Alan Duff

Alan Durant is the author of books for a wide age-range, from picture books such as Burger Boy, Angus Rides the Goods Train and Always and Forever to top-end teenage thrillers (Blood, Flesh and Bones). Having worked as a copywriter at Walker Books, he is now a full-time author. 
 
He's married, with three children and lives in Brighton. He does a lot of school visits throughout the UK and abroad and also runs writing workshops.

Alan Durant

Alan Edge

Alan Ereira

Alan Garner

Alan Gilbey

Alan Gordon is the founder and director of the Pain Psychology Center in California, a leading treatment facility for chronic pain sufferers that sees over 1,500 patients from around the world every year. Debilitated by chronic pain throughout his body for several years and frustrated by the lack of effective treatment, Gordon developed the ground-breaking Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) – a highly effective system of psychological techniques that rewire the brain’s neural circuits to turn off “stuck” pain signals. He is an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Southern California.

Alan Gordon

Alan Grant

Born in 1926 in New York City, Alan Greenspan worked as a Juilliard-trained professional musician before studying Economics at New York University, where he earned his PhD. From 1974 to 1977, he served as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Gerald Ford. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan appointed him Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, a position he held until his retirement in 2006. He is the author of the bestselling The Age of Turbulence and The Map and the Territory 2.0.

Alan Greenspan

Alan H Guth

Alan Hansen was one of Britain's most respected football players and is now one of the most outspoken and popular football pundits.

Alan Hansen

Alan Harris is a Welsh playwright who has written several plays for BBC radio including The Lighthouse and The Gold Farmer. His play A Good Night Out in the Valleys launched the new National Theatre Wales in 2010 and he has also been awarded a prestigious Creative Wales Award.

Alan Harris

Alan Hill

Alan Hollinghurst was born in 1954. He is the author of one of the most highly praised first novels to appear in the 1980s, The Swimming-Pool Library, and was selected as one of the Best of Young British Novelists 1993. His second novel, The Folding Star, won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and was shortlisted for the 1994 Booker Prize. His novel The Line of Beauty won the Booker Prize in 2004. His most recent novel, The Sparsholt Affair, was published in 2017.

Alan Hollinghurst

Alan Hooper is a founder and Honorary Fellow of the Centre for Leadership Studies, 
University of Exeter, and is also a visiting Professor at Bristol Business 
School. He has been a CEO in the public sector and now consults widely on 
senior management development and the management of change.

Alan Hooper

Alan Isler was born in England in 1934, emigrating to the US at the age of 18. After serving in the US army he went on to study literature at Columbia University, and taught for much of his adult life. Isler was the author of several novels including Kraven Images, The Bacon Fancier, Clerical Errors, The Living Proof and The Prince of West End Avenue, which won the National Jewish Book Award in 1994. Isler died in 2010. 
 .

Alan Isler

Alan J Wilson

Alan Jenkins

Alan Johnson was born in May 1950. He is a British Labour Party politician who served as Home Secretary from June 2009 to May 2010. Before that he filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary and Education Secretary. Until 20 January 2011 he was Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. Johnson was the Member of Parliament for Hull West and Hessle until his retirement from politics in 2017. 
 His first book, This Boy, won the RSL Ondaatje Prize and the Orwell Prize in 2013. His second, Please Mister Postman, won the National Book Award for Autobiography of the Year in 2014. His third, The Long and Winding Road, was published in 2016 and won the Parliamentary Book Award for Best Memoir.

Alan Johnson

Alan Jones

Belfast-born twins Alan and Gary Keery love cereal. As creators of The Cereal Killer Café, the trendiest new eatery on Brick Lane, they have turned that love of the nation’s favourite comfort food into a thriving business. The opening of their first café saw extraordinary interest with press and broadcast coverage from all over the world. The café was voted best new restaurant by Hot Dinners in 2014. A second café is opening in summer 2015.

Alan Keery

Alan Langford

Alan Lerner

Alan MacDonald

Alan Macdonald

Alan Macfarlane

Alan McDonald

Alan Melville

Alan Moore

Alan Moorehead was born in Melbourne, Australia. He travelled to England in 1937 and became a renowned foreign correspondent for the London Daily Express. Writer, world traveller, biographer, essayist, journalist, Moorehead was one of the most successful writers in English of his day. During World War II he won an international reputation for his coverage of campaigns in the Middle East and Asia, the Mediterranean and Northwest Europe. He died in 1983.

Alan Moorehead

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BBC Radio Comedy

The BBC Radio 4 stand-up show featuring the biggest names on the comedy circuit 
 
In these series, Rhod Gilbert and Chris Addison introduce a line-up of the best and brightest stand-ups, inviting fresh faces and old hands onstage to display their comic talents. 
 
Each programme features three different stars – a newcomer who performs the opening act; an established comedian or double act offering up sketches, musical numbers or character pieces; and a final headline artist. There’s some top-notch comedy from the compères too, as they showcase their funniest routines. 
 
Among the comedy A-listers in these episodes are Jon Richardson, Russell Kane, Stephen K Amos, Doc Brown, Miles Jupp, Justin Moorhouse, Robin Ince, Sarah Millican, Simon Brodkin (as Lee Nelson), Pippa Evans (as country singer Loretta Maine), Francesca Martinez, Zoe Lyons and Tim Vine. 
 
Fast, funny and fabulous, this show is a must for fans of cutting-edge comedy and sensational stand-up. 
 
Produced by Tilusha Ghelani and Sam Michell

4 Stands Up

A stand up comedy show hosted by Rhod Gilbert and Chris Addison

Pauline Devaney

Edwin Apps

TV’s first ecclesiastical comedy, All Gas and Gaiters was enjoyed by over 10 million viewers on BBC One between 1966 and 1971. Written by husband-and-wife-team Pauline Devaney and Edwin Apps, it was so popular that a selection of scripts were revised and re-recorded for radio with the same star cast as the television series. 
 
Robertson Hare starred as the Archdeacon of the fictional St Ogg’s Cathedral. An elderly gentleman fond of a tipple and with an eye for the ladies, he shares the cloisters with his clerical companions, the easy-going Bishop (William Mervyn) and the naïve, accident-prone Chaplain (Derek Nimmo and Jonathan Cecil). All they want is a quiet life – but this wish is constantly thwarted by the overbearing Dean (John Barron), and all too often, chaos and confusion abound as they are caught up in a series of hilarious misadventures. 
 
This collection comprises all 33 episodes of the classic comedy. Among the guest stars are David Jason, Richard Caldicot, Doris Hare, Hugh Paddick, Deryck Guyler and Julia McKenzie. 
 
Written by Pauline Devaney and Edwin Apps 
Produced by David Hatch and John Dyas 
 
Cast 
Archdeacon……………………Robert Hare 
Bishop……………………William Mervyn 
Bishop’s Chaplain (The Reverend Mervyn Noote)……………………Derek Nimmo/Jonathan Cecil 
Dean……………………John Barron 
 
 
 
Please note: the sound quality of this title may vary due to the age of the recordings

All Gas and Gaiters: Series 1 and 2

A BBC Radio ecclesiastical comedy

Myles Rudge

Ronie Wolfe

Series 1-3 of the 1960s comedy set in the world of advertising 
 
Set in a London ad agency called 'Apsley, Addis, Cohen, Barbican, Blythe, Giddy &amp; Partners’, Something To Shout About ran over three series in 1960-61. 
 
Michael Medwin stars as account executive Michael, with Fenella Fielding as his seductive secretary Janet, Joan Sims and Sheila Hancock as shorthand typists Mavis and Shirley, Eleanor Summerfield as no-frills executive Maggie and Nicholas Phipps as copywriter Adrian. This disparate team must stick together to succeed, as they battle to win new accounts and impress clients – and from wooing a US tycoon to putting a glamorous spin on a dreary seaside holiday camp, they always think big. Why else would they hire an elephant to promote bath salts? 
 
In these three series, a new recruit unsettles the ad agency’s routine, there’s uproar in the agency when the women discover that the men get paid more, a Parisian photoshoot is ruined and has to be redone on a budget, and a team trip to the countryside to work on a shampoo commercial doesn’t go to plan... 
 
Written by Myles Rudge and guest starring Warren Mitchell and Roy Dotrice in a variety of roles, this light-hearted look at the advertising world is a treat for lovers of classic radio comedy. 
 
Due to the age of these vintage recordings, the sound quality may vary. 
 
Produced by John Simmonds, Trafford Whitelock and Eric Miller 
Music by The Jingle Belles and The Bernie Fenton Quartet, under the direction of Cliff Adams (Series 1)

Something to Shout About: Series 1-3: A BBC Radio Comedy

Barry Grossman

All three series of the BBC Radio 4 comedy drama about the collision between the old and the new in the Jewish community of Hillfield 
 
Abraham Fine lives a settled, comfortable life as Rabbi of Hillfield’s Orthodox synagogue. But his world is turned upside down when a new Reform synagogue opens, led by a female Rabbi, Su Jacobs. Young, single, trendy and full of new ideas, she soon sets about modernisation: introducing her congregation to the delights of the Internet, putting ‘executive boxes’ with TV screens in the pews and offering coffee and croissants during the services – much to Rabbi Fine’s consternation. Fortunately, his wife Sadie is less resistant to change, and is quick to befriend Su and endeavour to keep the peace between her and Abraham. 
 
Written by Barry Grossman, this culture-clash comedy stars David de Keyser as Rabbi Abraham Fine and Tracy-Ann Oberman as Rabbi Su Jacobs, with Doreen Mantle as Sadie. Guest stars include Warren Mitchell, Geoffrey Whitehead and Nadim Sawalha. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Barry Grossman 
Produced by John Fawcett Wilson 
Music: Max Harris 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 12 November-3 December 1999 (Series 1), 22 September-27 October 2000 (Series 2), 13 February-20 March 2002 (Series 3)

The Attractive Young Rabbi

The Complete BBC Radio comedy

Boothby Graffoe

Award-winning stand-up Boothby Graffoe presents his individual brand of comedy in BBC radio’s The Big Booth and Boothby Graffoe In No Particular Order 
 
‘A musical comedy act who is more musical than most musicians, and funnier than most comedians’ Stewart Lee 
 
The only British comedian named after a Lincolnshire market town, Boothby Graffoe has won a cult following (and a Time Out Comedy Award) for his surreal stand-up routines and cerebral comic songs. This collection contains his two critically-acclaimed BBC Radio 4 comedy series, crammed with great gags, marvellous monologues, straw polls, sketches and ditties. 
 
In The Big Booth, Boothby and guitarist Antonio Forcione are joined by special guests including Kevin Eldon, Richard Thompson, Robyn Hitchcock and Mariella Frostrup for twelve episodes of guitar-flavoured songs and observational comedy, including a special show recorded at the Edinburgh Festival. Prepare to climb into his soup time machine, stay the night in his haunted Scottish castle, meet a man with a replacement tongue, and hear scary tales of the railway and dramas at sea… 
 
Boothby Graffoe In No Particular Order features more magnificent meanderings and comic improvisations from Boothby’s convoluted brain. The odd and the even odder get an outing as he looks at some things about families that make him laugh, and hosts a not-to-be-missed version of the Round Britain Quiz. With him on stage are Stephen Frost and Antonio Forcione, and guests include Art Malik, Paul Zerdin and Debra Stephenson. 
 
 
Track listing: 
1-6: The Big Booth Series 1 
7-12: The Big Booth Series 2 
13-18: Boothby Graffoe in No Particular Order Series 1 
19-24: Boothby Graffoe in No Particular Order Series 2 
25-30: Boothby Graffoe in No Particular Order Series 3 
 
 
Cast and credits 
 
The Big Booth 
Written by Boothby Graffoe and Dave Thompson 
Produced by Lucy Armitage and Julia McKenzie (Series 2, Episodes 1 &amp; 2) 
With Simon Evans, Vivienne Soan, Big Al, Antonio Forcione, Stephen Frost, Glenn Tilbrook, Kevin Eldon, John Otway, Ned Sherrin, Richard Thompson, Alan Mouat, Robyn Hitchcock, Jim Sweeney, Neil Innes and Mariella Frostrup 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 1 January-5 February 2000 (The Big Booth), 25 January-1 March 2001 (The Big Booth Too) 
 
Boothby Graffoe In No Particular Order 
Written by Boothby Graffoe, with additional material by Martin Soam, Jim Miller, Dave Thompson, and Martin Coyote 
Produced by Jane Berthoud 
With Antonio Forcione, Art Malik, Stephen Frost, Richard Holgarth, Giorgio Serci, Paul Zerdin, Jerome J Wright, Debra Stephenson, Nick Pynn, Tom Arnold, Rory Cameron, Stephen Wrigley and Thesius Gerrard

The Big Booth

The BBC Radio comedy collection

25 episodes of the flagship topical comedy show presented by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis 
 
The Now Show is a much-loved stalwart of radio comedy. Featuring some of the best and brightest contemporary comedians, this award-winning show takes a satirical look at the news through a mix of stand-up, songs and sketches, as well as interview segments in which experts in their field explain the facts behind the headlines. 
 
NB: Contains humour and language that some listeners may find offensive 
 
Cast and credits 
Presented by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis 
Written by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis with the cast 
Additional material by Simon Alcock, Bisha K Ali, Ed Amsden, Liam Beirne, Catherine Bohart, Madeleine Brettingham, Catherine Brinkworth, Emma Cahill, Sarah Campbell, Jack Chisholm, Jack Chisnall, Tom Coles, Jenny Collier, Clint Edwards, Sara Gibbs, Alice Gregg, Gareth Gwynn, Ben Hillyar, Will Hislop, Dan Hooper, Jon Hunter, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Rosie Jones, Athena Kugblenu, Jane Lamacraft, Jenny Laville, Stuart Laws, Laura Major, Elaine Malcolmson, David Mayes, Robin Morgan, Sarah Morgan, Tom Neenan, Benjamin Partridge, Charlotte Pearson, Saskia Preston, Heidi Regan, Mike Shephard, Ian Smith, Katie Storey, Andy Wolton 
 
Produced by Joe Nunnery, Adnan Ahmed, Katie Tyrrell, Victoria Lloyd and Matt Stronge 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
Series 50 featuring: Katy Brand, Lisa Jên Brown, Jack Carroll, Daliso Chaponda, Peter Curran, Pippa Evans, Julian Fisher, Kerry Godliman, Ivo Graham, Luke Kempner, Mae Martin, Andrew Maxwell, Trevor Morris, Tudur Owen, Rich Peppiatt, Al Porter, Lucy Porter, Kiri Pritchard McLean, Jess Robinson, Danny Sriskandarajah, Maeve Shearlaw, Vikki Stone, Ellie Taylor, Lord Alan West of Spithead, Jake Yapp, Andy Zaltzman 
 
The Vote Now Show featuring: Pippa Evans, John Humphrys, Luke Kempner, Thomas Kielinger, Soumaya Keynes, Damian Lyons-Lowe, Geoff Norcott, Freya Parker, Emma Sidi, Matthew Shaddick, Tiffany Stevenson, Ellie Taylor, Andy White, Jake Yapp, Andy Zaltzman 
 
The Now Show at the Fringe featuring: Fern Brady, Loyiso Gola, The Doug Anthony All Stars and Tommy Sheppard 
 
Series 51 featuring: Eshaan Akhbar, Doug Allan, Gemma Arrowsmith, Kwame Asante, Angela Barnes, Ashley Blaker, Fern Brady, Tamar Broadbent, Daliso Chaponda, Nicola and Rosie Dempsey (as Flo and Joan), Pippa Evans, Graham Fellows, George Fouracres, Gareth Gwynn, Darren Harriott, Luke Kempner, Kae Kurd, Tez Ilyas, Gráinne Maguire, Catherine Mayer, Tom Nestrop, John O’Farrell, Lucy Porter, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, David Quantick, Tim Shipman, William Sitwell, Vikki Stone, Sindhu Vee, Sophie Willan, Jake Yapp, Andy Zaltzman 
 
Series 52 featuring: James Acaster, Gemma Arrowsmith, Daniel Barker, Beardyman, Marcus Brigstocke, Jen Brister, Tamar Broadbent, Desiree Burch, Pippa Evans, Michael Fish, George Fouracres, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Robin Ince, Adam Kay, Luke Kempner, Tom Kington, Olga Koch, Mae Martin, Rose Matafeo, Rachel Parris, Lucy Porter, Jess Robinson, Suzi Ruffell, Emma Sidi, Ahir Shah, Ola Svensson, Ellie Taylor, Phil Wang, Jake Yapp, Andy Zaltzman 
 
Edinburgh Fringe Special featuring: Karen Bartke, Stephen Buchanan, Luke Kempner, Sarah Keyworth, Paul Mayhew-Archer

The Now Show: Series 50-52

The BBC Radio 4 topical comedy

Marcy Kahan

The Master turns sleuth and spy in this quintet of radio dramas 
 
Actor, playwright, songwriter, director, author and star – as far as we know, Noël Coward never added ‘detective’ or ‘undercover agent’ to his astonishing achievements. But could the intriguing gaps in his memoirs be hiding a thrilling secret life? 
 
Design for Murder 
In this wry backstage whodunit set just before World War II, Coward must put aside the play he’s writing to track down a murderous psychopath in London’s West End. 
 
Blithe Spy 
This Second World War espionage adventure finds Coward in New York, where he turns secret agent and uses his talent to amuse to help Britain battle the Nazis. 
 
A Bullet at Balmain’s 
1948, and the celebrated playwright is in post-liberation Paris to take the lead role in his play Present Laughter. But the murder of a fashion-house mannequin provides a stylish distraction. 
 
Death at the Desert Inn 
1955. When $300,000 is left in a satchel in Noël Coward's Las Vegas suite, it’s the prelude to a baffling murder mystery, complete with Judy Garland, a showgirl, a Broadway agent, an unlikely croupier, and a US Congressman. 
 
Our Man in Jamaica 
1961. Reconciled to being out of fashion, Noël Coward is determined to finish his first novel – until his neighbour Ian Fleming sets him a challenge: become a spy once more to help destabilise Fidel Castro… 
 
Written by Marcy Kahan and starring Malcolm Sinclair as Coward, Eleanor Bron as his devoted secretary Lorn Loraine and Tam Williams as his devoted valet Cole Lesley, these light-hearted thrillers see Noël Coward solving crimes and foiling villains with his favourite weapon: wit. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Marcy Kahan 
Starring Malcolm Sinclair as Noël Coward, Eleanor Bron as Lorn Loraine and Tam Williams as Cole Lesley

The Noël Coward Quintet

Detective. Spy. The entirely fictional adventures of Noël Coward

Simon Brett

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

After Henry: The Complete BBC Radio Series 1-4

David Renwick

The complete series of the BBC radio sketch show that takes a post-truth look at the history of laughter. 
 
A dark, quirky parody of Desert Island Discs, Desolation Jests is a post-apocalyptic sketch show that takes a not-altogether-accurate look at the history of comedy. Featuring faux interviews with spurious celebrities, conducted by the Roy Plomley-esque host JP Doom, it poses the question ‘Which comedy sketches would you most want at your side to face the end of the world?’ 
 
Choosing their favourite moments of mirth are Frankie ‘Flesh Eater’ Harris, who talks about life at the top of the ‘Most Wanted’ list; Viktor Schmelling, Emeritus Professor of Princeton University’s Faculty of Laughter; Lucian Bile (aka Rot Caries), Britain’s first and only punk dentist and Sydney Pynchlink, the innovative director behind some of the country's most admired weather forecasts. 
 
Among the counter-factual comedy clips singled out for posterity are the fast-talking lunacy of the Klutz Brothers’ classic A Day at the Proctologists, the atheist episode of Sunday Worship; most of an announcement from the Ministry of Unfinished Business, and a lobster with a rather crucial piece of evidence. 
 
Created by award-winning TV writer David Renwick (One Foot in the Grave, Jonathan Creek), Desolation Jests’ stellar line-up includes John Bird and Rory Bremner (Bremner, Bird and Fortune), as well as Dead Ringers star Jan Ravens and comedy legend David Jason. 
 
Written by David Renwick 
Starring: David Jason, John Bird, Jan Ravens, Rory Bremner 
With Christopher Timothy, Adie Allen, James Lailey and Nick Underwood 
Produced by Gareth Edwards 
Production Coordinator: Sophie Richardson 
A BBC Studios Production 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 13 December 2016-3 January 2017

Desolation Jests

A BBC Radio Sketch Comedy

Nick Revell

Gyles Brandreth

All six episodes of the BBC radio comedy about two chalk-and-cheese flatmates 
 
Nick Reynolds is a lefty alternative comedian-turned-holistic therapist. Living on the floor below him is Gyles Brandon, an ex-Tory MP turned media darling. Poles apart, they’d never choose each other as friends, but when Nick accidentally floods Gyles’ apartment, they become reluctant flat-sharers. 
 
Joined by Gyles’ goddaughter Sophie Okuyu, the spoilt daughter of a corrupt African politician, the housemates get into various scrapes, including plotting to seek revenge on Gyles’ ex-wife, trying to curry favour (and make some money) at a swanky Mayfair art gallery, and going on a celebratory night out which swiftly turns to disaster... 
 
Written by and starring Gyles Brandreth as Gyles and Nick Revell as Nick, this Odd Couple story was inspired by a chance meeting between the pair at the Edinburgh Festival, where they hit it off despite being political opposites. Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle, Black Mirror) plays Sophie, and guest stars include Prunella Scales, Timothy West, Martin Jarvis and Neil Pearson. 
 
Cast 
Gyles Brandon – Gyles Brandreth 
Nick Reynolds – Nick Revell 
Sophie Okuyu – Gugu Mbatha-Raw 
George Carstairs – Martin Jarvis 
Taxi driver/Goon – Nathan Caton 
Mr Longstaff/ Richard Dowdeswell/Piers/Brian/Barry – Martin Hyder 
Shop assistant – Alys Torrance 
Mrs Woodman – Prunella Scales 
Mr Woodman – Timothy West 
Charles Danbury – Nickolas Grace 
Jana – Maria McErlane 
Immigration officer/Asif – Dan Mersh 
Olga – Barunka O'Shaughnessy 
Rick – Neil Pearson 
 
Written by Nick Revell and Gyles Brandreth 
Produced by Ed Morrish 
BA: Pamela Norris 
Studio Managers: Alick Hale-Monro &amp; Gary Newman 
Archive BA: Kevin Gordon 
Theme music composed and performed by Ben Walker

Living with the Enemy

Richard Waring

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

Marriage Lines: The Complete Series 1 and 2

A BBC Radio 4 comedy

Marcus Brigstocke

Danny Robins

Dan Tetsell

Welcome to the all-encompassing Museum of Everything – feel free to take a wander round our infinite gallery of strange exhibits, stranger exhibitors, disgruntled guides and obsessed visitors. 
 
The items on display range from the Elgin Tiddlywinks to the birds and the bees, and you can learn about the history of wicker and the origins of scampi, enjoy a display featuring the worst-selling author of Victorian times, get inducted into the Mock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and discover the real identity of Jack the Ripper. 
 
For some badger-based fun, take the family to Badgerland or Euro Badger. Alternatively, why not tour a stately home with Lady Bagshot, go on a journey to experience the History of the Future or marvel at the monarchy with our majestic royal theme park? 
 
But whatever you choose to do, beware of ‘The Curator’ – and don’t leave without visiting the gift shop… 
 
Shortlisted for a 2005 Sony Radio Award, this surprising, surreal sketch series was written by and stars Marcus Brigstocke, Danny Robins and Dan Tetsell, with Lucy Montgomery. 
 
Produced by Alex Walsh-Taylor 
Music by Dominic Haslam and Ben Walker

The Museum of Everything

The Complete Series 1-3

Alex Edelman

Alex Edelman - Bostonian native and winner of the prestigious Best Newcomer Award at the 2014 Edinburgh Comedy Festival - brings his unique wit to an exploration of what it means to be a Millennial today. 
 
This collection includes two of his BBC Radio 4 series: 
 
Millennial: In this half-hour radio special version of his Edinburgh Award-winning show, Alex Edelman gives his take on how his industrious demographic is both ridiculed and misunderstood, and how he's used his smart-arse wit to bite back. 
 
Peer Group: The Complete Series 1 and 2: Alex takes a look at what it means to be an adult in a millennial world, with help from his 'peer group'. From what millennials actually want to own (apart from - obviously - a house) in a world where so much is disposable, to how social media has insinuated its way into his life, and what it means to be political in today's world. 
 
Is Alex Edelman an adult yet? When will he feel like one? Is he part of a generation that's increasingly emotionally stunted? And is the internet responsible? 
 
Produced by Sam Michell 
A BBC Studios Production

Alex Edelman: Millennial & Peer Group

Two BBC Radio 4 comedy series

Nick Warburton

Ronald Pickup, Paul Ritter and Kate Duchêne star in Nick Warburton’s comedy about one community’s attempts to resist change 
 
When Richard and Clare Wells inherit a clifftop house in Yorkshire, they also inherit a sitting tenant, John Hector, who treats their home as his own and the local town as his own personal fiefdom. But the sea is eroding the land, and John is intent on stopping them all from being evicted, so the Wells’ reluctantly embrace him as an ally. As he entangles them in his conservation battles, Clare and Richard find themselves drawn into the Breck Howe Preservation Society, an unlikely group attempting to defend their town against the worst ills of modernity. Their lives will never be the same again... 
 
North meets South in this comedic clash of cultures, written by award-winning dramatist Nick Warburton. Ronald Pickup stars as John Hector, with Paul Ritter as Richard and Kate Duchêne as Clare. 
 
Written by Nick Warburton 
Directed by Sally Avens 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 January 2016 (The Vauxgarth Pig), 11-25 August 2017 (Series 1), 16 November-14 December 2018 (Series 2) 
 
Cast 
Richard Wells – Paul Ritter 
Clare Wells – Kate Duchêne 
John Hector – Ronald Pickup 
Lux – Michelle Asante 
Penrith – Chris Pavlo 
Trafford/Hugh – Gerard McDermott 
Mrs Cardabbon – Susan James 
Estate Agent – Caolan McCarthy 
Ticket Lady – Kerry Gooderson 
Guard – Bob Blythe 
Tiffany – Louise Brealey 
Librarian – Chetna Pandya/Liam Lau Fernandez 
Mrs Briggs of Events – Sanchia McCormack/Elizabeth Counsell 
Headley – Philip Fox 
Norwegian Herring Enthusiast – Simon Ludders 
Ralph Bell – Sean Murray 
MC/Trevor Butt – Tony Turner 
Robust Betty – Emma Handy 
Rude Girl/Brandi – Saffron Coomber 
Barb/WPC – Jeannette Percival 
Mikey/Surly Reader/Tourist – Cameron Percival 
Chucker/A Heavy – Don Gilet 
Anthony/Wayne/Seasider – Lewis Bray 
Himself – Jonathan Agnew

Holding Back the Tide

A BBC Radio full-cast comedy drama

Rich Hall

Nick Doody

Comedian Rich Hall takes an acerbic look across the pond at US politics, from the closing stages of the 2016 election to the 2020 race for the White House 
 
‘I could listen to Hall for ever. His laconic, hilarious intelligence and beautiful use of language is always a delight’ Miranda Sawyer, The Observer 
 
Welcome to Washington D.C.'s favourite political phone-in show, as multi award-winning comedian (and American citizen) Rich Hall and a selection of comedians from both sides of the Atlantic reflect on the latest political events in the United States. 
 
Using a combination of stand-up, sketch and interview, Rich Hall’s US Breakdown broadcasts live from the fictional IBBC network in Washington to the whole of America, as Rich and his producer Nick Doody take calls from every corner of the country to hear the concerns of voters and give us their take on the issues troubling the US electorate. 
 
Speaking to American pundits, comics and the man on the street, the series guides us through the chaotic circus of a presidential race and offers an insight into the unfolding drama of Donald Trump’s presidency. Hall muses on Trump’s first 60 days in office, and first 12 months, breaks down the result of the US midterms and weighs up the relative merits of the candidates seeking the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2020. 
 
Enlightening, entertaining and engaging, Rich Hall’s sardonic, satirical take on the state of his nation will appeal to anyone with even a passing interest in US politics. 
 
Production credits 
Written and presented by Rich Hall and Nick Doody 
With Lewis MacLeod, Debra Stephenson, Mike Wilmot, Karen Bartke, Andrew Maxwell, Jess Robinson, Lewis Black, Alex Edelman, Charlie Wolf, David Feldman, Jena Friedman, Freya Parker, Desiree Burch, Emma Sidi, Jen Kirkman 
Additional material by Ben Partridge, Robin Morgan, Sarah Campbell, Gráinne Maguire, Jenny Laville, James Kettle, Laura Major, Mike Shephard 
Produced by Joe Nunnery 
Independence Day special produced by Matt Stronge 
A BBC Studios production 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 19 October-9 November 2016, (Series 1), 22 March 2017 (Special: 60 Days of Trump), 18 January 2018 (Special: 12 Months of Trump), 22 November 2018 (Special: Midterms), 4 July 2019 (Special: Independence Day), 28 November 2019, 1 December 2019

Rich Hall's (US) Breakdown

BBC Radio stand up and sketch comedy

Jim Poyser

Neil Griffiths

Arch-Brutalist Sir Lucien founded his architectural practice on a commitment to brutalist concrete in all its forms. But fashion has been a cruel mistress, and four decades later things are not going well for Sir Lucien and his loyal(ish) employees. With no money and no commissions, times are tough – but it’s onwards and upwards (and upwards again) for the staff, as they go all out to win new contracts, deal with nightmare clients and fight to get their ambitious projects past the planners. 
 
In the pilot episode, architects Sarah (Laura Solon) and Dan (Ben Willbond) contemplate escape from a malfunctioning multi-storey car park in Esher and the pure aesthetic of the open sandwich. 
 
Series 1 finds Sir Lucien (Geoffrey Whitehead) trying to overcome his creative block by visiting a spa in Baden Baden – accompanied by reluctant colleague Tim (Alex Carter). Back at the practice, the other partners are juggling ambition, principles and scary Americans – and dreaming of taking minimalism to the max. 
 
In Series 2, Sir Lucien and Partners chase a lucrative airport contract, head to Watford to restyle a Premier League footballer’s mansion, design a building with a great big turret (possibly) and decide to go into house building – negotiating marshland, unexploded bombs and homicidal relatives en route... 
 
Written by Jim Poyser and Neil Griffiths, this caustic, satirical comedy also stars Dominic Coleman, Ingrid Oliver, Anna Crilly and Aisling Bea. 
 
Written by Jim Poyser and Neil Griffiths 
Directed by Toby Swift 
 
Pilot 
Sarah – Laura Solon 
Dan – Ben Willbond 
Sir Lucien – Geoffrey Whitehead 
Rasmus – Ewan Bailey 
Tim – Tim Downie 
Mayoress – Joanna Brookes 
Car Park Attendant – Ben Crowe 
 
Series 1 and 2 
Matt – Dominic Coleman 
Sarah – Ingrid Oliver/Anna Crilly 
Sir Lucien – Geoffrey Whitehead 
Tim – Alex Carter 
Hayley – Aisling Bea 
Gregory Nettles/Mr Douglas – Sean Murray 
Mr Russell/Gentle Energy MD – Steve Toussaint 
Nurse/Amanda/Helene/Planning Officer – Carolyn Pickles 
Lotte – Georgie Fuller 
Snadaker/Dave – Stephen Critchlow 
Mr McCoy – Harry Myers 
Justin – Ben Crowe 
Dawn – Susie Riddell 
Murray – Peter Forbes 
Noel – David Hounslow 
Ella – Rhiannon Neads 
Danny – Richie Campbell 
Sean – Jude Akuwudike 
John/Darvo/Council Receptionist – Ian Conningham 
Computer Caddie/Tony – Sam Dale 
Jemima – Hannah Genesius 
Bob – David Acton 
Jane/Lucy – Jane Slavin 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 27 March 2013, (Pilot), 14 March-4 April 2014 (Series 1), 2-23 February 2015 (Series 2)

The Architects: The complete series 1 and 2

A BBC Radio comedy

Tim Vine

Tim Vine and the Great British public are the stars of this side-splitting radio chat show, featuring his trademark wonderful wordplay, quickfire gags and silly songs 
 
‘Full of laugh-out-loud moments … Vine's razor sharp wit and warmth shine through’ Radio Times 
 
Internationally acclaimed master of the one-liner Tim Vine travels the length and breadth of Britain on a quest to hear the funny, strange and surprising life stories of his live audience – while simultaneously taking the opportunity to showcase his world-famous jokes and preposterous songs. 
 
In these two sparkling series, he is confronted with a death-defying parachutist, a guest with an interesting technique for warding off foxes, an office worker who was inadvertently responsible for half of Welwyn Garden City being closed to the public and a man undergoing some unusual physiotherapy. Plus, there’s an encounter with an anaconda, a quiz about trifle, an impromptu laughter yoga workshop, at least two jokes about chickens and musical entertainment ranging from an imaginary country song to a maritime sing-a-long. 
 
Also included are two ‘SummerTim Specials’, recorded at Cromer Pier and the Edinburgh Festival, and three festive special episodes complete with a sackful of Yuletide jokes, alternative traditional songs and fiendishly silly seasonal games – as well as a former air hostess from the land of Santa Claus and a budding Widow Twanky... 
 
Cast and credits 
Presented by Tim Vine 
Produced by Richard Morris 
A BBC Studios production 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 30 June-21 July 2016 (Series 1), 26 December 2016 (The Tim Vine Christmas Chat Show), 12 September-17 October 2017 (Series 2), 21 August 2018 (SummerTim Extra Special), 25 December 2018 (Christmas Special 2018), 29 August 2019 (SummerTim Extra Special Edinburgh Festival), 26 December 2019 (Christmas Special 2019)

The Tim Vine Chat Show

Series 1 and 2 plus specials

Katherine Jakeways

Rosie Cavaliero and Justin Edwards star in this romantic comedy about a couple who meet on a train 
 
‘Had me gripped from the start … Just lovely’ – Miranda Sawyer, Observer 
 
Suzie’s never been to Cornwall before, but one day she finds herself on the Cornish Riviera Express, hurtling from Paddington to Penzance. She sits next to David and over the course of an eventful five-hour journey an intense relationship develops. But both she and David are married, so they don’t expect to see each other again. 
 
However, fifteen months later, out of the blue, David lands in Suzie’s life again. Another five months pass, and Suzie seeks David out, needing his help. Two years after their first meeting, David again turns up unexpectedly. 
 
They’ve both enjoyed escaping their middle-aged lives together. But now there’s no escape from reality; and it’s crunch time for Suzie and David. Should the duo make their love affair last? 
 
Written by acclaimed actress and comedian Katherine Jakeways, creator of the much-loved radio sitcom North by Northamptonshire, this funny, touching drama stars Rosie Cavaliero (Gentleman Jack) as Suzie and Justin Edwards (The Thick of It) as David.

Where This Service Will Terminate

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Drama

John Cleese

Connie Booth

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

Fawlty Towers: The Complete Collection

Every soundtrack episode of the classic BBC TV comedy

Frank Dickens

Michael Williams stars in all three series of the BBC Radio 4 sitcom based on Frank Dickens’ famous comic strip character 
 
Bristow is a middle-aged, ineffectual buying clerk for the Chester-Perry Organisation. He is merely a small cog in a gigantic wheel... and he knows it. But he has his own small ways of rebelling, and together with sparring partner Jones and tea lady Mrs Purdy, he weaves hopeless tangles of red tape to confound the system and liven up everyone’s day. 
 
In these fourteen episodes, Bristow hopes to make a mint from a rumoured takeover bid; helps Jones to plan his escape from Chester-Perry; crusades to improve conditions for the cleaning ladies and falls in with troublemaker Tom Paine at the office dinner dance. Plus, he obtains some inside information that must surely lead to promotion; learns the meaning of poetic justice while writing for the house journal and bumbles towards proving his theory that he is surrounded by incompentents. 
 
Adapted by Frank Dickens from his own cartoon strip, which ran for 41 years in London’s Evening Standard and was syndicated internationally, this charming corporate comedy stars Michael Williams (A Fine Romance) as Bristow, with Rodney Bewes (The Likely Lads) as Jones and Dora Bryan (Last of the Summer Wine) as Mrs Purdy. 
 
Written by Frank Dickens 
Produced and directed by Neil Cargill 
Music composed and performed by John Whitehall 
Image copyright © Estate of Frank Dickens, 2019. 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 21 April-26 May 1999, (Series 1), 24 November-15 December 1999 (Series 2), 7-28 July 2000 (Series 3) 
 
Cast 
Bristow……………………Michael Williams 
Jones……………………Rodney Bewes 
Mrs Purdy……………………Dora Bryan 
Hewitt……………………Owen Brenman 
BJ Bothwick……………………Christopher Benjamin 
Miss Sunman……………………Katy Odey 
Fudge/Stationmaster/Samson/Hawkins/Tom……………………Jon Glover 
Mrs Dimple/Molly……………………Sheila Reid 
Jonathan Quartly……………………Bernard Cribbins 
Rupert Clement……………………Royce Mills 
Richard Blobb……………………Norman Bird 
Miss Golightly……………………Lucy Akhurst 
Postboy/Little Red……………………Simon Schatzberger 
Receptionist/Yellow Overcoat Girl……………………Zeena Eate 
Gert……………………Liz Fraser 
Daisy……………………Joan Sims 
Fred Stokes……………………David Battley 
Hickford……………………Roger Lloyd Pack 
Lift Boy……………………Ian Kelland 
Miss Peach/Miss Glockling……………………Carol Starks 
Moorcroft……………………Robert Bathurst 
Witherspoon……………………Peter Kelly 
Fenella……………………Anna Mountford 
Perkins……………………Leslie Phillips 
Teacher……………………Jane Booker 
Sylvana/Miss Pleasant……………………Jackie Neglia 
Liftboy……………………Ian Kelland 
 
With Sarah Huntley and David Ryall

Bristow

The Complete Series 1-3 of the BBC radio 4 comedy series

Daliso Chaponda

Britain’s Got Talent star Daliso Chaponda takes a comic look at the relationship between the UK and Africa in these two BBC Radio 4 series 
 
The UK and Africa have had a long and complicated past. These two series look at the history of this relationship, with Daliso as our relationship guidance counsellor, helping us navigate the rocky historical waters between the two places.A Malawian comedian who grew up all over the world, Daliso straddles cultural divides. He will help us all better understand how to sort out our differences. Or not... 
 
Along with his sidekick ‘The Other Guy’ (James Quinn), Daliso explores how the UK and Africa first met; looks at the people on both sides who don't want the relationship to work; considers charities and organisations who want to help and discusses the process of immigration. In addition, he talks about his personal experience of both cultures, from growing up in Africa to his experiences of racism in England. 
 
Shrewd, daring and irreverent, Daliso Chaponda finds the comedy in complex issues, raising awareness as well as laughs in this hilarious and thought-provoking show. 
 
Nominated for the 2019 Rose d'Or Award for Audio Entertainment. 
 
Written and performed by Daliso Chaponda 
The Other Guy: James Quinn 
Additional material: Scott Bennett 
Voice of: Dylan Morris 
Theme music by Lawi 
Producer: Carl Cooper 
Production Coordinator: Beverly Tagg 
A BBC Studios Production 
Photo by Steve Ullathorne 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 2-23 May 2018 (Series 1), 23 Oct - 13 Nov 2019 (Series 2)

Daliso Chaponda: Citizen of Nowhere

Series 1 and 2

Jason Forbes

Phil Wang

George Fouracres

The complete series 1 and 2 of the BBC radio comedy show, written and performed by sketch trio Daphne 
 
‘Consistently funny and surprising’ The Telegraph 
 
Join critically-acclaimed sketch trio, Daphne, as they pull out all the stops in a dazzling array of peculiar characters, wacky scenarios, curious observations, minor altercations and major peacemaking – served on a bed of catchy little numbers with a live nine-piece band. 
 
It's the show that's got everyone saying 'Who's Daphne?' 
 
In these two series, the gang head off to Malaysia to find Phil's legendary criminal uncle, Pak Belang; set out to solve a mysterious murder on the Yorkshire Moors; embark on a treacherous adventure in a time machine and travel to the lost city of Atlantis in pursuit of a legendary precious metal. Plus, Jason has an out-of-this-world plan to increase the show’s listenership, and Phil and George hope to appease the Twitter trolls by keeping the show family friendly – with the help of Sir Paul McCartney. 
 
Scripted by and starring Jason Forbes, Phil Wang and George Fouracres, this gloriously mad-cap comedy was shortlisted for the 'Best Radio Sketch Show' award at the Comedy.co.uk Awards.

Daphne Sounds Expensive

A BBC Radio 4 Sketch Comedy: Series 1 and 2

The award-winning series Dead Ringers is back with highlights from its television series. A huge hit on BBC Radio 4, Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Kevin Connelly, Mark Perry and Phil Cornwell star once again in the best impression comedy on TV. 
 
This collection brings together some of the best episodes from BBC1’s first, second and third series. 
Enter a surreal universe where David Dickinson goes looking for weapons of mass destruction in "Weapons Hunt", the Queen sells off the royal jewels on the QVC shopping channel, and Delia Smith turns homicidal and starts cooking up the competition. Elsewhere, Anne Robinson votes off The Weakest Disciple and Simon Schama and David Starkey battle it out - literally - in order to become television's leading historian. 
 
Also in the mix are an oddly threatening Michael Buerk, Saddam Hussein advertising Werther's Originals, and familiar favourites Tony Blair, Greg Dyke, and Kristy Wark. Obi-Wan Kenobi visits a second-hand car salesman, Ozzy Osborne takes over the role of Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter movie, and Doctor Who spends a weekend with the Cybermen family in Living with the Enemy. 
 
So take a ringside seat for another TV swipe at the famous - and infamous - courtesy of Dead Ringers.

Dead Ringers

Highlights from Series 1, 2 & 3 of the BBC TV show

Jan Etherington

Gavin Petrie

All four series of the BBC radio comedy drama about a couple experiencing love for the second time – plus special festive episode The Fight Before Christmas 
 
Bill and Faith are both divorcees, late in love but new to each other. As they battle to forge a relationship together, they discover that the course of true love doesn’t always run smoothly. 
 
In these 31 episodes, they move in together, plan a wedding and deal with the challenges of married life – all the while trying to balance the demands of Gavin’s ex-wife, Liza, and her teenage children, Hannah and Joe. From bickering about the kids to worrying about money, trying to find time for romance and dealing with feelings of jealousy, the duo’s relationship comes under fire from all sides. Can they make love work the second time around? 
 
Inspired by the real lives of its writers, husband and wife Jan Etherington and Gavin Petrie, this funny, bittersweet sitcom was adapted for ITV where it ran for five seasons and was followed by an equally successful sequel, Faith in the Future. It stars Lynda Bellingham as Faith and James Bolam as Bill. 
 
Written by Jan Etherington and Gavin Petrie 
Produced by Pete Atkin (Series 1), Sioned Wiliam (Series 2) and Paul Schlesinger (Series 3 and 4 and The Fight Before Christmas) 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 3 November-22 December 1988 (Series 1), 31 October-19 December 1989 (Series 2), 9 April-28 May 1991 (Series 3), 18 June-23 July 1992 (Series 4), 25 December 1992 (The Fight Before Christmas) 
 
Cast 
Faith……………………Lynda Bellingham 
Bill……………………James Bolam 
Hilary……………………Celia Imrie/Geraldine Fitzgerald 
Liza……………………Belinda Lang 
Hannah……………………Kelda Holmes/Emma Gregory/Julia Sawalha 
Joe……………………Mark Denham 
Grace/Jill……………………Moir Leslie 
Alex……………………John Samson/Mark Straker 
Ray……………………Nicholas Courtney/Ian Lindsay 
Ted/Mr Burrows……………………Norman Bird 
Treadwell……………………Richard Tate 
Christian/Gideon/Waiter……………………Ian Targett 
Richard……………………John Moffatt/Christopher Good/Geoffrey Whitehead 
Steve……………………Guy Brougham 
Rachel……………………Rebecca Front 
Police Officer……………………Deborah Rowbottom 
Dennis……………………Brian Bowles 
Mr Roper……………………Danny Schiller 
Marjorie……………………Jo Kendall 
Registrar……………………John Baddeley 
Video Man……………………Richard Tate 
Cabbie……………………Ben Onwukwe 
Gina……………………Danielle Allen 
Kevin……………………Mark Straker/David Learner 
Karel Cerny……………………Nigel Carrington 
Clayton……………………David Learner 
Chris……………………Peter Gunn 
Louise……………………Melanie Hudson 
Course Leader/Duncan……………………Nick Murchie

Second Thoughts

Series 1-4 of the BBC Radio 4 sitcom

Simon Evans

Tim Harford

All five series of Simon Evans’ BBC Radio 4 show explaining economics through comedy 
 
How do you make money funny? How do you put the comedy in commodity? In this BBC radio show, Simon Evans sets himself the challenge of making economics entertaining through comedic lectures, with the help of special guests including investment gurus, financial journalists and economists. 
 
In Series 1 and 2, he examines the chequered social and economic histories of eight important commodities: land, gold, oil, grain, alcohol, tobacco, coffee and sugar. By looking at these fundamental products, Simon brings us to a closer understanding of how global economic forces have a far-reaching and often surprising impact on our lives. 
 
Series 3 sees him exploring four of the stages that mark our journey through life – youth, marriage, birth and death – and how economics is part of every one of those stages, whether we like it or not. In Series 4, Simon looks at the concept of the ‘free lunch’ and shines a light on new ways of making money in the 21st Century, from social media and multinationals that appear to be operating tax-free to philanthropy and the cost of health. 
 
Finally, in Series 5, he points his jokenomics lens at the competing theories of Macro Economics and the ‘Big Beards’ who devised them – Adam Smith, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes – and reflects on how they shape our world today, and how they can help us out of our current economic predicament. 
 
Among his regular guests are Financial Times columnist and presenter of Radio 4’s More Or Less, Tim Harford; Timandra Harkness, author of Big Data: Does Size Matter?; and the Queen of investment know-how, editor-in-chief of MoneyWeek Merryn Somerset Webb. 
 
Produced by Tilusha Ghelani (Series 1), Claire Jones (Series 2 and 3), Richard Morris (Series 4 and 5)

Simon Evans Goes to Market: The Complete Series 1-5

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy and Economics Show

Paul Whitehouse

Suits you, Sir! 
 
With a host of memorable characters and catch-phrases, The Fast Show was one of the most popular BBC TV comedy shows ever. The talents of Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Caroline Aherne, Simon Day and many more come together in this collection of selected TV episodes and special edition of The Fast Show Live. 
 
This compilation of sketches from the comedy series, features characters such as Ted and Ralph, coughing Bob Fleming, the "Suit you, sir" tailors from hell, and the bloke in the stupid hat. Pop down to the jazz club, the football field with Ron Manager or check in on the weather with Channel 9. It's bound to be a Scorchio! 
 
All the favourite characters plus new sketches are included in this hilarious collection, plus a bonus collection of sketches taken from the live stage performance of BBC TV's top comedy show.

The Fast Show

Sketches from series 1 – 3 of the hit TV show and The Fast Show Live

Julian Rhind-Tutt stars as Travis, the ‘other man’ in love with a married woman, in this six-part romantic comedy 
 
Travis meets Grace, the woman of his dreams. But she has one fatal flaw – a husband. And Travis and Grace aren’t the only people with complicated love lives – there’s also Travis's brother Charlie, Charlie's ex-girlfriend Alice and Travis's not-so-secret admirer Serena. 
 
As Travis and Grace try to get their illicit affair underway, events seem to be conspiring against them and their plans are continually thwarted. When they are nearly caught out twice, Travis begins to wonder if he’s really cut out for infidelity – especially when he meets the other ‘other man’ in Grace’s life: her son. Meanwhile, the Serena/Charlie/Alice love knot shows no signs of untangling – so Alice decides to take matters into her own hands. 
 
Events finally come to a head for all the star-crossed lovers with a date, a declaration, some poetry and a proposal... 
 
Created by award-winning husband-and-wife writing team Jan Etherington and Gavin Petrie (Second Thoughts, Faith in the Future) this delightful comedy drama stars Julian Rhind-Tutt as Travis, with Charlotte Randle as Grace. 
 
Written by Jan Etherington and Gavin Petrie 
Produced by Elizabeth Freestone 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 March-19 April 2006 
 
Cast 
Travis……………………Julian Rhind-Tutt 
Grace……………………Charlotte Randle 
Charlie……………………Paul Reynolds 
Serena……………………Alice Lowe 
Alice……………………Clare Cathcart 
George……………………Russell Bentley 
Ian/Goosey/Cyrano……………………Andrew Westfield 
Annie/Miss Lambourne……………………Harvey Virdi 
Miles……………………Charlie Hicks

The Other Man

James Cary

All four series of the Sony Award-winning radio sitcom 
 
Meet the hapless management consultants of Unthinkable Solutions – idealistic team leader Ryan, sociopathic Sophie and hippy-dippy Daisy. Enthusiastic and enterprising, they’re strong on jargon (and always ready to ‘imaginate, reincentivise and skin the leopard’), but short on practical ideas – unfortunately for the unsuspecting corporations that come to them for help. 
 
Aided by morally dubious IT expert Owen, and fellow member of the Fraternity of the Sacred Goat, Jed, the team get proactive with clients including a bank, a struggling high street retailer, an inner city school, the Post Office, a zoo, an ailing hospital and the MoD. Over 21 episodes, Unthinkable Solutions prove that there is no 'i' in team – but there is one in 'incompetent'. 
 
Brought in by Barrington Council to rationalise refuse services (ie sack people), Ryan and Daisy decide to take the binmen on a weekend in the Cairngorms instead; and in a bid to revitalise London’s transport system, the consultants put a bus driver in charge while the chief executive is sent back to driving tube trains. Plus, the team get to the bottom of a scam at an electricity company, face the tricky task of making cuts at the firm that insures Ryan’s flashy new car, and set out to smooth the path for Superco, a Megastore that wants to expand into a Terrastore. 
 
Created by acclaimed comedy writer James Cary, this witty, satirical sitcom won the Sony Silver Award for Comedy. It stars Marcus Brigstocke as Ryan, with Emma Kennedy and Beth Chalmers as Sophie, Catherine Shepherd as Daisy, David Mitchell as Owen and Robin Ince as Jed.

Think the Unthinkable: The Complete Series 1-4

Cherylee Houston

Lou Ramsden

All seventeen episodes of the BBC Radio 4 sitcom about the life, loves and misadventures of wheelchair user Maz 
 
Nicknamed 'Tinsel Girl' by her best friend Lisa because of her sparkly view of life, Maz is an eternal optimist. But having just turned 30, she's all too aware that not only is she single, but also disabled. Her degenerative disease means she now has to use a motorised wheelchair, which isn't exactly the sexiest accessory a girl can have... 
 
In Tinsel Girl, the prospect of finding a partner through the minefield of online dating makes Maz reassess her situation and other people's perceptions of her. Can a man really find a woman in a wheelchair attractive? 
 
Tinsel Girl and the Tropical Trip finds Maz preparing for her first holiday abroad as a wheelchair user, as she heads to the Seychelles to be maid of honour at Lisa's wedding. But she is broke, unemployed and apprehensive - can she raise the money for her trip, and is she up to the challenge? 
 
In Tinsel Girl and the Big Reunion, Maz makes a startling discovery about flatmate Rachel, leading her to move out and plan a fresh start with new friend Verity. But is ditching Rachel really the best move? 
 
Tinsel Girl and the Support Worker sees Maz struggling to come to terms with needing a carer: can she find a way to make it work with Hayley? 
 
And in Tinsel Girl and the Pain Clinic, Maz hits rock bottom and reluctantly checks into a pain clinic. As she embarks on an adventure and finds friendship, she discovers that if she wants to change other people's outlooks, she must first change her own... 
 
Starring Cherylee Houston (Coronation Street), Tinsel Girl is inspired by her own experiences, and adapted from her diaries by Lou Ramsden. 
 
*Cherylee Houston was the Bronze Winner in the Audio Performer of the Year category at the 2020 Audio Production Awards for her performance in Tinsel Girl * 
 
Cast 
Maz - Cherylee Houston 
Donny - Mikey North 
Rachel/Student - Kathryn Pemberton 
Wes/Doctor - Ged Mulherin 
Kev/Pete/Seamus/Guard/Barry/Compere/Clive/Bernie/Ed/DS Warren/Specialist - Toby Hadoke 
Jason/Robert - Benjamin Sadler 
Angus/Photographer - Hamilton Berstock 
Jim - James Quinn 
Lisa - Rosina Carbone 
Didier - Quentin Surtel 
Ollie - Sonny Flood 
Ruth - Wendy Patterson 
Callum - John Catterall 
Didier - Quentin Surtel 
Verity/Juliet/Mrs Coates - Krissi Bohn 
Felipe - Phil Perez 
Sid - Ged Mulherin 
Hayley - Sarah McDonald Hughes 
Andy - Chris Jack 
Liz - Enid Dunn 
Keira - Beatrice Baxter 
Dawn - Julie Hesmondhalgh 
Richard - Kevin Davids 
 
Production credits 
Written by Lou Ramsden 
Produced and directed by Charlotte Riches (Tinsel Girl, Tinsel Girl and the Tropical Trip, Tinsel Girl and the Big Reunion, Tinsel Girl and the Support Worker) and Nadia Molinari (Tinsel Girl and the Pain Clinic) 
With the BBC North Staff Choir 
Tinsel Girl and the Pain Clinic is dedicated to Ian from Bath Pain Clinic

Tinsel Girl

The BBC Radio comedy drama

Nigel Smith

All three series of the BBC Radio 4 sitcom, plus the hour-long special Locked In 
 
‘Bold, beautiful, daring radio’ The Telegraph 
 
Vent charts coma patient Ben’s journey from the depths of unconsciousness, where he travels through the distinctly odd landscape of his own mind, to recovery and his attempts to readjust to the real world. 
 
In Series 1 and 2, as his mum and wife Mary sit round his bedside and wonder how to wake him up, Ben’s mind is busy elsewhere. In his imagination, he lives with his 2-year-old daughter Blitz (now miraculously grown up), encounters celebrities such as Sue Lawley, Elvis Presley and Tom Paulin, relives memories from his past and gets into a compromising situation with a fellow inmate at a strangely familiar Torquay hotel. Meanwhile, an imaginary sitcom written by him, about coma patients in a hospital, plays in the background. 
 
Locked In, first broadcast as a Friday Play in 2009, sees Ben free of his coma, but suffering from locked-in syndrome. Unable to engage with the world around him, he takes refuge once more in the safety of his unconscious – while the hospital debate whether to send him to a rehab unit or a care home. 
 
Series 3 finds Ben taking the ambulance home to begin life in a wheelchair. But life outside hospital is a little fraught. Fortunately, he can still escape into his fantasy world, where he meets Buzz Aldrin, invents a panel game and gets some relationship advice from Lord Byron. 
 
Based on writer Nigel Smith’s own experience of being hospitalised with a brain lesion, this moving, darkly funny sitcom stars Neil Pearson as Ben, with Fiona Allen as Mary, Josie Lawrence as Mum and Leslie Ash as Blitz. Guest stars include David Mitchell, Robert Webb and Jeremy Paxman.

Vent: A Comedy on Life-Support

The Complete BBC Radio Comedy Series 1-3

P G Wodehouse is widely recognized as the greatest English comic writer of the twentieth century. 
 
His characters and settings have entered our language and our mythology. The first ever collected edition (Wodehouse had many publishers in his lifetime), the Everyman Wodehouse, will contain all the novels and stories, newly edited and reset from the first British edition. 
 
Printed on cream-wove, acid-free paper, sewn and bound in cloth, each Everyman volume is already recognized as the finest edition of the master ever published.

Everyman's Library P G WODEHOUSE

Everyman's Pocket Classics complements highly successful Pocket Poets series, offering the best prose writing in a handy pocket-sized format. Like all Everyman Library books, each title is printed on a cream-wove, acid-free paper with full cloth sewn binding, headbands and silk ribbon marker. Eminently collectable and great gifts.

Everyman's Library POCKET CLASSICS

Pocket clothbound volumes from the world's greatest poets, and with a stunning range of anthologies. Each volume has an elegant jacket, full cloth sewn binding, silk ribbon marker and headbands, with gold stamping on front and spine and decorative endpapers. In size, price and presentation they make ideal gifts and are a joy to read and collect. More than eighty titles in print.

Everyman's Library POCKET POETS

Everyman’s Library Contemporary Classics

Ex-Heroes

Explore with Peter Rabbit

Extraordinary Lives

Factory Girls

Fairwick Chronicles

Fairytale in Progress

Faith, Hope and Glory

Laid-back Roman detective Marcus Didius Falco investigates crimes in the dangerous world of first century Rome, a place of political intrigue, corruption and murder.

Falco

Fall of the Dragon

Luce doesn’t like the sound of the Sword and Cross reform school, and it lives up to all her expectations. Until she meets Daniel. He’s perfect, but what she doesn’t realise is that they have met before. Many times. He is a fallen angel, and each time they meet they are torn apart, Luce dying and Daniel forced to live on without her. They think that they have found a way to break the curse, but they will have to make great sacrifices along the way. Love never dies in this darkly romantic series which spans centuries in its storytelling.

Fallen

Falling Kingdoms

Far Out Five

Far-Flung Adventures

Sam and Remi Fargo are a husband and wife team on a quest. Treasure hunters, they travel the world looking for ancient artefacts and exotic bounty. They're in it for the history and the mystery, but others are not so honourable, and the Fargo's often find themselves caught up in ancient riddles, desperate to solve the puzzle before the bad guys get there first.

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