Audiobooks narrated by Alex Jennings

The Senses: Six Full-Cast BBC Radio Comedy Dramas

"A sensory smash as an all-star cast delight in this unique six-part comedy drama A stellar line up of stars, including Celia Imrie (The Crown), Joan Sims (Carry On), Alex Jennings (The Lady in the Van), Geoffrey Palmer (As Time Goes By) and Lynda Bellingham (Loose Women), play a cast of moving and memorable characters in this brilliant six-part comedy drama. Let these sensory delights take you into the classic five senses we know… plus the other one. In Hearing, Celia Imrie is embroiled in an affair conducted via tape cassette-recorded messages. The scenario conjures up a few problems with the sense of hearing… Touch is the story of a busy doctor's surgery failing its patients. That is until the loyal receptionist discovers she has a remarkable gift. Starring Polly James and Simon McBurney. A retired MP becomes a self-appointed one-man Moral Watch Committee trying to improve his sleepy Cornish village in Sight. Unfortunately his plans have the opposite effect. Things get stranger when a mysterious film crew arrives... Alex Jennings stars in Taste, the story of a 14th-century Italian food taster who must protect his master when they visit the Borgias. Things get complicated when the Pope is unexpectedly announced as a dinner guest. It’s the Boxing Day fox hunt in Smell, and throwing off the scent poses problems for the hunters and the hunted alike. Featuring Lynda Bellingham and Maurice Denham as a couple ahead of the pack. Finally, Geoffrey Palmer and Joan Sims star in The Sixth Sense, where conversation becomes far from neighbourly when the occupants of an old cemetery greet a new arrival and discover their lack of common ground. These pitch-perfect stories were penned by writer, director and actor Bob Sinfield. Sinfield was on the writing teams for some of the biggest sketch comedy programmes on TV and radio including The Right Time and The News Huddlines as well as The Lenny Henry Show and Three of a Kind. ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Bob Sinfield (Author), Alex Jennings, Celia Imrie, Full Cast, Geoffrey Palmer, Joan Sims, Lynda Bellingham, Maurice Denham, Polly James, Simon McBurney (Narrator)

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The Graham Greene BBC Radio Drama Collection: The Later Years: Eight full-cast productions including

"A definitive collection of eight full-cast BBC Radio productions, featuring stellar talent including Alex Jennings, Michael Kitchen, Ben Miles and Bernard Cribbins One of the foremost novelists of the last century, Graham Greene left an indelible mark on the world of fiction. In his many masterpieces, he introduced his fans to ‘Greeneland’ – a shadowy world of sin, redemption, treachery and sexual betrayal, occupied by complex, ambivalent characters. That world is brought vividly to life in these eight stunning BBC Radio productions. They represent the very best examples of his later work, written between 1951 and 1982, and together comprise nearly 17 hours of riveting drama. Included in this substantial box set are adaptations of his masterly novels The End of the Affair, Our Man in Havana, A Burnt-Out Case, The Comedians, The Honorary Consul and Monsignor Quixote, all starring a wealth of distinguished actors, among them Ben Miles, Adjoa Andoh, Michael Kitchen, Paterson Joseph, Bernard Cribbins and Philip Jackson. Here, too, are the radio versions of two of his superb stage plays. The Potting Shed, a gripping psychological drama centred around faith and family secrets, stars Dame Sybil Thorndike, who took the lead role in the original Broadway production. And in the ingenious two-hander Yes and No, Clive Francis plays the Director, with Alex Jennings as the Actor, whose only lines are ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. Plus, a bonus programme, Graham Greene at 80, sees the great author in conversation with writer and broadcaster Nigel Lewis, discussing his life and writing. It includes contributions from his biographer. Norman Sherry, and his brother, Sir Hugh Greene, as well as extracts from Greene’s work read by Ian Holm. Contents: The End of the Affair The Potting Shed Our Man in Havana A Burnt-Out Case The Comedians The Honorary Consul Yes and No Monsignor Quixote Greene at 80 Text copyright © 1951 (The End of the Affair), 1957 (The Potting Shed), 1958 (Our Man in Havana), 1960 (A Burnt-Out Case), 1966 (The Comedians), 1973 (The Honorary Consul), 1980 (Yes and No), 1982 (Monsignor Quixote) With thanks to Keith Wickham of the Radio Circle for supplying several of the audio recordings. © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Graham Greene (Author), Adjoa Andoh, Alex Jennings, Ben Miles, Bernard Cribbins, Clive Francis, Full Cast, Ian Holm, Michael Kitchen, Paterson Joseph, Philip Jackson, Sybil Thorndike (Narrator)

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Twelve Post-War Tales: 'A marvel of the storyteller's art', Financial Times

"THE REMARKABLE NEW WORK OF FICTION FROM THE BOOKER PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR OF LAST ORDERS, WATERLAND, HERE WE ARE and MOTHERING SUNDAY In the aftermath of the Second World War Private Joseph Caan, a young Jewish soldier stationed in Germany, seeks the truth about lost family members; in the 1960s a father focuses on his daughter's wedding even as the Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink of disaster; in 2001, while planes fly into the Twin Towers, a maid working for US Embassy staff in London wonders if her birth on the day of the Kennedy assassination shaped her life; and at the height of a pandemic lockdown, Dr. Cole, a retired specialist in respiratory disease, returns to work and recalls a formative childhood encounter with illness and much more. These are just a few of the challenged characters we meet in Graham Swift's Twelve Post-war Tales. Tender, humane, funny and moving, Swift's latest work of fiction displays his quietly commanding ability to set the personal and the ordinary against the harsh sweep of history. It is an outstanding achievement, confirming his status as one of the great, most subtle voices of our age. Praise for Swift's most recent novel, Here We Are 'A magical piece of writing: the work of a novelist on scintillating form.' Guardian 'Here We Are smuggles within the pages of a seemingly commonplace tale depths of emotion and narrative complexity that take the breath away.' Observer 'The book's power comes precisely from the fact that it performs its magic in front of your eyes, leaving nowhere to hide . . . you wonder how he does it.' Financial Times 'With a wizardry of his own, Swift conjures up an about-to-disappear little world and turns it into something of wider resonance.' Sunday Times 'Swift has no equal in evoking the atmosphere of an era while probing human psychology with irony and tenderness.' L'Express, France 'Swift doesn't write, he whispers', Corriere della Sera, Italy "In a dozen pages Swift can embrace a whole life", Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany"

Graham Swift (Author), Alex Jennings, Esther Wane, Joan Walker, Patrick Moy, Tania Rodrigues (Narrator)

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The King Must Die: A Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation

"An epic eleven-part adaptation of Mary Renault’s ‘Theseus’ novels Widely 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 credits Written by Mary Renault Dramatised by Michael Bakewell Directed by David Spenser Music by Christos Pittas Cast Theseus – Gary Bond Pittheus – John Westbrook Aithra/Old priestess – Carole Boyd Theseus (as a boy) – Ian Bura Peiros I/Man/Telemon – John Webb Queen of Eleusis – Frances Jeater Bias/Baron – Steve Hodson Kannadls – Nigel Graham Aegeus/Pholilos – Eric Allan Priestess/Woman/Medea – Jean Trend Simo – Stewart Wright Amyntor – Alex Jennings Pallans/Kentaur – Spencer Banks Kerkyon – David Peart Hypsenor/Page – Richard Bates Xanthos – John Livesey Pylas – Philip Sully Priestess/Nephele – Fiona Walker Antiklaea/Chryse/Girl – Pauline Siddle Menesthes – Stuart Organ Skopas/Sirios – David Banks Lukos – David Gooderson Ariadne – Petra Markham Asterion – David March Phormion – John Bull Hippon/Messenger/Page – Richard Huw Melantho – Jane Knowles Aktor – William Eedle Thebe/Macaria – Sarah Finch Helike – Jill Lidstone Rhene/Girl – Pip Mayo Pylia/Naxian girl/Molpadia/Girl – Moir Leslie The Corinthian/Pyilenor – Clive Panto Thalestris – Elizabeth Lindsay Minos – Clifford Rose Iros/Page/Charioteer – Trevor Brohier Phaedra – Maureen O’Brien Pirithoos – James Kerry/Malcolm Stoddard Hippolyta – Sarah Badel Hippolytos – Susan Sheridan/Christopher Guard Akamas – Piers Maxim With 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 Wenham First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 June-14 August 1983 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Mary Renault (Author), Alex Jennings, Carole Boyd, Frances Jeater, Full Cast, Gary Bond, Ian Bura (Narrator)

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C. S. Lewis: The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, plus a brand new full-cast BBC

"C.S. Lewis’s allegorical sci-fi trilogy about a philology professor’s adventures on Mars, Venus and Earth Featuring a reluctant hero’s extraordinary journey through the cosmos, C. S. Lewis’s classic trilogy contains all the magic, invention, humour and big ideas of his Narnia novels. Thrilling, mystical and evocative, it mixes theology and mythology to tell the epic story of an interplanetary struggle between good and evil. This collection includes Alex Jennings’ unabridged readings of Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, and a stunning full-cast adaptation of That Hideous Strength, starring Anneika Rose and Joel MacCormack. Out of the Silent Planet – While out on a walk, Cambridge academic Dr Ransom calls at a mysterious house to take shelter, only to find himself captive on a spaceship headed for Malacandra – the red planet he knows as Mars. His intended fate is to be a human sacrifice, but he escapes, meets the various alien inhabitants – and learns how Earth, the ‘silent planet’, was corrupted and cut off from the rest of the Solar System... Perelandra – Returned from Mars, Ransom is sent on a mission to the beautiful paradise planet of Perelandra, or Venus. There, he encounters floating islands, bubble trees and The Green Lady, an Eve figure tempted by Satan in the form of Ransom’s old enemy, Dr Weston. Forced into a desperate confrontation, can Ransom preserve the purity of this Eden-like world? That Hideous Strength – Set in an exhausted Britain in the late 1940s, this ‘modern fairy tale for grown-ups’ warns of a world where technocrats are kings. The newly established National Institute for Coordinated Experiments seems to promise a bright future. But Jane is tormented by terrible nightmares about a severed head that speaks. She tries to talk to her husband Mark, but he is preoccupied with his work at the University. Then Mark's college sell Bragdon Wood to NICE, and he is offered a job at the organisation. An ancient myth claims that Merlin is buried under the wood – could that be why NICE is so keen to own it? Credits Out of the Silent Planet by CS Lewis © 1938 CS Lewis Pte Ltd., Perelandra by CS Lewis ©1944 CS Lewis Pte Ltd., That Hideous Strength by CS Lewis © 1945 CS Lewis Pte Ltd. Out of the Silent Planet Read by Alex Jennings First broadcast BBC 7, 2-18 February 2004 Perelandra Read by Alex Jennings First broadcast BBC 7, 14 February-9 March 2005 That Hideous Strength Jane – Anneika Rose Mark – Joel MacCormack Curry/Ransom – Oliver Hembrough Feverstone/Briers – Simon Armstrong Hardcastle – Jane Slavin Mrs Dimble – Siobhan Redmond Grace – Jane Gurnett Wither – Matthew Bulgo Frost/Hingest – David Menkin Alcasan/Taxi Driver – Kiren Kebaili-Dwyer Merlin – Ifan Huw Dafydd Dramatised by Melissa Murray Production co-ordinators: Lindsay Rees and Eleri Sydney McAuliffe Sound design by Catherine Robinson and Nigel Lewis Directed by John Norton and Emma Harding A BBC Audio Wales production First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 January – 2 February 2025 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

C.S. Lewis (Author), Alex Jennings, Anneika Rose, Full Cast, Joel MacCormack, Oliver Hembrough (Narrator)

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A Month in the Country

"Brought to you by Penguin. 'One of the best books I've ever read' Richard Osman A damaged survivor of the First World War, Tom Birkin finds refuge in the quiet village church of Oxgodby where he is to spend the summer uncovering a huge medieval wall-painting. Immersed in the peace and beauty of the countryside and the unchanging rhythms of village life he experiences a sense of renewal and belief in the future. Now an old man, Birkin looks back on the idyllic summer of 1920, remembering a vanished place of blissful calm, untouched by change, a precious moment he has carried with him through the disappointments of the years. Adapted into a film starring Colin Firth, Natasha Richardson and Kenneth Branagh, A Month in the Country traces the slow revival of the primeval rhythms of life so cruelly disorientated by the Great War. 'Tender and elegant' Guardian 'Unlike anything else in modern English literature' Spectator ©1980 J L Carr (P)2024 Penguin Audio"

J L Carr (Author), Alex Jennings (Narrator)

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

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

Edith Somerville, Martin Ross (Author), Alex Jennings, Doreen Keogh, Eithne Dunne, Full Cast, Gillian Kearney, John Dougall, Kate Binchy, Lorcan Cranitch, Sorcha Cusack (Narrator)

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Enlightenment

"Brought to you by Penguin. Unlikely best friends Thomas and Grace are bound together by questions of faith, love and astronomy in this dazzling summer read from the #1 bestselling author. Thomas Hart and Grace Macaulay have lived all their lives in the small Essex town of Aldleigh. Though separated in age by three decades, the pair are kindred spirits – torn between their religion and their desire to explore the world. But their friendship is ruptured by the arrival of love. Over the course of twenty years, Thomas and Grace will find their lives brought back into orbit as a devastating story of passion and scientific adventure unfolds and Aldleigh’s unique mysteries are revealed. ‘It’s glorious… A beautiful, memorable novel’ OBSERVER ‘Sarah Perry just gets better and better’ INDEPENDENT ‘Absorbing… A romance worthy of Emily Brontë’ WALL STREET JOURNAL ‘Gorgeous…ethereal’ GUARDIAN ‘Sarah Perry creates worlds to disappear into… Beautiful, vivid’ BBC ©2024 Sarah Perry (P)2024 Penguin Audio"

Sarah Perry (Author), Alex Jennings (Narrator)

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The Fury

"Brought to you by Penguin. The instant New York Times bestseller, January 2024, and Sunday Times bestseller, February 2024 Totally original and utterly compelling, with a voice all of its own, this is the outstanding new thriller from the no.1 internationally bestselling author of The Silent Patient, Alex Michaelides. This is a tale of murder. Or maybe that's not quite true. At its heart, it's a love story, isn't it? One spring morning, reclusive ex-movie star Lana Farrar invites a small group of her closest friends for a weekend away, on her small private island, just off the coast of Mykonos. Beneath the surface, old friendships conceal violent passions and resentments. And in forty-eight hours, one of them will be dead. But that was just the beginning... You may think you know this story. Think again. ©2023 Alex Michaelides (P)2023 Penguin Audio"

Alex Michaelides (Author), Alex Jennings (Narrator)

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Stage Left: A BBC Radio Drama

"Follow the fortunes of a left-wing theatre company, written by acclaimed dramatist Doug Lucie. It’s 1985 and the Stage Left Theatre Collective is founded by a group of friends with a shared vision: Emma, the artistic manager and Robert the literary manager, director Saul, playwright Alan, and finance manager, Frank. This funny, moving and pin sharp drama follows the fate of the company and its members over the course of four decades. We catch up with the characters as they negotiate changing cultural and economic climates. There are clashing ideals, conflicting egos, personal grievances, differing tastes and petty quarrels. The company’s dramatic tenth anniversary, the meteoric rise of one of its members and escalating tensions are brought into sharp relief when a tragedy brings the group together. However, at the heart of this drama is the story of a group of idealistic friends who see their vision refined, altered, dented, rebuilt, and corroded by the wider artistic and cultural landscape. Can their shared dream endure through it all? For nearly half a century, Doug Lucie has been a key figure in contemporary writing for the British stage with a string of influential successes. His plays have been produced at the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Other Place and the Royal Court. Stage Left also stars Olivier award winning actor Alex Jennings, best known for his roles in The Crown, The Lady in the Van, and performances on the London stage. Cast and credits Written by Doug Lucie Directed by Mary Peate and Heather Larmour Produced by Heather Larmour Alan - Ewan Bailey Saul - Gerard McDermot Kelly - Tracy Wiles Emma - Anna Madeley Robert - Richard Lumsden Frank - Alex Jennings Annabel - Rebecca Hamilton Jim - Caolan McCarthy Waiter - Richard Pepple Sue - Gillian Bevan Alice - Jane Slavin Ken - Doug Lucie Actor 1 - George Watkins Actor 2/Sir Clive - Brian Protheroe Di - Evie Killip Marion - Debra Baker First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 February 2016 ©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Doug Lucie (Author), Alex Jennings, Anna Madeley, Caolan Mccarthy, Ewan Bailey, Full Cast, Gerard Mcdermott, Mary Peate, Rebecca Hamilton, Richard Lumsden, Richard Pepple, Tracy Wiles (Narrator)

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The Buckingham Palace Connection and more: Five Full-Cast BBC Radio Vintage Thrillers

"A collection of full-cast dramatisations from the renowned screenwriter and novelist Ted Willis 'There are great actors and intriguing premises in every one of the stories ... If you’d forgotten what an ingenious mind Ted Willis had, and what a gifted writer he was for espionage plots, then this collection is a timely reminder.' Entertainment Focus Ted Willis began his creative life in amateur theatre and journalism before moving into writing for films, TV and radio, and was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most prolific writer for television. His best-known creation was the hit police procedural Dixon of Dock Green which he based on the stories told to him by a policeman friend. This radio anthology includes five of his best-loved crime tales from the 1960s, '70s and '80s. The Buckingham Palace Connection - Summer, 1976. A question in the House of Lords leads Ted Willis to uncover the extraordinary true story of a 1918 mission to rescue the Romanovs... Maurice Denham, Jeremy Clyde and Miriam Margolyes star in this exciting drama, based on real events and adapted by Ted Willis from his own novel. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3-31 May 1981 The Left-Handed Sleeper - Ted Willis' neighbours have become embroiled in scandal. MP Mark Ritchie has gone on the run, suspected of being a spy, and MI5 are on his trail. Can his wife Christine prove his innocence? Dramatised by the author from his 1975 novel, this gripping espionage thriller stars Ted Willis as the narrator, with Annette Crosbie as Christine. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 November-12 December 1982 Death May Surprise Us - Attending a country fair, the Prime Minister and his wife are kidnapped in broad daylight, within yards of a huge crowd. With the country reeling, the hunt is on to find them and bring them home safely... Leslie Sands and Mary Wimbush star in this suspenseful tale, adapted by Ted Willis from his 1974 novel. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 August-30 September 1984 The Blue Lamp - This vintage drama by Ted Willis and Jan Read was based on their original treatment for the 1950 Ealing Studios film that introduced the character of PC George Dixon, who went on to appear in TV's Dixon of Dock Green. Deryck Guyler stars as the veteran London copper who faces up to an armed robber. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24 December 1962 And No Birds Sing - Philip Brooks is quietly reading at home, but a knock on his front door may change his life forever... This intriguing play stars Hugh Burden as Philip Brooks, Mary Miller as Ann Brooks and Adrian Egan as Detective Sergeant Syms. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 May 1979 Credits Written and dramatised by Ted Willis The Buckingham Palace Connection: Directed by Glyn Dearman The Left-Handed Sleeper: Produced by Christopher Venning Death May Surprise Us: Directed by Graham Gauld The Blue Lamp: Produced by David H. Godfrey; Written by Ted Willis and Jan Read; Adapted for radio by Jan Read And No Birds Sing: Directed by David Johnston With special thanks to Keith Wickham © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Ted Willis (Author), Adrian Egan, Alex Jennings, Annette Crosbie, Christopher Scoular, Deryck Guyler, Elizabeth Proud, Frances Jeater, Full Cast, Hugh Burden, Jeremy Clyde, Leslie Sands, Mary Miller, Mary Wimbush, Maurice Denham, Miriam Margolyes, Trevor Martin (Narrator)

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Intrigue and Satire: Later Restoration Comedies: 11 BBC Radio Full Cast Productions including The R

"A dazzling collection of comedies from the later Restoration period England's 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 and the reign of new monarchs William and Mary signified a turning point for Restoration comedy with laws being passed to restrict playwrights' freedoms. The latter years are marked by a shift towards more moral storylines, mixing humour with social and political issues, alongside the lighthearted 'comedy of manners'. The works in this collection bring together these complementary styles, full of humour while also focusing on hard hitting themes. We open with a 1688 piece by Aphra Behn, England's first professional female writer. Oroonoko is a powerful critique of the slave trade centring around a betrayed African prince. Adapted for BBC Radio, it stars Leo Wringer. A pre-eminent Restoration dramatist, William Congreve was renowned for his witty dialogue and brilliant characterisation, exemplified in the plays The Old Bachelor, The Double-Dealer and Love for Love. As heard on BBC Radio, these sparkling satirical portraits of romance, deception and the battle of the sexes star James Dale, Nicholas Parsons, Michael Spice and Maxine Audley. In her 1696 tragedy The Royal Mischief playwright and pamphleteer Delarivier Manley tackled gender politics rather than party politics. This BBC Radio adaptation stars Sian Thomas as the transgressive princess Homais, whose unrestrained sexual desire represents a threat to both the monarchy and the patriarchy. A loveless marriage is under the spotlight in The Provok'd Wife, John Vanburgh's outspoken 1697 comedy of sex, debauchery and revenge that is Restoration comedy at its finest. Saskia Reeves stars as Lady Brute, with Julian Rhind-Tutt as confirmed bachelor Heartfree. Irish playwright George Farquhar stormed the London stage with his 1699 comedy The Constant Couple, featuring a wealthy heiress seeking revenge, and the three rivals vying for her hand. Its popularity was mainly due to its rakish hero, Sir Harry Wildair, played in this BBC dramatisation by Alec Clunes. It is followed by William Congreve's The Way of the World, a comic masterpiece that exposes the grasping falsity of fashionable London society. Sheila Hancock stars, with Alex Jennings, Robert Glenister, Frances Barber and Indira Varma. Susanna Centilivre's 1705 comedy The Basset Table explores several hot topics of the time: the rise of science, gambling and female education. Featuring two strong, independent heroines determined to dodge unwanted marriages, this delightfully exuberant comedy stars Eleanor Bron and Danielle Allan. Concluding this collection are George Farquhar's two most popular plays. The Recruiting Officer, starring Paul Higgins and Lisa Dillon, is set in Shrewsbury during the War of the Spanish Succession, where wives are recruited while soldiers are wooed. Meanwhile, in The Beaux' Stratagem, starring Simon Treves and Dale Rapley, two rakes arrive in Lichfield from London in search of fortune... Content list Oroonoko First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 24 August 1990 The Old Bachelor First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 3 Jun 1966 The Double-Dealer First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 17 Jan 1969 Love for Love First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 18 Feb 1965 The Royal Mischief First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 28 Oct 1990 The Provok'd Wife First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 Dec 2004 The Constant Couple First broadcast BBC Network Three, 9 Jun 1967 The Way of the World First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 27 Apr 2003 The Basset Table First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 10 Aug 1990 The Recruiting Officer First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 18 Dec 2011 The Beaux' Stratagem First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 19 Feb 1990 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Aphra Behn, Delarivier Manley, George Farquhar, John Vanburgh, Susanna Centivre, William Congreve (Author), Adjoa Andoh, Alex Jennings, Celia Imrie, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Hugh Bonneville, Indira Varma, Josie Lawrence, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Kris Marshall, Nicholas Parsons, Peter Eyre, Sheila Hancock, Sian Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Alex Jennings