Audiobooks Narrated by Jane Wenham

Life and Intrigue in Tudor Britain: A Collection of BBC Radio Historical Docu Dramas

"Six gripping dramatised documentaries detailing the history of the turbulent Tudor period. Passion, power, sex and suspicious deaths – the Tudor story is one of drama and dysfunction, and it has kept us enthralled for over 400 years. In these six dramatised documentaries, we take a behind-the-scenes look at Tudor England and get to know the key characters we have grown to love and hate, such as Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Compiled from contemporary sources by Alison Plowman and featuring first-hand accounts and letters, these thrilling, historically accurate retellings bring this tumultuous era to vivid life. The Most Unhappy Lady spans three critical years in the life of Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, and later Queen of England. It begins in 1533, when her father divorces her mother and marries Anne Boleyn. Refusing to accept the validity of Henry’s actions, Mary finds herself facing danger and disgrace… In Elizabeth's Admiral, we follow the events which took place in the immediate aftermath of Henry VIII’s death in 1547 – events which led to the execution of the Lord High Admiral Thomas Seymour and came near to seriously compromising the future of the 15-year-old Princess Elizabeth. The Killing at Kirk O’Field, set between March 1566 and June 1567, tells the tragic tale of the murder of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary Queen of Scots: a crime that remains one of the most controversial 'whodunnits' of all time. Chance or Villainy? explores the mysterious death of Amy Robsart in 1560. Her husband, Lord Robert Dudley, was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I and was rumoured to be having an affair with her – so when Amy was found dead at the foot of a staircase, it seemed that a serious crisis might ensue… In A Knot of Secret Might, we hear the ill-fated love story of Lady Katherine Grey, sister of the doomed ‘Nine-Day Queen’ Lady Jane Grey. And in The Great Enterprise, 1588, we are transported back to sixteenth-century Spain, as Philip II prepares to launch his ‘Invincible Armada’... Among the ensemble casts of these superb docu-dramas are Beryl Calder, Haydn Jones, Marjorie Westbury, Kathleen Helme, Patricia Leventon, Nerys Hughes and Roger Delgado. Credits Compiled from contemporary sources by Alison Plowden Special thanks to Keith Wickham for Archive material. The Most Unhappy Lady Produced by Joe Burroughs First broadcast BBC Home Service, 22 Dec 1964 Elizabeth’s Admiral (A Pattern of Tudors) Produced by Joe Burroughs First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24 Apr 1968 The Killing at Kirk O’Field Produced by Alison Plowden First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18 Sep 1969 Chance or Villainy? (A Pattern of Tudors) Produced by Joe Burroughs First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 Feb 1966 A Knot of Secret Might Produced by Richard Wortley First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 Oct 1970 The Great Enterprise, 1588 (A Pattern of Tudors) Produced by Joe Burroughs First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11 Aug 1968 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alison Plowden (Author), Beryl Calder, Frank Duncan, Full Cast, Haydn Jones, Jane Wenham, Kathleen Helme, Madi Hedd, Marjorie Westbury, Nerys Hughes, Nigel Lambert, Patricia Leventon, Pauline Letts, Richard Hurndall, Roger Delgado, Stephen Thorne (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Amateur Detective Roger Sheringham: The Poisoned Chocolates Case and Jumping Jenny

"Two BBC Radio full-cast dramas from the master of classic crime Anthony Berkeley was a journalist, novelist, and founding member of the Detection Club - whose members included Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers - and was one of crime fiction's greatest innovators, developing the idea of the psychological crime novel in the 1920s and 30s. One of his recurring and most-beloved characters was Roger Sheringham, a novelist and amateur detective. In these two classic tales, Roger Sheringham must investigate two terrible murders: The Poisoned Chocolates Case, from 1929, sees him taking up the challenge when Scotland Yard admits defeat after months of investigations. How was a woman poisoned by a box of chocolates that weren't even intended for her? Who was the intended victim? And who was the terrible mind behind it? Roger and his amateur detective friends will each have a turn to put forward their own personal theories about the dreadful crime... In Jumping Jenny, written in 1933, Roger attends a party with the questionable theme 'famous murderers and their victims', only to discover that one difficult guest has been deliberately killed on one of the party's props. When Roger suspects one of his close friends may be involved, he decides to meddle in the evidence - but is he putting his own life at risk with this mischievous intervention? Witty, subversive, and fiercely clever, these wonderful crime mysteries by the renowned writer are just the thing for fans of The Lady Detectives, Maigret's Collected Cases, and Dashiell Hammett: The Maltese Falcon and other Adventures. Cast and credits The Poisoned Chocolates Case Roger Sheringham - Neil Stacy Mrs Fielder-Flamming - Hilda Schroder Sir Charles Wildman - Conrad Phillips Moresby - Victor Winding Chitterwick - Michael Bilton Bradley / Smithson - Geoffrey Collins Alicia - Jane Wenham Lockwood - William Eedle Bendix - Mark Straker Sir Eustace - Clive Panto Mrs Bendix - Eileen Tully Marguerite - Deborah Cranston Novel by Anthony Berkeley Dramatised by Neville Teller Directed by Brian Miller First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 14 January 1984 Jumping Jenny Ronald Stratton - Trevor Martin Roger Sheringham - Hugh Burden Colin Nicolson - Simon Lack Dr Philip Chalmers - Hamilton Dyce Laura Chalmers - Judy Bailey Ena Stratton - Joan Newell David Stratton - John Scott Osbert Williams - Philip Cunningham Agatha Lefroy - Monica Kirton Dr Frank Mitchell - David Bird Margot - Sheila Manahan Mrs Williams - Molly Rankin Inspector Crane - Keith Williams Coroner - Richard Williams Novel by Anthony Berkeley Adapted by H. Oldfield Box Produced by David H. Godfrey First broadcast on BBC Home Service, 14 November 1959 NB: Due to the age of this recording, the sound quality may vary. ©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Cast and credits"

Anthony Berkeley (Author), Conrad Phillips, Full Cast, Hamilton Dyce, Hugh Burden, Jane Wenham, Joan Newell, John Scott, Michael Bilton, Neil Stacy, Sheila Manahan, Simon Lack, Trevor Martin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free