Winner of the Somerset Maugham Award Waterstones best book of the year 2023 'A remarkable feat of storytelling' Rosie Hewlett This should be the story of Hercules: his twelve labours, his endless adventures…everyone’s favourite hero, right?﻿Wrong. This is the story of everyone else: Alcmene: Herc’s mother (She has knives everywhere) Hylas: Herc’s first friend (They were more than friends) Megara: Herc’s wife (She’ll tell you about their marriage) Eurystheus: Oversaw Herc’s labours (He never asked for the job) His friends, his enemies, his wives, his children, his lovers, his rivals, his gods, his victims. It’s time to hear their stories. Herc gives voice to the silenced characters, in this feminist, queer (and sometimes shocking) retelling of classic Hercules myth. Perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and Joanne M. Harris'It. Is. Fantastic' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An absolute delight' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Herc

Matthew Beard and Sophie Rundle star in a brand new BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the bestselling novel by Neil Gaiman, narrated by Eleanor Bron. Challenged to retrieve a fallen star, Tristran Thorn leaves the sleepy English village of Wall and crosses into the land of Faerie and the realm of Stormhold. Locating the star, he discovers it is no meteorite, but a young woman, Yvaine. When Yvaine evades him and escapes, Tristran discovers he is not the only one in pursuit of the star: there are dark forces in this magical land, and he must find Yvaine before she falls into their clutches. As he does so, Tristran will uncover the secret to his own identity and a fate beyond his wildest dreams. Directed by Dirk Maggs and Heather Larmour, and featuring over 35 minutes of unbroadcast material, this stunning new dramatisation boasts an extensive cast including Frances Barber, Maggie Steed, Nicholas Boulton, Blake Ritson, Bryan Dick, Charlotte Riley, Aisling Loftus, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Alex Macqueen. There are also cameo appearances by Tori Amos and Neil Gaiman. Duration: 2 hours 30 mins approx.

Neil Gaiman Full-Cast Radio Adaptations

Stardust

A razor-sharp debut thriller about what happens when one of the first child stars of the social media age grows up … and goes missing. Hazel Davis is drifting: newly unemployed, living in a city she hates, and significantly less successful than her infamous younger sister, Evie. Evie grew up online, having gone viral at age five in a daddy-daughter dance video. She had an Instagram following in elementary school, and brand sponsorships before she had a driver’s permit. Now she’s a megapopular lifestyle influencer, with a million-dollar career at an age when few teens know what they’re going to major in. But to Hazel, @evelyn is just Evie, her beloved little sister—and a kid who has been exploited for her entire childhood. Ten years older and spotlight-averse, Hazel has managed to dodge the family business, but she’s deeply protective of Evie and skeptical of the way everyone seems to want a piece of her: Evie’s followers, her YouTuber boyfriend, her frenemies across the influencer industry. So when Evie disappears—in the middle of a live stream, during a brand-sponsored trip to Los Angeles—Hazel knows something is terribly wrong. Determined to find her sister, Hazel throws herself into the darkest parts of internet culture to untangle the threads of truth behind Evie’s disappearance. After all, Hazel knows Evie better than anyone else … doesn’t she? Internet fame, the allure of parasocial relationships, and some of our deepest cultural obsessions collide in this electric thriller by a debut writer to watch.

Such a Bad Influence

Beneath the streets of London there is another London. A subterranean labyrinth of sewers and abandoned tube stations. A somewhere that is Neverwhere... An act of kindness sees Richard Mayhew catapulted from his ordinary life into the strange world of London Below. There he meets the Earl of Earl's Court, faces a life-threatening ordeal at the hands of the Black Friars, comes face to face with the Great Beast of London, and encounters an Angel. Called Islington. Accompanied by the mysterious Door and her companions, the Marquis de Carabas and the bodyguard Hunter, Richard embarks on an extraordinary quest to escape from the fiendish assassins Croup and Vandemar and to discover who ordered them to murder her family - all the while trying to get back to his old life in London Above. Adapted for radio by the award-winning Dirk Maggs, this captivating dramatisation features a stellar cast including David Harewood, Sophie Okonedo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Christopher Lee, Anthony Head and David Schofield. Contains over 25 minutes of additional unbroadcast material, including extended scenes, bloopers and outtakes. ©2013 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2013 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Neverwhere

Brought to you by Penguin. A gripping and suspenseful debut, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Jane Fallon and Tiger King! When the peace shatters in suburbia, the claws come out . . . Coralie King, Emma Brooks and Twig Dorsett are friends. Sort of. They're neighbours on an exclusive Sevenoaks estate who get along. It's convenient. But one May bank holiday, Coralie's husband insists he saw a panther on the bonnet of his car. And cracks between the elite of the Briar Heart Estate begin to emerge. As the summer wears on and there are more sightings, the big cat frenzy reaches a fever pitch. Tensions between neighbours threaten to boil over. Everyone is watching their back. But is the real predator a seventy-kilo cat with razor-sharp claws? Or is the actual danger of a much more domestic variety? 'Original, sharp, clever, and wonderfully observed' Andrea Mara, bestselling author of No One Saw a Thing 'Twisty, sharp (clawed) and deliciously unhinged' Catherine Ryan Howard, bestselling author of 56 Days 'FABULOUS . . . Desperate Housewives meets Tiger King meets Motherland' Sarah Turner, bestselling author of Stepping Up © Kit Conway 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Cat Fight

A full-cast BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman’s celebrated apocalyptic comic novel. According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday in fact. Just after Any Answers on Radio 4…. Events have been set in motion to bring about the End of Days. The armies of Good and Evil are gathering and making their way towards the sleepy English village of Lower Tadfield. The Four Horsepersons of the Apocalypse - War, Famine, Pollution and Death - are assembling. Witchfinder Shadwell and his assistant Newton Pulsifier are also en route to Tadfield to investigate unusual phenomena in the area, while Anathema Device, descendent of prophetess Agnes Nutter, tries to decipher her ancestor’s cryptic predictions. Atlantis is rising; fish are falling from the sky; everything seems to be going to the Divine Plan. Everything, that is, but for an unlikely angel and demon duo, who have been living on Earth for several millennia and have become rather fond of the place. If they are to prevent Armageddon they’ve got to find and kill the one who will bring it about: the Antichrist himself. There’s just one small problem: someone seems to have mislaid him… Adapted, sound designed and co-directed by Dirk Maggs (Neverwhere, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) this first ever dramatisation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s novel features a large cast including Peter Serafinowicz, Mark Heap, Josie Lawrence and Paterson Joseph.

Good Omens

From one of Italy's most acclaimed authors, The Neapolitan Novels is an exploration of the friendship between Lila and Lena, two bright young girls who grew up in the tough, rough streets of post-war Naples. This is no normal friendship; it's a friendship that loves, hurts, supports and destroys - and yet it is one that lasts a lifetime. These four full-cast BBC adaptations bring the streets of Naples vividly to life. The first novel , My Brilliant Friend, begins in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighbourhood on the outskirts of Naples. Growing up on these streets two girls, Lena and Lila, learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone - or anything. The Story of a New Name sees the two girls striving to make a better life for themselves. They work hard at school but Lila is stopped in her tracks when forced to give up her education to work for the family shoe-making business. It's not long before their worlds are pushed apart. In the third book, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, Lena escapes to Milan but struggles to find the courage to live, parent and write again after her marriage to her increasingly dismissive husband. Lila, meanwhile, also struggles to rise above her social conditions and desperately tries to find a way to better herself in whatever way she can. In the final part of their story, The Story of the Lost Child, Lena returns to Naples with her two children to find Lila has also managed to turn her life around, despite remaining in the claws of violent and mafia-run Naples. Through broken marriages, violent pasts, and the yearning for something more, the two women always turn to each other as their friendship – and the tensions between them – grow ever deeper. Adapted from the books by Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldstein. Dramatised by Timberlake Wertenbaker Directed by Celia de Wolff A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.

The Neapolitan Novels: My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay & The Story of the Lost Child

A Christmas Carol is Charles Dickens's classic tale of the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge. In this all-new full-cast dramatization, we re-live the iconic story where the mean old businessman is visited by the spirits of Christmases past, present and future. With a cast of eleven actors performing the well-known roles of everyone from Jacob Marley to Tiny Tim, this fresh production breathes new life into a much-loved seasonal favourite.

A Christmas Carol

Jenna Stannis (Carrie Dobro) is a convicted smuggler when she runs into the dissident Roj Blake. She’s a spacer, too – hardly set foot on a planet. Which is why sending her for life on Cygnus Alpha is such an appalling verdict. How did it go so wrong?  Blake's 7: The Early years is a series of brand new audio adventures, appealing to sci-fi fans, drama lovers and of course followers of the original TV series.  Praised for its production values, excellent casting and of course intriguing storylines, this latest instalment offers great value and high levels of enjoyment!  The election is going to change everything. A man called Roj Blake promises the voters new hope, an end to years of corruption. There are those who can’t let him be heard. But Jenna Stannis is determined to get his message out to the stars.  It’s been years since the Dust Run and Jenna’s a changed woman. She’s left the Vega system far behind, using her excellent piloting skills to carve out a life as a smuggler. Blake’s message could earn her a fortune.

Blake’s 7: The Early Years

Blake's 7: Jenna - The Trial

Roj Blake is on the run... He has a ship, but the ship has plans of its own. He has a crew, but who are his friends and who are his enemies? Blake thought space meant freedom, but space is cold, cruel and steeped in blood. The power of the federation reaches further and deeper then Blake dared imagine... Freedom is nowhere to be found.

Blake’s 7: The Audio Adventures

Blake's 7: Traitor

Jenna Stannis (Carrie Dobro) is a convicted smuggler when she runs into the dissident Roj Blake. She’s a spacer, too – hardly set foot on a planet. Which is why sending her for life on Cygnus Alpha is such an appalling verdict. How did it go so wrong?  Blake's 7: The Early years is a series of brand new audio adventures, appealing to sci-fi fans, drama lovers and of course followers of the original TV series.  Praised for its production values, excellent casting and of course intriguing storylines, this latest instalment offers great value and high levels of enjoyment!  Jenna Stannis has grown up as a spacer, where the normal rules don't apply. No school, no police, no public imperatives – that's still all to come. But the situation on Earth is changing and the effects are slowly being felt throughout the Vega system. It's going to mean trouble for a brash boy called Veldan – who Jenna doesn't fancy at all.  Soon Jenna and Veldan are competing in the Dust Run – racing shuttles through an asteroid field without using computers, making the complex calculations in their heads. It’s dangerous, fool-hardy and really good fun. But they’re playing for the highest of stakes...

Blake's 7: Jenna - The Dust Run

Thirty years since the dramatic and shocking finale of the original series, we follow Kerr Avon back to the events which made him the man he was. The University of Oxford, 2230, and the campus is a hotbed of student protest as Roj Blake’s Freedom Party seeks to sweep away a century of corrupt rule. Kerr Avon (Colin Salmon), a young man from the frontier, brilliant, ambitious and naïve, has arrived to make his mark on the future. Working with Professor Ensor (Geoffrey Palmer), the Federation’s eminent cyberneticist, Avon has no intention of getting involved in politics; he may be naïve but he isn’t stupid. But when he meets activist Anna Grant (Keeley Hawes) all bets are off…

Blake's 7: Avon - Eye of the Machine

In the third century of the second calendar, the galactic Federation, once a beacon of democracy and peace, has become a corrupt tyranny. Freedom and Justice are things of the past. Roj Blake stood up for the ordinary people. When the establishment tried intimidation, he laughed in their faces; when they tried to crush him, he fought back. They tried to brainwash him into obedience, but he broke their conditioning. Finally they framed him for crimes he didn't commit and sentenced him to permanent exile on the notorious prison planet of Cygnus Alpha. The Federation thinks it has seen the last of Roj Blake... The Federation will wish it had.

Blake's 7: Rebel

Jan Chappell's return to the role of Cally 30 years after the original series further enhances the appeal of what is already a highly successful audio range.  Blake's 7: The Early years is a series of brand new audio adventures, appealing to sci-fi fans, drama lovers and of course followers of the original TV series.  Praised for its production values, excellent casting and of course intriguing storylines, this latest instalment offers great value and high levels of enjoyment!  On Auron, every clone lives in a world buoyed by the constant murmur of telepathic support, gossip and opinions. When Ariane Cally’s plane crashes in the middle of a wilderness park she finds herself cut off not only from rescue, but the voices that have sustained her all her life. Her only hope is the mysterious Aunty, the single voice she can still hear, a woman who claims to have been the second Cally ever to be born on Auron. From Aunty she will learn the true and secret history of her people, but only if the wilderness doesn’t kill her first.

Blake's 7: Cally - Blood and Earth

Earth. 2230 AD. A time of social and political turmoil... Olag Gan wants to marry the woman of his dreams. Vila Restal wants to steal anything that isn’t nailed down. When they form a partnership, a perfect combination of strength and skill, it seems that nothing stands between them and the easy life. But fate hates to give a sucker an even break, and the course of true love never did run smooth. Michael Keating reprises his most popular role as the cowardly thief, Vila Restal - the only character to appear in all 52 episodes of the original series! The new audio incarnation of Olag Gan is played by Owen Aaronovitch. Blake's 7: The Early Years is a prequel series of stories exploring the origins of key Blake's 7 characters prior to them meeting rebel leader, Roj Blake. The first of these prequel stories – When Vila met Gan – has been written by lead writer, Ben Aaronovitch (Doctor Who, Jupiter Moon) and explores the history and enduring friendship between Gan and Vila, two of the most unlikely rebels to take up arms against the Federation.

Blake's 7: When Vila Met Gan

BBC Radio adaptations of Nick Payne's finest works, brought together on audio for the first time - plus bonus features Nick Payne is a world-renowned playwright and screenwriter. He won the George Devine Award for his first major play If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet, and Constellations won the Evening Standard Award for Best Play. Both were performed on Broadway with Jake Gyllenhaal. This collection contains Constellations and Elegy, his two acclaimed plays exploring science, time and love, with new introductions by Nick Payne himself. Also included are three dramas specially written for BBC Radio. Constellations - Marianne and Roland meet at a party, hit it off, and go for a drink. Or do they? Does their love story unfold, or is it tragically cut short? In a quantum multiverse, even the smallest change can significantly alter the course we take - so there are infinite possibilities for heartbreak or for hope... Starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and George MacKay. Elegy - Lorna and Carrie met in later life and got married. But now they are facing the possibility of their relationship disintegrating in the most painful way, and Carrie must make a devastating choice between love and survival. Starring Juliet Stevenson, Deborah Findlay and Marilyn Nnadebe. The Day We Caught the Train - David is coming for the day, and Sally has planned everything meticulously. But the weather, a problematic car, a problematic cat and Harold conspire to thwart her plans... Academy Award-winner Olivia Colman stars in this quietly intense play about a woman beset by one problem after another. Being Alone Doesn't Have to Mean Being Lonely - Trying to pinpoint the exact moment he fell in love, David uses 'the machine' to revisit his old memories. But when it malfunctions, it catapults us into the story of a couple attempting to make sense of their relationship. Starring Stuart McLoughlin and Alex Tregear. Happiness - Married couple Karen and Richard attempt to alleviate their respective unhappiness with a variety of far-flung undertakings. But can they find a solution closer to home? Clare Corbett stars as Karen, with Bryan Dick as Richard. Text copyright © Nick Payne 2011 (The Day We Caught the Train, Being Alone Doesn't Have to Mean Being Lonely), 2012 (Constellations), 2014 (Happiness), 2016 (Elegy) Cast and credits Written by Nick Payne Constellations Marianne - Gugu Mbatha-Raw Roland - George MacKay Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 28 March 2021 Elegy Lorna - Juliet Stevenson Carrie - Deborah Findlay Miriam - Marilyn Nnadebe Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 28 March 2021 The Day We Caught the Train Sally - Olivia Colman David - Ralph Ineson Anna - Nishi Malde Harold - John Rowe Helen - Jane Whittenshaw Waiter - Simon Bubb Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko Studio Managers: Caleb Knightley and Keith Graham Edited by: Anne Bunting Production Co-Ordinators: Nicole Fitzpatrick and Matthew Mills First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 July 2011 Being Alone Doesn't Have to Mean Being Lonely Jim - Stuart McLoughlin Sarah - Alex Tregear Directed by James Robinson First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 April 2011 Happiness Karen - Clare Corbett Richard - Bryan Dick With Susan Brown, Karl Johnson, Roslyn Hill and Monty d'Inverno Directed and produced by Sasha Yevtushenko First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 21 December 2014 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Nick Payne: Constellations, Elegy & more

BBC productions of the best-known works of Somerville and Ross, plus a docudrama about their remarkable literary partnership Edith Œnone Somerville and 'Martin Ross' (the pen name of Violet Florence Martin) were cousins, born into the Irish landed gentry in the mid-19th century. They began writing books together as a joke, but quickly developed into serious artists, producing several works now recognised as classics such as The Real Charlotte and Some Experiences of an Irish RM. This collection includes both those titles, alongside The Silver Fox, described as their ‘miniature masterpiece’, and a fascinating biographical drama telling the story of their writing partnership. The Real Charlotte – Reluctantly obliged to look after her penniless young cousin, respectable spinster Charlotte Mullen decides to marry her off to a rich man as soon as possible. But Francie is both beautiful and wilful, and Charlotte soon finds her carefully laid plans going terribly awry… Sorcha Cusack, Elaine Symons and Lorcan Cranitch star in this satire of genteel 19th-century Irish society. The Silver Fox – Captain French, recently returned from India, has reopened his ancestral pile in west Cork. But his restless new wife and a strangely elusive silver fox hint at troubled times ahead. John Dougall and Gillian Kearney star in this dark, politically astute tale of hunting, friendship, love and the national battle for freedom. The Experiences of an Irish RM – When the affable, if somewhat dim, ex-British Army officer Major Sinclair Yeates is appointed Resident Magistrate in west Cork, he finds himself among a people who seem dedicated to thwarting him. As the years go by, he gradually becomes accustomed to their eccentricities – with the notable exception of his nemesis, Flurry Knox... Alex Jennings stars in this adaptation of Somerville and Ross’s comic novels set in rural Ireland. Somerville and Ross – Written and narrated by Denys Hawthorne, this captivating tale explores the lives and fiction of the remarkable literary duo, whose works chronicled the twilight world of the Anglo-Irish ascendancy – a world of hunting, tennis parties, amateur theatricals and decaying country houses. Eithne Dunne stars as Somerville, with Kate Binchy as Ross. First published 1894 (The Real Charlotte), 1897 (The Silver Fox), 1899 (Some Experiences of an Irish RM) © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Somerville and Ross: The Real Charlotte, The Silver Fox & The Experiences of an Irish RM

A penguin is all that stands between one man and murder by the mafia Sit back and enjoy this darkly comic full-cast adaptation of Andrey Kurkov’s bestselling novel set in mid-90s Ukraine, plus a bonus interview with the author. Viktor Alekseyevich Zolotaryov is an aspiring writer in Ukraine, with only his pet king penguin, Misha, for company. After Viktor gets a job writing obituaries for a local newspaper, he soon finds that his articles are being used as a hit list by some unknown organisation. Feeling as lost and unhappy as his penguin, Viktor’s life takes a complicated turn when he takes in Sonya, the young daughter of an old friend, and hires Nina to be her nanny. Can Viktor protect everyone and keep himself (and his penguin) alive, or is he destined to become the subject of the paper’s latest obituary? A blend of Gogol’s absurdist humour and Kafka’s alienation, this tragi-comedy is set in the wild west atmosphere of a newly independent Ukraine following the collapse of the Soviet Union. At its heart, this is a story about surviving and enduring in perilous times. Starring Tom Basden (After Life) as aspiring writer Viktor, and BAFTA winner Jason Watkins (The Crown) as the mysterious Lyosha. This release also includes an episode of BBC Radio’s World Book Club, in which Kurkov discusses his darkly funny tale with Harriett Gilbert. Recorded live in his native Ukraine, at the historic Mikhail Bulgakov Museum in Kiev, he responds to listeners' questions from around the world. Andrey Kurkov is a Ukrainian author who writes in Russian. He has written 19 novels and is a respected commentator on Ukraine, regularly appearing on Radio 4 with his ‘Letters from Ukraine’ series. Death and the Penguin is Kurkov's most famous work, translated into more than 30 languages. ©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Death and the Penguin Written by Andrey Kurkov Translated by George Bird Adapted by Hattie Naylor Directed by Gemma Jenkins Viktor - Tom Basden Lyosha - Jason Watkins Igor - David Hounslow Sonya - Blythe Arbery Nina - Chloë Sommer Misha-non-Penguin - Roger Ringrose Sergey - Tom Kiteley Natasha - Fiona Skinner Dr Pidpaly - Joanna Monro First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 January 2023 World Book Club: Andrey Kurkov - Death and the Penguin Presented by Harriett Gilbert First Broadcast BBC World Service, 5 September 2015

Death and the Penguin

A rollicking collection of six fully dramatised Jeeves & Wooster novels, starring Michael Hordern and Richard Briers. In The Inimitable Jeeves, Aunt Agatha is forcing Bertie to get engaged to the formidable Honoria Glossop. Can Jeeves save the day? Right Ho, Jeeves sees mayhem breaking out at Brinkley Court, but there are more brains in the Wooster household than just Jeeves... In The Code of the Woosters, who would think that a silver cow-creamer could cause so much trouble? Uncle Tom wants it and Aunt Dahlia is blackmailing Bertie to steal it. In Joy in the Morning, Steeple Bumphleigh is a village to be avoided for Bertie, as it contains the appalling Aunt Agatha. Still, there are good deeds to be done. Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit finds Jeeves in for a few surprises when returns from his annual shrimping holiday in Bognor Regis. In Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, Madeline Bassett and Gussie Fink-Nottle’s engagement is on the rocks, and poor Bertie's next in line for the fair maiden’s hand. Publisher’s note: As of January 2025, the dramatisations have been re-ordered into their correct order, by original broadcast date. Track Listing: Tracks 1-8: The Inimitable JeevesTracks 9-16: Right Ho, JeevesTracks 17-23: The Code of the WoostersTracks 24-30: Joy in the MorningTracks 31-43: Jeeves and the Feudal SpiritTracks 44-49: Stiff Upper Lip, JeevesCast and credits Written by P.G. Wodehouse Adapted for radio by Chris Miller & Richard Usborne Produced by Simon Brett & David Hatch Bertie Wooster — Richard Briers Jeeves — Michael Hordern Recurring cast: Jonathan Cecil, Joan Sanderson, Miriam Margolyes, Andrew Cruickshank, Vivian Pickles, Rex Garner, Bridget Armstrong, Aimi MacDonald, Ray Cooney, James Villiers, Paul Eddington, Bronwen Williams, Liza Goddard, Patrick Cargill, John Le Mesurier and Denise Coffey With appearances from David Jason, Maurice Denham, Ronald Fraser, Jonathan Lynn, Douglas Blackwell, Edwin Apps, John Graham, Jennie Goossens, Peter Woodthorpe, Denise Bryer, Rosalind Adams, Michael Kilgarriff, James Villiers, Norman Bird, Diana King, Ann Davies, Liza Goddard, David Tate, Percy Edwards and Graham Faulkner. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 1973-1981 ©2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Jeeves & Wooster

BBC Radio 4 adaptations of George Meredith’s classic tragicomic novel and his picaresque romantic comedy Novelist and poet George Meredith is widely regarded as the last great Victorian author. He influenced writers including Thomas Hardy, Robert Louis Stevenson and Henry James, and was nominated for the Nobel Prize seven times. This BBC collection features dramatisations of his most famous novel, The Egoist, and his witty bildungsroman The Adventures of Harry Richmond. The Egoist – Self-absorbed aristocrat Sir Willoughby Patterne wants a wife – and naturally assumes that whoever he chooses will want him. But when his chosen fiancée, Constantia, elopes, he is forced to look for another potential bride. Torn between the sentimental Laetitia and the strong-willed Clara, he finally pins one down to an engagement – only to find that she, too, has doubts… James Wilby stars as Sir Willoughby, with Keeley Hawes as Clara, in this satirical look at the Victorian marriage market. The Adventures of Harry Richmond – On a cold morning in February 1846, Richmond Roy arrives at Riversley Grange to claim his infant son, Harry, from the child’s grandfather, Squire Beltham. It is the beginning of a journey of self-discovery for the young boy, as he is rescued and abandoned by his charismatic father, escapes from a London boarding school, embarks on a Grand Tour of Europe and succumbs to the charms of a German princess… This lively coming-of-age tale stars James Aubrey, Anthony Newlands, Sebastian Shaw, Gina Bellman, Joanna David and Maev Alexander. First published 1871 (The Adventures of Harry Richmond), 1879 (The Egoist) Production credits Written by George Meredith The Egoist Sir Willoughby – James Wilby Clara Middleton – Keeley Hawes Mrs Mountstuart-Jenkinson – Hannah Gordon Laetitia Dale – Nickie Rainsford Vernon Witford – Simon Ludders Horace de Craye – Robert Patterson Dr Middleton – Bill Wallis Crossjay – Leo Brightmore Lady Busshe – Lawmary Champion Lady Culmer – Christine Pritchard Constantia – Anna North Dr Corney – Giles Thomas Lady Patterne – June Barrie Mr Dale – Paul Nicholson Crossjay – Leo Brightmore Dramatised by Jane Dauncey Directed by Alison Hindell First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 April-3 May 1998 The Adventures of Harry Richmond Harry Richmond – James Aubrey Sewis – Brian Carroll Richmond Roy – Anthony Newlands Squire Beltham – Sebastian Shaw Harry, as a boy – Howard Taylor Aunt Dorothy – Gwen Watford Janet, as a girl – Katherines Hughes Temple, as a boy – David Wilson Flo – Jacqui Burin Amy – Jo Manning Wilson Joe Double – Ronald Baddiley Capt Welsh – Haydn Jones Clara Goodwin – Roberta Symes Colonel Goodwin – Garard Green Ottilia, as a girl – Gina Bellman The Margravine von Rippau – Brenda Bruce Burgomeister – Milo Sperber Miss Sibley/Frau von Dittmarsch – Elaine Mitchell Princess Ottilia – Joanna David Mrs Waddy – Margot Boyd Captain de Witt – Michael Deacon Lady Wilts – Petra Davies Anna Penrhys – Liza Flanagan Janet Ilchester – Maev Alexander Mr Burgin – James Thomason Mr Peterborough – Jonathan Scott Baroness Turckems – Hilda Kriseman Prince Ernest – George Pravda Professor von Karsteg – Steve Plytas Prince Otto – Philip Sully Lieschen – Tammy Ustinov Countess Czezedy – Eva Stuart Kiomi/Lady Sampleman – Josie Kidd Augustus Temple – John Bull Marquis of Edbury – David McAlister Yachtsman – Gregory de Polnay Adapted by D.G. Bridson Directed by John Cardy First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 June-15 July 1979 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Egoist & The Adventures of Harry Richmond

The BBC Radio 2 comedy inspired by every shopping channel you’ve ever seen, and every product you never wanted Buy Me Up TV is a live, 24-hour cable channel, described by its CEO, Jacky Tanner, as ‘the crop of the top of the television shops’. Its perky presenters Angela and Bob are experts at flogging you everything you could possibly want for your home, wardrobe and lifestyle – and if the price isn’t right, the Bargain Bee will sting it right down. From ceramic hammers and a home Satanist test, to Robert Mugabe beach towels and a guitar bra (with matching banjo briefs), it’s all on special offer for a limited time only – buy now, while stocks last… In these five episodes, we go behind the scenes at the chaotically-run TV station and eavesdrop on the farcical goings-on, as the on-screen kitsch merchants and back-office crew become ever more unhinged by the demands of high-pressure selling. There’s trouble in store when Jacky decides the channel needs younger, sexier talent; an animal charity telethon sparks allegations of fraud; a jam-addicted Tanner ruffles some presenter feathers; and a team-building day out is scuppered by a self-help guru with plans for world domination. And when a computer virus sends out kinky adult emails to all the station’s customers, Tanner makes a surprising discovery that could set the channel on a whole new path… Written by Justin Edwards and James Eldred, this lively, satirical sitcom stars Justin Edwards, Alex Macqueen, Ewen MacIntosh, Mike McShane, Katherine Jakeways and Greg Proops, with an array of stellar special guests including Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Madoc, Rich Hall, Brian Blessed, Aled Jones and Sir Terry Wogan. Production credits Written by Justin Edwards and James Eldred Produced by Lucy Armitage Cast Bob Norton – Justin Edwards Giles – Alex Macqueen Ewen – Ewen MacIntosh Tanner – Mike McShane Angela Basset – Katherine Jakeways Jacky Tanner – Greg Proops With Doon Mackichan, Rosie Wilkinson and Colin Hoult, and special guests Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Madoc, Rich Hall, Brian Blessed, Aled Jones and Sir Terry Wogan First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 19 May 2007 (Pilot), 8-29 March 2008 (Series 1) © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. ? 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Buy Me Up TV

Full-cast radio adaptations of three of Rumer Godden's bestselling novels, plus a bonus interview with the author Rumer Godden is well known for her acclaimed novels for adults and children. She wrote over 60 works in her lifetime, nine of which were made into films. Included here are dramatisations of three of her classic tales, as well as a fascinating interview with the renowned author. Black Narcissus - A group of nuns establishing a remote mission in an old palace in the Himalayas is warned that it is no place for a nunnery. And as the Sisters' tragic destiny unfolds, those prophetic words are soon proved right. Sinead Cusack and Lesley Sharp star in this atmospheric dramatisation of Godden's 1939 novel, famously adapted as an Oscar-winning film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The Greengage Summer - When their mother falls ill during a holiday to France, the Grey children are left to entertain themselves. Over the course of the long, hot summer, they are caught up in an adult world of deception and lies... Starring Ellie Beaven, Abigail Docherty and Michael Maloney. The Dark Horse - Set in Calcutta in 1933, this is the story of a thoroughbred racehorse, a jockey seeking a second chance, a shrewd Mother Superior and a miracle - all based on true events. Geoffrey Whitehead, Indira Varma, Dearbhla Molloy and Ioan Meredith star in this heartwarming drama. Third Ear - Recorded in 1992, this illuminating Radio 3 interview sees the octogenarian Rumer Godden talking to Geoffrey Baskerville about how her life and beliefs are reflected in her writing. Text copyright © The Rumer Godden Literary Trust 1939 (Black Narcissus), 1958 (The Greengage Summer), 1981 (The Dark Horse) Black Narcissus Sister Clodagh - Sinead Cusack Sister Ruth - Lesley Sharp Mr Dean - David Rintoul Dilip Rai - Ronny Jhutti Sister Briony - Susan Engel Sister Philippa - Jenny Lee Sister Honey - Rachel Atkins The General/Father Roberts - Sam Dastor Ayah - Indira Joshi Mother Dorothea/Sister Adela - Carolyn Jones Con - Alastair Danson Kanchi - Sumitra Bhagat Joseph Anthony - Dhiraj Prasai Dramatised by April de Angelis Music by Elizabeth Parker Directed by Sally Avens First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 December 1997 The Greengage Summer Cecile - Ellie Beaven Joss - Abigail Docherty Hester - Ciara Janson Eliot - Michael Maloney With Luke Newbury, Claire Marchionne, Rachel Atkins, Theo Fraser Steele, Sean Baker, Jenny Lee, Brian Parr and Chris Wright Dramatised by Dawn Lowe Watson Directed by Sally Avens First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 May 1988 The Dark Horse Sister Morag - Dearbhla Molloy Levantine - Nickolas Grace Ted - Ioan Meredith John Quillan - Gareth Armstrong With Geoffrey Whitehead, Indira Varma, Siobhan Stamp, Frances Jeater, Nitin Chandra Ganatra, Richard Rees and David Antrobus Dramatised by Liane Aukin Directed by David Hunter First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 September 1988 Third Ear Presented by Geoffrey Baskerville With Rumer Godden Produced by Vivien Devlin First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 May 1992 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Rumer Godden: Black Narcissus, The Greengage Summer & The Dark Horse

A dramatised retelling of John Reed's thrilling eyewitness account of the Russian Revolution - plus bonus documentary 'Fizzy and fast, but never flippant' The New Statesman John Reed's first-hand description of the October Revolution was written in early 1918 and published in the USA the following year. The veracity and impact of his dynamic, snapshot-style reportage made the book an instant bestseller, and it has since become a modern classic, inspiring films including Sergei Eisenstein's October and the Oscar-winning Reds. This fast-paced dramatisation begins in autumn 1917, with news of upheaval in Russia hitting the headlines worldwide. The Tsar has abdicated, and the Provisional Government, formed to replace him, is losing control. American journalists John Reed and Louise Bryant arrive in Petrograd to find the city in chaos. The tension between factions is palpable, and it's only a matter of time before the situation explodes - but in what direction? As revolutionaries and counter-revolutionaries struggle to seize power, the duo find themselves at the very heart of the insurrection, experiencing history as it unfolds... Vividly capturing the anarchy and confusion of those tumultuous days, Reed's sensational blow-by-blow account, adapted by acclaimed dramatist Robin Brooks, transports us to the chilly, mud-churned streets of Petrograd as these world-changing events play out. It is accompanied by a fascinating retrospective documentary, Start the Week: Russian Revolution a hundred years on, in which Tom Sutcliffe travels to Moscow to discover the forces that led to the Revolution, and finds out how far Russians today embrace or reject such a pivotal moment in their country's story. Production credits Written by John Reed Dramatised by Robin Brooks 'The Internationale' sung by Eiry Thomas Directed by Alison Hindell A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4 Cast John Reed - Richard Laing Louise Bryant - Kelly Burke Lenin/Driver/Soldier/Shatov/Colonel/Meshkovsky/Cab Driver - Nicholas Murchie Liazonov/Kerensky/Doorman/Kameniev - Ewan Bailey Lunacharsky/Trotsky/Comberg - Matthew Gravelle Buchanan/Karelin/Commissar/Baklanov - Richard Elfyn Doorwoman - Lynn Hunter Zorin/Robert/Saratov/Antonov/Leonsky/Student/Zinoviev - Sion Pritchard Woman - Sarah Ridgeway Spiridonova/Girl - Gwawr Loader Oblomov/Sverdlov - Simon Ludders Krylenko - Tom Forrister Mayor/Nathanson - Philip Fox Dybenko - Richard Nichols Melcher - Charlie Clements Wife - Eiry Thomas Other parts played by members of the cast First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9-20 October 2017 Start the Week: Russian Revolution a hundred years on Presented by Tom Sutcliffe With Konstantin Kosachev, Mikhail Zygar, Arkady Ostrovsky and Zelfira Tregulova Produced by Katy Hickman First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 October 2017 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Ten Days That Shook The World

Twin sisters are the investigating police in this unusual three-part detective series Alice and Belinda are identical twins, and have grown up sharing everything: toys, rooms, and friends. But as they begin their careers as detectives - a job they have each wanted for as long as they can remember - a computer error sees them accidentally starting at the same North London police station. Work gives them enough mysteries to be investigating as they attempt to make themselves known and respected in their new roles, but when Belinda is sexually harassed by a colleague, her twin Alice realizes she can use her identical appearance to fight back when her sister no longer can... Created by Juliet Ace, award-winning writer and playwright (The Archers, Young Victoria, A Slight Hitch), Twin Reaction is a fascinating and fresh look at the bond of sisters, the demands of work, and the pleasures and pains of being a woman in the modern world. Starring Jenny Funnel (As Time Goes By, Doctors) and Carolyn Backhouse (Rosemary and Thyme, Jupiter Moon), this compelling series is perfect for listeners of Colvil and Soames, The Lady Detectives, and The Unforgiven. Content Warning: This drama deals with adult themes such as sexual violence Cast and credits Alice - Jenny Funnel Belinda - Carolyn Backhouse Newsome - Eric Allen Glover - Cornelius Garrett Cox - Lindsay Mack Dobson - Ian Sanders Bella - Sue Broomfield Other cast: Rachel Oldfield Paul Nicholson Janet Dale Marilla Robson Brian Gear Jilly Bond William Eedle Sunny Ormonde Linda Regan Joanne Mitchell Written by Juliet Ace Directed by Shaun MacLoughlin Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4: 7 August - 21 August 1995 ©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Twin Reaction

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

Two BBC Radio full-cast dramas from the master of classic crime Anthony Berkeley was a journalist, novelist, and founding member of the Detection Club - whose members included Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers - and was one of crime fiction's greatest innovators, developing the idea of the psychological crime novel in the 1920s and 30s. One of his recurring and most-beloved characters was Roger Sheringham, a novelist and amateur detective. In these two classic tales, Roger Sheringham must investigate two terrible murders: The Poisoned Chocolates Case, from 1929, sees him taking up the challenge when Scotland Yard admits defeat after months of investigations. How was a woman poisoned by a box of chocolates that weren't even intended for her? Who was the intended victim? And who was the terrible mind behind it? Roger and his amateur detective friends will each have a turn to put forward their own personal theories about the dreadful crime... In Jumping Jenny, written in 1933, Roger attends a party with the questionable theme 'famous murderers and their victims', only to discover that one difficult guest has been deliberately killed on one of the party's props. When Roger suspects one of his close friends may be involved, he decides to meddle in the evidence - but is he putting his own life at risk with this mischievous intervention? Witty, subversive, and fiercely clever, these wonderful crime mysteries by the renowned writer are just the thing for fans of The Lady Detectives, Maigret's Collected Cases, and Dashiell Hammett: The Maltese Falcon and other Adventures. Cast and credits The Poisoned Chocolates Case Roger Sheringham - Neil Stacy Mrs Fielder-Flamming - Hilda Schroder Sir Charles Wildman - Conrad Phillips Moresby - Victor Winding Chitterwick - Michael Bilton Bradley / Smithson - Geoffrey Collins Alicia - Jane Wenham Lockwood - William Eedle Bendix - Mark Straker Sir Eustace - Clive Panto Mrs Bendix - Eileen Tully Marguerite - Deborah Cranston Novel by Anthony Berkeley Dramatised by Neville Teller Directed by Brian Miller First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 14 January 1984 Jumping Jenny Ronald Stratton - Trevor Martin Roger Sheringham - Hugh Burden Colin Nicolson - Simon Lack Dr Philip Chalmers - Hamilton Dyce Laura Chalmers - Judy Bailey Ena Stratton - Joan Newell David Stratton - John Scott Osbert Williams - Philip Cunningham Agatha Lefroy - Monica Kirton Dr Frank Mitchell - David Bird Margot - Sheila Manahan Mrs Williams - Molly Rankin Inspector Crane - Keith Williams Coroner - Richard Williams Novel by Anthony Berkeley Adapted by H. Oldfield Box Produced by David H. Godfrey First broadcast on BBC Home Service, 14 November 1959 NB: Due to the age of this recording, the sound quality may vary. ©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Cast and credits

Amateur Detective Roger Sheringham

Two delightful detective dramas adapted from Jill Paton Walsh's bestselling books Award-winning author Jill Paton Walsh was well known for her four Lord Peter Wimsey novels that continued and completed Dorothy L. Sayers's much-loved series. These two cosy crime dramas introduce her own sparkling creation, Imogen Quy, a college nurse and amateur sleuth who investigates foul play in academia. The Wyndham Case - The tranquil atmosphere of St Agatha's College, Cambridge is shattered when a young undergraduate is found dead on the floor of a specialist library. The repository of a rare collection of 17th-century scientific volumes, the 'Wyndham Case' is always kept locked: so how did Philip Skellow get in? And was his death accidental - or murder? Imogen is determined to find out... Starring Carolyn Pickles as Imogen Quy. A Piece of Justice - When Imogen's lodger Fran Bullion is asked to write the biography of eminent mathematician Gideon Summerfield, she is delighted - but Imogen fears she may be in danger. Three previous would-be biographers have either died or disappeared, and their research stopped at the same point in their subject's life: August 1978. What secret surrounds that fateful summer, and who is willing to kill to protect it? Barbara Flynn stars as Imogen, with Tracy Wiles as Fran. Text copyright © Jill Paton Walsh 1993 (The Wyndham Case), 1995 (A Piece of Justice) All rights reserved Production credits Written by Jill Paton Walsh The Wyndham Case Imogen Quy - Carolyn Pickles Mike Parsons - Richard Derrington Sir William Buckmote - Jeffery Dench Lady Buckmote - Marlene Sidaway Fran Bullion - Tracy Wiles Mountnessing - Charles Collingwood Mrs Skellow - Gillian Goodman Lord Goldhooper - Ian Brooker Nick - Tom George Emily/Tracy - Claire Corbett Catherine/Felicity - Jasmine Hyde Jack - Thomas Arnold Phillip Skellow - Alex Trinder Roger - Martyn Read Dramatised by Neville Teller Directed by Peter Lesley Wild First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 February 2001 A Piece of Justice Imogen Quy - Barbara Flynn Janet Somerfield - Rosemary Leach Fran Bullion - Tracy Wiles Josh - Robert Harper Dr Mistral - James Greene Lady Buckmote - Marlene Sidaway Sir William Buckmote - Geoffrey Whitehead Professor Maverack - Colin Starkey Meredith Bagadeuce - Peter Howell Pamela Zephyr - Di Botcher David Swann - Iwan Thomas Dramatised by Neville Teller Directed by Janet Whitaker First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7 November 1998 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Imogen Quy Detective Mysteries

David Tennant, Sarah Alexander and Mark Bonnar star in all three series of the bittersweet comedy about shared parenting 'Razor-sharp dialogue, disarming charm and excellent cast' - Radio Times Tangled love lives, secret affairs, frozen eggs and roving eyes - it's time to meet the Millers! The Go-Betweenies takes a candid look at a divorced North London family through the prism of two siblings (14-year-old Lucy and 10-year-old Tom) who schlep with varying degrees of enthusiasm between two sets of homes: Mum's comfy Highgate house and Dad's rackety new rental on the Holloway Road. Mimi and Joe are determined to be double, not single, parents: supportive, hands-on and as good as any traditional set-up - and with five divorces between them, they've certainly had enough practice. Joe's given up the booze and done the Twelve Steps, and Mimi's hoping her third marriage, to American playwright Harry, will soon get started. It's all going wonderfully well - so why is Lucy hopped up on energy drinks, while Tom's obsessed with counting sultanas? As the kids deal with befriending losers, unfortunate crushes, heartbreak and existential crises, their parents find themselves grappling with their feelings for each other - not to mention a new, hairy Gobetweenie... Written by Marcella Evaristi, The Go-Betweenies stars David Tennant and Mark Bonnar as Joe, Sarah Alexander as Mimi, Phoebe Abbott as Lucy and Finlay Christie as Tom, with a fantastic ensemble cast including Stuart Milligan, Morwenna Banks, Doon Mackichan, David Troughton and Charlotte Ritchie. Written by Marcella Evaristi Produced by Gordon Kennedy Directed by Marilyn Imrie An Absolutely Production for BBC Radio 4 Cast Joe - David Tennant (Series 1)/Mark Bonnar (Series 2 & 3) Mimi - Sarah Alexander Tom - Finlay Christie Lucy - Phoebe Abbott Harry - Stuart Milligan Bobby - Stephen Critchlow Stevie - Ben Baker Ms Smart - Morwenna Banks Donald - Gordon Kennedy Katy - Ophelia Davidson (Series 1 & 2)/Jenna Cook (Series 3) Helen - Tracy-Ann Oberman Jennifer - Emily Bruni Freddie - Oliver Dillon (Series 1 & 2)/Harry Nowell (Series 3) William - Nicky Henson Chris/Older Tom - Daniel Boyd Sophia - Juliet Cadzow Vicky - Doon Mackichan Harry - Guy Paul Ruth - Valerie Cutko Mr Thompson - David Troughton Tuberose - Charlotte Ritchie First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 May-27 May 2011 (Series 1), 6 July-10 August 2012 (Series 2), 18 October-22 November 2013 (Series 3) © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Go-Betweenies: The Complete Series 1-3

BBC radio productions of Mark Twain's very best novels and short stories - plus bonus material Mark Twain (real name Samuel Langhorne Clemens), was one of the foremost writers and humorists to come out of the United States. Hailed by William Faulkner as 'the father of American literature', he is renowned worldwide for his classic novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This wide-ranging collection comprises dramatisations and readings of a host of his much-loved stories, from well-known works to less familiar gems. The adaptations include Tony Award-winning Bryony Lavery's rhythmic reworking of The Million Pound Bank Note; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, dramatised by award-winning playwright Marcy Kahan; and The Diary of Adam and Eve, Twain's affectionate satire about the battle of the sexes. They are performed by full casts including Trevor White, Mark Caven, Christopher Jacot, Inika Leigh Wright and Tom Goodman-Hill. Among the readings are an abridged version of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, in which Ed Bishop brings Tom's escapades to colourful life; the little-known yarn The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (read by Jon Glover) telling the tall tale of an inveterate gambler and a talented amphibian; and The Prince and the Pauper (read by Jason Isaacs), an abridgement of Twain's historical fantasy about two identical boys born on the same day - one rich, the other poor. And in Mark Twain Stories, Frasier star Kelsey Grammer reads five of the great author's finest short stories. Also included is Kaleidoscope Feature: The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, charting the troubled 100-year history of Twain's controversial novel, which has gone from being banned to being beloved - and back again. NB: Contains language that listeners may find offensive Cast and credits Written by Mark Twain. First published 1867 (The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County), 1868 (Cannibalism in the Cars), 1870 (The Facts in the Case of the Great Beef Contract, A Ghost Story), 1875 (The Experience of the McWilliamses with Membranous Croup, Niagara), 1876 (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer), 1881 (The Prince and the Pauper), 1884 (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn), 1893 (The Million Pound Bank Note), 1931 (The Private Life of Adam and Eve) The Million Pound Bank Note Dramatised by Bryony Lavery. Produced by Pauline Harris and Sharon Sephton First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 31 December 2011 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Abridged by Brian Miller. Read by Ed Bishop. First broadcast BBC Radio 5, 20-31 May 1991 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Dramatised by Marcy Kahan. Directed by Ned Chaillet. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15-29 December 2002 The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Read by Jon Glover. Produced by Mitch Raper. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 September 1978 The Diary of Adam and Eve Dramatised by Martin Glynn. Produced by Jenny Stephens. Directed by Peter Leslie Wild First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 March 2005 The Prince and the Pauper Read by Jason Isaacs. First broadcast BBC Radio 7, 17 October 2009 Mark Twain Stories: The Facts in the Great Beef Contract, A Day at Niagara, Cannibalism in the Cars, A Ghost Story and Experiences of the MacWilliamses Read by Kelsey Grammar. Abridged and produced by Duncan Minshull. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15-19 September 1997 Kaleidoscope Feature: The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Produced by Paul Quinn. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 May 1996 ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Mark Twain: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

Series 7-12 of the Sony Award-winning sitcom featuring the splendidly self-obsessed social worker - plus Christmas and Edinburgh Festival Specials 'An impressive cast and some genuinely funny writing make this a must' The Stage Well-meaning do-gooder Clare Barker is back, and dealing with more office politics, troublesome clients and domestic dramas. Secretly regarding herself as a cross between Mother Theresa and Wonder Woman, she's got all the right jargon for every problem, but never any practical solutions. However, in today's 'Big Society' there are plenty of challenges out there for an involved, caring social worker (or even Clare)... These six series find her struggling once again to control both her professional and private life. At the Sparrowhawk Centre, Clare finds herself in hot water on more than one occasion; and the team find themselves moving offices, facing up to possible redundancies, bidding a fond farewell to old colleagues and welcoming new ones. And at home, Clare's relationship with Brian is as thorny as ever. As we follow the duo through break-ups, wedding bells, separations and reconciliations, can they finally find happiness - or does fate have other ideas? Sally Phillips stars as Clare, with a stellar cast including Alex Lowe, Sarah Thom, Nina Conti and Gbemisola Ikumelo. Also included are a special instalment recorded live at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 'In Treatment', and a one-off Christmas outing, 'Christmas With... Clare Barker', featuring guest star Hugh Bonneville. Production credits Written by Harry Venning and David Ramsden Produced by Katie Tyrrell (Series 7-8 and Edinburgh Special) and Alexandra Smith (Series 9-12 and Christmas Special) A BBC Studios production Cast Clare - Sally Phillips Brian - Alex Lowe Megan/Nali - Nina Conti Ray - Richard Lumsden Helen - Liza Tarbuck/Pippa Haywood Simon - Andrew Wincott Libby - Sarah Kendall Joan - Sarah Thom Mrs Singh - Nina Wadia Cilla - Gbemisola Ikumelo Other parts played by members of the cast With Sophie Thompson, Gerard McDermott, Simon Bubb, Victoria Inez Hardy, Georgia Lowe, Nathan Caton, Stefan Ramsden, Adam Billington, Eleanor Crooks, Will Howard, Robert Blythe, Ben Crowe, Bharti Patel, Patrick Brennan, Robert Blythe, Adam Nagaitis, Paul Stonehouse, Stephanie Racine, Peter Mitchell, Hannah Gordon, John Norton, Arthur Hughes, Alex Tregear, Carolyn Pickles, Hugh Bonneville, Shaun Mason, Lizzie Roper, Karl Theobald, Anil Goutam, Eleanor Curry, Amelia Lowdell, Neet Mohan, Elliot Steel, Dustin Demri-Burns, Clare Perkins, Alison Belbin, Sean Baker, Colin Hoult, Amita Dhiri, Alex Macqueen, Elizabeth Bennett, Nicola Ferguson, Emma Sidi, Rebecca Root, George Fouracres, Jenny Bede, Jenny Murray and Tony Way. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 September-28 October 2011 (Series 7), 2 January-6 February 2013 (Series 8), 27 August 2013 ('In Treatment'), 8 January-12 February 2014 (Series 9), 29 December 2014 ('Christmas With... Clare Barker'), 10 July-14 August 2015 (Series 10), 15 November-20 December 2016 (Series 11), 24 September-29 October 2019 (Series 12) © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Clare in the Community: The Complete Series 7-12

Comedy drama set in Hardacre's, the worst advertising agency in London For three decades, Rupert Hardacre was one of the big beasts of advertising: he worked hard, played hard, and lived hard. But he fell harder... Driven out of every reputable agency in town for drinking all their whiskey and sleeping with all their wives, he used the remains of his fortune to found Hardacre's, the best (and only) advertising agency on the M25. Now he's so confident that his name alone will take him back to the top, he's happy to leave all the actual work to the creative department. But for the Hardacre organisation, there's more chaos than creativity. The entire creative team is made up of two fresh-faced and utterly clueless graduates, the new accounts chief Amanda is terrifying everyone, and their permanently disengaged receptionist Laura doesn't appear to know (or care) what's going on. On a good day, Rupert and the Hardacre team will be coming up with ads for industrial adhesives, cast iron stoves, and jewellery for dogs. But can they beat the competition and rebuild their reputation to crawl back up the greasy ladder to success? Will old friends in the industry be their saving grace - or their downfall? And most importantly, can Rupert ever get a decent glass of whiskey? Starring Nigel Havers (Downton Abbey, Coronation Street), Josie Lawrence (Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Eastenders) and Mathew Baynton (Ghosts, The Wrong Mans), the charming and hilarious Reluctant Persuaders won Best Scripted Comedy at the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2016, and is perfect for fans of In and Out of the Kitchen and Fags, Mags and Bags. Written by Edward Rowett Produced by Gordon Kennedy Directed by Alan Nixon An Absolutely Production for BBC Radio 4 Cast Rupert Hardacre - Nigel Havers Amanda Brook - Josie Lawrence Joe - Mathew Baynton Teddy (Series 1, 3 and 4) - Rasmus Hardiker Teddy (series 2)/Frederick - Kieran Hodgson Laura/'Gram Woman - Olivia Nixon Charles Blackwell - Martin Jarvis Laurie Patterson - Frances Barber Lake - Rebekah Staton Ace - Oliver Chris Doctor/WPC/Crystal/Client/Waitress - Holly Morgan Jordan - Richard Goulding Bill Lessing - Mark Evans Barista - Andrew Nolan Elgin - James Northcote Mikey - Esh Alladi Christmas Ad Voice Over - Gordon Kennedy MC/Narrator - Victoria Rigby Waitress - Olivia Penhallow Bartender - Mark Evans Tube Announcer - David Fairs Book Launch Host - Edward Rowett First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra on 15 September - 6 October 2015 (Series 1), 6 April - 27 April 2017 (Series 2), 4 October - 8 November 2018 (Series 3), 2 March - 6 April 2021 (Series 4) ©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Reluctant Persuaders: The Complete Series 1-4

Wally K. Daly's acclaimed trilogy about alien invasion, plus three more gripping sci-fi thrillers Wally K. Daly was a prolific, award-winning dramatist, whose writing credits included Casualty, Juliet Bravo and Doctor Who. He wrote 38 radio plays during his 30-year career, across a range of genres including comedy, horror and science fiction. This collection includes his best-known SF serial, The Scream Trilogy, and three other thrilling sci-fi dramas. The Scream Trilogy - In Before The Screaming Begins, Tom Harris is abducted by aliens on his wedding anniversary, and returned with new, frightening mental powers. The Silent Scream sees the alien invasion gathering pace, and humanity struggling to fend off enemies from without and within. And in With a Whimper to the Grave, the nations of Earth have formed a World Council to combat the threat they face. As the invaders' sinister plans are revealed, the Council takes action... Starring James Laurenson, Donald Hewlett, Patrick Troughton and John Shrapnel. Nightmare World - When a worldwide power failure brings confusion and terror to Earth, one town in every country undergoes a strange and startling transformation. James Laurenson and Nigel Anthony star. 2004 - Written in 1995, this dystopian vision of the new millennium imagines a chaotic Britain consumed by lawlessness and violence. Into this troubled landscape steps a new Prime Minister, with a high-tech plan to eliminate crime... Starring Bill Nighy. 625Y - In this intriguing two-part drama, research scientist Kate Brown stumbles upon a gene that could determine human lifespan - but when news of her discovery leaks out, events spiral out of control... Amanda Root stars as Kate. NB: Due to the off-air nature of the recordings, the sound quality may vary Production credits Written by Wally K. Daly Produced and directed by Martin Jenkins (The Scream Trilogy), David Hitchinson (Nightmare World, 2004) and Gordon House (625Y) Audio for The Scream Trilogy from Wally K. Daly's own collection, reversioned into three parts by BBC Radio 4 Extra © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Wally K. Daly: The Scream Trilogy & other sci-fi dramas

The complete series of off-beat thrillers about psychic detective Thomas Soutar, who uses his skills in police investigations. Set in Glasgow and featuring fantastic full casts, these unique police dramas star Robin Laing as Thomas Soutar. The Sensitive Police call in Thomas Soutar to help find a missing woman. Thomas is adept at solving crimes - but is his extraordinary gift a blessing or a curse? The Hanged Man Thomas Soutar discovers some unsettling connections between his own uncle's past and the murder of a young boy. A Possession When Thomas agrees to help in the search for a missing music student, he becomes obsessed by the missing girl in ways that he had not expected. A Nobody Thomas suffers a crisis of confidence when he is asked to investigate a potential serial killer. An old girlfriend, Kat, persuades him to take a break for a few days, but Thomas soon becomes convinced that they are being followed. A Casualty of War Thomas' mother has been forced to close her guest house due to emergency building work. An old friend offers her the use of his guest house, now lying empty. But Thomas senses a malignant presence in the isolated house, and one night Thomas' mother is sure she sees a face in her bedroom mirror – the face of a woman not seen since 1945... The Protector Thomas is asked to investigate the disappearance of a family friend. It's believed the missing man may have committed suicide, but the voices in Thomas's head suggest a different explanation… Queen of the Dead A grieving daughter finds hundreds of cassette recordings made by a woman obsessed with her late father, a Professor of English. Thomas Soutar is hired to trace the identity of the woman behind the tapes, who styles herself the ‘Queen of the Dead’. Terma Thomas is brought helps investigate when a journalist goes missing after building up a dossier on a powerful crime family. Black Island Thomas and Kat go on holiday to the Western Isles. But Thomas is soon drawn into a dangerous game with a celebrated actor. Underground Man (2 parts) Glasgow's disused underground tunnels are the hunting ground for an injured ex-soldier who threatens to kill three men he holds responsible for cheating him out of an inheritance. When one of the men under threat goes missing, Thomas helps the police in their search - but he soon discovers that there is danger much closer to home. Heart of Darkness (2 parts) A religious retreat in the Scottish Highlands is the venue for the final investigation by the psychic Thomas Soutar. Thomas and Kat discover that the extreme views of their host have alienated many people in the community, and a quiet few days away become unexpectedly life-changing when Thomas has a fateful reckoning with his psychic abilities. Written by Alastair Jessiman Produced and directed by Bruce Young

The Sensitive

Here is the unforgettable "Fletch", everyone's favourite criminal, making the most of his enforced stay at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Never a man to shrink from a challenge, even from behind bars, Fletch could manage anything from organising a win on the horses to buying a council flat in Mayfair. Amazing his cell mates and infuriating officialdom, Fletch, the Arthur Daley of penal servitude, always comes out on top. Starring Ronnie Barker with Brian Wilde, Richard Beckinsale, and Fulton Mackay, here are twelve prize shows from the original television series: Prisoner and Escort (1 April 1973) Norman Stanley Fletcher, a career criminal, and his escorts – soft-hearted Mr Barrowclough and authoritarian Mr Mackay – make the journey on New Year's Eve from London up to Slade Prison in Cumberland. A Night In (19 September 1974) Godber is moved into Fletch's cell, and confides that he finds it tough each time the door bangs shut. Fletch advises him to think of it as 'a quiet night in': but the trouble is, Godber has 698 more nights to get through. Heartbreak Hotel (31 October 1975) Godber has an uncharacteristically violent episode after receiving a 'Dear John' letter from his fiancée Denise. Fletcher tries to help him, but Fletch's daughter Ingrid proves more of a consolation. Disturbing the Peace (7 November 1975) With Mackay away on a course, the prisoners plan to have some fun, but it turns out his replacement, Wainwright, is even worse. His excessive discipline causes a riot, and it's left to Fletcher to sort out the situation. No Peace For The Wicked (14 November 1975) With everyone watching a football match, Fletch attempts to snatch a few precious minutes of peace and quiet, only to suffer constant interruptions, among whom are Mackay and visiting members of the Home Office, who then insist on questioning Fletch about his views on the penal system. The Harder They Fall (21 November 1975) Godber's been chosen for the boxing team, so naturally everybody wants a bit of a flutter. When rivals Grouty and Billy Moffatt both want to fix the fight different ways, only Fletch looks like coming out the winner. No Way Out (24 December 1975) A planned escape causes all kinds of trouble just before Christmas, and Fletch attempts to spend some valuable time in the infirmary. The Desperate Hours (24 December 1976) Fletcher, Godber, Barrowclough and the governor's secretary are held hostage by a mad prisoner with a homemade gun attempting to escape. Poetic Justice (25 February 1977) Fletch is incensed to discover that he is getting a new cell-mate. To make matters worse, it turns out that the cell-mate is the judge that sentenced him. Rough Justice (4 March 1977) After the judge's watch is stolen, everyone is convinced that Harris is the culprit, and so a kangaroo court is set up in an effort to convict him of the crime. Pardon Me (11 March 1977) Blanco refuses parole after serving a life sentence for a murder he's always claimed he never committed, so Fletch sets up an appeal committee to get him pardoned. A Test of Character (18 March 1977) Fletch is determined to help Godber pass his History O-level, so he has Warren steal the papers, only to discover that Godber doesn't want them. Meanwhile, a debate flares up over a claim of Warren's that, at a certain scale, the nearest star from the Sun would be in Johannesburg.

BBC TV Soundtracks

Porridge

Ian Carmichael is Lord Peter Wimsey in these consummate BBC radio dramatisations of Dorothy L Sayers' much-loved mysteries Elegant, erudite and sharp-witted, aristocratic detective Lord Peter Wimsey featured in numerous novels and short stories by ‘Queen of Crime’ Dorothy L Sayers. These full-cast adaptations – first broadcast on BBC radio between 1975 and 1981– are loved by mystery fans all around the world. In The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, when General Fentiman is found dead at his club, Wimsey suspects foul play. Could he have been murdered for his money? Strong Poison introduces Harriet Vane – a crime novelist on trial for murdering her lover. Wimsey knows Harriet is no femme fatale, but an innocent victim embroiled in a diabolical plot… Five Red Herrings sees Peter faced with six men, all of whom have a motive for killing argumentative Scottish painter Sandy Campbell. But who was the culprit? In Have His Carcase, when Harriet Vane finds a body on the beach with his throat cut, Lord Peter must work out whether it was murder or suicide. These classic dramas also feature Peter Jones, Joan Hickson, Miriam Margolyes and Warren Clarke.

Lord Peter Wimsey: BBC Radio Drama Collection Volume 2

Julian Rhind-Tutt is Magnus Pym in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast adaptation of John le Carré’s superb spy novel Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile ‘Love is whatever you can still betray. Betrayal can only happen if you love.’ So says Magnus Pym, the spy of the title; and he has betrayed a lot in his life – countries, friends, family and lovers. When Magnus disappears after his father’s funeral, MI6 launches an urgent manhunt to prevent his defection. But Pym is on a search of his own – to unravel the mystery of what made him the perfect spy. Was it the duplicity of his con artist father, Rick? Or his MI6 mentor and father figure Jack Brotherhood? Or was it Axel, the Czech agent he has known since his teens? All have marked him in crucial ways, and as the net closes around Magnus, he attempts finally to make sense of his life and find the source of his talent for deception... A Perfect Spy is le Carré’s most autobiographical novel, and has been hailed as his masterpiece. This superlative radio production, starring Julian Rhind-Tutt, Bill Paterson, Michael Maloney and Anton Lesser, is a compelling exploration of identity, treachery and the complexities of the human heart.

A Perfect Spy

**Winner of the Gold Award for Best Drama in the New York Festivals Radio Awards 2018*** A BBC radio adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Michael Cunningham, inspired by Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway Three separate women, living in different locations and eras, are linked by their passion for Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs Dalloway. As they each live through a Tuesday in June, their thoughts and experiences mirror each other and become interwoven. In Richmond in 1923, Virginia Woolf struggles to write a novel whose protagonist is Mrs Dalloway. In Los Angeles in 1949, Laura ignores her chores and small son to sit in bed reading Mrs Dalloway. In 1990s New York, Clarissa goes to buy flowers for a party, mirroring the start of the fictional Mrs Dalloway’s day. The party is in honour of her sick friend Richard, who long ago dubbed her Mrs Dalloway. As their stories intertwine, they converge to become one, weaving together themes of storytelling, domestic tension, friendship, love, loss, parental guilt, loneliness, bisexuality and the challenges of hosting social rituals. Adapted by Sony Award-winning dramatist Frances Byrnes, this affecting dramatisation stars Fenella Woolgar as Virginia Woolf, Teresa Gallagher as Laura and Rosamund Pike as Clarissa. 'I am so thrilled by the BBC's production of my novel, The Hours, and - believe me - a novelist does not thrill easily' - Michael Cunningham Cast Virginia/Kitty…Fenella Woolgar Laura...Gallagher Dan/Walter…Corey Johnson Richie…Jack Towbin Clarissa…Rosamund Pike Sally/Vanessa…Lia Williams Leonard/Louis…David Annen Nelly…Rachel Atkins Julia…Haley McGee Other voices by Sydney Beveridge and Josh Wakesberg Directed by Judith Kampfner and Polly Thomas Produced by Judith Kampfner A Corporation For Independent Media production for BBC Radio 4

The Hours

Twelve classic Christie short stories are given a modern spin in these BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations. Agatha Christie is the acknowledged 'Queen of Crime', and these twelve short stories showcase her skilful plotting and talent for producing compelling mysteries. First broadcast in the early 2000s, the stories were adapted and brought up-to-date for a contemporary audience. Among the star cast are Tom Hollander, Emilia Fox, Patricia Routledge, Julia McKenzie, Neil Dudgeon, Richard Griffiths, Rebecca Front and Andrew Sachs. Unconventional detective Parker Pyne features in two of the stories, all twelve of which are infused with Agatha Christie's trademark tension and suspense. These tantalising tales of revenge, jealousy, love and death will thrill her many fans. The stories are: Philomel Cottage Swan Song Magnolia Blossom Witness for the Prosecution The Gates of Baghdad The Hound of Death In a Glass Darkly The Dressmaker's Doll The Case of the Perfect Carer The £199 Adventure The Gypsy The Last Séance Duration: approx 5 hours 30 minutes

Agatha Christie: Twelve Radio Mysteries

A gripping BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Neil Gaiman's bestselling and much-loved novel When his father dies, Fat Charlie Nancy discovers that not only was the late Mr Nancy actually the god Anansi, but that he also has a long-lost brother, Spider, who is everything Fat Charlie is not. When Spider begins to take over Fat Charlie's life, flat and even his fiancée Rosie, Fat Charlie is forced to make a pact that lands him in trouble with the gods themselves... Anansi Boys is a story of love, laughter, music and murder, old gods and new tricks that takes Fat Charlie from his home in South London to Florida, the Caribbean, and the very Beginning of the World itself. Or the End of the World. Depending on which direction you’re coming from. Jacob Anderson stars as Charlie, and he has written and performed a specially commissioned song – ‘Charlie's Song’ – which forms part of the magical fabric of Anansi Boys. Dramatised for Radio 4 by the award-winning Dirk Maggs (Neverwhere, Good Omens, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), the stellar cast of this series also includes Joseph Marcell, Lenny Henry, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Adjoa Andoh,Julie Hesmondhalgh and Julian Rhind-Tutt, as well as a cameo appearance from Neil Gaiman himself.

Anansi Boys

Ready with his black bag, Dr Finlay sets out to remedy all manner of ailments suffered by his patients in the Scottish Highland town of Levenford. In this complete BBC Radio collection, we meet the surprising Dr Finlay as he is welcomed to the practise with a black eye. Over the course of these series the early years of Dr Finlay are explored, as he gets to grips with the locals in the Scottish Highland town of Levenford. His patients range from the stingiest and most cunning widow in Scotland to a pantomime actress, and from a hen-pecked husband who disappears to the wife of a football hero. Then there are the Scobie sisters, who have managed to live together for fifteen years without speaking. Finlay tackles them all with compassion and his trademark Scottish humour. Starring John Gordon Sinclair as Scotland's most celebrated doctor, along with Brian Pettifer, Celia Imrie, David Tennant and Stella Gonet. Produced by Jeremy Howe and Vic Beeby Dramatised by Sue Rodwell ©2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Dr Finlay

A BBC Radio 4 drama by Hugh Costello, about some gripping events at the Vatican.   After the short reign and mysterious death of Pope John Paul I, the election of a new Pope takes place in an atmosphere of high tension between opposing factions.   Including those who want to elect the first non-Italian Pope for over four hundred years!   First broadcast on 25 February 2011. Starring David Calder, Alison Reid, Nicholas Le Prevost, Andrew Hilton, Nigel Anthony, Paul Humpoletz, Paul Nicholson, Christian Rodska, Jonathan Nibbs, Bill Wallis, David Collins, Paul Dodgson, John Sandeman and Kristian Phillips.

Conclave

The complete tenth series of the Sony Award-winning comedy series - plus a Christmas special ‘The best comedy on radio’ Moira Petty, The Stage Clare Barker, the social worker with all the politically correct jargon but none of the practical solutions, continues to struggle with her professional and private life in these seven hilarious episodes, which include a special Christmas edition of the show. In Christmas with Clare Barker, Clare is working through the holidays, and has had enough of the whole seasonal shebang. But will a chance encounter bring back a bit of festive magic? Series Ten sees Brian going on a fitness kick and joining a men’s group. Clare, meanwhile, gets involved with a TV producer making a documentary about the Sparrowhawk estate; faces some home truths at a family funeral; attempts to co-operate with her estranged sister and intervenes with Nali’s ex-husband. Plus, the Sparrowhawk team work together to overcome a little problem in the office; and hold a leaving do, taking the opportunity to reminisce. Sally Phillips stars as Clare, with a supporting cast including Alex Lowe as Brian and Nina Conti as Nali/Megan.

Clare in the Community: Series 10

Ken Campbell, Windsor Davies, John Bird and John Fortune star in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation. When Alice leans too close to the Looking Glass, she suddenly finds herself in a land of caustic characters and twisted logic – a back-to-front world where flowers can talk, Queens can run and a crown could depend on a game of chess... In her bid to become Queen of the Chess Board, Alice must escape the fearful Jabberwock and get to the eighth square. En route, she takes advice – and sometimes downright criticism – from such peculiar folk as Humpty Dumpty, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Lion and the Unicorn, and very helpful gnat. Even when she has passed this test, the ordeal awaits of dinner with the Red and White Queens – and Alice learns an important lesson about not eating food you've been introduced to. This witty adaptation of Lewis Carroll's enduring children's classic boasts the much-loved Jabberwocky poem amongst its sparkling collection of gems.

BBC Children's Classics

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Paul Copley and Timothy Bateson star in a BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation of E. Nesbit's enchanting and unforgettable classic. Roberta, Peter and Phyllis lead an ordinary suburban life with Mother and Father, enjoying trips to the zoo and the pantomime. But when Father is mysteriously taken away one night, everything changes. The children must move to the country, to a little white cottage near the railway line, where eventually they find that there are plenty of adventures to be had and friends to be made - including Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. But the mystery remains - what has happened to Father, and will he come back? The story of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis and their life in the country has never been out of print since it was first published in 1906. Charming, sentimental and unforgettable, the novel retains all its enchantment and enduring appeal in this BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation.

The Railway Children

Harry Enfield exuberantly returns as Dirk Gently, who, fallen on hard times and dressed as a gypsy woman, is using his irritatingly accurate clairvoyant powers to read palms. He is saved when a frantic client turns up with a ludicrous story about being stalked by a goblin waving a contract accompanied by a hairy, green-eyed, scythe-wielding monster.   When Detective Superintendent Gilks decides a headless body found in a sealed room is the result of a particularly irritating suicide, Dirk is plunged into a mystery where the interconnectedness of all things is tested to the limit...   This is the second of three series adapted from the 'Dirk Gently' books, directed by Dirk Maggs (chosen by Douglas Adams to conclude the award-winning Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy). Guest stars include Peter Davison, Jan Ravens, Philip Jackson, John Fortune, Morwenna Banks and Stephen Moore, as well as returning cast members Olivia Colman, Jim Carter and Billy Boyd.  This release contains over thirty minutes of additional unbroadcast material.

Dirk Gently The Long Dark Tea-Time Of The Soul

Meet Anne Lister, the 18th Century landowner, industrialist, explorer, lesbian and feminist icon. This is her story... Anne was different from society’s expectations of a woman at the time: she not only did not wish to marry, but she also did not want to conform. Anne was only interested in women and had ‘marriage’ ceremonies with Mariana Lawton and later Ann Walker. She spent a great deal of time studying, managed her own estates, sought business opportunities, travelled widely and climbed mountains In this full-cast BBC Radio 4 dramatisation written by Mary Cooper and starring Deborah McAndrew as Anne, we meet the serial diarist as she describes her life, her loves and the societal changes happening around her. Cast: Anne......Deborah McAndrew Isabella......Helen Schlesinger Mariana......Kaye Wragg Eliza......Rina Mahoney Produced and directed by Nadia Molinan.

Such Sweet Possession: The Life and Loves of “Gentleman Jack”, Anne Lister

Soon to be a major film Tracy Flick, star of Election and one of the most memorable characters of our time, returns in this dark and insightful comedy about midlife. Ambitious and hardworking Tracy Flick feels underappreciated and stuck. Her job as a high school assistant principal isn’t the political career she dreamed of as an over-achieving teen, so when the longtime principal abruptly announces his retirement, offering a rare chance of promotion, Tracy is filled with zeal at the prospect of success. But nothing ever comes easily to Tracy Flick, no matter how diligent or qualified she happens to be. As she takes her shot at the top job, her male colleagues’ determination to honour Vito Falcone, a star quarterback of dubious character, triggers troubling memories of her high school experience, and storm clouds brewing in her present – her goals, career and relationships – send Tracy spiralling. ‘One of the great writers that we have today. I love this book’ Harlan Coben ‘Engrossing and mordantly funny’ People ‘Told with Perrotta’s piercing wit, wisdom, and exquisite insight into human folly, Tracy’s second act delivers acerbic insight about frustrated ambition’ Esquire ‘Brilliant, biting satire’ Associated Press

Tracy Flick Can’t Win

The definitive collection of dramatisations and readings of Patricia Highsmith's finest fiction - plus bonus material A master of the psychological crime genre, Patricia Highsmith is most famous for her quintet of bestselling 'Ripley' novels, and her groundbreaking thriller Strangers on a Train (notably adapted as a classic film by Alfred Hitchcock). This extensive collection encompasses her best-known works, as well as selected short stories and three programmes about the author herself and her greatest creation, charismatic anti-hero Tom Ripley. Included is a series of five plays charting Ripley's journey from smalltime conman to cool, calculated killer. Comprising The Talented Mr Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley and Ripley Under Water, The Complete Ripley stars Ian Hart as Tom. Also featured are dramatisations of Strangers on a Train (starring Anton Lesser, Michael Sheen, Saskia Reeves and Bill Nighy); Patricia Highsmith's compelling tale of obsession, The Cry of the Owl (starring John Sharian, Adrian Lester and Joanne McQuinn); and the dark, intriguing domestic noir A Suspension of Mercy (starring Stuart Milligan and Janet Maw). Highsmith's tender, unsettling lesbian love story Carol is abridged and read in 10 parts by Zoë Wanamaker, and there are abridged readings of her short stories 'A Dangerous Hobby', 'Variations on a Game' (both read by Campbell Scott), and 'The Trouble with Mrs Blynn, the Trouble with the World' (read by Anna Massey). Five more unabridged stories, 'The Cries of Love', 'The Snail-Watcher', 'The Breeder', 'Notes from a Respectable Cockroach' and 'Goat Ride', are read by Helen Horton, John Webb, Garrick Hagon, William Hootkins and Crawford Logan. In Looking for Ripley, crime writer Mark Billingham unravels the mystery behind our lasting fascination with Tom Ripley, while in A Passionate Affair, Marcel Berlins asks if his creator Patricia Highsmith also fell under his spell. And in Desert Island Discs, the author shares the soundtrack of her life with presenter Roy Plomley. Contents The Talented Mr Ripley Ripley Under Ground Ripley's Game The Boy Who Followed Ripley Ripley Under Water Strangers on a Train The Cry of the Owl A Suspension of Mercy Carol A Dangerous Hobby Variations on a Game The Trouble with Mrs Blynn, The Trouble with the World The Cries of Love The Snail-Watcher The Breeder Notes from a Respectable Cockroach Goat Ride Looking for Ripley A Passionate Affair Desert Island Discs: Patricia Highsmith Original texts © 1993 by Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich, all rights reserved. © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Patricia Highsmith BBC Radio Collection

In a shocking scandal, the like of which has not been seen in the English aristocracy since the eighteenth century, Lord Peter Wimsey's elder brother, the Duke of Denver, stands accused of murder.   Lord Peter is determined to prove his brother's innocence, yet finds him strangely uncooperative. Furthermore, other family members apparently oppose Peter's attempts to get to the truth. His sister, Lady Mary, seems to know more than she is letting on - could the Duke be protecting her? In collaboration with Inspector Parker, Wimsey slowly uncovers a web of lies and deceit within his own family, and finds himself faced with the unhappy alternative of sending either his brother or his sister to the gallows. Until he himself becomes a target...   Patricia Routledge plays the Dowager Duchess in this classic dramatisation, alongside Maria Aitken as Lady Mary and Miriam Margolyes as Mrs Hardraw.

Clouds Of Witness

George Smiley is one of the most brilliantly realised characters in British fiction. Bespectacled, tubby, eternally middle-aged and deceptively ordinary, he has a mind like a steel trap and is said to possess ‘the cunning of Satan and the conscience of a virgin’.   Smiley, now head of the Circus, must rebuild trust in the shattered organisation. He is also determined to destroy his nemesis, Karla, and his spy networks. He recruits Jerry Westerby, occasional spy, occasional news reporter, full-time romantic - the Honourable Schoolboy of the title - and despatches him to the Far East, where, amidst the corruption and decay of former colonies, a new battle is about to begin...   Starring the award-winning Simon Russell Beale as Smiley, and with a star cast including Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Steed and Anna Chancellor, this gripping dramatisation perfectly captures the atmosphere of le Carré’s intricate, intriguing novel, the second in the Karla trilogy.

The Honourable Schoolboy

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