Audiobooks narrated by Sheila Hancock

Just a Minute: The Very Best of Vintage: A Timeless Collection of Classic Episodes

A bumper collection of vintage episodes of the award-winning panel game Just a Minute is BBC Radio 4's longest-running panel show, and a national treasure. Since 1967, it has welcomed an array of stellar guest players to demonstrate their verbal dexterity, wicked wit and brilliant banter, as they attempt to speak for 60 seconds on a given subject without hesitation, repetition or deviation. This extensive, wide-ranging box set brings together 32 of the finest episodes from the programme's history, including 24 taken from the previously published releases Another Classic Collection; A Further Classic Collection; The Golden Collection; Through the Years and A Vintage Collection; as well as 6 shows from The Classic Collection that have never before been available to download. Spanning over four decades, from 1973 to 2005, they chart the evolution of the nation's best-loved radio comedy, showcasing some of the best and funniest panellists including Sheila Hancock, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Tim Rice, Paul Merton, Tony Hawks, Wendy Richard, Jenny Eclair, Graham Norton and Sue Perkins - and, on one notable occasion, Nicholas Parsons. Packed with fast-paced, irreverent fun and ferocious competition, this fabulous collection features more than 14 hours of non-stop laughter, as these talented talkers battle it out in a bid to secure that most elusive of prizes - a perfect, uninterrupted minute. NB: Contains mild innuendo. The humour in these programmes sometimes reflects the era in which they were first broadcast. Due to the archive nature of some of the episodes, the sound quality may vary. Cast and credits Devised by Ian Messiter Produced by Simon Brett, John Lloyd, John Browell, David Hatch, Pete Atkin, Edward Taylor, Anne Jobson, Sarah Smith, Chris Neill and Claire Jones Featuring Sheila Hancock, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams, William Rushton, Nicholas Parsons, Magnus Pike, Ray Alan, Tim Rice, Brian Johnston, John Junkin, Gyles Brandreth, Martin Jarvis, Barry Cryer, Ian Hislop, Paul Merton, Richard Murdoch, Wendy Richard, Richard Stilgoe, Tony Hawks, Jeremy Hardy, Jenny Eclair, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Lee Simpson, Graham Norton, Linda Smith, Steve Frost, Stephen Frost, Sue Perkins, Ross Noble, Fred MacAulay, Maria McErlane and Nick Revell Chairman: Nicholas Parsons and (on 12 January 1977) Ian Messiter First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 6 August 1973, 23 December 1975, 15 December 1976, 12 January 1977, 16 March 1977, 20 April 1977, 20 February 1979, 15 January 1980, 12 February 1980, 20 February 1982, 29 October 1983, 28 July 1984, 3 April 1985, 18 January 1986, 18 April 1987, 4 April 1989, 28 April 1990, 23 February 1991, 7 January 1995, 28 January 1995, 11 February 1995, 18 February 1995, 18 January 1999, 1 February 1999, 19 July 1999, 2 August 1999, 25 February 2002, 4 March 2002, 26 January 2004, 31 January 2005, 21 February 2005 and 7 March 2005. © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Tbd (Author), Barry Cryer, Derek Nimmo, Graham Norton, Gyles Brandreth, Ian Hislop, Ian Messiter, Jenny Eclair, Kenneth Williams, Martin Jarvis, Nicholas Parsons, Paul Merton, Sheila Hancock, Sue Perkins, Tim Rice, Tony Hawks, Various (Narrator)

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A W.M. Thackeray: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Vanity Fair, Barry Lyndon, The Newcomes, Pendennis &

Five BBC Radio adaptations of the works of William Makepeace Thackeray - plus bonus features Best known today for his comic masterpiece, Vanity Fair, W. M. Thackeray was regarded in his time as the only rival to his contemporary, Charles Dickens. This collection includes a selection of his finest satirical fiction, as well as two fascinating programmes exploring his life and writings. Vanity Fair - Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, Thackeray's deliciously ironic tale of passion and ambition follows the fortunes of penniless, social-climbing Becky Sharp and her wealthy, sweet-natured best friend, Amelia Sedley. Starring Stephen Fry as the Narrator, with Emma Fielding as Becky, Katy Cavanagh as Amelia and Toby Jones as Jos. Barry Lyndon - Forced to leave his native Ireland after an unfortunate duel, young Redmond Barry embarks on a series of adventures that take him from the battlefields of the Seven Years War to the highest courts of Europe and the drawing rooms of English society. Gerard McSorley and Andrew Scott star in Thackeray's picaresque classic alongside Shelia Hancock and Kenneth Cranham The Yellowplush Papers- Adam Buxton stars in these five comic tales about the rise and fall of canny Regency footman Charles Yellowplush. Pendennis - Thackeray's semi-autobiographical coming-of-age tale charts the youthful exploits of handsome, impoverished Arthur Pendennis as he leaves his home in the country to make his way in London society. Dominic Guard stars as Arthur, with Hugh Dickson as The Writer. The Newcomes- Featuring characters from Vanity Fair and narrated by Arthur Pendennis, this epic saga tells the story of several generations of a respectable English family, centring around Colonel Thomas Newcombe and his artist son, Clive. Starring Simon Lack, Carleton Hobbs and Nigel Grahame. Al Murray on Thackeray - Comedian Al Murray talks about his great-great-great-grandfather, William Makepeace Thackeray, and why he thinks Vanity Fair is still relevant today. Andrew Davies/William Thackeray - James Naughtie and a group of readers chat to Andrew Davies about Thackeray's classic novel, Vanity Fair, which he adapted for BBC TV in 1998. NB: Due to the age and nature of some of the recordings, the sound quality may vary First published 1837 (The Yellowplush Papers), 1844 (The Luck of Barry Lyndon), 1848 (Vanity Fair), 1849-50 (Pendennis), (1855 The Newcomes) Cast and credits Written by W. M. Thackeray With thanks to Keith Wickham Contents List Vanity Fair Barry Lyndon The Yellowplush Papers Pendennis The Newcomes Al Murray on Thackeray Andrew Davies on William Thackeray © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

William Thackeray (Author), Adam Buxton, Andrew Scott, Emma Fielding, Maureen Lipman, Sheila Hancock, Stephen Fry, Toby Jones (Narrator)

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North by Northamptonshire: The Complete BBC Radio comedy

All three series of the BBC radio bittersweet comedy narrated by Sheila Hancock following the adventures of the residents of a small town in Northamptonshire - plus special episode 'Full Stop'. Relationships have come and gone but life continues in Wadenbrook, where Sheila Hancock takes us behind closed doors to reveal the inhabitants' heartbreak and happiness. We meet Rod the local supermarket manager (Mackenzie Crook), who shares rather more than is usual about his private life over the store's tannoy system, and recently divorced Jan (Felicity Montagu) who's been trying unsuccessfully to 'find herself'. Forthright self-defence teacher Esther (Katherine Jakeways, also the writer of this series) and her gentle and put-upon husband Jonathan (Kevin Eldon) are trying to start a family, and Ken and Keith, possibly the happiest couple in town are determined to teach their pet whippets to dance for the town talent night. Throughout this funny and touching comedy show, love blossoms in the most unexpected places, birthdays are celebrated, and visitors are both expected and unexpected. In the final ever episode, 'Full Stop' the residents of Wadenbrook travel to see a starry production at the Birmingham Hippodrome but heavy snow threatens to thwart everyone's plans.... Narrated by Sheila Hancock, North by Northamptonshire also stars Kevin Eldon, Geoffrey Palmer, Penelope Wilton, Mackenzie Crook and Felicity Montagu, and was written by Katherine Jakeways.

Katherine Jakeways (Author), Felicity Montagu, Full Cast, Geoffrey Palmer, Kevin Eldon, Mackenzie Crook, Penelope Wilton, Sheila Hancock (Narrator)

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Just a Minute: Remembering Nicholas Parsons: Including Series 85 of the BBC Radio 4 panel game

Nicholas Parsons was the host of the Just a Minute for nearly 52 years - from its first broadcast on 22 December 1967 until his last show on 23 September 2019, aged 96. He was a comedy 'straight man', West End actor, radio personality, game show presenter, chat show host, quiz master supreme, and larger than life stage superstar. Here we celebrate his life and work with a series of programmes compered by Paul Merton, plus Series 85 of Just a Minute - his final series. In Nicholas Parsons: A Man of Many Parts, Paul Jackson tries to pin down the essence of Nicholas Parsons with the help of Paul Merton, Jean Diamond, John Antrobus, Laura Beaumont, Gyles Brandreth, Jill Sinclair and Adrian Edmondson. Then Paul Merton selects his favourite episode of Just a Minute, originally broadcast in 2010 and featuring Sheila Hancock, Gyles Brandreth and Barnsley poet Ian McMillan. Also included here is Nicholas Parsons' appearance as a castaway on Desert Island Discs. He reflects on his career spanning more than 60 years, despite not being an obvious star in the making. Lastly, this collection includes the complete Series 85 of Just Minute, the panel game that rewards those who can talk the hind leg off a donkey. This is the final ever series hosted by Nicholas Parsons, with panellists including Paul Merton, Stephen Fry, Graham Norton, Jenny Eclair, Sheila Hancock, Phil Wang, Tony Hawks, Pam Ayres, Jan Ravens and Zoe Lyons.

BBC Audio (Author), Adrian Edmondson, Graham Norton, Gyles Brandreth, Nicholas Parsons, Paul Jackson, Paul Merton, Sheila Hancock, Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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

The complete 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 & Partners’, Something To Shout About ran to 54 episodes 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. Written by Myles Rudge and Ronnie Wolfe 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)s

Myles Rudge, Ronie Wolfe (Author), Eleanor Summerfield, Fenella Fielding, Joan Sims, Michael Medwin, Nicholas Phipps, Sheila Hancock (Narrator)

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Just a Minute: A Vintage Collection: 12 classic episodes of the much-loved BBC Radio comedy game

Twelve archive editions of the the much-loved BBC Radio 4 panel game chaired by Nicholas Parsons Having matured like a fine wine for over 50 years, Just a Minute continues to improve with age. A full-bodied, cheeky little number, it's both sparkling and robust, and ideal for almost every occasion. A few bottles of the finest have been brought up from the cellar for this vintage collection. In these twelve humorous, enlightening and previously unpublished editions - harvested from between 1972 and 2004 - players once again attempt to speak without hesitation, repetition or deviation from the given subject. Challenges fly thick and fast under the unflappable adjudication of Nicholas Parsons. Seasoned players Kenneth Williams, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Clement Freudand Paul Merton compete alongside guests including Tim Rice, Sheila Hancock, Michael Palin, Jenny Eclair, Tony Hawks, Ross Noble, Ray Alan, Rob Buckman, Barry Cryer, Wendy Richard, Jeremy Hardy, Richard Stilgoe, Steve Frost, Graham Norton, Liza Tarbuck, Kit Hesketh-Harvey and Julian Clary. Which players will be allowed time to breathe uninterrupted, as they demonstrate they have the nose for a corking finish? Find out as we play Just a Minute! Please note: Contains mild innuendo. The humour in these programmes sometimes reflects the era in which they were first broadcast. Episode Guide 26 September 1972 Featuring Clement Freud, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams 10 February 1976 Featuring Clement Freud, Peter Jones, Michael Palin, Kenneth Williams 20 February 1979 Featuring Ray Alan, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams 22 January 1980 Featuring Rob Buckman, Clement Freud, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams 3 April 1985 Featuring Barry Cryer, Peter Jones, Tim Rice, Kenneth Williams 23 February 1991 Featuring Peter Jones, Tim Rice, Wendy Richard, Richard Stilgoe 11 February 1995 Featuring Jeremy Hardy, Tony Hawks, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo 1 February 1999 Featuring Jenny Eclair, Steve Frost, Peter Jones, Tim Rice 11 March 2002 Featuring Clement Freud, Sheila Hancock, Paul Merton, Graham Norton 7 July 2003 Featuring Clement Freud, Sheila Hancock, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Paul Merton 18 August 2003 Featuring Jenny Eclair, Clement Freud, Tony Hawks, Ross Noble 16 August 2004 Featuring Julian Clary, Clement Freud, Paul Merton, Liza Tarbuck

BBC Audio, Bbc Audio (Author), Full Cast, Jeremy Hardy, Kenneth Williams, Michael Palin, Nicholas Parsons, Paul Merton, Ross Noble, Sheila Hancock (Narrator)

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All Those Women: The Complete Series 1-4: The BBC Radio 4 comedy

Starring Sheila Hancock (Series 1)and Marcia Warren (Series 2-4) as Hetty, Lesley Manville as Maggie, Sinead Matthews as Jen and Lucy Hutchinson as Emily, this is a comedy series about four women living under the same roof. All Those Women explores familial relationships, ageing, marriages - it's about life and love and things not turning out quite the way that you'd expected them to. Here we join Hetty, Maggie, Jen and Emily as they struggle to resolve their own problems, and support one another. Written by Katherine Jakeaways

Katherine Jakeways (Author), Lesley Manville, Lucy Hutchinson, Marcia Warren, Sheila Hancock, Sinead Matthews (Narrator)

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E. M. Forster: A BBC Radio Collection

Dramatisations and readings of EM Forster's finest works, plus Stephen Wakelam's radio play A Dose of Fame and the documentary feature Forster in India: Sex, Books and Empire One of the greatest English novelists of the 20th century, EM Forster was also an accomplished short story writer. This collection includes stunning adaptations of his classic novels A Passage to India, Where Angels Fear to Tread, A Room with a View and Howards End. Among the star casts are Penelope Wilton, Ellie Kendrick, Sian Thomas, Emilia Fox, Sheila Hancock and John Hurt. Also featured are four of his short tales - 'The Story of the Siren' (read by Dan Stevens), 'The Road from Colonus' (read by Andrew Sachs), 'The Obelisk' (read by Ruth Wilson) and 'Ansell' (read by Peter Kenny). Forster's posthumous novel, Maurice, is dramatised with a full cast and stars Alex Wyndham and Bertie Carvel, while Stephen Wakelam's drama A Dose of Fame, starring Stephen Campbell Moore as Forster, sees the author grappling with a mysterious death, his own sexuality and an idea for his next novel. In addition, Zareer Masani presents a revealing Radio 3 profile exploring Forster's literature, love life and personal passage to India.

E.M. Forster (Author), Ellie Kendrick, Emilia Fox, John Hurt, Penelope Wilton, Sheila Hancock, Sian Thomas (Narrator)

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Just a Minute: Series 82: The BBC Radio 4 comedy panel game

In this complete collection of episodes from series 82 of Just a Minute, Nicholas Parsons invites guests to try to speak for 60 seconds on a variety of subjects such as George V, favourite breakfast eateries, canals, bad apples and pasta. With panellists including Paul Merton, Sheila Hancock, Jan Ravens, Tony Hawkes, Gyles Brandreth and Zoe Lyons, this series shows just why Just a Minute has been entertaining generations of listeners since its first series in 1967. Who can talk for one minute without hesitation, repetition or deviation from the subject? Find out as we play Just a Minute! (C) 2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd; (P) 2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Bbc Radio 4 (Author), , Gyles Brandreth, Jan Ravens, Nicholas Parsons, Paul Merton, Sheila Hancock, Tony Hawks (Narrator)

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Terry Pratchett: The BBC Radio Drama Collection: Seven full-cast dramatisations

Somewhere on the frontier between thought and reality exists the Discworld, a parallel time and place which might sound and smell very much like our own, but which looks completely different... Collected together for the first time are seven full-cast BBC Radio dramatisations of Terry Pratchett's novels, with star-studded casts including Martin Jarvis, Sheila Hancock, Anton Lesser, Philip Jackson, Alex Jennings and Mark Heap. Now being published for the very first time, the adaptations in this collection are: Mort Hopeless young peasant Mort is hired as an apprentice to Death. He'll have free board, use of the company horse, and being dead isn't even compulsory. In fact, it's a dream job - until he discovers that it can be a killer on his love life... Wyrd Sisters Three witches meet on a blasted heath. A king is cruelly murdered. A child heir and the kingdom's crown are both missing. But Granny Weatherwax finds that meddling in royal politics is a lot more complicated than certain playwrights would have you believe... Guards! Guards! In Ankh-Morpork, the Haves and the Have-Nots are about fall out. Again. The Night Watch's Captain Vimes is used to this but when the Have-Nots find the key to a lethal, dormant weapon that even they don't understand, he knows it's time so sober up. Eric When precocious young Eric Thursley summons a demon from the loathsome pit to fulfil his every wish, he wants what everyone wants - immortality, to rule the world, and have the most beautiful woman love him. Instead he gets Rincewind, the Disc's most incompetent wizard. Small Gods On the Discworld, Gods are as numerous as herring roe, all elbowing for space at the top. In such a competitive environment, you need an acolyte, and fast. For the Great God Om, Brutha is the Chosen One, or at least the only One available... Night Watch Living in the past is hard. Dying in the past is incredibly easy, especially when there is a serial killer on the loose who targets coppers. Commander Sam Vimes of the City Watch is back in his own rough, tough past, and he has a job to do. ***Bonus Story*** In addition to these Discworld novels, this collection will also include a full-cast dramatisation of Only You Can Save Mankind, from the Johnny Maxwell series. As an alien fleet crosses his computer screen, Johnny prepares to blow the ScreeWee into a million pieces...

Terry Pratchett (Author), , Alex Jennings, Anton Lesser, Full Cast, Mark Heap, Martin Jarvis, Philip Jackson, Sheila Hancock (Narrator)

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Just a Minute: Best of 2018: 4 episodes of the much-loved BBC Radio comedy game

Four of the funniest recent episodes from the much-loved BBC Radio 4 panel game chaired by Nicholas Parsons Among the talented and humorous players in this sparkling quartet are Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth, Jo Caulfield, Julian Clary, Stephen Fry, Jan Ravens, Rebecca Front, Marcus Brigstocke, Sheila Hancock, Fern Britton and Graham Norton. Did Nicholas know Boudicca? What dish was to be served after the Royal Wedding? When did Gyles meet Fanny Cradock, and is he really getting married in the morning? What does Sheila know of George Orwell, and what are her views on ripped jeans? Should Paul be challenged for being out of tune? Answers to these and many more tantalising questions can be answered, without hesitation, deviation or repetition, after listening to this quartet of instalments!

BBC Audio, Bbc Audio (Author), Fern Britton, Graham Norton, Gyles Brandreth, Julian Clary, Marcus Brigstocke, Nicholas Parsons, Paul Merton, Rebecca Front, Sheila Hancock, Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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My Teenage Diary: Adolescent musings from Series 1-8 of the hit BBC Radio 4 comedy series

Forty-five episodes from Series 1-8 of the Sony Award-winning BBC Radio comedy show, hosted by Rufus Hound. In this hilarious and revealing show, host Rufus Hound invites his guests to revisit their formative years by dusting off their intimate teenage diaries and reading them out in public for the very first time. From terrible poetry, musings on pop music and cringeworthy crushes, to fond recollections of schooldays and exotic holidays, to poignant and searingly honest confessions, these extracts reveal the secret thoughts, feelings and experiences of a host of well-known celebrities - before they became famous. Among the contributors are Richard Herring, Shappi Khorsandi, Sheila Hancock, Meera Syal, Arabella Weir, Robert Webb, Caitlin Moran, Ken Livingstone, Terry Wogan, Alex Horne, Lionel Shriver, Michael Rosen, Ian Rankin, Debbie McGee and John Finnemore. As they delve into the past and reflect on their youth, will they be filled with nostalgia, or embarrassment? What would they say to their younger selves? And what song will they choose to sum up their teenage years? Find out all this - and a lot more besides - in these surprising, insightful and hugely entertaining shows. Produced by Harriet Jaine Executive Producer: Aled Evans A Talkback production for BBC Radio 4 Episodes: Series 1 Richard Herring Russell Kane Shappi Khorsandi Steve Hall Josie Long Jenny Eclair Series 2 Sheila Hancock Victoria Coren Meera Syal Rob Deering Phil Nichol Series 3 Michael Winner Janet Street-Porter Jo Caulfield Arabella Weir Series 4 Robert Webb Caitlin Moran Jackie Kay Toby Young Rhona Cameron Julia Donaldson Series 5 Ken Livingstone Vanessa Feltz Sarfraz Mansoor Rachel Johnson Janet Ellis Kate Mosse Series 6 Terry Wogan Chris Difford Oona King Robert Newman Lucy Worsley Alex Horne Series 7 Robert Peston Lionel Shriver Michael Rosen Samira Ahmed Chris Packham 2017 Special Ian Rankin Series 8 Debbie McGee John Finnemore Anneka Rice Pippa Evans Gyles Brandreth Helen Lederer

Various (Author), , Caitlin Moran, Chris Packham, Meera Syal, Robert Webb, Rufus Hound, Russell Kane, Shappi Khorsandi, Sheila Hancock, Terry Wogan (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Sheila Hancock