Audiobooks narrated by George Cole

Personal Column: 10 Full-Cast Vintage BBC Radio Dramas

"Who is behind the mysterious advert reading ‘Wife available – what offers?’ What prompted a ‘third girl’ to suddenly pack her bags and leave her flatshare? And when a newly married couple’s honeymoon period comes to an abrupt end, is the wedding dress to blame? Conceived by respected writer Philip Levene, whose writing credits include 19 episodes of ITV’s The Avengers, these ten full-cast dramas read between the lines of newspaper personal ads to tell captivating tales of the human condition – each with an unexpected twist. The stories range from a rookie blackmailer who learns the pitfalls of the business and a husband and wife who get more than they bargain for when they try to sell some old jewellery, to a lonely librarian who hires a personal escort for an important date and a dodgy insurance broker who takes drastic measures to try and avoid exposure. Written by esteemed TV scriptwriters and starring a host of well-known names including Carole Boyd, Bernard Horsfall, Anne Stallybrass, George Cole and Wendy Craig, this entertaining and varied anthology is a treasure trove from the golden age of radio. This series of vintage radio plays was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme, 20 March – 25 September 1967. Episodes: Findings Keepings by Philip Levene Evening Out by Jill Hyem No Square Deal by Eddie Maguire Third Girl Wanted by Jill Hyem Off to a Good Start by Dawn Pavitt & Terry Wale What Am I Bid? by Eddie Maguire Home and Away by Dawn Pavitt & Terry Wale Time for a Coat by Andrew Sachs This Column Every Friday by Arnold Yarrow The Companion by Philip Levene © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Andrew Sachs, Arnold Yarrow, Dawn Pavitt, Eddie Maguire, Jill Hyem, Philip Levene, Terry Wale (Author), Bernard Horsfall, Brenda Bruce, Charles Leno, Cyril Shaps, Francis Matthews, Full Cast, George Cole, Gerald Flood, Mary Wimbush, Nigel Anthony, Pauline Yates, Wendy Craig (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Ealing Comedy Collection: BBC Radio Full-Cast Remakes of The Ladykillers, Kind Hearts and Corone

"A quartet of classic Ealing comedy films, reimagined for BBC Radio Between 1947 and 1957, Ealing Studios produced a series of immensely popular, darkly funny film comedies that made the West London borough famous throughout the world. Almost 50 years later, four of these timeless films were recreated for BBC Radio 4, and are now collected together for the first time. The Ladykillers – Eccentric elderly widow Mrs Wilberforce unwittingly foils a gang of crooks lodging in her London house under the pretext they are a string quintet. Dramatised by award-winning playwright Bruce Bedford from the much-loved 1955 film, this captivating crime caper stars Edward Petherbridge, Donald Sinden, Margot Boyd, Johnny Morris and Stratford Johns. Kind Hearts and Coronets – Disinherited by his snobbish aristocratic familly, Louis Mazzini sets out to gain his rightful place as a Duke by bumping off the other eight D’Ascoyne heirs who stand ahead of him. But then he is arrested for the one murder he didn’t commit… Michael Kitchen stars as Mazzini and Harry Enfield as the various members of the D’Ascoyne family in this brilliant dramatisation of the classic 1949 comedy film. Passport to Pimlico – When an undetonated World War Two bomb accidentally goes off, the explosion reveals a cache of treasure – including an ancient treaty declaring that the residents of Pimlico are actually part of the Duchy of Burgundy… Adapted by acclaimed scriptwriter John Peacock from the evergreen 1949 film, this delightful drama stars George Cole, Louise Lombard and Sylvia Sims. Whisky Galore – It is the middle of World War Two, and the residents of the Hebridean islands Great Todday and Little Todday are facing a whisky drought. Then a cargo ship bound for America runs aground carrying 50,000 cases – but can the islanders keep this unexpected bounty secret? Bernard Holley and Dolina MacLennan star in this witty dramatisation of Compton Mackenzie and Angus MacPhail’s 1949 film. Written by Wiliam Rose (The Ladykillers), Robert Hamer and John Dighton (Kind Hearts and Coronets), T E B Clarke (Passport to Pimlico) and Compton Mackenzie (Whisky Galore!) © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Compton Mackenzie, John Dighton, Robert Hamer, T.E.B. Clarke, Wiliam Rose (Author), Bernard Holley, Dolina Maclennan, Donald Sinden, Edward Petherbridge, Full Cast, George Cole, Harry Enfield, Johnny Morris, Louise Lombard, Margot Boyd, Michael Kitchen, Stratford Johns, Sylvia Sims (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Life of Bliss: A BBC Radio 4 vintage comedy

"George Cole stars in the classic BBC Radio sitcom about a bashful, bumbling bachelor First broadcast in 1953, A Life of Bliss ran for six series and 118 episodes on radio, concluding in 1969 when a TV series was made. Sadly, most are missing from the BBC archive (including the first seven, starring David Tomlinson) - but 19 were rescued and rebroadcast by BBC Radio 4 Extra, and are included here. They chronicle the misadventures of shy, absent-minded bachelor David Bliss, who goes through life with his head in the clouds and his mind in a fog. His friends and family agree that it's high time he settled down, but it's hard to find the right girl - though he's sure she'll come along sooner or later. Perhaps pretty Penny Gay will fit the bill - or Maxine, or Zoe... In the meantime, he's happy to live the single life: though he does keep finding himself in awkward situations. Fortunately, his sister Anne and brother-in-law Tony are around to provide support and encouragement - and he can always rely on his best friend, faithful canine companion Psyche. Created by Godfrey Harrison, who went on to write TV scripts for Tony Hancock, this delightfully light comedy stars George Cole as Bliss, with Diana Churchill as Anne, Colin Gordon as Tony and Percy Edwards as Psyche the Dog. Among the guest stars are Petula Clark, Desmond Carrington and Donald Sinden. Production credits Written by Godfrey Harrison Announcer: Kenneth Kendall BBC Variety Orchestra conducted by Paul Fenhoulet Produced by Leslie Bridgmont First broadcast on the BBC Home Service on the following dates: Finding a Girlfriend 20 October 1954 Office Secrets 13 August 1957 Maxine 20 August 1957 The Flat 27 August 1957 Penny Gay's Return 3 September 1957 Two Dozen Red Roses 31 December 1958 A Spy in the Camp 7 January 1959 A Woman Scorned 21 January 1959 An Expert In Confusion 28 January 1959 A Slave of Fashion 4 February 1959 A Moving Story 11 February 1959 United They Stay 18 February 1959 Oh Brother 25 February 1959 Battle of the Sexes 4 March 1959 The Anniversary 11 March 1959 Man at Bay 18 March 1959 Mixed Feelings 25 March 1959 Dangerous Company 1 April 1959 Pleasure As Usual 8 April 1959 Cast David Bliss - George Cole Anne Fellows - Diana Churchill Tony Fellows - Colin Gordon Psyche the Dog - Percy Edwards Penny Gay - Petula Clark Mrs Bliss - Gladys Young Mr Bliss - Ernest Jay/Carleton Hobbs Mr Hood - Barry K. Barnes Maxine Avery - Sarah Lawson Zoe Hunter - Sheila Sweet Marcia Hammond - Gwen Cherrell Phil Bender - Donald Sinden With Terence Alexander, Maxine Audley, Desmond Carrington, Belle Chrystall, Felix Felton, Gladys Henson, Nan Kenway, Rolf Lefebvre, Sheila Manahan, Hugh Manning, William Mervyn, Rosemary Miller, Ella Milne, Elsa Palmer, Judith Stott, Eleanor Summerfield, Frederick Treves, Ruth Trouncer, Una Venning, Tony Vickers, Virginia Winter ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Godfrey Harrison (Author), Colin Gordon, Diana Churchill, Full Cast, George Cole, Percy Edwards, Petula Clark (Narrator)

Audiobook

Giant’s Bread

"A spellbinding novel of romantic obsession. Vernon Deyre is a sensitive and brilliant musician, even a genius. But there is a high price to be paid for his talent, especially by his family and the two women in his life. His sheltered childhood in the home he loves has not prepared Vernon for the harsh reality of his adult years, and in order to write the great masterpiece of his life, he has to make a crucial decision with no time left to count the cost… Famous for her ingenious crime books and plays, Agatha Christie also wrote about crimes of the heart, six bittersweet and very personal novels, as compelling and memorable as the best of her work."

Agatha Christie (Author), George Cole (Narrator)

Audiobook

Three Act Tragedy

"Hercule Poirot is a guest at a weekend house party, given at the Cornish cliff top home of the celebrated actor Sir Charles Cartwright. The other visitors include keen amateur detective Mr Satterthwaite and distinguished Harley Street nerve specialist Sir Bartholomew Strange. Death visits the house soon after Poirot's arrival, the victim an elderly clergyman who's only had a sip of dry martini. What else was in the glass? Are natural causes to blame... or murder? In Monte Carlo a short time later, Poirot and his acquaintances hear of another, similar death. Is this a mere coincidence - and can Poirot resist further investigation? Everyone concerned will be much relieved if he does. Meanwhile, a third tragedy is waiting in the wings... George Cole, Michael Cochrane and Clive Merrison are amongst the cast in this adaptation of Agatha Christie's intriguing mystery."

Agatha Christie (Author), Clive Merrison, Full Cast, George Cole, John Moffatt (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by George Cole