Audiobooks Narrated by Glyn Houston

Empty World & more: A BBC Radio Sci-Fi Collection: Four Post-Apocalyptic Adventures

"Four speculative stories of disasters, dystopias and destroyed civilisations John Christopher is probably best known for his seminal science ficion novel The Death of Grass and his ‘Tripods’ trilogy for young adults, which was adapted for BBC TV and became a cult classic. Alongside John Wyndham, he was one of the foremost exponents of ‘disaster fiction’, and these four fantastic productions all centre around post-apocalyptic themes – from deadly diseases and parasitic aliens to environmental catastrophe and ruined earths... Empty World – When teenager Neil is orphaned in a car crash, he is left reeling. But worse is to come, for shortly after, humanity is devastated by a worlwide pandemic. Initially, the ‘Calcutta Plague’ kills only the elderly, but as a more virulent strain emerges, it starts to claim younger victims – including children. Soon, Neil finds himself navigating a deserted, dangerous world, where the few remaining survivors will do anything to stay alive. John Hollis is the narrator, with Richard Drabble as Neil, in this gripping tale set in 1970s England. The Possessors – Following an avalanche, the inhabitants of a Swiss chalet find themselves cut off from the nearby village. They have no electricity and no phone – but they have oil lamps, a solid fuel cooker and plenty of provisions, so the situation doesn’t seem too dire. Yet deep beneath the snow, an alien spore is stirring. Hywel Bennett reads this chilling story of extraterrestrial possession. The World in Winter – A dramatic fall in the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's atmosphere leads to a new Ice Age. Joining a flood of European refugees, journalist Jack Leedon seeks sanctuary in Nigeria: but is soon desperate to return to the frozen wasteland of his former home... Starring Jack Watling, Dennis Alaba Peters, Glyn Houston, Rosalind Shanks and Margaret Robertson. The New Wine – Autumn 2029, and lovers Ellen and Harl are meeting for the last time. Harl is about to embark on an interstellar voyage that to him will last eight years, but which will span a century back on Earth. Ellen, meanwhile, is poised to launch ‘Project X’, which will transform the next generation of humans into telepaths. One hundred years later, Harl’s crew step out of the ship to find a world irrevocably changed… Christopher Bidmead reads John Christopher’s unsettling short story exploring the perils of scientific hubris. Cast and credits Empty World Cast: John Hollis, Richard Drabble, Philip Davis, Tanya Ronder, Elizabeth Lindsay, Sandra Clark, Lee Galpin, Denys Hawthorne, Vicky Ireland, John Talbot and Henry Stamper Adapted by Kara May Produced by Peter Fozzard First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 Jan-6 Feb 1986 The Possessors Read by Hywel Bennett Adapted by Brian Gear Produced by Pamela Howe First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 Apr-20 Jun 1987 The World in Winter Cast: Haydn Jones, Jack Watling, Dennis Alaba Peters, Glyn Houston, Margaret Robertson, Rosalind Shanks, Ian Thompson, Christopher Bidmead, Lionel Ngkane, Lockwood West, Peter Williams, Jumoke Debayo, Alexander John and Frank Cousins Adapted by Jon Rollason from the novel by John Christopher Produced by Keith Williams First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 Mar 1968 The New Wine Read by Christopher Bidmead Abridged by Ronald Russell First broadcast BBC Home Service, 19 May 1967 (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

John Christopher (Author), Christopher Bidmead, Darrell Brockis, David Mitchell, Dennis Alara Peters, Glyn Houston, Gus Brown, Hywel Bennett, Jack Watling, John Hollis, Margaret Robertson, Rebecca Egan, Richard Drabble, Rosalind Shanks (Narrator)

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Maxim Gorky: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Five Full-Cast Productions

"Full-cast productions of five plays by the celebrated Russian author, plus a reading of one of his most famous short stories 'stellar performances from some of the best actors of their generation' - Entertainment Focus Alexei Maximovich Peshkov, known under his pseudonym Maxim Gorky, was one of Russia's greatest Soviet writers and the founder of the ‘socialist realism’ literary movement. Nominated for the Nobel Prize five times, his best-known works include the short story ‘Twenty-Six Men and a Girl’ and his seminal play The Lower Depths. Both are included in this collection, as well as four more acclaimed dramas. The Lower Depths – The arrival of the vagrant Luka has unexpected consequences for the down and out denizens of a Moscow dosshouse... First performed in 1902, Gorky’s pioneering play was the first to introduce Russian audiences to characters who were on the fringes of society, and was an instant success. This 1997 production, adapted by Alan Plater, stars Glyn Houston, with John Woodvine, Malcolm Storry, Laurence Allan and Joe Caffrey. Summerfolk – Spending the summer at their forest dachas, a group of middle-class holidaymakers embark on affairs, intrigues and amateur dramatics, but cannot escape the hollowness of their lives. Written as a response to Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, Gorky’s 1904 play depicts the Russian bourgeoisie on the brink of tremendous social change. Initially performed at the National Theatre, this adaptation stars Christine Pritchard, Simon Armstrong, Kelly Hunter and Ruth Jones. Enemies – Summer 1905, and as Russia stands on the edge of revolution, landowner and textile factory owner Zakhar Bardin and his intransigent managing director are at odds over the sacking of a foreman. The situation quickly spins out of control – with tragic consequences… Allan McClelland and Timothy Bateson star in this powerful dramatisation of Gorky’s 1906 play, which was censored by both Russia’s Tsarist regime and by Stalin. Vassa Zhelyeznova – Iron-willed Vassa has always done whatever it takes to build up the family business. Now, as her husband lies dying, she is engaged in a life-and-death struggle over its future. This 1986 radio production stars Billie Whitelaw, who won a Sony Radio Award for Best Actress for her performance as Vassa. The Old Man – Set in provincial Russia at the turn of the century, Maxim Gorky’s philosophical drama centres around a successful building contractor whose life is shattered by the intrusion of an old man he knew in the past. This classic radio production from 1974 stars Freddie Jones, Maxine Audley and Alan Webb. Twenty-Six Men and a Girl – Working day and night making pretzels in an airless basement, a group of bakers have only one solace: Tanya, the young seamstress who visits every day to enjoy their wares. But then the soldier arrives, determined to seduce her… Read by Joe Melia. First published 1899 (‘Twenty-Six Men and a Girl’), 1902 (The Lower Depths), 1902 (Summerfolk), 1906 (Enemies), 1910, revised 1935 (Vassa Zhelyeznova), 1915, revised 1922 and 1924 (The Old Man). All rights reserved © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Maxim Gorky (Author), Alan Webb, Allan McClelland, Billie Whitelaw, Christine Pritchard, Freddie Jones, Full Cast, Glyn Houston, Joe Caffrey, Joe Melia, John Woodvine, Kelly Hunter, Laurence Allan, Malcolm Storry, Maxine Audley, Ruth Jones, Simon Armstrong, Timothy Bateson (Narrator)

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The Poetry of Wales

"Wales - The Poetry Of - An Introduction. This proud nation with it's long history; sometimes rough, hewn from bleak landscapes, sometimes gently soft from its comforting voices has produced a long succession of artists and poets. In the latter category Louis MacNeice most probably stands pre-eminent, his words and phrasing are on a plane few can equal and most are in awe of. But in this volume we do put forward others who have their own words and voice to add to this rich tapestry. Wilfred Owen, Henry Vaughan, George Herbert and Edward Thomas amongst them."

Ann Griffiths, Dylan Thomas, George Herbert, Wilfred Owen (Author), Angharad Rees, Glyn Houston, Richard Mitchley, Sian Phillips (Narrator)

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