Audiobooks Narrated by Conrad Phillips

David Beaty: Cone of Silence, The Temple Tree and more: Four Full-Cast BBC Vintage Dramatisations

"Four stunning full cast dramatisation of WWII flying ace, David Beaty’s most exciting novels Listen now to this thrilling collection of four dramas from the master of the genre, David Beaty. These vintage dramatisations will have you on the edge of your seat and transport you to a bygone era when aviation was a new, thrilling and sometimes deadly world. If you are a fan of Jack Higgins or R.D. Wingfield, then you will love these adventures from a master of suspense. Born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), David Beaty was educated at Merton College, Oxford and edited The Cherwell with Iris Murdoch. He became an RAF pilot during WWII, where he excelled, but gave up a life in the Air Force to write full-time. In 1960, The Cone of Silence was made into a film starring Peter Cushing and George Sanders. One of the first writers to portray pilots as ordinary human beings, susceptible to errors and mistakes, David Beaty defined a genre and his work became a must-read for fans of gripping, suspense-filled thrillers. Beaty’s classic tale The Cone of Silence is one of the great novels of the air. Packing a punch with tremendous tension and electrifying impact. It is the early, dangerous days in the life of a new jet airliner. Millions of pounds have been invested and national prestige is at stake. However when the plane comes near to disaster The Court of Enquiry lays the blame squarely on the ageing airline captain Gort. The planes continue to fly but is there a cover up at play, and is Gort really to blame…? In The Magic Carpet, written by Beaty exclusively for radio, it’s 1930, and the race is on to link the British Empire by airship. Two rival airships have been constructed - the R100 built by private enterprise and the R101 by the government. R100 is on her voyage to Montreal; but problems are plaguing R101, on the point of making the long journey to India. Who will win? And at what cost? The Temple Tree is a story of East and West, of ruined cities and jet planes. As Ceylon sets forth on the path to becoming the republic of Sri Lanka, James Hannaker, an accident investigator still traumatised by the memory of his wife's death is set a puzzle in the beautiful island. When a plane goes down in the jungle, he must discover exactly why and where the bars of gold the plane happened to be carrying have disappeared to… In The Master of Victor Kilo starring Andrew Sachs, a flight from London to Bermuda turns into something unexpected and cabin crew and passengers alike are embroiled in this heart-stopping dramatised thriller. Cast and credits Written by David Beaty The Cone of Silence Cast: Norman Wooland, Beverley Dunn, David Peel, Bruce Stewart, Simon Lack, Marius Goring, Ann Gudrun Ure, Noel Johnson, Norman Henry, Brewster Mason, Geoffrey Matthews Adapted by Gilbert Thomas The Magic Carpet Cast: Conrad Phillips, Esmond Rideout, Phillip Manikum, Hubert Rees, John Hartoch, John Linstrum, Pavel Douglas, Rex Holdsworth, Sarah Benfield, Ingrid Hafner, Alan Moore, Norman Bowler, Sarah Jane Bickerton Directed by Brian Miller The Temple Tree Cast: Douglas Blackwell, Kate Binchy, Michael Spice, David Spenser, Rolf Lefebvre, Zohra Segal, William Eedle, Saeed Jaffrey, Garard Green, Bill Nagy, Manning Wilson, Geoffrey Matthews. Other parts played by Ronald Herdman, David Valla, Jane Knowles and Eva Stuart Adapted and produced by Betty Davies The Master of Victor Kilo Cast: Duncan Carse, Catherine Dolan, Andrew Sachs, William Eedle, Janet Burnell, Keith Buckley, Edward Chapman, Aubrey Woods, Derek Blomfleld, Arthur Gomez, Michael Spice, Peter Claughton, George Hagan, Anthony Viccars, Peggy Butt, Rolf Lefebvre ©2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

David Beaty (Author), Andrew Sachs, Conrad Phillips, Douglas Blackwell, Duncan Carse, Full Cast, Ingrid Hafner, Kate Binchy, Manning Wilson, Saeed Jaffrey, William Eedle (Narrator)

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Amateur Detective Roger Sheringham: The Poisoned Chocolates Case and Jumping Jenny

"Two BBC Radio full-cast dramas from the master of classic crime Anthony Berkeley was a journalist, novelist, and founding member of the Detection Club - whose members included Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers - and was one of crime fiction's greatest innovators, developing the idea of the psychological crime novel in the 1920s and 30s. One of his recurring and most-beloved characters was Roger Sheringham, a novelist and amateur detective. In these two classic tales, Roger Sheringham must investigate two terrible murders: The Poisoned Chocolates Case, from 1929, sees him taking up the challenge when Scotland Yard admits defeat after months of investigations. How was a woman poisoned by a box of chocolates that weren't even intended for her? Who was the intended victim? And who was the terrible mind behind it? Roger and his amateur detective friends will each have a turn to put forward their own personal theories about the dreadful crime... In Jumping Jenny, written in 1933, Roger attends a party with the questionable theme 'famous murderers and their victims', only to discover that one difficult guest has been deliberately killed on one of the party's props. When Roger suspects one of his close friends may be involved, he decides to meddle in the evidence - but is he putting his own life at risk with this mischievous intervention? Witty, subversive, and fiercely clever, these wonderful crime mysteries by the renowned writer are just the thing for fans of The Lady Detectives, Maigret's Collected Cases, and Dashiell Hammett: The Maltese Falcon and other Adventures. Cast and credits The Poisoned Chocolates Case Roger Sheringham - Neil Stacy Mrs Fielder-Flamming - Hilda Schroder Sir Charles Wildman - Conrad Phillips Moresby - Victor Winding Chitterwick - Michael Bilton Bradley / Smithson - Geoffrey Collins Alicia - Jane Wenham Lockwood - William Eedle Bendix - Mark Straker Sir Eustace - Clive Panto Mrs Bendix - Eileen Tully Marguerite - Deborah Cranston Novel by Anthony Berkeley Dramatised by Neville Teller Directed by Brian Miller First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 14 January 1984 Jumping Jenny Ronald Stratton - Trevor Martin Roger Sheringham - Hugh Burden Colin Nicolson - Simon Lack Dr Philip Chalmers - Hamilton Dyce Laura Chalmers - Judy Bailey Ena Stratton - Joan Newell David Stratton - John Scott Osbert Williams - Philip Cunningham Agatha Lefroy - Monica Kirton Dr Frank Mitchell - David Bird Margot - Sheila Manahan Mrs Williams - Molly Rankin Inspector Crane - Keith Williams Coroner - Richard Williams Novel by Anthony Berkeley Adapted by H. Oldfield Box Produced by David H. Godfrey First broadcast on BBC Home Service, 14 November 1959 NB: Due to the age of this recording, the sound quality may vary. ©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Cast and credits"

Anthony Berkeley (Author), Conrad Phillips, Full Cast, Hamilton Dyce, Hugh Burden, Jane Wenham, Joan Newell, John Scott, Michael Bilton, Neil Stacy, Sheila Manahan, Simon Lack, Trevor Martin (Narrator)

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Deep Six: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast spy thriller

"A six-part radio spy thriller about an ex-SAS agent framed for murder and on the run Terry Prince is an ex-SAS professional occasionally hired by the Secret Services to do special 'jobs'. His latest mission seems straightforward enough: find and retrieve a top secret file, belonging to the Department of Internal Security, that has been leaked to a left-wing magazine. Arriving at the offices of Socialist Attack, he discovers the editor dead - and he himself suspected of murder. Falsely accused, he goes on the run from both the Internal Security Department and gangsters from London's underworld. But Terry's cover is blown, and he soon finds himself blackmailed by a mysterious organisation who threaten to turn him in unless he works for them. Heading to a remote country mansion in Oxford with his instructions, he prepares to do battle with whatever forces await him... Created by John Fletcher, whose writing credits include Bergerac, this gripping serial stars Freddie Lees as Terry, with John Abineri, Hubert Rees and Madeleine Cemm. Production credits Written by John Fletcher Directed by Brian Miller Cast Terry - Freddie Lees Thompson - John Abineri Fortescue - Hubert Rees Sturley/Georghiu - John Linstrum Sir James Simpson - Conrad Phillips Chris - Elwyn Johnson Linda Taylor - Madeleine Cemm Nick - Brett Usher Watson - Ray Handy Trader - Colin Starkey Keith - Rod Beacham Frank - Thomas Heathcote Josie - Hilda Schroder Hobson - David Sinclair Radio voice - Roger Leach Manny Silverman - Arnold Diamond First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 May-24 June 1984"

John Fletcher (Author), Conrad Phillips, Freddie Lees, Full Cast, Hubert Rees, John Abineri, Madeleine Cemm (Narrator)

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