Audiobooks narrated by Michael Tudor Barnes

"London, 1944. An atmosphere of unease pervades the city as the invasion of Europe looms. Meanwhile, John Fairfax, an American paratrooper, and Robbie Cochran, a New Zealand pilot in the RAF, are swept along by the urgency of the times as they meet and fall in love with two rather unexpected girls. Across the Channel, Walter Raus, an officer in the Waffen SS, prepares for the coming storm while his wife Inge, a devoted nurse, faces death at every turn thanks to the relentless Allied bombing. Things may look uncertain now, but one thing is for sure: by the time D-Day comes, all three of these men's lives will be changed forever . . ."

David Wiltshire (Author), Michael Tudor Barnes (Narrator)

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Victoria Station: A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Drama

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

Steve Chambers (Author), Christopher Scott, Colleen Prendergast, Full Cast, Gavin Muir, John Hartley, Julia Ford, Michael Tudor Barnes, Pauline Letts, Philip Jackson, Sean Baker (Narrator)

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Falco: The Complete BBC Radio collection: Five full-cast dramatisations

"Full-cast BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of the first five Falco novels by Lindsey Davis, starring Anton Lesser as Marcus Didius Falco. The Silver Pigs: One fine day, A.D. 70, Sosia Camillina quite literally runs into Marcus Didius Falco on the steps of the Forum. It seems Sosia is on the run from a couple of street toughs, and after a quick and dirty rescue, P.I. Falco wants to know why. Hoping for future favors from Sosia's powerful uncle, Falco embarks on an intricate case of smuggling, murder, and treason that reaches into the palace itself. Shadows in Bronze: Rome, AD 71. Against his better judgement, Marcus Didius Falco secretly disposes of a decayed corpse for the Emperor Vespasian, then heads for the beautiful Bay of Naples with his friend Petronius. But this will be no holiday: they have been sent to investigate the murderous members of a failed coup, now sunning themselves in luxurious villas and on fancy yachts in Neapolis, Capreae, and Pompeii. Venus in Copper: A small accounting error has left Marcus Didius Falco sharing a cell with a large rat. But the Roman Empire's most hard-done-by investigator is finally bailed out, and promptly accepts a commission to help a family of freed slaves fend off a professional bribe.... The Iron Hand of Mars: Falco is dispatched to one of the most hostile parts of the Empire to deliver a new standard, an iron hand, to one of the legions. Germania is cold, wet, dismal, and full of dark forests inhabited by bloodthirsty barbarians, but Falco has an even bigger problem to worry about: he has forgotten Helena Justina's birthday, and she is being pursued by the Emperor's son Titus Caesar. Poseidon’s Gold: Returning to Rome after his mission to Germania, Falco finds that his mother is being harassed by a centurion named Censorinus, who says he is chasing a debt owed to him by Falco's late brother Festus. When Falco refuses to cough up the money, he and Censorinus end up fighting... and later, the centurion turns up dead. Under suspicion of murder, Falco must confront his past and uncover his brother's secrets before he can clear his name and solve the mystery. These funny and fast-moving adaptations are a treat for all Falco fans. Cast: Falco… Anton Lesser Helena… Fritha Goodey/Anna Madeley Petronius…Ben Crowe Ma…Frances Jeater Pa…Trevor Peacock Vespasian …Michael Tudor Barnes Titus …Jonathan Keeble Dramatised by Mary Cutler Directed by Peter Leslie Wild Sound quality varies due to the age of these recordings."

Lindsey Davis (Author), Anna Madeley, Anton Lesser, Ben Crowe, Frances Jeater, Fritha Goodey, Full Cast, Jonathan Keeble, Michael Tudor Barnes, Trevor Peacock (Narrator)

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The Trains Now Departed: Sixteen Excursions into the Lost Delights of Britain's Railways

"SOMETIMES you come across a lofty railway viaduct, marooned in the middle of a remote country landscape. Or a crumbling platform from some once-bustling junction buried under the buddleia. If you are lucky you might be able to follow some rusting tracks, or explore an old tunnel leading to…well, who knows where? Listen hard. Is that the wind in the undergrowth? Or the spectre of a train from a golden era of the past panting up the embankment? These are the ghosts of The Trains Now Departed. They are the railway lines, and services that ran on them that have disappeared and gone forever. Our lost legacy includes lines prematurely axed, often with a gripping and colourful tale of their own, as well as marvels of locomotive engineering sent to the scrapyard, and grand termini felled by the wrecker's ball. Then there are the lost delights of train travel, such as haute cuisine in the dining car, the grand expresses with their evocative names, and continental boat trains to romantic far-off places. The Trains Now Departed tells the stories of some of the most fascinating lost trains of Britain, vividly evoking the glories of a bygone age. In his personal odyssey around Britain Michael Williams tells the tales of the pioneers who built the tracks, the yarns of the men and women who operated them and the colourful trains that ran on them. It is a journey into the soul of our railways, summoning up a magic which, although mired in time, is fortunately not lost for ever."

Michael Williams (Author), Michael Tudor Barnes (Narrator)

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The Last British Dambuster: One man's extraordinary life and the raid that changed history

"'I was anxious to fight. Hitler was the bastard who had started all this and he needed sorting out. We were under threat. Everything we stood for: our country, our families and our way of life was being attacked by this maniac. He could not be allowed to win. So for me and many, many others like me, there was no alternative. We were in a pickle and something had to be done.’ Johnny Johnson is 92 years old and one of very few men who can recall first-hand the most daring and ingenious air raid of all time. He can also vividly remember his childhood spent working on a farm with his controlling father, the series of events that led him to the RAF and the rigorous training that followed. But it was his decision to join 617 Squadron, and the consequences, that have truly stayed etched in his mind. On 16 May 1943, Johnny, alongside 132 specially selected comrades, took off from Scampton airbase in Lincolnshire. For six weeks they had been trained to fulfil one mission that was near impossible: to destroy three dams deep within Germany’s Ruhr Valley. It was a daring task but, against the odds, Johnny and his crew survived. Sadly, 53 comrades did not. For the first time, Johnny relives every moment of that fatal night – and the devastating aftermath. He recalls with unique wit and insight the difficult training conducted in secrecy, the race against time to release the bombs, and the sheer strength and bravery shown by a small unit faced with great adversity and uncertainty. Embodying a whole squadron, and leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come, Johnny’s story is like no other."

George Johnny Johnson Mbe (Author), Michael Tudor Barnes (Narrator)

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Village Teacher

"It's 1980: recession and unemployment have hit Britain, a royal wedding is on the way, and the whole country is wondering Who Shot JR? As Jack returns for his fourth year at Ragley-on-the Forest School, there's a definite chill in the air. Village schools are being closed down all over the place - will his be one of them?As school life continues - Vera, the school secretary, has to grapple with a new-fangled electric typewriter, Ruby celebrates ten years as the school cleaner, and the village panto throws up some unusual problems - Jack wonders what the future holds... 'Wry observation and heartwarming humour in equal measure' Alan Titchmarsh"

Jack Sheffield (Author), Michael Tudor Barnes (Narrator)

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A Bitter Field

"1938. As Hitler sets his sights on the Sudetenland, not everyone in Britain is willing to appease him. Convinced that the fürher's land hunger is insatiable, the head of the SIS recruits Cal Jardine to help him prove that Czechoslovakia is threatened with invasion. Before heading undercover to Prague, however, Jardine must first extricate himself from France, where his attempts to smuggle guns to Spain have been held up by a group of fanatical fascists. Finally arriving in Czechoslovakia, working undercover for the SIS proves no less dangerous. As jealousy and mutual suspicions within Secret Service ranks make it impossible for Jardine to tell friend from foe, he rediscovers old friends of dubious loyalty and makes new enemies of untested ruthlessness."

Jack Ludlow (Author), Michael Tudor Barnes (Narrator)

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Blood of Honour: A Jack Tanner Adventure

"Readers of Robert Harris, Bernard Cornwell and Ken Follett will love this all-action, blood-pumping wartime thriller from bestselling author and historian James Holland. Full of wholly convincing battles scenes and expert characterisation, as well as a compelling, high-octane storyline, this is one you won't be able to put down! 'Absorbing and thoughtful as well as tense and exciting' -- Daily Telegraph 'Fantastic - unputdownable!' -- ***** Reader review 'Great stuff. Highly entertaining and well written' -- ***** Reader review 'Once you start you cannot put this down' -- ***** Reader review 'Another cracking Jack Tanner novel' -- ***** Reader review *********************************************************** Crete, 1941: THE NAZI HAMMER IS ABOUT TO FALL ONCE MORE... In the face of a German invasion, Sergeant Jack Tanner is embroiled in a deadly game of survival that will test his resolve more than ever before. Not only has he fallen out with his commander but he has mortally offended Alopex, a powerful local chieftain. As if that wasn't enough, Tanner and the rest of his battalion are caught in vicious close-quarter fighting against crack German paratroopers. Before long, they find themselves in bitter retreat to the mountainous interior where only one man can help them - Alopex. Although whether he will come to their rescue or not remains to be seen... Jack Tanner's adventures continue in Hellfire."

James Holland (Author), Michael Tudor Barnes (Narrator)

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Enemies at Every Turn

"1794. Free from jail, John Pearce is not free from the smugglers whose boat he stole. While lying low, Pearce soon has other pressing concerns on his mind. Granted a commission by William Pitt, John Pearce evades his pursuers by undertaking a dangerous mission in France. As rebellious ambition turns to bloody disaster, Pearce must try to rejoin Admiral Howe. Also serving with Howe is Ralph Barclay – who has somehow contrived to yet again press Pearce's friends Charlie and Rufus into his crew. The danger for the Pelicans is only just beginning, however, as Howe's collision with the French fleet climaxes in one of the greatest battles of the Revolutionary War."

David Donachie (Author), Michael Tudor Barnes (Narrator)

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On the Slow Train Again

"Brought to you by Penguin. Michael Williams has spent the past year travelling along the fascinating rail byways of Britain for this new collection of journeys. Here is the 'train to the end of the world' running for more than four splendid hours through lake, loch and moorland from Inverness to Wick, the most northerly town in Britain. He discovers a perfect country branch line in London's commuterland, and travels on one of the slowest services in the land along the shores of the lovely Dovey estuary to the far west of Wales. He takes the stopping train across the Pennines on a line with so few services that its glorious scenery is a secret known only to the regulars. Here, too, is the Bittern Line in Norfolk and the Tarka Line in North Devon as well as the little branch line to the fishing port of Looe in Cornwall, rescued from closure in the 1960s and now celebrating its 150th anniversary taking families on holiday to the seaside. From the most luxurious and historic - aboard the Orient Express - to the most futuristic - on the driverless trains of London's Docklands Light Railway - here is a unique travel companion celebrating the treasures of our railway heritage from one of Britain's most knowledgeable railway writers. © Michael Williams 2011 (P) Penguin Audio 2011"

Michael Williams (Author), Michael Tudor Barnes (Narrator)

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The Gathering Storm

"Spring 1791 Though deeply disturbed by a terrible incident during his previous commission, James Hayter is nevertheless on the verge of taking command of HMS Sloop Eglantine as Master and Commander when personal tragedy shatters his life. The twin blows convince Hayter that he is not fit to command and he must turn his back on the sea forever. Even the intervention of his friend and former captain, William Rennie cannot not dissuade him from derelicting his duty. Though repenting in the end of his decision, Hayter's career in the Navy appears to be over until the intervention of an agent, Mr Brough Mappin, working for Hayter's old nemesis, the British Secret Service Fund. Mappin's plan offers Hayter a chance to revive his career on a special mission, with the promise of reinstatement in the Royal Naval List if he is successful. But it is also the single most dangerous mission of his life. He must sail for France with Rennie in HMS Expedient and there rescue some persons of interest from the grasp of the French Revolutionary forces searching for them. What no one mentions is that the rescue will bring to bear on Expedient and her crew, a force so fierce and mighty that, if it can, it will wipe all trace of the incident, Hayter and the ship from the memory of everyone involved in the forthcoming struggle."

Peter Smalley (Author), Michael Tudor Barnes (Narrator)

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Wilful Murder: The Sinking Of The Lusitania

"On May 7th, 1915 a passenger ship crossing the Atlantic sank with the loss of 1200 lives. On board were some world-famous figures, including multimillionaire Alfred Vanderbilt. But this wasn't the Titanic and there was no iceberg. The liner was the Lusitania and it was torpedoed by a German U-boat. Wilful Murder is the hugely compelling story of the sinking of the Lusitania. The first book to look at the events in their full historical context, it is also the first to place the human dimension at its heart. Using first-hand accounts of the tragedy Diana Preston brings the characters to life, recreating the splendour of the liner as it set sail and the horror of its final moments. Using British, American and German research material she answers many of the unanswered and controversial questions surrounding the Lusitania: why didn't Cunard listen to warnings that the ship would be a target of the Germans? Was the Lusitania sacrificed to bring the Americans into the War? What was really in the Lusitania's hold? Was she armed? Had Cunard's offices been infiltrated by German agents? And did the Kaiser's decision to cease unrestricted U-boat warfare in response to international outrage expressed after the sinking effectively change the outcome of the First World War? Highly readable, meticulously researched, this special centenary edition casts dramatic new light on one of the world's most famous maritime disasters."

Diana Preston (Author), Michael Tudor Barnes (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Michael Tudor Barnes