Audiobooks Narrated by Peter Acre

Elizabeth Taylor: A BBC Radio Collection: 20 dramas and short stories from the acclaimed 20th Century novelist

"Full-cast dramatisations of three acclaimed novels by Elizabeth Taylor – including Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont – plus 17 readings of her short fiction Described by Antonia Fraser as ‘one of the most underrated novelists of the 20th century’, Elizabeth Taylor was much admired for her witty, acutely observed stories of middle-class life. She never achieved widespread recognition during her lifetime – perhaps due to the fame of her Hollywood namesake – but since her death in 1975, her work has been rediscovered. This collection showcases the very best of her oeuvre, as heard on BBC Radio. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont is the poignant tale of an elderly lady who moves into a genteel London hotel and strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young writer. Jean Anderson stars as Mrs Palfrey in this 1974 adaptation, with Tony Robinson as Ludo. In A Wreath of Roses, starring Angela Pleasence, a violent and disturbing incident at the start of her holiday proves to be a memory Camilla cannot escape, while In a Summer Season sees wealthy widow Kate marrying a younger man, provoking gossip among her conventional 1950s community. Kate Buffery stars in this moving drama about love and the transience of happiness. Taylor’s short stories, a number of which appeared in The New Yorker and Harper’s Bazaar, are regarded by many as her crowning achievement. Included here are 15 of them, beginning with three tales read by Joanna Tope – ‘The Idea of Age’, ‘Plenty Good Fiesta’ and ‘The Blush’. The rest of the stories are read by David Troughton, Joanna David, Sarah Badel, Sheila Mitchell, Fiona Walker, Ann Windsor, Rosemary Leach, Shireen Shah and Cécile Chevreau respectively. Two 13-part Woman’s Hour serials conclude our compilation. In The Wedding Group, read by June Barrie, two rebellious young people, each escaping their families, make an unhappy marriage. And in The Sleeping Beauty, read by Nigel Anthony, a 50-year-old bachelor becomes smitten with an enigmatic recluse – but both of them are nursing secrets... Contents Dramatisations: Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont A Wreath of Roses In a Summer Season Short Stories: The Idea of Age Plenty Good Fiesta The Blush The Letter Writers The Benefactress Hotel du Commerce Spry Old Character A Dedicated Man The Devastating Boys Sisters Swan Moving Simone Flesh Gravement Endommage In and Out the Houses The Wedding Group The Sleeping Beauty © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Elizabeth Taylor (Author), Angela Pleasence, Chris Garner, Full Cast, Helen Weaver, Jean Anderson, Kate Buffery, Marian Diamond, Michael Fenton Stevens, Peter Acre, Robert Lang, Rosalie Crutchley, Sir Tony Robinson (Narrator)

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The Eagle has landed, The Eagle has Flown and Exocet: Three BBC Radio Full-Cast Thrillers

"Full-cast dramatisations of three of Jack Higgins’ best-known novels Jack Higgins (the pen name of Henry Patterson) was the internationally bestselling author of 85 novels. He shot to fame with The Eagle Has Landed, which sold 50 million copies worldwide and became a hit film. Adapted for radio, it is included here, together with its gripping sequel The Eagle Has Flown and the sensational Falklands War thriller Exocet. The Eagle Has Landed – November 1943, and Winston Churchill is planning a weekend's relaxation in the Norfolk village of Studley Constable. Little does he know that a crack group of German paratroopers, aided by deadly IRA gunman Liam Devlin, are waiting to kidnap him and deliver him to Adolf Hitler…Starring Michael Fitzgerald, Frank Grimes, Rosemary Martin and Harry Patterson, aka Jack Higgins, this classic story is one of the greatest World War Two adventures ever told. The Eagle Has Flown – Gunned down during ‘Operation Eagle’, German paratrooper Kurt Steiner is alive, but a prisoner in the Tower of London. Now Himmler wants him back, and calls in the one man with the skills to retrieve him: Liam Devlin. Harry Paterson stars as himself, Jack Higgins, with Michael Fitzgerald as Steiner, Frank Grimes as Devlin and Graham Padden as Himmler. Exocet – Argentina has invaded the Falkland Islands, forcing Britain to send in a naval task force to reclaim them. With war looming, Brigadier Charles Ferguson of MI6 recruits the beautiful Gabrielle Legrand to spy on her Argentinian lover, Raul Montera. Her mission: to work alongside her ex-husband, Tony Villiers, to foil a Soviet plot to sell deadly Exocet missiles to Argentina… Peter Jeffrey, Michael N Harbour, Moir Leslie and William Hope star in this riveting four-part drama. Text copyright © Jack Higgins 1971, 1983 (The Eagle Has Landed), 1983 (Exocet), 1991 (The Eagle Has Flown) Cast and credits Written by Jack Higgins The Eagle Has Landed Jack Higgins – Harry Patterson Steiner – Michael Fitzgerald Col Radl – Ian Hogg Joanna – Rosemary Martin Liam Devlin – Frank Grimes Molly – Holly Aird Pamela – Kimberly Hope Father Vereker – Simon Carter Churchill – Roger Hume Himmler – Graham Padden Canaris – Terry Molloy Hitler – David Halliwell Sturm – David Vann Meuhoff – Neil Coker Neuman – John Dixon Lemke – Stephen Garlick Betty Wilde – Heather Barrett Graham – Philip Molloy Arthur – Christopher Good George – Vincent Brimble Sgt Hofer – Geoffrey Whitehead The Eagle Has Flown Liam Devlin – Frank Grimes Jack Higgins – Harry Patterson Steiner – Michael Fitzgerald Vaughan – Quint Boa Himmler – Graham Padden Canaris – Terry Molloy Hitler – David Halliwell Mary – Melanie Revill Lavinia – Charlotte Westoram Shaw – David Neal Rommel – Gordon Reid Munro – Leon Tanner Carter – John Dixon Schellenberg – David Holt Kneussel – Richard Allenson Kramer – Richard O'Ryan Berger – Peter Meakin Exocet Brigadier Charles Ferguson – Peter Jeffrey Major Tony Villiers – Michael N Harbour Gabriel Legrand – Moir Leslie Harry Fox – Peter Acre Victor Vronski – David Bamber Col Raul Montera – William Hope Julio Garcia/Col Dwyer – Allan Corduner Nikolai Belov – David March Sgt Major Jackson – Eric Allan Chief Supt Carver/General Leopoldo Galtieri – John Church Anna Marchuk – Melanie Hudson Queen Elizabeth II/Margaret Thatcher – Melinda Walker Prof Paul Bernard – Keith Drinkel Major Langham/Major Espinet – Steve Hodson Journalist/Private Elliot – David Holt © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Jack Higgins (Author), David Bamber, Frank Grimes, Full Cast, Geoffrey Whitehead, Graham Padden, Michael Fitzgerald, Moir Leslie, Peter Acre, Peter Jeffrey (Narrator)

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Flying the Flag: The Complete Series 1-4: A BBC Radio 4 comedy drama

"All four series of the Eastern bloc embassy sitcom starring Dinsdale Landen Set in a British embassy somewhere in Russia, as the Cold War draws to a close, this entertaining sitcom follows Her Majesty's Ambassador Mr Mackenzie as he navigates the idiosyncrasies of life behind the Iron Curtain. Together with his First Secretary, William Frost, and personal assistant Helen Waterson, he manages matters ranging from dissidents to diplomatic dinners, all while maintaining his urbane, unflappable demeanour. Engaging with Communism is challenging enough, but the era of glasnost and perestroika brings new problems - including tourism, press freedom and an outbreak of political sickness in the People's Republic. However, Mackenzie battles on bravely, striving to dispense his own unique blend of British foreign policy and maintain the upper hand. Whether he's dealing with drug barons, hijackers, a Briton being held hostage or a container ship full of toxic waste, it's all in a day's overwork for the Ambassador. Not even an imminent revolution can faze him: but all distinguished careers must come to an end, and eventually it's time for Mackenzie to pack his diplomatic bags. But as he contemplates a bleak future in Britain, with no servants - and no knighthood - he finds himself facing one final crisis. Can he salvage some personal profit from someone else's disaster? Written by Alex Shearer, this wry observation of East-West diplomacy stars Dinsdale Landen as Ambassador Mackenzie, with Peter Acre as William, Moir Leslie as Helen, Christopher Benjamin as Colonel Surikov and Stephen Greif as US Ambassador Spiro Weinberg. Production credits Written by Alex Shearer Produced by Pete Atkin and Neil Cargill Cast HM Ambassador Mr Mackenzie - Dinsdale Landen William Frost - Peter Acre Helen Waterson - Moir Leslie Brown - Milton Johns Bryant - Stuart Organ Colonel Surikov - Christopher Benjamin Yakov Korovin - Michael Bilton Mikael Korovin - Jonathan Kydd US Ambassador Spiro Wineberg - Stephen Greif Eugenia - Sue Broomfield Brown - Milton Johns Mrs Poonskey - Margaret Ward Mrs Newton - Susie Brann George Sommers - Peter Howell Harris - Stephen Rashbrook Olav/Captain Warner - David Goodland Morris - John Baddeley Keith Branley - Richard Pearce Nesterov - Peter Craze Brodsky - Paul Gregory Frank Burton - Alan Dudley Gerald Calder-Browne MP - Richard Tate Henry Treebling - John Grieve Dr Hutchings - Norman Bird Grub - Julian Dutton Duncan Bridges - Peter Whitman Princess Sharon Eckersley - Elaine Lordan Dave - Simon Schatzberger First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 21 April-26 May 1987 (Series 1), 10 March-28 April 1988 (Series 2), 20 November-25 December 1990 (Series 3), 16 June-4 August 1992 (Series 4) ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alex Shearer (Author), Christopher Benjamin, Dinsdale Landen, Full Cast, Milton Johns, Moir Leslie, Peter Acre, Stephen Greif (Narrator)

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