Aaron Shapiro

Aaron T Beck

Aaron Vallance

Aaron Young was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and read Politics and Communications at The University of Liverpool. He is a BAFTA-nominated director, producer and executive producer with over 20 years of experience across projects for the BBC, PBS, Channel 4, Channel 5, UKTV, UK Film Council and Arts Council England. A long-time collaborator of acclaimed historian, James Holland, he is the producer and director of the BAFTA-shortlisted BBC titles ‘Battle of Britain: The Real Story’ and, ‘Dam Busters: The Race to Smash the German Dams’, as well as ‘The Battle for Malta’, ‘Normandy ’44: The Battle Beyond D-Day’, the RTS-nominated ‘Imphal &amp; Kohima: Britain’s Greatest Battle.’, and the 3-part series, 'Normandy '44: D-Day and the Battle for France. His most recent credits include 'Hidden Histories of WWII', 'Lost Temples of Cambodia', the RTS-winning ‘Lost Home Movies of Nazi Germany’, and ‘Prue Leith: Journey with My Daughter’. Aaron was named in the inaugural list of BAFTA ‘Brits to Watch.’ He is the co-owner of award-winning film and television production company, Bright Button Productions, and lives with his wife and children in Poundbury, Dorset.

Aaron Young

Aatish Taseer

Abbe Prevost

Abbey Bryant is an NYC-based award-winning illustrator. With her BFA in Children's Book Illustration, her notable illustrated books include Nautilus award winner Hazel Mist, Hypnotist as well as an Enchanted Fairy House Kit with Scholastic's Klutz! 
 
As a queer illustrator, LGBTQ+ themes and stories hold a spot near to her heart. Most days she can be found around the city drawing New Yorkers or sketching trees at the park.

Abbey Bryant

Abbey Clancy is a model, television presenter and the host of chart-topping podcast The Therapy Crouch. She was the runner-up of Britain's Next Top Model in 2006, winner of Strictly Come Dancing in 2013 and went on to present Britain's Next Top Model. Later this year she will host Celebrity Homes on ITV.

Abbey Clancy

Abbie Greaves studied at Cambridge University before working in a literary agency for a number of years. She was inspired to write her first novel, The Silent Treatment, after reading a newspaper article about a boy in Japan who had never seen his parents speak to one another before. 
 
Abbie lives in Brighton with her boyfriend.

Abbie Greaves

Abbie Ross is a British author and psychotherapist. Her first book, Hippy Dinners, a funny and poignant memoir of her bohemian childhood in 1970s North Wales, has been optioned by Baby Cow, who are developing it into an 8-part television series. 
Before turning to writing, Abbie had a successful career as a producer at Aardman Animations, the acclaimed studios behind Wallace &amp; Gromit and the film Chicken Run. 
Today, she divides her time between her thriving psychotherapy practice in Bristol, and her writing, and finds that the two careers complement each other perfectly.

Abbie Ross

Abbie Spallen

Abbie Taylor lives in Dublin. She works as a doctor and has two daughters.

Abbie Taylor

Abby L Yates co-founded the Ghostbusters with Erin Gilbert. Ghosts from Our Past was her first book, now finally back in print.

Abby L Yates

Abby Lee

Abby Rawlinson is an integrative therapist with a private practice based in east London, UK. Her work mixes traditional psychotherapeutic theories with cutting-edge, evidence-based techniques into a style that feels relatable, down-to-earth, and compassionate. Abby regularly contributes to articles, including but not limited to Stylist, Elle, BBC, Harpers Bazaar, Sheerluxe, Women's Health, and Psychologies. She can be found on Instagram @therapywithabby or online at therapywithabby.co.uk

Abby Rawlinson

Abby Wambach is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, FIFA World Cup champion, six-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award and one of Time’s Most Influential People. She is a founder of Treat Media, an award-winning media company that makes art for humans who want to stay human. Abby is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wolfpack and the New York Times bestseller Forward. Named one of the ‘50 Most Powerful People in Podcasting,’ she is co-host of the chart-topping podcast We Can Do Hard Things, which has received over a half billion plays. Abby is an executive producer of the Sundance award-winning film Come See Me in the Good Light, part owner of the NWSL’s Angel City Football Club and sits on multiple boards. Her most recent book, We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions, created with Glennon Doyle, Amanda Doyle and Treat Media, is being hailed as ‘the guidebook for being alive.’

Abby Wambach

Abel &amp; Cole’s story starts in 1988 with Keith Abel flogging potatoes door-to-door. ‘Of course potatoes are organic,’ he thought, ‘they’re vegetables’. However, he quickly discovered how unnecessarily complicated our food system had become and, consequently, realised the huge benefits of going organic and never looked back. In fact, Abel &amp; Cole still get veg from the farm where Keith's first organic spuds came from. 
To this day, their priorities remain the same. Now, selling 100% organic produce, Abel &amp; Cole believe that organic farming (a holistic system that encourages biodiversity) is the very best way to go. It protects our countryside and the critters that inhabit it, insists on the very best animal welfare, supports your local community and, frankly, tastes heaps better. Abel &amp; Cole think so anyway.

Abel & Cole Limited

Abhijit Banerjee, winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics, is the Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a co-founder and co-director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). In 2011, he was named one of Foreign Policy magazine’s top 100 global thinkers. Banerjee served on the U.N. Secretary-General’s High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Abhijit V. Banerjee

Abhishek Mukherjee, 30, is a Delhi-based journalist. He holds a bachelor's degree in English literature from Delhi University, a post-graduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Raipur. He also likes dogs.

Abhishek Mukherjee

Abi Elphinstone grew up in Scotland where she spent most of her childhood running wild across the moors, hiding in tree houses and building dens in the woods. After being coaxed out of her tree house, she studied English at Bristol University and then worked as an English teacher in Africa, Berkshire and London. She is the bestselling and multi-award shortlisted author of RUMBLESTAR (first in The Unmapped Chronicles), SKY SONG &amp; THE DREAMSNATCHER TRILOGY, published by S&amp;S. When she's not writing, Abi volunteers for Beanstalk, speaks in schools and travels the world looking for her next story.

Abi Elphinstone

Abi Falase is a Black British writer and director, reimagining fundamental societal concepts in inventive new worlds. Abi has written and directed a number of plays, including The Village and Rush with the Almedia Theatre, as well as Rift for Immediate Theatre and was shortlisted for the BBC Scriptworks ‘A Thousand Stories’ scriptwriting competition in 2021.

Abi Falase

Abi Titmuss

Abie Longstaff is the eldest of six children and grew up in Australia, Hong Kong and France. She knows all about squabbling, chaos and bossing younger sisters around. So she logically began her career as a barrister. She started writing when her children were born. Her favourite childhood books were Hating Alison Ashley, A Little Princess, Maura's Angel and The Black Stallion and she sneakily reads them again sometimes. Abie lives in Hove with her family.

Abie Longstaff

Abigail Ahern

Abigail is a Brighton-based writer, illustrator and creative producer. Original storytelling has always been at the heart of Abigail's career and she has spent a decade leading social media campaigns for some of the biggest TV &amp; entertainment clients in the world. Abigail also used to perform stand-up comedy and won several tiny trophies for her onstage humour; which involved life-size illustrations, ridiculous songs and rambling stories about her family.

Abigail Balfe

Abigail Docherty

Abigail Foster is a Chartered Accountant and founder of Elent Finance, a financial education company designed to demystify the world of finance and empower you to achieve financial wellbeing. 
 
Abigail has worked with leading financial institutions across the UK, including HMRC, the Bank of England and Downing Street, and global companies such as Google and Goldman Sachs. She hosts a weekly money segment on LBC radio and has also appeared as a finance expert on ITV, Channel 5 and Sky News.

Abigail Foster

Abigail Owen is the #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author of 30+ books that range from upper YA (18+) epic romantasy to new adult modern mythic romantasy to super spicy adult paranormal romance. She loves magical worlds with plots that move hot and fast, feisty heroines with sass, heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of HEAs! Other titles include: wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, AuDHD, spreadsheet lover, Jeopardy! fanatic, organizational guru, true classic movie buff, linguaphile, wishful world traveler, and chocoholic. Abigail currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero, their (mostly) angelic teenagers, and an adorable fur baby.

Abigail Owen

Abigail Ulman was born and raised in Melbourne. She has a BA in Creative Arts from the University of Melbourne/VCA and was a recent Wallace Stegner Fellow in Fiction at Stanford University. This is her first book.

Abigail Ulman

Abilio Estévez

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James Fenimore Cooper

BBC Radio drama adaptations of two action-packed adventures by James Fenimore Cooper 
 
A founding father of American literature, James Fenimore Cooper was one of America's first professional novelists, and a pioneer of both the Western and the historical romance. Included here are his 1826 masterpiece The Last of the Mohicans and his 1821 classic The Spy, widely considered the world's first espionage novel. 
 
The Last of the Mohicans - 1757, and Britain and France are struggling for control of the New World. Caught between them are the tribes of the First Nations... Hawkeye is an American scout who lives with the American Indians and fights for the British. When the daughters of a British army officer are captured by a vengeful Huron chief while travelling to join their father, Hawkeye and his Mohican friends set out on a rescue mission... This gripping dramatisation of James Fenimore Cooper's epic is narrated by Garrick Hagon, stars Michael Feast as Hawkeye and Helen McCrory as Cora. 
 
The Spy - New York State, 1778. Henry Wharton, a young soldier for the British in the American Revolutionary War, sneaks into no-man's land in disguise to spend an evening with his family. But their happy reunion is cut short when American troops surround the house. Can the mysterious peddler Harvey Birch provide Henry with a means of escape? Burn Gorman and Rose Leslie star in this thrilling tale of double agents and divided loyalties. 
 
First published 1821 (The Spy) and 1826 (The Last of the Mohicans) 
 
Production credits 
Written by James Fenimore Cooper 
 
The Last of the Mohicans 
Narrator - Garrick Hagon 
Hawkeye - Michael Feast 
Major Heyward - Philip Franks 
Cora - Helen McCrory 
Alice - Naomi Radcliffe 
General Munro - Russell Dixon 
Chingachgook - Okon Jones 
Uncas - Clarence Smith 
Magua - Alfredo Michelsen 
General Montcalm - John Jardine 
David - Robert Whelan 
Tamenund - Joe Speare 
 
Dramatised by David Calcutt 
Produced and directed by Michael Fox 
Music: Trevor Allan Davies 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5-12 November 1995 
 
 
The Spy 
Harvey Birch - Burn Gorman 
Frances - Rose Leslie 
Henry - Alex Waldmann 
Mr Wharton - James Lailey 
Sarah - Francine Chamberlain 
Mr Harper - Timothy Watson 
Caesar - Richard Pepple 
Peyton Dunwoodie - Simon Bubb 
Captain Lawton - Gerard McDermott 
Colonel Wellmere/Skinner - Adam Billington 
Isabella Singleton - Victoria Inez Hardy 
Colonel Martin - Paul Moriarty 
 
Dramatised by DJ Britton 
Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22-29 January 2012 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Last of the Mohicans & The Spy

Two BBC Radio full-cast dramatisations

Jane Austen

A captivating BBC radio dramatisation of Jane Austen's most overlooked novel 
 
Sent away from her poverty-stricken parents in Portsmouth to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, nine-year-old Fanny Price is abruptly transplanted to a new, luxurious home: Mansfield Park. Overwhelmed by the grandeur of her surroundings, she feels out of place - and as she grows up, her spoiled cousins, Tom, Maria and Julia, never let her forget her humble beginnings. Only her cousin Edmund treats her with kindness, and the two become close companions. 
 
But their lives are turned upside down when Sir Thomas goes away to visit his sugar plantation in the West Indies - and the charismatic Crawfords, Henry and Mary, arrive on the scene. Glamorous, attractive and flirtatious, they shake up the entire Bertram family - and leave Fanny grappling with emotions she's never felt before... 
 
In Mansfield Park, Jane Austen gives us her subtlest and most unusual heroine: a displaced child, shaped by family and adversity, who becomes a quietly resolute young woman with an unshakeable moral code. This enthralling dramatisation focusses on the precariousness of Fanny's life - as a poor relation, unmarried, and living on an estate funded by sugar and slavery - and follows her as she navigates this high-stakes world with courage and conviction. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Jane Austen 
Adapted by Clara Glynn 
Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane 
Directed by Bruce Young 
 
Fanny Price - Lydia Wilson 
Edmund Bertram - Bryan Dick 
Mary Crawford - Tala Gouveia 
Henry Crawford - Tom Mothersdale 
Mrs Norris/Mrs Grant - Janice Acquah 
Lady Bertram - Madeleine Worrall 
Tom Bertram/William Price - Joshua Riley 
Sir Thomas - John Hollingworth 
Mr Rushworth- Samuel Valentine 
Maria Bertram - Faith Alabi 
Julia Bertram - Hollie Burgess 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 10-17 July 2022 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Mansfield Park

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

John Reed

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

A BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation

Lew Wallace

A thrilling adaptation of Lew Wallace's epic biblical tale of betrayal, destiny and redemption. 
 
Judea, 26 AD. Two men's lives run almost in parallel. One is a prince of Jerusalem. The other is known as 'He that is born King of the Jews'... 
 
When Judah Ben Hur visits his childhood playmate Messala, now a Roman tribune, he hopes to rekindle an old friendship. But their meeting has devastating consequences. Betrayed and falsely accused of attempted murder, Judah's property is confiscated and his family arrested - and he himself is sent to the galleys. En route to the sea, he meets a carpenter's son, who gives him water - and looking into the man's eyes, he almost loses his desire for vengeance. 
 
Freed from slavery years later, Judah travels to Antioch, where he hears of a King who will lead the Jewish people, and vows to go and fight for him. He also encounters his former friend Messala once more, and seizes the opportunity to crush him in a high-stakes chariot race. Emerging victorious, he journeys back to Jerusalem to find his lost mother and sister, and raise a resistance force against Rome. But as his life intersects with that of the King he champions, he comes to realise that Jesus of Nazareth is not a warrior, but a saviour - and that the path to his kingdom lies through forgiveness. 
 
First published in 1880, Ben Hur was famously adapted as a 1959 blockbuster starring Charlton Heston, which won a record 11 Oscars. This spectacular, cinematic dramatisation boasts a stirring score by award-winning composer Wilfredo Acosta, and is brought to life by a stunning cast including Julian Glover, Samuel West and Michael Gambon. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Lew Wallace 
Dramatised by Catherine Czerkawska 
Directed by Glyn Dearman 
Music and sound design by Wilfredo Acosta 
Iras' song sung by Elizabeth Mansfield 
 
Cast 
Judah Ben Hur - Jamie Glover 
Messala - Samuel West 
Angel/Esther - Deborah Berlin 
Amrah - Phyllis Calvert 
Mother - Margaret John 
Arrius/Man 2 - Derek Waring 
Tirzah/Maid - Natasha Pyne 
Chief of Rowers/Man 1 - Don McCorkindale 
Man 1/Servant/Roman 1/Man at Inn - Joshua Towb 
Thord/Man 2/Passenger/Servant - Michael Tudor Barnes 
Man in Boat/Malluch - Gavin Muir 
Simonides - Bernard Hepton 
Sheik Ilderim - Freddie Jones 
Balthasar - Michael Hordern 
Drusus - Ian Masters 
Iras - Becky Hindley 
Jesus/Man 3 - Peter Yapp 
Pilate/Guide/John the Baptist - Neville Jason 
Assassin - Oliver Senton 
Man 4 - Peter Whitman 
Michael Gambon reads from the Bible 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 March - 9 April 1995 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Ben Hur

A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation

Anthony Trollope

Six lavish BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations of Anthony Trollope's much-loved novels, plus a bonus documentary about Trollope himself. 
 
Anthony Trollope's series of witty, gently satirical stories of provincial life are set in the fictional town of Barchester and the surrounding county of Barsetshire. With a focus on the lives, loves and tribulations of the local clergy and rural gentry, the canvas is broad and colourful, with a set of iconic characters in whose lives we become intimately involved as they grow up, grow old, and fall in or out of love and friendship across the years. 
 
The Warden: The gentle Mr Harding finds his peaceful life disrupted when his would-be son-in-law calls into question the large income he receives as warden of Barchester alms house. Starring Tim Pigott-Smith and Maggie Steed. 
 
Barchester Towers: The cathedral town is changing again, with the arrival of a new Bishop, his wife and his Chaplain from London throwing all Barchester into disarray. Starring Tim Pigott-Smith and Una Stubbs. 
 
Dr Thorne: When young heir Frank Gresham expresses his desire to marry Mary, her uncle Dr Thorne realises that a secret he has concealed for so long can no longer stay secret. Starring Iain Glenn, Pippa Haywood and Douglas Booth. 
 
Framley Parsonage: Mark Robarts, the young vicar of Framley, cannot resist the lure of celebrity beyond his own village. But his ambitious pursuits will lead him to risk his devoted wife and children, as well as his sister's happiness. Starring Pip Carter, Hattie Morahan and Kate Buffrey. 
 
The Small House at Allington: The arrival of the handsome Adolphus Crosbie causes quite a stir at Allington. There is concern for Lily Dale in her fight against scarlet fever, and Dr Crofts is a frequent visitor to the Small House. Starring Scarlett Alice Johnson and Blake Ritson. 
 
The Last Chronicle of Barset: Henry Grantley has fallen in love again, Lily's past returns to haunt her, and Mr Crawley must reckon with an angry butcher. Johnny traverses Europe trying to save Mr Crawley and meets an unexpected new friend. Starring Adam Kotz and Samuel Barnett. 
 
Also included is the documentary Trollope, in which poet Michael Symmons Roberts, who dramatised several of the books in this release, sets out to visit the places that inspired Trollope's writing - interrupted at times by Trollope (voiced by Hamilton Berstock) himself. 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Anthony Trollope. 
 
The Warden 
Dramatised by Michael Symmons Roberts. 
Directed by Susan Roberts. 
Produced by Charlotte Riches. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26th January 2014. 
 
Barchester Towers 
Dramatised by Nick Warburton. 
Directed by Marion Nancarrow. 
Music composed by David Tobin, Jeff Meegan and Julian Gallant. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2nd-16th February 2014. 
 
Dr Thorne 
Dramatised by Michael Symmons Roberts. 
Directed by Susan Roberts. 
Produced by Charlotte Riches. 
Music composed by David Tobin, Jeff Meegan and Julian Gallant. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4th-18th May 2014. 
 
Framley Parsonage 
Dramatised by Nick Warburton. 
Directed &amp; produced by Marion Nancarrow. 
Music composed by David Robin, Jeff Meegan and Julian Gallant. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 31st August - 14th September 2014. 
 
The Small House at Allington 
Dramatised by Michael Symmons Roberts. 
Directed by Gary Brown. 
Produced by Charlotte Riches. 
Music composed by David Tobin, Jeff Meegan and Julian Gallant. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21st December 2014 - 4th January 2015. 
 
The Last Chronicle of Barset 
Dramatised by Nick Warburton. 
Directed &amp; produced by Marion Nancarrow. 
Music composed by David Tobin, Jeff Meegan and Julian Gallant. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 31st May - 21st June 2015. 
 
Trollope 
Presented by Michael Symmons Roberts. 
Produced by Faith Lawrence. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3rd January 2014. 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Barchester Chronicles

Six BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations

Michael Scott

Michael Scott presents this bite-sized history series, exploring key years of change across the world 
 
'Captivating... takes mundane conventional history and turns it on its head' Radio Times 
 
Some dates are indelibly etched into our minds, forever associated with particular historical events. But what else was going on in the world during those climactic years? In this surprising, thought-provoking series, historian Michael Scott looks at seven pivotal historical dates, spinning the globe to discover what was happening away from the geographical centre that makes them so famous. 
 
Beginning with 1605, he discovers that the year of the Gunpowder Plot also saw the printing of the first newspaper and the publication of Don Quixote; while 1066 marked not only the Battle of Hastings, but a brutal massacre in Spain. As World War I broke out in 1914, a new dance craze - the foxtrot - was invented; and in 0BC, as Jesus is born in Judea, another king is born in the Far East: Yuri of Goguryeo. 
 
He also reveals how in 1485, the year that Richard III died in battle, the forces of Ivan the Great seized the city of Tver; finds out how the rest of the world fared in 1929, the year of the Wall Street Crash; and explores the shattering impact of Alexander the Great's sudden death in 323 BC on the ancient Greek world - as well as probing events beyond his influence, such as the circumnavigation of the British Isles by the pioneering explorer and geographer Pytheas of Massalia. 
 
Joining the dots to connect previously diverse cultural, political and economic events, he shows us a new way of thinking about history; demonstrating how different civilisations have developed at different rates and through different phases, only occasionally brushing against each other. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Michael Scott 
Produced by Tom Alban, Sarah Taylor and Mohini Patel 
Production Coordinator: Sue Fleming 
Editor: John Goudie 
Readings by Sean Murray, Joel McCormack, Jude Akuwudike and David Ashton 
 
With contributors including: Justin Champion, Professor Jean-Pierre Kintz, Professor Robert Frost, Professor Krzysztof Lazarski, Dr Sussan Babaie, Jim Adams, Louise McFarlane, Dr Faisal Devji, Roger Croston, Professor Juan Carlos Boue, Len Goodman, Diarmaid MacCulloch, Carol Wright, Peter Layton, Dr Jean Hyun, Dr Mark Byington, Catherine Edwards, Simon Martin, Dr Elizabeth Graham, Philippa Langley, Dr Elizabeth Baquedano, Michael Alpert, Dr Sergei Bogatyrev, Martin Kemp, Professor Forrest Capie, Dr Zoe Laidlaw, Professor Rana Mitter, Dr Eugene Rogan, Professor David Cesarani, Bryony Dixon, Sir Barry Cunliffe, Dr Swati Ray, Dr Marjorie Dryburgh, Professor David Phillipson, Dr Elizabeth Baynham 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
 
1605 12 November 2013 
1066 19 November 2013 
1914 26 November 2013 
0BC 3 December 2013 
1485 11 November 2014 
1929 18 November 2014 
323BC - The Death of Alexander the Great 25 November 2014 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Spin the Globe

A BBC Radio 4 history series

Anthony Hope

BBC Radio adaptations of Anthony Hope's famous swashbuckling adventure novel and its sequel 
 
Anthony Hope's swashbuckling historical novel The Prisoner of Zenda was first published in 1894 and was an instant hit, spawning an 1898 sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, and launching the Ruritanian romance genre. Included here are the radio dramatisations of both thrilling novels, starring Julian Glover as Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf, Martin Jarvis as Rupert of Hentzau and Hannah Gordon as Flavia. 
 
The Prisoner of Zenda - On holiday in the East European province of Ruritania, English gentleman Rudolf Rassendyll is caught up in a web of subterfuge. When his distant cousin, King Rudolf, is drugged on the eve of his coronation, Rassendyll is persuaded to impersonate him at the ceremony, thereby thwarting Rudolf's half-brother's attempts to seize the throne. But as the doppelganger is crowned, the real King is kidnapped and imprisoned. To save him, Rassendyll is forced to continue the deception: and finds himself falling in love with the King's intended bride, Princess Flavia... 
 
Rupert of Hentzau - Three years on from his Ruritanian adventures, Rudolf Rassendyll is living in voluntary exile, separated from his beloved Flavia since her marriage to the King. His only consolation is the annual red rose she sends him, as a token of love and remembrance. But now, instead of a flower, she has sent a letter - and this incriminating missive has been intercepted by the dastardly Rupert of Hentzau. The repercussions will bring Rassendyll face-to-face with his old foe, as he is embroiled once more in danger and intrigue. 
 
First published 1894 (The Prisoner of Zenda) and 1898 (Rupert of Hentzau) 
 
The Prisoner of Zenda 
Rudolf Rassendyll/King Rudolf - Julian Glover 
Colonel Sapt - Nigel Stock 
Princess Flavia - Hannah Gordon 
Count Fritz von Tarlenheim - David Timson 
Rupert of Hentzau - Martin Jarvis 
Duke Michael - Michael Spice 
Antoinette de Mauban - Anne Kidd 
Lord Burlesdon - Clive Swift 
Lady Rose Burlesdon/ Innkeeper - Diana Bishop 
Countess Helga - Hilda Schroder 
Rosa - Cherry Gilliam 
Captain Detchard - Terry Scully 
Johann - Sam Dastor 
Josef - Haydn Jones 
Train guard - William Sleigh 
Bersonin - David Gooderson 
Customs officer - Brian Haines 
 
Adapted by Eric Maschwitz and Kay Patrick 
Produced by Martin Jenkins 
Original music (1939) by Robert Chignell and Leslie Woodgate 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 May 1973 
 
Rupert of Hentzau 
Rudolf Rassendyll/King Rudolf - Julian Glover 
Queen Flavia - Hannah Gordon 
Herbert/Bauer - Nigel Anthony 
Hermann/Anton von Strofzing - David Sinclair 
James - Timothy Alcock 
Station-Master/Butler - Wilfrid Carter 
Countess Helga - Hilda Schroder 
Count Fritz von Tarlenheim - David Timson 
Madame Helsing/Mother Holf - Diana Bishop 
Rischenheim - Kerry Francis 
Rupert of Hentzau - Martin Jarvis 
Chancellor Helsing/Farmer - Peter Williams 
Constable/Thug - Vernon Joyner 
Colonel Sapt - Nigel Stock 
Fraulein Helsing - Bonnie Hurren 
Bernenstein - Sean Barrett 
Simon/Thug - Fraser Kerr 
Rosa - Cherry Gilliam 
 
Adapted by Cynthia Pughe and Kay Patrick 
Produced by Martin Jenkins 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 May 1973 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Prisoner of Zenda & Rupert of Hentzau

Two BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations

Hugh Walpole

A BBC Radio adaptation of Hugh Walpole's historical novel, set in the Lake District during the 18th Century 
 
1730. Driven by a wild romantic impulse, Francis Herries uproots his family from Doncaster to the lakeland valley of Borrowdale. Accompanied by his housekeeper/mistress, Alice, they settle in his tumbledown ancestral home, Herries, in the shadow of the Cumberland fells. 
 
Proud, stubborn and temperamental, Francis cuts himself off from his brother, spurns his long-suffering wife and becomes embroiled in drink and debauchery. When he sells Alice at Keswick Fair, his reputation is ruined, and the locals dub him 'Rogue' Herries. His fate is sealed when he falls for the flame-haired Mirabelle Starr. They are both vagabonds, both outcasts - but she is thirty years his junior, and does not love him. 
 
As Francis struggles with his feelings for Mirabelle, his son David and daughter Deborah have battles of their own to fight. Meanwhile, the Jacobite rising has begun, and Bonnie Prince Charlie's rebel army is at the gates of Carlisle... 
 
Described by John Buchan as 'the greatest English novel since Jude the Obscure', Rogue Herries is a sweeping family saga full of romance and drama. This powerful adaptation stars Gavin Muir as Francis, Mark Bonnar as David, Jane Slavin as Alice, Deborah Berlin as Mirabelle and Jane Whittenshaw as Deborah, with a full cast including Stephen Thorne, Hugh Dickson and Gerard McDermott. 
 
Written by Hugh Walpole 
Dramatised by Eric Pringle 
Technical presentation by Rosamund Mason, Colin Guthrie and Andy Garrett 
Directed by David Blount 
 
Cast 
Francis - Gavin Muir 
David - Mark Bonnar 
Margaret - Janet Maw 
Deborah - Jane Whittenshaw 
Alice Press - Jane Slavin 
Pomfret/Greenship - Stephen Thorne 
Jannice - Shirley Dixon 
Roche/Harcourt/Whitfield - Hugh Dickson 
Statesman Peel/George Endicott/Harness - Gerard McDermott 
Pedlar/Adam Beatty - Ioan Meredith 
Benjamin/Anthony Thorne - Chris Pavlo 
Young Deborah - Katie Clarke 
Young David - George Maguire 
Razeley - Joseph Head/Robert Harper 
Prince - Robert Harper 
Mirabelle - Deborah Berlin 
Cumberlege - Gordon Reid 
Mrs Cumberledge - Carolyn Jones 
Hetty - Alison Pettitt 
Sunwood/Bann/Reverend - Christopher Scott 
Denburn - Keith Drinkel 
Sarah - Becky Hindley 
Mrs Henny - Linda Polan 
Others parts played by Alex Lowe and members of the company 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 April-11 May 1997 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Rogue Herries

Lucy Catherine

Beyond the forests, beyond the valleys, beyond the mountains... there's another world. 
 
From the Red Book of Hergest, these are the tales of the Mabinogi. Tales of of romance, tragedy, comedy and fantasy, of a mythical pre-Saxon era of Medieval Wales: a land of magic, of dragons, fairies and giants. 
 
Pryderi, Prince of Dyfed, heads to Harlech in North Wales to impress King Bran the Blessed of Gwynedd and win the hand of Princess Branwen. But what starts out as a straightforward journey with his companion, Brigid, quickly becomes upturned by strange magic and the threat of war with the Irish. Can they survive? And what mysteries yearn to be unravelled in the Otherworld? 
 
The world we see, the world of the mountains and the valleys, the villages and the farms, is nothing more than a veneer. Our world is no more than a painted shroud, masking what lies beneath. For most of the living, the barrier between the worlds is impossible to breach. For very few, it is as easy to pierce as the still black waters of a mountain lake. Step into the Otherworld. 
 
Starring Darragh Mortell (The Bill) and Aimee Ffion Edwards (Peaky Blinders, The Detectorists). 
 
 Award-winning writer Lucy Catherine (The Master and Margherita, Being Human, Vanity Fair) gives these stories a modern flavour while remaining true to the vivid magic of Celtic mythology. 
 
Cast and credits: 
 
Brigid - Aimee Ffion Edwards 
 Pryderi - Darragh Mortell 
 Arawn - John Cording 
 Roisin - Fiona O'Shaughnessy 
 Bran the Blessed/Pwyll - Robert Pugh 
 Manawydan/Dewi - Matthew Gravelle 
 Branwen - Rhian Blythe 
 Matholwch - Stephen Hogan 
 Efnysien - Richard Elfyn 
 Nysien - Rhodri Meilir 
 Pwca/Wyn - Sion Pritchard 
 Deryn - Saran Morgan 
 Mam/Rhiannon - Eiry Thomas 
 
Adapted by Lucy Catherine. 
 Sound design by Nigel Lewis. 
 Directed by James Robinson and John Norton. 
 A BBC Wales and BBC Radio 3 Commission. 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Mabinogi: Lost Legends and Dark Magic

A BBC Radio full-cast fantasy adventure

Mark Twain

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

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Million Pound Bank Note & More

Jonathan Myerson

A 16-part dramatised reconstruction of a landmark moment in history - the groundbreaking trial of the 22 most notorious Nazi war criminals 
 
Summer, 1945. The war is over, and Germany has surrendered. Across Europe, the top surviving Nazis are being tracked down, arrested, and imprisoned in a once-opulent Luxembourg hotel, on 24-hour suicide watch. Now, the Allies must decide what to do with them. After much deliberation, Britain, America, Russia and France agree that Hitler's high command must be formally tried. This will be an entirely new kind of trial, with utterly new charges: those of 'Crimes against Humanity' and 'Genocide'. And before it can even take place, numerous crises and obstacles must be overcome... 
 
As court proceedings finally get underway, the enormity of the Nazis' crimes is revealed via a mountain of documentary evidence: and chilling footage of the concentration camps. Over the next 218 days, the accused - among them Hitler's architect and close ally, Albert Speer, and deputy Hermann Goering - are cross-examined, and forced to admit to the shabby gangsterism of the Nazi war machine. With the judges' verdict imminent, who will be executed, and who acquitted? 
 
Featuring a stellar cast, including Henry Goodman, Freddie Fox, Alex Kingston and Natalie Dormer, Jonathan Myerson's epic series brings the process alive from the ground up. We see the trial - and the events leading up to it - through the eyes of some of the myriad individuals involved: the US Army officer guarding the cells; the Russian interpreter translating the indictments; the psychologist who runs tests on the defendants, hoping to find the mystery of human evil; and the young German girl working in the court cafeteria, who must come to terms with her country's collective guilt. 
 
Drawing on eyewitness testimony, contemporary reports, over 20 volumes of court transcripts and more than 2000 hours of audio and newsreel, this comprehensive drama gives us a fresh understanding of the immense achievement of those who fought for justice in 'the last battle of World War II' - and reveals how that phenomenal historical moment shaped our world today. 
 
Also included is a bonus interview in which Jonathan Myerson discusses the writing of Nuremberg with Kristan McMahon of the Robert H. Jackson Center. 
 
Credits 
Written and directed by Jonathan Myerson 
Produced by Nicholas Newton 
Sound Designer: Adam Woodhams 
Studio Manager: Mark Smith 
Casting Director: Ginny Schiller 
Original Score: Metaphor Music 
A Promenade Production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds 
 
 First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 August-15 October 2021 
 
With thanks to Kristan McMahon 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Nuremberg: The Trial of the Nazi War Criminals

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast drama

John Peacock

A BBC Radio thriller series about two old-school detectives who solve crimes in Victorian London 
 
1839, and Bow Street Runner Pip Shepherd is out of a job. The Runners have been disbanded, merged with Sir Robert Peel's new Metropolitan Police - and there's no way Pip's signing up with them. But when he befriends 'Peeler' Thomas Tedman, and hears about an upcoming detective division, he has second thoughts: and soon the duo are investigating their first cases together. 
 
The Last of the Bow Street Runners sees Tom and Pip teaming up to solve the mystery of a murdered earl and a missing fiancé. 
 
In A Cuckoo in the Nest, a man lost at sea for 14 years returns to claim his fortune. But is he the Nettlefields' true son and heir, or an imposter? 
 
Out on the Drag finds Pip going undercover to infiltrate a gang of 'draggers' led by the sinister Brock - and finding more than he bargained for. 
 
In The Kitten House, the two policemen probe a sophisticated vice ring operating in the highest echelons of society... 
 
Scripted by award-winning writer John Peacock, these four fantastic historical crime dramas star Todd Carty (Grange Hill, EastEnders) as Pip, with Charles Simpson (London Bridge, Kavanagh QC) as Thomas. 
 
Written by John Peacock 
Directed by David Blount 
Pianist: Harry Myers 
 
Cast 
Pip Shepherd - Todd Carty 
Thomas Tedman - Charles Simpson 
Dolly Jenks - Maggie McCarthy 
With Deborah Berlin, Ioan Meredith, Tessa Worsley, Zulema Dene, Stephen Critchlow, Tracy Wiles, Becky Hindley, Elizabeth Conboy, Harry Myers, Maggie McCarthy 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11 June-2 July 1999 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

London Particulars

A BBC Radio 4 crime drama

Steve Chambers

The complete Series 1 and 2 of the historical drama set in a bustling Midlands railway station in the Victorian era 
 
In these two series, set on selected dates in January 1895 and December 1896, we follow the day-to-day shenanigans of Bridgford station master Joe Braddock and his staff, along with a motley crew of passengers and passers-by. Each episode is a self-contained drama, as well as telling the ongoing story of the crises and challenges tackled by the team, and their rivalries, enmities, friendships and burgeoning romances. 
 
As Series 1 begins, a goods train is derailed - just as a VIP visitor is about to arrive. As the crew scramble to clear the line, it becomes evident that the accident has damaged the Sherwood Tunnel: and something sinister lurks within. When a man is found dead, a public inquiry is launched - and as a second disaster looms, Signalman Fred Roberts fights to clear his name... 
 
In Series 2, newly promoted Regional Superintendent Archibald Cripps is hatching a plot to replace Joe as Station Manager. Adding to Joe's worries are a painful tooth, pickpockets, fare-dodgers and his daughter Josie's relationship with porter Jack Robson. But when a train gets stuck in a snowdrift, with a young pregnant woman on board, it's up to Joe and his rescue party to save the day - even if it means getting fired... 
 
Written by Steve Chambers (HighLites), these gentle, engaging plays take us back to a bygone age of travel, when the railways ruled the roost. They star Sean Baker as Joe Braddock, with a full cast including Philip Jackson, Christopher Scott, Julia Ford, Colleen Prendergast, Pauline Letts and John Hartley. 
 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 January-1 February 1995 (Series 1), 27 November-18 December 1996 (Series 2) 
 
Credits 
Written by Steve Chambers 
Directed by David Hunter, Celia de Wolff and Marion Nancarrow 
Technical presentation by Richard Beadsmore, Keith Graham, David Blount, Tim Sturgeon, Ian Harker and Hilary Carruthers 
 
Cast 
Joe Braddock - Sean Baker 
Tidmarsh - Philip Jackson/Christopher Scott 
Josie - Julia Ford/Colleen Prendergast 
Ada - Pauline Letts 
Fred Roberts - John Hartley 
Mr Cripps/Moran/Woodcock - Gavin Muir 
Phoebe - Becky Hindley 
Sydney - Tom Bevan 
Jackson - Joshua Towb/Chris Pavlo 
Wheeler - Tom Knight/Keith Drinkel 
Robson - Lloyd Notice/Robert Harper 
Mrs Brook Hammond - Frances Jeater 
General Booth/Blind man - Michael Tudor Barnes 
Parkin - Michael Tudor Barnes/Stephen Thorne 
Girl thief/Sheena - Deborah Berlin 
Professor Geider - David Collings 
McCarthy - Ian Masters 
Lydia - Geraldine Fitzgerald 
Hancock - Nicholas Collett/Alex Lowe 
Ellen Davison - Annabel Mullion 
Sarah - Elizabeth Anson 
Crippled John - Ronald Herdman 
Russian acrobat - David B Miller 
Reverend Sentence/Dr Keeble - George Parsons 
Meat porter - Ian Peck 
Purvis - Oliver Senton 
Nellie - Jane Slavin 
Hall/Mr Newton - Peter Whitman 
Sheena MacDonald - Deborah Berlin 
Mrs MacDonald/Miss Walker - Jilly Bond 
Mr MacDonald - Peter Yapp 
Dr Pettigrew - David Holt 
Tuffnell/Mr Alcock - Don McCorkindale 
Sir James Chettle/Ridley - Stephen Thorne 
Mrs Peabody - Joyce Gibbs 
Hickman - Tim Seely 
Jamie - Ian Taylor 
Captain Hargreaves - Mark Bonnar 
Bishop - James Taylor 
Bert - Peter Gunn 
Colonel Smithers-Jenkins/Holbrook/Farmer White/Mr Jenkins - Ioan Meredith 
Florrie - Amanda Gordon 
Flora - Tracy Wiles 
Mrs Ellen Scrimshaw - Ann Beach 
Dr Marie Pascal - Alice Arnold 
Harry - James Daley 
Dora - Ashley Moore 
Paper Seller - Kim Wall 
Janet/Jane Cakebread - Joanna Monro 
Mary - Adjoa Andoh 
Miss Joseph - Mary Roscoe 
Mrs Gunn/Lady Casterton - Shirley Dixon 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Victoria Station

A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Drama

Craig Warner

Henry Goodman stars in this irreverent historical romp, set in 18th-century France 
 
When impoverished watchmaker Caron invents a pioneering device that could revolutionise timekeeping, his fortunes begin to change. Marrying a young, upper-class widow, he takes on a new, noble name - de Beaumarchais - and sets out to conquer Louis XV's court. 
 
But his attempts to rise through the ranks of Versailles society are blocked by royal clockmaker Lepaute - as well as courtly crushes, rumours of war and illicit printing. In a bid to offset his enormous debts, he takes on a tricky task for the King - but his patron's death presents further challenges, in the form of an unlikely dairymaid, a controversial play and political unrest. Will the storming of the Bastille put paid to his aristocratic ambitions? 
 
Created by multi-award-winning playwright Craig Warner, this witty sitcom is based on the real-life story of Pierre-Agustin Caron de Beaumarchais - horologist, playwright, diplomat, arms dealer and spy. Henry Goodman plays our wily hero, and among the star cast are Bill Nighy, Ronald Pickup, Jason O'Mara, Siobhan Redmond and Joanna Monro. 
 
 
Written by Craig Warner 
Directed by Marion Nancarrow 
 
Cast 
Beaumarchais - Henry Goodman 
Henri Lepaute - David Calder 
Louis XV - Ronald Pickup 
Madame de Pompadour/Odile - Ann Beach 
Beaumarchais' father - Stephen Thorne 
Madelaine - Elaine Pyke 
Vignon/Lord Stormont - Denys Hawthorne 
Secretaire/Silas Deane - Jason O'Mara 
Lawyer/Louis XVI/Soldier - Alex Lowe 
Princess Adelaide - Colleen Prendergast 
Princess Sophie - Amanda Gordon 
Goezman - Hugh Ross 
Le Comte d'Artois/Duverney/Figaro/Barber - Sean Baker 
La Blache/Dupaty - David Bannerman 
La Duchesse de Polignac - Joanna Monro 
Lia de Beaumont - Bill Nighy 
Lord Rochford - David Timson 
Marie Antoinette - Siobhan Redmond 
Jacques/Marat - Kim Wall 
Jules/President - Christopher Scott 
Suard/Beggar - Ron Cook 
Le Duc de Fronsac - Ioan Meredith 
Market women - Joanna Monro &amp; Elaine Pyke 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 7 November-12 December 2006 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Beaumarchais

A BBC Radio 4 comedy drama

Toulouse-Lautrec's iconic Parisian poster stars come to life in these full-cast dramas, set in 19th-century Montmartre 
 
1889, Paris. When Charles Zidler's extravagant pleasure palace, the Moulin Rouge, opens in bohemian Montmartre, he commissions local artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec to create a series of posters to promote it. The striking lithographs Henri produces will make his name - and launch the careers of the performers he portrayed. 
 
This sparkling collection of plays introduces us to eight of those legendary artistes, whose lives were as vivid as Lautrec's paint. It opens with Yvette Guilbert, the story of a singer whose dreams of wealth and fame lead her to a brand new cabaret on Boulevard de Clichy.... In The Boneless Wonder, we meet can-can dancer Valentin Renaudin. Merely a silhouette in Toulouse-Lautrec's poster, what is he in real life? La Goulue tells the tale of his famous partner, Louise Weber, whose soubriquet reflects her love of food and life. And in Jane Avril, we hear about Henri's muse, whose nickname 'Crazy Jane' didn't simply refer to her exuberant dancing. 
 
May Belfort explores the Irish singer turned lady of the night, who relied more on her beauty than her voice. In Footitt and Chocolat, a circus double act is in danger of drifting apart; while in Casque d'Or, a group of passionate revolutionaries make a fatal last stand. Finally, Aristide Bruant sees the socialist club owner becoming a fashionable success - against all his intentions. He needs to find a new direction: as does Yvette Guilbert... 
 
Created by award-winning writer John Peacock, these dazzling dramas will transport you to Belle Époque Paris, in all its glamour and decadence. The star casts include Julie Covington as Yvette Guilbert, Frances Barber as La Goulue, Bonnie Langford as May Belfort, Bernard Hill as Aristide Bruant and Miranda Richardson as Marie Briand. 
 
Written by John Peacock 
Directed by Jane Morgan 
Music by Stephen Warbeck 
Technical presentation: David Greenwood, assisted by Anne Bunting and Colin Guthrie 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Posters of the Moulin Rouge

Eight BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas based on the characters of Toulouse-Lautrec

John Masters

An 18-part serialisation of John Masters' chronicles of the Savage family, spanning the years 1825-1946 and set against the backdrop of British rule in India 
 
Based on the hugely popular novels of John Masters, this landmark BBC Radio adaptation charts the history of the British in India through the perspective of one family over several generations. Ranging over more than 120 years, these thrilling tales of love, murder and espionage take us from the expansion of the East India Company to the last days of the Raj and the approach of Independence. 
 
The Deceivers - 1825. When Company official William Savage witnesses a brutal double murder and uncovers grisly evidence of mass ritual sacrifice, he is drawn into the dark world of the thuggee and their murderous, Kali-worshipping cult. Can he escape with his honour - and his soul - intact? Starring David Collings, Saeed Jaffrey, and Terence Alexander. 
 
Night Runners of Bengal - 1856, and William's son Rodney is an officer in the Bengal Army. His life is one of security and privilege - but a guru's prophecy, and disturbing events surrounding the Rani of Kishanpur, are harbingers of seismic change to come. Across India, the Great Rebellion is rising... Starring Michael Cochrane, Eva Haddon, Carole Boyd and Renu Setna. 
 
The Lotus and the Wind - 1879. Britain and Russia are deadly rivals in the 'Great Game'. At the centre of the conflict is Afghanistan, where soldier-turned-spy Lt Robin Savage is attempting to thwart Russian intelligence. Meanwhile, the woman he loves, Anne Hildreth, witnesses a murder en route to Peshawar... Starring Bill Nighy, Juliet Stevenson, John Rowe. 
 
Bhowani Junction - 1946, and India is heading for self-rule. But when Independence comes, what will happen to Anglo-Indians Patrick Taylor and Victoria Jones? As they search for their true identity amidst Britain's turbulent withdrawal, Colonel Rodney Savage hunts for saboteurs seeking to blow up Bhowani's railway... Starring Gary Bond, Sean Barrett and Shireen Shah. 
 
Text copyright © The Estate of John Masters 1951 (Nightrunners of Bengal), 1952 (The Deceivers), 1953 (The Lotus and the Wind), 1954 (Bhowani Junction) 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by John Masters 
Music composed by Malcolm Clarke of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop 
 
The Deceivers 
Dramatised by David Wade. 
Directed by Penny Leicester. 
Executive producer: Colin Venning 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 September-28 October 1984 
 
Nightrunners of Bengal 
Dramatised by Barry Campbell. 
Directed by Christopher Venning 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4-25 November 1984 
 
The Lotus and the Wind 
Dramatised by David Wade. 
Directed by Penny Leicester 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2-23 December 1984 
 
Bhowani Junction 
Dramatised by Barry Campbell 
Directed by Christopher Venning 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 December 1984-27 January 1985 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Masters' India Saga

Miguel de Cervantes

A captivating BBC Radio adaptation of Cervantes' masterpiece, chronicling the adventures of an intrepid knight errant and his faithful squire 
 
Locked up in jail, Miguel de Cervantes is attempting to start a novel when he is visited by a priest, who tells him about an old man driven insane by chivalric romances and a vision of glory. Inspired, Cervantes takes up his pen, and begins to write... 
 
His story begins in La Mancha, where an elderly country gentleman decides to emulate his knightly heroes, Sir Lancelot and El Cid, and embark on a quest to prove his valour. Renaming himself Don Quixote, he puts on his rusty armour, takes up his broadsword, saddles his broken-down horse, Rocinante, and rides out with his loyal squire Sancho Panza to put the world to rights. 
 
Spurred on by thoughts of his lady, the beautiful Dulcinea, he travels the Spanish countryside, charging at giants disguised as windmills, battling evil enchanters dressed as friars and bravely offering to fight a lion. But as his colourful fantasies come up against mundane reality, will the valiant knight be vanquished? 
 
Adapted by award-winning playwright John Arden and narrated by Ronald Baddiley as Cervantes, with Bob Grant as Don Quixote and Bernard Cribbins as Sancho Panza, this magical, metafictional tale, full of comic incidents and stories-within-stories, is at once farcical and heart-breaking. 
 
First published over 400 years ago, Cervantes' classic has been described as the first modern novel. One of the bestselling books of all time, it has been translated into over 100 languages and influenced countless authors including Flaubert, Dostoevsky, Kafka and Borges. Included here is a 2-part bonus programme, Masterpiece: Don Quixote, exploring its importance and enduring popularity. Among the contributors are Carlos Fuentes, Ben Okri and Doris Lessing, who voted the book 'the greatest literary work ever written' in a 2002 survey of 100 authors worldwide. 
 
Cast and credits 
 
Don Quixote 
Don Quixote - Bob Grant 
Sancho Panza - Bernard Cribbins 
Cervantes - Ronald Baddiley 
Father Perez - David Sumner 
Barber-Surgeon - Peter Wheeler 
Housekeeper - Kathleen Helme 
Antonia - Kate Lee 
Moor - Geoffrey Banks 
Innkeeper - Kenneth Alan Taylor 
Dorothea - Linda Gardner 
Market boy - Alan Parnaby 
Sergeant - Alan Meadows 
Don Fernando - Simon Molloy 
Aldonza - Meg Johnson 
Duke - Russell Dixon 
Samson - Stephen Boxer 
Teresa Panza - Paula Tilbrook 
Altisidora - Harriet Walter 
Scholar - Malcolm Hebden 
Puppet Master - Ken Campbell 
Duchess - Judith Arthy 
Veiled Lady - Anne Reid 
Steward - John McGregor 
Other parts played by members of the cast 
Written by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 
Adapted by John Arden 
Directed by Alfred Bradley 
Music composed by Stephen Boxer and played by Ian Gammie, Bill Nixon, Jane Ryan, Roderick Skeaping, John Turner and Stephen Boxer 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5-6 October 1980 
 
Masterpiece: Don Quixote 
With contributions from: Geoff West, Jeremy Lawrance, Julian Weiss, Francisco Rico, Andrew Sachs, Francisco Sesto, Adrienne Martin, Anne Cruz, Orson Welles, Edith Grossman, Carlos Fuentes, Ben Okri and Doris Lessing 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15-22 August 2005 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Don Quixote

Alexander Mackendrick

Jay Presson Allen

Alexander Mackendrick's unproduced screenplay about the most turbulent year of Mary Stuart's life 
 
'Rain-drenched spectacular... [Glenda] Jackson brings authority and asperity, but so much more' New Statesman 
 
The annals of movie history are full of lost treasures - spectacular scripts from world-renowned writers that could have been classics, had they only been made. Now, for the first time, some of these forgotten gems have been brought to life, fully realised as vivid, cinematic radio productions. Scripted by major 20th Century writers, including Harold Pinter, Arthur Miller, Alfred Hitchcock and Dennis Potter, they star a host of A-list actors and feature richly evocative, atmospheric soundtracks. 
 
One of seven 'unmade movies' available on audio, Mary Queen of Scots follows one tumultuous year in the life of the 16th Century monarch. It's 1566, and two clans are at war. Two religions - Catholic and Protestant - are in conflict. And two countries - England and Scotland - are about to collide. At the centre of this turmoil is 23-year-old Queen Mary: pregnant, isolated and vulnerable. Caught in a web of treachery, betrayal and murder, she must use her steely intelligence and every skill at her disposal to maintain her rightful position on the throne... 
 
The acclaimed director of Whisky Galore! and The Ladykillers, Alexander Mackendrick spent nearly two decades struggling to adapt Mary Stuart's story for the silver screen, before retiring from filmmaking in 1969. Almost 50 years later, his cherished project was finally revived, directed by 'BAFTA Breakthrough Brit' Hope Dickson Leach and produced by Sandy Lieberson, Mackendrick's intended producer for the film. Narrated by the multi-award-winning Glenda Jackson, who twice played Elizabeth I in the 1970s, it stars Ellie Bamber (The Serpent) as Mary. Settle back and let yourself get carried away by this sweeping tale of passion, power, triumph and tragedy... 
 
 
Production credits 
Original screenplay by Alexander Mackendrick and Jay Presson Allen 
Directed by Hope Dickson Leach 
Executive Producers: Laurence Bowen, Peter Ettedgui, Sandy Lieberson and Frank Stirling 
Sound Design: Wilfredo Acosta 
Original music by Hutch Demouilpied 
A Dancing Ledge production for BBC Radio 4 
 
Cast 
Mary Stuart - Ellie Bamber 
Narrator - Glenda Jackson 
Maitland - Mark Bonnar 
Bothwell/Kerr - Emun Elliott 
Darnley - Edward Holcroft 
Morton - Bill Paterson 
Ruthven/Du Croc/Knox - Struan Rodger 
Murray/Rizzio/Taylor/Scout - Kevin Guthrie 
Paris/Porter - Jamie Quinn 
Mary Seton/Mary Fleming - Katharine O'Donnelly 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 December 2018 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Unmade Movies: Alexander MacKendrick's Mary Queen of Scots

A BBC Radio 4 adaptation of the unproduced screenplay

Simon Armitage

Linda Marshall Griffiths

Award winning classic stories from Greek mythology, reimagined by Simon Armitage and Linda Marshall Griffiths - plus bonus material 
 
With their epic tales of gods, heroes, magic and monsters, the Greek myths have thrilled us for over 2000 years, and inspired countless adaptations. Now, in this captivating collection, two award-winning playwrights bring their own fresh, contemporary takes to the famous legends of Odysseus, Orpheus and Eurydice. 
 
Simon Armitage's Missing Presumed Dead: The Odyssey weaves together Homeric myth and modern-day politics, as a senior politician with a colourful past is sent on a diplomatic mission to Istanbul, only to find himself at the centre of an international incident. On the run from the authorities, he is plunged into the ancient past where his Odyssey begins, as he contends with supernatural beings and unnatural phenomena from the Cyclops and Circe to Sirens, storms and shipwreck. Will he survive, and get back home? Meanwhile, in the present day, his wife and son are besieged by the press, desperate to hear the full story... This gripping dramatisation stars Colin Tierney as Smith/Odysseus. 
 
In two linked plays, with a 4-minute introduction by Simon Armitage, he and Linda Marshall Griffiths each give their versions of the tragedy of Orpheus and his doomed bride. Armitage's Eurydice and Orpheus: Her Story tells the tale of two lovers - lab technician Sanna and busking musician Zak - and a harp that will have a profound, irreversible effect on both their lives. Claire Price stars as Sanna, with Bryan Dick as Zak. And in Orpheus and Eurydice: His Story, by Linda Marshall Griffiths, grief-stricken singer Orfeo journeys into the Underworld to bring back his dead wife, Eurydice. But is love stronger than death, if a backward glance can destroy everything? Starring Nico Mirallegro as Orfeo and Emily Taaffe as Eurydice, and with music by PJ Harvey, this moving drama won the Grand Prix Marulic in 2016. 
 
Also included is a bonus extract from Radio 4's Start the Week, in which Simon Armitage talks to Anne McElvoy about his dramatisation of Homer's Iliad and Virgil's Aeneid, The Last Days of Troy. 
 
Cast and credits 
 
Missing Presumed Dead: The Odyssey 
Cast: Colin Tierney, Simon Dutton, Polly Frame, Susie Trayling, Lee Armstrong, Roger Evans, David Hartley, Ranjit Krishnamma, Chris Reilly,Sule Rimi, Danusia Samal 
Written by Homer. Adapted by Simon Armitage 
Originally directed for the stage by Nick Bagnall and co-produced by The Liverpool Everyman and the English Touring Theatre. Directed by Susan Roberts. Music composed by James Fortune 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24 April-1 May 2016 
 
Eurydice and Orpheus: Her Story 
Cast: Claire Price, Bryan Dick, Jonathan Keeble, Alexandra Mathie, Stephen Fletcher 
Written by Simon Armitage. Produced by Susan Roberts 
With music composed by PJ Harvey. Harpist: Jon Banks. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21 September 2015 
 
Orpheus and Eurydice: His Story 
Cast: Nico Mirallegro, Emily Taaffe, Jonathan Keeble, Alexandra Mathie, Stephen Fletcher 
Written by Linda Marshall Griffiths. Directed by Nadia Molinari 
With music composed by PJ Harvey 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 September 2015 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Greek Myths: Modern re-tellings

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast drama collection

Don Taylor

An epic 12-part drama about the events leading up to, and following, the execution of King Charles I 
 
'Classy writing... wonderfully crisp, with a brilliant cast' The Spectator 
 
England, 1647. Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army has routed the Royalists, and the King, having fled to Scotland, has been ransomed, sent back across the border and imprisoned. It seems the war is over, but there is trouble ahead. Parliament wants to disband the army and install its own militia - an act that looks, to Cromwell's loyal soldiers, like outright betrayal. 
 
As dissent grows within the ranks, agitators such as Francis White and John Reynolds, and leading Leveller John Lilburne, step up to speak for the common man. What began with a dispute over army demobilisation soon becomes far more, and a radical faction arises demanding freedom, equality and power to the people. But for Cromwell and his Commander-in-Chief, Thomas Fairfax, this is a challenge to Parliament's authority, and smacks of revolution. Facing a schism within the army, Cromwell is torn - but when the King escapes from custody, he and his troops have a new threat to deal with... 
 
Meanwhile, the women at home have troubles of their own. Clever, independent Penelope White is subject to the whims of her intransigent father, who wants her to marry a man of his choosing. And Lilburne's wife, Elizabeth, must risk her life each time she smuggles forbidden political papers into his cell in the Tower of London. As their men prepare to fight once more, what does the future hold for them? 
 
Set between the pivotal years of 1647 and 1649, this classic Civil War drama stars Bernard Hepton as Cromwell, Nigel Anthony as Fairfax, Graham Blockey as Francis White, Christian Rodska as Lilburne, William Eedle as Charles I, Deborah Makepeace as Penelope and Maureen O'Brien as Elizabeth. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Don Taylor 
 
God's Revolution 
Lord General Fairfax - Nigel Anthony 
John Church - Eric Allan 
Francis White - Graham Blockey 
Charles I/Lieut. Colonel Jackson/Cornet Denne - William Eedle 
Oliver Cromwell - Bernard Hepton 
Stephen White - David March 
John Reynolds - Kim Wall 
John Lilburne - Christian Rodska 
James Thompson - Simon Cuff 
Miles Sindercombe/Col. Rainsborough/Sir William Waller/Morrison - John Baddeley 
Corporal Perkins/Silent soldier/Simeon/Joseph/Winstanley/Brother Gerard - Steve Hodson 
Colonel James/Lockyer/Major General Skippon/Huntingdon - Peter Craze 
Edmund White/Major Gooday/Col. Scroop - Cornelius Garrett 
Penelope White - Deborah Makepeace 
Elizabeth Lilburne - Maureen O'Brien 
William Thompson/Captain Musket - Anthony Jackson 
Commissary Ireton - Bill Wallis 
Edward Sexby/Col. Whalley - John Hartoch 
Lady Anne Fairfax - Lin Sagovsky 
Cornet Joyce/Everard - Jonathan Nibbs 
Betty - Zelah Clarke 
Mrs Cromwell/Martha- June Barrie 
John Lilburne - Christian Rodska 
Beggar woman - June Tobin 
John Wildman - Stephen Rashbrook 
Robin - Elizabeth Lindsay 
Isaac - Christopher Asante 
Capt. Hatton - Alan Coveney 
Pride - Norman Eshley 
Mary Overton - Barbara Kellermann 
Mrs Chidley - Ellen Dryden 
Barry - Paul Sirr 
Directed by Shaun MacLoughlin and Ronald Mason 
Psalms arranged by Blaise Compton 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7 October-23 December 1988 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

God’s Revolution

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast historical drama

Jonathan Meyerson

Nigel Williams

Rex Obano

Joy Wilkinson

Tamsin Oglesby

A collection of factual dramas exploring the history of oil - and the price we pay for it 
 
Ever since it was first drilled over 150 years ago, oil has been both a blessing and a curse. It has enabled economic growth; provided an efficient energy source; fuelled our entire infrastructure - and caused wars, pollution and global warming. These seven dramas, set between 1951 and 2045, and taking us from postwar Iran to futuristic Lancashire, examine the role oil has played in shaping our world: recounting incredible stories of wealth, power, politics and corruption. 
 
Stand Firm, You Cads! By Jonathan Myerson tells the colourful tale of how Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh took back the nation's oil from the British, and the chaos and conflict that followed. In Looking for Billy by Nigel Williams, a private detective investigates protests against an Alaskan pipeline - and finds out what oil did to the indigenous Inupiat people. The Weapon, by Jonathan Myerson, is a tense, thrilling dramatisation of the 1973 OPEC siege, while Baby Oil, also written by Myerson, is based on real events in the propaganda campaign at the outbreak of the First Gulf War. 
 
In Someone's Making a Killing in Nigeria by Rex Obano, a local businesswoman is caught up in the violent consequences of the Ogoni people's campaign against the oil industry. No Two Days by Joy Wilkinson is a mesmerising maze of stories about risk, passion and deep-sea oil, centred around an ambitious journalist's attempts to investigate the 2010 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion. And in Tamsin Ogleby's future oil comedy Blood from Stone, a father-and-son energy company struggles with the new economics of the oil market. Is Ralph right about getting out for good? Is his dad Charlie more addict than businessman? And will we ever be able to give up oil? 
 
Anna Maxwell Martin, Raad Rawi, Jemma Redgrave, Paul Ritter, Nicholas Le Prevost , James McArdle, Nadine Marshall, Faye Marsay, Obi Abili, David Ajala, Jude Akuwudike, and Alun Armstrong are among the casts in these enthralling dramas. Also included are two short clips in which Nicolas Kent discusses the difference between directing for radio and stage, and explains his inspiration for The Price of Oil. 
 
Production credits 
Devised by Nicolas Kent, with Jack Bradley and Jonathan Myerson 
Produced by Jonquil Panting 
 
Listening Order 
 
Stand Firm, You Cads! 
Written by Jonathan Myerson. Directed by Nicolas Kent. Pianist: Laurie O'Brien 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 September 2015 
 
Looking for Billy 
Written by Nigel Williams. Directed by Nicolas Kent. Inupiat translations provided by Chelsey Zibell 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 September 2015 
 
The Weapon 
Written by Jonathan Myerson. Directed by Jonquil Panting 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 September 2015 
 
Baby Oil 
Written by Jonathan Myerson. Directed by Nicolas Kent 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 September 2015 
 
Someone's Making a Killing in Nigeria 
Written by Rex Obano. Directed by Jonquil Panting 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 October 2015 
 
No Two Days 
Written by Joy Wilkinson. Directed by Nicolas Kent 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 October 2015 
 
Blood from Stone 
Written by Tamsin Oglesby. Directed by Jonquil Panting 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 October 2015 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Price of Oil

7 BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas

John Galsworthy

An epic BBC radio adaptation of John Galsworthy's complete Forsyte Chronicles, narrated by Dirk Bogarde and with an all-star cast 
 
'Hallmarked with elegance and craftsmanship' The Evening Standard 
 
First broadcast in 1990, this monumental adaptation of John Galsworthy's Nobel Prize-winning novel series was a radio event. It was the most expensive drama serial ever produced, featured one of the biggest, most star-studded casts and dominated the Radio 4 schedules for over 5 months, attracting over a million listeners each week.Comprising all nine books in Galsworthy's Forsyte Chronicles, it spans 50 years - from 1886 to 1936 - and tells the irresistible story of an upper-class dynasty torn apart by a terrible feud. 
 
Wealthy, privileged and successful, the Forsytes seem to have it all. But the disastrous marriage of Irene and Soames Forsyte, and the dire consequences of one night and the next foggy day, are to split the family for generations. As the sins of the father are visited upon the children, the younger Forsytes - from Soames' daughter Fleur to her cousin Dinny Cherrell - find themselves doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past as they experience both the pain and the promise of love. Beset by emotional disasters, domestic dramas and society scandals, can the various members of this sprawling family ever find lasting happiness? 
 
This sweeping tale of passion, power and money stars a host of outstanding actors, including Dirk Bogarde, Alan Howard, Michael Hordern, Diana Quick, Michael Williams, Maurice Denham, Amanda Redman and Sophie Thompson. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by John Galsworthy 
 
The Forsyte Chronicles 
Galsworthy - Dirk Bogarde 
Old Jolyon - Michael Hordern 
Soames Forsyte - Alan Howard 
Irene - Diana Quick 
Young Jolyon - Michael Williams 
James - Maurice Denham 
Aunt Ann - Fabia Drake 
Aunt Hester - Rachel Kempson 
Aunt Juley - Renee Asherson 
June - Angela Pleasence 
Philip Bosinney - Michael Cochrane 
Swithin - David March 
Roger/Justice Bentham/Sir Luke Sharman/Adrian Cherrell - John Moffatt 
George/Monsieur Profond - Christopher Good 
Nicholas - John Gabriel 
Emily - Maxine Audley 
Winifred - Fiona Walker 
Montague Dartie/Elderson - Donald Gee 
Francie - Susan Sheridan 
Mrs Macander/Mme Lamotte/Smither/American woman - Jo Kendall 
Young Chankery - Charles Simpson 
Waterbuck, QC/Timothy/Mr Settlewhite/Hilary Cherrell - David King 
Annette - Shelley Thompson 
Holly - Elizabeth Mansfield 
Val - Dale Rapley 
Jolly - Paul Downing 
Dreamer/Francis/Francis Wilmot/Hubert Cherrell - Simon Treves 
Polteed/Gradman/Cuthbert Mothergil/Editor/Foskisson/Blore - Brian Miller 
Doctor/Lord Charles Ferrar/Lionel Cherrell/Neil Wintney/Mr Instone - James Greene 
Fleur - Amanda Redman 
Other Cast: Gary Cady, Gary Bond, Tara Dominick, Vincent Brimble, Nicholas Gilbrook, Sue Broomfield, Paul Daneman, Philip Sully, Stephen Garlick, John Bull, Danny Schiller, Belinda Lang, Jack May, Ben Onwukwe, David Bannerman, Ian Lindsay, Stuart McGuigan, Michael Kilgarriff, Catherine Furshpan, Christopher Scott, Garard Green, Mary Allen, Sophie Thompson, Dorothy Tutin, Peter Marinker, Moir Leslie, Danielle Allan, Paul Rattigan, Jack Klaff, Lois Burgess, Miranda Foster, Peter Howell, Aubrey Woods, Jody McDonald, James Warwick, David Yelland, Matthew Solon, Elizabeth Kelly, William Wortley, Henry Power, Leonard Fenton, Jenny Howe and Nigel Carrington 
 
Dramatised by David Spenser, Shirley Gee and Elspeth Sandys 
Directed by Janet Whitaker, Anthony Cornish and Sue Wilson 
Series producer: Janet Whitaker 
Pianist: Mary Nash 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 September 1990-2 March 1991 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Forsyte Saga

4 Full Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

Dorothy L. Sayers

Dorothy L. Sayers' classic play cycle based on the life and times of Jesus 
 
 Dorothy L. Sayers was best known for her mystery novels featuring aristocratic amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. But she was also a poet, playwright and committed Christian, and in The Man Born to Be King she combined art and evangelism to powerful effect, making the story of Christ accessible, relevant and every bit as thrilling as her detective fiction. 
 
 Written specially for the BBC Radio, the play cycle caused huge controversy for its depiction of Christ as a character, and its use of contemporary speech instead of Biblical language. However it proved extremely popular with listeners, who wrote in to thank Sayers for making Jesus real to them and reigniting their interest in his remarkable story. 
 
 Based on the four Gospels, it includes one story of the Nativity, six plays about Jesus' life and ministry, and five Passion Plays telling of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, Jesus' arrest and trial before Pontius Pilate, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Backed up with a sweeping musical score, these immersive dramas surprise and shock us anew and provide fresh, illuminating insight into 'the greatest story ever told'. 
 
 The plays included are Kings in Judea, The King's Herald, A Certain Nobleman, The Heirs to the Kingdom, The Bread of Heaven, The Feast of Tabernacles, The Light and The Life, Royal Progress, The King's Supper, The Princes of This World, King of Sorrows and The King Comes to His Own. 
 
 Cast and credits 
 Written by Dorothy L Sayers 
 Adapted by/Producer: Raymond Raikes 
 The Evangelist (John Bar-Zebedee): Gabriel Woolf 
Jesus: John Westbrook 
Joseph/ Jacob Ben-Issachar: Norman Shelley 
Simon Bar-Jonah (Simon Peter): Stephen Jack 
Judas Iscariot: Alan Wheatley 
Matthew: Nigel Stock 
Herod The Great: Robert Eddison 
Nicodemus: John Wyse 
Ephraim: Denys Blakelock 
Shadrach: Malcolm Hayes 
Rabbit Solomon: John Gabriel 
Phoebe: Caroline Monkhouse 
Flavius: Trader Faulkner 
Calpurnia: Penelope Lee 
Mary Virgin: June Tobin 
Mary Magdalen: Mary Wimbush 
Martha: Marjorie Westbury 
Lazarus: Richard Hurndall 
Benjamin Ben-Hadad: Ralph Truman 
Joseph, kinsman to Jesus: Haydn Jones 
Simeon, kinsman to Jesus: Wilfrid Carter 
Baruch the Zealot: Francis de Wolff 
Baruch's Wife: Vivienne Chatterton 
Gestas: John Laurie 
Dysmas: Russell Napier 
Simon of Cyrene: Rodney Dias 
Proclus, a Roman Centurion: Trevor Martin 
Roman soldier: Bruce Beeby 
Roman soldier: Harvey Hall 
Joseph of Arimathea: Howieson Culff 
Calaphas, High Priest of Israel: Heron Carvic 
Salome, mother to James and John: Henzie Raeburn 
Mary Cleophas: Molly Rankin 
Balthazar, King of Ethiopia: Paul Danqdah 
Melchior/ A Zealot: Michael Kilgarriff 
Casper: James Dale 
Claudia Procula, wife to Pilate: Mary Law 
Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judaea: Alec Clunes 
Philip: Rolf Lefebvre 
Thomas Didymus/ Father: Philip Leaver 
Mother: Wynne Clark 
Miriam, child: Elizabeth Proud 
Isaac, child/a slave boy: Daniel Rose 
Hannah: Hester Paton-Brown 
James Bar-Zebedee: John Glen 
Andrew Bar-Jonah: John Boxer 
Hezekiah, secretary/ Roman Soldier: John Baker 
Annas, father-in-law to Caiaphas: Edward Atienza 
Captain Elihu: Keith Alexander 
Eunice, a Syro-Phoenician: Elizabeth Morgan 
Cleophas: Harry Hutchinson 
Portress at the High Priest's House: Miriam Margolyes 
Zillah, her daughter: Jo Manning-Wilson 
Issacher, servant: Hugh Dickson 
Susannah, mother to the Bride groom: Betty Baskcomb 
Rebecca, friend to Susannah: Gladys Spencer/ Janet Burnell 
Other cast: Ian Frost, Janette Richer, Nan Marriott-Watson, Janette Richer, Peter Marinker, Raf de la Torre, James Thomason, John Forrest, Michael Goldie 
First broadcast BBC Home Service 19th, 26th Jan, 2nd, 9th , 16th, 23rd Feb, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 28th, 30th March 1975 
 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Man Born To Be King

A BBC Radio 4 drama collection

Andrew Rissik

A collection of acclaimed radio retellings of Greek and Roman myths 
 
 
Andrew Rissik's powerful, uncompromising reimaginings of classic tales from Roman and Greek history were hailed as masterpieces when they first aired on BBC radio. Told in contemporary speech, they revitalised the ancient myths, making them fresh, relevant and accessible to a modern-day audience. This collection brings them together on audio for the first time, with stellar casts including Michael Sheen, Paul Scofield, Lindsay Duncan, David Harewood, Eleanor Bron, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Diana Rigg, Roger Allam, Toby Stephens, Anton Lesser and Robert Hardy. 
 
The Troy Trilogy - Praised by one critic as 'the greatest radio drama [anyone] could ever hear', this three-play sequence tells the tragic, timeless tale of the events leading up to and following the fall of Troy. In King Priam and His Sons, a child is born to Priam and his wife Hekabe, but the gods foretell disaster if he is allowed to live... The Death of Achilles resumes the story in the final year of the war, as Achilles quarrels with his supreme commander, Agamemnon. And in Helen at Ephesus, Troy has fallen, and as Agamemnon returns to face the judgement of his wronged wife Klytemnestra, Menelaos and Helen must begin the long spiritual journey towards forgiveness and self-knowledge. 
 
Dionysos -Based on Euripides' The Bacchae, this dark, provocative drama is the first of three plays examining the conflict between religion and state. Charismatic cult leader Dionysos arrives in Thebes preaching a gospel of wine and ecstasy. Threatened by his popularity, King Pentheus orders his arrest... 
 
The Art of Love -The second of the three-play cycle sees Roman poet Ovid sent into exile when his subversive ideas about love and freedom challenge the authority of the ageing Emperor Augustus. 
 
Resurrection - In the final play of the trilogy, the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, clashes with troublesome, itinerant preacher Yeshua Ben Youssef. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Andrew Rissik 
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer 
 
The Troy Trilogy 
Toby Stephens,James Hayes, Oliver Cotton, Ian Hogg, Emma Fielding, Cassandra Sperry, Deborah Findlay, Michael Maloney, Geraldine Somerville, Paul Scofield, Lindsay Duncan, James Laurenson, Geoffrey Whitehead, Abigail Docherty, Jean-Marc Perret, Michael Sheen, Saeed Jaffrey, David Harewood, Julian Glover, Eleanor Bron 
Music by Nick Russell Pavier and David Chilton. 
Singer: Mia Soteriou. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3: 28 November 1998 (King Priam and His Sons), 29 November 1998 (The Death of Achilles, Helen at Ephesus) 
 
Dionysos 
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Toby Stephens, Paul Scofield, Diana Rigg, Roger Allam, Pip Donaghy, Bruce Purchase, Jeffery Kissoon, Trevor Martin, Anna Carteret, Mali Harries, Yolanda Vazquez &amp; Mia Soteriou 
Music by Mia Soteriou. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 20 April 2003 
 
The Art of Love/Resurrection 
Stephen Dillane, Juliet Aubrey, Penny Downie, Robert Hardy, Peter Eyre, Ian McNeice, James Laurenson, Ioan Meredith, Damian Lynch, Anton Lesser, David Calder, Julia Ford, Sam Dastor, Raad Rawi, John Rowe, Mia Soteriou, Chris Moran, James Hayes, Jon Glover and Danny Sapani 
Music by Mia Soteriou. 
Musicians: Mia Soteriou, Steve Bentley Kline, Merlin Shepherd, William Lyons 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 11 April 2004 
 
&copy;2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Myths Reimagined: Troy Trilogy, Dionysos & more

A BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation collection

Humphrey Ker

David Reed

Thom Tuck

All 10 of the Penny Dreadfuls' riotous revisionist plays, retelling famous fictional tales and historical events 
 
'Terrific stuff' - Radio Times 
'Without exaggeration, they are heirs to the madcap humour that made Monty Python so captivating.' - The Skinny 
 
Sketch trio The Penny Dreadfuls made a name for themselves with The Brothers Faversham, telling the stories of nine extraordinary siblings in the Victorian era. In these ten comedy dramas, they step away from the 19th Century to revisit famous stories from history and literature. Featuring unforgettable characters, from the face of British treason to the last of the Plantagenets, their fresh, funny reimaginings are full of suspense, rip-roaring entertainment and gags galore. 
 
In Guy Fawkes, they take a new look at the Gunpowder Plot; Revolution recounts the entire story of the French Revolution in just one hour (with jokes) and Hereward the Wake asks why this heroic Englishman, responsible for leading the fight against William the Conqueror's occupation, has been forgotten. Macbeth Rebothered tells an alternative tale of this noble King; The Odyssey tackles Homer's epic journey home after the Trojan War and in The Voyage of the Beagle, we hear the story Darwin left out of his tales from his time aboard HMS Beagle. 
 
Le Carré on Spying takes us on an espionage romp through 1960s Berlin; Don Quixote condenses Cervantes' dense classic into an hour of mind-boggling fun and Hadrian's Beard considers the Roman emperor's dilemma: if he builds a wall across England, won't people just go around it in little boats? Finally, Richard III Rebothered combines history and belly laughs as the Penny Dreadfuls explore the notorious 'hunchback King'. 
 
With all ten plays collected together here for the very first time, this release features brand new introductions to each of the episodes, in which The Penny Dreadfuls chat about the making of these hilarious histories. 
 
Written and performed by Humphrey Ker, David Reed and Thom Tuck, these hilarious shows co-star Margaret Cabourn-Smith and feature stellar casts including Richard E Grant, Sally Hawkins, Robert Webb, Sylvester McCoy, Amanda Abbington, Kevin Eldon, Mark Heap, Miles Jupp, Lolly Adefope, Greg McHugh, Susan Calman, Justin Edwards, Vivienne Acheampong, Tony Gardner, Mina Anwar, Marek Larwood, Andrew Pugsley and Celeste Dring. 
 
Production credits 
Starring The Penny Dreadfuls: Humphrey Ker, David Reed and Thom Tuck, plus Margaret Cabourn-Smith 
Produced by Julia McKenzie 
 
Guy Fawkes 
Written by Humphrey Ker, David Reed &amp; Thom Tuck 
Guest starring Kevin Eldon, Miles Jupp &amp; Andrew Pugsley 
 
Revolution 
Written by Humphrey Ker &amp; David Reed 
Guest starring Richard E Grant &amp; Sally Hawkins 
 
Hereward the Wake 
Written by David Reed 
Guest starring Justin Edwards &amp; Marek Larwood 
 
Macbeth Rebothered 
Written by David Reed 
Guest starring Susan Calman &amp; Greg McHugh 
 
The Odyssey 
Written by David Reed 
Guest starring Lolly Adefope &amp; Robert Webb 
 
The Curse of the Beagle 
Written by David Reed 
 
Le Carré on Spying 
Written by David Reed 
Guest starring Mark Heap &amp; Miles Jupp 
 
Don Quixote 
Written by David Reed 
Guest starring Amanda Abbington, Vivienne Acheampong &amp; Sylvester McCoy 
 
Hadrian's Beard 
Written by David Reed 
Guest starring Mina Anwar &amp; Tony Gardner 
 
Richard III Rebothered 
Written by David Reed 
Guest starring Celeste Dring 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Penny Dreadfuls Present...

The complete BBC Radio 4 comedy series

Eight swashbuckling tales about the eccentric members of Victorian Britain's greatest aristocratic family 
 
Based on their critically-acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows Aeneas Faversham, Aeneas Faversham Returns and Aeneas Faversham Forever, these action-packed romps chronicle the lives of the Brothers Faversham, nine men who straddled the Victorian era 'like a mighty change-Titan'. In the annals of the British Empire, few names blaze more brightly than theirs - and now, at last, their extraordinary stories can be told. 
 
Beginning in 1834, as deadly adventuress and super-spy Lady Alexandra gives birth to her eldest son, we hear of the rise and fall of these prodigious siblings. Series 1 introduces us to the first four: decorated soldier Horatius; eminent detective Theseus; reckless explorer Leonidas and magician-turned-megalomaniac Augustus. In Series 2, we turn to the younger fraternal quintet: sporting hero Titus; renowned horror writer Maximilian; celebrated actor Marcus and successful twin industrialists Perceus and Lucius. Packed with staggering sketches, bizarre occurrences, curious happenstance and dastardly deeds, the sensational tale of the remarkable Favershams is one you will never forget... 
 
Featuring a brand new introduction, this splendidly melodramatic series is written and performed by debonair, waistcoated comedy trio The Penny Dreadfuls - Humphrey Ker, David Reed and Thom Tuck - and co-stars Ingrid Oliver and Miles Jupp. Brought to you by the Orphans for Cholera Awareness Foundation, this is... The Brothers Faversham! 
 
Credits 
Written by and starring The Penny Dreadfuls: Humphrey Ker, David Reed and Thom Tuck 
Script edited by Richard Turner 
Produced by Julia McKenzie 
 
Cast 
Alexandra Faversham - Ingrid Oliver 
Narrator - Miles Jupp 
First broadcast BBC Radio 7, 11 January-1 February 2008 (Series 1), 5-26 October 2008 (Series 2) 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Penny Dreadfuls: The Brothers Faversham

The BBC Radio 4 comedy series

Various

10 dramas focusing on women's untold stories from history. 
 
This diverse, eclectic collection of plays explores an array of social, political and historical events from a female point of view. In these captivating dramas, we see the world through their eyes, giving us a fresh perspective on a female history that is too often unrecorded, misrepresented or misunderstood. 
 
Featuring a multiplicity of styles and genres, and written by a wide variety of authors, they range from comedy dramas themed around the Bayeux Tapestry and the 1962 Cheltenham Literary Festival, to award-winning, thought-provoking tales of Nigerian teenagers kidnapped by Boko Haram. A contemporary version of the heroines from Greek mythology, Persephone and Demeter; Profumo affair from a female perspective, Britain's last witch (Helen Duncan); a legendary ballerina (Margot Fonteyn); a little sister (Dious, sibling of St Anthony) and a youngest daughter (Judith Shakespeare). 
 
Embroidering the Truth 
Queen Edith - Katy Brand 
Bishop Odo - Charlie Anson 
Other cast, Katy Sobey, Lisa Zahra, Jonny Holden, Rosie Cavaliero, Tracy Wiles. Written by Abigail Youngman. Produced by Mary Ward-Lowery. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 October 2019 
 
Girls 
Tisana - Amaka Okafor 
Ruhab - Faith Alabi 
Haleema - Joan Iyiola 
Written by Theresa Ikoko. Directed by Abigail Gonda. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 July 2017 
 
The Bulbul Was Singing 
Laura - Rebecca Humphries 
Ariman - Shaniaz Hama Ali 
Other Cast: Paul Hickey, Jonny Holden, Saya Zahawi, Catherine Cusack, Shaun Mason, Debbie Korley, Chris Pavlo 
Written by Judy Upton. Directed by Emma Harding. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 August 2019 
 
Seven Pomegranate Seeds 
Performed by Niamh Cusack, Ruth Bradley and Leah McNamara 
Written by Colin Teevan. Produced and directed by Allegra McIlroy. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7 January 2020 
 
Festival 
Elizabeth Jane Howard - Melody Grove 
John Moore - Tony Gardner 
Kingsley Amis - Jonathan Forbes 
Other cast: Will Howard, Emma Handy, John Lightbody. Written by Sarah Wooley. Directed by Gaynor Macfarlane. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 31 July 2018 
 
Well, He Would, Wouldn't He? 
Mandy (younger) - Aimee-Ffion Edwards 
Christine Keeler - Lyndsey Marshal 
'Pops' Murray - Stephen Marzella 
Stephen Ward/Peter Rachman - Ewan Bailey 
Other cast: Adrian Schiller, Alex Dower, Anthony Courier. Written by Charlotte Williams. Directed by Kate McAll. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 February 2013 
 
Tony's Little Sister and the Paradox of Monasticism 
Anthony - Duncan Preston 
Dious - Samantha Spiro 
Satan - Tim McMullan 
Other cast Ben Crowe, Rachel Bavidge. Written by David and Caroline Stafford. Produced by Marc Beeby. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 August 2007 
 
Judith Shakespeare 
Judith Shakespeare - Amanda Root 
William Shakespeare - Michael Pennington 
Henry, Earl of Southampton - Anton Lesser 
Other Cast, Andrew Wincott, Melinda Walker, Thomas Connor, Stephen Critchlow, Ann Beach, Colleen Prendergast, Jillie Meers 
Written by Nan Woodhouse. Directed byTracey Neale. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 April 1996 
 
An Unchoreographed World 
Margot Fonteyn - Sophie Jerrold 
Constant Lambert - Richard McCabe 
Other cast Oliver Millingham, Kate Littlewood 
Chorus - Anne-Marie Piazza, Maria Askew, Ffion Jolly, Ben Ashton &amp; Coen de Groot 
Written by Frances Byrne. Produced and directed by Mark Smalley. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 May 2008 
 
The Last Witch Trial 
Lucy - Indira Varma 
Margo - Lyndsey Marshal 
Other Cast: Joanna Monro, Vineeta Rishi Sam Dale, Michael Shelford, Keely Beresford 
Written by Melissa Murray. Directed by Marc Beeby. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 June 2010 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

HER Story: Women’s Untold Histories

10 BBC Radio full-cast dramas

Rohinton Mistry

A compelling dramatisation of Rohinton Mistry's Booker Prize-nominated novel about India's underclass 
 
India, 1975. Desperate to preserve her independence from her abusive brother, Parsi widow Dina Dilal turns her cramped city apartment into a sweatshop. But when her eyesight begins to fail, she hires two tailors - uncle and nephew Ishvar and Om, who have fled from caste violence in their native village. She also takes in a lodger - Maneck, a reluctant student from the mountains. 
 
Initially wary of each other, the four strangers soon form a close bond of friendship, loyalty and love. But their lives are about to be turned upside down, for India in the mid-1970s is in a state of crisis, riven by political turmoil and corruption. As Indira Gandhi's 'Emergency' measures come into force, civil liberties are suspended and human rights suppressed. In this climate of chaos, violence and injustice, Dina and her makeshift family find themselves struggling to survive and facing an uncertain future... 
 
Tragic, comic, poignant and redemptive, this heart-rending drama is a celebration of the human spirit under inhuman conditions. Adapted by Ayeesha Menon and Kewel Karim, it stars Shernaz Patel as Dina, Kenneth Desai as Ishvar, Anand Tiwari as Om and Neil Bhoopalam as Maneck. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Rohinton Mistry 
Dramatised by Ayeesha Menon and Kewel Karim 
Produced by Nadir Khan 
Directed by John Dryden 
Music: Sacha Putnam 
Sound Design: Steve Bond 
Production Manager: Niloufer Sagar 
A Goldhawk Production for BBC Radio 4 
 
Cast 
Dina - Shernaz Patel 
Ishvar - Kenneth Desai 
Om - Anand Tiwari 
Maneck - Neil Bhoopalam 
Rustom - Zafar Karachiwala 
Ibrahim - Rajit Kapur 
The Thakur - Jayant Kripalaini 
Ashraf - Darshan Jariwala 
Nusswan - Farid Currim 
Ruby - Anahita Uberoi 
Narayan - Vivek Madan 
Young Dina - Tirtha Kotrial 
Young Ishvar - Eshan Savla 
Young Narayan - Samar Uraizee 
Ensemble - Jim Sarbh, Abhishek Saha, Meherangiz Acharya-Dar, Faezeh Jalali, Shivani Tanksale, Nadir Khan 
Beggarmaster - Ankur Vikal 
Worm - Namit Das 
Rajaram - Jaimini Pathak 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 March-5 April 2015 
 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A Fine Balance

A BBC Radio full-cast drama

John Dryden

Mike Walker

An engrossing, expansive historical fantasy drama, inspired by the Mamluk slave dynasty of Egypt 
 
Tumanbay: the wealthiest city on earth. The beating heart of a vast empire. A city of dreams, where those who once arrived as slaves now hold power, and merchants, artists and warriors live side-by-side in peace. But this magnificent city is under threat. A rebellion in a far-off province, led by 'Queen' Maya, is gathering strength - and a mysterious force is devouring the empire from within. 
 
Gregor, a merciless spymaster and Master of the Palace Guard, is charged by Sultan Al-Ghuri to crush the insurgence, as his brother General Qulan is dispatched to quell the provincial insurrection. But as well as rooting out traitors, Gregor must contend with his arch-rival, the cunning Grand Vizier, Cadali. Meanwhile, Heaven, the 14-year-old daughter of slave merchant Ibn, is adrift at sea, captive to an escaped slave on whom she depends for her survival. Madu, the Sultan's spoilt nephew, also has to grow up quickly as he swaps palace life for the army... 
 
As the wheel of fate turns, Tumanbay's fortunes suffer a terrible reversal. Beset by plague, assassins, invasion, occupation and revolution, the once-great city is riven by political intrigue and power struggles. As rulers are toppled and tyrants fall, who will survive and thrive - and who will die? 
 
A Game of Thrones-style epic with the sweep of The Arabian Nights, this compelling story of love, revenge, betrayal and deception won the Best Audio Serial Gold Award at the New York Radio Festival. Among the impressive ensemble cast are Rufus Wright, Olivia Popica, Matthew Marsh, Alexander Siddig, John Sessions, Hiran Abeysekera, Aiysha Hart, Anton Lesser, Tara Fitzgerald, Enzo Cilenti and Rob Jarvis. 
 
 
Production credits 
Created by John Scott Dryden and Mike Walker and inspired by the Mamluk slave rulers of Egypt 
Written by John Scott Dryden, Mike Walker and Mac Rogers 
Directed by John Scott Dryden 
Produced by Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan and John Scott Dryden 
Original music by Sacha Puttnam 
Additional music by Jon Ouin 
Sound Design: Steve Bond, Jon Ouin and Eloise Whitmore 
Sound Recording by Joe Richardson and Laurence Farr 
Sound Edited by James Morgan and Andrea Gomez 
Editors: Ania Przygoda and James Morgan 
A Goldhawk Production for BBC Radio 4 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Tumanbay: The Complete Series 1-4

The BBC Radio epic full-cast saga

Mike Walker's thrilling saga of the Habsburg dynasty, who ruled most of Europe - and much of the New World - for almost 600 years 
 
For almost six centuries, the House of Habsburg was one of the most powerful royal families in Europe - and beyond. They established an empire that began with a castle on a crag, and ended up extending over four continents. In these riveting dramas, Mike Walker traces their rise and fall. 
 
Hawk Rising - Brugg, 1230. Summoned to Duke Rudolf of Habsburg's clifftop fortress to tutor his son, Albert, Turkish scholar Ibrahim finds himself accompanying the young man on a Prussian crusade. Rudolf is determined to become Holy Roman Emperor - but he needs the Pope's backing, and Alexander supports the expedition... Starring Philip Arditti as Ibrahim, Mark Lewis Jones as Rudolf and Kai Owen as Albert. 
 
Hawk Hunting - Enthroned as Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf battles to secure his dynasty. If Albert is to succeed him, various enemies must be removed from the scene, including his onetime ally King Ottokar of Bohemia. Meanwhile, Ibrahim is teaching philosophy to Albert's son, Frederick - and making secret deals. Starring Matthew Aubrey as Frederick and John Telfer as Ottokar. 
 
Hawk Wounded - Albert the One-Eyed of Habsburg has supplanted Norbert as Holy Roman Emperor: but Wenceslas is set on revenge. Disenchanted with Frederick, Albert places his trust in another Habsburg, John of Swabia - and Ibrahim confronts his nemesis. Starring Aled Pugh as John. 
 
Wallenstein - 1618. Wallenstein, a brilliant, rebellious Protestant mercenary, strives for advancement in the Holy Roman Empire's army. Guided by astute widow Katherina, he achieves fame and fortune. But this war wolf is hard to tame - can Katherina rein him in? Richard Harrington stars as Wallenstein, with Anamaria Marinca as Katherina. 
 
Redl - Vienna, 1913. Double agent Colonel Alfred Redl believes he is invincible: as unstoppable as the Habsburgs he purports to serve. A pioneer of modern surveillance techniques and a superb story-spinner, he is almost the perfect spy. But when this arch-traitor is himself betrayed, he falls - and the Empire falls with him... Starring Jonathan Forbes as Redl. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Mike Walker 
Directed by Alison Hindell and John Norton 
Sound design: Nigel Lewis 
A BBC Cymru Wales Production 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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