Audiobooks narrated by Tim Pigott-Smith

Mike Bartlett: Cock, King Charles III & more: 10 BBC Radio Full-Cast Productions

"A selection of the award-winning author’s plays for theatre and radio Well known for his hit TV series Doctor Foster, Mike Bartlett is one of Britain’s most prolific and high-profile contemporary playwrights. He has been Writer-In-Residence at the both the National Theatre and The Royal Court Theatre, and has written numerous works for the stage, radio and television. This outstanding collection opens with the play that catapulted him into the limelight, winning both the 2007 Imison and Tinniswood Awards – Not Talking. Centring on two couples who cannot communicate, and the effects that has on their relationships, this provocative, touching drama stars Richard Briers and June Whitfield alongside Carl Prekopp and Lyndsey Marshal. Next up are two stage plays produced for radio, with the original casts that performed in the West End and the Royal Court Theatre. The winner of the 2010 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, Cock deals with love, sexuality and identity, and stars Ben Whishaw, Andrew Scott, Katherine Parkinsons and Paul Jesson. King Charles III, starring Tim Pigott-Smith, finds the newly crowned King detonating a constitutional crisis that threatens the whole future of the monarchy. Part political thriller, part family drama, it won both the Olivier Award for Best New Play and the Critics' Circle Award for Best Play in 2014. Following these are a slew of original plays written specially for BBC Radio. A Steal explores the cost-of-living crisis; The Family Man sees a teenage girl stumbling upon her MP father’s secret; and in Miss St Andrews, old grudges resurface when the rivals for the ‘Charities Queen 1961’ title are reunited 50 years later. The Core follows a bright 13-year-old and her energetic head teacher as they head into a future neither of them expects; while Liam charts the search for a 10-year-old boy who goes missing in Sussex. Love Contract is a dark comedy about office romance and corporate control; and The Steps features an elderly lady who escapes from her old people’s home and meets a woman and a young girl on the run. Intriguing, surprising and thought-provoking, these compelling productions star a wealth of acclaimed actors including Nicholas Farrell, Joe McFadden, Ellie Haddington, Juliet Stevenson, Amanda Lawrence, Claire Rushbrook and Geraldine McEwan. NB: Contains very strong language Production credits Written by Mike Bartlett Text copyright © Mike Bartlett 2006 (Not Talking), 2007 (The Family Man, Love Contract), 2009 (Cock, Liam, The Steps), 2011 (The Core), 2014 (King Charles III), 2017 (Miss St Andrew), 2019 (A Steal) All rights reserved Not Talking Cock King Charles III A Steal The Family Man Miss St Andrews The Core Liam Love Contract The Steps © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Mike Bartlett (Author), Andrew Scott, Ben Whishaw, Geraldine McEwan, Juliet Stevenson, June Whitfield, Katherine Parkinson, Lydia Wilson, Lyndsey Marshal, Nicholas Farrell, Oliver Chris, Paterson Joseph, Richard Briers, Richard Goulding, Tim Pigott-Smith (Narrator)

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Italo Calvino: A BBC Radio Collection: If On A Winter’s Night a Traveller, Marcovaldo & Invisible Cities

"Dramatisations of Calvino’s most famous works, starring Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook, plus bonus programmes Italo Calvino was one of the 20th Century's great experimenters, who consistently pushed the boundaries of literature. His works ranged from fantasy and science fiction to folktales and neo-realism, but he is best known for If on a winter’s night a traveller, Marcovaldo and Invisible Cities. Radio adaptations of all three are collected here, alongside a comic short story by Calvino and two illuminating programmes about his ideas and writing. If on a winter’s night a traveller – Relax. Concentrate. Turn off your phone. You are about to listen to a radio adaptation of If on a winter’s night a traveller… Enter a labyrinth of ingeniously inventive audio worlds as you, the listener, turn detective in your attempts to get to the heart of the story. Prepare to become embroiled in a trans-global conspiracy of rogue translators, lost languages and disintegrating publishing houses, and be plunged into an epic caper of disappearance, double crosses and beautiful, authentic romance… Toby Jones, Indira Varma and Tim Crouch star in this reimagining of Calvino’s iconic, metafictional masterpiece. Marcovaldo – These five tales, adapted by Toby Jones from Calvino's enchanting short story collection, centre around Marcovaldo, a poor rural man living with his family in a big city in northern Italy. Included are Mushrooms in the City, Moon and Gnac, The Rain and the Leaves, The Wrong Stop and Smoke, Wind and Soap Bubbles, starring Toby Jones as the Narrator and Mackenzie Crook as Marcovaldo. Invisible Cities – Cecilia, Eusapia, Zobeide, Maurilia … Are these exotic, faraway places or just different names for the great Metropolis we all inhabit? Perhaps they are reflections of our own state of mind? In Claire Benedict’s readings from Calvino’s playful, profound novel, we voyage through the avenues and alleyways of his invisible cities – hidden cities, dead cities and cities which never end... Desire in November – Elderly porter Barbagallo’s search for winter clothes takes him into the salons of the rich – but what can Fabrizia’s furriers offer him? Tim Piggott-Smith reads this whimsical short story. Open Book: Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities – Lauren Elkin and Darran Anderson take us on a tour of the imagined cities in Calvino’s seminal work, a majestic prose-poem in which a fictional Marco Polo recalls his own intrepid travels. Three Italian Writers: Italo Calvino – Paul Bailey looks at the life and career of the prolific writer described by a contemporary as 'the squirrel with the pen’, and reflects on his inexhaustible supply of ideas, allusions and visions. With readings by Benjamin Whitrow. © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Italo Calvino (Author), Claire Benedict, Full Cast, Indira Varma, Mackenzie Crook, Tim Crouch, Tim Pigott-Smith, Toby Jones (Narrator)

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The Confidential Agent

"Brought to you by Penguin. In a small continental country civil war is raging. Once a lecturer in medieval French, now a government agent, D is a scarred stranger in England, sent on a mission to buy coal at any price. Initially, this seems to be a matter of straightforward negotiation, but soon, implicated in murder, accused of possessing false documents and theft, held responsible for the death of a young woman, D becomes a hunted man, tormented by allegiances, doubts and love. ‘In a class by himself...the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man’s consciousness and anxiety’ William Golding © Graham Greene 1978 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Graham Greene (Author), Tim Pigott-Smith (Narrator)

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The Honorary Consul

"Brought to you by Penguin. A gripping tragicomedy of a bungled kidnapping in a provincial Argentinean town, considered to be one of Greene's finest novels. In a provincial Argentinian community, Charley Fortnum - a British consul with dubious authority and a notorious fondness for drink - is kidnapped by rebels in a case of mistaken identity. The young but world-weary Doctor Eduardo Plarr, is left to pick up the pieces and secure Fortnum's release, wading through a sea of incompetence and unearthing corruption among authorities and revolutionaries in the process. First published in 1973, The Honorary Consul was one of Greene's own favourites of his works and is regarded amongst his finest novels, with Plarr perhaps the most moving and convincing figure in his fiction. 'Perhaps the most enduring novel that even he has given us' Daily Mail © Graham Greene 1973 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Graham Greene (Author), Tim Pigott-Smith (Narrator)

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The Human Factor

"Brought to you by Penguin. A leak is traced to a small sub-section of the secret service, sparking off the inevitable security checks, tensions and suspicions. The sort of atmosphere, perhaps, where mistakes could be made? For Maurice Castle, it is the end of the line anyway, and time for him to retire to live peacefully with his wife and child. But no-one escapes so easily from the lonely, isolated, neurotic world of the SIS. ‘Graham Greene's beautiful and disturbing novel is filled with tenderness, humour, excitement and doubt’ The Times © Graham Greene 1978 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Graham Greene (Author), Tim Pigott-Smith (Narrator)

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Travels With My Aunt

"Brought to you by Penguin. 'The only book I have ever written just for the fun of it' Graham Greene Greene proves a wonderful storyteller in this hilarious tale of the eccentricity of families and the pomposity of the middle class. Henry Pulling, a retired bank manager, meets his septuagenarian Aunt Augusta for the first time in over fifty years at what he supposes to be his mother's funeral. Soon after, she persuades Henry to abandon Southwood, his dahlias and the Major next door to travel her way, Brighton, Paris, Istanbul, Paraguay. Through Aunt Augusta, a veteran of Europe's hotel bedrooms, Henry joins a shiftless, twilight society: mixing with hippies, war criminals, CIA men; smoking pot, breaking all the currency regulations and eventually coming alive after a dull suburban life. In Travels With My Aunt Graham Greene not only gives us intoxicating entertainment but also confronts us with some of the most perplexing of human dilemmas. © Graham Greene 1969 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Graham Greene (Author), Tim Pigott-Smith (Narrator)

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Ivan Turgenev: A BBC Radio Full-Cast Drama Collection: First Love, Father and Sons, A Month in the Country & More

"Nine classic works by the Russian literary giant, adapted for BBC Radio Ivan Turgenev stands alongside Tolstoy and Dostoevsky as one of the three great Russian novelists of the 19th century. He was also a consummate short story writer, poet and playwright, and the first Russian author to become popular in the West. This specially curated collection showcases his key works, from the most celebrated to the undeservedly underrated. Described as ‘one of the most perfect things ever written’, the lyrical novella First Love tells the story of 16-year-old Vladimir, whose longing for the capricious Zinaida informs his whole life. Dramatised for Radio 4, it stars Simon Cadell, Rosalind Ayres and Bill Nighy. Succeeding it is Turgenev’s masterpiece, Fathers and Sons, an exploration of the eternal conflict between the reactionary older generation and the revolutionary younger one. John Castle stars as youthful nihilist Bazarov, with Maurice Denham as his father Nikolai. First published in 1855 as Two Women, Turgenev’s best-known play A Month in the Country centres around a landowner’s wife who finds herself attracted to her son’s tutor. Translated by Isaiah Berlin, our Radio 3 version stars Maureen O’Brien and Gerard Murphy. Written a few years before A Month in the Country, the little-known play The Poor Gentleman is an emotional comedy about an elderly man’s devotion to a daughter he can never recognise publicly. It stars Frank Finlay, Morag Hood and Colin Baker. Next up is Smoke, Turgenev’s only novel not to be set in Russia. Baden Baden is the setting for a tale that blends poignant love story and searing political satire, starring Garard Green, Rachel Gurney and Patricia Leventon. Meanwhile, in the short story ‘The Dog’, a mild Hussar (Timothy West) is the subject of a bizarre haunting… Turgenev’s debut novel, Rudin, features that archetypal character in Russian literature, the ‘superfluous man’. Ian Holm stars as the eponymous hero, an idealistic intellectual who is incapable of taking action: and suffers for it. Set just before the Crimean War, the romantic novella On the Eve has passion and patriotism as its themes. Amanda Root stars as the upper-class Elena, who embarks on a doomed affair with Bulgarian revolutionary Insarov (Philip Franks). We conclude as we began, with a tale of first love – Spring Torrents, one of Turgenev’s greatest and most autobiographical novellas. Adapted for Radio 4’s ‘Book at Bedtime’, it is read by David Horovitch. First published 1848 (The Poor Gentleman), 1855/1872 (A Month in the Country), 1857 (Rudin), 1860 (First Love, On the Eve), 1862 (Fathers and Sons), 1866 (‘The Dog’), 1867 (Smoke), 1872 (Spring Torrents) Production credits Written by Ivan Turgenev With thanks to Keith Wickham Contents List First Love Fathers and Sons A Month in the Country The Poor Gentleman Smoke The Dog Rudin On the Eve Spring Torrents © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Ivan Turgenev (Author), Amanda Root, Bill Nighy, David Horovitch, Full Cast, Hugh Dickson, Ian Holm, Maureen O'brien, Norman Shelley, Patrick Troughton, Rosalind Ayres, Tim Pigott-Smith, Timothy West (Narrator)

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Banned Books: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Four Full-Cast Dramatisations of Modern Classics

"Four modern masterpieces that dared to push boundaries and disrupt the status quo Deviant. Depraved. Dangerous. Denounced for their transgressive themes and inflammatory ideas, these 20th-century classics have all been considered so seditious that they had to be suppressed. Find out what made these iconic works so threatening to governments worldwide in these superlative dramatisations, featuring stellar casts and specially composed music. Ulysses – Prosecuted for obscenity in the UK and US, James Joyce’s seminal novel tells the combined stories of Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom, as they wander through Dublin on one ordinary day: 16th June 1904. The Well of Loneliness – Radclyffe Hall’s groundbreaking tale of lesbian love was judged as obscene soon after its publication in 1928, and banned in the UK for over 20 years. It centres around Stephen, a baby girl born to well-to-do parents who grows up feeling ‘different’ and knows she will never be attracted to a man. But will she always be an outcast? Brave New World – Aldous Huxley's visionary dystopian fable, banned in Ireland and Australia when it first appeared in 1932, portrays a corrupt future society where promiscuity is the norm, eugenics a respectable science and the drug soma is the opiate of the people. Token dissidents Bernard Marx and Helmholtz Watson long to be free – but it is an outsider, John ‘the Savage’, who shows them the true meaning of rebellion. Nineteen Eighty-Four – London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Ministry of Truth employee Winston Smith finds love with Julia, the duo begin to question the Party – but for enemies of the state, Room 101 awaits… George Orwell’s classic tale, banned in the Soviet Union until 1988 and still one of the most-challenged books in the USA today. The star-studded casts of these dramatisations include Andrew Scott, Henry Goodman, Niamh Cusack, Stephen Rea, Valerie Edmond, Amanda Root, Justin Salinger, John Coy, Milton Lopes, Christopher Eccleston, Pippa Nixon and Tim Pigott-Smith. First published 1918 (Ulysses), 1928 (The Well of Loneliness), 1932 (Brave New World), 1949 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) Cast and credits Ulysses Cast: Stephen Rea, Andrew Scott, Kevin Trainor, Harry Livingstone, Janet Moran, Ronan Raftery, Jim Norton, Joshua Ellershaw, Aidan Dunlop, Henry Goodman, Niamh Cusack, Grainne Keenan, Stephen Hogan, Des McAleer, Christine Absalom, Jonathan Forbes, Bronagh Taggart, Sean Campion, John Rogan, Peter Hamilton Dyer, Joshua Ellershaw, Lorcan Cranitch, Gerard McDermott, Denise Gough, Pip Donaghy, Frances Barber, Susie Riddell Written by James Joyce Dramatised by Robin Brooks Directed by Jeremy Mortimer and Jonquil Panting Produced by Jeremy Mortimer Executive producer: Claire Grove Singer: Daire Halpin Pianist: Colin Guthrie The Well of Loneliness Cast: Valerie Edmond, Alexandra Bateman, Roberta Kerr, Rob Pickvance, Amanda Root, Sarah Parks, Paul Warriner, Russell Dixon, Katy Cavanagh, Sara Kaplan, Thomas Hudson, Martin Reeve, Paul Warriner, Katy Cavanagh, Malcolm Hebden Written by Radclyffe Hall Dramatised by Sarah Woods Directed by Melanie Harris Music composed and performed by Odaline de la Martinez Celloist: Andy Wardale Violinist: Janet Fuste Brave New World Cast: Justin Salinger, Jonathan Coy, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Anton Lesser, Milton Lopes, Karina Fernandez, Nicola Ferguson, Sam Rix, James Lailey, Sean Baker, Scarlett Brookes, Brian Protheroe, Nick Underwood Written by Aldous Huxley Dramatised by Jonathan Holloway Directed by David Hunter Nineteen Eighty-Four Cast: Christopher Eccleston, Pippa Nixon, Tim Pigott-Smith, Kim Wall, Robert Blythe, Sam Alexander, Susie Riddell, Christine Absalom, Don Gilet, Joe Sims and Joshua Swinney Written by George Orwell Dramatised by Jonathan Holloway Directed by Jeremy Mortimer (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, James Joyce, Radclyffe Hall (Author), Andrew Scott, Anton Lesser, Christopher Eccleston, Full Cast, Henry Goodman, Jonathan Coy, Justin Salinger, Niamh Cusack, Pippa Nixon, Stephen Rea, Tim Pigott-Smith, Valerie Edmond (Narrator)

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Anthony Trollope: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Seven Full-Cast Dramatisations Including The Pallisers

"Anthony Trollope was one of Victorian England’s most popular and prolific authors. He worked for the Post Office while establishing himself as a writer, and is credited with introducing the pillar box to Britain. Best known for his ‘Barsetshire’ and ‘Palliser’ novels, he wrote over 50 works in total, including short stories, travel books, biographies and a posthumously published autobiography. Collected here are a selection of superb adaptations of his much-loved novels, as well as an original radio play by Patricia Cumper. Orley Farm – Starring Tim Pigott-Smith, Samantha Bond and Ronald Pickup, this adaptation of Trollope’s 1861 novel is a compelling, emotional tale of disreputable lawyers, young lovers, the beautiful Lady Mason and the honourable Sir Peregrine Orme. Miss Mackenzie – Hattie Morahan stars as Margaret Mackenzie, a single woman past the bloom of youth, who inherits a fortune and is then beset by suitors who may, or may not, simply be after her money. Can she pick her way through this romantic minefield and find true happiness? The American Senator – Ruthless Arabella Trefoil wants to keep her engagement to John Morton a secret while she pursues the wealthy Lord Rufford. But fortune-hunting is a dangerous game, as she is soon to discover. Starring Robert Glenister, Anna Maxwell Martin and Barbara Flynn. John Caldigate – Disinherited by his father, a young man leaves home to seek his fortune in Australia’s gold mines. But an unwise shipboard romance leads to trouble down the line… Jeremy Clyde stars as John Caldigate, with Margaret Wolfit as Euphemia Smith. The Pallisers – A pacy, radical reboot of Anthony Trollope’s celebrated novels about high life and low politics in Victorian England. Jessica Raines stars as our omniscient narrator, Lady Glencora, who takes us through two decades of scandal, scheming, ambition and powerbroking. The Way We Live Right Now – When shady financier Ghassan Mehmoud recruits gullible investors for his get-rich-quick scheme, the stage is set for scandal… Henry Goodman stars in this present-day reworking of Trollope’s satirical masterpiece about money, greed and dishonesty. Mr Trollope and the Labours of Hercules – Paterson Joseph stars in this engrossing drama based on Anthony Trollope’s experiences in Jamaica in 1858. Credits Written by Anthony Trollope Orley Farm (1861) Dramatised by Martyn Wade Directed by Tracey Neale First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 December 2008-11 January 2009 Miss Mackenzie (1865) Dramatised by Martyn Wade Directed by Tracey Neale First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9-16 January 2011 The American Senator (1876) Dramatised by Martyn Wade Directed by Tracey Neale First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21 August-4 September 2011 John Caldigate (1879) Dramatised by D. G. Bridson Directed by David H. Godfrey First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 August-10 October 1976 The Pallisers (1861-1879) Dramatised by Mike Harris and Sharon Oakes Directed by Gary Brown and Emma Harding Produced by Gary Brown First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 10 November 2019-8 March 2020 The Way We Live Right Now (1875) Adapted by Jonathan Myerson Directed by Jonquil Panting First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16 June-4 July 2008 Mr Trollope and the Labours of Hercules Written by Patricia Cumper Produced and directed by Marion Nancarrow First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 August 2016 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd."

Anthony Trollope (Author), Barbara Flynn, Chris Pavlo, Dan Starkey, David Troughton, Full Cast, Garard Green, Hattie Morahan, Henry Goodman, James Thomason, Jessica Raine, Paterson Joseph, Robert Glenister, Samantha Bond, Tim Mcmullan, Tim Pigott-Smith (Narrator)

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H.E. Bates: A BBC Radio Collection: Dramatisations and Readings including Fair Stood the Wind for France, Love for Lydia & More

"Selected Dramatisations and readings of the genre-spanning work of HE Bates 'A great treasure trove to dive into' Entertainment Focus HE Bates is probably best known for his comic novel The Darling Buds of May, which introduced the lovable Larkins to the world and sparked three hugely popular TV adaptations. In his 68 years, Bates wrote over 20 further novels, more than 300 short stories, children’s books, poems, plays and non-fiction. This collection brings together three full-cast BBC Radio dramatisations and fourteen excellent readings, rounding off with extracts from HE Bates autobiographies. His wartime bestseller Fair Stood the Wind for France is a classic tale of danger, suspense and romance, centred around a British aircrew who ditch in Occupied France, and their attempts to survive and escape. This BBC radio dramatisation stars Rory Kinnear, Tom Goodman-Hill and Louise Brealey. Adapted from HE Bates’ semi-autobiographical 1952 novel, Love for Lydia charts the romance between a young reporter and a shy heiress. Tim Pigott-Smith and Juliet Aubrey star in this moving story of first love. Death of a Huntsman, based on Bates’ 1957 novella, is a vintage radio drama about a middle-aged businessman who finds himself strangely drawn to his ex-lover’s daughter. It stars Roger Delgado and Pauline Letts. Described by Graham Greene as ‘the English Chekhov’, HE Bates was much acclaimed for his short fiction. Included here are 14 of his best tales, beginning with five stories taken from his 1957 collection Sugar for the Horse. Featuring his much-loved character Uncle Silas, they include ‘The Widder’, ‘The Blue Feather’, ‘Queenie White’, ‘The Singing Pig’ and ‘Aunt Tibby’. They are read by David Neal, who also reads six more bucolic tales: ‘Time’, ‘Chaff in the Wind’, ‘The Maker of Coffins’, ‘The Cowslip Field’, ‘Loss of Pride’ and ‘Great Uncle Crow’. A further three stories, ‘The Primrose Place’, ‘The Small Portion’ and ‘The Sun of December’, are read by Kim Hicks, John Rowe and Anthony Hyde. Contents, cast and credits Written by HE Bates Fair Stood the Wind for France Cast: Rory Kinnear, Louise Brealey, Ellie Haddington, Bruce Alexander, Kenneth Collard, Tom Goodman-Hill, Kate Layden, Kenneth Collard, John Biggins, Rhys Jennings and Piers Wehner Love for Lydia Cast: Tim Pigott-Smith, Jordan Frieda, Juliet Aubrey, Margaret Tyzack, Angela Thorne, Philip Fox, Jamie Bamber, Robert Purdy, Don McCorkindale, Clare Corbett, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Helena Breck, Joanna David, Tom Mannion, Isabelle Joss, Tracy Wiles, Ray Lonnen, Helen Longworth, Ndidi Del Fatti, Tom Calder Death of a Huntsman Cast: Eric Anderson, John Ruddock, Hugh Manning, James Thomason, Kathleen Helme, Sheila Grant, Joan Sanderson Sugar for the Horse: ‘The Widder’, ‘The Blue Feather’, ‘Queenie White’, ‘The Singing Pig’ and ‘Aunt Tibby’ read by David Neal Country Stories: ‘Time’, ‘Chaff in the Wind’ and ‘The Maker of Coffins’, ‘The Cowslip Field’, ‘Great Uncle Crow’ and ‘Loss of Pride’ read by David Neal ‘The Primrose Place’ read by Kim Hicks ‘The Small Portion’ read by John Rowe ‘The Sun of December’ read by Anthony Hyde"

He Bates (Author), David Jason, David Neal, Full Cast, Juliet Aubrey, Pam Ferris, Pauline Letts, Roger Delgado, Rory Kinnear, Tim Pigott-Smith (Narrator)

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Alfred Lord Tennyson: In Memoriam, Idylls of the King, Maud & more: A BBC Radio Collection

"A definitive collection of Tennyson’s finest works Alfred Lord Tennyson is one of Britain’s greatest and most popular poets. Even during his lifetime, he was considered a national institution: Queen Victoria appointed him Poet Laureate in 1850, a position he held for 42 years, and in 1884 he became the first writer to be granted a baronetcy. In a long and fruitful career, he penned numerous classic works, and this BBC Radio collection showcases some of the very best. We begin with two of his masterpieces, dramatised by award-winning poet Michael Symmons Roberts. The Idylls of the King is an extraordinary epic poem that infuses the legend of King Arthur with a passionate intensity. Told here in five acts, it stars Tim Pigott-Smith. Considered one of the finest elegies, In Memoriam was written in response to the sudden death of his friend Arthur Hallam. This drama weaves the peerless poem into the story behind it, and stars Holliday Grainger, James Cooney and Ashley Margolis. Crossing the Bar plunges us into Tennyson’s stirring sea-narratives, with sea-songs performed by a cappella trio Coope, Boyes and Simpson. It includes the poems ‘The Kraken’, ‘The Sea Fairies’, ‘Enoch Arden’, ‘The Voyage of Maeldune’ and ‘Crossing the Bar’ - read by John Dougall, Rachel Bavidge, Sam Dale, Jasmine Callan, Stuart McLoughlin and Joseph Kloska. In Maud, Tennyson’s dark, lyrical verses tell of a disturbed young man roaming the windswept hills, madly in love and haunted by loss. Dramatised for radio in 1969, Harold brings to life the story of England’s last Anglo-Saxon King, starring Gabriel Woolf. Next up are readings of Tennyson’s best-loved poems, including seven written in the language of his native Lincolnshire and introduced by his great-grandson Hallam Tennyson. ‘Aylmer’s Field’, his Victorian version of the Romeo and Juliet story, is read by Andrew Sachs; while Peggy Ashcroft reads his celebrated lyrical ballad ‘The Lady of Shalott’. ‘The Lotos-Eaters’, inspired by the tale of Odysseus and his mariners, is read by Sir John Gielgud. ‘The Northern Farmer’, ‘The Parson’s Daughter’, ‘The Church Warden and the Curate’, ‘Owd Roa,’ ‘The Village Wife’, ‘The Northern Cobbler’ and ‘The Spinster’s Sweet-Arts’ are read by Edward Campion and Mary Wimbush. Lastly, ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ is read by Alfred Badel, and ‘The Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington’, read by the poet's grandson Sir Charles Tennyson. We conclude with a pair of fascinating documentaries exploring the poet’s life and work. Searching for Alfred in the Shadow of Tennyson sees Ruth Padel investigating the man behind the image, while In Our Time: Tennyson’s In Memoriam finds Melvyn Bragg discussing the poet’s moving meditation on love and death. First published 1830 (‘The Kraken’, ‘The Sea-Fairies), 1832 (‘The Lady of Shalott’, ‘The Lotos-Eaters’), 1833 (‘Fatima’), 1850 (‘In Memoriam’), 1852 (‘Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington’), 1854 (‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’), 1855 (‘Maud’), 1859-1885 (Idylls of the King), 1864 (‘Enoch Arden’, ‘The Northern Farmer’), 1876 (Harold), 1880 (‘The Voyage of Maeldune’, ‘The Village Wife’, ‘The Northern Cobbler’), 1885 (‘The Spinster’s Sweet-Arts’), 1889 (‘Crossing the Bar’, ‘Owd Roa’), 1891 (Alymer’s Field), 1892 (‘The Church-Warden and the Curate’) © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alfred Tennyson (Author), Andrew Sachs, Charles Tennyson, Full Cast, Hallam Tennyson, Holliday Grainger, John Sir Gielgud, Jonathan Keeble, Mary Wimbush, Melvyn Bragg, Peggy Ashcroft, Rachel Bavidge, Ruth Padel, Tim Pigott-Smith (Narrator)

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Jane Austen: A Portrait: A BBC Radio Collection

"You've finished all her novels, so where do you go after Pride and Prejudice? Perfect for Janeites everywhere, this enticing collection brings together for the first time six special recordings that offer a glimpse behind the scenes at the life of the celebrated author. Taking us on a journey from her earliest teenage writings, to her love affair aged 20, to the scandalous arrest of her aunt which shook her family, these fascinating programmes offer a closer look at Jane Austen and those around her, as seen through her letters, writings and final home. Juvenile Jane - Jane Austen's delightfully precocious and revealing early works are celebrated by Austen expert Janet Todd and writer and illustrator Posy Simmonds. Anna Maxwell Martin reads extracts from three stories: 'Frederick and Elfrida', 'Henry and Eliza' and 'Love and Freindship'[sic]. Minuet - The story of Jane Austen's real-life romance with an impassioned but impoverished young Irishman, which fueled her desire to become a writer. Helen McCrory stars as Jane Austen and John Light as Tom Lefroy in this original drama by Harriet O'Carroll. A City Full of Swindlers - 1799, Bath. Accused of shoplifting a piece of lace, Jane Austen's aunt is arrested and imprisoned... Narrated by Cassandra Austen (Lucy Black), this shocking tale reveals Georgian Bath to be a much less decorous place than it appears in her sister Jane's novels. Based on a true story, Jenny Howarth's entertaining drama also stars Tim Pigott-Smith and Pamela Miles. Portrait of Elizabeth - Inspired by the Portrait of Elizabeth Bridges Austen at the Jane Austen's House Museum, Chawton, Sophia Hillan's short story is told from the point of view of Jane's elder brother Edward's wife. It is 1808, and Elizabeth has just given birth to her 11th child. Suffering from fever and unaware that she is dying, she rails at the thought of having Jane attend her. But why is she so angry with her sister-in-law? Read by Laura Carmichael. No Ice in Weymouth - This 5-part series is a portrait of the family, social and professional world of Jane Austen, as seen through her letters and novels. Beginning in 1813, when Pride and Prejudice is about to be published, it concludes in 1815 in the months leading up to the publication of Emma. Starring Susannah Harker as Jane and Oona Beeson as Cassandra. A Quire of Paper: A Poem for Jane Austen and Her House - In 2016, Maura Dooley was poet-in-residence at the Jane Austen's House Museum, where Austen lived for the last eight years of her life. This atmospheric programme interweaves the sounds of the house, garden and village with specially composed poetry set against the rich history of this iconic place. © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Harriet O'carroll, Jenny Howarth, Maura Dooley, Sophia Hillan, Vanessa Rosenthal (Author), Anna Maxwell Martin, Full Cast, Helen Mccrory, Janet Todd, John Light, Laura Carmichael, Lucy Black, Maura Dooley, Oona Beeson, Pamela Miles, Posy Simmons, Susannah Harker, Tim Pigott-Smith (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Tim Pigott-Smith

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