Audiobooks narrated by Ed Bishop

Men, Martians and Machines: A BBC Radio Sci-Fi Collection: 10 Full-Cast Dramas including Earthsearch

"A collection of full-cast sci-fi dramas from the late, great James Follett, introduced by Follett himself and featuring his bestselling series Earthsearch Novelist, playwright and screenwriter James Follett wrote over 25 novels, more than 50 radio dramas and numerous TV scripts, including several episodes of Blake’s 7. He was one of the most borrowed authors in UK libraries, and his works have been translated into over a dozen languages. This anthology includes his finest radio plays and series – including many that have never previously been available before. Framing the collection is the special BBC7 programme Men, Martians and Machines, in which Follett himself introduces us to several of his most popular pieces, providing fascinating behind-the-scenes back stories and tracing the origins of Earthsearch through the evolution of his radio work. Described by Follett as ‘probably the quirkiest thing I've ever written’, The Devil to Pay features a driver who crashes his car in the desert, and a camper who pulls him from the wreckage. Norman Rodway and Derek Seaton star in this short playlet with a wicked twist. In The Man Who Invented Yesterday, starring Alan Rowe, a scientist is delighted when his DNA experiments come to fruition. In The Destruction Factor, a corporation’s new plant strain mutation escapes the lab and causes havoc. Starring T P McKenna, Paul Copley, Rosalind Adams and Clifford Rose. Next up are Follett’s acclaimed space dramas Earthsearch and Earthsearch II, charting the adventures of the crew of the starship Challenger. Among the ensemble cast are Sean Arnold, Amanda Murray, Kathryn Hurlbutt and Haydn Wood. The Bionic Blob and its sequel The Bionic Blob and the Stolen Wavelengths tell the story of a ‘Thing’ from outer space who becomes the unlikely sidekick to a private eye on Earth. Sandra Dickinson and Ed Bishop star. The Doppelganger Machine, set in 1933 and starring Peter Pratt and Hector Ross, sees a plane flying Christmas mail from France to England landing at an unexpected airport – and decade. In The Twisted Image, a dead woman is found in the boot of a Rolls-Royce, but the clues don’t add up... Douglas Blackwell and Peter Wickham star in this futuristic whodunit. In the post-apocalyptic disaster thriller Ice, starring Sean Barrett, Carol Drinkwater and Anthony Hyde, a giant iceberg breaks away from the Antarctic and drifts inexorably towards New York. Can the US military avert disaster? NB: Due to the age of some of the recordings, the sound quality may vary © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

James Follett (Author), Amanda Murray, Derek Seaton, Douglas Blackwell, Ed Bishop, Full Cast, Norman Rodway, Paul Copley, Sandra Dickinson, Sean Arnold, Sean Barrett, T.P. McKenna (Narrator)

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Journey into Space: The World in Peril & The Return from Mars: The Classic BBC Radio Sci-Fi Drama

"The final series of Charles Chilton’s classic 1950s sci-fi trilogy and the gripping 1981 sequel Written by veteran radio producer Charles Chilton, Journey into Space kept Light Programme listeners enraptured between 1953 and 1958. Almost eight million people tuned in to the interstellar adventures of Jet Morgan and his intrepid crew, making it the last UK radio drama serial to beat television in the ratings. This audio collection contains the complete Series 3 of the groundbreaking trilogy, as well as the special 90-minute sequel The Return from Mars. The World in Peril – Continuing the suspenseful story begun in The Red Planet, this 20-part serial, set in 1972, follows Jet and his comrades as they return to Mars with orders to discover all they can about the impending Martian invasion of Britain. Stretched to their limits, they take on the awesome Martian power – and when they discover the astounding secret of the invasion plan, they must race against time to warn a defenceless Earth… Starring Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley-Poynter, Don Sharp and Alfie Bass. The Return from Mars – It’s an ordinary afternoon at London Landing Control. Suddenly, a voice breaks across another aircraft’s frequency: ‘This is the spaceship Discovery’… To the controller’s astonishment, Jet Morgan and his crew are re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere – more than 30 years after they went missing, presumed dead. What happened to Jet and friends during those years? Consulting his diary, Jet begins to tell their astonishing story… Starring John Pullen, Ed Bishop, Nigel Graham and Anthony Hall. Production credits Written and produced by Charles Chilton Music composed and orchestra conducted by Van Phillips The World in Peril Jet Morgan – Andrew Faulds Lemmy Barnett – Alfie Bass Doc – Guy Kingsley-Poynter Mitch – Don Sharp Other parts played by David Jacobs, Alan Tilvern, John Cazabon, Fred Yule and Pat Campbell First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 26 September 1955-6 February 1956 The Return from Mars Jet Morgan – John Pullen Lemmy – Anthony Hall Doc – Ed Bishop Mitch – Nigel Graham Cassia – Elizabeth Proud Nichols – Patrick Barr Wrist radio/Countdown voice – David Bradshawe Pilot/Talian – Graham Faulkner Controller/Radio voice – Stephen Garlick Videophone/Junior officer – John McAndrew Control/Sotteer 2 – Sion Probert Sotteer 1/Harry – Christopher Scott Supervisor/Radio – John Webb Script by Charles Chilton Directed by Glyn Dearman First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme, 7 March 1981 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd."

Charles Chilton (Author), Alfie Bass, Andrew Faulds, Anthony Hall, Don Sharp, Ed Bishop, Elizabeth Proud, Full Cast, Guy Kingsley-Poynter, John Pullen, Nigel Graham (Narrator)

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Mark Twain: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberr

"BBC radio productions of Mark Twain's very best novels and short stories - plus bonus material Mark Twain (real name Samuel Langhorne Clemens), was one of the foremost writers and humorists to come out of the United States. Hailed by William Faulkner as 'the father of American literature', he is renowned worldwide for his classic novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This wide-ranging collection comprises dramatisations and readings of a host of his much-loved stories, from well-known works to less familiar gems. The adaptations include Tony Award-winning Bryony Lavery's rhythmic reworking of The Million Pound Bank Note; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, dramatised by award-winning playwright Marcy Kahan; and The Diary of Adam and Eve, Twain's affectionate satire about the battle of the sexes. They are performed by full casts including Trevor White, Mark Caven, Christopher Jacot, Inika Leigh Wright and Tom Goodman-Hill. Among the readings are an abridged version of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, in which Ed Bishop brings Tom's escapades to colourful life; the little-known yarn The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (read by Jon Glover) telling the tall tale of an inveterate gambler and a talented amphibian; and The Prince and the Pauper (read by Jason Isaacs), an abridgement of Twain's historical fantasy about two identical boys born on the same day - one rich, the other poor. And in Mark Twain Stories, Frasier star Kelsey Grammer reads five of the great author's finest short stories. Also included is Kaleidoscope Feature: The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, charting the troubled 100-year history of Twain's controversial novel, which has gone from being banned to being beloved - and back again. NB: Contains language that listeners may find offensive Cast and credits Written by Mark Twain. First published 1867 (The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County), 1868 (Cannibalism in the Cars), 1870 (The Facts in the Case of the Great Beef Contract, A Ghost Story), 1875 (The Experience of the McWilliamses with Membranous Croup, Niagara), 1876 (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer), 1881 (The Prince and the Pauper), 1884 (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn), 1893 (The Million Pound Bank Note), 1931 (The Private Life of Adam and Eve) The Million Pound Bank Note Dramatised by Bryony Lavery. Produced by Pauline Harris and Sharon Sephton First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 31 December 2011 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Abridged by Brian Miller. Read by Ed Bishop. First broadcast BBC Radio 5, 20-31 May 1991 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Dramatised by Marcy Kahan. Directed by Ned Chaillet. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15-29 December 2002 The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Read by Jon Glover. Produced by Mitch Raper. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 September 1978 The Diary of Adam and Eve Dramatised by Martin Glynn. Produced by Jenny Stephens. Directed by Peter Leslie Wild First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 March 2005 The Prince and the Pauper Read by Jason Isaacs. First broadcast BBC Radio 7, 17 October 2009 Mark Twain Stories: The Facts in the Great Beef Contract, A Day at Niagara, Cannibalism in the Cars, A Ghost Story and Experiences of the MacWilliamses Read by Kelsey Grammar. Abridged and produced by Duncan Minshull. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15-19 September 1997 Kaleidoscope Feature: The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Produced by Paul Quinn. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 May 1996 ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Mark Twain (Author), Ed Bishop, Full Cast, Inika Leigh Wright, Jason Isaacs, Jon Glover, Kelsey Grammer, Tom Goodman-Hill, Trevor White (Narrator)

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Raymond Chandler: A BBC Radio Collection: Starring Ed Bishop as Philip Marlowe

"They never came tougher than Marlowe, a cynical, world-weary, wise-cracking shamus whose honesty in a dishonest world sent him down the mean streets again and again in search of some kind of justice. Ed Bishop stars as Philip Marlowe in these powerfully atmospheric BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of Raymond Chandler's novels. The Big Sleep General Sternwood's daughters came in both the colours of trouble - blonde and brunette - and they had all the usual vices. With four million dollars behind them, blackmail was only a matter of time. And blackmail can be murder. The High Window Linda Conquest was very tough, very kissable and very missing, along with one very valuable old coin. But soon Marlowe finds that everyone who handles the coin suffers a run of very bad luck: they always end up dead. The Lady in the Lake Blonde, beautiful and wild, Crystal Kingsley had never been the faithful little wife. But when she goes missing for a month, and then a woman’s body surfaces in an isolated mountain lake, murder-a-day Marlowe is back in business. The Little Sister Marlowe is on the case of a missing brother from a two-bit Kansas town, who had the embarrassing habit of knowing guys who finished up on the wrong end of an ice-pick. Until, that is, he did too. The Long Goodbye Terry Lennox seemed like a nice guy. Okay, he was a drunk but maybe that could happen to anyone with too much money, too much time and a wife who played the field in a big way. Trouble was, when she ended up dead, it wasn't money that got Lennox to Mexico. It was Marlowe. Farewell My Lovely At six feet five, Moose Malloy is a big man who looks about as inconspicuous as a tarantula on a slice of angel food – and about as dangerous. His girl Velma disappeared eight years ago, and now he wants to find her. Also included in a BBC Radio archive discussion, in which Raymond Chandler and Ian Fleming discuss thrillers and talk about their respective heroes: Philip Marlowe and James Bond. Originally broadcast between 1977 and 1988, these dramatisations also star Don Fellows and Robert Beatty. They were adapted by Bill Morrison and produced by John Tydeman. These are archive dramatisations of the original novels published between 1939 and 1953, and the language used reflects some of the attitudes of those times."

Raymond Chandler (Author), Don Fellows, Ed Bishop, Full Cast, Robert Beatty (Narrator)

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The F Scott Fitzgerald BBC Radio Collection: The Great Gatsby and other BBC Radio readings

"A collection of radio readings of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s fiction – plus two bonus programmes Over the years the BBC has broadcast readings of many of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novels, novellas and short stories. This collection includes some of his most famous works alongside various lesser-known tales, including three ‘lost stories’ (first published in 2017 and with an introduction written by editor Anne Margaret Daniel). Contents and track listing: Track 1-10 - The Great Gatsby - read by Sam Robards Track 11 - The Diamond as Big as the Ritz - read by Garrick Hagon Track 12-31 - Tender is the Night - read by Kenneth Haigh Track 32-34 - Babylon Revisited - read by Stuart Milligan Track 35-36 - The Sensible Thing - read by Stuart Milligan Track 37 - Bernice Bobs Her Hair - read by Laurel Lefkow Track 38 - Financing Finnegan - read by John Sharian Track 39 - The Smilers - read by John Sharian Track 40 - An Alcoholic Case - read by John Sharian Track 41 - Three Hours Between Planes - read by John Sharian Track 42 - Pat Hobby’s Secret - read by Ed Bishop Track 43 - Pat Hobby: Teamed with Genius - read by Ed Bishop Track 44 - Pat Hobby and Orson Welles - read by Ed Bishop Track 45 - Pat Hobby: The Homes of the Stars - read by Ed Bishop Track 46-47 - Thank You for the Light - read by Karen Bartke, with an introduction read by Laurel Lefkow Track 48 - The Couple - read by Finn den Hertog Track 49 - Salute to Lucy and Elsie - read by Stuart Milligan Also included are The Great Gatsby Letters(Track 50), in which F. Scott Fitzgerald tells his editor about his hopes and fears for his new novel, and The Beautiful and the Damned: A Portrait of F. Scott Fitzgerald(Track 51), featuring Ed Bishop and Sarah Keller as Fitzgerald and Zelda. Please note: some of the language in this recording reflects the era in which it was first broadcast."

F. Scott Fitzgerald (Author), Ed Bishop, Finn Den Hertog, Garrick Hagon, John Sharian, Karen Bartke, Laurel Lefkow, Sam Robards, Sarah Keller, Stuart Milligan, William Hope (Narrator)

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New York Stories of O.Henry

"O.Henry was an early 20th Century American short-story writer whose tales romanticized the commonplace; in particular the life of ordinary people in New York City. His stories expressed the effect of coincidence on character through humour, grim or ironic, and often had surprise endings, a device that became identified with his name. (Britannica) In his time O. Henry became the acknowledged master of the short story form, acclaimed by his readers, and the four stories here are charming, witty and shrewed in their observation. 'A Cosmopolitan in a Cafe', 'The Cop and the Anthem', 'The Last Leaf’, and 'A Technical Error'. O. Henry has had many imitators, but few equals. Bostonian actor Ed Bishop reads with great understanding and sensitivity. Credits: cover photo courtesy of Wiki Commons"

O.Henry (Author), Ed Bishop (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Ed Bishop