Audiobooks narrated by Jonathan Forbes

The Betrothed: A Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation

"A full-cast dramatisation of Italy’s iconic novel The Betrothed is a sweeping epic, packed with the passion of Les Misérables, the power of War and Peace and the action of Ivanhoe. Set in 17th century Italy, this is the ultimate story of love, faith, justice and power. Engaged couple, Renzo and Lucia must overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to be together. Lombardy, their region of northern Italy, is under Spanish occupation, and when the Spaniard Don Rodrigo blocks their union, in an attempt to have Lucia for himself, the couple are forced to resist his plots. Their love is thwarted at every turn by the hazards of war, bread riots and the machinations of a nameless crime lord. This gripping listen chronicles their unforgettable romance through tyranny, war, famine and plague. Renzo and Lucia are tested again and again, but can their union endure? Performed by a full cast, this stunning saga is masterfully brought to life and available to download for the first time as a complete listen. First published in 1827 as I Promessi Sposi, this icon of Italian literature as well as the country’s most popular novel, has never been out of print. Groundbreaking in its day, and hugely influential to succeeding generations, Alessandro Manzoni’s masterpiece has long been considered one of Italy’s national treasures. It is so integral to contemporary Italian culture every schoolchild reads it to this day. If you liked Les Misérables, War and Peace or Ivanhoe, then you will love The Betrothed. This is a must listen for any fan of classical literature. The Betrothed is a story that has, thought the centuries, been celebrated by writers, artists and composers such as Verdi, Primo Levi, Natalia Ginzburg, Umberto Eco and Pope Francis. A bona fide canonical classic hiding in plain sight - The Wall Street Journal Cast and credits Written by Alessandro Manzoni Adapted by Eileen Horne Directed by Gaynor Macfarlane Lucia - Hiftu Quasem Renzo - Ian Dunnett Jnr Father Abbondio - Paul Higgins Gabriel/Servant Boy - Joel Maccormack Griso/Officer - Owen Whitelaw Nibbio/Ambrogio - Tunji Kasim Agnese - Maureen Beattie Brother Cristoforo - Ewan Bailey Nameless /Old Friar - Jonathan Forbes Rodrigo/Boss/Boatman/Traveller - Sandy Grierson Gertrude/Gilda - Chloe Pirrie First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5th - 12th November 2023 ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alessandro Manzoni (Author), Chloe Pirrie, Ewan Bailey, Full Cast, Hiftu Quasem, Ian Dunnett Jnr, Joel MacCormack, Jonathan Forbes, Maureen Beattie, Owen Whitelaw, Paul Higgins, Sandy Grierson, Tunji Kasim (Narrator)

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Castle of the Hawk: An epic chronicle of the Habsburg dynasty: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast drama

"Mike Walker's thrilling saga of the Habsburg dynasty, who ruled most of Europe - and much of the New World - for almost 600 years For almost six centuries, the House of Habsburg was one of the most powerful royal families in Europe - and beyond. They established an empire that began with a castle on a crag, and ended up extending over four continents. In these riveting dramas, Mike Walker traces their rise and fall. Hawk Rising - Brugg, 1230. Summoned to Duke Rudolf of Habsburg's clifftop fortress to tutor his son, Albert, Turkish scholar Ibrahim finds himself accompanying the young man on a Prussian crusade. Rudolf is determined to become Holy Roman Emperor - but he needs the Pope's backing, and Alexander supports the expedition... Starring Philip Arditti as Ibrahim, Mark Lewis Jones as Rudolf and Kai Owen as Albert. Hawk Hunting - Enthroned as Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf battles to secure his dynasty. If Albert is to succeed him, various enemies must be removed from the scene, including his onetime ally King Ottokar of Bohemia. Meanwhile, Ibrahim is teaching philosophy to Albert's son, Frederick - and making secret deals. Starring Matthew Aubrey as Frederick and John Telfer as Ottokar. Hawk Wounded - Albert the One-Eyed of Habsburg has supplanted Norbert as Holy Roman Emperor: but Wenceslas is set on revenge. Disenchanted with Frederick, Albert places his trust in another Habsburg, John of Swabia - and Ibrahim confronts his nemesis. Starring Aled Pugh as John. Wallenstein - 1618. Wallenstein, a brilliant, rebellious Protestant mercenary, strives for advancement in the Holy Roman Empire's army. Guided by astute widow Katherina, he achieves fame and fortune. But this war wolf is hard to tame - can Katherina rein him in? Richard Harrington stars as Wallenstein, with Anamaria Marinca as Katherina. Redl - Vienna, 1913. Double agent Colonel Alfred Redl believes he is invincible: as unstoppable as the Habsburgs he purports to serve. A pioneer of modern surveillance techniques and a superb story-spinner, he is almost the perfect spy. But when this arch-traitor is himself betrayed, he falls - and the Empire falls with him... Starring Jonathan Forbes as Redl. Production credits Written by Mike Walker Directed by Alison Hindell and John Norton Sound design: Nigel Lewis A BBC Cymru Wales Production © 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Mike Walker (Author), Anamaria Marinca, Carl Prekopp, Full Cast, Jonathan Forbes, Kai Owen, Mark Lewis Jones, Matthew Mcnulty, Nia Roberts, Philip Arditti, Richard Harrington (Narrator)

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Tracks: Series 5: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast thriller

"The final series of the conspiracy thriller Dr Helen Ash is coming to terms with the fact she has just 9 months to live, when she's emailed a video of a boat mysteriously sinking in stormy seas. And the email is from her dead father. As she and Freddy try to find out whether the sunken ship really exists, they realise that they are being followed. And disaster awaits... A gripping thriller, Tracks has won multiple awards including Best Sound (BBC Audio Drama Awards) and Best Fiction (British Podcast Awards). Now Tracks is back with a fifth and final nine-part series. Cast Helen... Olivia Poulet Freddy.... Jonathan Forbes Eddy.... Mark Bonnar Lucy.... Kiran Sonia Sawar Yvonne.... Bettrys Jones Cancer Specialist.... Finlay Robertson Amina.... Emma Fryer Rebecca.... Carys Eleri Frances.... Juno Robinson Joanna.... Beatrice Engel Naani... Sindhu Vee Oskar ... David Menkin Farouk... Amir El-Masry Henning/Tec... Dino Kelly Valerie Peluso.... Juliet Cowan Barbara.... Barbara Flynn Linda... Maria Pride Irene... Heather Craney The Assistant...Tom Mumford Older Frances.... Scarlett Courtney Professor Manuel.... Peter Marinker The Architect.... Siân Phillips The Reporter.... Kathy Clugston The Medic.... Stefan Adegbola Directed by James Robinson A BBC Cymru Wales Production"

Matthew Broughton (Author), Full Cast, Jonathan Forbes, Olivia Poulet (Narrator)

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The Country Girls: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the landmark trilogy

"All three BBC radio dramatisations of Edna O’Brien’s coming-of-age trilogy set in 1950s Ireland Now a much-loved modern classic, The Country Girls Trilogy was fiercely controversial when first published in the 1960s. Banned by the Irish censors and burned by the Church, the books nonetheless achieved widespread acclaim and international success, and launched Edna O’Brien’s literary career. These three BBC radio adaptations follow the lives and loves of best friends Kate and Baba, two teenage girls growing up in repressive rural Ireland in the years before the sexual revolution. The Country Girls sees the duo leaving their small country village for convent school – but the bright lights of Dublin beckon, promising glamour, adventure and romance. In The Lonely Girl, dreamy Kate longs for love, while worldly-wise Baba makes the most of the opportunities the big city offers. Girls in Their Married Bliss finds the two friends living across the sea in London, where both have found husbands – but will marriage and motherhood bring happiness or heartbreak? Funny, moving and painfully honest, these evocative dramas are a passionate affirmation of female friendship and desire, and a vivid portrait of a country struggling to throw off the shackles of prudishness, misogyny and religious conservatism. Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders, Happy Valley) stars as Kate, with Aoibhinn McGinnity (Resistance, Nightflyers) as Baba. Edna O'Brien is the much acclaimed author of The Country Girls Trilogy. She recently won the David Cohen Prize for Literature for having “broken down social and sexual barriers for women in Ireland and beyond and moved mountains both politically and lyrically through her writing”. Written by Edna O’Brien Dramatised by Lin Coghlan Produced and directed by Sally Avens and Jessica Dromgoole First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 August-6 September 2019 (The Country Girls), 14-25 October 2019 (The Lonely Girl), 9-13 December 2019 (Girls in Their Married Bliss)"

Edna O'Brien (Author), Aoibhinn Mcginnity, Charlie Murphy, Full Cast, Jonathan Forbes, Shaun Mason (Narrator)

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Tracks: Series 3 and 4: Two BBC Radio 4 full-cast thrillers

"'One of the best dramas - on television or radio - currently on offer' Radio Times 'The most brilliant drama' and 'really, really well produced' Dolly Alderton Tracks: Chimera A tower block collapses in London. Hundreds are killed. Except a man standing alone on the roof, who walks out of the rubble unscathed. And things are about to get stranger, because Dr Helen Ash is pregnant. But she hasn't had sex since her husband died 18 months ago. What connects her unexplained pregnancy, a mysterious phone message from a woman who died in the building collapse, and the man on the roof of the high-rise? The gripping conspiracy thriller and winner of Best Sound (BBC Audio Drama Awards) and Best Fiction (British Podcast Awards) returns for a third series. Tracks: Indigo Dr Helen Ash is involved in a road accident. But where was she going in such a hurry? And why can't she remember? The answer lies in the riddle of Helen's daughter, Frances, who's older than she should be. And a mysterious 'child-mother', who's younger than she should be... Romola Garai returns as Helen Ash in the compelling fourth series of Tracks. Cast of Tracks: Chimera Helen.... Hattie Morahan Freddy..... Jonathan Forbes Rachel.... Fiona O'Shaughnessy Other parts played by Rhodri Meilir, Eiry Thomas, Zahra Ahmadi, Clare Cage, Marc Danbury, Stewart Wright, Richard Elfyn, Kerry Shale, Elina Alminas, Carys Eleri, Morgan Watkins, Jeanette Percival, Matthew Gravelle, Richard Nichols, Amerah Saleh, Adam Deacon, Bijan Daneshmand, Emma Handy, Lea Mornar, Francois Pandolfo, Simon Armstrong, Saffron Coomber and Sean Murray Lead writer.... Matthew Broughton Episodes written by Matthew Broughton, Matt Hartley, Lucy Catherine, Caroline Horton and Timothy X Atack Directed by James Robinson, Rebecca Lloyd-Evans and Carl Prekopp Produced by James Robinson A BBC Cymru Wales Production Cast of Tracks: Indigo Helen.... Romola Garai Freddy.... Jonathan Forbes Other parts played by Andrew Gower, Georgia Henshaw, Sally Orrock, Carys Eleri, Sion Pritchard, Joanna van Kampen, Scarlett Courtney, Adam Courting, Lucy Reynolds, Ashleigh Hadadd, David Hounslow, Sinead MacInnes, Juliet Cowan and Marc Danbury Written by Matthew Broughton Produced and Directed by James Robinson A BBC Cymru Wales Production"

Caroline Horton, Lucy Catherine, Matt Hartley, Matthew Broughton, Timothy X Atack (Author), Full Cast, Hattie Morahan, Jonathan Forbes, Romola Garai (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tracks: Series 1 and 2: Two BBC Radio 4 full-cast thrillers

"'One of the best dramas - on television or radio - currently on offer' Radio Times 'The most brilliant drama' and 'really, really well produced' Dolly Alderton 'instantly compelling' The Guardian Tracks A plane crash. A dead father. A buried secret. A passenger with a missing heart. When Dr Helen Ash witnesses the brutal and disturbing crash of the plane that is carrying her father, the incident sets her on an investigation into a dark conspiracy. Florian Chauvin was flying to Wales to tell his daughter something important, but his plane fell out of the sky. In the aftermath of the crash, Helen discovers that one of the passengers doesn't seem to have a heart. What was Florian coming to tell Helen? Who was he travelling with? And why did his plane crash? A major conspiracy thriller about life, death and the human brain, starring Romola Garai. Tracks became the most successful drama series launched by Radio 4 in 2016. Tracks: Strata Snowdonia, 1980. It's the dawn of a new decade and the future is coming. But in the wilds of Snowdonia, the ancient history of the landscape is hard to escape. Rachel Turner is looking for fossils with her four year-old son, Joe. But when a freak earthquake shakes the land beneath their feet, Joe vanishes. With the help of two locals, Rachel embarks on a desperate search to find her son. But as darkness descends, the secrets hidden in the ancient forests of the mountain are uncovered. A prequel to the first series, Series 2 is set 36 years before the events that rocked the life of Helen Ash. Cast of Tracks Helen....................Romola Garai Freddy...................Jonathan Forbes Michael..................Alex Beckett Rosie....................Susan Jameson Florian...................Sean Baker K...........................Rafay Asfi Fisker Lee..............Kenneth Cranham Other parts played by Suzanne Packer, Richard Nichols, Caroline Berry, Alexandria Riley, Matthew Gravelle, Claire Cage, Richard Mitchley, Pauline McLynn, Paul Courtenay Hyu, Leo Wan, Ruth Lloyd, Tristan Sturrock, Jaimi Barbakoff, John Norton, Paul Copley, Rhodri Meilir, Sam Rix, Nabil Elouahabi, Liz Sutherland and Matilda le Fleming. Written by Matthew Broughton Directed by James Robinson, Helen Perry and Abigail le Fleming. Original music by Stu Barker A BBC Cymru Wales Production Cast of Tracks: Strata Rachel ..................Fiona O'Shaughnessy Ifan........................Kai Owen Sam......................Robert Pugh Afa........................Betsan Llwyd Charlotte................Shelly Rees Ronny.....................Dafydd Emyr Written by Matthew Broughton Directed by James Robinson A BBC Cymru Wales Production"

Matthew Broughton (Author), Fiona O’shaughnessy, Full Cast, Jonathan Forbes, Kai Owen, Kenneth Cranham, Robert Pugh, Romola Garai, Susan Jameson (Narrator)

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The Meaning Of Love: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

"When Ed finds himself sleeping in the spare room he realises he might have to rediscover exactly what love is. But coming up with the correct definition proves harder than he first imagines. Starring Paul Ritter, Tessa Peake-Jones, Aurelie Ambland, Jonathan Forbes, Peter Polycarpou, and Jane Whittenshaw. Directed by Sally Avens."

Anna Symon (Author), Aurelie Ambland, Jane Wittenshaw, Jonathan Forbes, Paul Ritter, Peter Polycarpou, Tessa Peake-Jones (Narrator)

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Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think of You: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

"How does it feel to have your world blown apart? Molly moves to London full of naive dreams, high hopes and on a quest to make her life just like the movies. Then on 7/7/2005 she finds herself on a tube train blown up by terrorists and her life is forced to take a different direction. Funny, frank and poetic; this is the true story of what happened next and how things are put back together after they've been blown apart. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, to mark the 6th anniversary of the 7/7 bombings. Starring Morven Christie as Molly, Bryan Dick as Dan, Sam Dale as Dad, Susie Riddell as Mum, Jonathan Forbes as Pavel and James Lailey as Matt. Read by Molly Naylor. Directed by Gaynor Macfarlane."

Molly Naylor (Author), Bryan Dick, James Lailey, Jonathan Forbes, Sam Dale, Susie Riddell (Narrator)

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Best Interests: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

"Two new dramas which get inside the emotional realities of dealing with ethical dilemmas. When a confused young man with no I.D. and a Doctor Who fixation is brought into hospital, the staff have clear rules about how decisions can be made on his behalf. But when he starts to make his own wishes clear, are they right to listen? Starring Gunnar Cauthery, Clare Perkins, Simon Bubb, and Carl Prekopp. With Peter Polycarpou, Gerard McDermott, Jonathan Forbes, James Lailey, Alex Tregear, Susie Riddell and Elaine Claxton. Script Consultant: Jim Blair, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust. Produced and directed by Jonquil Panting."

Sasha Hails (Author), Alex Tregear, Elaine Caxton, Gerard Mcdermott, James Lailey, Jonathan Forbes, Peter Polycarpou, Susie Riddell (Narrator)

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History Of The Brain, A (Complete)

"Dr. Geoff Bunn presents a journey through 5000 years of our understanding of the most complex thing in the known universe: the brain, in this major ten-part BBC Radio 4 series.Human beings have long been fascinated by the brain and how it fulfils its many functions. This groundbreaking cultural history explores the development of our ideas about the mind from Neolithic times to the present day.Starting with prehistoric trepanation and Ancient Egyptian practices, he then focusses on the ideas of Hippocrates, Galen and early Christian and Islamic scholars. He introduces pioneering scientists such as Thomas Willis and looks at the impact of electricity and evolutionary theory on our understanding of the brain. In addition, he explores the synapse and the part Freud almost played in the history of the brain, reflects on the invention of the EEG, and discovers the impact of neurology on how we understand ourselves today.The series is written and presented by Dr Geoff Bunn of Manchester Metropolitan University. Actors Paul Bhattacharjee and Jonathan Forbes provide the voices of those who have written about the brain across the ages. Actor Hattie Morahan gives the Anatomy Lesson establishing the part of the brain to be highlighted in each episode. The original, atmospheric score is supplied by composer, Barney Quinton. The producer is Marya Burgess."

Geoff Bunn (Author), Jonathan Forbes, Paul Bhattacharjee (Narrator)

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Endless Night

"'Some are born to sweet delight/Some are born to endless night' - William Blake. Agatha Christie wrote Endless Night in 1967, and it is one of her greatest - and most unusual - novels. Creepy, malevolent and claustrophobic, it is a story about choices, the nature of good and evil, and grim retribution. Mike Rogers had a childhood fantasy about what life would be like as an adult; he'd have a beautiful wife, they would live in a beautiful home, and this would be a peaceful and deserved reward for a turbulent early life. When he meets Ellie Gutman at a lovely, remote spot known as Gypsy's Acre, suddenly it is all within his grasp. However, things are not as idyllic as they seem - local legend has it that the land is cursed, and several terrible accidents have occurred there. Mike and Ellie pay no attention to these tales: but when they move into their new home, the curse suddenly seems to come to life and they find themselves in grave danger... Starring Jonathan Forbes and Lizzy Watts, this is a menacing drama that perfectly evokes the atmosphere of Agatha Christie's brooding, malevolent tale, infused with passion, hauntings and grim retribution."

Agatha Christie (Author), Full Cast, Jonathan Forbes, Lizzy Watts (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Jonathan Forbes