Audiobooks narrated by Stephen Fry

The Write Stuff: 40 Episodes from the Panel Game of Literary Correctness

Highlights from the light-hearted literary quiz chaired by James Walton The Write Stuff is the book-based panel show that takes a witty and whimsical look at well-known authors and their work. Host James Walton challenges the erudite contestants with tricky literary teasers, which they endeavour to answer using a combination of knowledge and guesswork. Each episode is themed around an ‘Author of the Week’, who is the subject of the introductory rounds in which the panellists read out favourite quotations from their writing and field questions about their life. Among the intervening rounds are ‘Connections’, ‘Odd One Out’, a music round, an archive round and a fast-paced, fingers-on-buzzers round of general literary knowledge. And for the rib-tickling finale, the contestants are tasked with penning parodies in the style of the chosen author, resulting in comic gems such as Jerome K Jerome’s ‘Three Men on a Club 18-30 Holiday’, a hardboiled crime novel in the style of Virginia Woolf, and a Twitter thread by Jane Eyre. Collected here are 40 of the finest episodes from the show’s 17 series, featuring iconic writers from Jane Austen and Charles Dickens to James Joyce, Anton Chekhov, William Wordsworth and John Milton. Pitting their wits against each other are the fiercely competitive team captains Sebastian Faulks and John Walsh, aided by celebrity guests including Stephen Fry, Miles Kington, Philippa Gregory, Sue Limb, Simon Brett, Lynne Truss, John O’Farrell, Natalie Haynes and Mark Billingham. Also included is a Christmas special, filled with festive quizzing and seasonally themed pastiches. Clever, funny and decidedly unstuffy, this knockabout show is a must for bookworms, bibliophiles and anyone who enjoys mixing some laughter with their literature. Production credits Compiled, written and presented by James Walton Produced by John Rolph, Katie Marsden, Dawn Ellis, Alexandra Smith and Sam Michell Readers: Rachel Atkins, Beth Chalmers and Becky Hindley First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: Jane Austen 31 July 1998 DH Lawrence 28 August 1998 Charles Dickens 4 September 1998 Arthur Conan Doyle 14 July 1999 The Brontë Sisters 21 July 1999 James Joyce 28 July 1999 Oscar Wilde 11 August 1999 William Wordsworth 11 April 2001 Samuel Taylor Coleridge 10 April 2002 Virginia Woolf 17 April 2002 George Orwell 2 April 2003 Dylan Thomas 12 May 2004 Rudyard Kipling 26 May 2004 Alexander Pope 9 June 2004 Samuel Pepys 16 June 2004 The Write Stuff at Christmas 29 December 2004 Lord Byron 25 May 2005 John Milton 22 June 2005 Charles Dickens 29 June 2005 Henry James 19 June 2006 Thomas Hardy 17 July 2006 F Scott Fitzgerald 9 April 2007 John Keats 16 April 2007 Jonathan Swift 7 April 2008 Hans Christian Andersen 14 April 2008 George Eliot 28 April 2004 DH Lawrence 3 November 2008 Marcel Proust 19 October 2010 Daniel Defoe 27 January 2012 Gustav Flaubert 3 February 2012 HG Wells 24 February 2012 The Brontës 12 May 2013 Mark Twain 19 May 2013 Greek Tragedy 26 May 2013 William Blake 9 June 2013 Gerald Manley Hopkins 19 October 2014 Jerome K Jerome 26 October 2014 Henry Fielding 2 November 2014 Virginia Woolf 9 November 2014 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

James Walton (Author), James Walton, John O’farrell, Lynne Truss, Mark Billingham, Natalie Haynes, Nigel Williams, Sebastian Faulks, Simon Brett, Stephen Fry, Sue Limb, Various (Narrator)

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Honoré De Balzac: Pere Goriot, The Black Sheep & more: Four BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisations

Stunning all-star adaptations of Balzac’s finest works This brilliant collection of France’s foremost nineteenth-century novelist and playwright delivers four of his most fascinating works - stories of love, rivalry, horror and adventure - all brought to life by a stellar cast included Stephen Fry and Alex Kingston. A huge influence on many of the most famous writers from Proust to Kerouac to Dickens, Balzac delivers beautifully observed and complex characters with an unsurpassed attention to the details of society at the time, making him an exemplary of realism in European literature. Pere Goriot - Dramatised in four parts, this is the story of Eugene, who has discovered that the mysterious Pere Goriot has two daughters who could provide the key to his entry into Parisian society… Starring Stephen Fry as the author Balzac and Alex Kingston as Delphine. Ursule Mirouet (The Inheritance) - 74 year old Dr Minoret has returned to live out his final days in his home town. His grasping nephews and nieces eagerly await his demise but the good doctor seems to favour his charming young ward, Ursule. What lengths are his family prepared to go to secure their inheritance? Starring Elizabeth Cassidy in the title role of this three-part production. The Mysterious Mansion - A grisly tale set in La Grande Breteche, the ruins of an abandoned house and neglected garden. Balzac is determined to uncover the story behind its tragic secrets… David Calder stars as the author. The Black Sheep - Balzac’s classic tale of family rivalry set in 19th-century France. Philippe Bridau returns from the battle of Waterloo and steals from his mother to finance his gambling habit. It's left to his brother Joseph to rescue the family from destitution, but at what cost? Can he betray his own sibling? Geoffrey Whitehead leads the cast in the role of narrator. A wonderful collection from a superb author, performed by a stunning cast, this is a must listen for any fan of classic literature. Cast and credits Written by Honoré De Balzac Pere Goriot Featuring: Stephen Fry, Douglas Hodge, David Ross, Geoffrey Banks, Alex Kingston, Noreen Kershaw, Ian Mercer, Romy Baskerville, John Griffin, Clare Dow, Barbara Marten, Paul Broughton, Robin Polley Dramatised by David Hopkins Directed by Kate Rowland First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 Sep 1992 Ursule Mirouet (The Inheritance) Featuring: Margot Boyd, Ronald Herdman, Alan Devereux, Patricia Gallimore, Haydn Jones, Sean Barrett, Stephen Thorne, Terry Molloy, Edward Kelsey, Patricia Gibson, Denys Hawthorne, Elizabeth Cassidy, Penelope Shaw, Geoffrey Matthews, Alexander John Dramatised by Joan O’Connor Directed by Roger Pine First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 Apr 1980 The Mysterious Mansion Featuring: David Calder, Dorien Thomas, Dillwyn Owen, Tessa Gearing, Christopher Grimes, Marilyn Le Conte, Nigel Carrington, Manon Edwards, Alan Towner Dramatised by Peter Mackie Directed by David Hunter First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7 Oct 1993 The Black Sheep Featuring: Geoffrey Whitehead, Matthew Pidgeon, Briony McRoberts, Thomas Arnold, Alan Cox, Timothy Bateson, Lucy Paterson, Christian Rodska, Colette O'Neil, Jon Glover, Nyasha Hatendi, Chris Pavlo Dramatised by Chris Nolan Directed by Bruce Young First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 Aug 2008 ©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Honoré De Balzac (Author), Alex Kingston, David Calder, David Ross, Denys Hawthorne, Dorien Thomas, Douglas Hodge, Elizabeth Cassidy, Full Cast, Geoffrey Banks, Geoffrey Whitehead, Matthew Pidgeon, Ronald Herdman, Stephen Fry, Thomas Arnold (Narrator)

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The Young Ones: The Complete BBC TV Soundtracks

The complete television soundtracks of all 12 episodes of the legendary BBC sitcom Ground-breaking, satirical and anarchic, The Young Ones introduced alternative comedy to mainstream TV, and made household names of its writers and performers. It ran for two series on BBC Two between 1982 and 1984, winning a host of devoted fans and a BAFTA Award for its second series. A world away from the cosy suburban sitcoms that preceded it, the show centred around four degenerate students sharing a squalid North London house: hippy Neil (Nigel Planer), right-on Rick (Rik Mayall), Mike 'TheCoolPerson' (Chris Ryan) and punk psycho Vyvyan (Ade Edmondson). Alexei Sayle co-starred as the various members of the dodgy Balowski family, and the plethora of guest stars included Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson and series co-writer Ben Elton. Musical interludes were provided by top bands such as Dexy's Midnight Runners, The Damned, Madness, Motörhead and Nine Below Zero. Collected here are all the dysfunctional foursome's manic adventures - from discovering oil in the basement, to playing host to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, to representing Scumbag College on University Challenge. Now you can hear from your favourite characters once again, and listen to their iconic one-liners, inventive insults and fabulously funny quotes. Full of wild slapstick, surreal twists, over-the-top ultra-violence and absurdist humour, this innovative, iconoclastic series remains one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. This audio-only collection of the original TV soundtracks provides the perfect opportunity for fans to relive the show's finest moments while on the go. Contains strong language and humour that some listeners may find offensive. Production credits Written by Ben Elton, Rik Mayall and Lise Mayer With additional material by Alexei Sayle Music: Peter Brewis Sound: Laurie Taylor Directed by Paul Jackson and Graeme Story Rick - Rik Mayall Vyvyan Basterd - Adrian Edmondson Neil Pye - Nigel Planer Mike - Christopher Ryan The Balowski family - Alexei Sayle With Amazulu, Mark Arden, Helen Atkinson Wood, Jim Barclay, Christopher Barrie, Gary Beadle, Perry Benson, Paul Bradley, Arnold Brown, Ruth Burnett, Jean Campbell-Dallas, Jonathan Caplan, Hugh Cecil, Vikki Chambers, Jean Channon, Jacqueline Clarke, Robbie Coltrane, Ron Cook, Lee Cornes, Brian Croucher, The Damned, Mark Dewison, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Paola Dionisotti, Steve Dixon, Nick Dunning, Christine Ellerbeck, Chris Ellis, Ben Elton, Alan Freeman, Dawn French, Stephen Frost, Stephen Fry, Paul Gale, Peter Greene, Roger Ashton Griffiths, Gareth Hale, Damaris Hayman, Tamsin Heatley, Lenny Henry, Clair Hill, Jools Holland, Ceri Jackson, Terry Jones, Gerard Kelly, Steve Kelly, Ken Bishop 's Nice Twelve, Mark Lambert, Hugh Laurie, Peter Laxton, Helen Lederer, Justine Lord, Norman Lovett, Madness, Paul Martin, Hilary Mason, Kilian McKenna, Pauline Melville, Carla Mendonca, Motörhead, Patrick Newell, Nine Below Zero, Herbert Norville, Brian Oulton, John Otway, John Owens, Norman Pace, Robin Parkinson, Ken Parry, Daniel Peacock, Joanne Pearce, Jan Prince, Radical Posture, David Rappaport, Michael Redfern, Griff Rhys Jones, Rip Rig + Panic, Tony Robinson, David Rolfe, Jennifer Saunders, Cyril Shaps, Anthony Sharp, Cindy Shelley, Roger Sloman, Mel Smith, Barry Stanton, Maggie Steed, Kay Stonham, Tony Sympson, Emma Thompson, Andy de la Tour, Peter Wear, Julianne White First broadcast on BBC Two, 9 November-14 December 1982 (Series 1), 8 May-19 June 1984 (Series 2) © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Ben Elton, Lise Mayer, Rik Mayall (Author), Adrian Edmondson, Alexei Sayle, Ben Elton, Christopher Ryan, Dawn French, Full Cast, Hugh Laurie, Jennifer Saunders, Nigel Planer, Rik Mayall, Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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A W.M. Thackeray: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Vanity Fair, Barry Lyndon, The Newcomes, Pendennis &

Five BBC Radio adaptations of the works of William Makepeace Thackeray - plus bonus features Best known today for his comic masterpiece, Vanity Fair, W. M. Thackeray was regarded in his time as the only rival to his contemporary, Charles Dickens. This collection includes a selection of his finest satirical fiction, as well as two fascinating programmes exploring his life and writings. Vanity Fair - Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, Thackeray's deliciously ironic tale of passion and ambition follows the fortunes of penniless, social-climbing Becky Sharp and her wealthy, sweet-natured best friend, Amelia Sedley. Starring Stephen Fry as the Narrator, with Emma Fielding as Becky, Katy Cavanagh as Amelia and Toby Jones as Jos. Barry Lyndon - Forced to leave his native Ireland after an unfortunate duel, young Redmond Barry embarks on a series of adventures that take him from the battlefields of the Seven Years War to the highest courts of Europe and the drawing rooms of English society. Gerard McSorley and Andrew Scott star in Thackeray's picaresque classic alongside Shelia Hancock and Kenneth Cranham The Yellowplush Papers- Adam Buxton stars in these five comic tales about the rise and fall of canny Regency footman Charles Yellowplush. Pendennis - Thackeray's semi-autobiographical coming-of-age tale charts the youthful exploits of handsome, impoverished Arthur Pendennis as he leaves his home in the country to make his way in London society. Dominic Guard stars as Arthur, with Hugh Dickson as The Writer. The Newcomes- Featuring characters from Vanity Fair and narrated by Arthur Pendennis, this epic saga tells the story of several generations of a respectable English family, centring around Colonel Thomas Newcombe and his artist son, Clive. Starring Simon Lack, Carleton Hobbs and Nigel Grahame. Al Murray on Thackeray - Comedian Al Murray talks about his great-great-great-grandfather, William Makepeace Thackeray, and why he thinks Vanity Fair is still relevant today. Andrew Davies/William Thackeray - James Naughtie and a group of readers chat to Andrew Davies about Thackeray's classic novel, Vanity Fair, which he adapted for BBC TV in 1998. NB: Due to the age and nature of some of the recordings, the sound quality may vary First published 1837 (The Yellowplush Papers), 1844 (The Luck of Barry Lyndon), 1848 (Vanity Fair), 1849-50 (Pendennis), (1855 The Newcomes) Cast and credits Written by W. M. Thackeray With thanks to Keith Wickham Contents List Vanity Fair Barry Lyndon The Yellowplush Papers Pendennis The Newcomes Al Murray on Thackeray Andrew Davies on William Thackeray © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

William Thackeray (Author), Adam Buxton, Andrew Scott, Emma Fielding, Maureen Lipman, Sheila Hancock, Stephen Fry, Toby Jones (Narrator)

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Past Forward: A Century of Sound: A BBC Radio 4 history series

A funny, fascinating and personal look at 100 years of history in the BBC archives Historian Greg Jenner uses a random date generator to visit somewhere in the BBC's vast archives of remarkable sound clips from the last 100 years. Using that clip as a jumping-off point to explore what has changed between then and now, Greg talks to experts and those connected to the archived people, places, and ideas, including Stephen Fry, writer Naomi Alderman, playwright Nell Leyshon, social historian Carol Dyhouse, author and disability campaigner Dr Amit Patel, food historian Annie Gray, and inveterate tennis fan Geoff Dyer. From dance crazes, post-war Christmases and communist sitcoms to pub evolution, life on the waterways and women's political activism, Past Forward provides a rich and thought-provoking look at the oral histories, personal stories, big moments and small joys of the past and the present, and how our history has shaped the people we have become. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: The Lambeth Walk 03 January 2022 1984 - Comrade Dad 04 January 2022 Christmas 1945 05 January 2022 Mary Whitehouse 06 January 2022 Porton Down 07 January 2022 Match Point 10 January 2022 Kitty Hart-Moxon 11 January 2022 If People Can't Let Slip... 12 January 2022 Traffic 13 January 2022 England v Argentina 1998 14 January 2022 Dinner Is Served 21 March 2022 Get Out of My Pub 22 March 2022 Talking Technology 23 March 2022 The Teen Age 24 March 2022 Louie Hooper sings Lord Rendall 25 March 2022 Listen with Mother 28 March 2022 Rebuilding Britain 29 March 2022 The Corncrake and the Croft 30 March 2022 Life on the Canals 31 March 2022 Save our Steelworks 01 April 2022 Production credits Produced by Dan Potts, Amelia Parker, Martin Williams, Megan Jones, and Eliane Glaser, for BBC Wales Cover credits Photographer: James Gifford-Mead (jamesgiffordmead-photography.co.uk) Image adapted by Rabia Ali © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Greg Jenner (Author), David Vincent, Geoff Dyer, Greg Jenner, Joe Moran, Kitty Hart-Moxon, Martin Johnes, Naomi Alderman, Rob Evans, Sathnam Sanghera, Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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Paddington Goes To Hospital

“We should never have given Paddington a boomerang for his birthday,” said Mrs Brown as she gazed down at the figure lying on the lawn. “I knew no good would come of it.” Paddington let out a groan … When the Browns find Paddington lying on the lawn, unable to remember where he is or even what the word “bun” means, they immediately realise something is seriously wrong and send for an ambulance. It’s Paddington’s first time in hospital and the doctors and nurses soon discover that he is rather an unusual patient! Full of the humorous misunderstandings and adventures that this lovable bear is famous for, this is a great story for the young Paddington fan who is apprehensive, or merely curious, about what goes on inside a hospital.

Karen Jankel, Michael Bond (Author), Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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Paddington at the Circus

The circus is in town and Paddington is very excited. The Browns get tickets for the front row so Paddington can see all the action. He gets a shock when it looks like a clown on stilts is going to give him a soaking, but not as much of a shock as the audience gets when Paddington tries his hand at the trapeze…. Paddington gets into a sticky situation yet again. As ever, he thinks he’s helping out, but he ends up having to be rescued when he tries to help the trapeze artists in the circus. However, he comes out on top when the audience decided that he’s the star of the show. AGE 4-8

Michael Bond (Author), Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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Paddington at the Palace

When Mr Gruber takes Paddington to Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard, there are so many people in the way he can’t see a thing. But a mysterious someone ‘on high’ comes to his rescue and Paddington has a very good idea who it might be. READ BY PAUL VAUGHAN. When Mr Gruber takes Paddington to Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard, there are so many people in the way he can’t see a thing. Luckily, a mysterious someone ‘on high’ appears to like small bears…

Michael Bond (Author), Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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Paddington in the Garden

When Paddington starts to make a list of all the nice things he can think of about being a bear and living with the Browns he is sure to include ‘the garden’. Paddington feels very lucky to have such a nice garden, especially as he has his own little patch in it, to keep him out of mischief! But when Paddington is around things are rarely simple and he soon finds that gardening is not as easy as he had first thought. He sets out, with a jar of marmalade of course, to look for ideas and ends up in a building site behind the Browns’ garden. He is sure that if he climbs up a nearby ladder he will get an excellent view of his own little garden and that will help him with his design. Unfortunately, bears, building sites and marmalade don’t really mix. But, as usual, Paddington is able to turn circumstances to his advantage and come out on top after all!

Michael Bond (Author), Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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Paddington and the Grand Tour

Paddington is delighted when his friend Mr Gruber suggests going for a day out in the city. He is even more excited when he discovers they will be going on a tour bus.Unfortunately, the other tourists think he is their tour guide and follow him everywhere and soon the bear from Darkest Peru is soon deep in his own special brand of chaos. READ BY PAUL VAUGHAN. Paddington is very excited. He is going on a day trip around the city with his friend, Mr Gruber. With his suitcase full of marmalade sandwiches and Mrs Bird’s umbrella in case it rains, the bear from darkest Peru is ready for anything. Or almost. How is Paddington to know that the other tourists will think he was their tour guide? And how could he guess that they will follow him everywhere? Chaos and humour are hand-in-hand in this new story about the bear who always gets it right in the end.

Michael Bond (Author), Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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Paddington: The original story of the bear from Peru

The classic story of a much-loved bear – Paddington! Paddington Bear first met the Brown family at a railway station – Paddington station, in fact. He had travelled all the way from Darkest Peru with only a jar of marmalade, a suitcase and a label reading ‘Please look after this bear’. Without further ado, Mr and Mrs Brown promptly welcomed the adventurous bear into their family, and in honour of their meeting place they named him Paddington. The Browns soon discover that Paddington is a most unusual bear. Ordinary things – like having a bath – become quite extraordinary when a bear called Paddington is around.

Michael Bond (Author), Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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Fry's Ties: Discover the life and ties of Stephen Fry

Brought to you by Penguin. Every single one of Stephen Fry's ties - whether floral, fluorescent, football themed; striped or spotty, outrageous or simply debonair - tells an intimate tale about a moment in Stephen's life. Inspired by Stephen's hugely popular Instagram posts, this book will celebrate his expansive collection of man's greatest clothing companion: The Tie, in all it's sophisticated glory. Distinctively funny and offering witty asides, facts and personal stories, this book will make the perfect gift for anyone who has ever worn a tie. © Stephen Fry 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Stephen Fry (Author), Juliet Stevenson, Stephen Fry (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Stephen Fry