Audiobooks by Frank Cottrell Boyce

One Chord Wonders: Five Full Cast BBC Radio Dramas

"Frank Cottrell Boyce’s series of plays about the punk generation 30 years on What if punk heroes The Adverts had played a gig in Camberley in 1977, to an audience of 27 people? And what if, three decades later, someone tried to bring that audience back together for a reunion? That’s the premise of these five linked plays by award-winning screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce, telling the stories of some of those audience members as they look back on that life-changing night. Among the star casts are Doon Mackichan, Pauline Quirke, Siân Reeves, Rosie Cavaliero, Richard Ridings, Danny Webb and Manjinder Virk. Parallel Lines – When Julie, a singer in a Blondie tribute band, is invited to the reunion (along with her husband Pete, aka Zorba the Freak), she’s unsure whether or not to go. As she tries to track down 'Thing' and Margaret, two of her contemporaries from those formative days, she finds herself facing a few uncomfortable truths. Blitzkrieg Bop – Back in 1977, Mo Motormouth was a fanzine writer, and co-promoter of the Adverts gig alongside fellow punk Benny Bondage. Now a struggling local radio presenter, her career receives an unexpected boost when she gives her on-air persona an opinionated, in-yer-face makeover. But her newfound success brings some unwelcome attention from the livelier elements among her listeners… Damned, Damned, Damned – Ex-punk and ex-personal security guard Mick ended up in prison after an altercation with an over-enthusiastic fan. But now he’s a different man: he’s found Jesus, and he’s working on managing his anger. Can he find salvation in remembering the one time when he was truly happy? This Is the Modern World – Onetime ‘anarcho-punk’ Muttley lives in an eco-collective in Wales with his teenage daughter, Lineel. Hoping to find out about her late mother’s past, Lineel sets off on a walking pilgrimage to Camberley, and Muttley has no choice but to accompany her. He’s about to be forcibly reunited with his former self – and Lineel’s about to find out what life is like in the ‘real world’ beyond the commune. Television is Over – In this final play, we flash back to where it all began: Camberley, March 1977. Punk has arrived in suburban Surrey, and the town’s respectable residents are outraged – but the local teens are ready for revolution. And at the centre of it all are Julie, Pete, Mo, Benny, Mick, Muttley – and Adam, a young man desperate for something to believe in… Production credits Written by Frank Cottrell Boyce Produced and directed by Toby Swift Parallel Lines Cast: Doon Mackichan, Siân Reeves, Rosie Cavaliero, Ivan Kaye, Paul Viragh, Joseph Tremain, Sarah Bedi, John Rowe, Ben Crowe, Helen Longworth Blitzkrieg Bop Cast: Pauline Quirke, Adam Kotz, Manjinder Virk, Ivan Kaye, Ben Crowe, Harry Myers, Sanjay Shelat, Stephen Critchlow, John Rowe, Amy Enticknap Damned, Damned, Damned Cast: Richard Ridings, Lloyd Thomas, Chris Pavlo, Richie Campbell, Paul Richard Biggin, John Rowe, Ben Crowe This Is the Modern World Cast: Danny Webb, Stephanie Leonidas, Ann Beach, Carl Prekopp, John Biggins, Alex Tregear, John Cummins, Sam Dale, Liz Sutherland Television’s Over Cast: Kristopher Milnes, Freddy White, Gerard Horan, Fenella Woolgar, Leanne Rowe, James Daley, Ben Crowe, John Hasler, Amy Enticknap, John Rowe, Dan Starkey, Nyasha Hatendi, Sarah Bedi, Joan Walker, Tim James © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Frank Cottrell Boyce (Author), Danny Webb, Doon Mackichan, Fenella Woolgar, Full Cast, Ivan Kaye, Kristopher Milnes, Manjinder Virk, Pauline Quirke, Richard Ridings, Rosie Cavaliero (Narrator)

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Noah's Gold

"'Brilliantly entertaining & thought provoking . . . I am in total awe.' David Walliams 'Proper, sparkly, witty, enticing storytelling . . . It's perfect.' Hilary McKay Packed with mystery, adventure and laughs, Noah's Gold is the exciting novel from the bestselling, multi-award-winning author of Millions and Cosmic, Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Fully illustrated in black and white throughout by Steven Lenton, this is perfect for readers of 9+. Being the smallest doesn't stop you having the biggest ideas. Eleven-year old Noah sneaks along on his big sister's geography field trip. Everything goes wrong! Six kids are marooned on an uninhabited island. Their teacher has vanished. They're hungry. Their phones don't work and Noah has broken the internet. There's no way of contacting home . . . Disaster! Until Noah discovers a treasure map and the gang goes in search of gold. 'A writer of comic genius - he has something of Roald Dahl's magic, but more heart' - Sunday Telegraph 'Joyous writing. Wonderful characters. Authentic humour. Heart & soul. So Much Fun. And, oh, the dialogue! Just love it! Pure class' Jenny Pearson, author of The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates"

Frank Cottrell Boyce (Author), Finnian Garbutt (Narrator)

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Runaway Robot

"Runaway Robot is a funny and heartwarming adventure about two best friends helping put themselves back together, from the award-winning Frank Cottrell-Boyce, illustrated by Steven Lenton. When Alfie goes to Airport Lost Property, he finds more than he bargained for. A lot more. Because there's a giant robot called Eric hidden away on the shelves. Eric has lost one leg and half his memory. He's super strong, but super clumsy. He's convinced that he's the latest technology, when he's actually nearly one hundred year's old and ready for the scrap heap. Can Alfie find a way to save Eric from destruction - before Eric destroys everything around him?"

Frank Cottrell Boyce (Author), Ben Bailey Smith (Narrator)

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Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth: Tom Fletcher Book Club Selection

"The Blythes are a big, warm, rambunctious family who live on a small farm and sometimes foster children. Now Prez has come to live with them. But, though he seems cheerful and helpful, he never says a word. Then one day Prez answers the door to someone claiming to be his relative. This small, loud stranger carries a backpack, walks with a swagger and goes by the name of Sputnik. As Prez dithers on the doorstep, Sputnik strolls right past him and introduces himself to everyone in the household. Prez is amazed at the response. The family pat Sputnik on the head, call him a good boy and drop food into his mouth. It seems they all think Sputnik is a dog. It's only Prez who thinks otherwise. But Prez soon finds himself having to defend the family from the chaos and danger unleashed by Sputnik, as household items come to life - like a TV remote that fast-forwards people: 'Anyone can do it, it's just that people don't read the instructions properly'; and a toy lightsaber that entertains guests at a children's party, until one of them is nearly decapitated by it – and Prez is going to have to use his voice to explain himself. It turns out that Sputnik is writing a guidebook to Earth called Ten Things Worth Doing on Earth, and he takes Prez on a journey to discover just those ten things. Each adventure seems to take Prez nearer to the heart of the family he is being fostered by. But they also take him closer to the day that he is due to leave them forever . . ."

Frank Cottrell Boyce (Author), Peter Capaldi (Narrator)

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The Astounding Broccoli Boy

"Find out why it's not easy being green in the hilarious new book from master storyteller Frank Cottrell Boyce, The Astounding Broccoli Boy. Read by Ewan Goddard and with an approximate running time of 466 minutes it's time to meet a brand new super hero! Rory Rooney likes to be prepared for all eventualities. His favourite book is Don't Be Scared, Be Prepared, and he has memorized every page of it. He could even survive a hippo attack. He knows that just because something is unlikely doesn't mean it won't ever happen . . . But Rory isn't prepared when he suddenly and inexplicably turns green. Stuck in an isolation ward in a hospital far from home with two other remarkably green children, Rory's as confused by his new condition as the medics seem to be. But what if it's not in their genes, or a virus, or something they ate? What if turning green actually means you've turned into a superhero? Rory can't wait to make it past hospital security and discover exactly what his superpower might be . . ."

Frank Cottrell Boyce (Author), Ewan Goddard (Narrator)

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Millions

"Frank Cottrell Boyce's story, Millions, is the tale of a not-so-great train robbery. Read aloud by actor Stephen Tompkinson, this Carnegie Medal-winning story is an absolute treasure! Two brothers, Damian and Anthony, are unwittingly caught up in a train robbery during Britain's countdown to joining the Euro. Suddenly finding themselves with a vast amount of cash, the boys have just one glorious, appalling dilemma - how to spend it in the few days before it becomes worthless. Torn between the vices of buying a million pizzas and the virtues of ending world poverty, the boys soon discover that being rich is a mug's game. For not only is the clock ticking - the bungling bank-robbers are closing in too. Pizzas or World Peace, what would you choose?"

Frank Cottrell Boyce (Author), Stephen Tompkinson (Narrator)

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Cosmic

"It's one giant leap for all boy-kind in Frank Cottrell Boyce's out-of-this-world story: Cosmic, read aloud by actor Daniel Ryan. Liam is too big for his boots. And his football strip. And his school blazer. But being super-sized height-wise has its advantages: he's the only eleven-year-old to ever ride the G-force-defying Cosmic rollercoaster - or to be offered the chance to drive a Porsche. Long-legged Liam makes a giant leap for boy-kind by competing with a group of adults for the chance to go into space. Is Liam the best boy for the job? Sometimes being big isn't all about being a grown-up."

Frank Cottrell Boyce (Author), Daniel Ryan (Narrator)

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Framed

"The perfect crime - it's a work of art, in Frank Cottrell Boyce's ingenious story, Framed, read aloud by actor Jason Hughes. Dylan is the only boy living in the tiny Welsh town of Manod. His parents run the Snowdonia Oasis Auto Marvel garage - and when he's not trying to persuade his sisters to play football, Dylan is in charge of the petrol log. And that means he gets to keep track of everyone coming in and out of Manod - what car they drive, what they're called, even their favourite flavour of crisps. But when a mysterious convoy of lorries trundles up the misty mountainside towards an old, disused mine, even Dylan is confounded. Who are these people - and what have they got to hide? A story inspired by a press cutting describing how, during World War II, the treasured contents of London's National Gallery were stored in Welsh slate mines. Once a month, a morale-boosting masterpiece would be unveiled in the village and then returned to London for viewing. This is a funny and touching exploration of how Art - its beauty and its value - touches the life of one little boy and his big family in a very small town."

Frank Cottrell Boyce (Author), Jason Hughes (Narrator)

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