Audiobooks narrated by Barbara Marten

The Prospect: A BBC Radio Political Drama

"Newly-elected MP Bobby Khan navigating the corruption and tricky world of politics, power and community life. Bobby Khan has a bright future ahead of him. Young, charismatic and ambitious, he’s recently got married to his long-term girlfriend Lucy, and has just won an important by-election in the Northern constituency of Floxton West. As an Asian MP, he hopes to improve race relations in his community and bring people together – but when a white DJ is found beaten to death, and a Muslim constituent is arrested for his murder, Bobby faces pressure from the accused’s family to get involved. Then his cousin Wasim is imprisoned on terrorism charges, and Bobby’s idealism is shattered as he becomes embroiled in a series of personal and political dilemmas. Two years later, the dust has settled, and Bobby is a rising star in Westminster, with his sights set on a ministerial position. But a family bombshell and a blackmailer turn his life upside down once more – and when he backs an animal-testing laboratory in his constituency, he finds himself facing a violent backlash... Nitin Ganatra and Zubin Varla play Bobby in this thrilling tale of politics, power, corruption and betrayal. Among the stellar cast are Vincent Ebrahim, Bhasker Patel, Barbara Marten, Christopher Bisson, Gillian Kearney, Nicola Stephenson and Sacha Dhawan. Content Warning: Contains strong language and deals with themes of racism Production credits Series 1 written by Avie Luthra and Gary Brown Series 2 written by Mike Harris, Jon Sen and Avie Luthra Produced and directed by Pauline Harris Cast Bobby Khan – Nitin Ganatra/Zubin Varla Elizabeth – Barbara Marten Imran – Vincent Ebrahim/Bhasker Patel Wasim – Christopher Bisson Terry – John McArdle Ayesha – Archie Panjabl Lucy – Gillian Kearney/Nicola Stephenson Paul Deacon – David Fleeshman Rashid Choudry – Amer Nazlr Rhobina Choudry – Rani Moorthy Craig Williams – Sam Curtis Jerome – Aaron Cobham Newsreader – Mark Edwardson Martha Kearney – Herself Harry/Hanif – Sacha Dhawan DI Brown/Pathologist – Seamus O’Neill Mike Winters – Michael Feast Barry – Lee Boardman Isabella – Fiona Clarke David/Geraint – James Quinn Sara – Millie Rose Kinsey Shazia/Woman – Balvinder Sopal Ali – Darren Kuppan Graham – Jonathan Keeble Karl – Graeme Hawley Minister – Malcolm Raeburn Helen – Christine Brennan News reporter – Shari Vahl School children from St Mary's Church of England Infant and Junior School, Manchester Fraud adviser: Shari Vahl Political adviser: Andrew Russell Music consultant: Philip Tagney First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 May-8 June 2007 (Series 1), 31 July-14 August 2009 (Series 2) © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Avie Luthra, Gary Brown, Jon Sen, Mike Harris (Author), Archie Panjabi, Barbara Marten, Christopher Bisson, Full Cast, Gillian Kearney, Nitin Chandra Ganatra, Sacha Dhawan, Vincent Ebrahim, Zubin Varla (Narrator)

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A Taste of Honey & more: Eight BBC Radio Full-Cast Productions

"A collection of plays by the trailblazing dramatist Shelagh Delaney 'The fact is, Miss Delaney is not only a shrewd and penetrating observer; she is a very delicate artist.' Bernard Levin Shelagh Delaney was just 19 when her debut play, A Taste of Honey, premiered in 1958. One of the great ‘kitchen sink dramas’, it was ground-breaking in its portrayal of working-class Northern women, gay and Black men, and influenced popular culture from The Smiths to Coronation Street. A huge hit in the West End and on Broadway, it was made into a BAFTA-winning film starring Rita Tushingham. This collection opens with a 2004 radio production of A Taste of Honey, starring Beth Squires as the pregnant teenager trading insults and repartee with her mother (Siobhan Finneran). It is followed by seven dramas specially written for BBC Radio, all showcasing Delaney’s extraordinary gift for depicting the experiences and emotions of ordinary women and children. In the trilogy Sweetly Sings the Donkey, Tell Me a Film and Baloney Said Salome, we follow the friendship of four women across the decades, from their childhood meeting in a Blackpool convalescent home to their 60th birthday reunion, and their fond farewell to one of their number. Beth Squires, Barbara Marten, Kay Purcell, Susan Twist and Eileen O’ Brien star in these funny, moving plays. Country Life and its sequel, Whoopi Goldberg’s Country Life, centre around Rose, whose peaceful life on a remote Yorkshire smallholding is disrupted by her moody nephew, her film-star brother and her embittered ex-sister-in law. This witty, poignant double bill about parenting, rural life and family ties stars Barbara Marten as Rose. Starring Daniel Hanbridge and Brooke Vincent, the rite-of-passage drama Out of the Pirate’s Playhouse sees five eleven-year-olds celebrating the start of the holidays by going to their favourite activity centre: only to be told they are too old to play there. Our final play, So Does the Nightingale, is set during another period of transition, as middle-aged Alice prepares for her father’s impending death – and reveals her shocking plans for a new, independent life… Linda Polan stars, with a cast including Barbara Laurenson and Margot Boyd. Production credits Text copyright © Shelagh Delaney 1959 (A Taste of Honey),1980 (So Does the Nightingale), 2000(Sweetly Sings the Donkey), 2003 (Tell Me a Film, Out of the Pirate’s Playhouse), 2004 (Baloney Said Salome), 2007 (Country Life), 2010 (Whoopi Goldberg’s Country Life) All rights reserved First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 Nov 1980, 18 Dec 2000, 6 Mar 2003, 22 Jul 2004, 7 Nov 2004, 22 Mar 2007, 18 Oct 2010, © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Shelagh Delaney (Author), Barbara Marten, Beth Squires, Brooke Vincent, Daniel Hanbridge, Eileen O'brien, Full Cast, Kay Purcell, Linda Polan, Nicola Gardner, Siobhan Finneran, Susan Twist, Thomas Sangster (Narrator)

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Doris Lessing: A BBC Radio Collection: Dramatisations and readings including The Golden Notebook, Th

"Dramatisations and readings of novels and short stories by Nobel laureate Doris Lessing – plus a bonus documentary, Open Book, examining her life and career One of the most celebrated and important authors of the 20th Century, Doris Lessing was awarded a Nobel Prize for the ‘visionary power’ of her fiction, which spans a variety of genres and explores themes such as racism, feminism and social and political upheaval. This collection includes the radio productions of three of her acclaimed novels and four short stories, as well as a fascinating discussion of her life and work. The Good Terrorist – Olivia Vinall stars in this adaptation of Doris Lessing’s satire of incompetent revolutionaries in a London squat. Lucy Grange – Exiled from the sophistication of her homeland, stylish Lucy seeks solace and comfort, and learns 'to accept the second-rate'. Read by Estelle Kohler. The Grass is Singing – In this powerful exploration of racial politics in 1940s Rhodesia, adapted from Doris Lessing’s first novel, a white woman’s troubled relationship with her black houseboy comes to a violent end. Starring Alison Pettit and Tracy-Ann Oberman. Flight – A laughing, teasing granddaughter and a dovecote full of strutting birds are an old man's only escape from his cold family home. Read by Jack Klaff. The Golden Notebook – Susannah Harker stars in this dramatisation of Doris Lessing’s ground-breaking novel about marriage, motherhood, mental breakdown and communism. The Death of a Chair – A lived-in chair is bought at auction, where it begins its final journey towards discovery and destruction. Read by Barbara Marten. Open Book: Doris Lessing Mariella Frostrup talks to Doris Lessing about her long and extraordinarily varied writing career."

Doris Lessing (Author), Alison Pettitt, Barbara Marten, Estelle Kohler, Full Cast, Jack Klaff, Olivia Vinall, Susannah Harker, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

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43 Letters: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

"A BBC Radio 4 drama written by Rony Robinson and directed by Pauline Harris. Julia and David work together in the family archives. One day a mysterious envelope arrives for David, with letters from 43 women, all answering a lonely hearts advert he didn't place! Starring David Calder as David, Barbara Marten as Julia, Helen Flanagan as Miranda and Sacha Dhawan as Ruskin. First broadcast on 4 January 2011."

Rory Robinson (Author), Barbara Marten, David Calder (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Barbara Marten