Buy from our bookstore and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice to buy more books. *15% of eBooks.
Audiobooks Narrated by Clive Merrison
Browse audiobooks narrated by Clive Merrison, listen to samples and when you're ready head over to Audiobooks.com where you can get 3 FREE audiobooks on us
Autumn, 1646. The English Civil War is raging, and there’s trouble ahead for Sir John and Lady Anne Firebasket. There’s a Roundhead platoon camping out in the barn, a perplexed priest hiding behind the panelling and, unbeknown to the Firebaskets, their scullery maid Mercy is actually a disguised aristocrat (and Royalist spy) named Melissa Fortescue-Bottomley.
While Mercy steels herself to carry out a deadly mission, pious steward Tobias Thynne rails against the Devil’s vegetables and Father Francis takes to the rooftops in a borrowed nightgown for a rendition of ‘Ave Maria’. With the whole household suffering from severe domestic derangement, it’s a bad time for General Cromwell to show up – and then news arrives that the fugitive King Charles has also decided to pay a visit...
As confusion reigns, Sir John takes to drink, Lady Anne takes to her bed and the New Model Army take up their muskets. Will Firebasket Hall survive the hostilities?
Scripted by Sue Limb (Gloomsbury, The Wordsmiths at Gorsemere), The Sit Crom features a wealth of comedy acting talent including Joss Ackland as Sir John Firebasket, Miriam Margolyes as Mercy and Alun Armstrong as Captain Arise Higgs.
Produced by Jonathan James-Moore
Music by Colin Sell
Cast
Sir John Firebasket – Joss Ackland
Lady Anne Firebasket – Denise Coffey
Tobias Thynne – Clive Merrison
Mercy, alias Melissa – Miriam Margoyles
Father Francis/Old Thomas – Nickolas Grace
Slow Ned/King Charles – Chris Emmett
Gazebo Fogg – Jack Klaff
Captain Arise Higgs – Alun Armstrong
Posthumous – Nicky Henson
Lettice – Jane Whittenshaw
Counter Tenor – Peter Hayward
General Cromwell – Bert Parnaby
Colonel Thundery – Peter Howell
The New Model Army – The cast
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 6 October-10 November 1990
A radio anthology of George Orwell’s finest work.
Visionary author and journalist George Orwell was the man behind two of the best-loved and most influential novels of the 20th century: Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm. This collection celebrating his life and work features dramatisations of both these classic books, with stellar casts including Christopher Eccleston, Pippa Nixon, Tim Pigott-Smith, Tamsin Greig and Nicky Henson.
Timeless examples of his essays and journalism are also showcased here, including ‘A Hanging’, ‘Confessions of a Book Reviewer’, ‘My Country Right or Left’, ‘Pleasure Spots’ and ‘As I Please’ (all read by Clive Merrison).
Five BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of John Buchan’s espionage thrillers featuring gentleman spy Richard Hannay
The forerunner to James Bond, secret agent Richard Hannay is a thoroughly British action hero, pursuing ruthless villains, foiling deadly plans and risking life and limb for his country. This gripping collection encompasses all five of Hannay’s adventures, adapted for radio with superb casts including Tom Baker, Clive Merrison, Stuart Milligan, Jasmine Hyde and Patrick Malahide.
The 39 Steps
When a man is murdered in Richard Hannay's London flat, he goes on the run pursued by the police – and a gang of German spies intent on recovering a secret notebook which could destroy the British naval fleet. Starring David Robb as Hannay.
Greenmantle
1915. Summoned to the War Office, Hannay is told of an impending Holy War in the East. Greenmantle – once a mythical figure, now made flesh – is preparing to lead a great Islamic army against the infidel English. Hannay's mission: to identify Greenmantle and destroy him. Starring David Robb as Hannay.
Mr Standfast
Recalled from the Western Front, Hannay is ordered to pose as a pacifist and sent to Glasgow. Along the way, he meets a teenage Secret Service agent who will change the course of his life. Starring David Robb as Hannay.
The Three Hostages
When a gang of international criminals kidnaps a trio of hostages, the Secret Service brings Hannay out of retirement to track them down. But the mission will pit him against an adversary who can control men’s minds… Starring David Robb as Hannay.
The Island of Sheep
A chance meeting in a train and a villainous vendetta shake Richard Hannay out of a complacent middle age, as dangerous men go in pursuit of treasure. Starring Nigel Anthony as Hannay.
A gripping collection of fifteen BBC Radio full-cast dramas written by Bert Coules, inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories.
In the fifty-six short stories and four novels Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about his great detective, how many times did Dr John Watson tantalise us with references to cases which were never written about in full? These original adventures flesh out those unrecorded cases to wonderful effect.
Clive Merrison plays the great sleuth hiimself, with Andrew Sachs in the role of Doctor Watson. The star casts include Tom Baker, Jane Asher, Tim West, Toyah Willcox, Lindsay Duncan and Mark Gatiss.
The stories in this collection are:
The Madness of Colonel Warburton
The Star of the Adelphi
The Saviour of Cripplegate Square
The Singular Inheritance of Miss Gloria Watson
The Abergavenny Murder
The Shameful Betrayal of Miss Emily Smith
The Tragedy of Hanbury Street
The Determined Client
The Striking Success of Miss Franny Blossom
Thirteen Watches
Peculiar Persecution of Mr John Vincent Harden
The Ferrers Documents
The Remarkable Performance of Mr Frederick Merridew
The Eyes of Horus
The Marlbourne Point Mystery
Clive Merrison and Michael Williams star as Holmes and Watson in these twelve adventures from the unique, fully dramatised BBC canon of Conan Doyle's short stories and novels 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 Sherlock Holmes did not lose his life at the Reichenbach Falls. Nor has three years of absence taken away his power to startle the faithful Dr Watson… In these intriguing tales, the duo solve cases that range from the suspicious to the downright strange, and encounter mysteries as diverse as a disappearing aristocrat and some inspired code-breaking. These twelve stories also see Holmes confronted with an evil blackmailer, an outbreak of attacks on busts of Bonaparte, and a seemingly motiveless murder where his only clue is a pair of spectacles and the victim’s dying words... Gripping, suspenseful and hugely entertaining, these acclaimed dramatisations bring the world of Holmes and Watson to life. Among the guest cast are Peter Sallis, Susannah Harker, Nigel Davenport, Andrew Wincott, Peter Vaughan, Maurice Denham, Maureen O’Brien and Julian Rhind-Tutt.
Clive Merrison and Michael Williams star as Holmes and Watson in this collection of stories from the unique fully dramatised BBC Radio 4 canon, based on Arthur Conan Doyle's original short stories. The twelve dramatisations are 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 Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle; The Adventure of the Speckled Band; The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb; The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor; The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet; The Adventure of the Copper Beeches.In these twelve stories, Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson investigate a compromising photograph, a murder case with Australian connections, a disreputable opium den, a Christmas goose, a ruined ancestral estate, a disastrous wedding day, a house with frightening secrets, and several other baffling circumstances.Among the large supporting cast are Sarah Badel, Andrew Sachs, James Grout, James Wilby, Sam West, Stephen Tompkinson and Imogen Stubbs.
Clive Merrison stars as Holmes with Michael Williams as Watson in these twelve adventures from the unique, fully dramatised BBC canon of Conan Doyle's short stories and novels. The twelve dramatisations are 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. These short stories are the very last ones written by Arthur Conan Doyle about his much-loved fictional detective. Holmes and Watson are faced with cases that range from the suspicious to the seemingly supernatural, and encounter characters as diverse as an evil Austrian adventurer, a formidable female criminal, a distinguished professor who is acting oddly and a mysterious tenant who refuses to show her face. Gripping, suspenseful and hugely entertaining, these acclaimed dramatisations were adapted by Bert Coules from the original short stories. Among the guest cast are Hannah Gordon, Robert Glenister, Michael Troughton, Alexandra Bastedo, Harriet Walter, Douglas Henshall and George Cole.
Clive Merrison stars as the enduringly popular sleuth with Michael Williams as Watson in this collection of stories from the unique, fully dramatised BBC Radio 4 canon. In these eight intriguing tales, Holmes and Watson solve cases that range from the suspicious to the downright strange. They encounter mysteries as diverse as vanishing staff, secret plans and eccentric lodgers as Holmes is struck down by a rare tropical disease and, later, lured away from retirement to help his country on the eve of war. The dramatised stories are "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" and "His Last Bow". Gripping, suspenseful and hugely entertaining, these acclaimed dramatisations bring the world of Holmes and Watson to life, and are guaranteed to appeal to any fan of the great detective. Duration: 6 hours approx.
Clive Merrison stars as Holmes with Michael Williams as Watson in these four adventures from the unique, fully dramatised BBC canon of Conan Doyle stories A Study In Scarlet The Sign of the Four The Hound of the Baskervilles The Valley of Fear A Study in Scarlet introduces the most famous partnership in fiction, as Watson is drawn into Holmes's investigations following the discovery of a body in a blood-stained room in Brixton. In The Sign of the Four, a beautiful young woman comes to Holmes with a mystery which is to stretch even his remarkable deductive skills. The Hound of the Baskervilles finds Holmes and Watson travelling to Dartmoor to investigate the death of Sir Charles Baskerville and protect his heir. Are the Baskervilles being stalked by a satanic hell-hound, or is the creature part of a sinister conspiracy? In The Valley of Fear, a coded warning sends Holmes and Watson to the country house of the reclusive Jack Douglas. Arriving too late to prevent a tragic death, they must follow a series of bewildering clues to find a murderer who has vanished into thin air... Brian Blessed, Judi Dench, Donald Sinden, Iain Glen and Ronald Pickup are among the guest cast of these thrilling dramas, adapted by Bert Coules. Duration: 7 hours 50 mins approx.
Clive Merrison stars as Holmes with Michael Williams as Watson in this collection from the unique, fully dramatised BBC Radio 4 canon. These twelve stories range from Holmes' very first case to the epic struggle between Holmes and Moriarty high above the Reichenbach Falls. The stories are "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 Second Stain"; and "The Final Problem". Gripping, suspenseful and hugely entertaining, these acclaimed dramatisations bring the world of Holmes and Watson to life, and are guaranteed to appeal to any fan of the great detective. Duration: 9 hours approx.
Hercule Poirot is a guest at a weekend house party, given at the Cornish cliff top home of the celebrated actor Sir Charles Cartwright. The other visitors include keen amateur detective Mr Satterthwaite and distinguished Harley Street nerve specialist Sir Bartholomew Strange. Death visits the house soon after Poirot's arrival, the victim an elderly clergyman who's only had a sip of dry martini. What else was in the glass? Are natural causes to blame... or murder? In Monte Carlo a short time later, Poirot and his acquaintances hear of another, similar death. Is this a mere coincidence - and can Poirot resist further investigation? Everyone concerned will be much relieved if he does. Meanwhile, a third tragedy is waiting in the wings... George Cole, Michael Cochrane and Clive Merrison are amongst the cast in this adaptation of Agatha Christie's intriguing mystery.
After a sell-out national tour and an extended stage run, Alan Bennett’s phenomenally successful play transferred to BBC Radio 3, with Richard Griffiths, Clive Merrison and Frances de la Tour starring as part of the National Theatre cast. At a boys’ grammar school in Sheffield, eight boys are being coached for the Oxbridge entrance exams. It is the mid-eighties, and the main concern of the unruly bunch of bright sixth-formers is getting out, starting university – and starting life. At the heart of The History Boys are four characters, each with contrasting outlooks on teaching and school: Hector, an eccentric English teacher with no interest in exams; Irwin, a young supply teacher who sees history as ‘entertainment’; Mrs Lintott, a traditionalist, who teaches ‘history, not histrionics’; and a Headmaster obsessed with results. Described as ‘the richest play Bennett has ever written’ (Financial Times), staff-room rivalry and the anarchy of adolescence collide in an intensely moving and thought-provoking play. Winner of the Olivier, Evening Standard, Critics’ Circle and South Bank Show Awards for Best New Play. ‘A superb, life-enhancing play’ – Guardian.
