Audiobooks narrated by David Seddon

Paradise Lost: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

Sir Ian McKellen stars as Milton in this dramatised retelling of John Milton’s epic poem about the fall of Man "devilishly good... I urge you to give it a listen" The Telegraph Milton’s biblical masterpiece, first published in 1667, is one of English literature’s most seminal works. Straddling three worlds – Heaven, Hell and Earth – it tells the gripping story of fallen angel Satan’s rebellion against God, his temptation of Adam and Eve and their subsequent expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Written to ‘justify the ways of God to men’, it aimed to show what caused Mankind's fall and the consequences for the world, both bad and good. By reaching back to the beginning of time, Milton hoped to discover the events that had led to the political and societal upheaval of his own era – as well as using allegory to ask powerful questions about authority, government, tyranny and disobedience. In this brand new dramatisation, Milton himself (Sir Ian McKellen) is the blind narrator grieving the loss of his wife, played by Frances Barber. Also starring Simon Russell Beale as Satan, and adapted by award-winning poet and broadcaster Michael Symmons Roberts, this enthralling drama is a vital piece of storytelling with striking parallels to contemporary events.

John Milton (Author), Ashley Margolis, Conrad Nelson, David Seddon, Emily Pithon, Frances Barber, Ian Mckellen, Jonathan Keeble, Russell Dixon, Simon Russell Beale, Sir Ian McKellen, Various (Narrator)

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Jelly Babes (BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

Resourceful mum, Shanice, is persuaded by her next-door neighbour, Evie, to take up the bizarre sport of jelly wrestling to make ends meet in this BBC Radio 4 'Afternon Play'. 'Jelly Babes' was originally broadcast on 13 April 2011. Becky, AKA 'Azaria The Amazon', shows Shanice the ropes, and she is soon wowing the rowdy stag night audiences with her slams and smackdowns. By night she's bikini clad 'Alice Malice', by day she's mum to gymnastics-mad Alex and a devoted daughter to her disabled, ex-army dad. When these two worlds threaten to collide, it reawakens a painful episode from Shanice's childhood which threatens to tear apart her cherished family life and leads to a show-down with the father she adores. 'Jelly Babes' was written by an award-winning stage and screen writer Judy Upton, and stars Sally Orrock as Shanice, Nadine Marshall as Becky and Jane Whittenshaw as Evie. Also featuring amongst the cast are David Seddon' Sam Dale and Ryan Watson.

Judy Upton (Author), , A Full Cast, David Seddon, Full Cast, Jane Whittenshaw, Nadine Marshall, Ryan Watson, Sally Orrock, Sam Dale (Narrator)

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Prospero, Ariel, Reith and Gill: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

Gary Brown's BBC Radio 4 full-cast comedy dramatisation about artist Eric Gill's clash with the BBC over his famous sculpture of Prospero and Ariel, starring Anton Lesser as Eric Gill and Tim McInnerny as Sir John Reith, the first Director General of the Corporation. Originally broadcast in the 'Afternoon Play' slot on Wednesday 9 June 2010. Inspired by real events, the play charts a clash between the BBC's Governors and the artist over the propriety of the sculpture's appearance. Gill became quite a celebrity as he carved the statue in situ on scaffolding in front of Broadcasting House. In his trademark smock and beret, he drew the attention of the tabloid papers and became known as the 'Married Monk'. The play imagines conversations between Sir John and the artist as he passes him on his way into Broadcasting House each morning. Framed with a period newsreel-style commentary, the comedy playfully deals with the perennial tension between the Establishment and the Artist. The strange and mysterious Gill contrasts with the authoritarian but often troubled figure of Reith, but in the end the sculpture focuses their thoughts about the role of Art in the life of mankind. While this is a comedy, the play touches a little on the well-documented darker side of both men's nature, and offers an insight into one of the more celebrated events of early BBC history. Brown's play speculates on how Reith struggled with the Governors and with his own psyche in dealing with one of the trickier events in the early days of the BBC. It also looks at how Gill, the artist, struggled with reconciling his unusual beliefs and lifestyle with a major commission from the heart of the Establishment. The cast is completed by Jon Glover as the Newsreel Reporter, David Seddon as Charlie, Stephen Darcy as Father Sean, Tina Gray as Lady Snowden and Alison Pettitt as the Nanny. Written by Gary Brown and directed by Peter Leslie Wild.

Gary Brown (Author), Alison Pettitt, David Seddon, Jonathan Glover, Stephen Darcy, Tina Gray (Narrator)

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Can You Tell Me The Name Of The Prime Minister?: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

A BBC Radio 4 science-fiction mystery by Martin Jameson, originally broadcast as the 'Afternoon Play' on 14 May 2010. A week after the election, Liz de Souza, a psychiatrist, examines a patient at a secure government research facility who's convinced that Tony Blair is still Prime Minister. Starring Amita Dhiri as Liz de Souza and Suzanna Hamilton as Sarah de Souza. Also included in the cast are Jude Akuwudike, Tony Bell, David Seddon and Christine Kavanagh. Directed by Jeremy Mortimer.

Martin Jameson (Author), Amita Dhiri, Christine Kavanagh, David Seddon, Jude Akuwudike, Suzanna Hamilton, Tony Bell (Narrator)

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Cinders: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

A pacy BBC Radio 4 comedy drama by Ali Taylor, lifting the lid on the ethics of publishing war-torn misery memoirs. Emma discovers a brilliant new talent in the unsolicited pile... Originally broadcast as the 'Afternoon Play' on 20 May 2010. When a heartbreaking memoir about life in war-torn Kabul lands on her desk, Emma thinks she's discovered a new literary sensation. Her colleagues, though, are deeply sceptical. 'Cinders' is a new comedy about drawing the line. Emma is played by Claudie Blakley ('Lark Rise to Candleford', 'Pride and Prejudice'). Also starring in the cast are Michael Shelford, Vineeta Rishi, Lizzy Watts, Sam Dale, Alison Pettitt, Imran Khan and David Seddon. Directed by Jessica Dromgoole.

Ali Taylor (Author), Claudie Blakley, David Seddon, Imran Khan, Lizzy Watts, Michael Shelford, Sam Dale, Vineeta Rishi (Narrator)

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Village SOS (Woman's Hour Drama)

DCI Marion Bettany, played by Helen Baxendale, continues her investigation into Colin Arnott's murder, but the residents of Shilwick are curiously reluctant to help. Colin's plans to turn a deconsecrated chapel into a performing arts centre had ruffled feathers throughout the village, and Bettany wants to know if that's a strong enough motive for murder. Val McDermid is a multi-award winning crime writer, and creator of TV's Wire in the Blood, which stars Robson Green. Set in Shilwick, Village SOS is a fictional version of the BBC One series of the same name. Starring Helen Baxendale, David Seddon, Elaine Claxton, Rachel Bavidge, Adrian Grove, Shaun Prendergast. Producer / Director ..... Fiona Kelcher.

Val Mcdermid (Author), David Seddon, Helen Baxendale (Narrator)

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Val McDermid: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Five full-cast BBC Radio productions

A BBC Radio collection of full-cast dramatisations, radio plays and short stories by the bestselling crime writer Award-winning 'Queen of Crime' Val McDermid has sold over 17 million books worldwide, and been translated into over 40 languages. Her 'Wire in the Blood' series was adapted for TV, starring Robson Green and Hermione Norris, and ran for six seasons. Included here are full-cast adaptations of several of her acclaimed novels, as well as four tales specially written for BBC Radio. Clean Break - When a Monet is stolen from a stately home where she'd arranged the security, Manchester-based PI Kate Brannigan sets off on a chase across Europe that brings her face-to-face with organised crime. Starring Charlotte Coleman. The Right Chemistry - Jane Hazelgrove stars in this follow-up to Clean Break, which sees Kate embroiled in a deadly case of industrial sabotage, blackmail, counterfeiting and murder. The Distant Echo - Late one night in the snow, four students stumble upon the body of a dead girl. 25 years later, the police launch a cold-case review of the unsolved murder - but is the killing over? A thrilling dramatisation of the first 'Karen Pirie' novel, starring Jimmy Chisholm, John-Paul Hurley and Claire Knight. Village SOS - Investigating a murder in the sleepy Northumbrian village of Shilwick, DCI Marion Bettany and DS John Hodgson find the residents curiously reluctant to help. Helen Baxendale and David Seddon star as the detective duo. Resistance - Midsummer, and 150,000 revellers are partying at the Solstice music festival. But then people start to get sick with a mystery illness: one that's highly contagious and seemingly resistant to antibiotics... Gina McKee stars in this chilling, apocalyptic drama. I Remember Yesterday - A young woman haunts Edinburgh's alleyways, seeking revenge to the '70s strains of Donna Summer. Hannah Donaldson reads this spine-chilling ghost story. Same Crime, Next Year - Set in Harrogate, this gripping tale imagines the fallout from the torrid affair of two crime writers. Read by Siobhan Redmond. Text copyright © Val McDermid 1995 (Clean Break), 2003 (The Distant Echo), 2011 (Village SOS), 2013 (I Remember Yesterday), 2016 (Same Crime, Next Year), 2017 (Resistance) © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Val Mcdermid (Author), Charlotte Coleman, Claire Knight, David Seddon, Gina Mckee, Hannah Donaldson, Helen Baxendale, Jane Hazelgrove, Jimmy Chisholm, Siobhan Redmond (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by David Seddon