Audiobooks narrated by Arthur Lowe

Barry Hines: Kes, Billy’s Last Stand & more: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

"Three dramas by Barry Hines and an abridged reading of his classic Kes (A Kestrel for a Knave) Yorkshire-born author Barry Hines is renowned for his 1968 novel A Kestrel for a Knave (later turned into Ken Loach’s award-winning film Kes) and for scripting the BAFTA-winning BBC TV film Threads. The titles in this collection explore his signature theme – working-class life in Northern England – and include a trio of radio dramas alongside an abridged version of Kes, read by Stephen Tompkinson. Billy’s Last Stand – Casual labourer Billy makes his living shovelling coal into people’s sheds and cellars. It’s a one-man job: until the parasitic Darkly turns up, offering him a business partnership. Arthur Lowe and Ronald Baddiley star in Barry Hines’ darkly comic debut play. Two Men from Derby – Elbow-deep in domestic chores, miner’s wife Freda is visited by Joe and George, two scouts from Derby County FC who want to sign her husband as a professional footballer. But Dick is nowhere to be found… Regarded by Hines as the best thing he ever wrote, this slow-burn drama stars Sharon Duce, Colin Edwynn and Bernard Gallagher. Looking at the Sun – When redundant miner Stewart lands a job at a nuclear power station, he has high hopes for a new beginning. But his wife Lisa’s concerns about the plant put their marriage under increasing strain. Starring Chris Brailsford as Stewart and Gillian Waugh as Lisa. Kes – Neglected at home and bullied at school, Billy’s sole comfort is the wild bird of prey he has trained from a fledgling. But his newfound happiness is short-lived... Stephen Tompkinson reads this adaptation of Hines’ heartbreaking coming-of-age tale of a boy and his kestrel. Text copyright © Barry Hines 1965 (Billy’s Last Stand), 1968 (A Kestrel for a Knave), 1976 (Two Men from Derby), 1992 (Looking at the Sun) Production credits Written by Barry Hines Billy’s Last Stand Billy – Arthur Lowe Darkly – Ronald Baddiley Two Men from Derby Freda – Sharon Duce Joe – Colin Edwynn George – Bernard Gallagher Winnie – Juliet Cooke Stanley – Charles Booth Looking at the Sun Stewart – Chris Brailsford Lisa – Gillian Waugh Mr Ellis – Gerry Kersey Clayton – Robin Polley Janice – Belinda Chapman Melanie Lee – Barbara Dryhurst Japanese photographer – Fenella Norman Sharland – Christopher Kent Martyn – Peter Bell Colin – Nick Spurr Kevin – Colln Meredith Alison – Caitlin Smith Kes Read by Stephen Tompkinson © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Barry Hines (Author), Arthur Lowe, Bernard Gallagher, Charles Booth, Chris Brailsford, Colin Edwynn, Full Cast, Gerry Kersey, Gillian Waugh, Juliet Cooke, Peter Bell, Robin Polley, Ronald Baddiley, Sharon Duce, Stephen Tompkinson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Parsley Sidings: The Complete Series 1 and 2

"The complete first and second series of the charming railway station comedy starring Arthur Lowe, Ian Lavender and Kenneth Connor Parsley Sidings ran for two highly successful series from 1971-1973, and was the only radio sitcom (other than Dad’s Army) to star the much-loved Arthur Lowe. As Horace Hepplewhite, station master of a sleepy railway station, he spends his time dealing with small crises and supervising his errant staff – including his son, ticket clerk Bert; blonde bombshell Gloria the station announcer; crafty Cockney porter Percy and ancient signalman Bradshaw – not to mention his nemesis, Phineas Perkins, who manages the station one stop down the line. This collection includes all 21 episodes of the classic comedy, many of which were thought lost but were recently rediscovered and restored for fans to enjoy once more. Included are: The Market Special; The Postal Express; The Beauty Queen Contest; The Inspector Calls; The 1890 Rocket; The Excursion; Cricket, Lovely Cricket; Who’ll Be Mother?; The Concert; Goodbye Parsley Sidings; Pass the Parcel; The Flower Show; The Entente Cordiale; A Night Out; The Goods Train; A Bird in the Hand; The Purity League; The New Level Crossing; The Film Makers and The Secret Agent and the pilot episode, The Royal Train. Starring Arthur Lowe as Horace, Ian Lavender as Bert, Kenneth Connor as Percy and Liz Fraser as Gloria, with guest stars including Elizabeth Morgan, Pat Coombs, Bill Pertwee and Roger Delgado. Please note: Due to the archive nature of this recording sound quality may vary and that some of the humour in this programme reflects the era in which it was first broadcast."

Jim Eldridge (Author), Arthur Lowe, Full Cast, Ian Lavender, Kenneth Connor (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dad's Army: The Lost Tapes: Classic Comedy from the BBC Archives

"Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn and Ian Lavender star in a collection of rediscovered Dad's Army gems. Published for the first time, these four instalments of Dad's Army have been brought together from a variety of archive sources, and in each case represent something unique. 'A Stripe for Frazer' is the surviving TV soundtrack from an episode whose film recording has long been missing in action; 'Santa on Patrol' and 'The Cornish Floral Dance' are two mini-episodes produced in 1968 and 1970 for BBC TV's Christmas Night With the Stars; finally, 'The Boy Who Saved England' is a mini-episode written by Jimmy Perry and starring Ian Lavender, recorded as part of BBC Radio 2's Last Night at the Paris programme in 1995. With a supporting cast including Arnold Ridley, John Laurie, James Beck, Bill Pertwee and Frank Williams, this is a fine quartet of episodes you're not likely to have seen or heard before. Don't panic! Duration: 1 hour approx."

David Croft, Jimmy Perry (Author), Arthur Lowe, Full Cast, John Le Mesurier (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dad's Army: Complete Radio Series 3

"Twenty-six episodes from the third BBC Radio series starring Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier and Clive Dunn, plus the pilot episode of It Sticks Out Half a Mile In 1973 the BBC adapted its hit wartime TV series for radio, featuring the original television cast and characters. Three series were broadcast between 1974 and 1976, with episodes adapted by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles. Now you can enjoy once again these unique recordings, with a supporting cast including John Laurie, Arnold Ridley and Ian Lavender. Among the twenty-six episodes are A Man of Action, Keep Young and Beautiful, Absent Friends, The Deadly Attachment, Things That Go Bump in the Night, My British Buddy, Asleep in the Deep, Time On My Hands and Is There Honey Still for Tea? Also included is the 1981 pilot episode of the radio sequel to Dad’s Army, It Sticks Out Half a Mile, starring Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier. Also in this set is a sixteen-page PDF booklet with comprehensive programme history, synopses for all Series Three episodes, original transmission dates, photographs and cast biographies."

David Croft, Jimmy Perry (Author), Arthur Lowe, Full Cast, John Le Mesurier (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dad's Army: Complete Radio Series Two

"Twenty episodes from the second BBC Radio series, starring Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier and Clive Dunn. In 1973 the BBC adapted its hit TV series for radio, featuring the original TV cast and characters. Three series were broadcast between 1974 and 1976, with episodes adapted from their TV counterparts by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles. Now you can enjoy once again these unique recordings, with a supporting cast including John Laurie, Arnold Ridley and Ian Lavender. Among the twenty-one episodes are Don't Forget the Diver, Put That Light Out, Mum's Army, A. Wilson - Manager, and The Day the Balloon Went Up."

David Croft, Jimmy Perry (Author), Arthur Lowe, Full Cast, John Le Mesurier (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dad’s Army: The Complete Radio Series One

"Twenty episodes from the first BBC Radio series plus an hour-long Christmas special, starring Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier and Clive Dunn. In 1973 the BBC adapted its hit TV series for radio, featuring the original TV cast and characters. Three series were broadcast between 1974 and 1976, with episodes adapted from their TV counterparts by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles. Now you can enjoy once again these unique recordings, with a supporting cast including John Laurie, James Beck, Arnold Ridley and Ian Lavender. Among the twenty-one episodes are The Man and the Hour, The Battle of Godfrey’s Cottage, Sgt Wilson’s Little Secret, Something Nasty in the Vault, The Menace from the Deep and No Spring for Frazer."

David Croft, Jimmy Perry (Author), Arthur Lowe, Clive Dunn, Full Cast, John Le Mesurier (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mr. Men: From The BBC TV Series

"Mr Funny's car is a shoe! It looks very funny when he drives to the zoo. But can he cheer up the animals? Mr Dizzy always gets things confused, until one day he happens upon a wishing well... Mr Bump tries his hand at many jobs, but keeps getting fired! Will he ever bump into one that's suitable for him? Mr Fussy is a fussy old fusspot who dusts his flowers and irons his shoelaces! So how will he cope with Mr Clumsy? Mr Topsy-Turvy manages to turn a whole town upside down! Mr Small goes job hunting and finds, after all, he's perfect as he is."

Roger Hargreaves (Author), Arthur Lowe (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mr. Men Stories: Volume 2

"Join Mr Messy, Mr Snow, Mr Daydream, Mr Bounce, Mr Mean and Mr Chatterbox in these six delightful tales for children and adults. Mr Messy is messy by name and messy by nature - until he meets Mr Neat and Mr Tidy! Mr Snow is magically brought to life by Santa at Christmas - and helps deliver the presents. Mr Daydream takes a daydreaming boy on an amazing adventure. Mr Bounce can't stop bouncing, so can anything help keep his feet on the ground? Mr Mean is so mean he thinks lumps of coal make good presents! Will a wizard teach him not to be so selfish? And Mr Chatterbox won't stop talking - until he's given a magic hat, which grows every time he talks too much! Vintage Beeb: classic albums first available as BBC LPs, now reissued on CD."

Roger Hargreaves (Author), Arthur Lowe (Narrator)

Audiobook

It Sticks Out Half A Mile

"Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Ian Lavender and Bill Pertwee star in the radio sequel sitcom to ‘Dad’s Army’. ‘The Pilot’ - In this rare pilot, war is over and former Home Guard Captain Mainwaring plans to renovate Frambourne-on-Sea’s pier. However, to get a loan he approaches local bank manager, Arthur Wilson. ‘The Business Proposition’ - In the first episode of the series (and after the sad death of Arthur Lowe) Bert Hodges, former ARP warden, is looking for a partner to renovate the pier. Maybe he can get Frank Pike to talk to his ‘uncle’ Arthur... ‘The Bank Loan’ - How can Hodges and Pike persuade Wilson to loan them the money...? ‘Who Owned the Pier?’ - Pike and Hodges research the history of Frambourne Pier, and a visit by the electrician brings worrying news. With Arthur Lowe as George Mainwaring, John Le Mesurier as Arthur Wilson, Ian Lavender as Frank Pike and Bill Pertwee as Bert Hodges, ‘It Sticks Out Half a Mile’ was written by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles, who also adapted ‘Dad’s Army’ for radio."

David Croft, Jimmy Perry (Author), Arthur Lowe, Ian Lavender, John Le Mesurier (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Arthur Lowe

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