Audiobooks narrated by David Collings

Paupers and Pig Killers from the diaries of William Holland: A BBC Radio 4 comedy drama

A BBC Radio dramatisation of the real-life diaries of a West Country village parson, writing at the turn of the 19th Century 'A good diary can provide an unsurpassed entry into society, and the diary of William Holland is a very good diary indeed' The Spectator On October 25th, 1799 - his 18th wedding anniversary - cantankerous Somerset parson William Holland begins his diary, chronicling events at the vicarage and in the small farming community of Over Stowey. He would keep it for the next 19 years, candidly recording the small trials of day-to-day life - from chaotic church services and unruly locals to lazy servants and irksome in-laws. As the new century dawns, he finds himself dealing with parish problems and domestic dramas: including a madman in the poorhouse, a drunkard in the pulpit, and his wife's prattling cousin in the house. At harvest time, he has his work cut out collecting tithes from the local farmers, and his troubles are further compounded by an escaped cow, some curious medical complaints, and an audacious plum-plunderer... Paying a social visit to Bath with his family, the hectic pace has him longing for the relative peace and quiet of home. And back at the parsonage, his life is transformed when his manservant Robert resolves to give up drinking and womanizing. But will it last? Full of humorous observations and comic incident, this delightful journal paints a unique picture of a wonderful collection of characters, and the entertaining and often hilarious things that happen to them. Dramatised by Eric Pringle, it is brought to life by a full cast of well-known actors, and stars Ronald Pickup as William Holland, Rosemary Martin and Rowena Cooper as his wife, Mary, and Gavin Muir as Robert. Production credits Written by William Holland Dramatised by Eric Pringle Directed by Cherry Cookson Cast William Holland - Ronald Pickup Mary - Rosemary Martin/Rowena Cooper Robert - Gavin Muir Miss Dodwell - Tessa Worsley Mr Amen - Gordon Gostelow Farmer Morle - David Collings William Frost/Farmer Landsey - David Timson Rector Reekes/Ben Hunt - John Hartley Thomas Poole/Farmer Trant/Porter - Stephen Critchlow Mrs Southcomb - Margaret Courtenay Farmer CottleMr Lewis - Andrew Branch Margaret/Hannah/Betty/Little Will - Jane Whittenshaw Sally Hill/Grace - Caroline Strong With Tilly Gaunt, Giles Fagan and Ben Crowe First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 7-21 February 1996 (Series 1), 29 October-12 November 1999 (Series 2) © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Eric Pringle, William Holland (Author), Andrew Branch, David Collings, Full Cast, Gavin Muir, Gordon Gostelow, Margaret Courtenay, Ronald Pickup, Rosemary Martin, Rowena Cooper, Tessa Worsley (Narrator)

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G. K. Chesterton: Three BBC Radio Mysteries: The Man Who Was Thursday, The Club of Queer Trades & Th

Three BBC Radio performances of works by the great G. K. Chesterton Best known as the creator of clerical detective Father Brown, G. K. Chesterton was a prolific and talented writer in virtually every area of literature: from novels, poetry and short stories to plays, biographies and essays. A noted thinker, controversialist, raconteur and wit, he has influenced authors from Neil Gaiman to Jorge Luis Borges. This collection comprises his two most famous novels, The Man Who Was Thursday and The Napoleon of Notting Hill, as well as half a dozen tales from his short story collection, The Club of Queer Trades. The Man Who Was Thursday - Poet turned Scotland Yard detective Gabriel Syme goes undercover in Edwardian London to investigate a secret society of anarchists - all of whom are named after days of the week... Read by Geoffrey Palmer. The Club of Queer Trades - In these six full-cast comedy crime dramas, retired KC Basil Grant, his brother Rupert and friend Charlie Swinburne explore the extraordinary stories of people who earn their living by some novel and unusual means. Starring David Warner as Basil, Martin Freeman as Rupert and Geoffrey McGivern as Charlie. The Napoleon of Notting Hill- Written in 1904, Chesterton's comic political satire is set in London 80 years on. The city is still full of horse-buses and hansom cabs, but democracy is dead, and the King is chosen by lottery. No one cares, because none of it matters - until the choice falls on Auberon Quin... This full-cast drama stars Roger Hammond as G. K. Chesterton and David Collings as Auberon Quin, with Kim Wall, Stuart Organ and Paul McGann. First published 1904 (The Napoleon of Notting Hill), 1905 (The Club of Queer Trades), 1908 (The Man Who Was Thursday) The Man Who Was Thursday Read by Geoffrey Palmer Directed by Lawrence Jackson First broadcast BBC Radio 7, 10-28 March 2005 The Club of Queer Trades Basil Grant - David Warner Rupert Grant - Martin Freeman Charlie Swinburne - Geoffrey McGivern Major Brown/Lord Beaumont - Geoffrey Whitehead Lady - Vicki Pepperdine PG Northover/Gardener/Old Man/Constable/Dr Colman - Martin Hyder Drummond - Nicholas Farrell Wimpole/Burrows - Justin Edwards Sir Walter Chumley/Rev Shorter - Richard Griffiths Muriel - Alice Lowe James - Alexei Sayle Mowbray - Nell Edmond Brett - Matthew Holness Lieutenant Keith - Jeff Harding Montmorency - Simon Jones Christina - Amelia Bullmore Bingham - Chris Douglas Adeleide - Felicity Montagu Prof Chadd - John Nettleton Greenwood - James Rawlings Old Lady - Angela Thorne Dramatised by Simon Littlefield Produced by Simon Nicholls First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 April-9 May 2005 The Napoleon of Notting Hill G. K. Chesterton - Roger Hammond Auberon Quin - David Collings Wilfred Lambert - Kim Wall James Barker - Stephen Hattersley President del Fuego - Manning Wilson Policeman/Mr Wilson - Stuart Organ Boy Adam Wayne - Alexander Goodman Adam Wayne - Paul McGann Mr Buck - Aubrey Woods Mr Mead - Paul Gregory Mr Bowles - Brian Hewlett Mr Turnbull - Gordon Reid Dramatised by Peter Buckman Produced by Eric Stovell Directed by Richard Imison First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 December 1986 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

G.K. Chesterton (Author), David Collings, David Warner, Full Cast, Geoffrey Mcgivern, Geoffrey Palmer, Kim Wall, Martin Freeman, Paul Mcgann, Roger Hammond, Stuart Organ (Narrator)

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East Lynne: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

A seven-part BBC radio dramatisation of Mrs Henry Wood’s sensational Victorian bestseller, suffused with infidelity and double identities Lord Mount Severn's country seat, East Lynne, is magnificent – but its owner is penniless, and when the noble lord dies suddenly, his daughter is left destitute. To avoid misery and humiliation, Lady Isabel accepts a proposal of marriage from Mr Carlyle, the new owner of the estate. However, she soon finds herself battling with two strong emotions: her jealousy of her husband’s friend Barbara Hare, and her attraction to the handsome Captain Levison. Suspecting Carlyle of infidelity, she takes drastic action and leaves her husband and children to run away with Levison – only to realise he has no intention of marrying her. No sooner has Lady Isabel been betrayed by her wicked suitor than she is left unrecognisably disfigured by a terrible train crash. With her life in ruins, she adopts a new name and heads back to the place she once called home – East Lynne… Adapted by Michael Bakewell, this much-loved melodrama stars Rosemary Leach as Mrs Henry Wood, Moir Leslie as Lady Isabel, David Collings as Mr Carlyle and Anthony Edridge as Francis Levison. Written by Mrs Henry Wood Dramatised by Michael Bakewell Directed by Richard Johnson First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 June-26 July 1987

Michael Bakewell (Author), David Collings, Moir Leslie, Rosemary Leach (Narrator)

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Doctor Who: Mawdryn Undead: 5th Doctor Novelisation

David Collings reads this dynamic classic novelisation of a Fifth Doctor TV adventure"This range of classic Target audiobooks continues to go from strength to strength..." Doctor Who MagazineMaterialising to avoid a head-on collision in space, the TARDIS becomes trapped on board an eerily deserted alien spacecraft. The Doctor transmats to Earth to solve the problem - yet when the TARDIS follows on, Tegan and Nyssa find that they have arrived five years too early. While the Doctor enjoys a reunion with Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart in 1983, in 1977 his companions are confronted by a hideously deformed figure who claims to be the Doctor. Unsure whether or not this is their friend, Tegan and Nyssa must choose whether to answer his desperate pleas for help.Meanwhile, schoolboy Turlough has an encounter with a mysterious stranger who's determined to wreak revenge upon the Doctor. This is the Black Guardian, and Turlough is to do his bidding...David Collings, who has appeared in several Doctor Who TV serials, reads Peter Grimwade's complete and unabridged novelisation, first published by Target Books in 1983. (P) BBC Worldwide 2018 © BBC Worldwide 2018Cover design by Lee JohnsonBased on the BBC television serial Doctor Who: Mawdryn Undead by Peter GrimwadeNovelisation copyright © Peter Grimwade 1983 Original script copyright © Peter Grimwade 1983Reading produced by Neil Gardner Recorded at Ladbroke Audio LtdSound design by Simon Power for Meon Productions - www.meonsound.comExecutive producer: Michael StevensTARDIS sound effect composed by Brian HodgsonCover illustration by Lee JohnsonDoctor Who: Mawdryn Undead first published by Target Books 1983

Peter Grimwade (Author), David Collings (Narrator)

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Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka: An original Doctor Who novel

An unabridged reading of Paul Cornell's novelisation based on his animated drama of the same name. When the Doctor lands his TARDIS in the Lancashire town of Lannet, in the present day, he finds that something is terribly wrong. The people are scared. They don't like going out onto the streets at night, they don't like making too much noise, and they certainly don't like strangers asking too many questions. What alien force has invaded the town? Why is it watching barmaid Alison Cheney? And what plans does it have for the future of the planet Earth? The Doctor is helped (and hindered) by his new military liaison Major Kennet and his Royal Green Jacket troop. His old enemy the Master also plays a small part. During the course of this adventure he encounters a brand new race of ferocious alien monsters, and strikes up a friendship with his latest companion, Alison. While starting with a small community under threat, this old-fashioned, very traditional but very up to date Doctor Who adventure takes in the entire world, from New Zealand to India, Siberia to the USA, and cosmic expanses beyond. Duration: 6 hours 45 mins.

Paul Cornell (Author), David Collings (Narrator)

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Doctor Who: The Witch Hunters: A 1st Doctor novel

David Collings reads this original novel adventure for the First Doctor and his companions, set in the 17th Century during the Salem Witch Trials. With the Doctor wanting to repair the TARDIS in peace, his companions Barbara, Ian and Susan decide to get some experience of living in the nearby village of Salem. But the Doctor knows about the horrors destined to engulf the village and determines that they should leave. Susan has her own ideas, and is desperate to return to Salem, whatever the cost. Yet her actions will lead them all into terrible danger, and cause the tragedy that is already unfolding to escalate out of control. Featuring the First Doctor, as played on TV by William Hartnell. Duration: 8 hours approx.

Steve Lyons (Author), David Collings (Narrator)

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Doctor Who: Corpse Marker: A 4th Doctor novel

An unabridged reading of an original adventure featuring the Fourth Doctor, as played by Tom Baker, and his companion Leela.The Doctor and Leela arrive on the planet Kaldor, where they find a society dependent on benign and obedient robots. But they have faced these robots before, on a huge Sandminer in the Kaldor desert, and know they are not always harmless servants…The only other people who know the truth are the three survivors from that Sandminer – and now they are being picked off one by one. The twisted genius behind that massacre is dead, but someone is developing a new, deadlier breed of robots. This time, unless the Doctor and Leela can stop them, they really will destroy the world…

Chris Boucher (Author), David Collings (Narrator)

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The Windsor Jewels

Robin Glendinning's BBC Radio 4 full-cast black comedy telling the story of a real mystery. Originally broadcast in the 'Saturday Play' slot on 11 July 2009. In 1946, the Duke of Windsor (formerly Edward VIII) and his wife (formerly Wallis Simpson) paid a visit to Britain, hoping to secure a government job for the Duke and a title for the Duchess. During the visit, the Duchess' jewels, worth millions, were stolen. Conspiracy theories abounded. Was it an inside job by the Royal Family, or even an insurance fraud by the Duke and Duchess? Starring Jon Glover as the Duke of Windsor, Christine Kavanagh as the Duchess of Windsor and Christian Rodska as Capstick. Also with Chris Yapp, Amy Clifton, Alan Moore, Paul Humpoletz, David Collins, Stephen Perring and Paul Mohan.

Robin Glendinning (Author), A Full Cast, Alan Moore, Amy Clifton, Chris Yapp, Christian Rodska, Christine Kavanagh, David Collings, David Collins, Jonathan Glover, Paul Humpoletz, Stephen Perring (Narrator)

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The Rose Garden: The Complete Ghost Stories of M R James

Montague Rhodes James (Author), David Collings (Narrator)

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The Tractate Middoth: The Complete Ghost Stories of M R James

Montague Rhodes James (Author), David Collings (Narrator)

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Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad

This is the unabridged audio recording of M.R. James' excellent ghost story 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad'. The author's stories were written with the purpose of being read aloud in the long tradition of spooky Christmas Eve tales. This highly-praised version, narrated by David Collings, is sure to scare and delight in equal measure.

M.R. James (Author), David Collings (Narrator)

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A Neighbour's Landmark

This is the unabridged audio recording of M.R. James' excellent ghost story 'A Neighbour's Landmark'. The author's stories were written with the purpose of being read aloud in the long tradition of spooky Christmas Eve tales. This highly-praised version, narrated by David Collings, is sure to scare and delight in equal measure.

M.R. James (Author), David Collings (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by David Collings