Audiobooks narrated by Tracy-Ann Oberman

Doris Lessing: A collection of six BBC Radio readings and dramatisations

Dramatisations and readings of novels and short stories by Nobel laureate Doris Lessing - plus a bonus documentary, Open Book, examining her life and career One of the most celebrated and important authors of the 20th Century, Doris Lessing was awarded a Nobel Prize for the 'visionary power' of her fiction, which spans a variety of genres and explores themes such as racism, feminism and social and political upheaval. This collection includes the radio productions of three of her acclaimed novels and four short stories, as well as a fascinating discussion of her life and work. The Good Terrorist - Olivia Vinall stars in this adaptation of Doris Lessing's satire of incompetent revolutionaries in a London squat. Lucy Grange - Exiled from the sophistication of her homeland, stylish Lucy seeks solace and comfort, and learns 'to accept the second-rate'. Read by Estelle Kohler. The Grass is Singing - In this powerful exploration of racial politics in 1940s Rhodesia, adapted from Doris Lessing's first novel, a white woman's troubled relationship with her black houseboy comes to a violent end. Starring Alison Pettit and Tracy-Ann Oberman. Flight - A laughing, teasing granddaughter and a dovecote full of strutting birds are an old man's only escape from his cold family home. Read by Jack Klaff. The Golden Notebook - Susannah Harker stars in this dramatisation of Doris Lessing's ground-breaking novel about marriage, motherhood, mental breakdown and communism. The Death of a Chair - A lived-in chair is bought at auction, where it begins its final journey towards discovery and destruction. Read by Barbara Marten. Open Book: Doris Lessing Mariella Frostrup talks to Doris Lessing about her long and extraordinarily varied writing career.

Doris Lessing (Author), Alison Pettitt, Barbara Marten, Estelle Kohler, Jack Klaff, Olivia Vinall, Susannah Harker, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Lady of the Rivers

Descended from Melusina, the river goddess, Jacquetta has always had the gift of second sight. As a child visiting her uncle, she meets his prisoner, Joan of Arc, and recognizes her own power in the young woman accused of witchcraft. They share the mystery of the tarot card of the "wheel of fortune" before Joan is taken to a horrific death at the hands of the English rulers of France. Jacquetta understands the danger for a woman who dares to dream. Married to the Duke of Bedford, English Regent of France, Jacquetta is introduced by him to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy. Her only friend in the great household is the Duke's squire Richard Woodville, who is at her side when the Duke's death leaves her a wealthy young widow. The two become lovers and marry in secret, returning to England to serve at the court of the young King Henry VI, where Jacquetta becomes a close and loyal friend to his new queen. Drawing on years of research, Philippa Gregory tells the story of the Woodvilles who achieve a place at the very heart of the Lancaster court, though Jacquetta can sense the threat from the people of England and the danger of royal rivals. Not even their courage and loyalty can keep the House of Lancaster on the throne. Henry the king slides into a mysterious sleep; Margaret the queen turns to untrustworthy favorites for help; and Richard, Duke of York threatens to overturn the whole kingdom for his rival dynasty of the House of York. Jacquetta fights for her King, her Queen, and for her daughter Elizabeth Woodville, a young woman married to a neighbor for whom Jacquetta can sense an extraordinary and unexpected future: a change of fortune, the throne of England, and the white rose of York. A sweeping, powerful story based on history and rich in passion and legend, The Lady of the Rivers tells the story of the real-life mother to the White Queen. Philippa Gregory is writing at the height of her talent.

Philippa Gregory (Author), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Foursome

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Foursome by Jane Fallon, read by Tracy-Ann Oberman. Rebecca, Daniel, Alex and Isabel have been best friends since university. Rebecca married Daniel, Alex married Isabel and, for twenty years, they have been inseparable. But all that is about to change... When Alex walks out on Isabel, Rebecca thinks things can't get any worse. But then she finds out the reason why and she's left harbouring a secret she'd rather forget... And there's more upheaval to come in Rebecca's life as her emaciated, neurotic, self-obsessed colleague, Lorna - her arch nemesis at work - suddenly becomes a regular feature in her social life. Rebecca's once-happy foursome is now a distant memory and with hearts broken and friendships fractured, it seems that change is never a good thing. Or is it?

Jane Fallon (Author), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Incendiary: A Novel

A distraught woman writes a letter to Osama bin Laden after her four-year-old son and her husband are killed in a massive suicide bomb attack at a soccer match in London. In an emotionally raw voice alive with grief, compassion, and startling humor, she tries to convince Osama to abandon his terror campaign by revealing to him the desperate sadness-"I am a woman built on the wreckage of myself"-and the broken heart of a working-class life blown apart. But the bombing is only the beginning. While security measures transform London into a virtual occupied territory, the narrator, too, finds herself under siege. At first she gains strength by fighting back, taking a civilian job with the police to aid the antiterrorist effort. But when she becomes involved with an upper-class couple, she is drawn into a psychological maelstrom of guilt, ambition, and cynicism that erodes her faith in the society she's working to defend. And when a new bomb threat sends the city into a deadly panic ("It was a panic like the darkest dream and the more people ran out onto the streets the bigger the panic got like a monster made of human beings") she is pushed to acts of unfathomable desperation-perhaps her only chance for survival. A surreal vision made brilliantly, viscerally powerful and undeniable, 'Incendiary' is Chris Cleave's stunning first novel.

Chris Cleave (Author), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Jack & Millie: The BBC Radio 4 comedy

Jack & Millie is the brainchild of Jeremy Front who, with his sister Rebecca Front had been improvising these two characters for years - and now they've been brought to life in a new show... This new comedy show written by Jeremy Front (writer of the Charles Paris mysteries for Radio 4) and starring Jeremy Front and Rebecca Front as Jack & Millie Lemman - an older couple who are fully engaged with contemporary life whilst being at war with the absurdities of the modern world... The show also features Millie's frenemy Shirley - played by Tracy-Ann Oberman, Jack's all-too-easygoing friend Harry (Nigel Lindsay), their high-pressure son Melvin (Harry Peacock) and their high-maintenance (and Catholic) (and French) daughter-in-law Delphine (Jenny Bede - most recently heard in an episode of "John Finnemore's Double Acts" alongside Mathew Baynton). Jeremy Front, Rebecca Front ,Tracy-Ann Oberman, Nigel Lindsay, Sue Kelvin, Adam G Goodwin and Llewella Gideon star in the first episode - "Death And The Maven" -, where Film Club Leo dies suddenly, Jack & Millie have to make a choice between good behaviour and cheesecake... in this new comedy starring Jeremy and Rebecca Front In Episode 2, entitled "Special Lunch" and starring Jeremy Front, Rebecca Front, Harry Peacock, Jenny Bede and Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong, Jack & Millie have a son. And Melvin has an app. And Melvin's wife, Delphine has a dog. And Daniel Craig has both his eyebrows. A Special Lunch turns into a Totteridge tale of decking, Bond, beef tomahawks and a married lifetime's-worth of verbal sparring... Show 3, and Jeremy Front, Rebecca Front, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Nigel Lindsay, Rebecca Gethings, Naz Osmanoglu and Luke Sumner star in "Deliver Us From Ebay" - Jack & Millie discover the 11th Commandment - Thou shalt not try and please a son's scary ex-girlfriend. And what's really in the mysterious neighbour's packages...? Episode 4 stars Jeremy Front, Rebecca Front, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Nigel Lindsay, Harry Peacock, Jenny Bede and Lauren O' Rourke in "The Kids Are Alright" - All grandkids make mistakes. But only Jack & Millie's do it quite so loudly and on video... And in the bonus Pilot edition, "Kafka Died At 39", a phone, a strudel & Franz Kafka combine to make Jack & Millie's day rather complicated in this new comedy about an older couple getting to grips with a French daughter-in-law, gassy beer, Eye-Closing Leon and a married lifetime's-worth of verbal sparring... The show comes from Pozzitive, proud producers of Cabin Pressure, Thanks A Lot, Milton Jones!, Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation, The Brig Society, The Castle, Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive, Shush! & Kevin Eldon Will See You Now...

Jeremy Front (Author), , Jeremy Front, Rebecca Front, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Bar Mitzvah Boy

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Jack Rosenthal's award-winning television play, starring Hugo Raine. At the tender age of thirteen Eliot Green is about to become a man - in the Jewish religion at least. In synagogue, in front of the whole congregation, he will read and sing in Hebrew from the Torah (the Hebrew scrolls) - this after a year of intensive tuition. Later he will enjoy receiving gifts from relatives and friends as he celebrates with them at his Bar Mitzvah party. All eyes are on Eliot as he is called up in synagogue for his big moment This play along with many others established the late Jack Rosenthal as one of Britain's best loved television writers. A master at creating characters that you could recognise and empathise with, his plays were always sharp and finely tuned with a rich helping of humour. With a star cast including Tracy-Ann Oberman, David Horovitch, Andrew Sachs and Susannah Wise, this new version of Bar Mitzvah Boy is specially adapted for radio by Jack Rosenthal's daughter, the playwright Amy Rosenthal, and is produced by David Ian Neville.

Jack Rosenthal (Author), Andrew Sachs, David Horovitch, Hugo Raine, Susannah Wise, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Brief Lives: The Complete Series 3: Series 3

A series of four BBC Radio 4 plays set in a Manchester legal practice, written by Tom Fry and Sharon Kelly. Frank Twist and his bunch of legal reps return for another series of adventures on the mean-ish streets of Manchester. In the first play, Frank's best mate Mickey has finally met a young Russian woman who will put up with him, his music and his socks. But is she just using him? The second play sees Debby representing a posh, middle aged good time girl who has been held at the airport on suspected drugs charges. Meanwhile Sarah's sister suddenly shows up. In the third play Sarah is called to an army base to deal with a violent incident between two female soldiers. Who is telling the truth? And Doug goes to bat for Frank's son Louis when he's accused of being a serial biter in the nursery. In the fourth and final play, Frank is chipper; he's finally got his own parking space at the local nick. Life doesn't get any better. Starring David Schofield as Frank, Emma Atkins as Debbie and Tracey-Ann Oberman as Sarah. Also featuring in the cast are Eric Potts, Beth Palmer, Jonathan Oliver, Lisa Allen, James Quinn and Isaac Whitmore. Produced by Gary Brown, with original music by Carl Harms. Originally broadcast 28 April 2010 - 19 May 2010 in the 'Afternoon Play' slots.

Sharon Kelly, Tom Fry (Author), , David Schofield, Emma Atkins, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Bette And Joan And Baby Jane

On 23 July 1961, filming started on 'Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?' at the Producers Studio, Hollywood. It was a film that industry insiders thought would never be made, as its two female stars had an ongoing feud as famous and as long lasting as both of their glittering screen careers. Bette Davis 'the actress' and Joan Crawford 'the movie star' both arrived on set determined to prove everyone wrong, including each other. . . Tracy-Ann Oberman's first radio play tells the story of the making of a legendary film, of the creation of two iconic stars and of the origins of a deep-seated hatred that spanned five decades.

Tracy-Ann Oberman (Author), , Catherine Tate, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Shirleymander (BBC Radio 4 Friday Play)

A BBC Radio 4 tragic-comedy drama depicting the principal events of Shirley Porter's time as leader of Westminster city council in the 1980s. Originally broadcast as the 'Friday Play' on 27 November 2009, and starring Tracy-Ann Oberman as Shirley Porter. Also featured amongst the cast are Maggie Steed, Joseph Cohen-Cole, Piers Wehner, Stephen Hogan, Sagar Arya, Bruce Alexander, Ewan Hooper, Philip Fox, John Biggins and Tessa Nicholson. Directed by Marc Beeby.

Gregory Evans (Author), A Full Cast, Joseph Cohen-Cole, Maggie Steed, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Brief Lives: Series 7-11

Series 7-11 of the BBC radio drama about Frank Twist and his team of legal eagles, starring David Schofield Frank Twist and Sarah Gold run The Agency, a paralegal firm based in sunny Manchester. With the help of their team of freelancers, they operate a round-the-clock advice service, going into police stations across the North West to offer help and support to those in custody. In these 26 episodes, their clients include the good, the bad and the ugly: from a teenager pulled in for texting an indecent photo of his girlfriend to a man detained for suspected arson at a primary school. There’s also the high-powered lawyer and her daughter caught with drugs after a house party, the naked young woman arrested for protesting against the fur trade, the judge accused of rape, the football hero with feet of clay and the local gangster’s son who gets into some serious trouble. On top of the challenges they face professionally, Frank and Sarah must also navigate their problematic personal lives. Recovering from a stroke, Frank is preparing to make a momentous decision about his future, and his complicated relationship with Sarah comes under further strain when buried truths are brought to light... Witty, sharp and full of twists, Tom Fry and Sharon Kelly’s thrilling legal drama stars David Schofield as Frank, with Kathryn Hunt and Sally Dexter as Sarah. Created by Tom Fry and Sharon Kelly Written by Tom Fry and Sharon Kelly, Nuala O’Sullivan (Series 7 Episode 2), Lizi Patch (Series 7 Episode 4), Philip Meeks (Series 8 Episode 2, Series 10 Episode 4), Michael Livesey (Series 8 Episode 5, Series 11 Episode 3) Produced and directed by Gary Brown Music by Carl Harms Starring David Schofield as Frank Twist

Sharon Kelly, Tom Fry (Author), David Schofield, Denise Welch, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Brief Lives: Series 1-6: The BBC Radio 4 full-cast psychological crime drama

The first six series of the popular radio drama set in a Manchester legal practice, starring David Schofield Frank Twist and Sarah Gold lead a maverick team of freelance paralegals operating in the mean(ish) streets of Manchester. Their agency operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, dispatching legal representatives to set free burglars, muggers and even some innocent people who find themselves on the wrong side of a cell door. Frank and Sarah have a history, and a child, but now their relationship is purely business, and in these 30 episodes, they and their colleagues deal with cases ranging from shoplifting to attempted murder. Among their clientele are a suspected rapist, a young teacher accused of having an affair with a sixth-former, a girl arrested for assaulting a police officer and a local councillor who’s been caught selling drugs. In addition, Sarah and Frank themselves become the subjects of police interest when they’re called into Manchester Central for questioning – and that’s just the start of their Kafkaesque journey... Created by Tom Fry and Sharon Kelly, these gripping dramas combine complex crime stories with witty humour. David Schofield stars as Frank Twist, with Gina Bellman, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Kathryn Hunt and Caroline Burns Cooke as Sarah Gold. Written by Tom Fry and Sharon Kelly, Elizabeth Heery (Series 4 Episode 3, Series 5 Episode 4), Eve Steele and Ed Jones (Series 4 Episode 4), Eve Steele (Series 5 Episode 2), Lizi Patch (Series 6 Episode 2), Nuala O’Sullivan (Series 6 Episode 4) Produced and directed by Susan Roberts (Series 1), Gary Brown (Series 2-6) Music by Carl Harms

Sharon Kelly, Tom Fry (Author), David Schofield, Denise Welch, Kwame Kewi-Armah, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Attractive Young Rabbi: The Complete BBC Radio comedy

All three series of the BBC Radio 4 comedy drama about the collision between the old and the new in the Jewish community of Hillfield Abraham Fine lives a settled, comfortable life as Rabbi of Hillfield’s Orthodox synagogue. But his world is turned upside down when a new Reform synagogue opens, led by a female Rabbi, Su Jacobs. Young, single, trendy and full of new ideas, she soon sets about modernisation: introducing her congregation to the delights of the Internet, putting ‘executive boxes’ with TV screens in the pews and offering coffee and croissants during the services – much to Rabbi Fine’s consternation. Fortunately, his wife Sadie is less resistant to change, and is quick to befriend Su and endeavour to keep the peace between her and Abraham. Written by Barry Grossman, this culture-clash comedy stars David de Keyser as Rabbi Abraham Fine and Tracy-Ann Oberman as Rabbi Su Jacobs, with Doreen Mantle as Sadie. Guest stars include Warren Mitchell, Geoffrey Whitehead and Nadim Sawalha. Production credits Written by Barry Grossman Produced by John Fawcett Wilson Music: Max Harris First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 12 November-3 December 1999 (Series 1), 22 September-27 October 2000 (Series 2), 13 February-20 March 2002 (Series 3)

Barry Grossman (Author), David De Keyser, Doreen Mantle, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Tracy-Ann Oberman