Audiobooks narrated by Clive Mantle

The Ultimate Iliad & Odyssey: Two Full-Cast Dramatisations: Rediscover the Epic Greek Myths Ahead of the Major Film

"The ultimate, full-cast dramatisations of Homer’s two epic Greek masterpieces, with exceptional casts including Derek Jacobi, Christopher Eccleston, Tim McInnerny and Benedict Cumberbatch REDISCOVER THE EPIC MYTHS BEFORE YOU SEE CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S MAJOR MOTION PICTURE Attributed to the Greek poet Homer, The Iliad and The Odyssey are among the greatest and most influential works of the past 3000 years, often claimed as the cornerstones of Western literature. These unmissable BBC dramas breathe new life into the classic stories, adding an extra dimension with stunning casts and specially composed music. Vivid, visceral and action-packed, they will transport you to the battlefield of Troy, and take you on a fantastic journey with the wandering king of Ithaca... The Iliad – In pursuit of the beautiful Helen, stolen by the Trojan prince Paris, an Achaean battle fleet has sailed from Greece. For nine years the army of the Achaeans has lain siege to Troy, but still the great city stands – and in the ranks, failure breeds resentment and feuding. When the great warrior Achilles is humiliated by his leader, Agamemnon, he refuses to take any further part in the fight. But when the Trojan hero Hector kills his closest friend, Patroclus, he rampages back into battle to take a terrible revenge… Derek Jacobi narrates Homer's gripping tale of fury, grief, love and war, dramatised by Tom Holland and starring Christopher Eccleston, Iain Glen, Imogen Stubbs and Andrew Sachs. The Odyssey – The Trojan War is long over, but Odysseus is still struggling to get home. After a decade of fighting and a further ten years battling storms and calamities, the Gods have decided that it is time for him to return to Ithaca. But Poseidon still wants revenge… As Odysseus is freed from the coils of Calypso, who had held him prisoner for seven years, we hear the incredible tale of his seafaring adventures, and his encounters with enchantresses, nymphs, monsters, prophets and ghosts. And we learn of his faithful wife Penelope who waits for him, besieged by suitors, and their son Telemachus who has a quest of his own… This stunning production won Gold at the 2005 Spoken Word Awards and was acclaimed Best Audio Drama at the 2009 Audie Awards. Tim McInnerny stars as Odysseus, with Amanda Redman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bertie Carvel, Adjoa Andoh and Frances Barber. The Iliad Homer – Derek Jacobi Achilles – Christopher Eccleston Hector – Iain Glen Agamemnon – Bill Wallis Helen – Imogen Stubbs Chryses – Clive Mantle Athena/Andromache – Suzanna Hamilton Hero/Hecuba – Mia Soteriou Odysseus – Michael Elwyn Priam – Andrew Sachs Paris – Tom Espiner Menelaus – John MacKay Thetis – Jacqueline Tong Zeus – Michael Fenton Stevens Patroclus – Jamie Glover Apollo – Chris Donnelly Dramatised by Tom Holland Produced and directed by Viv Beeby and Jeremy Howes The Odyssey Odysseus – Tim McInnerny Penelope – Amanda Redman Telemachus – Benedict Cumberbatch Athena – Janet McTeer Zeus – John Wood Eurycleia – Mary Wimbush Hermes – Bertie Carvel King Alcinous – Geoffrey Whitehead Queen Arete – Cheryl Campbell Princess Nausicaa – Alice Hart Calypso – Adjoa Andoh The Cyclops – Barrie Rutter Antinous – Danny Webb Eurymachus – Jonathan Keeble Amphinomus – Chris Pavlo Eurylochus – Ewan Bailey Polites – John Rowe Elpenus – Stephen Hogan Eurybates – Philip Fox Antiphus/Shipmate – Jon Glover Eumaeus – Ioan Meredith Circe – Frances Barber Ghost of Anticleia – Joanna McCallum The Sirens: Elena Ferarri, Belinda Sykes, Harriet Williams Dramatised by Simon Armitage Directed by Janet Whitaker © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Homer (Author), Adjoa Andoh, Amanda Redman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bertie Carvel, Christopher Eccleston, Clive Mantle, Derek Jacobi, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Iain Glen, Imogen Stubbs, Mary Wimbush, Tim McInnerney (Narrator)

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A Crack in Everything: How Black Holes Came in from the Cold and Took Cosmic Centre Stage

"Bloomsbury presents A Crack in Everything by Marcus Chown, read by Clive Mantle. What is space? What is time? Where did the universe come from? The answers to mankind’s most enduring questions may lie in science’s greatest enigma: black holes. A black hole is a region of space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. This can occur when a star approaches the end of its life. Unable to generate enough heat to maintain its outer layers, it shrinks catastrophically down to an infinitely dense point. When this phenomenon was first proposed in 1916, it defied scientific understanding so much that Albert Einstein dismissed it as too ridiculous to be true. But scientists have since proven otherwise. In 1971, Paul Murdin and Louise Webster discovered the first black hole: Cygnus X-1. Later, in the 1990s, astronomers using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope found that not only do black holes exist, supermassive black holes lie at the heart of almost every galaxy, including our own. It would take another three decades to confirm this phenomenon. On 10 April 2019, a team of astronomers made history by producing the first image of a black hole. A Crack in Everything is the story of how black holes came in from the cold and took cosmic centre stage. As a journalist, Marcus Chown interviews many of the scientists who made the key discoveries, and, as a former physicist, he translates the most esoteric of science into everyday language. The result is a uniquely engaging page-turner that tells one of the great untold stories in modern science."

Marcus Chown (Author), Clive Mantle (Narrator)

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The Party Party: BBC Radio 4 political comedy

"Hugh Laurie, Rory Bremner and Morwenna Banks star in this six-part comedy series that sends up both politics and traditional sitcom conventions 1993, and the party of the loony right and centre sweeps to power, changing the face of politics forever and drastically disrupting the very normal, very predictable, very sitcom lives of the actor-residents of Microcosm. When the newly appointed Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Action Man, MP, moves into No. 10, his first priority is to change the curtains. But next he must appoint a Cabinet - starting with the Minister for Honesty, Sir Lord Knight - and try to uncover the mystery behind the clandestine Department of Secrets... With the country getting bored, the Government stirs up a convenient crisis; and a new event, 'No War' Anniversary Day, is added to the PM's diary (to rank alongside 'No Horse' Ascot Week and 'No Balls' Wimbledon). Meanwhile in Microcosm, the villagers are sitting around being stereotypes, experimenting with character development, taking lessons in scene-changing technique from the mysterious Mr Mann (including a lecture on fading footsteps) and finding out what radio feels like from inside a hi-fi. Will they emerge as the lead characters in a sitcom of their own? Only the Narrator knows - but when he goes AWOL, and the sound effects go missing, it spells trouble for Microcosm. It'll end in tears - not to mention resentment, revenge, malice and attempted murder... Written by Moray Hunter (Spitting Image, Absolutely), and first broadcast in 1987, this surreal, satirical, marvellously meta comedy features Hugh Laurie, Morwenna Banks, Robin Driscoll, Robert Glenister and Clive Mantle, with guest appearances by Rory Bremner. Production credits Written by Moray Hunter Produced by Jamie Rix Cast Starring Morwenna Banks, Robin Driscoll, Robert Glenister, Hugh Laurie and Clive Mantle, with Rory Bremner First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16 May-20 June 1987 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Moray Hunter (Author), Clive Mantle, Full Cast, Hugh Laurie, Morwenna Banks, Robert Glenister, Robin Driscoll, Rory Bremner (Narrator)

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Oliver and the Seawigs

"Oliver grew up in a family of explorers - but his biggest adventure is about to begin! Along with his new friends, a grumpy old albatross, a short-sighted mermaid and a friendly island called Cliff, Oliver goes off in search of his missing parents. But before he can put his rescue plan into action there's the evil Stacey de Lacey and an army of pesky sea monkeys to contend with . . . EEP!"

Multiple Authors, Philip Reeve, Sarah McIntyre (Author), Clive Mantle (Narrator)

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Sean Yates: It’s All About the Bike: My Autobiography

"Before Bradley Wiggins, there was Sean Yates. Behind Bradley Wiggins, there was Sean Yates. One of only five Britons to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, Sean Yates burst onto the cycling scene as the rawest pure talent this country has ever seen. After turning professional at the age of 22, he soon became known as a die-hard domestique, putting his body on the line for his teammates. Devastatingly fast, powerful and a fearless competitor, Yates won a stage of the Tour, as well as the Vuelta a España, in 1988, and went on to don the coveted maillot jaune six years later. Having put British cycling on the map as a rider, Yates was soon in demand as a directeur sportif, using his tactical knowledge to inspire a new generation of cyclists to success. And after Team Sky came calling, Yates was the man to design the brilliant plan that saw Sky demolish the opposition in 2012, and for Bradley Wiggins to become the first cyclist from these shores to win the Tour. Straight-talking, entertaining and revelatory, It's All About the Bike is the story of a remarkable career told from the unique perspective of a man who is immersed in the history of the sport he loves."

Sean Yates (Author), Clive Mantle (Narrator)

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Shelf Life: How I Found The Meaning of Life Stacking Supermarket Shelves

"The day I was appointed Chair of the shop union was the same day the Pope was elected. There the similarities end, however. For while his elevation took place beneath the fine art of the Sistine Chapel, with the mysterious white smoke rising, mine took place in the cold store, with nothing more mysterious than the bacon delivery and yesterday's waste... A vicar for twenty years, Simon Parke trades in his dog collar for a job on the tills in his local supermarket. Among the vegetable aisles and dairy produce he unpacks the meaning of life with his fellow workers, a colourful bunch. Sonny the security guard hates conflict; shelf-filler Winston knows he is destined for something better; and voluptuous Faith is generous with her wares - but sadly not with Simon. You don't have to be off your trolley to work there, but it helps... From checkout charlies to banana rage, from short-changed lows to cold store highs, Shelf Life is a pick-n-mix of wit and wisdom for anyone who loves life and hopes for more - no matter where they find themselves."

Simon Parke (Author), Clive Mantle (Narrator)

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The Pathfinder: A gripping and heartbreaking wartime romance that will stay with you forever…

"Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Fiona Valpy and Kristin Hannah, a powerful and moving saga set in the aftermath of World War II from bestselling author Margaret Mayhew. READERS ARE LOVING THE PATHFINDER! 'An exciting book to read. It was very gripping, emotional, happy and sad. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The characters were strong, interesting and the story kept me wanting to know what happened...' - 5 STARS 'I could not put this book down...' - 5 STARS 'Wonderful stuff...'- 5 STARS 'I loved every page...'- 5 STARS 'This is a brilliant story...I was sorry when it ended...' - 5 STARS ******************************************** A CITY DIVIDED BY WAR. TWO LOVERS ON OPPOSING SIDES. CAN THEIR LOVE SURVIVE? Berlin 1948. The defeated city lies in ruins. Divided by the Allies and set deep behind Russian lines, it is a city of want, wretchedness and sleaze. Lili Leicht is now fighting for survival under Russian rule and dependent on aid from the British - the nation that killed her mother. Yet when she meets Squadron Leader Michael Harrison - now himself having to bring food and fuel to the surviving Berliners - a people he bombed and who he connects with the murder of his sister and her children - a spark ignites... Can their love surmount the prejudices and hatred born of war?"

Margaret Mayhew (Author), Clive Mantle (Narrator)

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Fred: The Definitive Biography Of Fred Dibnah

"Fred Dibnah's World celebrates the life and work of Britain's best known steeplejack and national treasure, Fred Dibnah. Before his death in 2004, Fred presented many popular series, including Magnificent Monuments, The Age of Steam and Made in Britain, all of which attracted viewers in their millions. Fred is the companion to the 12-part BBC2 series celebrating the life of this great man, which combines highlights from some of Dibnah's classic programmes with previously unseen footage. The book can of course go much further than the series, including an extraordinarily account of Fred's childhood which evokes a lost England and our great industrial heritage. Fred's passion for the glories of the Victorian age and his fascination with the landscape he grew up in, plus his admiration for the craftsmen and labourers who made it all possible, captivate us on every page. Fred is the personification of everything that made England great in the first place. And this is a glorious tribute to a man whom millions came to love."

David Hall (Author), Clive Mantle (Narrator)

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The Edge Chronicles: Beyond the Deepwoods: The epic, multi-million copy bestselling children's fantasy series for 9+ readers

"Brought to you by Penguin. Abandoned at birth in the perilous Deepwoods, Twig Verginix is brought up by a family of woodtrolls. One cold night, Twig does what no woodtroll has ever done before - he strays from the path. So begins a heart-stopping adventure that will take Twig through a nightmare world of fearsome goblins, bloodthirsty beasts and flesh-eating trees. Can he discover the truth about his past? Beyond the Deepwoods is the first book of the Twig Saga - second trilogy in The Edge Chronicles, the internationally best-selling fantasy series, which has featured on the UK and the New York Times best-seller lists and sold more than 3 million copies. There are now 13 titles and four trilogies in the series, but each book is a stand-alone adventure, so you can read The Edge Chronicles in any order you choose. © Chris Riddell & Paul Stewart 1998 (P) Penguin Audio 2011"

Chris Riddell, Paul Stewart (Author), Clive Mantle (Narrator)

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Hugo Pepper

"A brilliantly inventive, fabulously illustrated addition to the Far-Flung Adventure series from the award-winning, bestselling author and illustrator team, Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. Set in the same world as Fergus Crane and Corby Flood's stories, this is the tale of a small boy, Hugo Pepper, and his amazing exploits. Raised in the Frozen North by reindeer herders, his parents eaten by polar bears when he was just a baby, Hugo discovers that the sled they arrived in has a very special compass - one that can be set to 'Home'. And so Hugo arrives in Firefly Square - to discover a group of very special friends, and a dastardly enemy... With three-toed snowmen, a secret buried treasure and a host of fabulous stories, this is a fantastic new tale in this series."

Chris Riddell, Paul Stewart (Author), Clive Mantle (Narrator)

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All in the Mind

"Martin Sturrock desperately needs a psychiatrist. The problem? He is one. Emily is a traumatised burns victim, Arta a Kosovan refugee recovering from a rape. David Temple is a longterm depressive, while the Rt Hon Ralph Hall MP lives in terror of his drink problem being exposed. Very different Londoners, but they share one thing: every week they spend an hour at the Prince Regent hospital, revealing the secrets of their psyche to Professor Martin Sturrock. Little do they know that Sturrock's own mind is not the reassuring place they believe it to be. For years he has hidden in his work, ignoring his demons. But now his life is falling apart, and as his ghosts come back to haunt him, the only person he can turn to is a patient. Set over a life-changing weekend, Alastair Campbell's astonishing first novel delves deep into the human mind to create a gripping portrait of the strange dependency between patient and doctor. Both a comedy and tragedy of ordinary lives, it is rich in compassion for those whose days are spent on the edge of the abyss."

Alastair Campbell (Author), Clive Mantle (Narrator)

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Doctor Who: The Coming Of The Terraphiles

"Miggea – a world on the very edge of reality. The cusp between this universe and the next. And the venue for the grand finals of the competition to win the fabled Arrow of Law. The Doctor and Amy have joined the Terraphiles – a group obsessed with Earth’s history, and dedicated to re-enacting ancient sporting events. They are determined to win the Arrow. But just getting to Miggea proves tricky. Reality is collapsing, ships are disappearing, and Captain Cornelius and his crew of pirates are looking for easy pickings. Even when they arrive, the Doctor and Amy’s troubles won’t be over. They must find out who is so desperate to get the Arrow of Law that they will kill for it. And uncover the traitor on their own team. And win the contest fair and square. And, of course, they need to save the universe from total destruction... Featuring the Doctor and Amy as played by Matt Smith and Karen Gillan in the hit series from BBC Television."

Michael Moorcock (Author), Clive Mantle (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Clive Mantle

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