commitments, this hilarious cross-generational comedy stars Prunella Scales as Rosie, with Arabella Weir as Kate, Rebecca Callard as Jo, Duncan Preston as Bob and Annette Badland as Tess. Produced by Maria Esposito Cast Rosie - Prunella Scales Kate - Arabella Weir Jo - Rebecca Callard Bob - Duncan Preston Tess - Annette Badland With Michael Fenton Stevens, Stephen Thorne, Jon Glover, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Will Ing, Alison Skilbeck, Kerry Shale, Debbie Norman, Alan Cowan, Lee Simpson, Chris Pavlo, David Holt, Joanna Monro, Celia Imrie, Owen Brenman, Simon Greenall, Rachel Atkins, David Wood, James Vaughan, Jim North, Stefan Abingdon, Alice Connor, Edward de Souza, Gillian Hanna, Simon Trinder, Bill Wallis, Natalie Walter, Ben Aris, Felicity Goodson, Jeremy Clyde, Kenny Blyth, Lee Dolan, Timothy Alcock, Sheila Mitchell, Chris Emmett, Lorelei King, Gideon Turner, Rebecca Front, Colin Sell, Timothy West, Richenda Carey, Bruce Alexander, James Ellis, Victoria Donavan, Colin Stinton, Suzanne Jameson, George Leyton, Mary Wimbush, Benjamin Whitrow and Rowland Davies First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 May-7 June 2000 (Series 1), 27 June-1 August 2001 (Series 2), 31 July-4 September 2002 (Series 3), 4 August-8 September 2003 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Smelling of Roses: The Complete Series 1-4

Timothy West stars as Rumpole in these four fantastic radio dramas Rumpole and the Teenage Werewolf Rumpole heads to the Home Counties to defend Ben, a teenager accused of sending emails deemed to be sexually harassing, and of an actual physical attack on a girl. Rumpole and the Right to Privacy Rumpole leaves the Old Bailey to defend a civil case: an editor of a local newspaper who is accused of breaching a successful businessman's right to privacy. Truth Makes All Things Plain If one man can be counted on to fight injustice and insist on a fair trial for everyone, whatever their circumstances, it is Horace Rumpole. So when the beautiful Tiffany Khan learns that her husband has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism, she calls for his help right away. The Past Catches up with us All As he struggles to win justice for his client, Rumpole finds that his marriage to She Who Must Be Obeyed is, rather like his waistcoat, straining at the seams. Timothy West stars as Rumpole and Prunella Scales as Hilda, with Matt Smith as Ben, Nigel Anthony as Claude Erskine-Brown and Michael Cochrane as ‘Soapy Sam’ Ballard. Cast and credits Written by John Mortimer Directed by Marilyn Imrie Rumpole and the Teenage Werewolf First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 July 2006 Horace Rumpole - Timothy West Hilda Rumpole - Prunella Scales Hermione Swithin - Felicity Montagu Mr Beazley - Nicholas Le Provost Chris Swithin - Philip Jackson Ben Swithin - Matt Smith Judge Denis Wintergreen - Karl Johnson Adrian Hodinott - Sean Baker Felicity Halliday - Ellie Beaven Rumpole and the Right to Privacy First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 July 2006 Horace Rumpole - Timothy West Hilda Rumpole. - Prunella Scales Mr Rankin - David Shaw-Parker Claude Erskine-Brown - Nigel Anthony Liz Probert - Elaine Claxton Hugo Winterton - Anton Rogers Gervase Johnson - Stephen Critchlow Sir Mike Smedley - Kim Durham Mrs Justice Erskine-Brown - Joanna David Truth Makes All Things Plain First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 August 2007 Horace Rumpole - Timothy West Hilda Rumpole - Prunella Scales Judge Bullingham - Christopher Benjamin Tiffany Khan - Lily Bevan ‘Soapy Sam’ Ballard - Michael Cochrane Bonny Bernard - Bruce Alexander Dr Mahmood Khan - Shiv Grewal Barrington Whiteside - Geoffrey Whitehead Will Timson - Ben Crowe Peter Plaistow - Christopher Scott Mrs Justice Templett - Joanna David Fred Sugden - Kim Durham Ian Antrim - Nigel Anthony The Past Catches up with us All First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 August 2007 Horace Rumpole – Timothy West Hilda Rumpole – Prunella Scales Claude Erskine-Brown – Nigel Anthony Fred Sugden – Kim Durham Dr Mahmood Khan – Shiv Grewal Will Timson – Ben Crowe Judge Bullingham – Christopher Benjamin Bonny Bernard – Bruce Alexander Barrington Whiteside – Geoffrey Whitehead Peter Plaistow – Christopher Scott

Rumpole: The Teenage Werewolf & other stories

Seven BBC full-cast romantic comedies about love, longing and life-changing moments Written by a host of top radio writers and starring some of Britain's finest actors, these sparkling, beautifully crafted comedy dramas are centred around people with unconscious yearnings. From the serial seducer to the lonely mother's boy, each is looking for love - but will they find it? Vongole by Michael Butt: Oxford professor Tristram Swann's favourite pastime is wooing his female students with Petrarch and pasta. But what is he really after? Starring Bill Nighy. The Non-Entity by Marcy Kahan: Once a successful Soviet hack, Dimitri hasn't sold a story since the fall of Communism. So why has a British publisher flown out to Moscow to see him? Starring Kenneth Cranham, Eleanor Bron and Sylvestre Le Touzel. Toad Squad by Nick Warburton: Bitter at being retired prematurely, Reg embarks on a mission to protect the humble toad. Starring Philip Jackson and Amanda Root. The Anniversary Waltz by Jeremy Front: Deli owners Max and Shirley spend their days sniping at one another - but a sudden epiphany makes them realise things have got to change... Starring Prunella Scales, Roger Allam and Rebecca Front. Catching Heathcliff by Nick Warburton: Lindsey dreams of someone brooding and passionate - and then Morton walks into her book group... Starring Philip Jackson and Amanda Root. Battersea Triangle by Michael Butt: Passive Dougie is trapped in a relationship with his domineering boss, Angela. When he meets the docile India, his problems seem to be over - but are they just beginning? Starring Mark Benton, Christine Kavanagh and Indira Varma. The Dangers of Self-Hypnosis by Gary Ogin: Having had no luck with speed-dating, Maurice turns to a self-hypnosis CD to find romance. Exploring his subconscious, he finds the beautiful Rachel... Starring Richard Coyle, Prunella Scales and Sophie Winkleman. Produced and directed by Peter Kavanagh Vongole Tristram - Bill Nighy Minnie - Emma Callander Helen - Miranda Colchester Freddie - Stephen Critchlow Mamma/Judy - Carolyn Jones Written by Michael Butt The Non-Entity Dmitri - Kenneth Cranham Annoushka - Eleanor Bron Claire - Sylvestra Le Touzel Robert - Stephen Critchlow Written by Marcy Kahan Toad Squad Reg - Philip Jackson Bel - Amanda Root Mr Topping - Jonathan Coy Written by Nick Warburton The Anniversary Waltz Shirley - Prunella Scales Max - Roger Allam Roszinka - Rebecca Front Girl - Rosie Fellner Marcy - Liza Sadovy Toastmaster/Old man - Bruce Purchase Written by Jeremy Front Catching Heathcliff Graham - Philip Jackson Lindsey - Amanda Root Heathcliff/Morton - Mark Straker Postman - Nick Warburton Written by Nick Warburton Battersea Triangle Dougie - Mark Benton India - Indira Varma Angela - Christine Kavanagh Fiona - Emily Rose Smith Written by Michael Butt The Dangers of Self-Hypnosis Maurice - Richard Coyle Mother - Prunella Scales Rachel - Sophie Winkleman Abigail - Christine Kavanagh Hypnotist/Judge - Sam Dale Daniel - Mark Straker Written by Gary Ogin © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Hopes and Desires

‘I will buy your castle,’ declared Hiram C. Hopgood. ‘But only if there are no ghosts!’ Alex MacBuff can't afford to keep his beloved Castle Carra - and an American millionaire has made him an offer he can't refuse. But the castle is full of ghosts! There's Krok the hairy Viking warrior, mad Miss Spinks, a hell-hound called Cyril, and a vampire with no teeth. How can Alex stop them haunting Hiram?

The Haunting of Hiram

A BBC Radio collection of dramatisations of E. Nesbit's finest children's books with extra magical readings plus an original drama by Martin Jameson E Nesbit is widely regarded as the first modern children's writer. Her ground-breaking novels have influenced authors from Oscar Wilde to Jacqueline Wilson, and over 100 years after their first publication, they remain perennially popular. This wide-ranging collection comprises some of her very best children's fiction, commencing with her timeless tale The Railway Children. Starring Victoria Carling, Daniel Eyssen and Kate McEnery, Frances Jeater this enchanting dramatisation tells the story of three suburban children forced to move to the countryside after their father is mysteriously taken away. Martin Jameson's sequel Roberta, Peter and Phyllis revisits them 13 years later, in 1919, to reveal how their lives have changed. Fiona Clarke, James Alper and Emma Hughes-Jones star as the titular siblings. Also included is Nesbit's classic 'Psammead' trilogy. In Five Children and It, Five children are granted a series of wishes by a sand fairy - but inevitably, things do not go to plan... Cast includes Julia McKenzie, Simon Carter, James Richard, Justyn Towler. Patricia Hodge reads the second book in the series, The Phoenix and the Carpet, in which the discovery of a mysterious egg in an old carpet heralds the start of a magical adventure. And in The Story of the Amulet, a full-cast dramatisation the children voyage through history on a quest for an ancient lucky charm. Featuring the same cast as Five Children and It Penelope Keith stars as E Nesbit in The House of Arden, a time-travelling fantasy tale about the hunt for a lost family treasure; Other cast includes Timothy Spall and Kelly Bright. Prunella Scales reads five stories from Nesbit's delightful compendium The Book of Dragons: 'Last of the Dragons', 'Kind Little Edmond', 'The Deliverers of their Country', 'The Book of Beasts' and 'The Dragon Tamers'. Concluding this anthology are two fantastic feline fables from Cat Tales, co-written by Nesbit and her adopted daughter Rosamund E Bland: 'The White Cat', read by Jenny Agutter, and 'Too Clever by Half', read by Helen Clapp. Cast and credits Written by E Nesbit Cat Tales written by E Nesbit and Rosamund E Bland Roberta, Peter and Phyllis written by Martin Jameson First published 1901 (The Book of Dragons), 1902 (Five Children and It), 1904 (The Phoenix and the Carpet, Cat Tales), 1906 (The Story of the Amulet, The Railway Children), 1908 (The House of Arden) The Railway Children Dramatised by Marcy Kahan. Produced by John Taylor First broadcast BBC Radio 5, 3-24 January 1991 Roberta, Peter and Phyllis Produced and directed by Gary Brown First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 January 2005 Five Children and It Dramatised by Malcolm McKee. Directed by Rosemary Watts First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 31 August 1998 The Phoenix and the Carpet Abridged by Penny Leicester. Produced by Marion Nancarrow First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 March-1 April 1994 The Story of the Amulet Dramatised by Malcolm McKee. Directed by Rosemary Watts First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 August 1999 The House of Arden Dramatised by Chris Curry. Produced by Mary Kalemkarian First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 April-25 June 1989 The Book of Dragons First broadcast BBC Radio 5, 7-11 December 1992 Cat Tales The White Cat First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 3 January 2000 Too Clever by Half First broadcast BBC Sounds, 23 July 2019 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

E. Nesbit: A BBC Radio Collection

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