Audiobooks narrated by Arthur Smith

We’ve Been Here Before: The Complete Series 1 and 2: The BBC Radio Comedy Panel Show

Clive Anderson and guests poke fun at the past in this panel show with a yesteryear twist Originally broadcast on Radio 4 in 2003-4, We’ve Been Here Before is the topical, satirical, historical panel game that aims to show beyond all doubt that there’s nothing new in the news. Hosted by award-winning comedian, broadcaster and Whose Line Is It Anyway? star Clive Anderson, it takes a wry, witty look at long-gone days through a present-day lens, as the panellists battle it out to discover who’s got the best memory for detail when it comes to raking up the past. Gyles Brandreth, Jimmy Carr, Chris Addison, Mark Steel, Natalie Haynes, Richard Herring, Robin Ince and Steve Punt are among the stellar guests striving to identify news clips from years gone by, and to spot the parallels with contemporary events. From reality TV, BBC-bashing and striking unions to celebrity American presidential hopefuls, European referendums and Prime Ministers under pressure, they find that the stories they sift through sound strangely familiar. Still funny and relevant over 20 years after it first aired, this entertaining series is the ultimate proof that what goes around comes around. It’s a blast from the past with a modern perspective – and any similarity to current events is entirely the idea... Production credits Presented by Clive Anderson Reader: Lewis MacLeod Produced by Adam Bromley (Series 1) and Ed Morrish (Series 2) Series 1 featuring: Gyles Brandreth, Jimmy Carr, John O'Farrell, David Quantick, Jon Holmes, Simon Brett, Lewis Shaffer, Steve Punt, Robin Ince, Maureen Lipman, Simon Brett Series 2 featuring: Gyles Brandreth, John O'Farrell, Arthur Smith, Arabella Weir, Natalie Haynes, Richard Herring, Mark Steel, David Quantick, Chris Addison, Nick Revell, Helen Atkinson-Wood First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 1-29 August 2003 (Series 1), 11 June-2 July 2004 (Series 2) © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Clive Anderson (Author), Arthur Smith, Chris Addison, Clive Anderson, David Quantick, Gyles Brandreth, Jimmy Carr, John O'farrell, Lewis Macleod, Maureen Lipman, Natalie Haynes, Richard Herring, Robin Ince, Simon Brett, Steve Punt, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

Room 101: Highlights from the Classic BBC Radio 5 Comedy Series

Nick Hancock finds out what people, places and pop songs his celebrity guests would consign to oblivion Room 101 is the anti-Desert Island Discs. Instead of picking the tracks, books and luxuries they love, guests are invited to banish their least favourite things to Orwell's eponymous chamber of horrors. Twenty-seven episodes of the show were broadcast on Radio 5 between 1992 and 1994, and it went on to run for 18 hit series on BBC TV before relaunching on Radio 4 in 2023. This specially-curated collection contains 16 of the very best editions of the original radio series. Included are the first ever show, in which Paul Merton reveals his aversion to Northanger Abbey, the city of Edinburgh and Kenneth More's laugh, and the final one from 1994, which sees Andy Hamilton hoping to rid the world of Look Back in Anger, 'Long Haired Lover from Liverpool' and Field of Dreams. Among the other famous names discussing their bugbears and bête noires are Helen Lederer, Trevor and Simon, Caroline Quentin, Tony Hawks, Kevin Day, Maria McErlane and Mark Lamarr. Weighing up their arguments (and adding a few prejudices of his own) is host Nick Hancock, who has the final say on what stays and what goes. Will he let Arthur Smith put Barbara Cartland into Room 101? What has Jenny Eclair got against 'My Little Pony' videos? Why does Ian Hislop detest 'We Are The Champions'? And why does Steve Punt think Platform 5 at East Croydon station is the worst place in the world? All will be revealed in these bright and breezy shows, as some of our favourite celebrities share their peeves, pet hates and personal stories. Production credits Presented by Nick Hancock Produced by Lissa Evans and Phil Clark First broadcast on BBC Radio 5 on the following dates: Paul Merton 9 January 1992 Jenny Eclair 16 January 1992 Arthur Smith 30 January 1992 Steve Punt 6 February 1992 Ian Hislop 14 August 1992 John Walters 4 September 1992 Helen Lederer 11 September 1992 Donna McPhail 2 October 1992 Trevor Neal and Simon Hickson 3 September 1993 Caroline Quentin 10 September 1993 Tony Hawks 17 September 1993 Kevin Day 15 October 1993 Maria McErlane 22 October 1993 Mark Lamarr 29 October 1993 Nick Revell 27 February 1994 Andy Hamilton 25 March 1994 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Nick Hancock (Author), Arthur Smith, Caroline Quentin, Helen Lederer, Ian Hislop, Jenny Eclair, Mark Lamarr, Nick Hancock, Paul Merton, Steve Punt, Tony Hawks, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stand Up, Barry Goldman

All I’d wanted for as long as I could remember was a woman to love, a soulmate to live with in contentment for the rest of my days: friend, lover, companion, mother to our children. Time was running out: I was getting old. Next year I would be eighteen. Barry Goldman is a sensitive boy. He’s being primed to run the family business but has discovered a talent for making audiences laugh at his silly poems. At last, he has found something that might make him attractive to girls – in particular, Harriet Fink - but there’s not much call for delicate, earnest poets in the 1970s comedy world of hot-panted dolly birds and battle-axe mothers-in-law. Then one night he sees Kris Dean on stage and understands that the world of comedy is about to change forever. Stand Up, Barry Goldman – like Elena Ferrante, but with jokes - is the debut novel of David J. Cohen, stand-up comedian and writer best known as the creator of dozens of songs for multi-BAFTA winning hit TV show Horrible Histories, and less well known as lead singer in the world’s first Jewish heavy metal band, Guns’n’Moses. 'Funny and fascinating, a lovely tale.' Jo Brand 'Powerfully funny, often moving... Dave has created the Jewish Adrian Mole of alternative comedy.' David Quantick

David J Cohen (Author), Arthur Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Black Cat

The narrator boasts of his well-known kindness and compassion towards animals, which was mirrored by his wife. His favorite pet of theirs was a large black cat named Pluto. As the years passed, the narrator became more besotted by drink and consumed by his own cruelty and perverseness. He abused his wife and the animals. Pluto, who was his favorite, bore the brunt of his rage. One day, the narrator cut out one of the cat’s eyes, and not long after that, he hanged the cat from the branch of his tree.

Edgar Allan Poe (Author), Arthur Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Black Cat

Edgar Allan Poe (Author), Arthur Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Married: A BBC Radio Sci-Fi Comedy: Series 1-3

Cantankerous bachelor Robin Lightfoot is happily single – until one morning he awakes to discover he’s married with two children. And he has two half-brothers... both called Ian. Is it a nightmare, a practical joke or something more sinister? Robin gradually realises that he’s in an alternate universe, where the Lib Dems are in power, the Dimbleby brothers are sports commentators and alcohol is a class-A drug. He discovers that Arthur Smith is a children’s entertainer, Stephen Fry is a Royal Biographer, and Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark is a homeless waif who sets fire to telephone boxes. But just as he’s adjusting to the situation and warming to his new family, his life is up-ended once more when he learns of the existence of his evil doppelganger, who is wreaking havoc in both universes. With events spiralling out of control, Robin gets set for divorce from the woman he never married in the first place, is accused of murder and faces the death penalty, and discovers the awful truth about Operation War of the Worlds. And as the two universes collide, vortices open and temporal and spatial anomalies multiply, Robin begins to suspect he may be personally responsible for the whole mess. Can he solve the riddle and save the world, or is he just too grumpy to try? Created by award-winning writer Tony Bagley, this madcap parallel universe comedy stars Hugh Bonneville as Robin and Josie Lawrence as Lesley, with co-stars including Stephen Frost, Lewis MacLeod and Arthur Smith. Written by Tony Bagley Produced by Claire Jones Theme music: ‘I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive’, written and sung by Hank Williams

Tony Bagley (Author), Arthur Smith, Full Cast, Hugh Bonneville, Josie Lawrence (Narrator)

Audiobook

I've Never Seen Star Wars Series 2, Complete

In this second series, Marcus Brigstocke invites his guests to try things they've never done before. Whether the experiences are banal or profound, the show is all about getting out of our comfort zones and embracing the new. Brigstocke's guests in Series 2 are Barry Cryer, Arthur Smith, Dame Joan Bakewell, Jan Ravens, Suggs and Sandi Toksvig.

Marcus Brigstocke (Author), Arthur Smith, Barry Cryer, Jan Ravens, Joan Bakewell, Marcus Brigstocke, Sandi Toksvig, Suggs (Narrator)

Audiobook

Arthur Smith's Balham Bash: Complete Series 3

Series 3 of the sociable show in which Arthur Smith presents music and comedy from his home in South London. Arthur Smith loves to have a full house in his Balham flat. And his house guests are a talented bunch: there's jamming in the kitchen, laughter on the landing and poetry in the front room. Among the guests finding a performance space amid the debris that is Arthur's life are Katie Melua, Roisin Conaty, Alun Cochrane, Nick Helm, Jenny Eclair, Simon Evans, John Smallshaw, Alex Wilson and his salsa combo, Sean Lock, Annette Fagon, Squeeze, Billy Jenkins, Kevin Eldon, Imran Yusuf and Kate Fox. Series produced by Alison Vernon-Smith.

Arthur Smith (Author), Arthur Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Arthur Smith's Balham Bash: Complete Series 3

Series 2 of the sociable show in which Arthur Smith invites the audience into his Balham flat for comedy, music and entertainment.Arthur Smith loves to have a full house in his South London home. And his house guests are a talented bunch: there's jamming in the kitchen, laughter in the front room and poetry on the landing.Special guests include John Hegley, Barbara Nice, Andrew Lawrence, Miles Jupp, Tom Wrigglesworth, Doc Brown, Henry Paker, Richard Herring, Phill Jupitus, Josh Widdicombe and Marlon Davies.Among the musicians finding a performance space amid the debris that is Arthur's life are Scouting for Girls, Paloma Faith, Gomez and Nine Below Zero.

Arthur Smith (Author), Arthur Smith, Guests (Narrator)

Audiobook

Arthur Smith's Balham Bash: Complete Series One

Arthur Smith invites an audience into his South London home for comedy, music and entertainment. There's jamming in the kitchen, chuckles in the front room and poetry on the landing.Pippa Evans is a regular contributor as singer-songwriter Loretta Maine, while special guests include Paul Sinha, Milton Jones, Glenn Tilbrook, Benjamin Zephaniah, Stephen K. Amos, Matt Holness, Micky Flanagan, Nat Luurtsema, Stewart Lee and Reginald D. Hunter. Among the musicians finding a performance space amid the debris that is Arthur's life are Alabama 3 and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Arthur Smith (Author), Arthur Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Grumpy Old Men The Secret Diary

To everything there is a season. A time to be born, a time to die... and a time to get a few things off your chest. The sequel to Grumpy Old Men: The Official Handbook covers a year in the sad and sordid life of a Grumpy Old Man, sorting into dates and seasons the many and manifold bloody irritations which multiply in this perpetual torment that we call modern living. Yes, it's a daily chronicle of life for the terminally irritable; an almanac of angst. If you know, live with, tolerate or - God forbid, ARE - a Grumpy Old Man, this is essential reading.

Stuart Prebble (Author), Arthur Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Grumpy Old Men The Official Handbook

Do you know someone who is incensed by compulsory tipping? Who is infuriated if kept on hold for more than a minute? Who is positively apoplectic if someone answers their phone during dinner? If so, you've probably encountered the phenomenon of the grumpy old man. Following their first massively successful BBC1 series, this autumn will see the grumpy old men will return to our screens, and this time they're grumpier than ever. Packed with funny and informative chapters such as 'Who are we', 'What are we grumpy about' and 'How can you spot the signs of grumpiness coming on', this book will leave even the grumpiest of men with a grin on his face.

Stuart Prebble (Author), Arthur Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Arthur Smith