Audiobooks narrated by Frances Barber

Doctor Who: Eleventh Doctor Novels Volume 5: 11th Doctor Novels

"Nicholas Briggs, Frances Barber, David Troughton, Clare Corbett and Dan Starkey read these original stories about the Eleventh Doctor, also featuring Clara and the Paternoster Gang. In The Dalek Generation, by Nicholas Briggs, the Doctor is determined to find out the truth about Sunlight 349, one of the apparently benevolent Dalek Foundation worlds. In Shroud of Sorrow, by Tommy Donbavand, it’s the day after John F Kennedy’s assassination, and the Doctor and Clara discover that the faces of the dead are everywhere. Tales of Trenzalore, by Justin Richards, Mark Morris, George Mann and Paul Finch, relates four stories of the Doctor’s exploits during the nine hundred years he spent defending the planet. In Summer Falls, by James Goss, young Kate discovers a mysterious painting called The Lord of Winter, and goes on an adventure she could never have planned. In The Devil in the Smoke, by Justin Richards, two young boys decide to build a snowman, and are confronted with a strange and grisly mystery. Madame Vastra is on hand to help save the world! (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd."

George Mann, James Goss, Justin Richards, Mark Morris, Nicholas Briggs, Paul Finch, Tommy Donbavand (Author), Clare Corbett, Dan Starkey, David Troughton, Frances Barber, Nicholas Briggs (Narrator)

Audiobook

Nikolai Gogol: A BBC Radio Collection: Nine Full-Cast Dramatisations

"A definitive collection of Gogol’s best-known works, adapted for BBC Radio with star casts including Toby Jones, Michael Palin, Mark Heap, Frances Barber and Russell Tovey Ukrainian-born humorist, dramatist and novelist Nikolai Gogol is widely believed to have led the realist revolution in Russian literature. His surreal, absurdist satires liberated comedy from its sentimental traditions and influenced writers both within Russia and worldwide, among them Fyodor Dostoevsky, Franz Kafka and Flannery O’Connor. Generally acknowledged as Gogol’s masterpiece, The Government Inspector caused such uproar when first performed in 1836 that he was driven into exile. With its satirical swipes at political self-serving, sleaze and vice, it remains relevant today, as this dazzling dramatisation, starring Toby Jones, shows. A comic tour de force about human folly and one of the jewels of Russian literature, Dead Souls sees the charming Chichikov (Mark Heap) arriving in a Russian provincial town with the Narrator (Michael Palin) on a mission to buy up dead serfs – but his quest soon arouses suspicion. Three Ivans, Two Aunts and an Overcoat comprises six comic plays based on some of Gogol’s greatest short fiction and set in 19th-century Russia: ‘The Two Ivans’, ‘The Overcoat,’ ‘Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt’, ‘The Nose’, ‘The Mysterious Portrait’ and ‘The Diary of a Madman’. Griff Rhys Jones and Stephen Moore star in these colourful, inventive tales. Also adapted from a short story, Christmas Eve tells of the magic and mayhem that ensues when the Devil (Nickolas Grace) steals the moon on the night before Christmas. Rounding off this anthology is a bonus documentary, Tim Key and Gogol's Overcoat, in which the acclaimed poet and comedian explores Nikolai Gogol’s classic ‘The Overcoat’, described by Nabokov as ‘the greatest Russian short story ever written’. As he looks into this fantastical fable about a clerk whose desire for a new coat changes his life – and ultimately destroys him – Key spins his own surprising and anarchic tale, with contributions from Russian experts, an East End tailor, Alexei Sayle and John Motson. First published 1831 (Christmas Eve), 1832 (‘Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt’), 1835 (‘The Two Ivans’, ‘The Mysterious Portrait’, ‘The Diary of a Madman’), 1835-1836 (‘The Nose’), 1836 (The Government Inspector), 1842 (Dead Souls, ‘The Overcoat’) © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Nikolai Gogol (Author), Frances Barber, Full Cast, Griff Rhys Jones, Mark Heap, Michael Palin, Patrick Barlow, Russell Tovey, Stephen Moore, Tim Key, Toby Jones (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sir Lenny Henry: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Four Full-Cast Plays & Lenny Henry’s Rogues Gallery

"A quartet of original radio plays and nine darkly comic tales by Sir Lenny Henry Sir Lenny Henry has had a long and successful career as a comedian, impressionist, actor and presenter. Having starred in several plays in the West End and on radio, he was inspired to complete an MA in screenwriting and in 2011 penned his first radio drama, Corrinne Come Back and Gone, which opens this collection. He continued his writing career with three more Radio 4 plays and nine episodes of his comic monologue series Lenny Henry’s Rogues Gallery. Collected here for the first time, listen to these poignant and humorous original dramas, featuring an all-star cast including Frances Barber, Clare Perkins, Nadine Marshall, Claire Benedict, Tyrone Huggins, George Fouracres, Peter Bankolé and Lenny Henry himself. Corrinne Come Back and Gone – When Corrinne Jackson receives a letter from her daughter, inviting her to return to Jamaica after twenty years, she is overjoyed. Two decades ago, she left her abusive husband and fled to the UK, leaving her children behind. Now he is dead, and there’s a chance to set things right… Miss You Still – Grief-stricken after losing his wife and daughter, Midlands bus driver Charlie has shut himself off from the world. Then his colleague Joyce reaches out, sending her teenage daughter to help him. But the last thing 16-year-old Roxanne wants on her hands is a smelly old man who hears voices… A moving, funny story with a touch of the supernatural. Amsterdam – Taking her boyfriend and difficult teenage sons on a bonding trip to the Dutch capital, Juliet is hoping it will be a family weekend to remember. However, it’s not long before things start to go pear-shaped… In Vino Veritas – Reverend Marcus Campbell is a popular, charismatic pastor. His huge congregation adore him, and he’s about to do a deal with an American cable network that will see him preaching to an even bigger audience. But has success made him lose sight of his true purpose? Lenny Henry’s Rogues Gallery – Comprising two series and a Christmas Special, this anthology of genre-bending comic monologues, written by Lenny Henry, all have a twist in the tale. Among the characters telling their unusual stories are a blind man who experiences a modern-day miracle, an American GI who embarks on a life-changing relationship, a family butcher whose son is a musical prodigy, and a frustrated artist with a robot butler… Cast and credits Written by Lenny Henry Corrinne Come Back and Gone Starring Claire Benedict, Doña Croll, Nadine Marshall, Clare Perkins, Petra Letang, Alex Lanipekun and Leah Ocran Produced and directed by Claire Grove Miss You Still Starring Lenny Henry, Clare Perkins, Bunmi Mojekwu, Amit Shah, Alex Lanipekun and Tranae Sinclair Produced and directed by Claire Grove Amsterdam Starring Frances Barber, Tyrone Huggins, Lee Hodge, Jack Loxton, James Lailey, Ewan Bailey, Scarlett Brookes, Adie Allen, Anne Bunting, Marc Beeby and Shuming Chen Directed by Mary Peate In Vino Veritas Starring Lenny Henry, Nadine Marshall, John Bradley, Peter Bankolé, Martina Laird, McKell David, Sean Murray, Lewis Bray, Cameron Percival, Liam Lau Fernandez, Elizabeth Counsell, Emma Handy, Ryan Whittle and Jeanette Percival Directed by Mary Peate Lenny Henry’s Rogues Gallery Performed by Lenny Henry, Monica Dolan, Tanya Moodie and George Fouracres Produced by Sam Michell © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Lenny Henry (Author), Clare Perkins, Frances Barber, Full Cast, George Fouracres, Lenny Henry, Nadine Marshall (Narrator)

Audiobook

Colette: Gigi, Cheri and more: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

"Writer Colette’s classic works brought to life in a unique audio collection Listen for the first time to this stunning collection of five of Colette’s most celebrated works, compiled and created by BBC Radio. French author and woman of letters, Colette is best known for her 1944 novella Gigi, which became the stage musical launching the career of Audrey Hepburn. Known for her frank, direct and honest way of writing about women and female friendships, Colette’s stories champion the female perspective and all feature strong women protagonists. Considered immoral and shocking at the time, her works are now cherished as a fresh insight into the female experience of the era and she is celebrated for the sheer quality of her writing. This exclusive collection includes, Gigi, Cheri, Claudine at School, The Vagabond and Sido and features performances from Lindsay Duncan (Sherlock, Starter for 10, Doctor Who), Paul Ritter (Friday Night Dinner), Frances Barber, Brigit Forsyth and Dame Peggy Ashcroft. Also included is a bonus edition of In Our Time, hosted by Melvyn Bragg as he and guests discuss Colette, her life, her works and her significant cultural impact. In the classic Gigi, we follow the story of a young woman in Paris, who is being groomed by her grandmother for the life of a courtesan. Cheri is a semi-autobiographical story following an enduring love affair between a courtesan and a man half her age. Claudine at School is heavy with erotic over tones, and this full cast dramatisation explores the life of the enchanting Claudine as she navigates her journey to womanhood. The Vagabond tells the story of a divorcée dancer in a Paris music hall, she is pursued by a wealthy admirer. Will she allow herself to fall in love a second time? Finally, Dame Peggy Ashcroft narrates Sido, based on Colette’s memories of her own mother. Text copyright © Colette 1900 (Claudine at School), 1910 (Vagabond), 1920 (Cheri), 1929 (Sido), 1944 (Gigi) Gigi Translated from the French and adapted by Barbara Bray Produced by Raymond Raikes Cast: Margaret Robertson, Margaret Rawlings, Carol Marsh, Robert Hardy, Hilda Kriseman, Ian Thompson, Isabel Jeans Cheri Directed by Pauline Harris Cast: Lindsay Duncan, Joseph Millson, Frances Barber, Brigit Forsyth, Laura Harding, Conrad Nelson, Judith Davis Claudine at School Adapted by Yvonne Mitchell Produced and directed by Liane Aukin Cast: Fidelis Morgan, Rosalind Adams, Anne Rosenfeld, Jean Rogers, Nigel Lambert, Diana Bishop, Joan Matheson, Carole Hayman, Haydn Jones, Pamela Moiseiwitsch, Shane Briant, Michael Harbour, Peter Howell, Timothy Bateson, Edward Kelsey The Vagabond Dramatised by Charlotte Cory Directed by Mary Peate Cast: Clare Higgins, Paul Ritter, Allan Corduner, David Thorpe, Jasmine Hyde Sido Abridged by B. J. Salmon Read by Dame Peggy Ashcroft In our Time – Colette Presented by Melvyn Bragg. Text copyright © Colette 1900 (Claudine at School), 1910 (Vagabond), 1920 (Cheri), 1929 (Sido), 1944 (Gigi) ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Colette Avital (Author), Brigit Forsyth, Clare Higgins, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Joseph Millson, Lindsay Duncan, Melvyn Bragg, Paul Ritter, Robert Hardy (Narrator)

Audiobook

Jenny and Julie’s BBC Radio Dramas: On Baby Street, TwilightBaby.com and more

"A collection of comedies and dramas about modern women’s lives and loves, starring Jenny Eclair Jenny Eclair is one of Britain’s most-loved stand-up comedians, and the first woman to win the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. She has written several acclaimed books, including the Sunday Times bestseller Older and Wider: A Survivor's Guide to the Menopause, and appeared on numerous TV and radio shows including Grumpy Old Women and Just a Minute. Collected here are some of her finest radio comedies and dramas, centred around women who are at a turning point in their lives. On Baby Street introduces us to three neighbours discovering the delights of parenthood. Series 1 sees them preparing for their new arrivals; in Series 2, the babies are born and the fun begins; and in Series 3, the children are toddlers, and their parents’ lives are changing. TwilightBaby.com takes a similar comic look at motherhood, as Cass, a 46-year-old with grown-up kids, finds to her shock that she is pregnant again. Over two series, we follow her as she blogs about being an ‘older’ mum, whilst endeavouring to keep the rest of her family in work and out of trouble. Just Juliette sees talk show host Juliette Johnson trying to balance marriage, motherhood and the media. As the two series unfold, she is on the verge of losing her job, her husband and her mind… And in the four-part comedy Dear Jenny, Dear Julie, two long-time pen pals – a Blackpudlian and an Australian – meet for the first time in London, and paint the town red. The pitfalls of fame are explored in two standalone dramas: Jason’s Mum, about a single mother with a chart-topping son, and The Andy Warhol Syndrome, in which housewife Carol becomes a reality TV celebrity, but has to deal with the aftermath when the cameras stop rolling. And in two dramatic monologues, In Convenience and He’s Leaving His Wife, Jenny Eclair takes us into the worlds of an unhappy wife preparing to host a dinner party on the worst of all possible days, and a mistress waiting on tenterhooks for her lover to tell his wife that their marriage is over. Written by Jenny Eclair and Julie Balloo, these witty, intimate comedy dramas boast stellar casts, including All Murray, Frances Barber, Kathy Burke, Kevin Eldon, Claire Skinner, Linda Robson, Emerald O’Hanrahan, Peter Sallis, Helen Lederer, Paul Merton, Nicholas Parsons and Ronni Ancona. Cast and credits Written by Jenny Eclair and Julie Balloo On Baby Street With Jenny Eclair, Tilly Vosburgh, Keith Allen,Lee Cornes, Caroline Hook, Claire Skinner, Matilda Ziegler, Graham Fellows, Hugh Ross, Frances Barber, Kathy Burke/Linda Robson, Kevin Eldon, Sue Elliot-Nicholls, Eva Stuart, James Sutton, Julie Balloo, Ronni Ancona and Al Murray Produced by Jane Berthoud and Helen Williams TwilightBaby.com With Jenny Eclair, Kevin Eldon, Joseph Cohen-Cole, Emerald O'Hanrahan, Felicity Montagu, Philip Fox, Stephen Hogan, Kate Layden, Sean Baker, Christine Kavanagh, Sally Orrock Directed by Sally Avens Just Juliette With Jenny Eclair, Jeff Rawle, James Fleet, Annabel Giles, Jan Goodman, Peter Sallis, Sylvia Syms, Robert Duncan, Jane Whittenshaw, Simon Upson, Jon Culshaw, Julie Balloo, Anthony Best, Martin Hyder and Deborah Stevenson Produced by Helen Williams and Claire Jones Dear Jenny, Dear Julie With Jenny Eclair, Julie Balloo, Helen Lederer, Nicholas Parsons and Paul Merton Produced by Sioned Wiliam Jason’s Mum Starring Linda Robson and Jenny Eclair Produced by Jane Berthoud In Convenience Performed by Jenny Eclair Directed by Sally Avens The Andy Warhol Syndrome With Jenny Eclair, Ewan Bailey, Jan Goodman, Gerard McDermott, Harry Myers and Ronni Ancona Produced by Liz Webb He’s Leaving His Wife Performed by Jenny Eclair Directed by Mary Peate © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Jenny Eclair, Julie Balloo (Author), Al Murray, Claire Skinner, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Graham Fellows, Jenny Eclair, Julie Balloo, Kathy Burke, Kevin Eldon, Linda Robson, Nicholas Parsons, Paul Merton, Ronni Ancona (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Hauntening: The Complete Series 1-4: A BBC Radio 4 Comedy

"Modern technology is terrifying. The average smartphone carries out 3.36 billion instructions per second. The average person can carry out only one instruction in that time. Stop and think about that for a second. Sorry, that's two instructions; you won't be able to do that. But what if modern technology was... literally terrifying? What if there really was a ghost in the machine? Prepare to travel through the bad gateway as acclaimed actor, writer and comedian Tom Neenan (The Mash Report) finds out what horrors may be lurking in our apps and gadgets. From a dating app with paranormal parameters to a sinister smart fridge, a petrifying Peloton, a nightmarish NFT and a word game that turns n*sty, tech blogger Tom discovers the dark side of our beloved devices - with hair-raising results... This box set includes every series of the humorously horrifying anthology/sitcom - including Series 4, which has never previously been released on audio. Jenny Bede co-stars as Tom's friend Heidi, and special guests include Frances Barber, Nicola Walker, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Andy Nyman, Martin Jarvis, Lewis MacLeod, Joanna Lumley and Peter Davison. The show comes from Pozzitive, proud producers of Cabin Pressure, John Finnemore's Double Acts, Thanks a Lot, Milton Jones!, Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive and Kevin Eldon Will See You Now. Production credits Written by Tom Neenan Produced and directed by David Tyler A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4 Cast Tom - Tom Neenan Heidi - Jenny Bede The Cabbie/Reynolds - Roger Morlidge Jane - Kath Hunter Voice of the app - Frances Barber Debbi - Kath Hughes Asag/Dominic/Dean - Ewan Bailey William - Vincent Franklin Amar/The Waiter/'Rency - Naz Osmanoglu Taxi Controller - Georgie Fuller Camilla - Nicola Walker Felixxx - Ivan Gonzalez The Operators - Nina Sosanya, Alison Senior, Lucy Thackeray, Robert Wilfort Tony/The Waiter/Dennis - Dan Tetsell Dr Conroy - Julian Rhind-Tutt Elicia - Georgie Glen DI Gerry - Nicholas Woodeson DC Freck - Ethan Lawrence Olivia - Freya Parker Charlie - Andy Nyman The Advert - Rebecca Gethings Cam - Martin Jarvis June - Phoebe Horn Police Officer - Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong The Deepfakes - Lewis MacLeod Lance - Joseph May Ken - Steve Brody The Archivist - Geoffrey Whitehead The Barman - Morgan Jones With Joanna Lumley and Peter Davison as themselves First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11-18 October 2017 (Series 1), 17-31 October 2018 (Series 2), 14 October-4 November 2020 (Series 3), 5-26 October 2022 (Series 4) © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd."

Tom Neenan (Author), Andy Nyman, Dan Tetsell, Ewan Bailey, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Geoffrey Whitehead, Jenny Bede, Joanna Lumley, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Martin Jarvis, Nicola Walker, Nina Sosanya, Rebecca Gethings, Tom Neenan (Narrator)

Audiobook

David Edgar: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: 17 Full-Cast Productions including The Shape of the Table

"David Edgar – one of Britain’s greatest living playwrights – introduces a collection of his outstanding works David Edgar is among the UK’s leading contemporary dramatists, well known for his powerful plays chronicling Britain's changing political landscape over the past 50 years. This radio anthology begins with the award-winning Destiny, adapted for radio by Edgar himself, in which he analyses the rise of the right-wing National Front movement. In Saigon Rose, the sexual revolution is under the spotlight, as a couple and their cohorts are forced to face the darker side of the Swinging Sixties. This is followed by a play adapted from the journals of a South African lawyer – The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs is a dramatic account of his arrest and solitary confinement. Mary Barnes recounts the struggles of the titular heroine with her own madness, and Ecclesiastes deals with a fundamentalist preacher. A Movie Starring Me centres around a TV soap star and her obsessive fan, while Entertaining Strangers is about the struggle between a fundamentalist parson and a town’s first woman brewer. The 1984 miners’ strike forms the backdrop to That Summer. Two plays from Edgar’s ‘Iron Curtain Trilogy’ are next: The Shape of the Table and Pentecost, examining themes of negotiation in the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Talking to Mars looks at the collapse of the Cold War through the eyes of an international radio station. The Secret Parts is a gripping murder mystery, adapted for radio by David Edgar from the novel written by his late wife Eve Brook. Playing with Fire is a powerful exploration of racial tensions in multicultural Britain, and Something Wrong about the Mouth is about a man who wants to commission a portrait of a woman he can't produce, dressed for an event that didn't occur. If Only finds a Labour spin doctor, a Tory MP and a Lib Dem party worker stranded by the Icelandic ash cloud. David Edgar’s 2019 solo show, Trying It On, sees him delving into the background of his landmark play, Maydays. This collection concludes with Maydays, refashioned by Edgar into a sweeping three-part audio epic charting the journey of idealistic young activists from the far-left to the die-hard right. Track List: 01: Introduction by David Edgar 02-05: Destiny 06-08: Saigon Rose 09-11: The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs 12-13: Mary Barnes 14-15: Ecclesiastes 16-17: A Movie Starring Me 18-19: Entertaining Strangers 20-21: That Summer 22-23: The Shape of the Table 24-28: Pentecost 29-30: Talking to Mars 31-32: The Secret Parts 33-34: Playing with Fire 35: Something Wrong About the Mouth 36-37: If Only 38: Trying It On 39-41: Maydays Written by David Edgar The Secret Parts written by Eve Brook Text copyright © David Edgar 1976 (Saigon Rose, Destiny), 1977 (Ecclesiastes), 1978 (The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs), 1979 (Mary Barnes), 1983 (Maydays), 1987 (That Summer), 1990 (The Shape of the Table), 1991 (A Movie Starring Me), 1994 (Pentecost), 1996 (Talking to Mars), 2005 (Playing with Fire), 2007 (Something Wrong About the Mouth), 2013 (If Only), 2018 (Trying It On) The Secret Parts text copyright © Eve Brook 2000 All rights reserved © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

David Edgar (Author), Adjoa Andoh, Alison Steadman, Andy Serkis, Bill Paterson, Celia Imrie, Charles Dance, Damian Lewis, David Morrissey, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Hattie Morahan, Henry Goodman, Jason Watkins, Samantha Bond, Simon Callow, Tim Mcinnerny (Narrator)

Audiobook

Intrigue and Satire: Later Restoration Comedies: 11 BBC Radio Full Cast Productions including The R

"A dazzling collection of comedies from the later Restoration period England's 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 and the reign of new monarchs William and Mary signified a turning point for Restoration comedy with laws being passed to restrict playwrights' freedoms. The latter years are marked by a shift towards more moral storylines, mixing humour with social and political issues, alongside the lighthearted 'comedy of manners'. The works in this collection bring together these complementary styles, full of humour while also focusing on hard hitting themes. We open with a 1688 piece by Aphra Behn, England's first professional female writer. Oroonoko is a powerful critique of the slave trade centring around a betrayed African prince. Adapted for BBC Radio, it stars Leo Wringer. A pre-eminent Restoration dramatist, William Congreve was renowned for his witty dialogue and brilliant characterisation, exemplified in the plays The Old Bachelor, The Double-Dealer and Love for Love. As heard on BBC Radio, these sparkling satirical portraits of romance, deception and the battle of the sexes star James Dale, Nicholas Parsons, Michael Spice and Maxine Audley. In her 1696 tragedy The Royal Mischief playwright and pamphleteer Delarivier Manley tackled gender politics rather than party politics. This BBC Radio adaptation stars Sian Thomas as the transgressive princess Homais, whose unrestrained sexual desire represents a threat to both the monarchy and the patriarchy. A loveless marriage is under the spotlight in The Provok'd Wife, John Vanburgh's outspoken 1697 comedy of sex, debauchery and revenge that is Restoration comedy at its finest. Saskia Reeves stars as Lady Brute, with Julian Rhind-Tutt as confirmed bachelor Heartfree. Irish playwright George Farquhar stormed the London stage with his 1699 comedy The Constant Couple, featuring a wealthy heiress seeking revenge, and the three rivals vying for her hand. Its popularity was mainly due to its rakish hero, Sir Harry Wildair, played in this BBC dramatisation by Alec Clunes. It is followed by William Congreve's The Way of the World, a comic masterpiece that exposes the grasping falsity of fashionable London society. Sheila Hancock stars, with Alex Jennings, Robert Glenister, Frances Barber and Indira Varma. Susanna Centilivre's 1705 comedy The Basset Table explores several hot topics of the time: the rise of science, gambling and female education. Featuring two strong, independent heroines determined to dodge unwanted marriages, this delightfully exuberant comedy stars Eleanor Bron and Danielle Allan. Concluding this collection are George Farquhar's two most popular plays. The Recruiting Officer, starring Paul Higgins and Lisa Dillon, is set in Shrewsbury during the War of the Spanish Succession, where wives are recruited while soldiers are wooed. Meanwhile, in The Beaux' Stratagem, starring Simon Treves and Dale Rapley, two rakes arrive in Lichfield from London in search of fortune... Content list Oroonoko First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 24 August 1990 The Old Bachelor First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 3 Jun 1966 The Double-Dealer First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 17 Jan 1969 Love for Love First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 18 Feb 1965 The Royal Mischief First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 28 Oct 1990 The Provok'd Wife First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 Dec 2004 The Constant Couple First broadcast BBC Network Three, 9 Jun 1967 The Way of the World First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 27 Apr 2003 The Basset Table First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 10 Aug 1990 The Recruiting Officer First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 18 Dec 2011 The Beaux' Stratagem First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 19 Feb 1990 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Aphra Behn, Delarivier Manley, George Farquhar, John Vanburgh, Susanna Centivre, William Congreve (Author), Adjoa Andoh, Alex Jennings, Celia Imrie, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Hugh Bonneville, Indira Varma, Josie Lawrence, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Kris Marshall, Nicholas Parsons, Peter Eyre, Sheila Hancock, Sian Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Irène Némirovsky: Four BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisations: The Dogs and the Wolves, Jezebel, The Mis

"BBC radio adaptations of four acclaimed works from the bestselling Ukrainian-born author Irène Némirovsky Best known for her posthumously published novel Suite Française, Irène Némirovsky was born in Kiev in 1903. Her family fled the Russian Revolution for Paris, where she found fame as a novelist. But when the Nazis occupied France, she was arrested as a Jew and sent to Auschwitz, where she died aged just 39. This collection includes four of her best works, dramatised for radio with a full cast. The Misunderstanding - Scarred by war, Yves returns to the Spanish resort of his childhood. There he meets beautiful, bored Denise, and the duo embark on an affair. But their love is challenged by mutual misunderstanding. Described as Némirovsky's Madame Bovary, this compelling tale of passion and regret stars Sarah Smart and Joseph Kloska. Jezebel - 1935, and Gladys Eysenach, a beautiful, elegant woman obsessed with her lost youth, is on trial for shooting dead her much younger lover. Delving into her past, she recounts the key events that led to the murder. Frances Barber stars as Gladys, with Anna Francolini as Némirovsky. Dolce - In 1941, a German regiment is billeted in a French village. In the Angellier household two warring women pack away their valuables and prepare to meet the enemy. An adaptation of the second, standalone volume of Némirovsky's masterpiece, Suite Française, this searing depiction of France under German occupation stars Sian Thomas, Eve Best, Deborah Findlay and James D'Arcy. The Dogs and the Wolves - Growing up during the Jewish pogroms in Ukraine, Ada falls in love with her rich cousin, Harry Sinner. But her poor cousin, Ben, is in love with her. When both families move to Paris, Ada becomes an artist, while Harry moves in elite French society. Then one day, he sees two of Ada's paintings, and her life is changed forever... Sarah Smart stars as Ada, with Carl Prekopp as Harry and Graeme Hawley as Ben, in Némirovsky's epic tale of family, finance and fate. First published 1926 (The Misunderstanding), 1937 (Jezebel), 2006 (Dolce), 2009 (The Dogs and the Wolves) Cast and credits Written by Irène Némirovsky Translated by Sandra Smith The Misunderstanding Cast: Joseph Kloska, Sarah Smart, Charlotte Sienna Lee, Jake Ferretti, Evan Jones, Rupert Hill, Emma Gregory Dramatised by Lin Coghlan Directed by Pauline Harris First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21-25 January 2019 Jezebel Cast: Frances Barber, Anna Francolini, Natasha Cowley, David Sterne, Keziah Joseph, Victoria Brazier, Conrad Nelson, Ellen Dryden, John Catterall, Ashley Margolis Dramatised by Ellen Dryden Produced and directed by Pauline Harris First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7-11 November 2016 Dolce Cast: Sian Thomas, Eve Best, Deborah Findlay, James D'Arcy, Alex Tregear, Stuart McLoughlln, Teresa Gallagher Adapted by Penny Leicester Produced and directed by Di Speirs First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14-18 August 2006 The Dogs and the Wolves Cast: Anna Francolini, Sarah Smart, Carl Prekopp, Graeme Hawley, Sydney Wade, Ellis Hollins, Ben Hanley, Will Tacey, Olwen May, Fiona Clarke, Natalie Grady, Will Tacey Dramatised by Ellen Dryden Produced and directed by Pauline Harris First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 10-14 June 2013 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Irène Némirovsky (Author), Anna Francolini, Carl Prekopp, Eve Best, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Graeme Hawley, Joseph Kloska, Natalie Grady, Sarah Smart, Sian Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Hare Lane Diaries: A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Drama

"Frances Barber and David Bamber star in this light-hearted sitcom about the diary-writing inhabitants of 11 Hare Lane When newly widowed Jessica decides to rent a room to recently divorced Rex, she's a little apprehensive. She's never had a lodger before, and he's not used to being a tenant. Neither are quite sure how their relationship works - and to make things trickier, they're wildly different people. But unbeknownst to either of them, they share a secret - they both keep a diary. Taking turns to read from their respective journals, they relate their thoughts, hopes, dreams and first impressions of each other, which are somewhat less than flattering. He finds her aloof, she thinks he's too eager to please - and when his dodgy DIY skills leave her seething, she retaliates by letting his room to mature student Charles, a tall, attractive blond who looks like a poet. Relegated to the boxroom by 'Lord Byron', and beset by work frustrations and a demanding ex-wife, Rex is left feeling disheartened. Meanwhile, Jessica makes a shocking discovery about her late husband that leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew about their marriage. Living parallel lives under the same roof, can Rex and Jessica learn to rub along together? And as they fill up their diaries with their deepest feelings, will they ever get around to confiding in one another? Adapted by Lyndon Mallet from his acclaimed novel of the same name, this warm, gentle comedy drama stars Frances Barber as Jessica and David Bamber as Rex. Production credits Written by Lyndon Mallet Directed by Kate Valentine and Peter Kavanagh Original music by Simon Cryer First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11-18 September 2000 (Episodes 1 & 2), 10 September-1 October 2001 (Episodes 3-6) Cast Jessica - Frances Barber Rex - David Bamber ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Lyndon Mallet (Author), David Bamber, Frances Barber (Narrator)

Audiobook

Posters of the Moulin Rouge: Eight BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas based on the characters of Toulouse-

"Toulouse-Lautrec's iconic Parisian poster stars come to life in these full-cast dramas, set in 19th-century Montmartre 1889, Paris. When Charles Zidler's extravagant pleasure palace, the Moulin Rouge, opens in bohemian Montmartre, he commissions local artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec to create a series of posters to promote it. The striking lithographs Henri produces will make his name - and launch the careers of the performers he portrayed. This sparkling collection of plays introduces us to eight of those legendary artistes, whose lives were as vivid as Lautrec's paint. It opens with Yvette Guilbert, the story of a singer whose dreams of wealth and fame lead her to a brand new cabaret on Boulevard de Clichy.... In The Boneless Wonder, we meet can-can dancer Valentin Renaudin. Merely a silhouette in Toulouse-Lautrec's poster, what is he in real life? La Goulue tells the tale of his famous partner, Louise Weber, whose soubriquet reflects her love of food and life. And in Jane Avril, we hear about Henri's muse, whose nickname 'Crazy Jane' didn't simply refer to her exuberant dancing. May Belfort explores the Irish singer turned lady of the night, who relied more on her beauty than her voice. In Footitt and Chocolat, a circus double act is in danger of drifting apart; while in Casque d'Or, a group of passionate revolutionaries make a fatal last stand. Finally, Aristide Bruant sees the socialist club owner becoming a fashionable success - against all his intentions. He needs to find a new direction: as does Yvette Guilbert... Created by award-winning writer John Peacock, these dazzling dramas will transport you to Belle Époque Paris, in all its glamour and decadence. The star casts include Julie Covington as Yvette Guilbert, Frances Barber as La Goulue, Bonnie Langford as May Belfort, Bernard Hill as Aristide Bruant and Miranda Richardson as Marie Briand. Written by John Peacock Directed by Jane Morgan Music by Stephen Warbeck Technical presentation: David Greenwood, assisted by Anne Bunting and Colin Guthrie © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

John Peacock (Author), Angela Pleasence, Bernard Hill, Bonnie Langford, Clarence Smith, Dermot Crowley, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Julie Covington, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Thorne (Narrator)

Audiobook

Little Lifetimes: Series 1-6: A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Where Women Share Their Secrets

"A sparkling collection of comic monologues by Jenny Eclair, about women facing pivotal moments in their lives ‘Exquisitely crafted’ Radio Times In these funny, poignant short stories, voiced by some of Britain’s finest actresses, we are introduced to 29 very different women as they open their hearts and share their secrets. Here are tales of love, grief, revenge and adventure, told by a wealth of fascinating characters. There’s Bea, a top cook who’s about to prepare a very special birthday cake for her husband; Christine, who takes up watercolours and discovers inspiration can be found in the most unexpected places; Patsy, a rock star’s wife with a past and Penny, who takes looking after her boss a bit too far. From a grandmother visiting a posh supermarket to buy her grandchildren a meal they won't forget, to a cleaner who discovers some secrets behind the Farrow and Ball doors of the middle-class homes she visits, every one of the women we meet has a memorable, moving and surprising tale to tell... Among the star narrators are Lesley Sharp, Anita Dobson, Imelda Staunton, Josie Lawrence, Frances Barber, Samantha Bond, Doon Mackichan and Anne Reid. Produced by Sally Avens Series 1 Fifteen Minutes to Landing Woman – Lesley Manville Captain James Barrington – Clive Hayward Air Hostess – Jane Slavin Carol Goes Swimming Carol – Lorraine Ashbourne Manager – Jane Slavin A Trolley for a Change Pat – Ruth Sheen Checkout woman – Elaine Claxton Security guard – Clive Hayward Lauren – Jane Slavin George’s Cake Bea – Susie Blake The Viewing Reader – Annette Badland Doing the Best for Daniel Reader – Jenny Eclair Series 2 Lorna’s Holiday Lorna – Lesley Sharp Christine Paints Christine – Rosie Cavaliero Beverley in Shoes Beverley – Samantha Spiro Points Gail – Sarah Hadland A Slight Alteration Reader – Tessa Peake-Jones Waiting for Billy Patsy – Anita Dobson Series 3 Leo’s Passport Penny – Imelda Staunton Caroline – Karen Bartke Hannah’s Gone Hannah’s Mum – Josie Lawrence Mothers and Daughters Coral – Frances Barber Girl – Karen Bartke Boy – Luke MacGregor Anthea’s Round Robin Anthea – Samantha Bond Series 4 The Last Day Miss Cavendish – Vicki Pepperdine The Visit Reader – Doon Mackichan The Nannas Dawn – Tilly Vosburgh A Nice Time with All the Family Julie – Beverley Callard Series 5 A Long Weekend Cathy – Anne Reid The Kitchen Table Reader – Monica Dolan The Book Club Belle – Lucy Robinson Greta Doesn’t Want to Wait for Godot Greta – Amelia Bullmore"

Jenny Eclair (Author), Anita Dobson, Anne Reid, Doon Mackichan, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Imelda Staunton, Jenny Eclair, Josie Lawrence, Lesley Sharp, Samantha Bond (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Frances Barber