Audiobooks narrated by James Grout

Craft: Two Full-Cast BBC Comedy Crime Dramas

"Forgery, theft, death and notoriety amidst the inflated valuations of the art world Enjoy this perfect pair of quirky crime dramas featuring art theft, forgery, murder and double-dealing. Craft, tells the story of failed artist, Adam Bax. He is amazed when one of his paintings sells for a large sum, unexpectedly giving him overnight fame. Though still deeply disillusioned with the world of art, he embarks on a little nefarious money-making scheme, aided and abetted by his estranged wife, Tessa. Cashing-in in a way you wouldn’t quite imagine this comedy drama follows the twists and turns of the over-inflated underworld of the British art scene. The story continues in The Tokyo Correction, plunging the listener back into the world of organised crime, deception and the art world. It’s ten years on and disreputable painter Adam Bax is back in London. He’s been on the run in Spain but the big city is calling him home. Penniless and jobless, he's taken under the wing of an old student. He soon finds himself tangled up in a major art deception – and then discovers one of his collaborators has been murdered… These two thrilling and funny dramas are perfect for fans of classic comedy capers and quality drama. Norman Rodway stars as the artist Bax and James Grout as the animated policeman investigating his activities. Ex-wife Tessa is played by Carole Boyd, best known for her iconic role as Lynda Snell in The Archers. Writer Guy Meredith is the talent behind many original radio plays and dramatisations, including Prix Italia-nominated The Surprise Symphony. He was also at the heart of a powerful dramatisation of Albert Camus’s novel La Peste and wrote Mad, Bad, the BBC’s entry for the Prix Futura, starring Bill Nighy. Cast and credits Written by Guy Meredith Directed by Cherry Cookson Adam Bax - Norman Rodway Robert - Geoffrey Collins Quatermain - James Grout Tessa - Carole Boyd Constantine - Neville Jason Fenwick - John Rye His Manservant/Sergeant - John Webb Susan - Helena Breck Nutley/Sergeant - Colin Starkey Colonel Dalby - Garard Green Rivetti - Michael Percival Beth - Ellen McIntosh Nicholas Bonalack - David Ashton Terry Harman - Steve Hodson Herman Dorff - Jonathan Adams Judith - Sandra James-Young Principal - John Baddeley Customer - Melinda Walker First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4th Mar 1984 & 4th Feb 1993 ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Guy Meredith (Author), Carole Boyd, Full Cast, James Grout, Norman Rodway (Narrator)

Audiobook

Any Other Business: A BBC Radio Sitcom

"All six episodes of the small-town comedy about electoral shocks and local government capers When long-serving council leader Roland Whittaker loses his seat to a Monster Raving Loony Party candidate with the same surname and initials, he is both flabbergasted and furious. Young Robin Whittaker (who conducted his entire campaign dressed in a chicken outfit and a Viking helmet) isn’t happy either – he only stood for election as a student prank. Everyone expects him to resign, but he’s persuaded to stick it out, and it’s not long before he’s being proclaimed Mayor (and appointing a very unconventional Mayoress...) With Labour now controlling the council on a wafer-thin majority, the town of Chesbury is facing a hurricane of change – but the old Tory guard aren’t giving up without a fight. And Robin may be full of bright ideas, but his naivety makes him ripe for manipulation. As he attempts to get his head around local government, save Chesbury FC, launch a new currency and deal with Trekkies and a German delegation, will he manage to push through his policies? Or will his schemes be scuppered by argy-bargy, blackmail and political shenanigans? Created by award-winning writer Lucy Flannery (Rent), this wry, well observed sitcom features an exciting ensemble cast including John Duttine, James Grout, Sally Grace, Jan Ravens and June Whitfield. Please note some of the humour on this recording reflects the era in which it was first broadcast Production credits Written by Lucy Flannery Produced by Liz Anstee Starring Matthew Bell, Nelson David, John Duttine, Rosy Fordham, Sally Grace, James Grout, Nick Hardy, Jeffrey Holland, Howard Lew Lewis, Toby Longworth, Jan Ravens, Vivienne Rochester and June Whitfield First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 31 May-5 Jul 1995 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Lucy Flannery (Author), Full Cast, Howard Lew Lewis, James Grout, Jan Ravens, John Duttine, June Whitfield, Nelson David, Nick Hardy, Rosy Fordham, Toby Longworth, Vivienne Rochester (Narrator)

Audiobook

Old Harry’s Game: The Complete Series of the Award-Winning BBC Radio 4 Comedy

"All seven series of Andy Hamilton's fiendishly funny award-winning comedy set in Hell. 'Satirical, philosophical - and devilishly funny' Gillian Reynolds, Daily Telegraph Welcome to Hell - where nobody can ever quite catch the barman's eye. In this collection, which contains all seven series of Old Harry's Game, get ready for some wicked one-liners and scorching satire. Satan is fed up after a millennia in charge of Hell, especially given the prospect of an eternity still running the damned place. Although he does enjoy playing pranks on the world of the living and devising wry torments for the souls in his keeping, he often wistfully recalls his past as an archangel... Over the course of the series, we meet various famous figures now languishing in Hell, including a foul-mouthed Jane Austen, a mindless Helen of Troy and a less-than-heroic Samson. Satan takes Hell resident Thomas on a tour of his life, his assistant Scumspawn has trouble with a pushy computer, and love drives The Professor to extreme action. Satan and The Professor find a huge, empty space in Hell (when they enter Scumspawn's brain), a Health and Safety officer notes that the lighting is inadequate, and Satan punishes a feng shui expert. And then Edith arrives... Seven series of the Sony Award-winning comedy (plus the Christmas and Olympic specials) starring Andy Hamilton as Satan and a regular cast of acclaimed actors including Annette Crosbie as Edith, Timothy West as God, James Grout as The Professor, Jimmy Mulville as Thomas and Robert Duncan as Scumspawn. Production credits Written by Andy Hamilton Produced by Paul Mayhew-Archer First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 November - 28 December 1995 (Series 1), 7 April - 12 May 1998 (Series 2), 24 March - 28 April 1999 (Series 3), 29 March - 3 May 2001 (Series 4), 31 December 2002 - 1 January 2003 (2002 Christmas Special), 20 September - 11 October 2005 (Series 5), 27 September - 1 November 2007 (Series 6), 19 February - 26 March 2009 (Series 7), 23 December - 30 December 2010 (2010 Christmas Special), 12 July - 19 July 2012 (Olympic Special). ©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Andy Hamilton (Author), Andy Hamilton, Annette Crosbie, David Swift, Full Cast, James Grout, Jimmy Mulville, Robert Duncan, Timothy West (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Secret Life of Rosewood Avenue: A BBC Radio 4 comedy

"James Grout stars as a hapless vicar who discovers that life behind suburbia's net curtains is more exciting than he'd expected After being mugged by a pair of pensioners outside the Darby & Joan Club, the Reverend Timothy Carswell has had enough of his rough, tough inner-city parish. Convinced that someone so meek would be better suited somewhere quieter, the Bishop packs him off to a nice, sedate, residential neighbourhood where nothing ever seems to happen. However, unbeknownst to the vicar, his apparently respectable new parish is a hotbed of passion, paranormal experimentation and geriatric prostitution. Under the thumb of his dour Scottish housekeeper, Mrs Muir, who keeps him busy writing long, tedious sermons, he fails to notice the many crimes being committed under his very nose - including burglary, arson and even murder. But when his congregation is stolen by the charismatic American preacher, Elijah Hornblower, he finally realises that something is afoot - and he'll have to fight fire with fire if he wants to keep his flock... Written by acclaimed dramatist Stephen Sheridan, this dry, darkly funny sitcom stars James Grout as Rev Carswell, with Sarah Thomas and Elizabeth Mansfield as Mrs Muir. Production credits Written by Stephen Sheridan Produced by Lissa Evans Cast Rev Timothy Carswell - James Grout Miss Tilling - Margaret Courtenay Miss Tapp/Emily Ford - Jean Heywood Dr Warlock/Bishop - Christopher Good Mrs Muir - Sarah Thomas/Elizabeth Mansfield Mrs Knatchbull - Maxine Audley Cudlipp/Mugger/Critchley - Fraser Kerr Mugger's accomplice/Miss Shaw - Auriol Smith Edwin - Robert Lang Jeremy - Christian Robinson David - Tobias Best Mr Rainbird - David Bannerman Constable/Eric - Ian Lindsay Mrs Garland - Rosemary Martin Arnold - Cyril Shaps Captain Van Thal - Donald Pickering Hilary - Jacqueline Tong Miss Willow - Patricia Hayes Keith - Brian Bowles Maria - Sarah Souster Guy/Jehovah's Witness - Angus Wright Simon Garland - Daniel Strauss Mr Vaughan - Michael Turner Mr Shaw - Ronald Herdman Rev Hornblower - Garrick Hagon Mr Widlake - Brian Miller Mrs Widlake - Bernadine Corrigan First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 26 February-2 April 1991 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Stephen Sheridan (Author), Christopher Good, Elizabeth Mansfield, Full Cast, James Grout, Jen Heywood, Margaret Courtenay, Sarah Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tales from the Perilous Realm: Four BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations

"Four BBC radio dramatisations starring Michael Hordern as Tolkien – plus a special archive compilation exploring Tolkien’s life and work The tales in this collection all reflect an aspect of what Tolkien himself called ‘the perilous realm of Faerie’. Adapted for radio by Brian Sibley, co-writer of the acclaimed BBC radio production of The Lord of the Rings, they are rich in myth, magic and adventure. Among the supporting cast are Brian Blessed, Nigel Planer, Sorcha Cusack, Paul Copley and James Grout. In Farmer Giles of Ham, having accidentally shot a giant, Farmer Giles’ brave reputation is tested by Chrysophylax the dragon. In Smith of Wootton Major, a young boy eats a piece of cake containing a silver star, and is granted access to the magical land of Fäerie. Leaf by Niggle is a thought-provoking allegory of the creative process, and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil features Tom and the Hobbits in scenes from The Lord of the Rings which were not included in the BBC Radio 4 dramatisation. Also included is J R R Tolkien: An Audio Portrait, in which Brian Sibley draws together interviews from radio and television programmes featuring the author himself, his original publisher Rayner Unwin, his biographer Humphrey Carpenter and many others torelate the story of both Tolkien the man and the worlds he created. Duration: 5 hours 50 mins"

Brian Sibley, J.R.R. Tolkien (Author), Alfred Molina, Brian Blessed, Brian Sibley, Full Cast, James Grout, Michael Hordern, Nigel Planer (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by James Grout