Audiobooks Narrated by Georgia Groome

Tales of Terror: A BBC Radio Gothic Drama Collection: The Castle of Otranto, The Monk, The Mysteries

"Four full-cast dramatisations of classic Gothic novels, plus documentaries exploring the genre’s rise and enduring appeal Dark deeds, dastardly villains, innocent victims and supernatural happenings – these are the terrifying tropes that make up Gothic fiction, a genre that has captured our imagination for over 250 years. Blending both classic and modern dramatisations, this specially curated anthology couples thrilling masterpieces with insightful documentaries… We begin with A Gothic Quest, in which Louise Welsh examines what ‘gothic’ really means, and takes a look at its many appearances in poetry, fiction, art, architecture and film. In A Guided Tour of the Castle of Otranto, Rory McGrath explores the origins of gothic horror, first manifested in Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel. It is followed by a dramatisation of The Castle of Otranto itself, a dark supernatural tale of duplicity and dynastic rivalry. Treading warily into the book’s strange world in Kaleidoscope Feature: A Little Gothic Castle, Peggy Reynolds draws parallels between Walpole’s vision for his London villa, Strawberry Hill, and the haunted mansion in the novel. Next, we unveil the male gothic in a gripping drama featuring disguise, abduction, incest and murder. The Monk, based on the 1796 classic by Matthew Lewis, tells the story of Ambrosio (Michael Pennington), who is tempted into breaking his vows of chastity by a beautiful young nun. The dawn of the female gothic is revealed in The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, centred on a powerless young heroine trapped in an isolated castle and pitted against an evil Italian Count. Showcasing the Gothic satire is Jane Austen’s 1817 novel Northanger Abbey, poking fun at the popular sensation fiction of her day. In this witty drama, Catherine Morland is taken to Bath for the season, and finds that in her fertile imagination, danger and hair-raising horrors lurk around every corner. Georgia Groome, Miriam Margolyes and Bridgerton’s Luke Thompson star in this full-cast dramatisation. Wrapping up our collection is In Our Time: Gothic, which sees Melvyn Bragg and guest experts considering the origins and significance of the 18th century Gothic movement. First published 1764 (The Castle of Otranto), 1794 (The Mysteries of Udolpho), 1796 (The Monk), 1817 (Northanger Abbey) Content List Part 1. Gothic Imagination A Gothic Quest Presented by Louise Welsh Part 2. The First Gothic Novel: The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole A Guided Tour of the Castle of Otranto Presented by Rory McGrath The Castle of Otranto cast and credits to be announced Kaleidoscope Feature: A Little Gothic Castle Presented by Peggy Reynolds Part 3. Unveiling A Male Gothic: The Monk by Matthew Lewis The Monk Starring Michael Pennington, Sorcha Cusack, Emily Morgan, Christopher Douglas, Brian Smith, Jenny Funnell, Tessa Worsley, Mary Wimbush, Simon Hewitt, Anne Jameson, Alan Thompson, Melinda Walker, Mia Soteriou, Allan McClelland, Garard Green, Graham Blockey, Peter Acre, David Learner and Bernard Brown Part 4. The Dawn of a Female Gothic: The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe The Mysteries of Udolpho Starring Georgia Groome, Tracy Wiles, John Dougall, Finlay Robertson, Luke Thompson, Natasha Cowley, Stephen Wight, John Bowler, Karen Bartke and Alison Belbin Part 5. Gothic Satire: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Northanger Abbey Starring Georgia Groome, Luke Thompson, Tracy Wiles, Kim Wall, Ainsley Howard, Alison Belbin, John Bowler, Karen Bartke, Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Wight, Finlay Robertson, Natasha Cowley, John Dougall, Nick Murchie, Keziah Joseph and Luke MacGregor Part 6. Gothic Legacies In Our Time: Gothic Presented by Melvyn Bragg With Chris Baldick, A N Wilson and Emma Clery © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Ann Radcliffe, Horace Walpole, Jane Austen, Matthew Lewis (Author), Full cast, Garard Green, Georgia Groome, John Bowler, Karen Bartke, Louise Welsh, Luke Thompson, Melvyn Bragg, Miriam Margolyes, Rory McGrath, Tracy Wiles (Narrator)

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The Pale Horse: A full-cast BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

"A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of the atmospheric murder mystery novel by Agatha Christie, first published in 1961. A dying woman confesses a terrible secret to her priest along with a cryptic list of nine names. Before he is able to uncover anything more, the priest is struck dead in the fog and the police discover the list in his shoe. Our hero Mark Easterbrook, a historian, learns of a secretive organisation known as The Pale Horse and of their supernatural connections in the village of Much Deeping. The list of names seems to foretell the deaths of several people and Mark must piece together the clues and unearth the connections between them all. Who is behind the strange powers of The Pale Horse? Dramatised by Joy Wilkinson Directed by Mary Peate"

Agatha Christie (Author), Clive Haywood, Elaine Claxton, Eleanor Bron, Full Cast, Georgia Groome, Georgie Fuller, Jane Slavin, Jason Hughes, Michael Bertenshaw, Nicholas Jones, Phoebe Pryce, Ron Cook (Narrator)

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Children's Crusade Memoirs Of A Teenage Radical

"Evie, a phenomenally bright but socially marginalised fifteen year-old, has had it with Western Civilization. Self-educated in the ideas of the Luddites, Mao and T.E. Lawrence, she wants to launch a mission against technology and the damage she believes it has wrought on the human race. She's taken a look at human history and decided it's time things changed. For good. But can she get her mobile-addicted classmates to join with her?"

Philip De Gouveia (Author), Christine Kavanagh, Georgia Groome, Iain Batchelor, Leah Brotherhead, Luke Treadaway, Nicholas Boulton, Sally Orrock (Narrator)

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The Bat Man: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

"A BBC Radio 4 'Afternoon Play' starring Bill Nighy as widower Christopher, originally broadcast on 20 April 2011.When his wife died three years ago, Christopher fled London for a simpler existence in Cornwall, where he has settled on bat protection as his mission. Colette and her noisy daughters rent the holiday cottage next door and disturb the peace - both his and that of his beloved bats.'The Bat Man' stars Bill Nighy, Katherine Parkinson, Jenny Agutter, Sean Baker, Lauren Mote and Georgia Groome."

Amelia Bullmore (Author), Bill Nighy, Georgia Groome, Jenny Agutter, Katherine Parkinson, Lauren Mote, Sean Baker (Narrator)

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The Snow Goose

"A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Paul Gallico’s ‘The Snow Goose’ by Nick Warburton, starring Steven Mackintosh. When 'Open Book' asked various authors to champion a favourite neglected classic on the programme, Michael Morpurgo chose 'The Snow Goose'; perhaps no surprise, with his own story 'War Horse' depicting a friendship between a boy and his horse which takes them both into the horror of World War I. In ‘The Snow Goose’, A wounded bird brings together a disfigured artist and a young girl on the eve of World War II. With Steven Mackintosh as Philip Rhayader, Georgia Groome as Fritha, Deborah Findlay as Mrs Farnes and Sam Dale as the storyteller. Also featuring Michael Shelford, Malcolm Tierney and David Seddon. Directed by Sally Avens."

Paul Gallico (Author), Deborah Findlay, Full Cast, Georgia Groome, Steven Mackintosh (Narrator)

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