Audiobooks narrated by John Bird

Absolute Power: The complete BBC Radio 4 radio comedy series

Stephen Fry and John Bird star in all four series of the BBC Radio 4 satirical comedy, plus the 2006 special episode. Set in the Machiavellian world of modern PR, Absolute Power introduces us to London-based 'government-media relations consultancy' Prentiss McCabe, whose partners Charles Prentiss and Martin McCabe are frequently embroiled in the machinations of the British political system. Prentiss is ruthless, unscrupulous, and will go to almost any lengths to pull off a big commission, while McCabe does have a moral compass, but is too laid-back and fond of claret to use it very often. In episodes that could have been written yesterday, the duo’s targets for makeover include the Conservative Party; The Sun; the Mayor of London; the Church of England; Radio 3; English sporting success; the elderly; prisons; the Prime Minister; the Health Service; a Big Brother star; a tennis pro; men; the BBC; ‘the notion of Nation’; healthy eating and the US Presidential Campaign. This complete collection includes all 21 episodes of the four series, first broadcast between 2000 and 2004, plus the special 2006 episode. Stephen Fry and John Bird star as Charles Prentiss and Martin McCabe, with Tamsin Greig as rival spin doctor Gayle Shand.

Mark Tavener (Author), John Bird, Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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Alice Through the Looking Glass

Ken Campbell, Windsor Davies, John Bird and John Fortune star in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation. When Alice leans too close to the Looking Glass, she suddenly finds herself in a land of caustic characters and twisted logic - a back-to-front world where flowers can talk, Queens can run and a crown could depend on a game of chess... In her bid to become Queen of the Chess Board, Alice must escape the fearful Jabberwock and get to the eighth square. En route, she takes advice - and sometimes downright criticism - from such peculiar folk as Humpty Dumpty, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Lion and the Unicorn, and very helpful gnat. Even when she has passed this test, the ordeal awaits of dinner with the Red and White Queens - and Alice learns an important lesson about not eating food you've been introduced to. This witty adaptation of Lewis Carroll's enduring children's classic boasts the much-loved Jabberwocky poem amongst its sparkling collection of gems.

Lewis Carroll, Stephen Wyatt (Author), John Bird, Ken Campbell, Windsor Davies (Narrator)

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Chambers

Four episodes of the BBC Radio 4 comedy about barristers who never let justice get in the way of making pots of money. Welcome to life in Forecourt Buildings, one of the least prestigious addresses in the world of law. Head of chambers is John Fuller-Carp, whose desperate attempt to win cases often involve some unscrupulous antics, such as asking judges questions like 'Are you senile?' and hitting child witnesses. Starring John Bird, James Fleet and Sarah Lancashire.

Clive Coleman (Author), James Fleet, John Bird, Sarah Lancashire (Narrator)

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Chambers: The Complete Series 1-3: A BBC Radio 4 legal comedy drama

All fourteen episodes of the legal sitcom about a group of barristers who never let justice get in the way of making money John Fuller-Carp, the Machiavellian head of chambers at Forecourt Buildings, is determined to become a QC and will perform almost any moral contortion to achieve his goal. When left-wing Ruth Quirke, rumoured to be a High Court judge's daughter, applies to join his chambers, Fuller-Carp's imagination goes into overdrive and promotion seems inevitable. However, his attempts to project a 'New Labour' image cut no ice with Ruth, and the two are soon at each other's throats. Fortunately, his partner Hilary Tripping is much easier to manage (if somewhat ineffectual) and his clerk Vince, though deeply dodgy, is happy to put his criminal contacts and underworld cunning at Fuller-Carp's disposal. In these three series, he ends up on the wrong side of the law, is embarrassed over animal rights, tries to join the Masons and gets embroiled in a bet with a rival barrister. Meanwhile, Ruth gets a job as a 'Legal Eagle' on breakfast telly, decides to adopt a baby and fakes a family for a client while Fuller-Carp fiddles the books. And when a legal firm invites John, Ruth and Hilary on a team-building outward-bound weekend, disaster ensues... Clive Coleman's sitcom set in perhaps the country's least spectacular law chambers stars John Bird as John Fuller-Carp, with James Fleet as Hilary Tripping and Lesley Sharp and Sarah Lancashire as Ruth Quirke. Among the guest stars are Peter Serafinowcz, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Rebecca Front. Production credits Written by Clive Coleman Produced by Paul Schlesinger First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 April -15 May1996 (Series 1), 11 May-8 June 1998 (Series 2), 9-30 March 1999 (Series 3) Starring John Bird and Sarah Lancashire

Clive Coleman (Author), Alex Lowe, David Harewood, Full Cast, James Fleet, John Bird, Lesley Sharp, Rebecca Front, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Sarah Lancashire, Sue Johnston (Narrator)

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Desolation Jests: A BBC Radio Sketch Comedy

The complete series of the BBC radio sketch show that takes a post-truth look at the history of laughter. A dark, quirky parody of Desert Island Discs, Desolation Jests is a post-apocalyptic sketch show that takes a not-altogether-accurate look at the history of comedy. Featuring faux interviews with spurious celebrities, conducted by the Roy Plomley-esque host JP Doom, it poses the question ‘Which comedy sketches would you most want at your side to face the end of the world?’ Choosing their favourite moments of mirth are Frankie ‘Flesh Eater’ Harris, who talks about life at the top of the ‘Most Wanted’ list; Viktor Schmelling, Emeritus Professor of Princeton University’s Faculty of Laughter; Lucian Bile (aka Rot Caries), Britain’s first and only punk dentist and Sydney Pynchlink, the innovative director behind some of the country's most admired weather forecasts. Among the counter-factual comedy clips singled out for posterity are the fast-talking lunacy of the Klutz Brothers’ classic A Day at the Proctologists, the atheist episode of Sunday Worship; most of an announcement from the Ministry of Unfinished Business, and a lobster with a rather crucial piece of evidence. Created by award-winning TV writer David Renwick (One Foot in the Grave, Jonathan Creek), Desolation Jests’ stellar line-up includes John Bird and Rory Bremner (Bremner, Bird and Fortune), as well as Dead Ringers star Jan Ravens and comedy legend David Jason. Written by David Renwick Starring: David Jason, John Bird, Jan Ravens, Rory Bremner With Christopher Timothy, Adie Allen, James Lailey and Nick Underwood Produced by Gareth Edwards Production Coordinator: Sophie Richardson A BBC Studios Production First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 13 December 2016-3 January 2017

David Renwick (Author), David Jason, Jan Ravens, John Bird, Rory Bremner (Narrator)

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George Cragge: In the Red & other mysteries: Four BBC Radio 4 dramas

A collection of four blackly humorous crime mysteries featuring the fictional BBC Radio crime correspondent, George Cragge. Adapted from the novel by Mark Tavener, In the Red sees the anarchic George Cragge investigate a spree of bizarre murders in the world of City finance, a small political party contesting a by-election, and a plan to overthrow the Director-General of the BBC.The sequel, In the Balance, features George Cragge kicking off a murder trail during the FIFA World Cup at Wembley Stadium. And with Europe becoming a hot potato, can the Prime Minister hold onto his job? In the Chair follows the maverick hack as he looks into a series of murders of dentists linked to New Labour policy.The final drama, In the End, sees George Cragge investigating a series of murders of journalists.These four comedy thrillers star Michael Williams as George Cragge with Barry Foster as Police Supertintendant Frank Jefferson. The star casts also include Stephen Fry, John Bird, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Peter Serafinowicz, Hugh Laurie, Rebecca Front and Richard Griffiths.

Mark Tavener (Author), , Barry Foster, Hugh Laurie, John Bird, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Michael Williams, Peter Serafinowicz, Rebecca Front, Richard Griffiths, Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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Ustinov At Eighty

In this much-praised interview, octogenarian Peter Ustinov talks to John Bird. The man of many talents has an astonishing range of accomplishments behind him as an Oscar-winning film and theatre actor, author of novels, plays and screenplays. He is also a raconteur, graphic artist, photographer, stage director and designer and the recipient of many humanitarian awards for his work with UNICEF and UNESCO. In this interview he talks about his hectic life and times, about family life, schools sports, the army, spying, Hollywood and radio comedy with Peter Jones, Nero and Pol Pot, God and Andre Agassi. Originally broadcast on Radio 4 in April 2001, unheard material and an introduction by John Bird is included, making it equally attractive to those who heard the original radio broadcast and new listeners alike.

Peter Ustinov (Author), John Bird (Narrator)

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Whose Line Is It Anyway?: The complete BBC radio series

The hit improvisation radio show that spawned the TV phenomenon Regular team captains Stephen Fry and John Sessions are joined by Lenny Henry, Dawn French, Hugh Laurie, Enn Reitel, Jimmy Mulville, Nonny Williams, Griff Rhys Jones, Kate Robbins, John Bird, Rory Bremner and Jon Glover, as they battle their way through a succession of games and romp through a world of literary styles, TV theme tunes, and film genres. Chairman Clive Anderson desperately tries to hold the whole thing together and the guests make it up as they go along in this riot of improvisation. First heard on BBC Radio 4 in January 1988, Whose Line is it Anyway? went on to run for 10 series on Channel 4 and found success in America. Based on comedy suggestions from the studio audience, this is ad-libbed comedy at its best. With Colin Sell at the piano. Devised and compiled by Mark Leveson, with additional material by Martin Booth. Produced by Dan Patterson

Dan Patterson, Mark Leveson (Author), Clive Anderson, Dawn French, Griff Rhys Jones, Hugh Laurie, John Bird, John L. Sessions, Kate Robbins, Lenny Henry, Rory Bremner, Stephen Fry (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by John Bird