Audiobooks Narrated by Norman Shelley

Headlong Hall, Crotchet Castle & Nightmare Abbey: A BBC Radio Collection

"Three stunning full-cast dramatisation of Thomas Love Peacock’s classic stories Listen now to this collection of three of the finest stories from Thomas Love Peacock. A contemporary and close friend of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Love Peacock was born in 1785 and wrote satirical novels discussing and criticising the philosophical opinions of the day. Packed with witty dialogue, intriguing ideas and featuring the iconic voices of Sir Michael Hordern (Lord Of The Rings) and Kenneth Williams (Carry On films, Just a Minute) this collection is a must listen for any fans of classic audio productions. In Headlong Hall it’s winter, 1815 and Harry Headlong, like all Welsh squires, is fond of shooting, hunting and drinking. But he becomes seized with a passion to form the acquaintance of philosophers and dilettanti. Sir Michael Hordern narrates this classic novella. Love Peacock assembles a group of eccentrics in Crochet Castle, each with a single monomaniacal obsession. Hilarity ensures as their various interactions and conversations play out a rich social satire of the day. Reverend Doctor Folliott, a vigorous middle-aged clergyman with a love for ancient Greek language and literature, is greatly suspicious of the reform slogan of the 'March of Intellect', as well as anything done by Lord Brougham. Romance stirs between Mr. Chainmail (who is convinced that the world has gone downhill continuously since the twelfth century) and Susannah Touchandgo (the daughter of a disgraced banker), and between Captain Fitzchrome (an attractive gentleman with only a moderate income) and Lady Clarinda Bossnowl (the daughter of an impoverished peer, who is cynically determined to make a financially rewarding marriage). Voted one of the 100 best novels ever in 2023 in The Guardian, Nightmare Abbey is read by Kenneth Williams who brings this story to life in Martin Remes’s brilliant adaptation. A true radio archive gem. Written in 1818, this is classic satire poking fun at the Romantic Movement and its obsession with the morbid. Raised by his widower father in the bleak family mansion in Lincolnshire, on a dry stretch of land between the sea and the fens, Scythrop Glowry vows to change the world… This is a listening treat for any fans of the classics, featuring a star-studded cast and stories that will both intrigue and delight. Cast includes: Michael Horden, Daniel Massey, Carlton Hobbs, Vivienne Chatterton, Esme Percy and more. Content Headlong Hall Crotchet Castle Nightmare Abbey ©2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Thomas Love Peacock (Author), Alan Dudley, Andrew Branch, Carleton Hobbs, Caroline Gruber, Daniel Massey, Esme Percy, Frank Duncan, Full Cast, John Baddeley, Kenneth Williams, Michael Horden, Norman Shelley (Narrator)

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Alibi for a Judge & other plays: Eight Full-Cast Vintage BBC Radio Dramatisations

"Eight thrilling tales from the writer of Brothers in Law, featuring courtroom cases, legal wranglings, conspiracy and blackmail Barrister and county court judge, Henry Cecil wrote numerous comic stories set in the legal world, most famously Brothers in Law. Collected here are eight vintage dramas based on his works, beginning with an adaptation of his debut novel, The Painswick Line, a tale of a judge and his somewhat unconventional family starring Cecil Parker and Monica Grey. The Disagreeable Man, starring Norman Shelley and David Spenser, finds a peaceful English village disrupted by the arrival of two newcomers, one of whom is most unpleasant. In Alibi for a Judge, an attractive young woman enlists the co-operation of the elderly judge who had convicted her husband of robbery to prove his innocence. It stars Andrew Cruickshank and Lesley Burford. Next are two very different family dramas. Daughters in Law, starring Cecil Parker and Naunton Wayne, is a lighthearted story about a lawyer-loathing squire who discovers his sons have fallen in love with a judge’s twin daughters, one a barrister and one a solicitor. Fathers in Law, meanwhile, deals with the thorny issue of adoption, as the rights of a childless couple wishing to adopt a baby boy are set against those of his natural father. Alan Barry, John Westbrook and Joan Matheson star in this heartrending drama leavened by touches of humour. Inspired by a real-life case, A Matter of Speculation depicts the 1814 trial of aristocratic naval officer Admiral Lord Cochrane, on a charge of conspiracy to defraud the London Stock Exchange. No Fear or Favour, Henry Cecil’s last radio play, concerns an imprudent judge threatened by an unscrupulous blackmailer, and stars Paul Daneman, Sarah Badel and Peter Sallis. Finally, in The Buttercup Spell, the pollen of the humble yellow flower is found to have unusual and beneficial effects, causing everyone to love their fellow man. Peter Williams stars in this delightful 1975 fantasy. With thanks to Keith Wickham and the Radio Circle NB: These are vintage radio productions and the audio quality reflects the age of the recording Cast and credits Written by Henry Cecil The Painswick Line Starring Kenneth Hyde, Cecil Parker, Monica Grey, Frederick Treves, Alan Haines, Gordon Faith, Ralph Truman, Timothy Harley, Denys Blakelock, Stephen Thorne, Michael Goldie, Beatrlce Kane, George Merritt, John Boxer, Hamlyn Benson. Produced by H. B. Fortuin The Disagreeable Man Starring Norman Shelley, David Spenser, Margaret Wolfit, James Thomason, Humphrey Morton, Ronald Herdman, Alan Dudley, Hilda Kriseman, Noel Hood, Anna North, Duncan McIntyre, Wilfred Babbage, Antony Viccars, Geoffrey Wincott. Adapted by C.E. Webber from an episode in the book Ways and Means by Henry Cecil Produced by Martyn C. Webster. Alibi for a Judge Starring Andrew Cruickshank, Amanda Grinling, Aubrey Woods, Jonathan Scott, Trader Faulkner, Peter Howell, Michael Shannon, Clifford Norgate, Hector Ross, Carole Boyd, Michael Burlington, Anthony Smee. Adapted by Henry Cecil and Felicity Douglas Directed by John Tydeman Daughters in Law Starring Cecil Parker, Antony Viccars, John Pullen, Gudrun Ure, Diana Olsson, William Eedle, Will Leighton, Naunton Wayne, Peter Claughton, Malcolm Hayes, Rolf Lefebvre, Philip Leaver, Haydn Jones, Derek Birch. Produced by H. B. Fortuin Fathers in Law Starring Hector Ross, Alan Barry, John Westbrook, Joan Matheson, George Curzon, Gordon Faith, Patricia Leventon, Michael Gough, Allan McClelland, Nigel Graham, Philip Guard, Monica Grey, Michael McClain, Fraser Kerr, Molly Rankin, Betty Huntley-Wright, Denys Blakelock, Peter Marinker. Produced by H. B. Fortuin A Matter of Speculation Starring Cecil Parker, Noel Howlett, Garard Green, Basil Jones, John Boxer, William Fox, Alan Haines, Stephen Thorne, Hector Ross, Fraser Kerr, Nigel Graham, Eric Anderson, Mary Wimbush, Norman Shelley. Produced by Archie Campbell No Fear or Favour Starring Paul Daneman, Sarah Badel, Peter Sallis, Timothy Bateson, Hector Ross, Peter Williams, Manning Wilson, Michael Shannon, Peter Howell, Antony Higginson, Michael Burlington, Michael Cochrane. Adapted by Henry Cecil Produced by Harry Catlin The Buttercup Spell Starring Peter Williams, Gerald Cross, John Ruddock, Leslie Heritage, John Challis, John Samson, Malcolm Hayes, William Fox, Philip Leaver, Geoffrey Beevers, Edward Kelsey, Lewis Stringer, Peter Bartlett, Peter Marinker, Katherine Parr, Sheila Grant. Produced by Archie Campbell © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Henry Cecil (Author), Alan Barry, Basil Dawson, Cecil Parker, David Spenser, Gerald Cross, Joan Matheson, John Westbrook, Monica Grey, Naunton Wayne, Norman Shelley, Paul Daneman, Peter Howell, Peter Sallis, Peter Williams, Sarah Badel (Narrator)

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Ivan Turgenev: A BBC Radio Full-Cast Drama Collection: First Love, Father and Sons, A Month in the Country & More

"Nine classic works by the Russian literary giant, adapted for BBC Radio Ivan Turgenev stands alongside Tolstoy and Dostoevsky as one of the three great Russian novelists of the 19th century. He was also a consummate short story writer, poet and playwright, and the first Russian author to become popular in the West. This specially curated collection showcases his key works, from the most celebrated to the undeservedly underrated. Described as ‘one of the most perfect things ever written’, the lyrical novella First Love tells the story of 16-year-old Vladimir, whose longing for the capricious Zinaida informs his whole life. Dramatised for Radio 4, it stars Simon Cadell, Rosalind Ayres and Bill Nighy. Succeeding it is Turgenev’s masterpiece, Fathers and Sons, an exploration of the eternal conflict between the reactionary older generation and the revolutionary younger one. John Castle stars as youthful nihilist Bazarov, with Maurice Denham as his father Nikolai. First published in 1855 as Two Women, Turgenev’s best-known play A Month in the Country centres around a landowner’s wife who finds herself attracted to her son’s tutor. Translated by Isaiah Berlin, our Radio 3 version stars Maureen O’Brien and Gerard Murphy. Written a few years before A Month in the Country, the little-known play The Poor Gentleman is an emotional comedy about an elderly man’s devotion to a daughter he can never recognise publicly. It stars Frank Finlay, Morag Hood and Colin Baker. Next up is Smoke, Turgenev’s only novel not to be set in Russia. Baden Baden is the setting for a tale that blends poignant love story and searing political satire, starring Garard Green, Rachel Gurney and Patricia Leventon. Meanwhile, in the short story ‘The Dog’, a mild Hussar (Timothy West) is the subject of a bizarre haunting… Turgenev’s debut novel, Rudin, features that archetypal character in Russian literature, the ‘superfluous man’. Ian Holm stars as the eponymous hero, an idealistic intellectual who is incapable of taking action: and suffers for it. Set just before the Crimean War, the romantic novella On the Eve has passion and patriotism as its themes. Amanda Root stars as the upper-class Elena, who embarks on a doomed affair with Bulgarian revolutionary Insarov (Philip Franks). We conclude as we began, with a tale of first love – Spring Torrents, one of Turgenev’s greatest and most autobiographical novellas. Adapted for Radio 4’s ‘Book at Bedtime’, it is read by David Horovitch. First published 1848 (The Poor Gentleman), 1855/1872 (A Month in the Country), 1857 (Rudin), 1860 (First Love, On the Eve), 1862 (Fathers and Sons), 1866 (‘The Dog’), 1867 (Smoke), 1872 (Spring Torrents) Production credits Written by Ivan Turgenev With thanks to Keith Wickham Contents List First Love Fathers and Sons A Month in the Country The Poor Gentleman Smoke The Dog Rudin On the Eve Spring Torrents © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Ivan Turgenev (Author), Amanda Root, Bill Nighy, David Horovitch, Full Cast, Hugh Dickson, Ian Holm, Maureen O'brien, Norman Shelley, Patrick Troughton, Rosalind Ayres, Tim Pigott-Smith, Timothy West (Narrator)

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Sherlock Holmes: The Carleton Hobbs Collection: 55 Full-Cast BBC Dramatisations

"A comprehensive collection of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley - plus bonus documentary. Legendary actor Carleton Hobbs played the great Baker Street detective for over 17 years between 1952 and 1969, alongside Norman Shelley as Holmes's friend and companion Dr Watson. Their superb incarnations of the crime-fighting duo were exceptionally popular and are now wonderfully nostalgic. This unique collection contains the existing Sherlock Holmes dramas in chronological order of publication, each a faithful, standalone adaptation of the original tale. Of the 56 short stories in the canon, 51 are included here ('The Adventure of the Yellow Face', 'The Adventure of the Gloria Scott', 'The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger' and 'The Adventure of the Creeping Man' were never made, and 'The Adventure of the Three Students' is missing from the BBC archives). Also featured are dramatisations of the four novels: A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of the Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Valley of Fear. Among the star casts are Grizelda Hervey, Humphrey Morton, Gudrun Ure, Sylvia Coleridge and Rolf Lefebvre. Concluding our collection is a fascinating 40-minute programme, Chosen Companions: Sherlock Holmes, in which Richard Usborne, one-time assistant editor of The Strand Magazine, selects his favourite extracts from the books (read by Carleton Hobbs) to weave together the story of Sherlock Holmes' development. NB: Due to the age and nature of some of the recordings, the sound quality may vary. Credits Written by Arthur Conan Doyle Dramatised by Michael Hardwick and Felix Felton Produced by Norman Wright, Val Gielgud, Martyn C Webster, Graham Gauld, Frederick Bradnum and Robin Midgley With thanks to Keith Wickham. First broadcast on BBC Light Programme/BBC Radio 2 12 May 1959 - 10 July 1969 Contents A Study in Scarlet The Sign of the Four The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia - The Red-Headed League - A Case of Identity - The Boscombe Valley Mystery - The Five Orange Pips - The Man with the Twisted Lip - The Blue Carbuncle - The Speckled Band - The Engineer's Thumb - The Noble Bachelor - The Beryl Coronet - The Copper Beeches The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes - Silver Blaze - The Cardboard Box - The Stockbroker's Clerk - The Musgrave Ritual - The Reigate Squires - The Crooked Man - The Resident Patient - The Greek Interpreter - The Naval Treaty - The Final Problem The Hound of the Baskervilles The Return of Sherlock Holmes - The Empty House - The Norwood Builder - The Dancing Men - The Solitary Cyclist - The Priory School - Black Peter - Charles Augustus Milverton - The Six Napoleons - The Golden Pince-Nez - The Missing Three-Quarter - The Abbey Grange - The Second Stain His Last Bow - Wisteria Lodge - The Red Circle - The Bruce-Partington Plans - The Dying Detective - The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax - The Devil's Foot - His Last Bow The Valley of Fear The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes - The Illustrious Client - The Blanched Soldier - The Mazarin Stone - The Three Gables - The Sussex Vampire - The Three Garridebs - The Problem of Thor Bridge - The Lion's Mane - Shoscombe Old Place - The Retired Colourman Chosen Companions: Sherlock Holmes Presented by Richard Usborne Reader: Carleton Hobbs Produced by Richard Keen First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 August 1970 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Author), Carleton Hobbs, Full Cast, Norman Shelley (Narrator)

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The Man Born To Be King: A BBC Radio 4 drama collection

"Dorothy L. Sayers' classic play cycle based on the life and times of Jesus Dorothy L. Sayers was best known for her mystery novels featuring aristocratic amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. But she was also a poet, playwright and committed Christian, and in The Man Born to Be King she combined art and evangelism to powerful effect, making the story of Christ accessible, relevant and every bit as thrilling as her detective fiction. Written specially for the BBC Radio, the play cycle caused huge controversy for its depiction of Christ as a character, and its use of contemporary speech instead of Biblical language. However it proved extremely popular with listeners, who wrote in to thank Sayers for making Jesus real to them and reigniting their interest in his remarkable story. Based on the four Gospels, it includes one story of the Nativity, six plays about Jesus' life and ministry, and five Passion Plays telling of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, Jesus' arrest and trial before Pontius Pilate, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Backed up with a sweeping musical score, these immersive dramas surprise and shock us anew and provide fresh, illuminating insight into 'the greatest story ever told'. The plays included are Kings in Judea, The King's Herald, A Certain Nobleman, The Heirs to the Kingdom, The Bread of Heaven, The Feast of Tabernacles, The Light and The Life, Royal Progress, The King's Supper, The Princes of This World, King of Sorrows and The King Comes to His Own. Cast and credits Written by Dorothy L Sayers Adapted by/Producer: Raymond Raikes The Evangelist (John Bar-Zebedee): Gabriel Woolf Jesus: John Westbrook Joseph/ Jacob Ben-Issachar: Norman Shelley Simon Bar-Jonah (Simon Peter): Stephen Jack Judas Iscariot: Alan Wheatley Matthew: Nigel Stock Herod The Great: Robert Eddison Nicodemus: John Wyse Ephraim: Denys Blakelock Shadrach: Malcolm Hayes Rabbit Solomon: John Gabriel Phoebe: Caroline Monkhouse Flavius: Trader Faulkner Calpurnia: Penelope Lee Mary Virgin: June Tobin Mary Magdalen: Mary Wimbush Martha: Marjorie Westbury Lazarus: Richard Hurndall Benjamin Ben-Hadad: Ralph Truman Joseph, kinsman to Jesus: Haydn Jones Simeon, kinsman to Jesus: Wilfrid Carter Baruch the Zealot: Francis de Wolff Baruch's Wife: Vivienne Chatterton Gestas: John Laurie Dysmas: Russell Napier Simon of Cyrene: Rodney Dias Proclus, a Roman Centurion: Trevor Martin Roman soldier: Bruce Beeby Roman soldier: Harvey Hall Joseph of Arimathea: Howieson Culff Calaphas, High Priest of Israel: Heron Carvic Salome, mother to James and John: Henzie Raeburn Mary Cleophas: Molly Rankin Balthazar, King of Ethiopia: Paul Danqdah Melchior/ A Zealot: Michael Kilgarriff Casper: James Dale Philip: Rolf Lefebvre Thomas Didymus/ Father: Philip Leaver Mother: Wynne Clark Miriam, child: Elizabeth Proud Isaac, child/a slave boy: Daniel Rose Hannah: Hester Paton-Brown James Bar-Zebedee: John Glen Andrew Bar-Jonah: John Boxer Hezekiah, secretary/ Roman Soldier: John Baker Annas, father-in-law to Caiaphas: Edward Atienza Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judaea: Alec Clunes Claudia Procula: Mary Law Captain Elihu: Keith Alexander Eunice, a Syro-Phoenician: Elizabeth Morgan Cleophas: Harry Hutchinson Portress at the High Priest's House: Miriam Margolyes Zillah, her daughter: Jo Manning-Wilson Issacher, servant: Hugh Dickson Susannah, mother to the Bride groom: Betty Baskcomb Rebecca, friend to Susannah: Gladys Spencer/ Janet Burnell Other cast: Ian Frost, Janette Richer, Nan Marriott-Watson, Janette Richer, Peter Marinker, Raf de la Torre, James Thomason, John Forrest, Michael Goldie First broadcast BBC Home Service 19th, 26th Jan, 2nd, 9th , 16th, 23rd Feb, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 28th, 30th March 1975 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Dorothy L. Sayers (Author), Full Cast, Gabriel Woolf, John Laurie, John Westbrook, Mary Wimbush, Miriam Margolyes, Norman Shelley (Narrator)

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