Audiobooks narrated by Sarah Badel

Aldous Huxley: A BBC Radio Collection: Including Brave New World, Antic Hay, The Devils & more

BBC Radio adaptations of Aldous Huxley’s finest works – plus a bonus documentary programme Philosopher, pacifist, psychonaut and prophet, Aldous Huxley was one of the 20th century’s pre-eminent intellectuals and writers. The author of over 50 books, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize nine times, and elected Companion of Literature by the Royal Society of Literature in 1962, a year before his death. Known for his mordant satire and visionary ideas, Huxley spanned the period from post-First World War disillusionment to mid-century mysticism, and the works in this collection reflect his literary evolution. Antic Hay, his witty, ironic portrait of the glittering hedonism of 1920s London, is dramatised by award-winning playwright Mike Harris, and stars James Cooney and Emily Pithon. Originally a short story, Huxley’s dark comedy of manners The Gioconda Smile was adapted as a hit West End play in 1948. This BBC Radio dramatisation stars Peter Bowles as the womanizing Henry Hutton, about to marry his second wife but accused of killing his first. Brave New World is Huxley’s classic 1932 tale of a future totalitarian dystopia, where promiscuity is the norm, eugenics a respectable science and the drug Soma is freely available. Adapted for Radio 4, it stars Jonathan Coy, Justin Salinger, Milton Lopes and Anton Lesser. Aldous Huxley’s 1953 novel The Devils of Loudon, an imagined account of a real-life witch trial in 17th-century France, was revamped for the stage as The Devils in 1960. A gripping tale of mass hysteria, religious and sexual obsession and alleged demonic possession, this radio version stars Michael Bryant and Sarah Badel. The Dwarves, a full-cast drama based on Chapter 13 of Crome Yellow, tells the story of Sir Hercules and his wife Filomena, whose country-house haven for dwarves like themselves is unexpectedly threatened. David Learner, Claire Faulconbridge and Garard Green star. Concluding our collection are readings of five of his short stories set in the 1920s and a fascinating biographical documentary. Edward Petherbridge reads ‘Cynthia’, ‘The Bookshop’, ‘Eupompus Gave Splendour to Art by Numbers’, ‘Fard’ and ‘The Portrait’, while the documentary All Those Vile Bodies explores the contradictions of the satirist of the brittle 20s turned prescient critic of 20th-century progress. Valentine Cunningham presents, with contributions from Sybille Bedford, Lord Jenkins, Sir Stephen Spender, Gavin Ewart, Julian Symons and Lewis Wolpert, and archive recordings of Huxley, his brother Julian and contemporaries. First published 1920 (‘Cynthia’, ‘The Bookshop’, ‘Eupompus Gave Splendour to Art by Numbers’), 1921 (‘The Dwarves’), 1923 (Antic Hay), 1924 (‘Fard’, ‘The Portrait’), 1932 (Brave New World), 1948 (The Gioconda Smile), 1960 (The Devils) © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.(P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Aldous Huxley (Author), Anton Lesser, Claire Faulconbridge, David Learner, Edward Petherbridge, Emily Pithon, Full Cast, Garard Green, James Cooney, Jonathan Coy, Justin Salinger, Michael Bryant, Milton Lopes, Peter Bowles, Sarah Badel (Narrator)

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The House: A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Political Drama

All six series of Christopher Lee's enthralling parliamentary drama - plus Christmas Special Suave, unflappable and ambitious, veteran politician Charles Bannister knows his way around the corridors of power. As Chief Whip, he's adept at keeping MPs in line and squashing potential scandals - aided by his brother-in-law, MI6 agent Henry Colvil, who whispers useful titbits of information in his ear. His position seems invincible - but nothing is forever, and when the tides of politics turn, Charles finds himself under threat... In these six series, we follow his fortunes and those of his close friend, Home Secretary Dougal Baxter. Together, the duo rise, fall and rise again, as they fight off plots, counter-plots and conspiracies while struggling to secure their political futures. Promoted to Party Chairman, Charles finds himself beset by domestic dramas, dogged by rumours of an affair with glamorous Opposition MP Juliet Cameron, and under increasing pressure at Westminster. Will he stick it out and run for the top job - or decide to spend more time with his family? Meanwhile, Dougal makes no secret of his desire to become PM - but will his potentially explosive relationship with his mistress, Kay, put an end to his dreams of advancement? Written by award-winning author and historian Christopher Lee, this captivating tale of ministerial manoeuvring and machinations was adapted as a bestselling novel and spawned the spin-off mystery series Colvil & Soames. Julian Glover stars as Charles Bannister, with Timothy West as Dougal Baxter and Christopher Benjamin as Henry Colvil. Production credits Written by Christopher Lee Produced by Pete Atkin and Neil Cargill Cast Charles Bannister - Julian Glover Dougal Baxter - Timothy West/Peter Kelly Mary Bannister - Sarah Badel/Isla Blair Henry Colvil - Christopher Benjamin Denis Wigton - David Ryall/Trevor Peacock Juliet Cameron - Siobhan Redmond Rose - Sheila Reid Arthur - James Garbutt Polly Bannister - Ruth Gemmell Gerald Mossman - David Neville Merffyn Edwards - Ray Smith/Douglas Blackwell Kay Bennett - Jane Booker Nick - Julian Dutton Eamon - Shaun Prendergast Alex - Caroline Bliss Sharp - Norman Bird With Brian Redhead, Laurie Macmillan, Stuart Organ, Graham Blockey, Rupert Baker, Joan Matheson, Ken Cumberlidge, Danny Schiller, John Fortune, Iain Cuthbertson, Dennis Ramsden, Charles Simpson, Christopher Scott, Michael Kilgarriff, Ian Targett, David Goudge, John Bull, David King, Brian Miller, David McAlister, Terence Edmonds, Brett Usher, John Grieve, Richard Caldicot, Bill Wallis, Stephen Greif First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 August-7 October 1989 (Series 1), 25 December 1989 (Christmas Special), 17 September-5 November 1991 (Series 2), 16 March-20 April 1992 (Series 3), 28 October-2 December 1992 (Series 4), 17 June-22 July 1993 (Series 5), 9 June-14 July 1994 (Series 6) © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Christopher Lee (Author), Christopher Benjamin, David Ryall, Isla Blair, Julian Glover, Peter Kelly, Sarah Badel, Sheila Reid, Timothy West, Trevor Peacock (Narrator)

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Coming Up Trumps: A Memoir

In this witty, candid and utterly fascinating memoir, Baroness Trumpington looks back on her long and remarkable life. The daughter of an officer in the Bengal Lancers and an American heiress, she was born in 1922 into a world of privilege and luxury. But her mother lost most of her inheritance in the Wall Street Crash and the family retrenched from Mayfair to Sandwich, in Kent, where her mother became a succesful society interior decorator. Leaving school at fifteen, without ever taking an exam, the young Jean Campbell-Harris was sent to Paris to study art and both French and German, but two years later, with the outbreak of the Second World War, she became a land girl - on a farm owned by Lloyd George, a family friend. She loathed the outdoor life and soon changed direction, putting her German to good use by joining naval intelligence at Bletchley Park, where she stayed for the rest of the war. After the war was over, she went to New York and worked on Madison Avenue as an advertising copywriter. It was in New York that she met her husband, William Barker, a history teacher. They returned to England and married in 1954, where Barker became first a master and then headmaster at the Leys School in Cambridge. In this witty and winning memoir, Jean Trumpington recalls her early life, growing up in London and Kent in the 1920s and 30s, her wartime experiences, her life in the world of Madison Avenue's 'mad men' and - perhaps the happiest period of her life - her years as a headmaster's wife. The book ends with her embarking on what was to become a distinguished political career. It is vivid, forthright and funny, and will appeal to readers who enjoyed the Duchess of Devonshire's Wait for Me as well as to the many people who warmed to Lady Trumpington after her triumphant appearance on Have I Got News for You.

Jean Trumpington (Author), Sarah Badel (Narrator)

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Winslow Boy, The (Classic Radio Theatre)

'It is easy to do justice - very hard to do right.' When he is accused of stealing a five-shilling postal order, fourteen-year-old Ronnie Winslow is expelled from naval college. But his father believes his claim of innocence and, determined to clear his name, engages the most famous barrister in England to fight his case. It is up to Sir Robert Morton to take on the Establishment in order to 'let right be done'... Adapted as a famous British film starring Robert Donat, The Winslow Boy is a moving story about fairness and fighting for a principle. This gripping BBC Radio adaptation from 1981 features a distinguished cast including Michael Aldridge, Pauline Letts, Sarah Badel and Michael Maloney.

Terrence Rattigan (Author), Full Cast, Michael Aldridge, Michael Maloney, Pauline Letts, Sarah Badel (Narrator)

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Busman's Honeymoon

Society's eligible women are in mourning. Lord Peter Wimsey has married at last, having finally succeeded in his ardent pursuit of the lovely mystery novelist Harriet Vane. The two depart for a tranquil honeymoon in a country farmhouse but find, instead of a well-prepared love nest, the place left in a shambles by the previous owner. His sudden appearance, dead from a broken skull in the cellar, only prompts more questions. Why would anyone have wanted to kill old Mr Noakes? What dark secrets had he to hide? The honeymoon is over, as Lord Peter and Harriet Vane start their investigations. Suspicion is rife and everyone seems to have something to hide, from the local constable to the housekeeper. Wimsey and his wife can think of plenty of theories, but it's not until they discover a vital fact that the identity of the murderer becomes clear.

Dorothy L. Sayers (Author), Ian Carmichael, Sarah Badel (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Sarah Badel