Audiobooks narrated by Ben Crowe

Robert Browning: The Ring and the Book, The Pied Piper of Hamelin & more: BBC Radio dramatic reimagi

"BBC Radio dramatisations and readings of Browning’s most famous poems, performed by stars including Anton Lesser, Roger Allam and David Tennant, plus two bonus plays Victorian poet Robert Browning was renowned for his evocative dramatic monologues peopled with vivid, morally ambiguous characters. In 1846, he eloped with fellow poet Elizabeth Barrett, and they rapidly became Britain’s most famous literary power couple. This collection brings together four of Browning’s poetic masterpieces, juxtaposed with a play inspired by his work and a drama about Robert and Elizabeth’s romance. The Ring and the Book – In the aftermath of a triple stabbing, Rome is rife with speculation. Accused of murdering his young wife and her parents, Count Guido Franceschini is put on trial, and finds himself desperately fighting for his life. Anton Lesser, Roger Allam and Andrew Sachs star in this thrilling tale of of sex, lies, murder and justice. The Pied Piper of Hamlin – When a town fails to pay the rat-catcher who has lured all the rats away with his magic pipe, the piper takes a terrible revenge. Playing his music once more, he leads all the children from the town. Only one boy remains behind… David Tennant stars as the Narrator, with Bertie Gilbert as the boy. My Last Duchess – Based on Browning’s chilling poem about an aristocrat whose wife died young in suspicious circumstances, this intriguing dramatisation attempts to solve the mystery of what happened to the duchess, and who did the deed. Starring Roger Allam, Emily Mortimer and Tim McInnerny. Andrea del Sarto – Richard Pasco reads Robert Browning's monologue about the 16th-century Florentine artist known as ‘the faultless painter’, whose marriage was the source of deep unhappiness. The Contemplative Life – Brother James's loathing of oafish Brother Lawrence has led him to petty acts of destruction. As a punishment, he is forced to share a cell with him… Alan Rickman and Michael Aldridge star in this comedy inspired by Browning’s poem ‘Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister’. The Barretts of Wimpole Street – Starring Dorothy Tutin and Jeremy Brett, this radio version of Rudolf Besier’s celebrated stage play explores the secret courtship of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, which took place at No 50 Wimpole Street, her father’s forbidding household. First published 1842 (‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin’, ‘My Last Duchess’), 1855 (‘Andrea del Sarto’), 1868 (‘The Ring and the Book’) Cast and credits Written by Robert Browning The Ring and the Book Cast: Anton Lesser, Roger Allam, Lou Brealey, Dominic Rowan, Andrew Sachs, Frances Jeater, Dan Starkey, Stephen Critchlow, Ben Crowe, Chris Pavlo, Joan Walker, John Rowe, Michael Maloney, Stephen Moore The Pied Piper of Hamelin Cast: David Tennant, Bertie Gilbert With music and songs written and performed by John Harle, lyrics by Joyce Harle, sung by Thomas Platts, head chorister at Canterbury Cathedral with the choir of Wingham School, Kent My Last Duchess Cast: Roger Allam, Emily Mortimer, Tim McInnerny, Robert Hands, John Hartley, Jacob Heringman Andrea del Sarto Read by Richard Pasco The Contemplative Life Cast: Alan Rickman, Michael Aldridge, David Garth, Brian Smith, Colin Starkey, David Sinclair, Trevor Nichols, John Webb The Barretts of Wimpole Street Cast: Dorothy Tutin, Jeremy Brett, Paul Rogers, William Eedle, John Rowe, John Samson, Robin Browne, David Valla, Christopher Good, Kate Binchy, Jane Knowles, Kenneth Fortescue, Helen Worth, Michael Kilgarriff, Rolf Lefebvre, John Ruddock, Sheila Grant © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Robert Browning (Author), Alan Rickman, Andrew Sachs, Anton Lesser, Ben Crowe, Chris Pavlo, Dan Starkey, David Tennant, Emily Mortimer, Frances Jeater, Full Cast, Joan Walker, Louise Brealey, Roger Allam, Stephen Critchlow, Tim McInnerny (Narrator)

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Queens of Noise: A Full-Cast BBC Radio Drama

"Is the world ready for The Velveteens? An all-girl punk band try to make it to the top Get your crimper out, your mohawk ready and your best punk pout on - the Queens of Noise have arrived! Set in 1980s London, this modern music drama charts the rise of a girl punk band. Packed with classic hits as well as the girls very own songs, this is a drama with punk power for any music lover. Writers and music industry veterans Louise Wener (ex-singer of Sleeper) and Roy Boulter (drummer with The Farm) bring their wealth of experience to this story of a young band chasing their dream and getting their big break. In Shout to the Top it’s 1988, we meet the girls fizzing with energy and potential, starting out in London. We discover how they went from ‘young women with a dream’ to the formation of The Velveteens, to first gig; from first demo to (hopefully) first record deal. In series one, Get It On the story follows the three ambitious young women, Sylvie, Beth and Rain, and their unique band, The Velveteens, take on the world. Armed with loud guitars, attitude to burn, and a makeshift manager, the band is on the verge of signing to a major record company. However, they still only have pennies in their pockets. Can they make it in the days before the digital revolution changed the business forever? In the second series, Rip It Up, the music drama continues as the girls conquer America. The three bold band members embark on a roller-coaster ride on the road to who-knows-where, and calling the shots is their new manager, Sam Shephurst. Can he take them to champagne heights or are they on the road to Top of the Flops…? Actor, singer and comedian Shane Richie (EastEnders) stars as the band's temporary manager, Vince. This brilliant drama was commissioned by BBC Radio 2’s Head of Music and is packed with industry insight from the experts. Music production for this listening treat was taken care of by producers Brian Rawling (Bowie, Kylie, Cher, Craig David, One Direction and more) and Marky Bates (Faithless, Dido). Credits Written by Roy Boulter and Louise Wener Directed by Toby Swift Pilot Episode - Shout To The Top Vince - Shane Richie Beth - Fiona Macrae Sylvie - Samantha Robinson Rain - Hannah Arterton Maggie - Liza Sadovy Russ - Ben Crowe David - Adam Nagaitis Journalist - Joe Sims Series 1 - Queens of Noise: Get It On Beth - Anneika Rose Sylvie - Samantha Robinson Rain - Hannah Arterton Maggie - Liza Sadovy Vince - Ben Crowe David - Adam Nagaitis Journalist - Joe Sims Christy - Clare Corbett Alec - Damian Lynch Richard - Matthew Watson Joyce/Stylist - Jane Slavin Lucas/Shop Assistant - Mark Edel-Hunt Sam - Joe Absolom Mike - Michael Bertenshaw Series 2 - Queens of Noise: Rip It Up Beth - Anneika Rose Sylvie - Samantha Robinson Rain - Hannah Arterton Sam - Joe Absolom Joyce - Janes Slavin Journalist/Mavis - Elaine Claxton TJ - Clive Hayward Christy - Clare Corbett US cop - Damian Lynch Mono - Harry Myers Richard/Digby - Matthew Watson ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Louise Wener, Roy Boulter (Author), Adam Nagaitis, Anneika Rose, Ben Crowe, Clare Corbett, Damian Lynch, Fiona Macrae, Full Cast, Hannah Arterton, Joe Absolom, Joe Sims, Liza Sadovy, Matthew Watson, Shane Richie (Narrator)

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Joe Orton: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Three Full-Cast Productions & Joe Orton’s Diaries

"Selected plays by the great playwright Joe Orton, plus bonus material Joe Orton was among the towering geniuses of 1960s theatre. His life was tragically cut short in 1967, but he left behind him a handful of shocking and scabrous black comedies that will live on in the public imagination for years to come. Orton’s career was kickstarted by the BBC. John Tydeman who is widely considered to have found him when working at the BBC as an trainee. He came across an early version of The Ruffian on the Stair called The Boy Hairdresser and persuaded his seniors to let him meet him and discuss the play, there began a friendship that shaped Orton’s life. Tydeman recommended a top literary agent and the rest is history. Featured here are two of his lesser-known works, The Erpingham Camp and The Ruffian on the Stair, collected together as a double bill. The former, loosely based on Euripides’ tragedy The Bacchae, is an anarchic, subversive farce set in a holiday camp, where a group of campers decide to revolt against the dictatorial owner. It stars an ensemble cast, including Robert Daws and Jonjo O’Neill. In the latter, Orton’s breakthrough hit, an ex-boxer (Gerard Horan) and an ex-prostitute (Sophie Thompson) have their lives disrupted by a stranger (Jack Rowan). Recorded live at the BBC’s radio theatre in 2017 to mark the 50th anniversary of Orton's death, the plays are accompanied by an interview with Orton's friend, Kenneth Cranham, who discusses the Joe Orton he knew. Also featured are the darkly comic Funeral Games, starring Phil Daniels, Martin Jarvis, Tony Rohr and Liza Sadovy, which takes a sideswipe at religious hypocrisy and is considered the linking work between his two key plays, Loot and What the Butler Saw. Plus, John Sessions reads extracts from Joe Orton’s posthumously published journals in The Orton Diaries; Ned Sherrin hears from Kenneth Williams about his experiences directing Loot in Kenneth Williams on Joe Orton, and Samira Akhmed talks to guests including Orton’s sister Leonie and Sheila Hancock about the playwright’s life and legacy in Front Row: Joe Orton. Production credits Text copyright © Joe Orton 1964 (The Ruffian on the Stair), 1966 (The Erpingham Camp), 1968 (Funeral Games), 1986 (The Orton Diaries) All rights reserved The Erpingham Camp Erpingham – Robert Daws Riley – Jonjo O'Neill Lou – Kerry Gooderson Ted – Samuel James Kenny – Charlie Clements Eileen – Sarah Ridgeway W.E. Harrison – Tom Forrister Jessie Mason – Sanchia McCormack Padre – Simon Ludders Accordion Player – Colin Guthrie The Ruffian on the Stair Mike – Gerard Horan Joyce – Sophie Thompson Wilson – Jack Rowan Produced by Mary Peate Kenneth Cranham interview by Matthew Sweet First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 2 July 2017 Funeral Games Caulfield – Phil Daniels Pringle – Martin Jarvis McCorquodale – Tony Rohr Tessa – Liza Sadovy Policeman – Ben Crowe Produced and directed by Peter Kavanagh First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11 July 2008 Joe Orton: The Orton Diaries Diary selections read by John Sessions Produced by Ned Chaillet First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 March 1994 Kenneth Williams on Joe Orton With Kenneth Williams and Ned Sherrin Produced by Ian Gardhouse First broadcast BBC Radio 4, September 1980 Front Row: Joe Orton Presented by Samira Ahmed Produced by Ekene Akalawu With Leonie Orton, Emma Parker, Sally Norman, Jenna Forbes, John Lahr, Sheila Hancock, Nikolai Foster First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11 August 2017 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Joe Orton (Author), Ben Crowe, Clive Francis, Full Cast, Gerard Horan, Jack Rowan, Kenneth Cranham, Kenneth Williams, Liza Sadovy, Martin Jarvis, Phil Daniels, Robert Daws, Sophie Thompson (Narrator)

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Aldrich Kemp: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Three BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Crime Thrillers

"A super spy, a mysterious death and a world of yachts, private planes and underground bases - but only one question – who really is Aldrich Kemp? Enjoy this fast-paced, action-packed series, available for the first time as a complete download. Featuring a stellar cast including Phoebe Fox, Tim McInnery and Nicola Walker. The washed-up body of a man presumed dead seven years earlier marks the beginning of Clara Page's mission to find the elusive Aldrich Kemp… Who is Aldrich Kemp? Series one plunges intelligence analyst Clara Page into the glamorous and sometimes improbable world of the mysterious Aldrich Kemp. Encountering Euro-villains and murderous housekeepers she learns some surprising family history along the way. When events take a shocking turn can she reply on the man she is hunting to save her…? Who Killed Aldrich Kemp? Our heroine Clara Page returns, and this time the question is deadly serious - Who Killed Aldrich Kemp? Series two is another rollercoaster ride, from the Italian Riviera to the unexplored Malaysian jungle - via afternoon tea at Themis House and a medieval village. There are new faces and new challenges in store. Cup of tea anyone? Where is Aldrich Kemp? The gang is back in series three! When details of an incredibly rare flower are stolen during a break-in at the Linnean Society, there are fears the thieves turn it into the most deadly biological weapon the world has ever seen. Clara sets out for the Himalayas, where she run into murder, mayhem, the ancient secret society that rules the world, and several familiar faces who are already on the trail of the Nepalese Flower for their own idiosyncratic reasons... This pacy and globe-trotting drama takes you from the depths of The Black Windmill in Holland to the exclusive clubs of Mayfair to the techno clubs of Berlin and half way up the Himalayas. With witty dialogue and standout sound production Aldrich Kemp is a listening treat, not to be missed. 'What's so enjoyable about this series…is the way it uses audio. Oh, and the OTT action. There's a hilarious section in episode two where you follow what's going on through the sound of explosions and motorbike revving and automatic gunfire and the pouf of a silenced bullet and 'Oh crap!'. It made me laugh out loud. It's joyous….Aldrich Kemp is an excellent audio version and this daft series is just the tonic for rainy weekends or the horribleness of news.' Observer Cast and credits Written and directed by Julian Simpson Produced by Sarah Tombling Executive Producer Karen Rose Music composer Tim Elsenburg Sound Designer David Thomas Series 1 Clara Page - Phoebe Fox Mister Bartholomew - Tim McInnerny Aldrich Kemp – Ferdinand Kingsley Mrs Boone – Nicola Walker Sebastian Harcourt – Kyle Soller Nakesha Kemp – Karla Crome Aunt Lily – Susan Jameson Secretary - Louise Brealey Howlett - Ben Crowe Tom - James Joyce Cyclist/Nurse - Louise Brealey The Underwood Sisters – Jana Carpenter Conrad Spijker - Steven Mackintosh Series 2 Clara Page - Phoebe Fox Aldrich Kemp – Ferdinand Kingsley Mrs Boone – Nicola Walker Sebastian Harcourt – Kyle Soller Nakesha Kemp – Karla Crome Aunt Lily – Susan Jameson The Underwood Sisters/Forsaken McTeague – Jana Carpenter Sabine Seah – Rebecca Boey Remington Schofield – Barnaby Kay Miss Lotte Amutenya – Cherrelle Skeete Mrs Bartholomew – Kate Isitt Blue 2/Novak - Ben Crowe Winslow/Blue 1/Camera Assistant/Film Director/Co-Pilot - James Joyce Series 3 Clara Page - Phoebe Fox Aldrich Kemp – Ferdinand Kingsley Mrs Boone – Nicola Walker Sebastian Harcourt – Kyle Soller Nakesha Kemp – Karla Crome Aunt Lily – Susan Jameson ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Julian Simpson (Author), Ben Crowe, Ferdinand Kingsley, Full Cast, Kyle Soller, Nicola Walker, Phoebe Fox, Tim McInnerny (Narrator)

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Cold Blood & other stories: Four Full-Cast BBC Radio Sci-Fi Thrillers

"Four gripping sci-fi adventures from acclaimed scriptwriter Simon Bovey Simon Bovey is an established writer and director who has penned numerous compelling dramas for BBC Radio. Collected here are four of his sensational sci-fi tales, packed with mystery, suspense and terror... Cold Blood – Recorded in 2005 but set in 2015, this chilling serial follows a group of scientists conducting research in Antarctica. Once the most pristine environment in the world, this icy wilderness has become gold rush country. Biotechnology companies have raced to unravel the secrets of life in a cold climate, drawn by the lure of lightning in a bottle. Now someone’s captured it – and a killer is on the loose… Starring Tom Mannion, Tim McMullan, Ndidi Del Fatti, Helen Longworth and Stuart McLoughlin. The Voice of God – Investigating a series of mysterious Australian earthquakes, seismologist Sam Rideout and her outback guide, Joshua, make a sinister discovery when they track the tremors to their epicentre inside an old British nuclear test site. Joshua is Aboriginal, and Maralinga is a sacred place to his people. But it also happens to be a top-secret facility, researching a sonic super-weapon that could lead to global catastrophe… Clare Corbett, Matthew Dyktinski, Geoffrey Beevers and David Thorpe star in this tense apocalyptic thriller serial. Slipstream – It’s 1945, and the Allies are on course to win the war. But then an unidentified Nazi aircraft appears: silver, disc-shaped and capable of astonishing speed. When it shoots down 150 RAF bombers, Major Barton and his British Commando unit are sent on a dangerous mission to investigate… Rory Kinnear, Tim McMullan, Ben Crowe, Joannah Tincey and Rachel Atkins star in this action-packed serial set during World War II. Hive Mind – Written in 2010, this dystopian eco-drama is set in 2019, in a world where honeybees are officially extinct. Their role now falls to an army of seasonal migrant workers, hired by farmers like Sam Clark to pollinate crops by hand. It’s a costly, labour-intensive process, so when a new technological solution is developed in the form of tiny artificial ‘bees’, Sam jumps at the chance to try it. But the arrival of the Honeybots proves anything but ideal… Starring Tony Bell and Ania Sowinski, with Michael Shelford, Alison Pettitt, David Seddon and Lloyd Thomas. Written by Simon Bovey Directed by Marc Beeby © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Simon Bovey (Author), Ania Sowinski, Ben Crowe, Clare Corbett, Full Cast, Helen Longworth, Matthew Dyktinski, Ndidi Del Fatti, Rory Kinnear, Tim Mcmullan, Tom Mannion, Tony Bell (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Call: A nail-biting, unputdownable thriller

"'Holy hell, this book was intense…it kept me on edge the whole time. I absolutely LOVED this book.' Reader Review 'Ben, I need you. Help me.' 'PLEASE HELP ME!' 'It was an accident…but there's so much blood…' In a frantic late-night phone call, Ben learns his wife, Mia, has killed a man. And she needs his help. When Ben arrives at Mia's hotel room, the scene is horrific – but over the course of the night it will get much worse. All their secrets will be uncovered, and they will discover how far they'll go to protect themselves and each other… will they kill for love? Or will they die for it? One phone call. Twelve hours to save their marriage. And their lives. Told in real-time half-hour chapters, this is a read-in-one-sitting thriller that fans of T.M. Logan and Harlan Coben will devour. Sit down and strap yourself in for the rollercoaster read of 2022. Readers are hooked on answering The Call: 'It grabs you on the first page and the tension doesn't let up.Atmospheric, twisted and utterly compelling– I couldn't put it down.' Debbie Howells, author of The Secret 'Incredibly fast-paced and well plotted, a cracking read.' Araminta Hall, author of Perfect Strangers 'An excellent book – I flew through it...A dark, chilling, twisted delight that had me hooked from the start' Susi Holliday, author of Substitute and The Last Resort 'I loved it! A very fast-paced, action-packed story with lots of craziness and suspense to keep you reading straight to the very end!' ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review 'Go with the flow and enjoy the rollercoaster ride…A gripping thriller that surprises, at times, by being laugh-out-loud funny.' ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review 'Don't start it unless you have a spare few hours…you won't want to put it down.' Reader Review 'So gripping that I couldn't have put it down even if I had wanted to…full of suspense and mystery, I loved it.' Reader Review 'This one is certainly worth a read. A fun ride through a very dark night. Recommended.' Reader Review 'A fun, high-energy read…this thriller offers you a rollercoaster of a ride.' Reader Review 'Wow… It's intense, gory and gripping, and I really enjoyed it!' Reader Review 'I really enjoyed this book, it grabbed me from the very first page.' ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review 'From the very first page this book draws you in. The suspense starts straight away… it kept me hooked throughout' Reader Review 'A twisty and scary read that I couldn't put down!' ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review 'A psych thriller, domestic suspense mash-up that is filled to the brim with lies and secrets' Reader Review 'I read The Call in one sitting. It was fast-paced and twisty and kept me intrigued right to the end.' Reader Review"

P.D. Viner (Author), Ben Crowe, Sara Bowes (Narrator)

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Falco: The Complete BBC Radio collection: Five full-cast dramatisations

"Full-cast BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of the first five Falco novels by Lindsey Davis, starring Anton Lesser as Marcus Didius Falco. The Silver Pigs: One fine day, A.D. 70, Sosia Camillina quite literally runs into Marcus Didius Falco on the steps of the Forum. It seems Sosia is on the run from a couple of street toughs, and after a quick and dirty rescue, P.I. Falco wants to know why. Hoping for future favors from Sosia's powerful uncle, Falco embarks on an intricate case of smuggling, murder, and treason that reaches into the palace itself. Shadows in Bronze: Rome, AD 71. Against his better judgement, Marcus Didius Falco secretly disposes of a decayed corpse for the Emperor Vespasian, then heads for the beautiful Bay of Naples with his friend Petronius. But this will be no holiday: they have been sent to investigate the murderous members of a failed coup, now sunning themselves in luxurious villas and on fancy yachts in Neapolis, Capreae, and Pompeii. Venus in Copper: A small accounting error has left Marcus Didius Falco sharing a cell with a large rat. But the Roman Empire's most hard-done-by investigator is finally bailed out, and promptly accepts a commission to help a family of freed slaves fend off a professional bribe.... The Iron Hand of Mars: Falco is dispatched to one of the most hostile parts of the Empire to deliver a new standard, an iron hand, to one of the legions. Germania is cold, wet, dismal, and full of dark forests inhabited by bloodthirsty barbarians, but Falco has an even bigger problem to worry about: he has forgotten Helena Justina's birthday, and she is being pursued by the Emperor's son Titus Caesar. Poseidon’s Gold: Returning to Rome after his mission to Germania, Falco finds that his mother is being harassed by a centurion named Censorinus, who says he is chasing a debt owed to him by Falco's late brother Festus. When Falco refuses to cough up the money, he and Censorinus end up fighting... and later, the centurion turns up dead. Under suspicion of murder, Falco must confront his past and uncover his brother's secrets before he can clear his name and solve the mystery. These funny and fast-moving adaptations are a treat for all Falco fans. Cast: Falco… Anton Lesser Helena… Fritha Goodey/Anna Madeley Petronius…Ben Crowe Ma…Frances Jeater Pa…Trevor Peacock Vespasian …Michael Tudor Barnes Titus …Jonathan Keeble Dramatised by Mary Cutler Directed by Peter Leslie Wild Sound quality varies due to the age of these recordings."

Lindsey Davis (Author), Anna Madeley, Anton Lesser, Ben Crowe, Frances Jeater, Fritha Goodey, Full Cast, Jonathan Keeble, Michael Tudor Barnes, Trevor Peacock (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Ben Crowe