Audiobooks Narrated by Jonathan Glover

Charles Paris: A Doubtful Death: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

Bill Nighy returns as the loveably louche actor-cum-amateur detective Charles Paris Charles Paris is in Oxford, appearing in a re-imagining of Hamlet by a high-concept drama company. No fan of immersive theatre, he’s unimpressed with the director’s vision and less than thrilled to be rehearsing alongside puppeteers and mime artists. But he soon finds himself back on familiar territory when the actress playing Ophelia goes missing, only to turn up dead. Did she take her own life, or was there foul play? As he amasses a list of suspects who might have wished her harm, Charles takes on the mantle of detective once more to decide if this is to be or not to be a murder case… Scripted for radio by Jeremy Front from a story by Simon Brett, A Doubtful Death stars Bill Nighy (Emma, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice. Also included is an exclusive 18-minute afterword in which Jeremy Front discusses his experience of adapting an unproduced screenplay, reveals what it’s like to work with recurring characters and actors, and explains the mechanics of recording for radio. Simon Brett OBE has written 19 Charles Paris novels as well as many other detective novels. Jeremy Front is a dramatist and comedic writer; he has won awards for his adaptation of Sword of Honour and co-writes and stars in the series Incredible Women with his sister, Rebecca. Credits Written by Jeremy Front From a story by Simon Brett Produced and directed by Sally Avens Production Coordinator: Cynthia Fagan Studio Managers: Anne Bunting, Keith Graham and Jenni Burnett Interview produced by Ania Duggan and Roshni Radia First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 22 May-12 June 2020

Jeremy Front, Simon Brett (Author), Bill Nighy, Jonathan Glover, Suzanne Burden (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Prospero, Ariel, Reith and Gill: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

Gary Brown's BBC Radio 4 full-cast comedy dramatisation about artist Eric Gill's clash with the BBC over his famous sculpture of Prospero and Ariel, starring Anton Lesser as Eric Gill and Tim McInnerny as Sir John Reith, the first Director General of the Corporation. Originally broadcast in the 'Afternoon Play' slot on Wednesday 9 June 2010. Inspired by real events, the play charts a clash between the BBC's Governors and the artist over the propriety of the sculpture's appearance. Gill became quite a celebrity as he carved the statue in situ on scaffolding in front of Broadcasting House. In his trademark smock and beret, he drew the attention of the tabloid papers and became known as the 'Married Monk'. The play imagines conversations between Sir John and the artist as he passes him on his way into Broadcasting House each morning. Framed with a period newsreel-style commentary, the comedy playfully deals with the perennial tension between the Establishment and the Artist. The strange and mysterious Gill contrasts with the authoritarian but often troubled figure of Reith, but in the end the sculpture focuses their thoughts about the role of Art in the life of mankind. While this is a comedy, the play touches a little on the well-documented darker side of both men's nature, and offers an insight into one of the more celebrated events of early BBC history. Brown's play speculates on how Reith struggled with the Governors and with his own psyche in dealing with one of the trickier events in the early days of the BBC. It also looks at how Gill, the artist, struggled with reconciling his unusual beliefs and lifestyle with a major commission from the heart of the Establishment. The cast is completed by Jon Glover as the Newsreel Reporter, David Seddon as Charlie, Stephen Darcy as Father Sean, Tina Gray as Lady Snowden and Alison Pettitt as the Nanny. Written by Gary Brown and directed by Peter Leslie Wild.

Gary Brown (Author), Alison Pettitt, David Seddon, Jonathan Glover, Stephen Darcy, Tina Gray (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

The Windsor Jewels

Robin Glendinning's BBC Radio 4 full-cast black comedy telling the story of a real mystery. Originally broadcast in the 'Saturday Play' slot on 11 July 2009. In 1946, the Duke of Windsor (formerly Edward VIII) and his wife (formerly Wallis Simpson) paid a visit to Britain, hoping to secure a government job for the Duke and a title for the Duchess. During the visit, the Duchess' jewels, worth millions, were stolen. Conspiracy theories abounded. Was it an inside job by the Royal Family, or even an insurance fraud by the Duke and Duchess? Starring Jon Glover as the Duke of Windsor, Christine Kavanagh as the Duchess of Windsor and Christian Rodska as Capstick. Also with Chris Yapp, Amy Clifton, Alan Moore, Paul Humpoletz, David Collins, Stephen Perring and Paul Mohan.

Robin Glendinning (Author), A Full Cast, Alan Moore, Amy Clifton, Chris Yapp, Christian Rodska, Christine Kavanagh, David Collings, David Collins, Jonathan Glover, Paul Humpoletz, Stephen Perring (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free