Audiobooks Narrated by Desmond Barrit

A Whole New Ball Game: The Complete Series 1 and 2: A BBC Radio 4 Dark Comedy

"A hilarious dark comedy about a football-crazy priest, starring BAFTA winner Brenda Blethyn The late Gregory Patterson was a stalwart of the Roman Catholic Parishioners. With his passing, how will Mrs Patterson cope with her headstrong daughter, Barbara? And can young Robert step into his father’s shoes and face up to new responsibilities? The man with the answers would appear to be football-crazy priest Father Benedict who tries to help the grief stricken family as best he can… The priest decides that holding a Golden Oldie night in honour of the late faithful parishioner would be a good first step. But is it really the right occasion for a eulogy from his only son, Robert? Not when Barbara is determined to ruin the evening… As the Patterson family spiral out of control, with Barbara succumbing to temptation in the shape of biker Andy, Robert attending a rival school and a bereft Mrs Patterson hoping a small dog will fill the hole in her heart left by her husband’s death, Father Benedict has more pressing concerns - the Frewitt Cup final is weeks away and the team must win at all cost. This charming and darkly funny comedy about faith, families and football will have you cheering in delight from the pews to the terraces. Starring Desmond Barrit as Father Benedict and BAFTA winner Brenda Blethyn (best known for her starring role in Vera) as Mrs Patterson. Cast and credits Written by Martin Davies Produced by Lissa Evans (series 1) & Richard Wilson (series 2) Father Benedict - Desmond Barrit Mrs Patterson - Brenda Blethyn Robert Patterson – Paul Parris / Richard Pearce Barbara Patterson - Charlotte Coleman / Melanie Hudson Guy Entwhistle - Martino Lazzeri / Henry Woolley Andy - Mark Straker Janet - Claire Skinner / Nicola Buckingham Mr Plant/Father Hugh - Gordon Reid / Geoff McGivern Mrs Plant - Jane Dolamore Manageress/Lady at Counter - Jill Meers First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 Feb - 10 Mar 1993 (series 1), 26 May - 30 Jun 1994 (series 2) ©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Martin Davies (Author), Brenda Blethyn, Charlotte Coleman, Claire Skinner, Desmond Barrit, Full Cast, Mark Straker, Martino Lazzeri, Paul Parris, Richard Pearce (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Rumpole: A BBC Radio Collection: 32 BBC Radio full-cast dramas

"An irresistible collection of sparkling stories featuring John Mortimer's beloved comic creation Horace Rumpole is the most erudite, astute, and seldom defeated of barristers in the annals of the Old Bailey. In these 32 dramas, arranged in order of broadcast, four distinguished actors don the wig and white band to portray our hero as he recalls his long, eventful career. Timothy West stars as the older Rumpole in eight cases in which he proves, despite scurrilous rumours to the contrary, that he is alive, well and as adept as ever at getting to the heart of crimes ranging from sexual assault to terrorism. He also has hopes of becoming a QC at last - but his marriage to She Who Must Be Obeyed is under pressure... Joining Timothy West for another seven legal adventures, Benedict Cumberbatch plays the young, feisty, devastatingly acute Rumpole. We flash back to the 1950s, as he meets and marries Hilda, embarks on his first big murder case 'alone and without a leader', and defends clients including an aristocrat, a shoplifting clergyman and a gardener accused of blackmail. Returning as young Rumpole, Cumberbatch takes us through six more curious cases. It is 1964, and Horace takes on a new pupil - Phyllida Trant, the 'Portia of our Chambers' - only to find himself becoming smitten with her. Forced to consider the path his life has taken, he comes close to giving up the law... With the Sixties swinging, Julian Rhind-Tutt gives us a Rumpole in his prime, recounting ten tales which find the tireless defender swapping sides to appear for the prosecution; coming to the aid of a doctor accused of unprofessional conduct; and suffering the indignity of wrongful arrest. We leave him facing a life-changing decision: after many years of falling in and out of love with both women, will he finally leave Hilda to be with Phyllida? Also included is a special 90-minute Christmas episode starring Desmond Barrit, in which Rumpole indulges in a little seasonal, charitable blackmail and solves an audacious crime at the panto. Production credits Written by John Mortimer Adapted by Richard Stoneman Directed by Marilyn Imrie. A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4 Sax quartet version of Gershwin's 'They Can't Take That Away From Me' arranged by Julie Hodge and performed by 'Sax' (Luiza Beddoes, Kate Mylnar, Janine Ng and Julie Hodge) Pantomime music written by Neil Brand Cast Older Horace Rumpole - Timothy West/Desmond Barrit Young Horace Rumpole - Benedict Cumberbatch/Julian Rhind-Tutt Hilda - Prunella Scales/Joanna David Young Hilda - Jasmine Hyde/Cathy Sara Phyllida - Cathy Sara/Patience Tomlinson 'Soapy Sam' Ballard - Michael Cochrane Claude Erskine-Brown - Nigel Anthony Fig Newton - David Shaw-Parker/Geoffrey Whitehead Bonny Bernard - Bruce Alexander/Nicholas Le Provost/Matthew Morgan Judge Bullingham - Christopher Benjamin/David Shaw-Parker/Stephen Critchlow Liz Probert - Elaine Claxton First broadcast BBC Radio 4 between 25 December 2001 and 9 May 2018 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

John Clifford Mortimer (Author), Benedict Cumberbatch, Desmond Barrit, Full Cast, Jasmine Hyde, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Prunella Scales, Timothy West (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Rumpole and the Old Familiar Faces: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

"Desmond Barrit stars as Horace Rumpole in this full-cast, feature-length radio drama Rumpole has no special objection to Christmas - except that with the Old Bailey closed, he has no opportunity to exercise his skills in court. But over the course of one unusual holiday, he nonetheless manages to triumph in two very different cases... Dragooned into spending Christmas in Norfolk, at the home of one of Hilda's old schoolfriends, Rumpole is feeling less than festive. Chilly Coldsands Rectory does not offer much in the way of enjoyment - but a trip to the local church and a surprise encounter with an old acquaintance leads to a God-given opportunity to indulge in a little seasonal, charitable blackmail. A New Year outing to see Aladdin also provides more excitement than expected. The traditional British pantomime is one of Rumpole's favourite institutions, but he has a vague feeling that there's something odd about this particular production. A post-panto drink, some overheard remarks and a glance at the programme confirm his suspicions - and put him on the path to solving an audacious crime... Starring Desmond Barrit as Rumpole and Joanna David as Hilda, with Tim McInnerny as Donald Compton and Nigel Anthony as Fred Timson. Cast Horace Rumpole - Desmond Barrit Hilda Rumpole - Joanna David Rev Eric Longstaff - Oliver Ford Davies Donald Compton - Tim McInnerny Fred Timson - Nigel Anthony Phillida Erskine-Brown - Patience Tomlinson Judge Bullingham - Philip Voss Skimpy Simpson - Ioan Meredith Bonny Bernard - Bruce Alexander Detective Inspector Grimble - John Hartley Aladdin - Rebecca Lacey Denis Timson - Tom George Widow Twanky - Tilly Vosburgh Tristan - Lewis Reece Isolde - Lauren Bird Production credits Written by John Mortimer Directed by Marilyn Imrie Produced by Catherine Bailey Pantomime music written by Neil Brand A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4"

John Clifford Mortimer (Author), Desmond Barrit, Full Cast, Tim Mcinnerny (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free