Barry Hines: Kes, Billy’s Last Stand & more: A BBC Radio Drama Collection
"Three dramas by Barry Hines and an abridged reading of his classic Kes (A Kestrel for a Knave)
Yorkshire-born author Barry Hines is renowned for his 1968 novel A Kestrel for a Knave (later turned into Ken Loach’s award-winning film Kes) and for scripting the BAFTA-winning BBC TV film Threads. The titles in this collection explore his signature theme – working-class life in Northern England – and include a trio of radio dramas alongside an abridged version of Kes, read by Stephen Tompkinson.
Billy’s Last Stand – Casual labourer Billy makes his living shovelling coal into people’s sheds and cellars. It’s a one-man job: until the parasitic Darkly turns up, offering him a business partnership. Arthur Lowe and Ronald Baddiley star in Barry Hines’ darkly comic debut play.
Two Men from Derby – Elbow-deep in domestic chores, miner’s wife Freda is visited by Joe and George, two scouts from Derby County FC who want to sign her husband as a professional footballer. But Dick is nowhere to be found… Regarded by Hines as the best thing he ever wrote, this slow-burn drama stars Sharon Duce, Colin Edwynn and Bernard Gallagher.
Looking at the Sun – When redundant miner Stewart lands a job at a nuclear power station, he has high hopes for a new beginning. But his wife Lisa’s concerns about the plant put their marriage under increasing strain. Starring Chris Brailsford as Stewart and Gillian Waugh as Lisa.
Kes – Neglected at home and bullied at school, Billy’s sole comfort is the wild bird of prey he has trained from a fledgling. But his newfound happiness is short-lived... Stephen Tompkinson reads this adaptation of Hines’ heartbreaking coming-of-age tale of a boy and his kestrel.
Text copyright © Barry Hines 1965 (Billy’s Last Stand), 1968 (A Kestrel for a Knave), 1976 (Two Men from Derby), 1992 (Looking at the Sun)
Production credits
Written by Barry Hines
Billy’s Last Stand
Billy – Arthur Lowe
Darkly – Ronald Baddiley
Two Men from Derby
Freda – Sharon Duce
Joe – Colin Edwynn
George – Bernard Gallagher
Winnie – Juliet Cooke
Stanley – Charles Booth
Looking at the Sun
Stewart – Chris Brailsford
Lisa – Gillian Waugh
Mr Ellis – Gerry Kersey
Clayton – Robin Polley
Janice – Belinda Chapman
Melanie Lee – Barbara Dryhurst
Japanese photographer – Fenella Norman
Sharland – Christopher Kent
Martyn – Peter Bell
Colin – Nick Spurr
Kevin – Colln Meredith
Alison – Caitlin Smith
Kes
Read by Stephen Tompkinson
© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"
Barry Hines (Author), Arthur Lowe, Bernard Gallagher, Charles Booth, Chris Brailsford, Colin Edwynn, Full Cast, Gerry Kersey, Gillian Waugh, Juliet Cooke, Peter Bell, Robin Polley, Ronald Baddiley, Sharon Duce, Stephen Tompkinson (Narrator)
Audiobook
