Audiobooks narrated by Nigel Rees

The Betty Witherspoon Show: Classic BBC Radio Comedy

The complete series of the vintage BBC Radio variety show Radio legends Kenneth Williams (Beyond Our Ken, Hancock’s Half Hour) and Ted Ray (Ray’s a Laugh) join forces for this quickfire mix of characters, songs and sketches, first broadcast on Radio 2 in 1974. Accompanied by Quote… Unquote’s Nigel Rees and veteran actress/comedian Miriam Margolyes, they cross their comedy swords and trade playful repartee. In these ten episodes, recorded in front of a live audience at the Paris Theatre, Ted Ray demonstrates his virtuosity on the violin; documentary feature ‘Witherspoon’s World’ explores topics including medicine, the arts, Europe and the younger generation; and Inspector Spewles of Scotland Yard’s Intelligence Unit gets flirty, sweetie, with a public information bulletin that’s full of honeyed words. Plus, the ‘Theatre of the Air’ troupe make merry at the court of Henry VIII, take a rollicking trip through Rasputin’s Russia and give us their comic take on classic literature: from A Tale of Two Cities to Wuthering Heights, Anthony and Cleopatra and Romeo and Juliet. There’s also a host of groan-inducing gags and humorous tunes, including ‘The Type of Horrible Cockney Song that Killed the Music Hall’ and ‘Why Don’t They Write Songs About Runcorn?’ None of the shows were kept by the BBC archive, but thanks to the ‘Treasure Hunt’ campaign, they were all recovered, and are collected here for you to enjoy once more. Happy days! NB: Contains dated humour and language that reflect the era in which these programmes were recorded, which some listeners may find offensive. Due to the age and off-air nature of the recordings, the quality may vary. Production credits Starring Ted Ray and Kenneth Williams With Miriam Margolyes and Nigel Rees Written by Michael Wale and Joe Steeples With additional material by Derek Farmer, Ray Lowrie, Fred Metcalfe, David Renwick, Keith Williams, Chris Miller, Peter Spence, Chris Allen, David McKellar, Tom Magee Englefield, David Nobbs and Peter Vincent Music by Neil Innes Produced by Simon Brett First broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 20 April-22 June 1974 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Joe Steeples, Michael Wale (Author), Kenneth Williams, Miriam Margolyes, Nigel Rees, Ted Ray (Narrator)

Audiobook

Quote…Unquote: Series 55, 56 & 57 of the classic comedy panel show

The last ever episodes of the acclaimed quotations quiz, devised and introduced by Nigel Rees - including the historic 500th show Ever since 1976, Quote... Unquote chairman Nigel Rees has quizzed a host of well-known personalities on the origins of popular sayings, both familiar and obscure, and encouraged them to contribute their own quotes, anecdotes and catchphrases. But - to paraphrase Chaucer - all good things must come to an end, and with Series 57, the long-running panel game takes its final bow. Among the household names gracing the stage in these final eighteen episodes are comedians Ken Cheng, Shazia Mirza and Sophie Duker, actors Steve Pemberton and Paterson Joseph, authors Juno Dawson, Luke Jennings and Victoria Hislop, lyricist Tim Rice, presenters Konnie Huq and Dame Esther Rantzen and journalist Jonathan Freedland (aka thriller writer Sam Bourne). Their quota of quotations to identify ranges from memorable lines from the worlds of literature, film and music, to comic catchphrases, famous last words and evergreen epitaphs. There's also an opportunity for the panellists to share the brilliant bon mots they wish they'd said, and dispense their favourite family sayings and the nuggets of wisdom that they've picked up over the years. Also included in this release is 'Quote... Unquote: A Celebration', a special episode marking the end of an era for the long-running literary panel game. So join Nigel and guests for a feast of aphorisms, epigrams, wisecracks and witty rejoinders, and prepare to be inspired, amazed and thoroughly entertained. Production credits Devised and introduced by Nigel Rees Quotes read by Sally Grace, Charlotte Green and Alison Skilbeck Produced by Simon Nicholls, Victoria Lloyd and Ella Watts Production Coordinators: Candace Wilson and Gwyn Davies Theme tune: 'Duddley Dell', written and performed by Dudley Moore Sound design: Hedley Knights A BBC Studios Production © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Nigel Rees (Author), Esther Rantzen, Full Cast, Konnie Huq, Nigel Rees, Paterson Joseph, Steve Pemberton, Steve Pemberton, Tim Rice, Victoria Hislop (Narrator)

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Quote Unquote

This exclusive compilation was first published to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 'Quote, Unquote'. It takes a fond look a the show in which celebrity guests are quizzed about quotations, famous and obscure, and invited to contribute their own quotes and anecdotes. From identifying Shakespearean dialogue, attributing witty last words and putting names to famous one-liners, panellists go on to discuss everything that could possibly fall between two quotation marks, from eavesdropping to epitaphs. This collection features more than fifty of the show's most entertaining guests, including David Attenborough, Alan Bennett, Kingsley Amis, Russell Harty, Judi Dench, Glenda Jackson, Denis Healey, Ian McKellen, Tim Rice, Terry Wogan, Peter Ustinov and Denis Norden.

Nigel Rees (Author), Alan Bennett, David Attenborough, Denis Healey, Glenda Jackson, Ian Mckellen, Judi Dench, Nigel Rees, Peter Ustinov, Terry Wogan, Various (Narrator)

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The Burkiss Way: Complete Series

Now available together for the first time are all six episodes from the first series of classic comedy from David Renwick (who went on to write One Foot in the Grave), Andrew Marshall (who later wrote 2point4 Children) - and Eric Pode (of Croydon). Includes: 'Peel Bananas The Burkiss Way', in which you can learn the best techniques for peeling bananas and how to get people off lightly; 'Pass Examinations The Burkiss Way', which teaches you how to astound your friends by appearing on shows like The Auntie Quiz and 'Escape From Prison The Burkiss Way' ('The Burkiss Special with James Burkiss'); which sees the team proving to be experts on escaping from prison. There's also 'Solve Murders The Burkiss Way', in which The New Faces Impressionist Squad try to solve a murder; 'Keep Unfit The Burkiss Way', featuring tips on putting on weight, being fat and being repellently ugly and 'Win Awards The Burkiss Way', where you could receive - absolutely free! - a Gullibility Award.

Andrew Marshall, David Renwick (Author), , Chris Emmett, Denise Coffey, Fred Harris, Full Cast, Nigel Rees (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Nigel Rees