Audiobooks narrated by Martin Jarvis

Doctor Who: The Planetary Collection: 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th & 10th Doctor Novelisations

"Five thrilling novelisations of TV stories set on exotic planets, from Marinus to Mars and beyond. In The Keys of Marinus the First Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara are enlisted to find five crucial items vital to peace on Marinus. in The Nightmare of Eden a distress call brings the Fourth Doctor, Romana and K-9 to the scene of a freak accident in space, where they uncover a dangerous web of intrigue. The Caves of Androzani form the backdrop to the Fifth Doctor's explosive final adventure, as he seeks to save the life of his companion Peri, and in Vengeance on Varos the Sixth Doctor and Peri incur the wrath of Sil, the sadistic representative of the Galatron Mining Corporation. In The Waters of Mars the first human colony on the red planet is destined for destruction in a nuclear explosion, but the Tenth Doctor resolves to break the rules as he never has before... Jamie Glover, Dan Starkey, Peter Davison, Martin Jarvis and Maureen O'Brien read these thrilling novelisations, with John Leeson as the Voice of K-9. Readings produced by Neil Gardner. Sound design by Simon Power and David Darlington. Executive Producer for BBC Audiobooks: Michael Stevens © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd."

Phil Ford, Philip Martin, Phillip Hinchcliffe, Terrance Dicks (Author), Dan Starkey, Jamie Glover, John Leeson, Martin Jarvis, Maureen O'Brien, Peter Davison (Narrator)

Audiobook

Journey’s End, The White Carnation & more: Six Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

"A diverse selection of dramas by award-winning writer RC Sherriff Playwright and screenwriter RC Sherriff was best known for his anti-war classic Journey’s End, based on his own experiences of serving on the Western Front. He was a co-writer on several successful screenplays, including The Invisible Man and The Dam Busters, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Goodbye, Mr Chips. Beginning with Journey’s End, this varied collection features six of his acclaimed plays, ranging from a ghost story to a tale of the last days of Roman Britain. Journey’s End – March, 1918. Fresh from school, 18-year-old officer Raleigh is posted to the besieged company of his old schoolfriend and hero Captain Stanhope. Hunkered down in a dugout on the British front line, he must face the reality of war and the tension and strain of life in the trenches. Journey’s End was first staged in 1928, starring Laurence Olivier, and the 2007 Broadway revival won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. Martin Jarvis stars in this vintage radio production from 1970. The White Carnation – It’s Christmas Eve, 1951, and stockbroker John Greenwood and his wife are hosting their annual party. But as midnight strikes and he bids farewell to his guests, the door slams, locking him out of the house. Breaking back in, he finds that all the furniture has disappeared, and his wife has gone – and things are about to get even stranger… Starring Philip Voss, this supernatural comedy-drama tells the moving tale of a man given a second chance to do things differently. St Helena – In December 1815, the British imprisoned Napoleon on St Helena. Tracing the long slow decline of the caged tiger until his death in May 1821, Sheriff’s 1936 play, co-written with actress Jeanne de Casalis, is based on the diaries and accounts of those on the island at the time of the exiled Emperor’s captivity. Lee Montague stars as Napoleon in this 1972 historical drama. A Shred of Evidence – Richard Medway drinks a little too much at a rugby club reunion dinner, but still drives home afterwards. The next morning, he hears that a cyclist has been killed by a hit-and-run driver. Could he be responsible for the man’s death? Set in 1950s Surrey, this tense tale of guilt, blackmail and suspense stars Denys Hawthorne. Home at Seven – Bank clerk David Preston returns home at his usual time, only to discover he is actually 24 hours late. With no recollection of his missing day, he is stunned to find himself implicated in robbery and murder... A thrilling mystery starring the legendary Sir Ralph Richardson. The Long Sunset – The Roman Empire is crumbling, the occupation of Britain is at an end, the Legions are leaving – and the surviving Romans are alone and unprotected. This moving drama, starring Stephen Murray and Pauline Letts, follows the fate of one such Roman family, from their attempts to fight off the invading Saxons, to their final conversion to Christianity. Production credits Written by RC Sheriff Contents Journey’s End The White Carnation St Helena A Shred of Evidence Home at Seven The Long Sunset © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

R.C. Sherriff (Author), Derek Seaton, Douglas Blackwell, Full Cast, Garard Green, John Rowe, Kate Binchy, Kevin Brennan, Martin Jarvis, Peter Egan, Sam Dastor, Sheila Grant (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dr David Audley: The Labyrinth Makers & Other Paths to Glory: Two BBC Radio Full-Cast Spy Thrillers

"Two award-winning spy novels featuring intelligence agent Dr David Audley by Anthony Price, dramatised with full casts Crime novelist and journalist Anthony Price was highly regarded for his 19 espionage thrillers featuring intelligence agents Dr David Audley and Colonel Jack Butler. Here are two of the best books in the series, adapted for radio: the CWA Silver Dagger Award-winning The Labyrinth Makers, and Other Paths to Glory, which won the Gold Dagger and was shortlisted for the 2005 Dagger of Daggers Award for the best crime novel of the past 50 years. The Labyrinth Makers – The accidental draining of a lake reveals a crashed RAF Dakota, the body of a World War II airman and a cargo of builder’s rubble. A few days later, MOD backroom man David Audley receives an early morning summons to London, where he is instructed to abandon his Middle East research and investigate a Russian agent named Panin. Aided by the dead pilot’s daughter, Audley attempts to find out why the KGB are so interested in the downed plane – and soon uncovers a deadly plot involving smuggling, a ruined Berlin flak tower and the legendary Schliemann Treasure… John Stride stars as Dr David Audley and Paula Wilcox as Faith in this thrilling tale of intrigue, treachery and unexpected romance. Other Paths to Glory – Writing a book on World War I, Paul Mitchell is surprised to be called away from his studies by Audley and his colleague Jack Butler, asking questions about a German trench map. Returning home from the library, he is attacked and almost drowned – and when his supervisor is killed in a house fire and a Somme veteran dies in a hit-and-run ‘accident’, it becomes clear that anyone with a connection to the fatal 1916 assault on Bouillet Wood and the Prussian Redoubt is being murdered. Can the two MOD men keep Mitchell alive, and discover why the past has returned to take revenge on the present? Starring Martin Jarvis as Paul Mitchell, with Tony Britton as Dr Audley and Ronald Baddiley as Col. Butler. Cast and credits Written by Anthony Price The Labyrinth Makers Dr David Audley – John Stride Faith – Paula Wilcox Tierney – Alan Manson Sir Frederick – Peter D’Souza Morrison – Neil Packham Mr Jones – Ian Sexon Mrs Harlin – Pat Williams Jenkins – Mark Coleman Roskill – Michael MacKenzie Butler – Raymond Ross Jake/Panin – Laurance Rudic Maclean – Sandy Neilson Dramatised by Nick McCarty Directed by Hamish Wilson First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18 January 1992 Other Paths to Glory Dr Audley – Tony Britton Paul Mitchell – Martin Jarvis Col Butler – Ronald Baddiley Mrs Mitchell – Lorna Rosslyn Constable Bell/Marcel Jarras – David Graham Mr Hutchinson/Capt Faversham – Douglas Blackwell General Leigh-Woodhouse – Jeffrey Segal Nicole MacMahon – Silvie Dattas Gatekeeper/Sorel – Steve Hodson Edouard Olivier – Andre Maranne Adapted by Alison Plowden Produced and directed by Harry Catlin First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 May 1976 © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Anthony Price (Author), Full cast, John Stride, Martin Jarvis, Paula Wilcox, Tony Britton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Seneca’s Tragedies: Thyestes & Oedipus: Two Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations & Seneca’s Letters

"Full-cast productions of Seneca’s most famous tragedies, plus letters from the Roman philosopher read by Paul Scofield Stoic philosopher and playwright Lucius Annaeus Seneca lived through the reigns of Caligula and Claudius, and was tutor and adviser to Nero, before his untimely suicide in AD65. His gory, outrageous tragedy Thyestes inspired Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, and is widely considered his masterpiece. It opens this collection, which also includes his classic Oedipus, a selection of his correspondence and two special documentary programmes exploring the man and his life. Thyestes – Brothers Atreus and Thyestes have fought a long and bitter civil war. After seducing Atreus’ wife and stealing the golden ram of kingship, Thyestes is defeated and banished. A pretend offer of friendship sees him returning home with his three sons, ostensibly to share the throne of Argos – but in reality, Atreus Is plotting a horrifying act of revenge. Denis Quilley and Richard Pasco star as Thyestes and Atreus, wih Anton Lesser as the Messenger. Oedipus – Cursed by the gods, Oedipus flees his native city of Corinth for Thebes. There, he solves the riddle of the Sphinx, is proclaimed King and marries Queen Jocasta. But when the city is struck by drought and a deadly plague, he is faced with a new riddle: and the answer spells his own doom… Seneca’s reworking of the Ancient Greek legend is adapted by onetime Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, and stars Martin Jarvis and Siân Phillips. Seneca’s Letters – Paul Scofield reads a selection of Seneca’s lively, humorous philosophical letters to his young friend Lucilius, in which he discurses on topics including the evils of crowds, the pleasures of old age, the perils of drunkenness, the folly of wanderlust and the part played by philosophy in advancing civilization. Is Seneca Possible? – In a personal reflection on the celebrated playwright, poet James Fenton attempts to put him into historical context. T S Eliot asserted that Seneca ‘created his own genre’, but with so few examples of Roman tragedy remaining, has our view been distorted by the drama we’ve lost? In Our Time: Seneca the Younger – Melvyn Bragg and guests Mary Beard, Catharine Edwards and Alessandro Schiesaro discuss Seneca, reflecting on his status as one of the first great writers born in the new Roman empire after the fall of the Republic. NB: Contains strong language Thyestes Thyestes – Denis Quilley Atreus – Richard Pasco The Messenger – Anton Lesser Fury – Hugh Dickson Ghost of Tantalus – David March Courtier – Anthony Newlands Tantalus, Thyestes’ son – Crawford Logan His brothers – Stuart Organ & Simon Hewitt Seneca – Peter Tuddenham Chorus – Hugh Dickson, David Gooderson, Simon Hewitt, Anton Lesser, Crawford Logan, Stuart Organ, Richard Pasco, Denis Quilley, Peter Tuddenham Oedipus Oedipus – Martin Jarvis Jocasta – Siân Phillips Creon – John Rowe Tiresias – Hugh Dickson Manto – Frances Jeater Corinthian Messenger – Nigel Graham Phorbas – Timothy Bateson Theban Slave – David Gooderson Chorus Leader – Stephen Thorne Chorus – James Bryce, Jill Lidstone, David Peart, Jean Trend, David Gooderson, Nigel Graham, Timothy Bateson Seneca’s Letters 1: Avoid the Crowds; Befriend Your Slaves 2: The Pleasures of Old Age 3: Worldly Noise and the Tranquil Mind 4: Thoughts in a Dark Tunnel 5: Philosophy v Daily Trivialities Is Seneca Possible? Presented by James Fenton In Our Time: Seneca the Younger Presented by Melvyn Bragg With Mary Beard, Catharine Edwards and Alessandro Schiesaro Produced by Simon Tillotson © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Seneca (Author), Anton Lesser, Crawford Logan, Denis Quilley, Francis Jeater, Full Cast, Hugh Dickson, Martin Jarvis, Paul Schofield, Sian Phillips, Stephen Thorne, Timothy Bateson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Six Characters in Search of an Author & other plays: Three Full-Cast BBC Radio Productions

"Four plays by the award-winning Italian playwright and innovator Luigi Pirandello Luigi Pirandello was an Italian playwright, novelist, and short-story writer and winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize for Literature. In the first performance of Six Characters in Search of an Author, an enraged Rome theatre audience yelled abuse at the Italian playwright Luigi Pirandello and chased him out of the theatre. Since then, the play has gained iconic status as a piece of theatre which helped move Western culture into modernity. This stunning, full-cast collection of the playwright’s most famous plays performed for radio is not to be missed. Six Characters in Search of an Author - Luigi Pirandello's famous 1921 play about the nature of theatre and the problems of theatricality, in which six characters, whose author has abandoned them mid-process, turn up at a rehearsal and demand to be played by the actors present to resolve their tragedy and become ‘real’. This contrast between art, which is unchanging, and life, which is in constant flux, is classic Pirandello. The Rules of the Game - Set in an Italian town in 1919. Leone and Silia, man and wife, live apart, and Guido is Silia's lover. There is an uncanny lack of jealousy on Leone's part, for he seems a man without any emotional cares whatever - to him it is all a game. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a dangerous game... Henry IV - A madman is shut up in a villa in Italy following an accident at a carnival. Twenty years later his friends come to visit him. Is he still mad, or is he sane? What is madness? What is sanity? This compelling production explores what lies just underneath the skin of ordinary life, starring Martin Jarvis and Andrew Sachs. First Night is an adaptation of Pirandello’s 1900 short story narrated by Mary Wimbush (Poldark, Jeeves and Wooster, The Archers). It tells the story of Marastella, a young Sicilian bride who is unhappily married off to a much older man and explores convention, desire and fate. Rounding off this curated collection we hear a bonus edition of The Forum, presented by Rajan Datar. On the centenary of the infamous premiere of Pirandello’s Six Characters, he asks: But what of the author? He was a complex figure who found inspiration from his wife’s madness as well as the actors he worked with. Datar is joined by celebrated academics and experts in this enigmatic and culture phenomenon. This star-studded collection is perfect for any fans of Pirandello or anyone wanting to dive deeper into a genre defining era of twentieth century theatre and the man behind it. Cast and credits Written by Luigi Pirandello Six Characters in Search of an Author Daughter - Cherie Lunghi Father - Emerald James The Rules of the Game Leone - Robert Rietty Silia - Sarah Badel Guido - Francis Matthews Clara - Wendy Fisher Marquis Miglioriti - James Goode First drunk - Anthony Morse Second drunk - Ken Cumberlidge Third drunk - Haydn Andrews Philip - Brian Hewlett Dr Spiga - Stephen Hattersley Barelli - Eric Stovell Henry IV Henry IV - Alec McCowan Tito Belcredi - George Baker Doctor Genoni - Maurice Denham Matilda Spina - Pauline Letts Landolph - Martin Jarvis Ordulph - Henry Knowles Charles di Nolli - Sean Arnold Frida, his fiancee - Janet Chappell Berthold - David Spenser Harold - Nigel Lambert John - James Thomason The two servants - Harvey Edwards & Andrew Sachs First Night Narrator - Mary Wimbush The Forum Presented by Rajan Datar Readings by Marco Gambino With: Guido Bonsaver, Dr Enza de Francisci, Patricia Gaborik ©2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Luigi Pirandello (Author), Brian Hewlett, Charles Grey, Cherie Lunghi, Francis Matthews, Full Cast, James Goode, Ken Cumberlidge, Kevin McNally, Martin Jarvis, Mary Wimbush, Maurice Denham, Pauline Letts, Sarah Badel (Narrator)

Audiobook

Arthur Schnitzler: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Nine Full Cast Productions plus a reading of Dream Story

"Nine full-cast dramatisations of Schnitzler’s sizzling psychological plays and stories, plus a reading of Dream Story The sharp, provocative works of Viennese writer Arthur Schnitzler have been banned for transgressive content, burned by the Nazis, and beloved by fellow writers and artists – many of whom took inspiration from his pieces for their own work. This includes his well-known 1926 novella Dream Story, which was reversioned as the 1999 hit Stanley Kubrick film Eyes Wide Shut, and La Ronde or Love Game, which were adapted for the stage at various times by David Hare, Tom Stoppard, and David Harrower. This comprehensive collection features some of Schnitzler’s finest tales of love, sex, jealousy and desire, brought to life by ensemble casts, feauturing Angharad Rees, Anton Lesser, Malcolm Sinclair, Carole Boyd, Martin Jarvis, Maureen O’Brien, and many others. Also included is the erotic, enigmatic Dream Story, read by award-winning actor Paul Rhys. Content List: - The Spring Sonata - Love Games, aka Liebelei - A Confirmed Bachelor - Anatol - Professor Bernhardi - Intermezzo - What a Hysterical Girl - Lieutenant Gustl - Festival of Bacchus - Dream Story With thanks to Keith Wickham and the Radio Circle for sourcing the recordings. Cast and credits The Spring Sonata Featuring: Alison Ram, James Duke, Claudia Harrison, Christopher Kent, Michael Jenn, David Thorpe, Fenella Norman, Vanessa Rosenthal, John McCraw, Catherine Kinsella, Dominic Curran, Sam Starling Dramatised by Vanessa Rosenthal Directed by Chris Wallis Love Games Featuring: Angharad Rees, Anton Lesser, Diana Bishop, John Webb, Geoffrey Matthews, Carole Boyd, William Hope Translated by Charles Osborne Adapted for radio by John Scotney Directed by Walter Acosta Pianist: Mary Nash Technical presentation: Keith Perrin A Confirmed Bachelor Featuring: Keith Drinkel, Cathy Sara, Jo Rafferty, Oona Beeson, Robert Lister, Sunny Ormonde, Richard da Costa, Marian Kemmer, Elizabeth Wofford Dramatised by Vanessa Rosenthal Directed by Peter Leslie Wild Anatol Starring Malcolm Sinclair as Anatol and Simon Shepherd as Max With Victoria Carling, Pauline Moran, Julia Swift, Helena Breck, Jane Bertish, Richard Pearce, Emily Richard, Melinda Walker and Roy Miles Directed by Glyn Dearman Music by Colin Guthrie played by the composer, Perry Montague-Mason and Chris Laurence Professor Bernhardi Featuring Dorit Welles, Leslie Heritage, Gabriel Woolf, John John, John Rye, Jack May, John Wyse, David Spenser, Victor Lucas, Lewis Stringer, James Thomason, Gerald Cross, Richard Hurndall, Martin Friend, Patrick Tull, David Hadda, John Gabriel Produced by Archie Campbell Adapted for radio by Mollie Hardwick from the English version by Louis Borrell and Ronald Adam Intermezzo Featuring James Aubrey, Mel Martin, Tim Woodward, Kim Wall, Julie Berry, Haydn Gwynne, Alistair White, Jennifer Piercey, Elaine Claxton English version by Robert David MacDonald Original music composed, and piano played, by Terence Allbright Song sung by Anna Bernardin Directed by Glyn Dearman What a Hysterical Girl Starring Carole Boyd as She, John Rye as He and Vernon Joyner as the Narrator Produced by Martin Esslin Lieutenant Gustl Starring Hugh Hayes as Gustl With Michael Graham Cox and Ian Targett Translated by George Roubicek Dramatised by George Roubicek, Ivor Benjamin and Hugh Hayes Directed by Ivor Benjamin Produced by Caroline Raphael Festival of Bacchus Featuring Martin Jarvis, Maureen O’Brien, Dinsdale Landen, Josie Kidd, Gordon Reid Translated and adapted for radio by Basil Ashmore Directed by Martin Jenkins Dream Story Read by Paul Rhys Translated by JMQ Davies Produced by Eugene Murphy © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Arthur Schnitzler (Author), Anton Lesser, Dinsdale Landen, Full Cast, Hadyn Gwynne, Keith Drinkel, Martin Jarvis, Oona Beeson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Joe Orton: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Three Full-Cast Productions & Joe Orton’s Diaries

"Selected plays by the great playwright Joe Orton, plus bonus material Joe Orton was among the towering geniuses of 1960s theatre. His life was tragically cut short in 1967, but he left behind him a handful of shocking and scabrous black comedies that will live on in the public imagination for years to come. Orton’s career was kickstarted by the BBC. John Tydeman who is widely considered to have found him when working at the BBC as an trainee. He came across an early version of The Ruffian on the Stair called The Boy Hairdresser and persuaded his seniors to let him meet him and discuss the play, there began a friendship that shaped Orton’s life. Tydeman recommended a top literary agent and the rest is history. Featured here are two of his lesser-known works, The Erpingham Camp and The Ruffian on the Stair, collected together as a double bill. The former, loosely based on Euripides’ tragedy The Bacchae, is an anarchic, subversive farce set in a holiday camp, where a group of campers decide to revolt against the dictatorial owner. It stars an ensemble cast, including Robert Daws and Jonjo O’Neill. In the latter, Orton’s breakthrough hit, an ex-boxer (Gerard Horan) and an ex-prostitute (Sophie Thompson) have their lives disrupted by a stranger (Jack Rowan). Recorded live at the BBC’s radio theatre in 2017 to mark the 50th anniversary of Orton's death, the plays are accompanied by an interview with Orton's friend, Kenneth Cranham, who discusses the Joe Orton he knew. Also featured are the darkly comic Funeral Games, starring Phil Daniels, Martin Jarvis, Tony Rohr and Liza Sadovy, which takes a sideswipe at religious hypocrisy and is considered the linking work between his two key plays, Loot and What the Butler Saw. Plus, John Sessions reads extracts from Joe Orton’s posthumously published journals in The Orton Diaries; Ned Sherrin hears from Kenneth Williams about his experiences directing Loot in Kenneth Williams on Joe Orton, and Samira Akhmed talks to guests including Orton’s sister Leonie and Sheila Hancock about the playwright’s life and legacy in Front Row: Joe Orton. Production credits Text copyright © Joe Orton 1964 (The Ruffian on the Stair), 1966 (The Erpingham Camp), 1968 (Funeral Games), 1986 (The Orton Diaries) All rights reserved The Erpingham Camp Erpingham – Robert Daws Riley – Jonjo O'Neill Lou – Kerry Gooderson Ted – Samuel James Kenny – Charlie Clements Eileen – Sarah Ridgeway W.E. Harrison – Tom Forrister Jessie Mason – Sanchia McCormack Padre – Simon Ludders Accordion Player – Colin Guthrie The Ruffian on the Stair Mike – Gerard Horan Joyce – Sophie Thompson Wilson – Jack Rowan Produced by Mary Peate Kenneth Cranham interview by Matthew Sweet First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 2 July 2017 Funeral Games Caulfield – Phil Daniels Pringle – Martin Jarvis McCorquodale – Tony Rohr Tessa – Liza Sadovy Policeman – Ben Crowe Produced and directed by Peter Kavanagh First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11 July 2008 Joe Orton: The Orton Diaries Diary selections read by John Sessions Produced by Ned Chaillet First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 March 1994 Kenneth Williams on Joe Orton With Kenneth Williams and Ned Sherrin Produced by Ian Gardhouse First broadcast BBC Radio 4, September 1980 Front Row: Joe Orton Presented by Samira Ahmed Produced by Ekene Akalawu With Leonie Orton, Emma Parker, Sally Norman, Jenna Forbes, John Lahr, Sheila Hancock, Nikolai Foster First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11 August 2017 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Joe Orton (Author), Ben Crowe, Clive Francis, Full Cast, Gerard Horan, Jack Rowan, Kenneth Cranham, Kenneth Williams, Liza Sadovy, Martin Jarvis, Phil Daniels, Robert Daws, Sophie Thompson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Little Women, Good Wives & A Marble Woman: Three BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisations

"Dramatisations of Louisa May Alcott’s evergreen classic and its sequel, plus her Gothic tour de force about an orphan girl and her controlling guardian Born in 1832 in Pennsylvania, Louisa May Alcott was best known for Little Women, her phenomenal bestseller loosely based on her childhood experiences with her own sisters. Adapted numerous times for stage and screen, it is dramatised here alongside her follow-up novel Good Wives and the thrilling sensation story A Marble Woman. Little Women – With their father away fighting in the American Civil War, the four March sisters and their mother are facing a frugal Christmas in their New England home. But their close bond and determination to make the best of things enables them to find happiness despite their poverty. As they forge their path in the adult world, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy will encounter adventure, challenges, joys and disappointments – and while marriage and motherhood may beckon, their most enduring love is always for each other. Natasha J Barnes, Julianna Jennings, Bryony Hannah and Samantha Dakin star in this iconic coming-of-age tale. Good Wives– Now young women, the March girls meet with triumph and tragedy in this classic sequel to Little Women. Following Meg’s wedding, Jo finds success with her writing and Amy heads to Europe – but Beth’s health is failing, and her spirits are low. As the family face their greatest sorrow together and look to the future, Jo writes the story of their life – and finds true love at last… Starring Jemma Redgrave, Buffy Davis, Anne Marie Zola, Kara Zediker and Gayle Hunnicutt. A Marble Woman – Recently orphaned, Cecilia Stein turns up at the door of genius sculptor Bazil Yorke. Her dying mother had told her that Yorke was an old friend, and to trust his kindness. But the reclusive bachelor has neither forgiven nor forgotten his rejection by Cecilia’s mother, and decides to revenge himself by punishing his new ward. Insisting that she must submit her life to art and restrain all her emotions, he strives to turn her into his own creation – but can he control his own heart? Sexual repression, opium addiction and love collide in this dark Gothic tale, starring Bill Paterson and Amanda Root. First published 1865 (A Marble Woman), 1868 (Little Women), 1869 (Good Wives) Cast and credits Little Women Cast: Natasha J Barnes, Julianna Jennings, Bryony Hannah, Samantha Dakin, Tara Ward, John Bowler, Alex Lanipekun, Finlay Robertson, Joanna Monro, Alison Belbin, Karen Bartke, Natasha Cowley, Keziah Joseph, Luke MacGregor, Catriona McFarlane, Gunnar Cauthery Dramatised by Rhiannon Tise Directed by Tracey Neale First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16-27 January 2017 Good Wives Cast: Gayle Hunnicutt, Jemma Redgrave, Buffy Davis, Anne Marie Zola, Kara Zediker, Marcus D'Amico, Don Fellows, John Guerrasio, Margaret Robertson, Alibe Parsons, Adam Henderson, Helen Horton, Lorelei King, David Holt, Tamsin Hollo, Faith Brook, Jill Graham, Toni G Barry, Melanie Hudson, Jonathan Tafler, Martin Jarvis, John Church, Andrew Wincott Dramatised by Marcy Kahan Directed by Marilyn Imrie First broadcast Radio 4, 11 February-18 March 1993 A Marble Woman Cast: Bill Paterson, Amanda Root, John McArdle, Charles De'Ath, Sarah Parkes, Geoffrey Banks, Becky Simpson, Robert Pollard Dramatised by Lavinia Murray Produced by Pauline Harris First broadcast Radio 4, 8 April 2000 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Louisa May Alcott (Author), Alex Lanipekun, Amanda Root, Bill Paterson, Bryony Hannah, Full cast, Gayle Hunnicutt, Jemma Redgrave, John McArdle, Lorelei King, Marcus D'Amico, Martin Jarvis, Natasha J Barnes, Tara Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Susan Hill BBC Radio Drama Collection: 14 Full-Cast Dramas

"An extensive collection of full-cast dramatisations and long-lost original radio plays by Dame Susan Hill Award-winning author Dame Susan Hill is best known for her hit ghost story The Woman in Black and her popular ‘Simon Serailler’ detective series, but she has also written extensively for radio. This audio anthology includes full-cast adaptations of two of her early novels, plus an additional 12 BBC Radio plays, many of them available for the very first time since their original broadcasts. Gentlemen and Ladies tells of the friendship and loneliness of a family living in a small Midland village, while Strange Meeting explores the relationship between two young subalterns in the First World War. These moving dramatisations star Patricia Hayes, Stephanie Cole, Martin Jarvis and David Timson. Themes of interdependence and isolation run through all Hill’s radio plays, which she describes as dealing with ‘human beings in confrontation’. In Taking Leave, a nephew visits the family he barely knows; in Lizard in the Grass, an orphan living in a clifftop convent is persecuted by one of the nuns, in The Cold Country, tempers fray when four explorers become snowbound in Antarctica and in Consider the Lilies, an ageing bachelor who sees angels finds himself drawn to a dying girl. Richard Hurndall, Helen Worth, Terry Scully, John Rollason and Tony Britton are among the star casts. A Window on the World focuses on students Nell (Patricia Gallimore) and Jess (Julie Hallam), who are mere observers of life – until one of them acts to alter the situation. Strip Jack Naked finds sick recluse James (Ian Richardson) shaken out of his austere existence by a visit from his estranged wife, but in The Sound that Time Makes, wife and mother Fay (Patricia Gallimore) is obsessively haunted by her schooldays. And with her wedding approaching, Helena (Carole Hayman) struggles to let go of her childhood in Here Comes the Bride. Chances features two interlinked monologues, read by Dames Judi Dench and Peggy Ashcroft, in which an Irish maid at a seaside hotel ponders her life, and a guest remembers better days and higher standards. A dying Frenchwoman summons her estranged daughter in Out in the Cold, starring Pauline Letts and Fiona Walker. Finally, Winter and Autumn focus on two couples, one elderly and resident in an old folks’ home, the other middle-aged and attempting to escape the past by moving house. Doreen Mantle, Cyril Luckham, June Brown and Bernard Hepton star as the spouses searching for meaning and connection. Copyright © Susan Hill 1968 (Gentlemen and Ladies), 1971 (Strange Meeting, Taking Leave, Lizard in the Grass), 1972 (The Cold Country), 1973 (Consider the Lilies), 1975 (A Window on the World, Strip Jack Naked), 1980 (The Sound that Time Makes, Here Comes the Bride), 1981 (Chances), 1982 (Out in the Cold), 1985 (Winter), 1986 (Autumn) Contents: Gentlemen and Ladies Strange Meeting Taking Leave Lizard in the Grass The Cold Country Consider the Lilies A Window on the World Strip Jack Naked The Sound that Time Makes Here Comes the Bride Chances Out in the Cold Winter Autumn Copyright © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Susan Hill (Author), David Timson, Full Cast, Ian Richardson, Judi Dench, June Brown, Martin Jarvis, Patricia Gallimore, Patricia Hayes, Peggy Ashcroft, Sian Philips, Stephanie Cole (Narrator)

Audiobook

The August Strindberg BBC Radio Collection: 13 Full-Cast Productions including Miss Julie, The Father and The Dream Play

"A comprehensive selection of August Strindberg’s finest works, featuring an all-star cast and original music Hailed by Arthur Miller as ‘the mad inventor of modern theatre’, Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, poet and novelist whose groundbreaking works mingled naturalism and psychology and paved the way for Expressionist drama. A prolific writer – penning over 60 plays, 19 novels and nine autobiographies – his turbulent life was marked by emotional conflict. This wide-ranging collection brings together 13 of his most important dramas and a semi-autobiographical ‘occult diary’, enhanced through stunning soundscapes and music composed by Strindberg himself. First up is his debut play, the 1872 historical drama Master Olof. Influenced by Ibsen’s Brand, it centres around a revolutionary 16th-century priest’s defiance of the Catholic Church and the monarchy. It is followed by The Father, whose focus is paternity and the battle for power between a husband and wife. Sexuality and social class are scrutinised in a retelling of Strindberg’s classic play Miss Julie, placed in a Scottish context, while in Creditors, a Swedish seaside resort is the setting for marriage-wrecking revenge. Also set by the sea, Strindberg’s black comedy of manners Playing with Fire explores a love triangle between a young couple and their close friend. Begun in 1898 while Strindberg was recovering from a breakdown, To Damascus is a symbolic synthesis of his marital, religious and existential struggles. Erik XIV portrays the last years of the titular King of Sweden’s reign, as the increasingly unstable ruler becomes embroiled in a bitter feud with the nobility. Next is Ingmar Bergman’s version of A Dream Play, Strindberg’s oneiric fantasy exploring human suffering and life’s illusions. Easter tells the redemptive tale of a family fearing ruin who instead find hope, forgiveness and mercy. Performed for the first time in English, The Virgin Bride centres on a wedding that could reconcile two rival families – but can the bride prove her chastity by wearing a bridal crown? Following their father’s death, a brother and sister discover disturbing truths about their mother in The Pelican, and in The Ghost Sonata, adultery, murder and deceit are laid bare in the house of the living dead… Our final piece, Strindberg’s dark prose poem Inferno, recounts his experiments in alchemy and black magic, his sojourn in hell and his quest for faith and love. It is narrated by Alan Badel. These outstanding dramas feature star casts including Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Andrew Garfield, Rory Kinnear, Maurice Denham, Martin Jarvis, Trevor Howard, Peggy Ashcroft, Stephen Murray, Judy Bennett, Frank Finlay, Ian Richardson, Janet McTeer and Dorothy Tutin. First published 1872 (Master Olof), 1887 (The Father), 1888 (Miss Julie), 1889 (Creditors), 1892 (Playing with Fire), 1898-1904 (To Damascus), 1899 (Erik XIV), 1901 (A Dream Play, Easter, The Virgin Bride), 1907 (The Pelican), 1908 (The Ghost Sonata), 1912 (Inferno) First broadcast on BBC Radio, 1968-2005 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

August Strindberg (Author), Andrew Garfield, Brian Cox, Elizabeth Proud, Fiona Shaw, Full Cast, Jonathan Coy, Martin Jarvis, Maurice Denham, Pauline Letts, Peggy Ashcroft, Rory Kinnear, Sarah Badel (Narrator)

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Gush: A BBC Radio 4 Parody

"An epic tale of power, love, passion and oil – from the minds of comedy greats Ian Hislop and Nick Newman Gush is the stunning saga of the bitter rivals Foxwell Cravate and Max Pomeroy whose destinies are tragically intertwined. Set in Durban at the Transworld Oil Conference and packed with the flair, fun and parody of the best TV mini-series of the 90s, this is comedy that will have you laughing out loud. The aristocratic Foxwell Cravate, played by radio legend Martin Jarvis, and American tycoon Max Pomeroy, played by Mac McDonald, were once the closest of friends. However, the two have become such bitter rivals their actions could threaten the human race. What could possibly have destroyed their friendship and, potentially, the world? The story begins when Prince Saudi hopes that his oil deal will bring peace to the civilised world. What could possibly go wrong? Well, Cravate and Pomeroy's bitter rivalry could mess things up for a start. Beginning with a vow to end all vows, the Oil Conference doesn’t go quite to plan and Foxwell and Max face execution by ritual disembowelment. Will Lady Arabella's wiles coax Prince Saudi into making a last-minute reprieve? There is a glimmer of hope when a compromising photo of Prince Saudi and Lady Arabella materialises. However, it's in the hands of the infamous Charles de Vere of the Foreign Office… Written by long time collaborators Ian Hislop (Have I Got New For You, Spitting Image) and Nick Newman (Sunday Times, Punch and The Spectator cartoonist), this pitch perfect parody of the works of Jeffrey Archer, is a must listen. Starring Martin Jarvis, alongside Mac McDonald, Felicity Montagu, Caroline Quentin, Jonathan Coy and Julian Dutton. Please note: This show contains humour of the time. Cast and credits Written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman Produced by Colin Swash Foxwell Cravate - Martin Jarvis Max Pomeroy - Mac McDonald Arabella Derbyshire - Felicity Montagu Iolanthe Diamond - Caroline Quentin Charles Ambrose Fortescue de Vere - Jonathan Coy Prince Saudi - Julian Dutton With Toby Longworth, Mandy Knight, Steve Steen and John Whitehall First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 Nov - 27 Dec 1994 ©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Ian Hislop, Nick Newman (Author), Caroline Quentin, Felicity Montagu, Full Cast, Jonathan Coy, Julian Dutton, Mac Mcdonald, Martin Jarvis, Toby Longworth (Narrator)

Audiobook

L.P Hartley: The Go- Between, & More: Four BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisations & Readings

"Four of L. P. Hartley's finest novels adapted for BBC radio, plus bonus short stories An acclaimed novelist, short story writer and critic, Leslie Poles Hartley is best known for his 1953 novel The Go-Between, which won the W. H. Heinemann Award and was adapted as a BAFTA-winning film starring Julie Christie and Alan Bates. Included here is a radio dramatisation of that classic tale, alongside adaptations of three further novels and five short stories. The Go-Between - 1901, Norfolk. Twelve-year-old Leo Colston is spending the long, hot summer with his school friend Marcus at his family estate, Brandham Hall. Drawn into an adult world of deception and forbidden desire, he sets in motion a tragedy that will haunt him forever. This moving tale of lost innocence stars Clive Swift, Joe Brothwell, Lisa Kay and Robert Glenister. The Collections - Ambrose and Edwina possess exquisite collections of objets d'art, but need to dispose of them; Barbara owns a stately home, but has had to sell off the contents. Joining forces seems like the ideal solution - until a thief comes along... Starring Richard Pearson, Siân Phillips and Eva Stuart. The Brickfield - Dictating his memoir to his secretary, elderly novelist Richard Mardick finds himself confiding a long-held secret from his youth: his adolescent romance with the beautiful Lucy, and its tragic conclusion... Martin Jarvis and Denys Blakelock star in this tender love story from the past, told against the bright awareness of the present. The Betrayal - In this sequel to The Brickfield, Richard Mardick is forced once more to recall the long-ago days of his boyhood, as he reveals to his biographer-to-be how Lucy's death has blighted his life and disrupted his peace of mind. Starring Martin Jarvis and Denys Blakelock, with Irene Sutcliffe and Gudrun Ure. Short Stories by LP Hartley - Robert Lang reads five creepy tales by the celebrated author: 'Night Fears', 'The Waits', 'W.S.', 'Someone in the Lift' and 'The Price of the Absolute'. Text copyright © The Trustees of the Estate of Annie Norah Hartley, 1953 (The Go-Between), 1954 ('W.S.', 'The Price of the Absolute'), 1961 ('The Waits', 'Someone in the Lift'), 1964 (The Brickfield), 1966 (The Betrayal), 1972 (The Collections) 'Night Fears' first published 1924 Cast and credits Written by L. P. Hartley The Go-Between Cast: Clive Swift, Joe Brothwell, George Greenbury, Eleanor Bron, Lisa Kay, Robert Glenister, Ed Sinclair, Jenny Coverack, Mark Hesketh, Brian Gear, Guy Shotton The Collections Cast: Richard Pearson, Martin Friend, Siân Phillips, Christopher Good, Elizabeth Rider, Eva Stuart, John Bull, Peter Baldwin, Sonia Fraser The Brickfield Cast: Martin Jarvis, Denys Blakelock, Barbara Mitchell, Nigel Anthony, Ann Murray, Noel Hood, Lockwood West, Humphrey Morton, Beth Boyd, Bernard Brown, David Brierley, Sian Davies, Michael Harbour, Leroy Lingwood The Betrayal Cast: Martin Jarvis, Denys Blakelock, Irene Sutcliffe, Alexa Romanes, Shelagh Willcocks, Sian Davies, Bernard Brown, Douglas Hankin, Gudrun Ure, David Brierley, Alexander John, Beth Boyd Short Stories by LP Hartley Read by Robert Lang First broadcast BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: Night Fears 7 November 1988 The Waits 8 November 1988 W.S. 9 November 1988 Someone in the Lift 10 November 1988 The Price of the Absolute 11 November 1988 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

L. P. Hartley (Author), Clive Swift, Denys Blakelock, Eleanor Bron, Full Cast, Lockwood West, Martin Jarvis, Richard Pearson, Robert Glenister, Robert Lang, Sian Phillips (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Martin Jarvis

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