Audiobooks narrated by Cyril Shaps

Personal Column: 10 Full-Cast Vintage BBC Radio Dramas

"Who is behind the mysterious advert reading ‘Wife available – what offers?’ What prompted a ‘third girl’ to suddenly pack her bags and leave her flatshare? And when a newly married couple’s honeymoon period comes to an abrupt end, is the wedding dress to blame? Conceived by respected writer Philip Levene, whose writing credits include 19 episodes of ITV’s The Avengers, these ten full-cast dramas read between the lines of newspaper personal ads to tell captivating tales of the human condition – each with an unexpected twist. The stories range from a rookie blackmailer who learns the pitfalls of the business and a husband and wife who get more than they bargain for when they try to sell some old jewellery, to a lonely librarian who hires a personal escort for an important date and a dodgy insurance broker who takes drastic measures to try and avoid exposure. Written by esteemed TV scriptwriters and starring a host of well-known names including Carole Boyd, Bernard Horsfall, Anne Stallybrass, George Cole and Wendy Craig, this entertaining and varied anthology is a treasure trove from the golden age of radio. This series of vintage radio plays was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme, 20 March – 25 September 1967. Episodes: Findings Keepings by Philip Levene Evening Out by Jill Hyem No Square Deal by Eddie Maguire Third Girl Wanted by Jill Hyem Off to a Good Start by Dawn Pavitt & Terry Wale What Am I Bid? by Eddie Maguire Home and Away by Dawn Pavitt & Terry Wale Time for a Coat by Andrew Sachs This Column Every Friday by Arnold Yarrow The Companion by Philip Levene © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Andrew Sachs, Arnold Yarrow, Dawn Pavitt, Eddie Maguire, Jill Hyem, Philip Levene, Terry Wale (Author), Bernard Horsfall, Brenda Bruce, Charles Leno, Cyril Shaps, Francis Matthews, Full Cast, George Cole, Gerald Flood, Mary Wimbush, Nigel Anthony, Pauline Yates, Wendy Craig (Narrator)

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The Sand Leopard & Other Vintage Thrillers: A Full-Cast BBC Radio Collection

"Ten full-cast BBC Radio thrillers by Berkely Mather Berkely Mather (real name John Evan Weston-Davies) was a British author who wrote sixteen novels ranging from historical adventures to espionage fiction. A prolific writer for television and radio, he contributed scripts to TV series including Z Cars and The Avengers, and his film credits include Dr. No. Included here are some of his best radio thrillers, beginning with The Sand Leopard, charting the exploits of Geth Straker, captain of the Peregrine. The trouble-hunting mariner is commissioned to sail to the Red Sea in search of sunken Second World War bullion – but are his two new crew members what they seem? Neil McCallum stars as Straker in this action-packed drama. In The Hard Buy, it is the late 1960s, and wealthy young British playboy Brett Beaumont (John Rye) suddenly finds himself discredited and framed. Aboard his luxury yacht, he embarks on a dramatic journey to clear his name. The Meisterspringer, starring Cyril Shaps and Graham Blockey, sees ‘Meisterspringer’ Paul Mettold blackmailed by British agents into arranging the escape from prison of Russian spy James Carter. But the breakout does not go according to plan… The Bounce Back features six plays themed around retribution – Returned Without Thanks, Honesty’s The Best Fiddle, The Stake-Out, Just a Detail, Never Let Your Left Hand Know…, and Quick Returns. Among the casts are Hector Ross, Hilda Schroder, Henry Stamper, Humphrey Morton, Douglas Hankin, Sheila Grant, Alan Dudley and Ronald Herdman. Finally, the 30-minute drama Bird’s Eye View, starring Geoffrey Matthews and Cecile Chevreau, tells the story of an English convict on a French prison island who attempts to escape by boat – but on board, a surprise awaits him… NB: Due to the age of these recordings, the sound quality may vary. Some episodes contain dated attitudes and language First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 31 July-18 September 1961 (The Sand Leopard), 15 October 1962 (Bird’s Eye View), 23 January-13 March 1967 (The Bounce Back), 27 June-22 July 1968 (The Hard Buy), 21 April-26 May 1985 (The Meisterspringer) © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Berkely Mather (Author), Alan Dudley, Cecile Chevreau, Cyril Shaps, Full Cast, Geoffrey Matthews, Graham Blockey, Hector Ross, Hilda Schroder, John Rye, Neil Mccallum (Narrator)

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The Red and The Black: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

"A BBC Radio drama of Stendhal's masterpiece - plus bonus documentary Both a sweeping chronicle of 19th Century France and a coming-of-age story of a young, idealistic social climber, The Red and the Black is one of the great works in world literature, and widely considered to be the first psychological novel. It charts the misadventures and romantic escapades of Julien Sorel, a timber miller's son who idolises Napoleon and dreams of military glory. But post-Waterloo, the path to power does not lie with the army (the 'red'), but the Church (the 'black'), so he decides to study for the priesthood. Then an opportunity arises to further increase his status as tutor to the Mayor's children - and when the Mayor's wife, Mme de Renal, falls in love with him, he seduces her. Their affair is discovered, and he is forced to leave Verrières and enter the seminary - only for his life to be transformed when his mentor, Abbé Pirard, finds him a job in Paris, as private secretary to the aristocratic Marquis de la Mole. Finally, Julien has an entrée into high society - and when he wins the heart of the Marquis' beautiful, haughty daughter Mathilde, he seems to have the world at his feet. But as his past returns to haunt him, Julien commits a terrible crime that will seal his fate... A gripping tale of love, ambition, morality and hypocrisy, The Red and the Black was adapted as an award-winning 1954 film by Claude Autant-Lara, and televised as a 1993 BBC mini-series starring Ewan McGregor. This lively, fast-paced radio adaptation stars William Squire as the Narrator and Andrew Hall as Julien, with a cast including Margo Gunn, Deborah Paige and Edward de Souza. Also included is the fascinating documentary feature Stendhal and Napoleon, in which Andy Martin tells how Stendahl followed Napoleon across Europe to Moscow in 1812 as catering manager to the troops - and changed fiction in the process. Production credits Written by Stendhal Translated by C.K. Scott Moncrieff Dramatised by D.G. Bridson Directed by Brian Miller Cast Narrator - William Squire Julien Sorel - Andrew Hall Mme de Renal - Deborah Paige Napoleon - Edward de Souza Mme Derville - Marilyn Le Conte M de Renal - John Franklyn-Robbins Fouqué - Norman Eshley Elise/Adolphe - Debby Comming Valenod/Guillaume - Esmond Rideout Mme Valenod/Marquise de la Mole - Margaret Robertson Abbé Chelan - Hedley Goodall Amanda - Rosalind Adams Abbé Pirard - Malcolm Hayes Student/Bishop/Antoine - Andrew Hilton Abbé Castenede - Roger Snowdon Abbé Chas Bernard - Haydn Andrews Examiner/Stewart - John Livesey Marquis de la Mole - Cyril Shaps Mlle Mathilde - Margo Gunn Norbert - Sion Probert Croisenois - Jon Glentoran Caylus/Coachman - Stephen Garlick Thayler/Lt Lievin - Anthony Hyde Chevalier de Beauvoisis - Alexander John Conde Altamira/Friar - Nicholas Courtney Academician - Christopher Scott Mathilde's cousin - Amanda Murray Queen Marguerite - Theresa Streatfeild Prince Korasoff - John Rye Mme la Margchal - Pauline Letts Gunsmith - John Webb Jailer - David Timson Magistrate - Alan Dudley Père Sorel - Jerold Wells First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 August-13 September 1981 Stendhal and Napoleon Presented by Andy Martin Produced by Tim Dee First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 9 December 2012 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Tba (Author), Andrew Hall, Cyril Shaps, Edward De Souza, Full Cast, Margo Gunn, William Squire (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Cyril Shaps