Audiobooks Narrated by Sian Philips

The Archers: The Ambridge Players: Six BBC full-cast drama productions including Blithe Spirit, Cale

Classic plays and ghost stories, as performed by the residents of Ambridge and friends - plus bonus drama Dead Girls Tell No Tales Borsetshire's queen of amateur theatricals, Lynda Snell, never misses the chance to put on a Christmas show. Her productions are always a big hit with Ambridge audiences - and now, Archers fans can enjoy these top-notch performances alongside them (as well as eavesdropping on the shenanigans backstage). In Blithe Spirit, the Ambridge Am-Dram Society and guest star Julian Rhind-Tutt recreate Noël Coward's ghostly masterpiece, and Lynda finds herself in sympathy with eccentric medium Madame Arcati as she attempts to conjure some festive high spirits. Calendar Girls sees the group taking on Tim Firth's comedy of jam and Jerusalem, along with honorary resident Siân Phillips (who starred in the original West End show). Will the intrepid cast really bare all? And in the 2-parter The Canterbury Tales, the company present barnstorming adaptations of Chaucer's classic stories of courtly love, deadly rivalry and boisterous sex - with a little bit of magic thrown in. In Ambridge Ghost Stories, it's a cold December night, in the darkened attic of Lower Loxley. Then Jim Llloyd (John Rowe) takes to the stage to recount three spine-chilling supernatural tales from the turn of the last century - 'The Room in the Tower' by E. F. Benson, 'Lost Hearts' by M. R. James and 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs. Prepare to be enthralled - and terrified... Also included are two special seasonal pageants, The Ambridge Mystery Plays- The Nativity and The Passion and a stunning original drama by Joanna Toye. Starring Eleanor Tomlinson and Ysette Churchman and Miles Jupp Dead Girls Tell No Tales explores the real story behind the death of Grace Archer: a watershed moment in the history of broadcasting and one of the defining cultural events of the 1950s. Production credits Blithe Spirit Written by Noël Coward Adapted and directed by Sean O'Connor First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 December 2014 Calendar Girls The accompanying pianist was Simon Taranczuk Written by Tim Firth and based on the motion picture Calendar Girls written by Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi. Adapted and directed by Sean O'Connor First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 December 2015 The Canterbury Tales, Parts 1 & 2 Tellers of the Tales The Knights Tale The Miller's Tale The Wife of Bath's Tale The Sailor's Tale The Pardoner's Tale The Friar's Tale The Franklin's Tale The Bailiff's Tale Written by Geoffrey Chaucer Dramatised by Nick Warburton. Directed by Kim Greengrass. Produced by Alison Hindell First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 December 2018-5 January 2019 The Ambridge Mystery Plays The Nativity The Passion First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26th December 2021 & 2nd January 2022 Ambridge Ghost Stories Abridged by Jeremy Osborne 'The Room in the Tower' written by E F Benson Produced and directed by Charlotte Davey 'Lost Hearts' written by M. R. James Produced and directed by Mel Ward 'The Monkey's Paw' written by W. W. Jacobs Produced and directed by Charlotte Davey First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 December 2019-1 January 2020 Dead Girls Tell No Tales Cast: Jon Culshaw, Pam Ferris, Lex Shrapnel, Eleanor Tomlinson, Georgie Fuller, Geoffrey Streatfeild, Sally Bretton, Simon Russell Beale, John Hopkins, Claudie Blakley, David Reed, Miles Jupp, Zeb Soanes, Paddy O'Connell, Ysanne Churchman - Herself, David Hounslow, Sam Dale, Chris Pavlo, Jessica Turner and Alex Tregear Written by Joanna Toye. Directed by Sean O'Connor First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 September 2015 ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

E.F. Benson, E.F.Benson, M.R.James, Noel Coward, Tim Firth, W.W. Jacobs, W.W.Jacobs, William Chaucer (Author), Eleanor Bron, Felicity Finch, Full Cast, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Miles Jupp, Pam Ferris, Sian Philips, Timothy Bentinck, Trevor Harrison (Narrator)

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The L-Shaped Room, Backward Shadow & other stories: A BBC Radio 4 drama collection

A full-cast adaptation of Lynne Reid Banks' bestselling novel, plus sequel The Backward Shadow and more Award-winning author Lynne Reid Banks is perhaps best known for her classic children's book The Indian in the Cupboard. But it was her groundbreaking debut novel for adults, The L-Shaped Room, that made her name. First published in 1960, it was an instant success, and has been in print ever since. This collection contains both The L-Shaped Room and sequel The Backward Shadow, as well as two stories specially written for BBC radio and a bonus edition of Bookclub. The L-Shaped Room - Jane is young, middle-class, single - and pregnant. Thrown out by her parents, she rents a squalid bedsit, where she struggles to overcome both her own prejudices and those of 1950s society. Starring Lynne Seymour as Jane, with John McAndrew as Toby. The Backward Shadow - Living with her baby in a cottage inherited from her aunt, Jane's quiet life is shaken up by the arrival of her friend Dottie and the reappearance of Toby, the love of her life ... Lynne Seymour stars as Jane, with Rachel Atkins as Dottie. Who Shall I Run To? - Sally recalls how she and ex-husband Jeremy celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with a romantic trip to Paris. Read by Siân Phillips. Lame Duck - Anne and her artist husband Lionel have three boys, and little time for going out - so they decide to take in a lodger who might be prepared to babysit occasionally. Sadly, things do not work out as planned... Starring Anne Rosenfeld as Anne and Manning Wilson as Lionel. Bookclub: Lynne Reid Banks - Readers talk to the celebrated author about The L-Shaped Room, describing what it means to them and how it has changed their lives. Chaired by James Naughtie. Text copyright © Lynne Reid Banks 1960 (The L-Shaped Room), 1970 (The Backward Shadow), 1978 (Lame Duck), 2005 (Who Shall I Run To?) Cast and credits Written by Lynne Reid Banks The L-Shaped Room Jane - Lynne Seymour Toby - John McAndrew John - Trevor Laird Father - Bill Wallis Doris - Nickie Rainsford Mavis - Marie Gordon Price James - Simon Armstrong Dr Maxwell - John Rowe Jane 2/Dottie - Rachel Atkins Boss - Dave Bond Dr Graham - Richard Mitchley Terry - Robert Bowman Addy - Shirley Dixon Dramatised by Juliet Ace Prioduced and directed by Alison Hindell First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 February-5 March 2004 The Backward Shadow Jane - Lynne Seymour Dottie - Rachel Atkins Toby - John McAndrew Henry - Simon Ludders Father/Ted - Don McCorkindale Billy Lee - Lesley Rooney Alan - Keiron Self Mrs Stephens - Manon Edwards Dora - Siriol Jenkins John - Trevor Laird Joanna - Nickie Rainsford Dramatised by Juliet Ace Prioduced and directed by Alison Hindell First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16-27 May 2005 Who Shall I Run To? Read by Siân Phillips Produced by Emma Harding First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 August 2005 Lame Duck Cliff - Christopher Guard Anne - Anne Rosenfeld Lionel - Manning Wilson Jamie - Judy Bennett Terry - Delia Morgan Dan - Elizabeth Lindsay Jacky - Karen Archer Mr Brent, a publican - Bruce Beeby Mrs Brent - Jane Knowles Directed by David B Godfrey First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 January 1978 Bookclub: Lynne Reid Banks Presented by James Naughtie With Lynne Reid Banks and a live studio audience Produced by Dymphna Flynn First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 June 2010 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Lynne Reid Banks (Author), Anne Rosenfeld, Bill Wallis, John Mcandrew, Lynne Seymour, Manning Wilson, Rachel Atkins, Sian Philips, Various (Narrator)

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