Audiobooks narrated by Brian Blessed

Sounds Natural: A BBC Radio 4 nature series

"Derek Jones meets celebrities with a love of wildlife in these 38 episodes from the classic nature-themed interview show Between 1970 and 1980, broadcaster Derek Jones invited a host of famous names to chat about their enthusiasm for nature and their encounters with animals. Delving into the BBC Sound Archive to select some of their favourite natural history recordings, they reveal their hitherto unknown passions – from birds and butterflies to the countryside and conservation. In these specially selected shows, Brian Blessed talks about his fascination with dinosaurs, keeping big cats and overcoming his fear of mountaineering, Bing Crosby tells us about wildfowling, ‘Mister Meadowlark’, naming racehorses and landing salmon; distinguished actress Dame Flora Robson speaks of her years in Hollywood, and her worries that the Los Angeles smog is killing the local flora and fauna; and Goon Show stars Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan let us in on their love for travel and wildlife photography (Harry) and ridiculous animal noises and names (Spike). Many of Jones’ guests share an interest in twitching, including Eric Morecambe, who relates how his curiosity about birds began when he went fishing with his father in Morecambe Bay, and Bobby Charlton, who developed his bird-spotting hobby while becoming a Manchester United legend. Humphrey Lyteltton reminisces about observing birds on holidays in North Wales, on tour with the band and in his back garden, and Peter Cushing recalls rescuing red shanks and watching oystercatchers and whimbrels on the Kent estuary with his late wife Helen. And, thirty years before Springwatch was a twinkle in Auntie’s eye, Bill Oddie confesses that when he wasn’t busy being a Goodie, he was busy birdwatching. Whether they’re mad about ornithology or hooked on angling, every one of the celebrities featured has a wealth of compelling personal stories to share, and fascinating insights to impart. Part natural history show, part nostalgic memoir, this wonderfully entertaining series is sure to inspire and delight. Cast and credits Presented by Derek Jones Produced by John Burton and Michael Bowen Guests in episode order: Robert Dougall, Cyril Fletcher, Nigel Stock, Kenneth Allsop, Humphrey Lyttelton, Percy Edwards, Peter Cushing, Barbara Mullen, Virginia McKenna & Bill Travers, Spike Milligan, Bernard Cribbins, Marghanita Laski, Adam Faith, Roger Whittaker, Flora Robson, Derek Nimmo, James Robertson Justice, Bobby Charlton, Bill Oddie, Susan Hampshire, Brian Blessed, Derek Waring, Sir Martin Furnival-Jones, Eddie Braben, Eric Morecambe, Henry Longhurst, Harry Secombe, Lord Home of The Hirsel, Bing Crosby, Eva Rueber-Staier, Esmond Knight, Andrew Sachs, Frank Thornton, Dulcie Gray, Norman Thelwell, HRH Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands, The Marquess of Bath, Windsor Davies First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 3 May 1971 to 10 December 1980. © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Derek Jones (Author), Andrew Sachs, Bill Oddie, Bing Crosby, Bobby Charlton, Brian Blessed, Derek Jones, Spike Milligan, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sherlock Holmes: The Complete BBC Collection: 60 Full-Cast Dramatisations

"Fully-dramatised adaptations of all 60 Sherlock Holmes stories, brought to life with a full cast of actors, sound effects and music 'A remarkable undertaking... applauding them, and particularly Clive Merrison's Holmes, made my hands sore' The Times Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his dear friend Dr Watson are among the most enduringly popular fictional characters ever created. Their adventures have been dramatised countless times on radio, TV and film, but until BBC Radio 4 took on the challenge in 1989, no-one had ever attempted to adapt all sixty stories. Beginning with A Study in Scarlet and concluding with The Hound of the Baskervilles, their epic project took over 8 years to complete - and this landmark collection contains the extraordinary result of their labours. Here is the world's first ever fully-dramatised Sherlock Holmes canon: 56 short stories and 4 novels, all made by the same team of directors, producers, dramatists and leading actors, and packed with the high production qualities of a film or TV drama that set it apart. Starring one of radio's great double acts, Clive Merrison and Michael Williams, as Holmes and Watson, and with guest stars including Brian Blessed, Judi Dench, Maurice Denham, Andrew Sachs, Peter Davison, Robert Glenister and Harriet Walter, this definitive collection contains over 48 hours of enthralling listening. Also included is a bonus interview with Adrian Conan Doyle about his father, Sir Arthur, and some fascinating behind-the-scenes revelations from the series' head writer, Bert Coules, about the making of the radio adaptations. Cast Sherlock Holmes - Clive Merrison Dr John Watson - Michael Williams Mrs Hudson - Anna Cropper/Mary Allen/Joan Matheson/Judi Dench/ Inspector Gregson - John Moffatt Inspector Lestrade - Donald Gee/Stephen Thorne Mary Morstan/Mary Watson - Moir Leslie/Elizabeth Mansfield/Hannah Gordon Irene Adler - Sarah Badel Inspector Jones - Nigel Carrington Colonel Moran - Fraser Kerr/Frederick Treves Mycroft Holmes - John Hartley Professor Moriarty - Michael Pennington Production credits Written by Arthur Conan Doyle Dramatised by Bert Coules with David Ashton, Michael Bakewell, Roger Danes, Robert Forrest, Denys Hawthorne, Gerry Jones, Peter Ling, Vincent McInerney and Peter Mackie Produced and directed by Ian Cotterell, David Johnston, Patrick Rayner and Enyd Williams Musicians: Alexander Balanescu, Leonard Friedman, Richard Friedman, Michael Haslam, Ian Humphries and Abigail Young Contents A Study in Scarlet The Sign of the Four The Hound of the Baskervilles The Valley of Fear The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes A Scandal in Bohemia The Red-Headed League A Case of Identity The Boscombe Valley Mystery The Five Orange Pips The Man with the Twisted Lip The Blue Carbuncle The Speckled Band The Engineer's Thumb The Noble Bachelor The Beryl Coronet The Copper Beeches The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Silver Blaze The Yellow Face The Stockbroker's Clerk The Gloria Scott The Musgrave Ritual The Reigate Squires The Crooked Man The Resident Patient The Greek Interpreter The Naval Treaty The Final Problem The Return of Sherlock Holmes The Empty House The Norwood Builder The Dancing Men The Solitary Cyclist The Priory School Black Peter Charles Augustus Milverton The Six Napoleons The Three Students The Golden Pince-Nez The Missing Three-Quarter The Abbey Grange The Second Stain His Last Bow Wisteria Lodge The Cardboard Box The Red Circle The Bruce-Partington Plans The Dying Detective The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax The Devil's Foot His Last Bow The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes The Illustrious Client The Blanched Soldier The Mazarin Stone The Three Gables The Sussex Vampire The Three Garridebs The Problem of Thor Bridge The Creeping Man The Lion's Mane The Veiled Lodger Shoscombe Old Place The Retired Colourman First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between November 1989 and March 1995 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Bert Coules, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Author), Andrew Sachs, Brian Blessed, Clive Merrison, Full Cast, Harriet Walters, Judi Dench, Michael Williams, Robert Glenister (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Opus Pocus: 1001 Arabian Nights: or The Princess, the Pirate and the Baboon!

"Starring Brian Blessed and Rory Bremner, 1001 Arabian Nights is the first tale from The Opus Pocus: a series of symphonies transformed into funny, action-packed, multimedia stories helping children to discover the magic of classical music! Aimed at ages 7-11, this first release from The Opus Pocus is a musical audiobook set to Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s dazzling composition, Scheherazade. It’s a Hairy Tale of a Princess, a Sultan, a Genie and a Shipwreck & an Unlucky Pirate who keeps on being turned into a Baboon! As featured in The Times, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Wales, The Opus Pocus is also the Winner of the National Intuit StartUp Britain Competition! “Will warm the heart of any parent or teacher!” ~ Soundfreakz “It’s hard not to admire the ingenuity!” ~ The Arts Desk “My favourite bit was when he turned into a baboon!” ~ Elliot, aged 9 Alongside Brian Blessed and Rory Bremner, this audiobook features Jess Murphy as Princess Scheherazade, Sam Morris as The Evil Genie and Nigel Garton as Various Pirates, Wizards and King's Guards, with Grandma Dingley appearing as herself. Underscored by The Opus Pocus Orchestra, who were conducted by Greg Arrowsmith, with the violin solo by Sarah Sexton and the audio mastered by Andrew Smillie. Cover art illustration is by Faye Simms with design by Mandy Norman. Written, directed and produced by Matt Parry, who also handled the Baboon."

Matt Parry (Author), Brian Blessed, Jess Murphy, Nigel Garton, Rory Bremner, Sam Morris (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tales from the Perilous Realm: Four BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations

"Four BBC radio dramatisations starring Michael Hordern as Tolkien – plus a special archive compilation exploring Tolkien’s life and work The tales in this collection all reflect an aspect of what Tolkien himself called ‘the perilous realm of Faerie’. Adapted for radio by Brian Sibley, co-writer of the acclaimed BBC radio production of The Lord of the Rings, they are rich in myth, magic and adventure. Among the supporting cast are Brian Blessed, Nigel Planer, Sorcha Cusack, Paul Copley and James Grout. In Farmer Giles of Ham, having accidentally shot a giant, Farmer Giles’ brave reputation is tested by Chrysophylax the dragon. In Smith of Wootton Major, a young boy eats a piece of cake containing a silver star, and is granted access to the magical land of Fäerie. Leaf by Niggle is a thought-provoking allegory of the creative process, and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil features Tom and the Hobbits in scenes from The Lord of the Rings which were not included in the BBC Radio 4 dramatisation. Also included is J R R Tolkien: An Audio Portrait, in which Brian Sibley draws together interviews from radio and television programmes featuring the author himself, his original publisher Rayner Unwin, his biographer Humphrey Carpenter and many others torelate the story of both Tolkien the man and the worlds he created. Duration: 5 hours 50 mins"

Brian Sibley, J.R.R. Tolkien (Author), Alfred Molina, Brian Blessed, Brian Sibley, Full Cast, James Grout, Michael Hordern, Nigel Planer (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Panther In My Kitchen: My Wild Life With Animals

"Brian Blessed has a lifelong love of animals and over the years has rescued cats and dogs, horses and ponies, and even a very ungrateful fighting cock. All were characters in their own right, such as Jessie, a dog left languishing for a year at the local RSPCA, who ruled the entire household with a rod of iron, when she wasn’t out harassing the local vicar. Then there was Bodger, an abused terrier cross breed, who was nursed back to health by Brian and his wife, and Peppone, a stray cat and notorious thief, who was responsible for a crime epidemic in the Bagshot area. Most of all there was Misty, a soul mate and the first Jack Russell Brian met who didn’t take an instant dislike to him. Over the years Brian has encountered more exotic animals too, from Kali the black panther who had free run of his kitchen and the gentle boa constrictor Bo Bo who went for walks with him in Richmond Park to the female gorillas who found him incredibly attractive. Written with all of Brian’s ebullience, The Panther in My Kitchen is a laugh-out-loud, life-affirming book about the joy animals bring and why we should care for them."

Brian Blessed (Author), Brian Blessed, Hildegard Neil (Narrator)

Audiobook

Absolute Pandemonium: My Louder Than Life Story

"There is no one quite like Brian Blessed. He's an actor, film star, trained undertaker, unlikely diplomat, secret romantic, martial artist and mountaineer. He's also a brilliant storyteller who will - and you must brace yourself - simply leap out of the pages at you. Ready? Then open Absolute Pandemonium and you'll be taken on a riotous journey from his childhood, growing up the son of a miner in Goldthorpe, to finding fame in Z-Cars. You'll see Brian falling for Katharine Hepburn on the set of The Trojan Women, suffering wires strapped round his wotsits as he was hoisted into the heavens on Flash Gordon, almost causing an international incident when meeting the Emperor and Empress of Japan, and winning round George Lucas to get the role of Boss Nass on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Along the way he takes secret revenge on headmistress Mrs Jarman and her very big bottom, punches Harold Pinter, loves and hates Peter O'Toole, woos his beautiful wife Hildegard Neil and braves the shocking death toll on cosy TV drama My Family and Other Animals. Crammed with anecdotes from his illustrious career, this is a funny, warm-hearted, life-affirming, LOUD and unique memoir from a much-loved figure."

Brian Blessed (Author), Brian Blessed (Narrator)

Audiobook

George And The Dragon

"Children can enjoy their favourite story time and time again with this audio download. Far, far away in the high, high mountains in a deep, deep valley in a dark, dark cave - there lived a mighty dragon. He was an awesome and frightening creature, terrorising whole armies, destroying castles, demolishing forests and kidnapping princesses. But this mighty dragon had a deep, dark secret . . ."

Christopher Wormell (Author), Brian Blessed (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Brian Blessed

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