Audiobooks narrated by Sam Dale

Turf Wars (Complete, Series 1) (Bbc Radio 4 Comedy)

Four comic dramas about boundaries that are both territorial and personal, as heard on BBC Radio 4.Territory is the theme that unites these four humorous plays - whether that means fighting over an allotment plot, dealing with the sudden partition of a country, guarding the privacy of a garden or battling with the council over school catchment areas.In 'Losing the Plot', shy Edward decides to apply for an allotment plot after an encounter with attractive allotment-holder Amanda. But doing so involves an interview with ferocious site-manager Bernie who runs the allotments with military rigour. Starring James Fleet as Edward, Joanna Monroe as Amanda and Jonathan Coy as Bernie. Written by Nick Warburton and directed by Peter KavanaghIn 'An Incident at the Border', Arthur and Olivia are enjoying the sun in their local park on a beautiful summer's day. Olivia is reading a newspaper article on their country's new-found independence. Arthur, who is apolitical, is just enjoying watching the ducks. Suddenly a soldier arrives, dragging a tape across the ground, marking out the new border. He barges between the two young people. Now one is on one side of the border, and one on the other! How can the lovers be reunited? Starring Joseph Kloska as Arthur, Leah Brotherhead as Olivia and Nigel Planer as Reiver. Written by Kieran Lynn and directed by Peter Kavanagh.In 'How's Your Mother?' Humphrey Partridge is reckoned to be anti-social, indeed stand-offish. But he always has an excuse - namely that he has to look after his ailing elderly mother. No-one has ever met the legendary matriarch. Not even nosy Raj the local postman. But one morning when Humphrey is at work, Raj notices a fire in Humphrey's house, breaks in to put it out and makes an extraordinary discovery. Soon police are digging in Humphrey's garden. But just what is Humphrey's dark secret? Starring Michael Maloney as Humphrey Partridge, Adeel Akhtar as Raj/Sgt Wallis, Sam Dale as Mr Denton/Trevor, Sally Orrock as Mrs Denton and Christine Kavanagh as Mrs Jones. Written by Simon Brett and directed by Peter Kavanagh.In 'The Accidental Head', Beth just wants what's best for her 11 year old son; a solid secondary education at the kind of school that recognises his genius, as well as his aptitude for baroque music. A school like Folgate. But when the family is edged out of Folgate's catchment area, a battle begins Starring Katherine Parkinson as Beth, Darren Boyd as Jake, Emma Fryer as Ruth Willith, Alex Tregear as the journalist, Sally Orrock as Helen and Brian Bowles as Farmer/Hughes. Written by Jeremy Front and directed by James Robinson

Jeremy Front, Kieran Lynn, Nick Warburton, Simon Brett (Author), Adeel Akhtar, Full Cast, James Fleet, Joanna Monro, Jonathan Coy, Joseph Kloska, Katherine Parkinson, Leah Brotherhead, Michael Maloney, Nigel Planer, Sally Orrock, Sam Dale (Narrator)

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BBC Classics: Ultimate Story Collection: 90 unmissable tales

A treasure chest of timeless short stories by some of the world's greatest authors Suspense and horror 1 The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire - Arthur Conan Doyle 2 The Signalman - Charles Dickens 3 Lost Hearts - MR James 4 The Sealed Room - Arthur Conan Doyle. 5 Mrs Badgery - Wilkie Collins 6 Wailing Well - MR James 7 The Open Window - Saki 8 How it happened - Arthur Conan Doyle 9 The Tell-Tale Heart - Edgar Allan Poe 10 The Cone - HG Wells 11 A Haunted House - Virginia Woolf 12 Rats - MR James 13 The Oval Portrait - Edgar Allan Poe 14 Tarquin of Cheapside - F. Scott Fitzgerald 15 One Crowded Hour - Arthur Conan Doyle 16 The Mezzotint - MR James 17 The Masque of the Red Death - Edgar Allan Poe Love 18 The Kiss - Kate Chopin 19 Eleonora - Edgar Allan Poe 20 About Love - Anton Chekhov 21 The Lovers - Hans Christian Anderson 22 Love - Guy De Maupassant 23 The Sphinx Without a Secret - Oscar Wilde 24 A Wedding Gift - Guy De Maupassant 25 Kew Gardens - Virginia Woolf 26 The District Doctor - Ivan Turgenev 27 Happiness - Guy De Maupassant 28 A Blunder - Anton Chekhov 29 The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky - Stephen Crane 30 In a Far-Off World - Olive Schreiner 31 The Cook's Wedding - Anton Chekhov 32 The Recruit - Honore de Balzac 33 The Nightingale and the Rose - Oscar Wilde 34 Pyramus and Thisbe - Ovid 35 Aunt Hetty on Matrimony - Fanny Fern 36 A Country Cottage - Anton Chekhov 37 Marriage a la Mode - Katherine Mansfield 38 The Statue of Limitations - Ernest Dowson 39 The Dilettante - Edith Wharton Humorous 40 Tobermory - Saki 41The Mesmeric Mountain - Stephen Crane 42 The Children's Joke - Louisa May Alcott 43 At The Siren - Anton Chekhov 44 The Garden Party - Katherine Mansfield 45 The Cask of Amontillado - Edgar Allan Poe 46 The New Dress - Virginia Woolf 47 How I Built Myself A House - Thomas Hardy 48 The Model Millionaire - Oscar Wilde 49 A Pair of Silk Stockings - Kate Chopin 50 At The Barbers - Anton Chekhov 51 A Respectable Woman - Kate Chopin Folk & Fable 52 The Happy Prince - Oscar Wilde. 53 The Elves and the Shoemaker - The Brothers Grimm 54 The Emperor's New Clothes -Hans Christian Andersen 55 The Tongue Cut Sparrow - Yei Theodora Ozaki 56 Finn and the Scottish Giant - Harold F. Read 57 The Postmaster - Rabindranath Tagore 58 The Toys of Peace - Saki 59 The Selfish Giant - Oscar Wilde 60 The Flower Gatherer - Edward Thomas 61 Araby - James Joyce 62 The Interlopers - Saki 63 Tom Thumb - The Brothers Grimm 64 The Kabuliwalah - Rabindranath Tagore 65 The Monkey's Paws - WW Jacobs Christmas 66 The Little Match Girl - Hans Christian Andersen 67 Papa Panov's Special Christmas - Leo Tolstoy 68 Christmas Storms and Sunshine - Elizabeth Gaskell. 69 The Gift of the Magi - O'Henry 70 At Christmas Time - Anton Chekhov 71 A Dill Pickle - Katherine Mansfield Classic Tales 72 The Yellow Wallpaper - Charlotte Perkins Gilman 73 The Fall of Lord Barrymore - Arthur Conan Doyle 74 The Necklace - Guy De Maupassant 75 Holiday Group - EM Delafield 76 Three Questions - Leo Tolstoy 77 The Cop and the Anthem - O'Henry 78 The Fly - Katherine Mansfield 79 The Christening - DH Lawrence 80 After the Race - James Joyce 81 The String Quartet - Virginia Woolf 82 Two Friends - Guy De Maupassant 83 An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge - Ambrose Bierce. 84 A Gentleman Friend - Anthon Chekhov 85 Ma'ame Pelagie - Kate Chopin 86 Second Best - DH Lawrence 87 El Verdugo - Honore de Balzac 88 The Story of an Hour - Kate Chopin 89 The Man of No Account - Bret Hart 90 The Piece of String - Guy De Maupassant ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Oscar Wilde, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Virginia Woolf (Author), Carolyn Pickles, Clare Corbett, Don Gilet, Full Cast, Helen Clapp, Joseph Ayre, Ronny Jhutti, Sam Dale, Susan Jameson, Various (Narrator)

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The Complete Earthsea Series & The Left Hand of Darkness: 3 BBC Radio full cast dramatisations

The dazzling BBC Radio adaptations of Ursula K. Le Guin's famous fantasy saga and her ground-breaking science fiction masterpiece - plus bonus material Ursula K. Le Guin was one of the most revered and influential writers of the 20th Century. Her 'Earthsea' books have sold millions of copies and been translated into numerous languages, while her trailblazing novel The Left Hand of Darkness was a landmark in feminist science fiction and ranks among the greatest SF novels of all time. This BBC collection brings together the magical radio retellings of both these seminal classics. Set on an immense archipelago where magic is a part of life, Earthsea tells the stories of Ged, a young, reckless wizard, and Tenar, taken from her home as a child to become Arha, guardian priestess of the ominous Tombs of Atuan. Meeting for the first time deep within the tombs, their destinies become intertwined, and they unite to bring peace to their troubled world. Years later, their paths have diverged - but when Ged returns to Tenar's island on a dragon's back, they are caught up in an epic battle for the future of Earthsea itself. Starring James McArdle, Shaun Dooley and Robert Glenister as Ged, and Aysha Kala, Vineeta Rishi and Nina Wadia as Tenar with Toby Jones and Noma Dumezweni. The Left Hand of Darkness takes place on an alien world in the grip of an Ice Age. Genly Ai has been sent from Earth on a mission to persuade Gethen to join a planetary union, the Ekumen. But his task is fraught with difficulty. For this is a world whose people have no fixed gender, and Genly's encounters with the natives are marked by mutual incomprehension and mistrust. In coming to terms with their otherness and their sameness Genly must let go of his fixed ideas about identity, and embark on a dangerous journey across the snow plains with his only ally, First Minister Estraven. The stakes are high to save a world from war. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith stars as Genly, with Lesley Sharp as Estraven. Also included Ursula Le Guin at 85, in which novelist Naomi Alderman interviews Le Guin, with contributions from Neil Gaiman, David Mitchell and Karen Joy Fowler. Production credits Written by Ursula K.Le Guin Adapted by Judith Adams Earthsea Ged - James McArdle/Shaun Dooley/Robert Glenister Tenar - Aysha Kala/Vineeta Rishi/Nina Wadia Young Ged - Kasper Hilton-Hille Young Tenar - Nishi Malde Ogion - Paul Hilton/Michael Bertenshaw Manan - Zubin Varla Cob - Toby Jones Nilgu - Noma Dumezweni Other Cast: Souad Faress, David Hounslow, Adam Thomas-Wright, Mark Edel-Hunt, Jessica Turner, Lucy Hutchinson, Stephen Critchlow, Sam Dale, Ayesha Antoine, Richard Linnell, Jack Kane, David Acton, Chris Pavlo, Will Featherstone, Jude Akudwudike, Laura Elphinstone, Rosie Boore, Elizabeth Counsell, John Lightbody, Ryan Early, Stephen Hogan, Sean Murray, Emma Handy, Lauren Cornelius, Kerry Gooderson, Ryan Whittle, Steven Robertson, Joseph Ayre, Narinder Samra, Tom Vanson, Sabrina Sandhu Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko Original music by Jon Nicholls. Sound design by Caleb Knightley. First broadcast BBC Radio 4 Extra, 27 April-5 May 2015 (Series 1), 15-22 October 2018 (Series 2) The Left Hand of Darkness Genly Ai - Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Estraven - Lesley Sharp Argaven - Toby Jones Other Cast: Louise Brealey, Noma Dumezweni, Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh, Stephen Critchlow, David Acton, David Hounslow, Rhiannon Neads, Sam Dale, Ayesha Antoine Directed by Allegra McIlroy. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12-19 April 2015 Ursula Le Guin at 85 Presented by Naomi Alderman With Ursula K. Le Guin, David Mitchell, Neil Gaiman and Karen Joy Fowler Reader: Ayesha Antoine Produced by Allegra McIlroy. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 April 2015 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Ursula.K.Le Guin (Author), Adjoa Andoh, Full Cast, James Mcardle, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Lesley Sharp, Noma Dumezweni, Robert Glenister, Sam Dale, Toby Jones (Narrator)

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The Big Sleep

Fast-talking, trouble-seeking private eye Philip Marlowe is a different kind of detective: a moral man in an amoral world. California in the ’40s and ’50s is as beautiful as a ripe fruit and rotten to the core, and Marlowe must struggle to retain his integrity amidst the corruption he encounters daily. The Big Sleep finds the world-weary, wisecracking investigator consulted by a wealthy family man with two big problems: his children. Carmen Sternwood has got herself mixed up with a blackmailer, while Vivian has managed to mislay her husband, ex-bootlegger Rusty Regan. Old, ailing General Sternwood hires Marlowe to take care of things - but it’s not too long before the bodies start piling up, and Marlowe finds himself knee-deep in trouble... Starring Toby Stephens, this landmark dramatisation retains all the suspense and excitement of Chandler’s complex and compelling novel.

Raymond Chandler (Author), Barbara Barnes, Henry Devas, Ian Batchelor, Jude Akuwudike, Kelly Burke, Leah Brotherhood, Madeline Potter, Sam Dale, Sean Baker, Toby Stephens (Narrator)

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On Mardle Fen: Series 1-6: The Complete BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas

Trevor Peacock (The Vicar of Dibley) stars as inspired chef Warwick Hedges, in this comedy drama set in an idiosyncratic restaurant in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Warwick’s son Jack works alongside his father, which makes him permanently anxious. They are assisted by Samuel, an earthy odd-job man "who crawled out of the slime with the eels", and Zofia the Polish waitress. Whether hosting unusual guests, dealing with flooding, fuelling father-son rivalry, or moving strange stones from the edge of the Fen to his restaurant 'at his own peril', Warwick certainly keeps Mardle Fen on its toes.The mixture of food, family relationships and Fenland legend is handled with Nick Warburton's characteristic deft comic touch. Cast:Warwick Hedges.....Trevor Peacock Jack Hedges.....Sam DaleZofia.....Helen LongworthSamuel.....John Rowe Marcia Hedges.....Kate Buffery Other parts played by Chris Pavlo, Liza Sadovy, Christine Kavanagh, Liz Sutherland, Lizzy Watts, Victoria Inez Hardy, Malcolm Tierney, Paul Rider, Lauren Mote, Claire Rushbrook, Tony Bell, Adam Billington, Ben Crowe, Tilly Tremayne, Paul Bazely and Gyles Brandreth.Produced and directed by Claire Grove.

Nick Warburton (Author), , Helen Longworth, John Rowe, Kate Buffery, Sam Dale, Trevor Peacock (Narrator)

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Jelly Babes (BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

Resourceful mum, Shanice, is persuaded by her next-door neighbour, Evie, to take up the bizarre sport of jelly wrestling to make ends meet in this BBC Radio 4 'Afternon Play'. 'Jelly Babes' was originally broadcast on 13 April 2011. Becky, AKA 'Azaria The Amazon', shows Shanice the ropes, and she is soon wowing the rowdy stag night audiences with her slams and smackdowns. By night she's bikini clad 'Alice Malice', by day she's mum to gymnastics-mad Alex and a devoted daughter to her disabled, ex-army dad. When these two worlds threaten to collide, it reawakens a painful episode from Shanice's childhood which threatens to tear apart her cherished family life and leads to a show-down with the father she adores. 'Jelly Babes' was written by an award-winning stage and screen writer Judy Upton, and stars Sally Orrock as Shanice, Nadine Marshall as Becky and Jane Whittenshaw as Evie. Also featuring amongst the cast are David Seddon' Sam Dale and Ryan Watson.

Judy Upton (Author), , A Full Cast, David Seddon, Full Cast, Jane Whittenshaw, Nadine Marshall, Ryan Watson, Sally Orrock, Sam Dale (Narrator)

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Norman Birkett and the Case of the Coleford Poisoner: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

The casebook of Norman Birkett KC (1883-1962) covers pretty much every story that entertained the readers of News of the World between the wars. Birkett was a busy man who, in those days before legal specialisation, could at any one time be dealing simultaneously with a juicy murder, a society divorce or a livid libel action. In this thrilling drama, Birkett takes on a case of murder, mayhem and political intrigue. Starring Neil Dudgeon as Birkett, with David Haig, Trystan Gravelle, Alison Pettitt, Michael Shelford, Clare Corbett, Sam Dale, Bruce Alexander and Joanna Monro. Other parts were played by John Biggins and Nigel Hastings. Directed by Marc Beeby.Written by Caroline and David Stafford.

Caroline Stafford, David Stafford (Author), Alison Pettitt, Bruce Alexander, Clare Corbett, David Haig, Joanna Monro, John Biggins, Neil Dudgeon, Nigel Hastings, Sam Dale, Trystan Gravelle (Narrator)

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Unauthorised History: The Killing: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation by Michael Butt about the death of the poet and playwright Christopher Marlowe, originally broadcast in the 'Afternoon Play' slot on 17 August 2010. In May 1593, the playwright Christopher Marlowe was killed. Apparently, it was because of an argument over a bill. Michael Butt's innovative drama dons the cloak of documentary to re-examine the unsolved case. Starring Paul Rhys as the narrator, Blake Ritson as Thomas Walsingham, Harry Lloyd as Thomas Kyd and Burn Gorman as Robert Poley. Also included in the cast are Tim McMullan, Christine Kavanagh, Tony Bell, Sam Dale, Sean Baker and Lloyd Thomas. Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko.

Michael Butt (Author), Blake Ritson, Burn Gorman, Christine Kavanagh, Harry Lloyd, Lloyd Thomas, Paul Rhys, Sam Dale, Sean Baker, Tim Mcmullan, Tony Bell (Narrator)

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A Sleepwalk On The Severn: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

BBC Radio 4's extraordinary evocation of the experience of moonrise over the Severn Estuary, by award-winning poet Alice Oswald. Originally broadcast as the 'Afternoon Play' on 10 March 2011. Set to original music by Roger Goula, the subject of 'A Sleepwalk on the Severn' is moonrise, which happens five times in different forms: new moon, half moon, full moon, no moon and moon reborn. Various characters, some living some dead, all based on real people from the Severn catchment, talk towards the moment of moonrise and are changed by it. Performed by Ron Cook, Sam Dale, Emma Fielding, Tom Goodman-Hill, James Laurenson and Helen Longworth. Music composed by Roger Goula and performed by the Raven Quartet and Rowland Sutherland.

Alice Oswald (Author), Emma Fielding, Ron Cook, Sam Dale (Narrator)

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Magnificent Andrea, The ( BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

An explosive BBC Radio 4 comedy drama about two morally-polar characters, both in love with the same woman, who has just - tragically - died. Originally broadcast as the 'Afternoon Play' on 22 March 2011. 'The Magnificent Andrea' is the first original radio play by Nigel Planer ('The Young Ones', 'Hairspray'), in which two wonderful characters, Barry (Roger Allam) and Nigel (Nigel Planer), collide and wrestle over the memory of their shared inspirational warrior woman - and of course, her home. Andrea's former husband, boozy columnist Barry, is at the tail end of a career marked by low achievement in pugnacious, snide journalism. By contrast, Nigel - recent partner until her sudden death - is an alternative but ultra-orthodox, politically-correct naturopath. We join Barry after a typically hearty breakfast on his way from Chelsea to attend the funeral in South London, where he confronts his squeaky-clean nemesis Nigel. The lugubrious Barry is appalled at the ceremony, and it is while milling outside that the basically decent Nigel makes the mistake of inviting Barry back to the house - Barry's house - for the reception. There the fireworks really start… A dark and funny play about mourning, loss and recovery, 'The Magnificent Andrea' also stars Sally Orrock, Brian Bowles, Jane Whittenshaw, Sam Dale, Joanna Monro and Stuart McLoughlin.

Nigel Planer (Author), A Full Cast, Brian Bowles, Jane Wittenshaw, Nigel Planer, Roger Allam, Sally Orrock, Sam Dale, Stuart Mcloughlin (Narrator)

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Prenup: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

A BBC Radio 4 drama looking at the impact on a divorcing couple of recent changes to British prenuptial law. Originally broadcast as the 'Afternoon Play' on 21 January 2011. Two academics, British Paul (Sam Dale) and American Amy (Sally Orrock), have married in the US with a prenuptial agreement. They did so because Paul's previous marriage ended in a messy divorce, making him wary of future commitment. Paul loves Amy and was relieved to hear that, like him, she doesn't want children. Access issues round his daughter, Iona, have greatly complicated his life in recent years; and because the loss of his house has been traumatic, Amy also generously suggested a 'prenup' to allay his fears of losing more of his property and pension. But now things have gone wrong and Amy has filed for divorce. She has done so in Britain, believing that the agreement they signed before marriage will not take effect. However, the law is about to change... Starring Sam Dale as Paul and Sally Orrock as Amy, Peter Jukes' 'Prenup' also features Christine Kavanagh, Claire Harry, Adeel Akhtar and Deeivya Meir.

Peter Jukes (Author), Adeel Akhtar, Christine Kavanagh, Claire Harry, Deeivya Meir, Sally Orrock, Sam Dale (Narrator)

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The 33

The miraculous survival and dramatic rescue of the Chilean miners On 12 October 2010 the world's attention was fixed on a remote Chilean mine. Final preparations were underway for a daring rescue to end the longest underground entrapment in human history. Learn how 33 trapped men and the rescuers dedicated to saving them created a miracle in the desert. What those men experienced in the claustrophobic dark of the mine, and how their families kept faith, make this an unforgettable story. As the only print journalist with full access to the rescue efforts, Jonathan Franklin takes us deep into the collapsed mine, and behind the scenes of the rescue effort.

Jonathan Franklin (Author), Sam Dale (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Sam Dale