Audiobooks by Martyn Wade

Bookcases: A BBC Radio 4 comedy drama Audiobook

"The complete Series 1 and 2 of the historical comic sitcom about an embattled Victorian publishing company London, 1853, and the sedate religious publishing house of Spavin and Spavin is about to experience a radical shake-up. Vivacious actress Cordelia is on the hunt for a husband and has her eye on Gerald, one of the firm's partners, while her son Primus has ambitions to take over the firm. And when he does, it'll be out with the Bibles and in with the bestsellers - starting with Charlotte Brontë's latest blockbuster... Full of grand plans, he sets about wooing a wealth of other writers, including explorer Richard Burton, Charlotte Bronte and struggling novelist Wilkie Collins (who takes quite a shine to Cordelia). He even hires an assistant, Simeon, to manage publicity, and attempts to win a literary award by fair means or foul. But Primus's enthusiasm doesn't go down too well with Gerald's mother Edith (the firm's other partner), who is strongly opposed to the company publishing fiction. Worse, his willingness to spend the company's money has pushed Spavin and Spavin to the edge of bankruptcy... Hoping for salvation from financial ruin, Primus turns to luminaries such as Prince Albert and Charles Dickens - but could the crock of gold he's searching for be right under his nose? Written by Martyn Wade (The Little Ottleys), this delightful, tongue-in-cheek comedy stars Michael Cochrane as Primus and Maggie Steed as Cordelia, with a cast including Elizabeth Spriggs, Charles Simpson, David Horovitch, Joan Sims and Ioan Meredith. Production credits Written by Martyn Wade Directed by Cherry Cookson Music composed by Paul Mottram Violinist: Paul Mottram Cast Primus - Michael Cochrane Cordelia - Maggie Steed Gerald - David Horovitch Edith - Elizabeth Spriggs Reverend Brontë/Prosser - Geoffrey Whitehead Charlotte Brontë - Sarah Jane Holm Mrs Gaskell/Emily Brontë/Katie Joiner/Mrs Prosser - Frances Jeater Equity/Waiter/George Eliot/Thackeray - David Antrobus Richard Burton - Norman Rodway Wilkie Collins - David Timson Simeon - Charles Simpson Prince Albert/Smiles/Trollope - Ioan Meredith John/Rossetti/Cab driver - Stephen Critchlow Mrs Quirk - Joan Sims Lizzie Siddal - Becky Hindley Mrs Beeton - Rachel Atkins Beeton - Gerard McDermott First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 20 August-10 September 1998 (Series 1), 7-28 January 2000 (Series 2) ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Martyn Wade (Author), Charles Simpson, David Horovitch, Elizabeth Spriggs, Full Cast, Geoffrey Whitehead, Joan Sims, Maggie Steed, Michael Cochrane (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Little Ottleys: A BBC Radio full-cast drama: The Complete Series 1-5

"A witty and wonderful comedy of love and jealousy in high society Edwardian London, based on Ada Leverson's sparkling trilogy of novels London, 1908. Pretty, delightful Edith Ottley is married to pompous, patronising Bruce. She adores her son, Archie, and thinks herself content with life in her very new, very concise, very white flat in Knightsbridge. But when she meets the clever, charming and very handsome Aylmer Ross, the physical attraction between the two is electric and they fall madly in love. They could be the perfect couple, but Edith can't dismiss the fact she is Mrs Ottley... Over the course of 25 episodes, Bruce, Edith and Aylmer become locked in a curious, yet delightful, triangle. As Bruce embarks on his own amorous adventures, and Aylmer chafes at having to share Edith, can the trio resolve their romantic entanglements to everyone’s satisfaction? Adapted by acclaimed radio writer and dramatist Martyn Wade, this enchanting comedy drama stars Haydn Gwynne as Ada Leverson, Juliet Aubrey as Edith, Bertie Carvel and Ifan Meredith as Bruce and Jonathan Firth as Aylmer."

Martyn Wade (Author), Bertie Carvel, Full Cast, Hadyn Gwynne, Juliet Aubrey (Narrator)

Audiobook

Doctor Who At The BBC: Volume 2: In The Hot Seat

"Our good friend the Doctor may continually jump from the past to the present and back to the future, but he's never really gone away. Since 1963 he has had a massive influence on our popular culture – as this second volume of rare material illustrates. Doctor Who has long been a favourite source of inspiration for comedy shows including The Mary Whitehouse Experience, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and Dead Ringers. It has also provided an endless source of features for programmes such as Nationwide, Pebble Mill at One, Woman's Hour and Talkback. All of these and more are featured here. We hear from no less than seven of the first eight actors to play the Doctor on TV: Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann all talk about what it's like to play the role, and the effect it has had on their lives. The Doctor's companions are also well featured, with Elisabeth Sladen, Louise Jameson, Matthew Waterhouse and John Leeson popping up in interviews recorded during their time on the programme. The issue of violence in Doctor Who is discussed by producer John Nathan-Turner, writer Kit Pedler and some very angry parents; director Paul Joyce takes us behind the scenes on the series; and there's a plethora of news items about the Doctor's many returns since 1989. So hold on to your hats – the latest journey starts here!"

Colin Sharpe, Daragh Carville, Martyn Wade (Author), Elisabeth Sladen, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

Doctor Who At The BBC: Volume 3: Now And Then

"Doctor Who at the BBC combs the avenues of Time and Space for significant spin-off moments from the much-loved TV and radio series. In an exclusive coup, this third volume features a rarely heard ten minute mini-drama starring Jon Pertwee and Elisabeth Sladen. Specially recorded for Glorious Goodwood in 1974, it has never been broadcast and features a host of familiar enemies — including the Daleks! Elsewhere on this volume, the radio programme Wavelength meets the cast and production team of The Two Doctors; Nationwide investigates the work of the Radiophonic Workshop in 1983; and a group of schoolchildren give their views on the series in Take Two from 1984. The Grumbleweeds enjoy their own exciting adventure in Dr Nobbut-Just; ‘Ann Robinson’ menaces the Doctor in Dead Ringers; and Jane Asher plays the Doctor’s granddaughter in Whatever Happened to Susan Foreman? Rare interview material includes Frank Bough’s Nationwide encounter with fourth Doctor Tom Baker (plus Mary Tamm and Carole Ann Ford), Lalla Ward’s appearance on Multi-coloured Swap Shop, and a mid-Eighties radio interview with Sarah Sutton. There are also features on the brand new Doctor Who, including comments from Russell T Davies and Christopher Eccleston, and even the seal of approval from Michael Grade…"

Colin Sharpe, Daragh Carville, Martyn Wade (Author), Elisabeth Sladen, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

Doctor Who At The BBC: Volume 4: The Plays

"Doctor Who, the TV series which millions adore, is the inspiration for these three original radio plays. Presented in their entirety, they each focus on the effect which the programme has had on the lives of ordinary - and some extraordinary - people. In Regenerations, by Daragh Carville, a group of friends reunite for an annual Doctor Who convention. Set against the backdrop of the Belfast troubles, the play deals with themes of sexuality and love, and features appearances by Tom Baker and Sophie Aldred. Blue Veils and Golden Sands, by Martyn Wade, is a dramatised account of Delia Derbyshire's early days at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, and her later recollections of that time. In Dalek, I Love You, by Colin Sharpe, Nigel's obsession with Doctor Who is a source of some concern to his mother. When he meets the girl of his dreams at a convention, life at home seems to change forever... Contains adult themes and language."

Colin Sharpe, Daragh Carville, Martyn Wade (Author), Elisabeth Sladen, Sophie Aldred, Stephen Critchlow, Tom Baker (Narrator)

Audiobook