The short life of A.J.A. Symons (1900-41) was described by his biographer as an intricate and largely harmless confidence trick. His many interests included the collection of musical boxes and rare books as well as the study and practice of forgery; they left him time to edit an anthology of Edwardian verse and compose studies of H.M. Stanley and other notable figures. He is remembered for The Quest for Corvo, one of the most remarkable biographies ever written, and for co-founding the Wine and Food Society.

A. J. A. Symons

A. J. Liebling, born in Manhattan in 1904, joined the staff of the New Yorker in 1935 and contributed innumerable articles to the magazine throughout his lifetime, on subjects ranging from food to boxing and France to horse racing. As a war correspondent during the Second World War, he reported from France, England and Algeria, and participated in the Normandy landings. In later life he married the writer Jean Stafford, his third wife. He died in 1963.

A. J. Liebling

A. J. Rosen is an author of YA fantasy novels and is an ambassador for Wattpad, known as @agatharoza. Entwined is her first novel.

A. J. Rosen

A. K. Davidson

A. O. Scott has been a film critic at the New York Times since 2000. His writing has appeared in many other publications, including the New York Review of Books, Slate, the New Yorker and the Nation. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism in 2010, Scott is currently Distinguished Professor of Film Criticism at Wesleyan University. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York. 
 
@aoscott

A. O. Scott

A.S. Byatt (1936-2023) was a novelist, short-story writer and critic of international renown. Her novels include Possession (winner of the Booker Prize 1990), the Frederica Quartet and The Children’s Book, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction. She was appointed CBE in 1990 and DBE in 1999, and was awarded the Erasmus Prize 2016 for her ‘inspiring contribution to life writing’ and the Pak Kyongni Prize 2017. In 2018 she received the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award.

A. S. Byatt

A. T. Williams won the George Orwell Prize for Political Writing in 2013 for his book A Very British Killing: The Death of Baha Mousa. He lives in Warwickshire.

A. T. Williams

A. W. Chase

Dubbed ‘The new queen of spy fiction’ by the Guardian newspaper, and ‘the real thing’ by the Washington Post, A.C. 'Ava' Glass is the CWA Dagger-shortlisted author of Alias Emma (The Chase), The Traitor and The Trap. The Traitor was a 2023 Richard and Judy Bookclub pick. Alias Emma was a Barnes and Noble book of the month. A former crime reporter and communications consultant, for five years Ava worked closely with spies. Her time in that world fascinated her, and the people she met back then inspire every book she writes.

A.C. Glass

A.E. Housman

Arthur Edward Waite was the designer and co-creator of the now famous Rider Waite Tarot deck. 
 
An American-born British poet and scholarly mystic, his strong interest in all esoteric matters - divination, magic, Kabbalism, alchemy and Freemasony - led to him penning a number of books. These include the Key to the Tarot, The Book of Ceremonial Magic and A New Encyclopedia of Freemasony.

A.E. Waite

A.E. Warren is the author of the Tomorrow's Ancestors series, which consists of Subject Twenty-One, The Hidden Base, The Fourth Species and The Final Rising. 
 
After spending eight years working as a lawyer, she began to write in the evenings and early mornings as a form of escapism from life in a very small cubicle with lots of files. She self-published her first novels in her spare time, which were picked up by Del Rey UK which is the science fiction/fantasy imprint of Penguin Random House. 
 
 She is an avid reader, occasional gamer and fair-weather runner. She lives in the UK with her husband, daughter and hopefully, one day, a wise border terrier named Austen.

A.E. Warren

A.G.D. Maran

A.J. Ayer

A.J. Cronin

A K Benedict writes crime and speculative fiction in a room filled with clowns, mannequins and Doctor Who figures. Her first novel, The Beauty of Murder, was nominated for an eDunnit award and is in development for a major 8-part TV series by Company Pictures. Her second, Jonathan Dark or The Evidence of Ghosts, came out in February 2016. She's written Torchwood audio dramas for Big Finish and her short stories have featured in anthologies including Great British Horror and Best British Short Stories. She lives in St Leonards-on-Sea with her dog, Dame Margaret Rutherford.

A.K.Benedict

A. L. Kennedy has twice been selected as one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists and has won a host of other awards – including the Costa Book of the Year for her novel Day. She lives in Essex.

A.L. Kennedy

A.M. Ellis is a speculative fiction author and lover of everything steeped in myth and mystery. Her stories often lean into diverse voices, not only in her identity as a Black woman, but in exploring neurodivergence and mental health. A proud introvert and nostalgic gamer, she lives in Maryland, USA, with her husband and three children.

A.M. Ellis

A.N. Wilson was born in 1950 and educated at Rugby and New College, Oxford. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, he holds a prominent position in the world of literature and journalism. He is an award-winning biographer and a celebrated novelist, winning prizes for much of his work. He lives in North London.

A.N. Wilson

A. T. Emerald lives with her husband and baby daughter in Nottinghamshire. She discovered her love of writing in 2020 and has not shut up about enemies to lovers ever since. She loves iced matcha, torrid love confessions with knives pressed to throats (fictional, of course) and does not accept bills for any therapy her books might incur.

A.T. Emerald

A.W. Priest

A.B.C. Merriman-Labor was a barrister, writer and munitions worker born in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1877. His published works include A Series of Lectures on the Negro Race and The Story of the African Slave in a Nutshell. He also edited two editions of the Handbook of Sierra Leone. He arrived in the UK in 1904 to study law. In 1907, he organised a centenary commemoration of the abolition of the slave trade in Westminster Abbey. He later embarked on an 'entertainment-lecture' tour called Life and Scenes in Britain, travelling across thousands of miles of West, South West and Central Africa, which he expanded on to create Britons Through Negro Spectacles.

ABC Merriman-Labor

AJ Cronin

AJ Molloy

Aabria Iyengar is an American actress and author.

Aabria Iyengar

Aaliya Jaleel is a freelance illustrator, designer, and visual development artist, currently majoring in Animation at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is also the illustrator of Under My Hijab and Muslim Girls Rise. You can visit her online at www.aaliyamj.com.

Aaliya Jaleel

Aaron Allston

After more than fifteen years of experience as a clinical psychotherapist, Dr Aaron Balick has taken the amazing insights from psychology and psychotherapy out of the consultation room and made them accessible to the wider world. 
 
He has been an ‘agony uncle’ for many years for both CBBC and BBC Radio 1, as well as on television, including BBC Worldwide, BBC 3 and BBC Learning.

Aaron Balick

Aaron Carroll

Aaron Dignan is the founder of The Ready--a global organizational transformation and coaching practice--that helps companies large and small adopt new forms of self-organization and dynamic teaming. Clients include Johnson &amp; Johnson, Microsoft, Lloyds Bank, Citibank, Boeing, Mailchimp, Airbnb, Dropbox, and charity: water. 
 
He is also the founder of Murmur--a SaaS startup that helps teams scale culture through the magic of working agreements. The Murmur platform will allow every team on the planet to define and share their ways of working. 
 
Dignan is the author of Brave New Work (2019) and Game Frame (2011), co-host of the Brave New Work podcast, and a friend to misfit toys.

Aaron Dignan

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Gary Brown

Leah Chillery

David Hodgson

Alan Harris

Anna Mary Murphy

Lavinia Murray

A series of inter-linked plays exploring birth, marriage and death through the prism of a Welsh Register OfficeIsn't it strange that the registering of life's most important moments happens in a sterile municipal office? Everyone's got a story to tell about how they got there. Listen for the first time to this spectacular collection of six funny, quirky and moving plays that start in a Register Office and end in a birth, marriage or death.In Uncle Harry, Mark’s life is nicely well-ordered until a passing comment from Uncle Harry sends him on a quest to discover his true identity. This is a comedy about grief and the true meaning of family.Losing my Penny is a story of love, secrets and family. Leo is in love with Penny and plans to marry her but Penny's possessive father has other ideas. Leo has secrets of his own which threatens to ruin everything.Teddy is on his stag night in the comedy Time and Tide. He wakes up naked and handcuffed to a lamp post. So far, so normal. But then he realises that something very weird has occurred which makes him question everything…A Certain Date is a surreal and darkly comic exploration of the meaning of death. Geoff Levine, aka the Slim Reaper, is a pest control technician. All day long he kills rats and other vermin but when he meets Mystic June, she tells him something that will alter the rest of his life – what's left of it anyway.An unexpected family secret is unearthed in Nine Lives, when Beth's elderly father Patrick claims never to have been born because he's lived forever. As Beth tries to untangle the truth of her father's birth, she uncovers more than she bargained for.Lastly, Elephants all the Way tells the story of Harper, who works in a zoo. He is a simple soul but his life is complicated. His wife is desperate for a baby, and his angry dad is a bare knuckle boxer. Then the ground starts to shift - literally…Engaging, funny and thought provoking, these six plays were recorded by BBC Wales. This brilliant series of modern dramas showcase some of Wales’s best acting talent. Download all six plays now for a mesmerising listen.Episode 1 - Uncle HarryWritten by Gary Brown 
Directed by Helen PerryMark - Dylan Edwards 
Uncle Harry - Ewan Bailey 
Elaine - Denise Black 
Helen - Katherine Jakeways 
Lionel - Christian Patterson 
Charlotte - Rachel Redford 
Dad - David CannEpisode 2 - Losing my PennyWritten by Leah Chillery 
Directed by Gary BrownLeo - Don Gilet 
Penny - Verity May Henry 
Rita - Kathryn Hunt 
Henry - Conrad Nelson 
Duchess - Tupele Dorgu 
Bartholomew - Fiona ClarkeEpisode 3 - Time and Tide Written by David Hodgson 
Directed by Gary BrownOld Man - Will Tacey 
Teddy - Alan Morrissey 
Lawrence - Will Ash 
Megan - Hannah Wood 
Brankin - Sean Mason 
Jess - Harriet Chandler Judd 
Shaffy - Hamilton BerstockEpisode 4 - A Certain DateWritten by Alan Harris 
Directed by Helen PerryGeoff - Julian Lewis Jones 
Valmai - Sara McGaughey 
Sandy - Katy Owen 
Mystic June - Lisa Palfrey 
Doctor Ramis - Richard Mitchley 
Pigeon - Sion Pritchard 
King Rat - Michael BertenshawEpisode 5 – Nine Lives Written by Anna Maria Murphy 
Directed by James RobinsonBeth - Eiry Thomas 
Patrick - Peter Marinker 
Bill - Christian Patterson 
Mrs Knowles - Sharon Morgan 
Miriam/Janet - Eirlys Bellin 
Reg/Harold - Matthew GravelleEpisode 6 – Elephants All the Way Up Written by Lavinia MurrayDirected by Gary BrownHarper - Graeme Hawley 
Yolanda - Kate Coogan 
Dad - Seamus O'Neill 
Carlos - Chris Jack 
Arlo/Turtle - Lloyd Peters 
Grayson/Turtle -Malcolm Raeburn 
Woman/Turtle - Lisa Allen©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Hatch, Match and Dispatch

Six Full-Cast Original BBC Radio Dramas

Louisa May Alcott

Dramatisations of Louisa May Alcott’s evergreen classic and its sequel, plus her Gothic tour de force about an orphan girl and her controlling guardian 
 
Born in 1832 in Pennsylvania, Louisa May Alcott was best known for Little Women, her phenomenal bestseller loosely based on her childhood experiences with her own sisters. Adapted numerous times for stage and screen, it is dramatised here alongside her follow-up novel Good Wives and the thrilling sensation story A Marble Woman. 
 
Little Women – With their father away fighting in the American Civil War, the four March sisters and their mother are facing a frugal Christmas in their New England home. But their close bond and determination to make the best of things enables them to find happiness despite their poverty. As they forge their path in the adult world, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy will encounter adventure, challenges, joys and disappointments – and while marriage and motherhood may beckon, their most enduring love is always for each other. Natasha J Barnes, Julianna Jennings, Bryony Hannah and Samantha Dakin star in this iconic coming-of-age tale. 
 
Good Wives– Now young women, the March girls meet with triumph and tragedy in this classic sequel to Little Women. Following Meg’s wedding, Jo finds success with her writing and Amy heads to Europe – but Beth’s health is failing, and her spirits are low. As the family face their greatest sorrow together and look to the future, Jo writes the story of their life – and finds true love at last… Starring Jemma Redgrave, Buffy Davis, Anne Marie Zola, Kara Zediker and Gayle Hunnicutt. 
 
A Marble Woman – Recently orphaned, Cecilia Stein turns up at the door of genius sculptor Bazil Yorke. Her dying mother had told her that Yorke was an old friend, and to trust his kindness. But the reclusive bachelor has neither forgiven nor forgotten his rejection by Cecilia’s mother, and decides to revenge himself by punishing his new ward. Insisting that she must submit her life to art and restrain all her emotions, he strives to turn her into his own creation – but can he control his own heart? Sexual repression, opium addiction and love collide in this dark Gothic tale, starring Bill Paterson and Amanda Root. 
 
First published 1865 (A Marble Woman), 1868 (Little Women), 1869 (Good Wives) 
 
Cast and credits 
 
Little Women 
Cast: Natasha J Barnes, Julianna Jennings, Bryony Hannah, Samantha Dakin, Tara Ward, John Bowler, Alex Lanipekun, Finlay Robertson, Joanna Monro, Alison Belbin, Karen Bartke, 
Natasha Cowley, Keziah Joseph, Luke MacGregor, Catriona McFarlane, Gunnar Cauthery 
Dramatised by Rhiannon Tise 
Directed by Tracey Neale 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16-27 January 2017 
 
Good Wives 
Cast: Gayle Hunnicutt, Jemma Redgrave, Buffy Davis, Anne Marie Zola, Kara Zediker, Marcus D'Amico, Don Fellows, John Guerrasio, Margaret Robertson, Alibe Parsons, Adam Henderson, 
Helen Horton, Lorelei King, David Holt, Tamsin Hollo, Faith Brook, Jill Graham, Toni G Barry, 
Melanie Hudson, Jonathan Tafler, Martin Jarvis, John Church, Andrew Wincott 
Dramatised by Marcy Kahan 
Directed by Marilyn Imrie 
First broadcast Radio 4, 11 February-18 March 1993 
 
A Marble Woman 
Cast: Bill Paterson, Amanda Root, John McArdle, Charles De'Ath, Sarah Parkes, Geoffrey Banks, 
Becky Simpson, Robert Pollard 
Dramatised by Lavinia Murray 
Produced by Pauline Harris 
First broadcast Radio 4, 8 April 2000 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Little Women, Good Wives & A Marble Woman

Three BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisations

RF Delderfield

A stunning full-cast dramatisation of R.F. Delderfield's classic novel of life between the warsListen now to this epic story of tragedy, love and betrayal set during the inter-war period as soldier Davy Powlett-Jones, invalided out of the trenches, must face a new start in life…A coal miner's son, Davy has risen from the ranks of the South Wales Borderers and been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant after serving three years in the front-line trenches in the First World War. The story begins in 1918, when injured and shell-shocked Davy leaves the war behind him to face new challenges and begin a new life teaching history at Bamfylde School in North Devon. Over the following decade Davy’s life reflects the turmoil, tragedy and hope of the men and women who fought in the Great War and how they come to terms with peaceful life in Britain which inexorably ruptures as the Second World War looms.In this beautiful full-cast BBC Radio adaptation, the General Strike, socialism, the development of the Labour Party and the formation of the National Government all play out through the story of a humble teacher.To Serve Them All My Days was first published in 1972 and swiftly became a modern classic. The book was adapted into a hugely popular TV show and continues to be loved by fans of J.L. Carr and L.P. Hartley. Listen now to this stunning adaptation that takes a microscope to the lives of ordinary people during extraordinary times and brings to life a bygone era of British existence facing the moral perplexities and harsh economic realities of emerging modern times.Cast and creditsWritten by R.F. DeldefieldAdapted by Shaun McKennaDirected by Marc BeebyDavy Powlett-Jones - Oliver Milburn Algy Herries - John Wood Howarth - John RoweCarter - Anthony Calf Beth/Grace - Alison PettitThe Guard/Stratton/Gage - Delroy Brown"Nipper" Shawe/Skidmore/Featherstone - Josh Freeborn"Chad" Boyer/Dobson/Stoker Monk - Steven WilliamsBriarley/Lowther - Steven RobertsJulia - Juliet AubreyKeith/Alderman Blunt/McNaughton - John CumminsSpats/Hislop - Anthony GlennonBrigadier Cooper/Barnaby/Rigby - Gerard McDermottBristow - Harry FrancisAlcock - Clive MerrisonChristine - Kate BufferyEwart - Nick SayceFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23rd - 27th Jan 2006©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

To Serve Them All My Days

A BBC Radio Dramatisation

Mary Renault

An epic eleven-part adaptation of Mary Renault’s ‘Theseus’ novelsWidely considered as one of the finest historical novelists of the 20th century, Mary Renault brought the ancient world alive, turning age-old myths of gods and monsters into compelling human stories. In The King Must Die and its sequel, The Bull from the Sea, she retells the legend of Theseus, one of the greatest heroes of Ancient Greece.This enthralling radio adaptation comprises both classic books, charting Theseus’ journey as he leaves the city of his birth and travels through mainland Greece in a quest to discover his true identity and destiny. Brought up in Trolzen, where his grandfather is king, he believes he was fathered by the god Poseidon. But on his 17th birthday, the secret of his parentage is revealed, and his adventures begin.Crowned year-king of Eleusis, he escapes certain death and voyages to Athens to meet his father, King Aegeus, and claim his heritage. Instead, he becomes a slave and bull-dancer in Minoan Crete – and finds himself facing the malignant Minotaurus in the Labyrinth deep beneath the Palace of Knossos. Returning to Greece, Theseus becomes High King of Attica, but the Fates are not done with him yet. Ahead of him lie dangerous escapades, life-changing encounters, a treacherous betrayal and the fulfilment of a tragic prophecy...Gary Bond stars as Theseus, with an ensemble cast including Carole Boyd, Frances Jeater, Petra Markham, David March, Clifford Rose, Maureen O’Brien and Sarah Badel.Text copyright © Mary Renault 1958 (The King Must Die), 1962 (The Bull from the Sea)Production creditsWritten by Mary RenaultDramatised by Michael BakewellDirected by David SpenserMusic by Christos PittasCastTheseus – Gary BondPittheus – John WestbrookAithra/Old priestess – Carole BoydTheseus (as a boy) – Ian BuraPeiros I/Man/Telemon – John WebbQueen of Eleusis – Frances JeaterBias/Baron – Steve HodsonKannadls – Nigel GrahamAegeus/Pholilos – Eric AllanPriestess/Woman/Medea – Jean TrendSimo – Stewart WrightAmyntor – Alex JenningsPallans/Kentaur – Spencer BanksKerkyon – David PeartHypsenor/Page – Richard BatesXanthos – John LiveseyPylas – Philip SullyPriestess/Nephele – Fiona WalkerAntiklaea/Chryse/Girl – Pauline SiddleMenesthes – Stuart OrganSkopas/Sirios – David BanksLukos – David GoodersonAriadne – Petra MarkhamAsterion – David MarchPhormion – John BullHippon/Messenger/Page – Richard HuwMelantho – Jane KnowlesAktor – William EedleThebe/Macaria – Sarah FinchHelike – Jill LidstoneRhene/Girl – Pip MayoPylia/Naxian girl/Molpadia/Girl – Moir LeslieThe Corinthian/Pyilenor – Clive PantoThalestris – Elizabeth LindsayMinos – Clifford RoseIros/Page/Charioteer – Trevor BrohierPhaedra – Maureen O’BrienPirithoos – James Kerry/Malcolm StoddardHippolyta – Sarah BadelHippolytos – Susan Sheridan/Christopher GuardAkamas – Piers MaximWith Rosalind Adams, Peter Baldwin, Sean Barrett, James Bryce, Adrian Egan, Vanessa Forsyth, Kerry Francis, Madi Hedd, Richard Hum, Michael Jenner, Esmond Knight, Trevor Martin, David Peart, Margaret Robertson, Howard Samuels, Danny Schiller, Hilda Schroder, Michael Spice, David Timson, Stephen Thorne, Michael Tudor Barnes and Jane WenhamFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 June-14 August 1983© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The King Must Die

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation

Nick Revell

An epic six-part comedy saga with a star cast, from master storyteller and satirist Nick Revell 
 
When Tony Hardstaff breaks the bank playing ‘Snap!’ at the St Petersburg Casino, he is swept up in a maelstrom of romance and adventure. Seduced by the sultry Natassia Fillipovna Karamazov – a woman with curves so perfect they could make a geometry professor spontaneously combust – Tony is caught in flagrante by the Russian mafia, and flees for his life. 
 
Taking the first plane out, Tony returns to his ancestral home in Grimesdale, and to the bosom of the family he left a decade earlier. But the prodigal son is not welcomed with open arms. His ruthless 183-year-old father Obadiah is less than thrilled to see him, his sister Jane is so shocked, she suffers a nosebleed, and his mother Alice is so upset, she drops dead on the spot. 
 
To cap it all, Tony’s Brontë-obsessed ex-sweetheart has gone round the bend, his best mate Dave is now leader of the Morris Dancing Survivalist Militia, and the town he grew up in is under threat… Forced to grapple with wandering corpses, canine spirit guides, old flames and eastern European heavies, Tony goes on the run once again. But can he escape the clutches of the past? 
 
Magical realism meets Northern family saga in this surrealistic comedy, told in flashback and travelling between Venezuela, Russia and west Yorkshire. Written by and starring Nick Revell as Tony, it features a stellar cast including Morwenna Banks, Alistair McGowan, Peter Serafinowicz, Alison Steadman and Claire Skinner. 
 
NB: Contains some dated attitudes and language 
 
Production credits 
Written by Nick Revell 
Produced by Paul Schlesinger 
Music composed by Paul Mottram 
 
Cast 
Tony – Nick Revell 
Natassia Fillipovna – Morwenna Banks/Tracy-Ann Oberman 
The Narrator – Alistair McGowan 
Mrs Yepanchin/Mrs Womersley – Joanna Brooks 
Ivan – Jonathan Kydd 
Sergei/Jeff – Peter Gunn 
Kropotkin/Dave/Carl – Peter Serafinowicz 
Vladimir/Elder/Shrink – Chris Pavlo 
Obadiah – David Swift 
Alice – Maggie Steed 
Jane – Alison Steadman 
Joanna – Natalie Walter 
Emily – Claire Skinner 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 1 May-5 June 1997 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The House of the Spirit Levels

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Comedy

Oliver Goldsmith

Full-cast BBC adaptations of Oliver Goldsmith’s two most famous works 
 
Anglo-Irish author Oliver Goldsmith was one of the most accomplished writers of the 18th century. A novelist, playwright, poet and essayist, he came to fame with his novel The Vicar of Wakefield and comic play She Stoops to Conquer. Both those classics are included here, with star casts including Julia McKenzie, Amanda Root, Peter Jeffrey and Sunny Ormonde. 
 
She Stoops to Conquer – Misunderstandings and mistaken identity are at the heart of this funny, farcical comedy of manners, in which a London gentleman looking for love finds himself the butt of a mischievous prank. Shy young Marlow comes to court Kate Hardcastle at her father’s house in the Yorkshire Dales, but is fooled into believing that Liberty Hall is an inn and his prospective bride a barmaid. Luckily for both, while Marlow is tongue-tied in the presence of a lady, he can be his charming, confident self with a commoner – and the sassy, independent Kate is happy to pretend, if it means she can win his heart... 
 
The Vicar of Wakefield – Part morality tale, part satire of the sentimental novel, Goldsmith’s 1766 masterpiece recounts the humorous adventures of the naive, ever-optimistic Rev Charles Primrose, who lives contentedly in the countryside with his wife and six children. When he loses his fortune to a swindler, he sets off with his despairing family through storms and floods to embrace a life of poverty in a rural Pennine parish. But as disaster piles upon calamity, the vicar finds his faith severely tested – can he face up to adversity and come through unscathed? 
 
 
She Stoops to Conquer 
Mrs Hardcastle – Julia McKenzie 
Mr Hardcastle – Clive Francis 
Kate Hardcastle – Amanda Root 
Tony Lumpkin – Adrian Scarborough 
Sir Charles Marlow – Norman Rodway 
Young Marlow – Martin Ball 
Hastings – Jonathan Cake 
Constance Neville – Cathy Sara 
Landlord/Jeremy – Terry Molloy 
Diggory/Master Muggins – Ian Brooker 
Pimple/Barmaid – Naomi Harris 
Roger/Master Slang – Richard Neale 
Adapted and directed by Sue Wilson 
Music composed and performed by Anthea Gomez (piano) with Martha Ann Brooks (trombone) and Katherine Gittings (violin) 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 18 June 2000 
 
The Vicar of Wakefield 
Rev Charies Primrose – Peter Jeffrey 
Deborah Primrose – Sunny Ormonde 
Squire Thornhill – Michael Cochrane 
Burchell – Anthony Pedley 
Lady Blarney – Tina Gray 
Miss Skeggs – Sara Coward 
Ephraim Jenkinson – Christopher Scott 
Olivia Primrose – Susan Jeffrey 
George Primrose – Iwan Thomas 
Arabella Wilmot – Lisa Kay 
Sophia Primrose – Laura Strachan 
Moses Primrose – James Richard 
Farmer Flamborough – Terry Molloy 
Actor/Innkeeper – John Webb 
Actress/Landlady – Gillian Goodman 
Gaoler – Kim Durham 
Adapted by Christopher Denys 
Directed by Sue Wilson 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3-17 October 1999 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

She Stoops to Conquer & The Vicar of Wakefield

Two Full-Cast BBC Radio Productions

Colette

Writer Colette’s classic works brought to life in a unique audio collection 
Listen for the first time to this stunning collection of five of Colette’s most celebrated works, compiled and created by BBC Radio. French author and woman of letters, Colette is best known for her 1944 novella Gigi, which became the stage musical launching the career of Audrey Hepburn. Known for her frank, direct and honest way of writing about women and female friendships, Colette’s stories champion the female perspective and all feature strong women protagonists. Considered immoral and shocking at the time, her works are now cherished as a fresh insight into the female experience of the era and she is celebrated for the sheer quality of her writing. This exclusive collection includes, Gigi, Cheri, Claudine at School, The Vagabond and Sido and features performances from Lindsay Duncan (Sherlock, Starter for 10, Doctor Who), Paul Ritter (Friday Night Dinner), Frances Barber, Brigit Forsyth and Dame Peggy Ashcroft. Also included is a bonus edition of In Our Time, hosted by Melvyn Bragg as he and guests discuss Colette, her life, her works and her significant cultural impact.In the classic Gigi, we follow the story of a young woman in Paris, who is being groomed by her grandmother for the life of a courtesan. Cheri is a semi-autobiographical story following an enduring love affair between a courtesan and a man half her age. Claudine at School Heavy with erotic over tones, this full cast dramatisation explores the life of the enchanting Claudine as she navigates her journey to womanhood. The Vagabond tells the story of a divorcée dancer in a Paris music hall, she is pursued by a wealthy admirer. Will she allow herself to fall in love a second time?Finally, Dame Peggy Ashcroft narrates Sido, based on Colette’s memories of her own mother.Text copyright © Colette 1900 (Claudine at School), 1910 (Vagabond), 1920 (Cheri), 1929 (Sido), 1944 (Gigi)Gigi Translated from the French and adapted by Barbara Bray 
Produced by Raymond RaikesCast: Margaret Robertson, Margaret Rawlings, Carol Marsh, Robert Hardy, Hilda Kriseman, Ian Thompson, Isabel JeansCheriDirected by Pauline HarrisCast: Lindsay Duncan, Joseph Millson, Frances Barber, Brigit Forsyth, Laura Harding, Conrad Nelson, Judith DavisClaudine at SchoolAdapted by Yvonne MitchellProduced and directed by Liane AukinCast: Fidelis Morgan, Rosalind Adams, Anne Rosenfeld, Jean Rogers, Nigel Lambert, Diana Bishop, Joan Matheson, Carole Hayman, Haydn Jones, Pamela Moiseiwitsch, Shane Briant,Michael Harbour, Peter Howell, Timothy Bateson, Edward KelseyThe VagabondDramatised by Charlotte CoryDirected by Mary PeateCast: Clare Higgins, Paul Ritter, Allan Corduner, David Thorpe, Jasmine HydeSido Abridged by B. J. SalmonRead by Dame Peggy AshcroftIn our Time – ColettePresented by Melvyn Bragg.Text copyright © Colette 1900 (Claudine at School), 1910 (Vagabond), 1920 (Cheri), 1929 (Sido), 1944 (Gigi)©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Colette: Gigi, Cheri and more

A BBC Radio Drama Collection

Daphne du Maurier

A comprehensive collection of dramatisations of Daphne du Maurier’s works 
 
'Containing performances from well-known actors from past and present, Daphne du Maurier: The BBC Radio Collection is a rich feast for all fans of the writer's work.' - Entertainment Focus 
 
Daphne du Maurier was one of the 20th century’s most popular writers. Extraordinarily prolific, she produced a string of bestsellers, many of which were adapted as award-winning films. From romance and adventure yarns to psychological thrillers and supernatural tales, the breadth and imaginative variety of her storytelling continues to thrill us today. 
 
This bumper collection features her most famous works and some lesser-known gems, beginning with full-cast adaptations of seven of her much-loved novels – Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, Frenchman’s Creek, The King’s General, My Cousin Rachel, The Scapegoat and The House on the Strand. With settings ranging from the 19th century to the English Civil War and the Black Death of 1349, these thrilling tales take us from the wilds of Cornwall to Monte Carlo, Italy and northwestern France. Among the star casts are Susannah Corbett, Christopher Cazenove, Lorna Heilbron, Cathryn Harrison, Adam Godley, Hugh Burden and Ian Richardson. 
 
Next up are two of her acclaimed plays, The Years Between, set in the 1940s and telling the story of a woman whose MP husband is reported killed in action, and September Tide, a bittersweet love story centred around a mother, her newly-married daughter and her artist son-in-law. Diana Quick, Roger Allam, Paula Wilcox, Jonathan Firth and Alice Hart star in these twisty, subversive dramas. 
 
We conclude with a selection of Daphne du Maurier’s short fiction. Dramatised by Melissa Murray, ‘The Birds’ stars Neil Dudgeon and Nicola Walker. It is followed by ‘The Blue Lenses’ and ‘The Little Photographer’, starring Bethany Muir and Lucy Boynton respectively; and ‘The Apple Tree’, starring Charles Gray. Also included are full-cast adaptations of ‘Panic’ (starring Dinsdale Landen and Maureen O’Brien), ‘The Chamois’ (starring Christopher Cazenove and Anna Cropper), ‘The Alibi’ (starring Tony Britton and Sarah Badel), ‘Ganymede’ (starring John Le Mesurier and Anthony Daniels) and ‘Don’t Look Now’ (starring Jamie Parker and Aisling Loftus). 
 
Please note that the pieces in this collection range from vintage 1970s productions to modern adaptations, and the sound quality reflects the age of the recordings. 
 
Contents 
Jamaica Inn 
Rebecca 
Frenchman’s Creek 
The King’s General 
My Cousin Rachel 
The Scapegoat 
The House on the Strand 
The Years Between 
September Tide 
‘The Birds’ 
‘The Blue Lenses’ 
‘The Little Photographer’ 
‘The Apple Tree’ 
‘Panic’ 
‘The Chamois’ 
‘The Alibi’ 
‘Ganymede’ 
‘Don’t Look Now’ 
 
Text copyright © 1936 (Jamaica Inn), 1938 (Rebecca), 1941 (Frenchman’s Creek), 1943 (The Years Between), 1946 (The King’s General), 1949 (September Tide), 1951 (My Cousin Rachel), 1952 (‘The Birds’, ‘The Little Photographer’, ‘Blue Lenses’, ‘The Apple Tree’), 1954 (‘Panic’), 1957 (The Scapegoat), 1959 (‘The Chamois’, ‘The Alibi’, ‘Ganymede’), 1969 (The House on the Strand), 1971 (‘Don’t Look Now’). 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Daphne du Maurier: The BBC Radio Collection

Including Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, Frenchman’s Creek & more

The Cullen Brothers

A brilliant and bonkers comedy about finding love at the petrol pumps 
 Alex is desperate to find someone to share his life with, but too scared to do anything about it. A film obsessive, he works the night shift at an isolated petrol station on the outskirts of a two-bit town. Awkward, and with no real friends to speak of, he confides in his only ‘colleague’ - a smiley-faced vacuum cleaner named Keith, whose voice only Alex can hear.Ella is a cycling-mad woman of action, prepared for anything and curious about everything. One stormy night, by chance, their lives intersect. These two lonely souls are made for each other, even if they don't know it.Listen and fall in love with the pair as their story unfolds. A wonderful, heart-warming and unconventional love story with a touch of the absurd and plenty of laughs. Influenced heavily by the best movie genres film-nerd Alex can think of, his nights take some usual twists and turns. Episodes range from Westerns where the stake are high and loners drift like tumbleweed, to Zombie Horror with infected hordes and red rain, Sci-Fi evil twins and ray guys and all out Action when the petrol station is taken over and the duo must decide who is the most ‘Van Damme’ –making this a hilarious, compelling and uplifting listen.Starring Will Merrick (Skins), Patricia Allison (Sex Education) and Kenneth Collard (Cuckoo, Zapped).The Cullen Brothers (Oliver and Jake) are award winning directors, writers and producers from Bristol. The pair blend their love of cinema with their distinctive, absurd and irreverent comedic style. The Attendant radio series is based on their internationally acclaimed short film of the same name starring Robert James-Collier (Downton Abbey) and Isy Suttie (Peep Show).Cast and creditsWritten by The Cullen BrothersDirected by Alison CrawfordEdited by Abigail Youngman 
Produced by Alison Crawford and Mary Ward-Lowery 
Sound Designer Ilse LademannIncludes original music by Tom Constantine 
 Alex/Second Creation/Evil Alex - Will Merrick 
Ella/Female Creation/Evil Ella - Patricia Allison 
Keith/Evil Keith/‘How To…’ Tapes - Kenneth CollardThe Drifter - Zara RammSlops McCreedy - Jake CullenJonny Tenaka - Tim DownieBarry Oatcakes - Joseph TweedaleDenise / Evil Denise - Ingrid OliverBrubaker Levine - John MacKayBonkers - Joe SimsFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7 October - 4 November 2021©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Attendant

Tony Bagley

All twelve episodes of the rom-com serial with a twist, starring Martin Clunes, Zoë Wanamaker and Geraldine James 
 
Roy Hitchcock is a provincial hack journalist and inveterate daydreamer. When he meets his former English teacher at his old school&rsquo;s prize-giving ceremony, his private fantasies run wild and he sets out to capture her heart. Unfortunately, his attempts to get in Miss Callaghan&rsquo;s good books constantly backfire &ndash; and the more he apologises, the less impressed she is. There&rsquo;s also another major obstacle in his path, in the macho form of Jane&rsquo;s current lover, media hero Chad Mann. 
 
As Roy battles on against the odds, things go from bad to worse, and he finds himself jobless, rejected and about to have his house repossessed. But when his video diary is transmitted by a TV company, his emotional turmoil is revealed to the world. Will it finally win Jane over? 
 
Created by Tony Bagley (Married, Rubbish) and based on his own real-life experiences, this romantic comedy drama with a touch of the surreal stars Martin Clunes as Roy and Zoë Wanamaker and Geraldine James as Jane. Among the supporting cast are Toyah Willcox, David Troughton, Nicky Henson, Rebecca Front and Alistair McGowan, and Paul Vaughan and Dr Anthony Clare make special guest appearances as themselves. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Tony Bagley 
Produced by Paul Schlesinger 
Music composed by Julian Wastall 
Theme sung by Toyah Willcox 
 
Cast 
Jane Callaghan &ndash; Zoë Wanamaker/Geraldine James 
Roy Hitchcock &ndash; Martin Clunes 
Various roles played by Toyah Wilcox, David Troughton, Nicky Henson, Keith Drinkel, Sue Roderick, Melanie Hudson, Susannah Corbett, David Holt, Geoff McGivern, Steve Hodson/Simon Treves, John Baddeley, Peter Serafinowicz, Rebecca Front, Alistair McGowan, Paul Panting, Matthew Morgan, Jonathan Adams, Bryan Dick, Linda Polan, Philip Anthony, Tilly Vosburgh 
Also featuring Paul Vaughan and Dr Anthony Clare as themselves 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 12 Jan-16 Feb 1993 (Series 1), 16 Aug-20 Sep 1994 (Series 2) 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Older Woman: The Complete Series 1 and 2

A BBC Radio Sitcom

Maeve Binchy

A BBC Radio collection of dramatisations and readings of Maeve Binchy’s sparkling stories 
 
Irish writer Maeve Binchy was one the best-loved and most successful authors of her time. Her bestselling books sold over 40 million copies worldwide, and were translated into 37 languages. This comprehensive anthology of her finest fiction, as heard on BBC Radio, demonstrates all the warmth, wit and compassion that made her so popular. 
 
It opens with Firefly Summer, her moving, humorous novel about a sleepy Irish town facing monumental change. No Nightingales, No Snakes comprises five short plays: ‘The Night the People Came Over for Something That Was No Trouble’, ‘The Stepson’, ‘Decisions at Sea’, ‘The Answer Machine’ and ‘By the Time We Get to Clifden’. 
 
Following these are five short stories exclusively created for BBC Radio – ‘The Garden Party’, ‘Home Coming’, ‘Telling Stories’ ‘Needy’, and ‘The Interview’. 
 
First published in the short story collections Central Line and Victoria Line, London Transports features four full-cast dramas set on London’s Tube: ‘Brixton’, ‘Green Park’, ‘Holland Park’ and ‘Lancaster Gate’. Full of wry humour, irony and empathy. 
 
Concluding this compilation is a dramatisation of ‘‘Taxi Men Are Invisible’, and readings of eight more short stories. Specially commissioned for Radio 4, ‘The Special Sale’, ‘The Sensible Celebration’, ‘Love in the Afternoon’, ‘’The White Trolley’ and its counterpart story ‘The Feast of Stephen’ . ‘Euston’, a seasonal tale taken from Victoria Line followed by ‘Dolly’s Mother’ and ‘Christmas Present’ – both originally written for radio. 
 
Text copyright © Maeve Binchy 1978 (Central Line), 1980 (Victoria Line), 1987 (Firefly Summer), 1989 (‘Dolly’s Mother’), 1990 (‘The Sensible Celebration’), 1992 (‘Telling Stories’, ‘The Interview’), 1995 (‘The Garden Party’, ‘Christmas Present’), 1997 (‘Needy’, ‘Euston’), 1998 (‘The White Trolley’, ‘The Feast of Stephen’), 1999 (‘Taxi Men are Invisible’), 2000 (‘The Special Sale’), 2001 (‘Home Coming’), 2007 (No Nightingales, No Snakes), 2008 (‘Love in the Afternoon’) 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Maeve Binchy 
 
Firefly Summer - Drama 
No Nightingales, No Snakes - 5 Dramas 
The Garden Party 
The Homecoming 
Telling Stories 
Needy 
The Interview 
London Transports - 4 Dramas 
- Brixton 
- Green Park 
- Holland Park 
- Lancaster Gate 
Taxi Men Are Invisible - Drama 
The Sensible Celebration 
Love in the Afternoon 
Euston 
Dolly’s Mother 
The Special Sale 
The White Trolley 
The Feast of Stephen 
Christmas Present 
 
Copyright © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Maeve Binchy: A BBC Radio Collection

11 Full-Cast Dramatisations and 13 Readings

Ouida

Chrys Salt

A BBC adaptation of Ouida&rsquo;s landmark novel, along with an original drama and a fascinating documentary exploring her colourful life 
 
&lsquo;A little scandal is an excellent thing; nobody is ever brighter or happier of tongue than when he is making mischief of his neighbours.&rsquo; - Ouida 
 
Ouida &ndash; the pseudonym of English novelist Maria Louise Ramé &ndash; wrote over 40 novels as well as children&rsquo;s books, short stories and essays. One of the most popular authors of her day, she achieved fame and fortune with her &lsquo;sensation novels&rsquo; which scandalised and intrigued Victorian readers, but her extravagant lifestyle resulted in her dying in poverty in 1908. This collection brings together her pioneering novel Moths with two engrossing biographical portraits of Ouida herself. 
 
A Little Scandal Is an Excellent Thing &ndash; Romantic novelist Ouida&rsquo;s life was as flamboyant as her fiction. Born in England with a French father, she lived in luxury at the Langham Hotel, throwing lavish literary soirées with guests including Oscar Wilde, but died alone and penniless in Italy. Cheryl Campbell stars in this moving drama by award-winning poet Chrys Salt. 
 
Moths &ndash; First published in 1880, this riveting tale of romance and society in 19th-century Europe is widely held as the first novel to portray a divorced woman finding happiness and fulfilment. It tells the story of teenage Vere Herbert, forced by her superficial mother Lady Dolly to wed the brutish Prince Zoroff. Meanwhile, she has fallen in love with an Italian opera singer, Raphael de Correze. Trapped in an unhappy marriage, dare she leave her husband to be with him? Dramatised by Chrys Salt and starring Teresa Gallagher as Vere, with Nicola Pagett, Paul Rhys and Geoffrey Whitehead. 
 
Sensational Women: Ouida &ndash; Maeve Binchy examines the life and books of Ouida, who never had a lover but caught the public&rsquo;s imagination with the passionate stories she wrote. 
 
Moths first published in 1880 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd ? 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Ouida: A Little Scandal Is An Excellent Thing

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation of Moths, plus a biographical drama

Eugene O'Neill

Nine classic plays from the award-winning American dramatist, plus a selection of his poetry 
 
Eugene O'Neill’s revolutionary 20th century dramas changed the direction of American theatre, introducing European realism and experimental techniques to the US stage. He wrote more than 50 plays, portraying characters on the margins of society and tackling controversial issues, winning a Nobel Prize, and four Pulitzer Prizes. 
 
We open our collection with his magnificent autobiographical magnum opus, Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Described by the playwright as having been ‘written in tears and blood’, it recounts one tragic day in the lives of the Tyrone family, as they struggle with addiction, disease and despair. Next is The Hairy Ape, based on O’Neill’s experiences as a labourer on a transatlantic liner. A Moon for the Misbegotten, the sequel to Long Day’s Journey Into Night, follows grief-stricken alcoholic Jamie Tyrone as he grasps at love under the Connecticut moonlight. Meanwhile, Desire Under the Elms plays out the themes of Greek tragedy in 1850s New England. 
 
Widely considered as O’Neill’s finest work, The Iceman Cometh is an epic tale chronicling the pipe dreams and shattered illusions of a group of no-hopers in a seedy New York bar. It is followed by another Manhattan-based drama, Hughie. Divided into three parts Mourning Becomes Electra retells the story of The Oresteia, Aeschylus’ tragedy of passion, murder, suicide, revenge and a family destroyed by Fate. In contrast, the comedy Ah, Wilderness! is a sentimental portrait of young love and small-town domesticity. And in Anna Christie, a prostitute finds a chance for redemption when she is reunited with her estranged sea-captain father and falls in love with a sailor. 
 
Also included is a bonus programme, The Quest for the Golden Girl, featuring some of O’Neill’s comic and romantic poems, read by John Fellows and Denis Lawson. 
 
NB: Some of these pieces contain language and attitudes that reflect the age in which they are set. 
 
First published 1920 (Anna Christie), 1922 (The Hairy Ape), 1925 (Desire Under the Elms), 1931 (Mourning Becomes Electra), 1933 (Ah, Wilderness!), 1940 (The Iceman Cometh), 1941 (Hughie), 1941-43 (A Moon for the Misbegotten), 1956 (Long Day’s Journey Into Night) 
 
Content List 
<ul><li>Long Day’s Journey Into Night</li><li>The Hairy Ape</li><li>A Moon for the Misbegotten</li><li>Desire Under the Elms</li><li>The Iceman Cometh</li><li>Hughie</li><li>Mourning Becomes Electra</li><li>Ah, Wilderness!</li><li>Anna Christie</li><li>The Quest of the Golden Girl</li></ul>'If you like the plays of Eugene O'Neill, then there's a lot to enjoy in this comprehensive collection, which provides listeners with almost nineteen hours' worth of material ... His ear for dialogue, brought to life by different generations of excellent actors, ensures that his words are a pleasure to listen to' - Greg Jameson. 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Eugene O’Neill: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

9 Full-Cast Productions including Long Day’s Journey into the Night, The Hairy Ape, The Iceman Cometh & more

Alison Plowden

Abigail Docherty

John Mortimer

Madame de Lafayette

Peter Wolf

Michael Butt

Amanda Whittington

Paul B. Davies

Friedrich Schiller

Nine gripping dramas that delve into the turbulent, thrilling history of the Tudor eraAffairs and assassinations. Conflict and chaos. Power and plots. The tumultuous Tudor period is one of the most iconic and fascinating chapters in British history. In these ten atmospheric dramas, we get a glimpse into the inner workings of Tudor England – and rediscover the key characters we have grown to love and hate. Featuring world-renowned actors, these gripping, historically accurate tales are packed with excitement.A Pattern of Tudors - the story of Cardinal Wolsey who built Hampton Court, and Henry VIII who took it from him.True and Lawful Queen - Katherine of Aragon’s refusal to divorce Henry VIII sparks a chain of events that leads to the Reformation.Black Queen to King’s Castle - the ghost of Anne Boleyn tells her own story of the events that led to her execution.The Babington Plot - Told from the perspective of the conspirators, this is an enthralling account of the 1586 plot to assassinate Elizabeth I and return England to Catholic rule under Mary, Queen of Scots.La Princesse de Clèves - a playful adaptation of Madame de Lafayette's classic novel of intrigue and love set in the 16th Century and following the dangerous liaisons of a beautiful young lady newly presented to Court.Gold’s Fool - the true story of how Queen Elizabeth I was misled by alchemists into believing that the Arctic black rocks of Baffin Island were rich in precious ore.Mary Stuart - we learn of the extraordinary relationship between Elizabeth I and her rival cousin, the imprisoned Scottish queen.Edward, Edward - seen entirely through the eyes of children, this shows how Edward VI, crowned king at the age of nine, finds himself powerless in a world ruled by adults.The Nine Days Queen - the tragic story of the trial of Lady Jane Grey. Crowned Queen of England in 1553 aged 16, she was imprisoned in the Tower nine days later, and was dead within a year.Among the stellar cast of these remarkable dramas are Phyllida Nash, Michael Hordern, David Troughton, Izzy Meikle-Small, Stephen Greif, Burn Gorman, Roger Lloyd Pack, Kathleen Helme and Melody Grove.© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Tudor Crown

A BBC Radio 4 Drama Collection

William Shakespeare

Alexandre Dumas

Jane Austen

W.M. Thackeray

F. Scott Fitzgerald

BBC radio dramatisations of classic novels centred around engaging anti-heroes who dominate high societyAmbitious. Ruthless. Unprincipled. With their blurred morals and relatable imperfections, it’s no wonder we find anti-heroes so appealing and fascinating. Featuring a mixture of male and female anti-heroes across England, Scotland, France and New York, these fantastic adaptations of five of the best-known and best-loved classics of literature follow some of these flawed, nuanced characters as they steal the spotlight and make their presence known.Macbeth – Scottish general Macbeth’s life is changed when he encounters three witches who predict that he will become the king of Scotland. Encouraged by his forceful wife, he proceeds to fulfil the prophecy, but descends into madness and tyranny... This thrilling production of William Shakespeare's dark tragedy about ambition for power stars Neil Dudgeon and Emma Fielding.The Count of Monte Cristo – Marseilles, 1815. Nineteen-year-old seaman Edmond Dantès is engaged to the beautiful Mercédès and about to be promoted to Captain. But when three acquaintances betray him, he is condemned to 14 years of solitary confinement in the Chateau D'If. Escaping the notorious prison, Dantès plots his enemies’ destruction… Iain Glen stars in Alexandre Dumas’s swashbuckling tale of revenge.Emma – Handsome, clever and rich, Emma Woodhouse is so blessed by life that she declares she will never marry. However, she is determined to find the right match for her new friend Harriet Smith. Eve Best stars in this adaptation of Jane Austen's sparkling comedy of young love and romantic meddling.Vanity Fair – Thackeray's deliciously ironic tale of passion and ambition, set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, follows the fortunes of penniless, social-climbing Becky Sharp and her wealthy, sweet-natured best friend, Amelia Sedley. Starring Stephen Fry as the Narrator, with Emma Fielding as Becky, Katy Cavanagh as Amelia and Toby Jones as Jos.The Great Gatsby – Arriving in Long Island, Nick Carraway is reacquainted with his distant cousin, Daisy Buchanan, and falls in with her wealthy crowd. His neighbour, self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby, is the man who has everything – but one thing will always be out of his reach... A portrait of the Jazz Age in all of its decadence and excess, this dramatisation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's seminal novel stars Bryan Dick and Andrew Scott.Credits MacbethWritten by William ShakespeareDirected by Marc BeebyComposer: Timothy X AtackSound design by Colin GuthrieFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 17 May 2015The Count of Monte CristoWritten by Alexandre DumasAdapted by Sebastian BaczkiewiczDirected by Jeremy Mortimer and Sasha YevtushenkoMusic by David Tobin and Jeff MeeganFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 November–16 December 2012EmmaWritten by Jane AustenDramatised by April de AngelisDirected by Jonquil PantingMusic: Martin Souter and Sarah StoweFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 November–3 December 2000Vanity FairWritten by William Makepeace ThackerayDramatised by Stephen WyattProduced by Claire GroveFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 September–8 October 2004The Great GatsbyWritten by F. Scott FitzgeraldDramatised by Robert ForrestDirected by Gaynor MacFarlaneFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6–13 May 2012© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Anti-Heroes: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

Five Full-Cast Dramatisations Including Macbeth, Emma & The Great Gatsby

Emile Zola

BBC radio adaptations of novels and short stories by Émile Zola, plus a fascinating short documentary and an original drama 
 
Novelist, journalist and literature&rsquo;s greatest whistleblower, Émile Zola was one of the 19th century&rsquo;s pre-eminent authors. He is renowned for his philosophy of naturalism, which informed his 20-volume Rougon-Macquart cycle, an epic family saga set during France&rsquo;s Second Empire, and for his controversial intervention in the Dreyfus affair through his infamous protest letter, J&rsquo;Accuse. 
 
Here are some of his superlative works, adapted for radio with stellar casts and beginning with his breakthrough novel, Thérèse Raquin. A cautionary tale of lust, murder and madness, it stars Charlotte Riley, Andrew Buchan and Toby Hadoke. It is followed by five of the most famous novels in the Rougon-Macquart series &ndash; L&rsquo;Assommoir, The Ladies&rsquo; Delight, Germinal, His Masterpiece and La Bête Humaine. With settings ranging from Paris to the far north of France, they portray 1860s French society at its most brutal, corrupt and duplicitous. Featuring a host of unforgettable characters, from slum laundress Gervaise to idealistic miner Etienne, impoverished painter Claude and tortured train driver Jacques, these poignant, powerful and provocative dramas star David Bradley, Claire Goose, Georgia King, Joe Absalom, Rob Edwards, Michael Maloney and Imogen Stubbs. 
 
Based on short stories by Zola, Kelvin Segger&rsquo;s Dead Men Tell No Tales and Trooping with Crows introduce us to a dead man observing his funeral preparations, another killed by advertising, a dreamer who delays for too long and a devious entrepreneur with an extraordinary marketing idea. Michael Maloney, Norman Bird, Struan Rodger, Terry Molloy and Trevor Peacock star in these dark, inventive plays. 
 
To conclude, two captivating bonus programmes explore Zola&rsquo;s involvement in the exoneration of the falsely accused and convicted army officer Alfred Dreyfus. Zola and the Dreyfus Affair charts the course of the scandal that rocked a nation; while Hattie Naylor&rsquo;s original drama J&rsquo;Accuse looks at events through the eyes of the right-wing, nationalistic Louis Grigori, who comes to believe that the persecution of the guiltless Dreyfus was the correct and only action. 
 
Contents 
Thérèse Raquin 
L&rsquo;Assommoir 
The Ladies&rsquo; Delight 
Germinal 
His Masterpiece 
La Bête Humaine 
Dead Men Tell No Tales 
Trooping with Crows 
Zola and the Dreyfus Affair 
J&rsquo;Accuse 
 
First published 1867 (Thérèse Raquin), 1876 (L&rsquo;Assommoir), 1882-83 (Au Bonheur du Dames), 1884-85 (Germinal), 1885-86 (L&rsquo;Œuvre), 1890 (La Bête Humaine) 
 
Copyright &copy; Kelvin Segger 1999 (Dead Men Tell No Tales), 2000 (Trooping with Crows) 
J&rsquo;Accuse copyright &copy; Hattie Naylor 2009 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Émile Zola: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

Nine Full-Cast Dramatisations

Charlotte Keatley

Charlotte Keatley's powerful, poignant drama follows four generations of mothers and daughters through the sweeping societal changes of the 20th century 
 
&lsquo;A landmark play, the theatrical equivalent of breaking the four-minute mile&rsquo; Guardian 
 
Written in 1985, this groundbreaking play premiered at Contact Theatre, Manchester, in 1987. It subsequently won the Royal Court/George Devine Award and the Manchester Evening News Best New Play Award, and in 2000, the National Theatre included it in their list of the 100 &lsquo;Significant Plays of the 20th Century&rsquo;. Translated into 33 languages, it has been performed worldwide and is acknowledged as a contemporary classic. 
 
Set in Manchester and London and moving back and forth in time between 1923 and 1987, it focuses on four women from one working-class family, bound together by entanglement and estrangement. Born at the turn of the century, matriarch Doris sacrifices her teaching career to become a wife and mother. Her daughter Margaret believes &lsquo;women can do anything&rsquo;, but finds herself in &lsquo;50s suburbia juggling work and domesticity. When Margaret&rsquo;s daughter Jackie, an art student and 1970s hippy, falls pregnant at 18 and has baby Rosie, a decision is made that will have profound and lasting effects on them all&hellip; 
 
As they navigate the highs and lows of their lives, balancing the complexities of motherhood, education, career and self-expression, we witness how each new generation is able to push further than their parents &ndash; and how the choices of one generation affect the potential of the next. 
 
Adapted for audio by Keatley herself, this moving, funny and bittersweet drama features an all-female cast, and stars Lesley Nicol, Siobhan Finneran, Cecilia Appiah and Bebe Massey. 
 
Production credits 
Written and adapted by Charlotte Keatley 
Produced and Directed by Nadia Molinari 
Pianist: Adam Hutchins 
Sound Design by Sharon Hughes 
Production Co-ordinator: Pippa Day 
This production is dedicated to the memory of Wyllie Longmore 
 
Cast 
Doris &ndash; Lesley Nicol 
Margaret &ndash; Siobhan Finneran 
Jackie &ndash; Cecilia Appiah 
Rosie &ndash; Bebe Massey 
Child Doris &ndash; Matilda Kent 
Child Margaret &ndash; Isla Pritchard 
Child Jackie &ndash; Mimi-Raie Mhlanga 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 April-5 May 2024 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

My Mother Said I Never Should

A BBC Radio Full-Cast Production

Rosamunde Pilcher

Rosamunde Pilcher's beloved saga of one family's passions and heartbreaks &ndash; plus an interview with the author&lsquo;A deeply satisfying story written with love and confidence&rsquo; Maeve BinchyRecovering from a heart attack, Penelope Keeling discharges herself from hospital and returns to her cosy Cotswolds cottage. Fiercely self-sufficient, she values her independence above everything &ndash; but fears that others wish to take it from her&hellip;Penelope has one treasured possession &ndash; &lsquo;The Shell Seekers&rsquo;, painted by her artist father Lawrence Stern. A comforting reminder of a precious bygone time, it sparks memories of her bohemian Cornish childhood and her wartime romance with the love of her life. But when her self-centred adult children, Noel and Nancy, find out that Stern&rsquo;s work is now worth a fortune, they urge Penelope to sell up and give the money to them. Only her daughter Olivia &ndash; who has also known love and loss &ndash; respects her mother&rsquo;s freedom to make her own decisions. As Penelope searches her heart, and recalls the passions, tragedies and secrets of her past, she knows what she must do&hellip; but will it rip her family apart?One of the best-selling and most famous sagas of the last four decades, The Shell Seekers is an enduring classic which has touched the hearts of millions worldwide. Set in Gloucestershire, London, Cornwall and Ibiza, and shifting between 1939 and 1985, this poignant drama explores themes of memory, fate, trauma and connection.Also featured is a fascinating episode of Bookshelf, in which Nigel Forde talks to Rosamunde Pilcher about her life and novels.Production creditsWritten by Rosamunde PilcherDramatised by Lin CoghlanDirected by Tracey NealeCastThe Narrator, Rosamunde Pilcher &ndash; Jessica TurnerPenelope &ndash; Emma FieldingOlivia &ndash; Emily BerringtonNancy &ndash; Jasmine HydeYoung Penelope &ndash; Kitty O'SullivanRichard &ndash; Carl PrekoppNoel/Ambrose &ndash; Will KirkCosmo/Mr Brookner/Soldier &ndash; John LightbodyAntonia &ndash; Imogen FrontDanus &ndash; Ian Dunnett JnrLawrence &ndash; Michael BertenshawDoris &ndash; Debra BakerMiss Pawson &ndash; Anna SpearpointMrs Enderby &ndash; Juliana LiskFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14-21 April 2024The Shell Seekers copyright &copy; 1987 Rosamunde Pilcher&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Shell Seekers

A Full-Cast BBC Radio 4 Dramatisation

Anthony Trollope

Anthony Trollope was one of Victorian England&rsquo;s most popular and prolific authors. He worked for the Post Office while establishing himself as a writer, and is credited with introducing the pillar box to Britain. Best known for his &lsquo;Barsetshire&rsquo; and &lsquo;Palliser&rsquo; novels, he wrote over 50 works in total, including short stories, travel books, biographies and a posthumously published autobiography. Collected here are a selection of superb adaptations of his much-loved novels, as well as an original radio play by Patricia Cumper. 
 
Orley Farm &ndash; Starring Tim Pigott-Smith, Samantha Bond and Ronald Pickup, this adaptation of Trollope&rsquo;s 1861 novel is a compelling, emotional tale of disreputable lawyers, young lovers, the beautiful Lady Mason and the honourable Sir Peregrine Orme. 
 
Miss Mackenzie &ndash; Hattie Morahan stars as Margaret Mackenzie, a single woman past the bloom of youth, who inherits a fortune and is then beset by suitors who may, or may not, simply be after her money. Can she pick her way through this romantic minefield and find true happiness? 
 
The American Senator &ndash; Ruthless Arabella Trefoil wants to keep her engagement to John Morton a secret while she pursues the wealthy Lord Rufford. But fortune-hunting is a dangerous game, as she is soon to discover. Starring Robert Glenister, Anna Maxwell Martin and Barbara Flynn. 
 
John Caldigate &ndash; Disinherited by his father, a young man leaves home to seek his fortune in Australia&rsquo;s gold mines. But an unwise shipboard romance leads to trouble down the line&hellip; Jeremy Clyde stars as John Caldigate, with Margaret Wolfit as Euphemia Smith. 
 
The Pallisers &ndash; A pacy, radical reboot of Anthony Trollope&rsquo;s celebrated novels about high life and low politics in Victorian England. Jessica Raines stars as our omniscient narrator, Lady Glencora, who takes us through two decades of scandal, scheming, ambition and powerbroking. 
 
The Way We Live Right Now &ndash; When shady financier Ghassan Mehmoud recruits gullible investors for his get-rich-quick scheme, the stage is set for scandal&hellip; Henry Goodman stars in this present-day reworking of Trollope&rsquo;s satirical masterpiece about money, greed and dishonesty. 
 
Mr Trollope and the Labours of Hercules &ndash; Paterson Joseph stars in this engrossing drama based on Anthony Trollope&rsquo;s experiences in Jamaica in 1858. 
 
Credits 
Written by Anthony Trollope 
 
Orley Farm (1861) 
Dramatised by Martyn Wade 
Directed by Tracey Neale 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 December 2008-11 January 2009 
 
Miss Mackenzie (1865) 
Dramatised by Martyn Wade 
Directed by Tracey Neale 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9-16 January 2011 
 
The American Senator (1876) 
Dramatised by Martyn Wade 
Directed by Tracey Neale 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21 August-4 September 2011 
 
John Caldigate (1879) 
Dramatised by D. G. Bridson 
Directed by David H. Godfrey 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 August-10 October 1976 
 
The Pallisers (1861-1879) 
Dramatised by Mike Harris and Sharon Oakes 
Directed by Gary Brown and Emma Harding 
Produced by Gary Brown 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 10 November 2019-8 March 2020 
 
The Way We Live Right Now (1875) 
Adapted by Jonathan Myerson 
Directed by Jonquil Panting 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16 June-4 July 2008 
 
Mr Trollope and the Labours of Hercules 
Written by Patricia Cumper 
Produced and directed by Marion Nancarrow 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 August 2016 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Anthony Trollope: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

Seven Full-Cast Dramatisations Including The Pallisers

Jan Etherington

Roger Allam and Joanna Lumley star in the complete fifth series of the much-loved comedy drama 
 
&lsquo;An endearing portrait of exasperation, laced with hard won tolerance &ndash; and something like love&rsquo; Guardian 
 
Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam are passionate, affectionate long-marrieds, still loving and laughing their way through life after 50 years together (on and off). 
 
We catch up with them as Joanna&rsquo;s landmark birthday is looming, and &ndash; inspired by fond memories of &lsquo;the Kerouac years&rsquo; &ndash; Roger surprises her with a nostalgic trip in a hippy love bus. Joanna, meanwhile, reminisces over their youthful Harley Davidson rides, indulges in a random act of kindness and relives old times when she visits an old friend in need. 
 
Though lack of communication causes complications for their loved ones, it&rsquo;s not a problem Joanna and Roger are ever likely to have &ndash; and whether they&rsquo;re rescuing spiders or planning Auntie Hilda&rsquo;s wedding, they&rsquo;re never short of conversation. But talking can&rsquo;t solve everything &ndash; and when a huge shock rocks the foundations of their marriage, a devastated Joanna makes a decision that will break Roger&rsquo;s heart... 
 
Conversations from a Long Marriage won the Voice of the Listener &amp; Viewer Award for Best Radio Comedy in 2020, and was nominated for a Writers&rsquo; Guild Award in 2022 and a British Comedy Guide award in 2023. Scripted by award-winning journalist and comedy writer Jan Etherington (Second Thoughts, Faith in the Future), this beautifully crafted sitcom is by turns poignant and hilarious. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Jan Etherington 
Produced and directed by Claire Jones 
Sound engineer: Wilfredo Acosta 
Sound designer: Jon Calver 
Production coordinator: Katie Baum 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 February-28 March 2024 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Conversations from a Long Marriage: Series 5

A BBC Radio 4 comedy drama

Thornton Wilder

Four of Thornton Wilder's most acclaimed works, adapted for BBC Radio - plus bonus material exploring his life and career 
 
Thornton Wilder is one of America's most important literary figures. He won the Pulitzer Prize three times - for his novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey and the plays Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth - and is the only person to be awarded the Pulitzer for both fiction and drama. Included here are four of his key works, set in different times and places, but sharing the same fundamental motifs - the universality of human experience and our search for life's meaning. 
 
Our Town, his timeless tale of love, marriage, birth and death in a small American community, stars Ed Bishop, William Roberts and Liza Ross. It is preceded by a 10-minute introductory extract from Free Thinking, in which presenter Anne McElvoy and actor/director David Cromer discuss the play's themes and techniques. 
 
Wilder's masterpiece, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, tells the story of the five victims of a bridge collapse, and the eyewitness who sets out to understand why they were fated to die. A poignant philosophical fable, it features a stellar cast including Annette Badland, Robert Glenister, Tom Goodman-Hill and Helen McCrory. 
 
Adapted from the play by Jerome Kilty, The Ides of March is based on Wilder's epistolary novel centred around the last days of the Roman republic, and stars Robert Hardy as Julius Caesar. Next, Ed Bishop reads from Heaven's My Destination, the comic tale of an amateur philosopher who leaves a trail of chaos wherever he goes. 
 
Finally, in a fascinating episode of Front Row, Mark Lawson, theatre director David Lan and New York Times theatre critic Mel Gussow discuss how Wilder became a literary icon, and launched a quiet revolution in American theatre. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Thornton Wilder 
Copyright © by The Wilder Family LLC 1927 (The Bridge of San Luis Rey), 1935 (Heaven's My Destination), 1938 (Our Town), 1948 (The Ides of March) 
 
Free Thinking 
Presented by Anne McElvoy 
With David Cromer 
Produced by Zahid Warley 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 16 October 2014 
 
Our Town 
Stage Manager - Ed Bishop 
Dr Gibbs - William Roberts 
Mrs Gibbs - Liza Ross 
George Gibbs - Ben Fairman 
Rebecca Gibbs - Teresa Gallagher 
Mr Webb - Garrick Hagon 
Mrs Webb/Dead Woman - Shelley Thompson 
Emily Webb - Barbara Barnes 
Joe Crowell/Si Crowell - Tom Bevan 
With Vincent Marzello, Peter Whitman, John Evitts and Frances Jeater 
Directed by David Hitchinson 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 July 1995 
 
The Bridge of San Luis Rey 
Madre Maria del Pilar - Annette Badland 
Uncle Pio - Michael Feast 
Jaime/Boy - Frederick Forge 
Brother Juniper/Captain Alvarado - Robert Glenister 
Esteban/Manuel - Tom Goodman-Hill 
Pepita/Dona Clara - Jasmine Hyde 
Camila, la Perichole - Helen McCrory 
Marquesa de Montemayor - Sian Phillips 
 
Dramatised by Judith Adams 
Directed by Gaynor MacFarlane 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 May 2002 
 
The Ides of March 
Narrator - Patrick Tull 
Caesar - Robert Hardy 
Brutus - Sean Barrett 
Clodia - Margaret Robertson 
Cleopatra - Elizabeth Proud 
Pompeia, Caesar's wife - Patricia Gallimore 
Julia, Caesar's aunt - Betty Hardy 
Clodius - Nigel Lambert 
Catullus - David Spenser 
 
Adapted for radio by Nesta Pain from the play by Jerome Kilty 
Produced by Nesta Pain 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 August 1970 
 
Heaven's My Destination 
Read by Ed Bishop 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 17 April 1997 
 
Front Row 
Presented by Mark Lawson 
With David Lan and Mel Gussow 
Produced by Nicki Paxman 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 March 2004 
 
Copyright © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Thornton Wilder: Our Town, The Bridge of San Luis Rey & More

A BBC Radio full-cast drama collection

Jenny Eclair

Julie Balloo

A collection of comedies and dramas about modern women’s lives and loves, starring Jenny Eclair 
 
Jenny Eclair is one of Britain’s most-loved stand-up comedians, and the first woman to win the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. She has written several acclaimed books, including the Sunday Times bestseller Older and Wider: A Survivor's Guide to the Menopause, and appeared on numerous TV and radio shows including Grumpy Old Women and Just a Minute. Collected here are some of her finest radio comedies and dramas, centred around women who are at a turning point in their lives. 
 
On Baby Street introduces us to three neighbours discovering the delights of parenthood. Series 1 sees them preparing for their new arrivals; in Series 2, the babies are born and the fun begins; and in Series 3, the children are toddlers, and their parents’ lives are changing. TwilightBaby.com takes a similar comic look at motherhood, as Cass, a 46-year-old with grown-up kids, finds to her shock that she is pregnant again. Over two series, we follow her as she blogs about being an ‘older’ mum, whilst endeavouring to keep the rest of her family in work and out of trouble. Just Juliette sees talk show host Juliette Johnson trying to balance marriage, motherhood and the media. As the two series unfold, she is on the verge of losing her job, her husband and her mind… And in the four-part comedy Dear Jenny, Dear Julie, two long-time pen pals – a Blackpudlian and an Australian – meet for the first time in London, and paint the town red. 
 
The pitfalls of fame are explored in two standalone dramas: Jason’s Mum, about a single mother with a chart-topping son, and The Andy Warhol Syndrome, in which housewife Carol becomes a reality TV celebrity, but has to deal with the aftermath when the cameras stop rolling. And in two dramatic monologues, In Convenience and He’s Leaving His Wife, Jenny Eclair takes us into the worlds of an unhappy wife preparing to host a dinner party on the worst of all possible days, and a mistress waiting on tenterhooks for her lover to tell his wife that their marriage is over. 
 
Written by Jenny Eclair and Julie Balloo, these witty, intimate comedy dramas boast stellar casts, including All Murray, Frances Barber, Kathy Burke, Kevin Eldon, Claire Skinner, Linda Robson, Emerald O’Hanrahan, Peter Sallis, Helen Lederer, Paul Merton, Nicholas Parsons and Ronni Ancona. 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Jenny Eclair and Julie Balloo 
 
On Baby Street 
With Jenny Eclair, Tilly Vosburgh, Keith Allen,Lee Cornes, Caroline Hook, Claire Skinner, Matilda Ziegler, Graham Fellows, Hugh Ross, Frances Barber, Kathy Burke/Linda Robson, Kevin Eldon, Sue Elliot-Nicholls, Eva Stuart, James Sutton, Julie Balloo, Ronni Ancona and Al Murray 
Produced by Jane Berthoud and Helen Williams 
 
TwilightBaby.com 
With Jenny Eclair, Kevin Eldon, Joseph Cohen-Cole, Emerald O'Hanrahan, Felicity Montagu, Philip Fox, Stephen Hogan, Kate Layden, Sean Baker, Christine Kavanagh, Sally Orrock 
Directed by Sally Avens 
 
Just Juliette 
With Jenny Eclair, Jeff Rawle, James Fleet, Annabel Giles, Jan Goodman, Peter Sallis, Sylvia Syms, Robert Duncan, Jane Whittenshaw, Simon Upson, Jon Culshaw, Julie Balloo, Anthony Best, Martin Hyder and Deborah Stevenson 
Produced by Helen Williams and Claire Jones 
 
Dear Jenny, Dear Julie 
With Jenny Eclair, Julie Balloo, Helen Lederer, Nicholas Parsons and Paul Merton 
Produced by Sioned Wiliam 
 
Jason’s Mum 
Starring Linda Robson and Jenny Eclair 
Produced by Jane Berthoud 
 
In Convenience 
Performed by Jenny Eclair 
Directed by Sally Avens 
 
The Andy Warhol Syndrome 
With Jenny Eclair, Ewan Bailey, Jan Goodman, Gerard McDermott, Harry Myers and Ronni Ancona 
Produced by Liz Webb 
 
He’s Leaving His Wife 
Performed by Jenny Eclair 
Directed by Mary Peate 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Jenny and Julie’s BBC Radio Dramas

On Baby Street, TwilightBaby.com and more

Joe Turner

The comic adventures of a checkout girl turned trainee vampire. 
 
Sulky Goth Eloise hates her life, Monday mornings and her dreary job as a Co-op sales assistant. She&rsquo;s always felt like an outsider, but as her 21st birthday approaches, she starts to wonder if she&rsquo;s going mad. She can&rsquo;t sleep, the sun hurts her skin, she&rsquo;s plagued by nightmares and she has an insatiable craving for blood &ndash; and worst of all, she seems to be allergic to garlic bread. 
 
Then her Transylvanian Aunt Lucretia reveals that she&rsquo;s a vampire, and suddenly it all makes sense. She&rsquo;s happier than she&rsquo;s ever been: but there are still a few hurdles to overcome. Before she can fulfil her destiny, she must study for a GCSE in vampirism &ndash; and teacher Lucretia is tough. She also needs to keep her secret from her boyfriend Wayne, best mate Debbie and manager Mr Jenkins; survive the staff outing to the blood donation centre; and find a way to sample her boss&rsquo;s extremely rare, extremely tasty &lsquo;Bombay blood&rsquo;. And when she turns Lucretia&rsquo;s castle into a love shack while her aunt&rsquo;s away, she finds herself facing danger... 
 
Starring Louise Lombard as Eloise and Joanna Kanska as Lucretia, this light-hearted comedy drama will delight fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and What We Do In the Shadows. It&rsquo;s a sitcom you can really get your teeth into... 
 
Production credits 
Written by Joe Turner 
Produced by Liz Anstee 
 
Cast 
Eloise &ndash; Louise Lombard 
Lucretia &ndash; Joanna Kanska 
Wayne &ndash; William Ivory 
Debbie &ndash; Jane Hazlegrove 
Mr Jenkins &ndash; Fine Time Fontayne 
With Linda Polan and Steve Hodson 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 5, 29 October-3 December 1993 
 
&copy; 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

20th Century Vampire

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Drama

Michelle Read

Samantha Bond and Hugh Bonneville star in this entertaining sitcom about a writer whose romance novel is interrupted by meeting a real man 
 
Author Anna Shelby is desperately trying to finish her latest bodice-ripper, a torrid tale of passion and jealousy set against a dazzling period background. But she's finding it hard to concentrate on her plotlines as, after years of having a purely fictional love life, she's finally met a real, live man. 
 
Unfortunately, her fantasies about Brian are constantly interrupted by her characters, chirpy Cockney muse Minnie and chisel-jawed hero Lord Robert. Concerned about the lack of authorial presence, they insist on leaping off the page to narrate their own story... 
 
As love blossoms for Anna, her creative juices begin to flow - but when Brian's friend Dougie lures him away to the Shetland Islands to build fibreglass ducks, she's hit by a bout of writer's block. With her book on hold, her deadline looming and her heart broken, is there any hope of a happy ending? 
 
Written by award-winning playwright Michelle Read, this sparkling rom-com stars Samantha Bond as Anna and Hugh Bonneville as Brian, with a full cast including Adjoa Andoh, Andrew Wincott and Michael Fenton Stevens. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Michelle Read 
Produced by Dawn Ellis 
 
Cast 
Anna - Samantha Bond 
Brian - Hugh Bonneville 
Deirdre - Beth Chalmers 
Fertility Doll - Adjoa Andoh 
Book - Michael Fenton Stevens 
Brenda - Michelle Read 
Buddah - Kammy Darweish 
Bob - Andrew Wincott 
Minnie - Cathy Murphy/Sue Elliott-Nicholls 
Dougie - Ewan Bailey 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
 
Episode 1: Thwarted 26 June 2000 
Episode 2: Love Hurts 10 October 2001 
Episode 3: Clouds 17 October 2001 
Episode 4: An Ending..? 24 October 2001 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Romantic Friction

A BBC Radio Comedy Drama

Shelagh Delaney

A collection of plays by the trailblazing dramatist Shelagh Delaney 
 
'The fact is, Miss Delaney is not only a shrewd and penetrating observer; she is a very delicate artist.' Bernard Levin 
 
Shelagh Delaney was just 19 when her debut play, A Taste of Honey, premiered in 1958. One of the great &lsquo;kitchen sink dramas&rsquo;, it was ground-breaking in its portrayal of working-class Northern women, gay and Black men, and influenced popular culture from The Smiths to Coronation Street. A huge hit in the West End and on Broadway, it was made into a BAFTA-winning film starring Rita Tushingham. 
 
This collection opens with a 2004 radio production of A Taste of Honey, starring Beth Squires as the pregnant teenager trading insults and repartee with her mother (Siobhan Finneran). It is followed by seven dramas specially written for BBC Radio, all showcasing Delaney&rsquo;s extraordinary gift for depicting the experiences and emotions of ordinary women and children. 
 
In the trilogy Sweetly Sings the Donkey, Tell Me a Film and Baloney Said Salome, we follow the friendship of four women across the decades, from their childhood meeting in a Blackpool convalescent home to their 60th birthday reunion, and their fond farewell to one of their number. Beth Squires, Barbara Marten, Kay Purcell, Susan Twist and Eileen O&rsquo; Brien star in these funny, moving plays. 
 
Country Life and its sequel, Whoopi Goldberg&rsquo;s Country Life, centre around Rose, whose peaceful life on a remote Yorkshire smallholding is disrupted by her moody nephew, her film-star brother and her embittered ex-sister-in law. This witty, poignant double bill about parenting, rural life and family ties stars Barbara Marten as Rose. 
 
Starring Daniel Hanbridge and Brooke Vincent, the rite-of-passage drama Out of the Pirate&rsquo;s Playhouse sees five eleven-year-olds celebrating the start of the holidays by going to their favourite activity centre: only to be told they are too old to play there. Our final play, So Does the Nightingale, is set during another period of transition, as middle-aged Alice prepares for her father&rsquo;s impending death &ndash; and reveals her shocking plans for a new, independent life&hellip; Linda Polan stars, with a cast including Barbara Laurenson and Margot Boyd. 
 
Production credits 
Text copyright &copy; Shelagh Delaney 1959 (A Taste of Honey),1980 (So Does the Nightingale), 2000(Sweetly Sings the Donkey), 2003 (Tell Me a Film, Out of the Pirate&rsquo;s Playhouse), 2004 (Baloney Said Salome), 2007 (Country Life), 2010 (Whoopi Goldberg&rsquo;s Country Life) 
All rights reserved 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 Nov 1980, 18 Dec 2000, 6 Mar 2003, 22 Jul 2004, 7 Nov 2004, 22 Mar 2007, 18 Oct 2010, 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A Taste of Honey & more

Eight BBC Radio Full-Cast Productions

Matthew Broughton

A compelling new thriller from the creator of Tracks 
 
When artist Jess is rescued by a mysterious stranger after collapsing at a protest rally, neither of them know that their lives are about to be transformed forever. The pair swiftly fall in love, but when Dan disappears, Jess realises how little she knows about the man who saved her. 
 
Jess is an aspiring artist with synaesthesia - she sees colours and patterns when she hears certain sounds, and uses her unique ability to connect the unconnected. Searching for answers, she is seduced by a glamorous and shadowy underworld of criminal gangs and a brutal leader with murderous intent. Conflicting perceptions compete as Jess's world begins to spiral out of control in this dark and gripping thriller... 
 
Who is Dan, really? Who can Jess trust, and is the truth what it appears to be? 
 
Senses collide and worlds change in this taut full-cast drama, starring Holli Dempsey as Jess and Josef Altin as Dan. 
 
 
Written by Matthew Broughton and Faebian Averies 
Directed by John Norton, Emma Harding and Philippa Swallow 
Sound Design by Catherine Robinson and Nigel Lewis 
Produced by John Norton, Philippa Swallow and Emma Harding 
 
Cast 
Jess - Holli Dempsey 
Dan - Josef Altin 
Johnny - Tom Byrne 
Melissa - Alexandria Riley 
Petal - Rina Mahoney 
Daisy - Grace Cooper Milton 
Clem - Francois Pandolfo 
Desk Sergeant, Security Guard, Newsreader - Chris Jack 
Security Guard, Janey, Gallery Director - Jasmine Hyde 
Mark, Magner - Neil McCaul 
Ryan - Justice Ritchie 
Ronnie Vaz - Alun Raglan 
Henry - Brendan Charleson 
Mother - Christine Kavanagh 
Molly - Molly Pepper Tuer 
Man - Dean Rehman 
Gina - Suzanne Packer 
Anthony Wheeler - Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong 
Vic - David Sterne 
Maggie - Ashleigh Haddad 
Blue Rider - Olivia Vinall 
 
Series 1 first broadcast BBC Radio 4, February 2022 
Series 2 first broadcast BBC Radio 4, December 2022 
Series 3 first broadcast BBC Radio 4, December 2023 
 
©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Broken Colours: The Complete Series 1-3

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast thriller

Barbara Taylor Bradford

A powerful billionaire who appears to have everything. The woman that holds the key.When a beautiful piece of music stirs mega-tycoon, Maximilian West, he remembers the women who have loved him and shaped his life. So begins a dazzling tale, taking us from the streets of London to the suites of New York, from the rise of Nazi Germany to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Strong, powerful, enigmatic, aloof, and adoring - many women made Maximilian the man with everything, but there is only one woman who can make him feel truly alive&hellip;Hear an unforgettable journey of sacrifice, secrets, love and redemption. Be mesmerised across all eight episodes of this sumptuous full-cast adaptation that will have you gripped from start to finish.Barbara Taylor Bradford is one of the world&rsquo;s greatest storytellers, her books have sold over 92 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 40 languages. Her debut, A Woman of Substance, was an instant bestseller and she has established herself as one of the best-known writers of compelling stories with heart. Bert Coules has written several hugely successful radio and TV adaptations including the Brother Cadfael novels, works by Val McDirmid, Ian Rankin and The Further Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes series.&ldquo;Few novelists are as consummate as Barbara Taylor Bradford at keeping the reader turning the page. She is one of the world&rsquo;s best at spinning yarns.&quot; The Guardian&ldquo;Queen of the genre.&rdquo; Sunday TimesCast and creditsWritten by Bert CoulesOriginal story by Barbara Taylor BradfordDirected by Enyd WilliamsPianist Michael HaslamMaximilian West - Robin EllisPrincess Irina Troubetzkoy - Dorothy TutinAnastasia &ndash; Alexandra BastedoCamilla Galland - Nicola PagettAdriana Macklin - Joanna MunroBlair Martin &ndash; Alice Arnold Theodora/Teddy - Emma FieldingUrsula Westheim - Susannah CorbettFrau Westheim - Sonia FraserSister Constanza &ndash; Sian Phillips Aunt Ketti &ndash; Maria CharlesAlix West - Elaine Pyke Michael West - Nicholas FletcherAlan Trenton &ndash; Simon WilliamsMargot Derevenko &ndash; Pauline Jameson Willy Herzog - Kim WallMark Lewis &ndash; Christopher Scott Little Maxim - William Nichols RoseYoung Maxim &ndash; Jonathan Kitchens Teenage Maxim- Robert Harper Teenage Alan &ndash; Alex LoweOther parts played by Janet Maw, Chris Pavlo, Shirley Dixon, Jonathan Adams, Sean Baker, Colleen Prendergast, Rory Jennings, Denys Hawthorne, Joan Meredith First Broadcast BBC Radio 2, 22 Oct &ndash; 10 Dec 1996&copy;2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Women in His Life

Elizabeth Bowen

A collection of full-cast dramas from one of Ireland's foremost writers - plus Elizabeth Bowen's thoughts on the novelist's craft 
 
Elizabeth Bowen was one of the 20th century's most distinctive writers. An associate of the Bloomsbury Set, she was a keen observer of upper-middle-class life and relationships. Best known for her novels of the Anglo-Irish gentry and wartime London, her fiction displays recurring themes of loss, rootlessness and displacement. This collection contains five of Bowen's best-loved works, and hears from the author herself in three radio talks on the art of novel-writing. 
 
The Heat of the Day - London, 1942. When Stella discovers that her lover, Robert, is suspected of selling secrets to the enemy, she finds herself caught between two men: one a potential spy, the other a blackmailer... A compelling tale of love, espionage and betrayal, in one of the quintessential depictions of London during World War II, starring Harriet Walter, Michael Maloney and Bill Nighy. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 Nov 1998 
 
The House in Paris - Even as she lays dying, scheming Madame Fisher manipulates the lives of young Henrietta and Leopold. But will her own secrets and lies ever be revealed? Sara Kestelman stars in this enthralling story of deception, scandal and death. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3-17 Jul 1994 
 
The Last September - 1920, Danielstown, County Cork. Poised on the brink of womanhood, Lois flirts and dances with English officers at society parties- but the Troubles are closing in, and her world is about to change irrevocably. This evocative coming-of-age tale stars Anna Healy and Greg Wise. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9-16 Sep 1996 
 
The Confidant - Starring Cathy Belton and Fionnuala Murphy, this penetrating short story, set in 1920s Cork, revolves around a couple in a clandestine relationship and the woman who keeps all their secrets. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 Nov 1998 
 
The Demon Lover - Mrs Drover nervously returns to her deserted London house in the Blitz to find a letter on the hall table - a reminder of a special rendezvous she cannot fully recollect... Maggie Steed stars in Elizabeth Bowen's eerie ghost story. 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 Jul 1997 
 
Truth and Fiction - In these three talks about the art of writing fiction, Elizabeth Bowen discusses the importance of story, people and time in establishing a novel's 'truth'. 
First broadcast BBC Home Service Basic, 26 Sep-10 Oct 1956 
 
NB: Due to the age of the source material, the sound quality of Truth and Fiction may vary 
 
The Last September copyright &copy; Elizabeth Bowen 1929, 1952 
Copyright renewed 
The House in Paris copyright &copy; Elizabeth Cameron 1935 
Copyright &copy; renewed by Elizabeth D. C. Cameron 1963 
The Heat of the Day copyright &copy; Elizabeth Bowen 1948 
Copyright &copy; renewed by Spencer Curtis and Graham August Watson 1976 
'The Confidant' and 'The Demon Lover' copyright &copy; 1923, 1945 
Copyright &copy; Curtis Brown Ltd, 1980 
 
 
&copy; 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Elizabeth Bowen: A BBC Radio Full-Cast Drama Collection

The Heat of the Day, The House in Paris and More

Six gripping dramatised documentaries detailing the history of the turbulent Tudor period. 
 
Passion, power, sex and suspicious deaths &ndash; the Tudor story is one of drama and dysfunction, and it has kept us enthralled for over 400 years. In these six dramatised documentaries, we take a behind-the-scenes look at Tudor England and get to know the key characters we have grown to love and hate, such as Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Compiled from contemporary sources by Alison Plowman and featuring first-hand accounts and letters, these thrilling, historically accurate retellings bring this tumultuous era to vivid life. 
 
The Most Unhappy Lady spans three critical years in the life of Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, and later Queen of England. It begins in 1533, when her father divorces her mother and marries Anne Boleyn. Refusing to accept the validity of Henry&rsquo;s actions, Mary finds herself facing danger and disgrace&hellip; 
 
In Elizabeth's Admiral, we follow the events which took place in the immediate aftermath of Henry VIII&rsquo;s death in 1547 &ndash; events which led to the execution of the Lord High Admiral Thomas Seymour and came near to seriously compromising the future of the 15-year-old Princess Elizabeth. 
 
The Killing at Kirk O&rsquo;Field, set between March 1566 and June 1567, tells the tragic tale of the murder of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary Queen of Scots: a crime that remains one of the most controversial 'whodunnits' of all time. 
 
Chance or Villainy? explores the mysterious death of Amy Robsart in 1560. Her husband, Lord Robert Dudley, was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I and was rumoured to be having an affair with her &ndash; so when Amy was found dead at the foot of a staircase, it seemed that a serious crisis might ensue&hellip; 
 
In A Knot of Secret Might, we hear the ill-fated love story of Lady Katherine Grey, sister of the doomed &lsquo;Nine-Day Queen&rsquo; Lady Jane Grey. And in The Great Enterprise, 1588, we are transported back to sixteenth-century Spain, as Philip II prepares to launch his &lsquo;Invincible Armada&rsquo;... 
 
Among the ensemble casts of these superb docu-dramas are Beryl Calder, Haydn Jones, Marjorie Westbury, Kathleen Helme, Patricia Leventon, Nerys Hughes and Roger Delgado. 
 
Credits 
Compiled from contemporary sources by Alison Plowden 
Special thanks to Keith Wickham for Archive material. 
 
The Most Unhappy Lady 
Produced by Joe Burroughs 
First broadcast BBC Home Service, 22 Dec 1964 
 
Elizabeth&rsquo;s Admiral (A Pattern of Tudors) 
Produced by Joe Burroughs 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24 Apr 1968 
 
The Killing at Kirk O&rsquo;Field 
Produced by Alison Plowden 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18 Sep 1969 
 
Chance or Villainy? (A Pattern of Tudors) 
Produced by Joe Burroughs 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 Feb 1966 
 
A Knot of Secret Might 
Produced by Richard Wortley 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 Oct 1970 
 
The Great Enterprise, 1588 (A Pattern of Tudors) 
Produced by Joe Burroughs 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11 Aug 1968 
 
&copy; 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Life and Intrigue in Tudor Britain

A Collection of BBC Radio Historical Docu Dramas

Guy de Maupassant

BBC Radio adaptations of selected novels and short stories by the great 19th century French writer - plus bonus programmes 
 
Guy de Maupassant is renowned as one of the fathers of the modern short story. A protégé of Flaubert, he was celebrated for his naturalistic fiction, and wrote over 300 short stories, six novels, three travel books and one volume of verse in his short but highly productive lifetime. He died in an asylum aged just 43. 
 
This collection brings together dramatisations of some of his finest works. Adapted by Sony Award-winning dramatist Frances Byrnes, Bel Ami chronicles the corrupt rise of charming, ruthless journalist Georges Duroy (Jonathan Slinger). It is followed by Maupassant's most famous short story, 'The Dumpling', a satirical tale of a group of coach travellers fleeing occupied Rouen during the Franco-Prussian war. Dramatised for the first time on radio, it stars Miriam Margolyes. 
 
Set in Le Havre, Pierre et Jean centres around the jealousy that springs up between two brothers when a family secret is uncovered. Benedict Sandiford stars as Pierre, with Tim Treloar as Jean. Maupassant's tragicomic debut novel, Une Vie, starring Aimee Ffion Edwards, tells the story of Jeanne, a naive convent-educated aristocrat who dreams of romance, but finds marriage and adulthood treacherous and rotten. The haunting wintry tale 'The Inn' is next, in which young mountain guide Ulrich (Robin Laing) finds himself in sole charge of a remote Alpine hotel. 
 
A hidden past is also at the heart of 'Mademoiselle Pearl', a poignant love story starring Claire Neilson and Frank Middlemass. Alongside it is 'The Hand', the macabre supernatural tale of an English aristocrat, his gruesome trophy and his vengeful nemesis. Denis Quilley stars as Sir John Rowell. 
 
Also featured are two bonus dramas and a documentary about the great author. Confessions of a Hedonist is a phantasmagorical journey through five of Maupassant's most personal stories: 'A Strange Night Out', 'Mouche', 'Laid To Rest', 'Cockcrow' and 'Le Horla'. Adapted and translated by Simon Scardifield, it stars Elliot Cowan and Holli Dempsey. How an Umbrella Changed Everything, written by Shirley Cooklin and based on an idea by Maupassant, tells of a childless couple whose obsessive frugality has fateful repercussions. Nigel Lambert and Sheila Grant star as Charles and Clothilde Oreille. Finally, Meridian: Guy de Maupassant - Master of the Short Story explores Maupassant's life, work and lasting legacy. 
 
First published 1880 ('The Dumpling'), 1883 (Une Vie, 'The Hand'), 1885 (Bel-Ami), 1886 ('The Inn', 'Mademoiselle Pearl'), 1887 (Pierre et Jean, 'Le Horla'), c1890 ('Mouche', 'A Queer Night in Paris', 'Laid to Rest', 'Cockcrow') 
 
Production credits 
Written by Guy de Maupassant 
 
Contents: 
 
Bel Ami 
 
The Dumpling 
 
Pierre and Jean 
 
Une Vie 
 
The Inn 
 
Mademoiselle Pearl 
 
The Hand 
 
Maupassant's Confessions of a Hedonist 
 
How an Umbrella Changed Everything 
 
Meridian: Guy de Maupassant - Master of the Short Story 
 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Guy de Maupassant BBC Radio Drama Collection

Full-cast dramatisations of Un Vie, Bel Ami & more

A Private Thriller

A series of children's modern classic novels by renowned 20th century children's writers. All the titles in this series have the A Puffin Book logo, contemporary-style covers, and child-friendly endnotes.

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