A Full-Cast BBC Sci-Fi Thriller

2025

Mona Hammond and Alphonsia Emmanuel star in this futuristic sci-fi drama, set in a world where artificial intelligence has become a realityIt’s 2025, and advances in gene therapy have led to the eradication of many once-common diseases. But the ability to engineer and re-engineer the brain has provoked fear – for it means that a truly artificial consciousness is within reach. The idea that humans may no longer be the only sentient species is so unthinkable that legislation is hastily passed, rigorously controlling genetic experiments. But there are certain people who seek to circumvent the law...People like Beth David, a doctor conducting research into incurable illnesses. Like elderly Olivia, who has lain dreaming in a clinic for seven years – but is now determined to wake up and live. And like her granddaughter, Irena, a TV production assistant, who desperately needs to gain access to the shady world of genetic engineering.Each relies on an AI: Voice Recognition Unit ‘Susie’, a response programme running on software produced by the giant conglomerate Fortunate Fragrance. She seems like the perfect servant – docile, helpful and cooperative. But unbeknown to all three women, she wants more than she has been created to have…Alphonsia Emmanuel, Mona Hammond, Daniela Nardini and Su-Lin Looi star in Mike Walker’s gripping two-part serial. Originally broadcast in 1998, this drama takes a fascinating look at a possible 2025.Production creditsWritten by Mike WalkerDirected by Sally AvensCastIrena – Alphonsia EmmanuelOlivia – Mona HammondDr Beth David – Daniela NardiniHenry Chu/Mr Li – David YipAnno – Su-Lin LooiPraeger – John RoweDr Finzey – Alastair DansonKate – Rachel AtkinsCapstick – Gerard McDermottTerry Gupta/Market stall holder – Ravin J GanatraFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5-12 January 1998© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Mona Hammond and Alphonsia Emmanuel star in this futuristic sci-fi drama, set in a world where artificial intelligence has become a realityIt’s 2025, and advances in gene therapy have led to the eradication of many once-common diseases. But the ability to engineer and re-engineer the brain has provoked fear – for it means that a truly artificial consciousness is within reach. The idea that humans may no longer be the only sentient species is so unthinkable that legislation is hastily passed, rigorously controlling genetic experiments. But there are certain people who seek to circumvent the law...People like Beth David, a doctor conducting research into incurable illnesses. Like elderly Olivia, who has lain dreaming in a clinic for seven years – but is now determined to wake up and live. And like her granddaughter, Irena, a TV production assistant, who desperately needs to gain access to the shady world of genetic engineering.Each relies on an AI: Voice Recognition Unit ‘Susie’, a response programme running on software produced by the giant conglomerate Fortunate Fragrance. She seems like the perfect servant – docile, helpful and cooperative. But unbeknown to all three women, she wants more than she has been created to have…Alphonsia Emmanuel, Mona Hammond, Daniela Nardini and Su-Lin Looi star in Mike Walker’s gripping two-part serial. Originally broadcast in 1998, this drama takes a fascinating look at a possible 2025.Production creditsWritten by Mike WalkerDirected by Sally AvensCastIrena – Alphonsia EmmanuelOlivia – Mona HammondDr Beth David – Daniela NardiniHenry Chu/Mr Li – David YipAnno – Su-Lin LooiPraeger – John RoweDr Finzey – Alastair DansonKate – Rachel AtkinsCapstick – Gerard McDermottTerry Gupta/Market stall holder – Ravin J GanatraFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5-12 January 1998© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Drama

The Medici: Bankers, Gangsters, Popes

Mike Walker’s gripping BBC Radio drama about money, art, religion, politics and power 
 
Florence, 1415. Banker Cosimo Medici is looked down upon as a jumped up money-changer. Then he marries the noble Contessina de Bardi and becomes the richest man in Europe. But his wealth and power threaten the Florentine elite, who are determined to bring him down... 
 
However, the House of Medici cannot be crushed that easily. Sixty years and many violent deaths later, the family are the unquestioned, ruthless rulers of Florence. They control the government, have transformed the city through their patronage of the arts, and one of them has even been crowned Pope. But trouble is coming in the form of the fanatical poet monk Savonarola, and the bank is in decline. Can Lorenzo the Magnificent save anything for his dim-witted successors – and will they even care? 
 
With a cast of extraordinary characters including Piero the Gouty, master negotiator Lucrezia Tornabuoni and Pope Leo X, as well as Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Artemisia Gentileschi, this fast-paced ‘Renaissance Sopranos’ tells the thrilling story of one of the most infamous dynasties of all time. Among the cast are Patrick Baladi, Sirine Saba, Tom Cullen, Saran Morgan and Catrin Aaron. 
 
 
Created by Mike Walker 
Written by Mike Walker, Sian Ejiwunmi Le-Berre and Catherine Johnson 
Sound Design: Nigel Lewis and Catherine Robinson 
Organ: Branwen Munn 
Produced by John Norton 
 
Cast 
Cosimo de' Medici – Patrick Baladi 
Contessina de' Bardi – Sirine Saba 
Rinaldo degli Albizzi – Richard Elfyn 
Niccolo Tinucci – Christopher Elson 
Old Giovanni – Hugh Thomas 
Silvio – Marc Danbury 
Gio Verdi – Marco Fiera 
The Manager – David Hounslow 
Lorenzo de' Medici – Tom Cullen 
Lucrezia Tornabuoni – Saran Morgan 
Clarice Orsini – Abra Thompson 
Gio de' Medici – Gareth Pierce 
Marietta – Saran Morgan 
Cardinal Orsini – Simon Armstrong 
Soderini – Daniel Cerqueira 
Pope Sixtus – John Cording 
Tinucci – Tommy Sim'aan 
Pazzi – Matthew Durkan 
Savonarola – Matthew Gravelle 
King Ferrante – Jonathon Forbes 
Pope Innocent – Roger Ringrose 
Leonardo da Vinci – Tom Kiteley 
Botticelli – Hughie O' Donnell 
Alessandro de Medici - Elliott Barnes-Worrell 
Lorenzino de Medici - Sion Daniel Young 
Ippolito de Medici - Jacob Ifan 
Taddea Malaspina - Kiran Sonia Sawar 
Simonetta da Collevecchio - Marsha Millar 
Giorgio Vasari - Nico Pimparé 
Pope Clement - Arwel Gruffydd 
Emperor Charles V - Michael Bertenshaw 
Margaret - Kitty O'Sullivan 
Scoronconcolo - Tyler Cameron 
Strozzi - John Lightbody 
Young Alessandro - Hardy Yusuf 
Young Ippolito - Huw Huckstep 
Catherine de Medici - Catrin Aaron 
Silvestri - Julian Lewis Jones 
Diane de Poitiers - Juliette Aubrey 
Prince Henri - Arthur Hughes 
King Francis - Aneirin Hughes 
Guise - Joel MacCormack 
Nurse - Heather Craney 
Young Catherine - Grace Nettle 
Isabelle - Nia Gandhi 
Coligny - Ian Dunnett Jnr 
Le Conde - Matthew Bulgo 
Cardinal Guise - Tom Mumford 
Margot - Poppy Almond 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Four BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas

American Legacy: Epic dramas of US politics

Four gripping historical dramas centred around key figures who shaped America in the 20th century 
 
Award-winning writer Mike Walker has created many acclaimed docudramas and historical dramas for Radio 4, including The Stuarts, Tsar, Caesar! and Plantagenet. This collection includes four nuanced dramas featuring a trio of controversial men who stamped their mark on American history: J Edgar Hoover, Lyndon Baines Johnson and Richard Baines Nixon. Among the casts are William Hootkins, Bob Sherman, Lorelei King, Nathan Osgood and Alex Lanipekun. 
 
J Edgar Hoover - This four-part drama charts the rise and fall of the notorious FBI director. Beginning in 1919, when a young Hoover uses his reputation for anti-Communist zealotry to further his ambitions, it takes in his single-minded pursuit of criminals including 'Public Enemy Number One' John Dillinger; his struggles with Bobby Kennedy and his relationship with his longtime deputy and close companion Clyde Tolson. 
 
LBJ - Inspired by real historical events, this two-part drama looks at the Kennedy administration, LBJ and the Vietnam War through the eyes of fictional journalist Lyle Weaver. Offered a job working as speechwriter to Vice-President Johnson, idealistic Lyle can't resist the chance to become an insider, helping to drive change. But the White House is riven by power struggles and, forced to take sides, he fails to consider the personal cost of being one on LBJ's people. 
 
The Product - Vietnam, 1968. When their helicopter is shot down, a soldier and a reporter are stranded in the jungle. Battling together to reach safety, they share stories, and realise that they were part of opposing campaigns in the historic 1960 election which saw JFK narrowly defeat Nixon. Reflecting on a victory won through propaganda, dollars and dirty tricks, they recall the candidates they each supported - and consider the legacy of their choices. 
 
American Faith: Richard Milhous Nixon's Road to Watergate - An epic, intimate drama recounting the life and extraordinary career of one of America's most fascinating and enigmatic Presidents: from his upbringing as a Quaker shopkeeper's son to his involvement in the 1970s Watergate scandal that rocked the nation and forced his resignation. 
 
NB: Contains strong language and attitudes from the era in which these stories are set which would not be considered acceptable today. 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Five BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramas

Broken Wings and Bright Stars & other stories

A collection of dramas set in South and Central America by acclaimed dramatist Mike Walker 
 
An award-winning dramatist, author and feature writer, Mike Walker has written numerous original dramas for BBC Radio 4, including his epic chronicles Tsar, Caesar!, The Stuarts and Castle of the Hawk. Collected here are five of his gripping dramas from the 1980s and '90s, set around the Amazon rainforest and Nicaragua. 
 
Broken Wings and Bright Stars - Life in Tomas's small Brazilian fishing village hasn't changed for generations. But the old ways are dying, and few men now venture out to sea. For young Tomas, the future lies with the developers and their promise of jobs and money - so when his grandfather asks for his help building a boat, he is faced with a dilemma... Gary Cady stars as Tomas, with Michael Spice as Jose, in this first play in the Broken Wings and Bright Stars trilogy. 
 
Dull Sun, Polished Moon - American filmmaker Bill Krause leads a crew into the Amazon jungle to make a documentary about tribal life, accompanied by his friend Father Alvarro, Tomas and Javari, a Brazilian Indian. They want to record the truth - but the truth is complicated, and difficult to reconcile. This second drama in the Broken Wings and Bright Stars trilogy stars Gary Cady, Ronald Herdman, Crawford Logan and Steve Hodson. 
 
Fallen Leaves, Dead City - In this final part of the Broken Wings and Bright Stars trilogy, Tomas, desperate to make a difference, has embarked on a dangerous venture. Forced to confront the consequences of his actions, he must put aside idealism and face some harsh realities. Starring Gary Cady, Frances Jeater, Richard Pascoe and Crawford Logan. 
 
Staying Still - When Jack Lowell is not organising survival courses for unfit executives on a remote Scottish island, he is living with an indigenous tribe in the Brazilian rainforest. Then tragedy occurs and his two worlds collide. Unhinged by grief, he seeks to extract payment for his losses... Nigel Anthony and Hilary MacLean star in this haunting tale of ritual, remorse and revenge. 
 
Compañeros - Four strangers meet and decide to make a journey into the heart of Nicaragua, but when they happen upon a group of trigger-happy Contras, their nightmare begins... Starring Derek Newark, Angharad Rees, Trevor Nichols and Colin Stinton. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Mike Walker 
 
Broken Wings and Bright Stars 
Cast Gary Cady, Michael Spice, Steve Hodson, Eric Lander, Pauline Letts, Martyn Read, Anton Phillips, Crawford Logan, John Webb, Jill Lidstone, Ronald Herdman, Patience Tomlinson 
Directed by Christopher Venning. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 October 1981 
 
Dull Sun, Polished Moon 
Cast Gary Cady, Ronald Herdman, Steve Hodson, Frank Ellis, Crawford Logan, John Livesey, Stephen Thorne, Hugh Dickson 
Directed by Christopher Venning. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 April 1982 
 
Fallen Leaves, Dead City 
Cast, Richard Pascoe, Gary Cady, Frances Jeater, Beth Porter, Aaron Swartz, Ronald Herdman, Nick Reding, James Bryce, Crawford Logan, Alex Jennings, Stuart Organ, 
Henry Stamper, Michael Spice, John Livesey 
Directed by Christopher Venning. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 February 1983 
 
Staying Still 
Cast Nigel Anthony, Hilary MacLean, Bob Docherty, David Bannerman, Pavel Douglas, Patricia Gallimore, Deborah Berlin, Cornelius Garrett, Tina Gray, Richard Fleming, Aled Jones, Rachel Oldfield, Anna Rose 
Directed by Shaun MacLoughlin. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 October 1994 
 
Compañeros 
Cast Derek Newark, Angharad Rees, Trevor Nichols, Colin Stinton, Stuart Milligan, Arturo Venegas, Francisco Morales, Alan Dudley, Michael Deacon 
Directed by Peter King. First broadcast BBC Radio 4,11 January 1988 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The BBC Radio epic full-cast saga

Tumanbay: The Complete Series 1-4

An engrossing, expansive historical fantasy drama, inspired by the Mamluk slave dynasty of Egypt 
 
Tumanbay: the wealthiest city on earth. The beating heart of a vast empire. A city of dreams, where those who once arrived as slaves now hold power, and merchants, artists and warriors live side-by-side in peace. But this magnificent city is under threat. A rebellion in a far-off province, led by 'Queen' Maya, is gathering strength - and a mysterious force is devouring the empire from within. 
 
Gregor, a merciless spymaster and Master of the Palace Guard, is charged by Sultan Al-Ghuri to crush the insurgence, as his brother General Qulan is dispatched to quell the provincial insurrection. But as well as rooting out traitors, Gregor must contend with his arch-rival, the cunning Grand Vizier, Cadali. Meanwhile, Heaven, the 14-year-old daughter of slave merchant Ibn, is adrift at sea, captive to an escaped slave on whom she depends for her survival. Madu, the Sultan's spoilt nephew, also has to grow up quickly as he swaps palace life for the army... 
 
As the wheel of fate turns, Tumanbay's fortunes suffer a terrible reversal. Beset by plague, assassins, invasion, occupation and revolution, the once-great city is riven by political intrigue and power struggles. As rulers are toppled and tyrants fall, who will survive and thrive - and who will die? 
 
A Game of Thrones-style epic with the sweep of The Arabian Nights, this compelling story of love, revenge, betrayal and deception won the Best Audio Serial Gold Award at the New York Radio Festival. Among the impressive ensemble cast are Rufus Wright, Olivia Popica, Matthew Marsh, Alexander Siddig, John Sessions, Hiran Abeysekera, Aiysha Hart, Anton Lesser, Tara Fitzgerald, Enzo Cilenti and Rob Jarvis. 
 
 
Production credits 
Created by John Scott Dryden and Mike Walker and inspired by the Mamluk slave rulers of Egypt 
Written by John Scott Dryden, Mike Walker and Mac Rogers 
Directed by John Scott Dryden 
Produced by Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan and John Scott Dryden 
Original music by Sacha Puttnam 
Additional music by Jon Ouin 
Sound Design: Steve Bond, Jon Ouin and Eloise Whitmore 
Sound Recording by Joe Richardson and Laurence Farr 
Sound Edited by James Morgan and Andrea Gomez 
Editors: Ania Przygoda and James Morgan 
A Goldhawk Production for BBC Radio 4 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

An engrossing, expansive historical fantasy drama, inspired by the Mamluk slave dynasty of Egypt 
 
Tumanbay: the wealthiest city on earth. The beating heart of a vast empire. A city of dreams, where those who once arrived as slaves now hold power, and merchants, artists and warriors live side-by-side in peace. But this magnificent city is under threat. A rebellion in a far-off province, led by 'Queen' Maya, is gathering strength - and a mysterious force is devouring the empire from within. 
 
Gregor, a merciless spymaster and Master of the Palace Guard, is charged by Sultan Al-Ghuri to crush the insurgence, as his brother General Qulan is dispatched to quell the provincial insurrection. But as well as rooting out traitors, Gregor must contend with his arch-rival, the cunning Grand Vizier, Cadali. Meanwhile, Heaven, the 14-year-old daughter of slave merchant Ibn, is adrift at sea, captive to an escaped slave on whom she depends for her survival. Madu, the Sultan's spoilt nephew, also has to grow up quickly as he swaps palace life for the army... 
 
As the wheel of fate turns, Tumanbay's fortunes suffer a terrible reversal. Beset by plague, assassins, invasion, occupation and revolution, the once-great city is riven by political intrigue and power struggles. As rulers are toppled and tyrants fall, who will survive and thrive - and who will die? 
 
A Game of Thrones-style epic with the sweep of The Arabian Nights, this compelling story of love, revenge, betrayal and deception won the Best Audio Serial Gold Award at the New York Radio Festival. Among the impressive ensemble cast are Rufus Wright, Olivia Popica, Matthew Marsh, Alexander Siddig, John Sessions, Hiran Abeysekera, Aiysha Hart, Anton Lesser, Tara Fitzgerald, Enzo Cilenti and Rob Jarvis. 
 
 
Production credits 
Created by John Scott Dryden and Mike Walker and inspired by the Mamluk slave rulers of Egypt 
Written by John Scott Dryden, Mike Walker and Mac Rogers 
Directed by John Scott Dryden 
Produced by Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan and John Scott Dryden 
Original music by Sacha Puttnam 
Additional music by Jon Ouin 
Sound Design: Steve Bond, Jon Ouin and Eloise Whitmore 
Sound Recording by Joe Richardson and Laurence Farr 
Sound Edited by James Morgan and Andrea Gomez 
Editors: Ania Przygoda and James Morgan 
A Goldhawk Production for BBC Radio 4 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast drama

Castle of the Hawk: An epic chronicle of the Habsburg dynasty

Mike Walker's thrilling saga of the Habsburg dynasty, who ruled most of Europe - and much of the New World - for almost 600 years 
 
For almost six centuries, the House of Habsburg was one of the most powerful royal families in Europe - and beyond. They established an empire that began with a castle on a crag, and ended up extending over four continents. In these riveting dramas, Mike Walker traces their rise and fall. 
 
Hawk Rising - Brugg, 1230. Summoned to Duke Rudolf of Habsburg's clifftop fortress to tutor his son, Albert, Turkish scholar Ibrahim finds himself accompanying the young man on a Prussian crusade. Rudolf is determined to become Holy Roman Emperor - but he needs the Pope's backing, and Alexander supports the expedition... Starring Philip Arditti as Ibrahim, Mark Lewis Jones as Rudolf and Kai Owen as Albert. 
 
Hawk Hunting - Enthroned as Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf battles to secure his dynasty. If Albert is to succeed him, various enemies must be removed from the scene, including his onetime ally King Ottokar of Bohemia. Meanwhile, Ibrahim is teaching philosophy to Albert's son, Frederick - and making secret deals. Starring Matthew Aubrey as Frederick and John Telfer as Ottokar. 
 
Hawk Wounded - Albert the One-Eyed of Habsburg has supplanted Norbert as Holy Roman Emperor: but Wenceslas is set on revenge. Disenchanted with Frederick, Albert places his trust in another Habsburg, John of Swabia - and Ibrahim confronts his nemesis. Starring Aled Pugh as John. 
 
Wallenstein - 1618. Wallenstein, a brilliant, rebellious Protestant mercenary, strives for advancement in the Holy Roman Empire's army. Guided by astute widow Katherina, he achieves fame and fortune. But this war wolf is hard to tame - can Katherina rein him in? Richard Harrington stars as Wallenstein, with Anamaria Marinca as Katherina. 
 
Redl - Vienna, 1913. Double agent Colonel Alfred Redl believes he is invincible: as unstoppable as the Habsburgs he purports to serve. A pioneer of modern surveillance techniques and a superb story-spinner, he is almost the perfect spy. But when this arch-traitor is himself betrayed, he falls - and the Empire falls with him... Starring Jonathan Forbes as Redl. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Mike Walker 
Directed by Alison Hindell and John Norton 
Sound design: Nigel Lewis 
A BBC Cymru Wales Production 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Mike Walker's thrilling saga of the Habsburg dynasty, who ruled most of Europe - and much of the New World - for almost 600 years 
 
For almost six centuries, the House of Habsburg was one of the most powerful royal families in Europe - and beyond. They established an empire that began with a castle on a crag, and ended up extending over four continents. In these riveting dramas, Mike Walker traces their rise and fall. 
 
Hawk Rising - Brugg, 1230. Summoned to Duke Rudolf of Habsburg's clifftop fortress to tutor his son, Albert, Turkish scholar Ibrahim finds himself accompanying the young man on a Prussian crusade. Rudolf is determined to become Holy Roman Emperor - but he needs the Pope's backing, and Alexander supports the expedition... Starring Philip Arditti as Ibrahim, Mark Lewis Jones as Rudolf and Kai Owen as Albert. 
 
Hawk Hunting - Enthroned as Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf battles to secure his dynasty. If Albert is to succeed him, various enemies must be removed from the scene, including his onetime ally King Ottokar of Bohemia. Meanwhile, Ibrahim is teaching philosophy to Albert's son, Frederick - and making secret deals. Starring Matthew Aubrey as Frederick and John Telfer as Ottokar. 
 
Hawk Wounded - Albert the One-Eyed of Habsburg has supplanted Norbert as Holy Roman Emperor: but Wenceslas is set on revenge. Disenchanted with Frederick, Albert places his trust in another Habsburg, John of Swabia - and Ibrahim confronts his nemesis. Starring Aled Pugh as John. 
 
Wallenstein - 1618. Wallenstein, a brilliant, rebellious Protestant mercenary, strives for advancement in the Holy Roman Empire's army. Guided by astute widow Katherina, he achieves fame and fortune. But this war wolf is hard to tame - can Katherina rein him in? Richard Harrington stars as Wallenstein, with Anamaria Marinca as Katherina. 
 
Redl - Vienna, 1913. Double agent Colonel Alfred Redl believes he is invincible: as unstoppable as the Habsburgs he purports to serve. A pioneer of modern surveillance techniques and a superb story-spinner, he is almost the perfect spy. But when this arch-traitor is himself betrayed, he falls - and the Empire falls with him... Starring Jonathan Forbes as Redl. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Mike Walker 
Directed by Alison Hindell and John Norton 
Sound design: Nigel Lewis 
A BBC Cymru Wales Production 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Including Nineteen Eighty-Four, Animal Farm and other dramas and readings

George Orwell: A BBC Radio Collection

A radio anthology of George Orwell’s finest novels, memoirs and essays, plus four biographical dramas

A radio anthology of George Orwell's finest novels, memoirs and essays, plus four biographical dramas and a bonus documentary, The Road to Nineteen Eighty-Four 
 
Visionary author and journalist George Orwell was the man behind two of the best-loved and most influential novels of the 20th century, Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm. This collection celebrating his life and work features dramatisations of both these classic books, with stellar casts including Christopher Eccleston, Pippa Nixon, Tim Pigott-Smith, Tamsin Greig and Nicky Henson. 
 
Also included is a drama based on his autobiographical account of the Spanish Civil War, Homage to Catalonia, starring Joseph Millson and Lyndsey Marshal. Four biographical radio plays by Mike Walker and Jonathan Holloway - Burma, Dreaming, Loving and Jura - explore further episodes in Orwell's fascinating life, showing the disconnection between the man who was Eric Blair and the writer who was George Orwell. 
 
Timeless examples of his essays and journalism are showcased here, including 'A Hanging', 'Confessions of a Book Reviewer', 'My Country Right or Left', 'Pleasure Spots' and 'As I Please' (all read by Clive Merrison), while Joseph Millson narrates Down and Out in Paris and London, Orwell's vivid memoir of his time living among the poor in Europe's two great cities. 
 
Finally, in The Road to Nineteen Eighty-Four, David Aaronovitch examines what led avowed socialist George Orwell to write a book beloved of the Right, revealing how the novel grew from a forgotten political world shaped by the atom bomb. 
 
George Orwell worked for BBC Radio from August 1941 to November 1943, and even went on air himself. Sadly, none of the programmes in which he took part survive - in those days, radio was essentially a live medium, and broadcasts were not recorded for posterity. But Orwell's connection to the BBC remains a fascinating part of its wartime history. 
 
©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

George Orwell (Author) 
George Orwell (1903–1950) is one of England's most famous writers and social commentators. He is the author of the classic political satire Animal Farm and the dystopian masterpiece Nineteen Eighty-Four. He is also well known for his essays and journalism, particularly his works covering his travels and his time fighting in the Spanish Civil War. His writing is celebrated for its piercing clarity, purpose and wit and his books continue to be bestsellers all over the world. 
 
Mike Walker (Author) 
Mike Walker is an award-winning dramatist, documentary writer and author. He has adapted many classic novels for BBC Radio 4, including War and Peace, On the Beach and A Tale of Two Cities, which won him the Bronze Sony Award for Best Drama in 2012. Among his original radio plays are Alpha - winner of the Sony Drama Award (World Service); its companion play Omega; Landfall, The Product and the Plantagenet series of historical dramas. He has also written several novels, including one for young adults, Bad Company.

A radio anthology of George Orwell's finest novels, memoirs and essays, plus four biographical dramas and a bonus documentary, The Road to Nineteen Eighty-Four 
 
Visionary author and journalist George Orwell was the man behind two of the best-loved and most influential novels of the 20th century, Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm. This collection celebrating his life and work features dramatisations of both these classic books, with stellar casts including Christopher Eccleston, Pippa Nixon, Tim Pigott-Smith, Tamsin Greig and Nicky Henson. 
 
Also included is a drama based on his autobiographical account of the Spanish Civil War, Homage to Catalonia, starring Joseph Millson and Lyndsey Marshal. Four biographical radio plays by Mike Walker and Jonathan Holloway - Burma, Dreaming, Loving and Jura - explore further episodes in Orwell's fascinating life, showing the disconnection between the man who was Eric Blair and the writer who was George Orwell. 
 
Timeless examples of his essays and journalism are showcased here, including 'A Hanging', 'Confessions of a Book Reviewer', 'My Country Right or Left', 'Pleasure Spots' and 'As I Please' (all read by Clive Merrison), while Joseph Millson narrates Down and Out in Paris and London, Orwell's vivid memoir of his time living among the poor in Europe's two great cities. 
 
Finally, in The Road to Nineteen Eighty-Four, David Aaronovitch examines what led avowed socialist George Orwell to write a book beloved of the Right, revealing how the novel grew from a forgotten political world shaped by the atom bomb. 
 
George Orwell worked for BBC Radio from August 1941 to November 1943, and even went on air himself. Sadly, none of the programmes in which he took part survive - in those days, radio was essentially a live medium, and broadcasts were not recorded for posterity. But Orwell's connection to the BBC remains a fascinating part of its wartime history. 
 
©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Caesar!

Nine BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas by Mike Walker, chronicling Rome’s greatest rulers

Nine BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas by Mike Walker, chronicling Rome’s greatest rulers 
 
Drawing on historical sources including Suetonius’s ‘Lives of the Caesars’, Mike Walker’s compelling drama cycle follows the story of the leaders of Rome, from Julius Caesar’s ascension to power to the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West in AD 475. 
 
Meeting at Formiae – Julius Caesar secretly seeks senate leaders Cicero and Cato’s support to shake up the rule of Rome. Stars David Troughton as Caesar, Anton Lesser as Cicero and Stephen Critchlow as Cato. 
 
The Arena – As Julius’s appointed heir, young Octavian uses his legendary political skills to outwit enemies and rule Rome. Starring Adam Levy as Octavian. 
 
Peeling Figs for Julius – His name is now a byword for depravity, but growing up in Tiberius’s court, how evil was Emperor Caligula? Stars David Tennant as Caligula and Neil Dudgeon as Cassius Chaerea. 
 
The Best of Mothers – The murderous tale of Emperor Nero and his interfering mother Agrippina. Jonathan Forbes stars as Nero, with Frances Barber as Agrippina the Younger. 
 
The Glass Ball Game – The story of Emperor Hadrian and his relationship with Antinous, who died in mysterious circumstances. Starring Jonathan Hyde as Hadrian and Andrew Garfield as Antinous. 
 
Citizens in a Great City– Young Commodus buckles under the expectations put upon him by his father, the philosopher/emperor Marcus Aurelius. And Septimus Severus is called on to save the Empire from anarchy. Jim Sturgess stars as Commodus, with Ronald Pickup as Marcus Aurelius and Ray Fearon as Septimus Severus. 
 
Empress in the West– As the Roman Empire begins to fall apart, Victoria Poppea sees an opportunity to wield the power that her gender has always denied her. Stars Barbara Flynn as Victoria and Sam Troughton as Victorinus. 
 
The Maker of All Things– Constantine and Crispus are father and son – but can this indivisible bond survive politics? Sam Dale stars as Constantine the Great, with Joseph Kloska as Crispus. 
 
Empire Without End– With the Empire in the West under attack from Attila the Hun’s forces, an unlikely coalition of kingmakers selects the last Roman emperor. Starring Tom Hiddleston as Romulus Augustus.

The Complete Series 1-2

Dickens Confidential

Charles Dickens was, for a time, editor of a daily newspaper. This series takes an imaginative look at how Dickens would have tackled bringing the news to the masses.

Mike Walker is an award-winning dramatist, documentary writer and author. He has adapted many classic novels for BBC Radio 4, including War and Peace, On the Beach and A Tale of Two Cities, which won him the Bronze Sony Award for Best Drama in 2012. Among his original radio plays are Alpha - winner of the Sony Drama Award (World Service); its companion play Omega; Landfall, The Product and the Plantagenet series of historical dramas. He has also written several novels, including one for young adults, Bad Company.

Charles Dickens was, for a time, editor of a daily newspaper. This series takes an imaginative look at how Dickens would have tackled bringing the news to the masses. 
 
We follow Dickens the editor as he contends with railway crashes, gory deaths in the River Thames, have his editorial judgement scrutinised, work with tyrannical landowners, enter the murky worlds of opium and prostitution, and most tragically of all, investigate a child's death. In he and his newspaper tackles financial plotting, encountering a young - and very secretive - Disraeli, and the prospect of war overseas. 
 
Originally broadcast in 2008 this complete BBC Radio collection stars Jamie Glover as Dickens in Series 1 and Dan Stevens as Dickens in Series 2. Also starring Jasmine Hyde, Eleanor Howell, Andrew Buchan, John Dougall, John Rowe and Gerard Murphy.

A BBC Radio 4 Drama

The Biggest Secret

A D-Day drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch

In the early hours of 5 June 1944, Captain Rob Collins, who is languishing in hospital, receives a call that will take him on a journey through England that will change his life. 
 
Mike Walker's play is an epic journey across England poised on the edge of a historical moment: D-Day. It is set on June 5th, the day before the invasion that will change the course of history - but an invasion only a very few know is about happen... 
 
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliet Stevenson, and Claudia Harrison. 
 
Credits 
Narrator...Juliet Stevenson 
Capt Collins...Benedict Cumberbatch 
Cpl Cunningham...Claudia Harrison 
Jack Harris...Danny Webb 
Gloria Harris...Kaye Wragge 
Ray Harris...Joseph Tremain 
Tim...Ben Tibber 
Gen Eisenhower...Colin Stinton 
Flt Lt Paul Parker...Bertie Carvel 
Lilly...Emily Chennery 
Eddie...Ricci Harnett 
Lancaster Skipper...Jamie Glover 
Lancaster Crew...Carl Prekopp/Simon Nehan 
Warders...Chris MacDonnell/John Rowe 
Rosie...Alice Hart 
Sea Captain...David Leonard 
1st Lieutenant RN...Andrew Mackintosh 
G.I....John Guerrasio 
Monty...Philip Fox 
Nursing Sister...Joanna McCallum 
 
Directed by Jeremy Howe 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 June 2004

The epic BBC Radio 4 Drama

The Stuarts

Mike Walker's epic chronicle of Britain's most mutable dynasty

Mike Walker (Author) Mike Walker is an award-winning dramatist, documentary writer and author. He has adapted many classic novels for BBC Radio 4, including War and Peace, On the Beach and A Tale of Two Cities, which won him the Bronze Sony Award for Best Drama in 2012. Among his original radio plays are Alpha - winner of the Sony Drama Award (World Service); its companion play Omega; Landfall, The Product and the Plantagenet series of historical dramas. He has also written several novels, including one for young adults, Bad Company. Anton Lesser (Reader) Anton Lesser is an Associate of the RSC and has appeared in many productions at the National Theatre including Private Lives and Wild Oats. Recent television credits include Charles Dickens, Perfect Strangers and The Project. Film credits include Charlotte Gray and Imagining Argentina.

Eleven BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas telling the stories of Mary Queen of Scots and the Stuart royals 
 
Under the Stuarts, Britain entered the modern world. But with great change came turmoil, and for 111 years, the Stuart monarchs faced dynastic struggles, religious conflict, the rise of parliamentary democracy – and civil war. These dramas chart that turbulent epoch through its royal family, from Mary, Queen of Scots to the ‘last Stuart’, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s daughter Charlotte. 
 
It Came In with a Lass – 1561. Arriving in mist-shrouded Scotland, Queen Mary must quickly distinguish her friends from her enemies. Starring Jeany Spark as Mary. 
 
To Make the Plough Go Before the Horse – James I’s life and reign told through his relationships, from his first love, Esme to his last favourite, George Villiers. Starring Bill Paterson as James I and VI. 
 
A World of Fools and Knaves – Henrietta Maria, Charles I's Catholic queen, watches her husband fail to keep hold of the reins of government. Starring Julian Rhind-Tutt as Charles I. 
 
This War Without an Enemy – Only on the morning of his execution can Charles I begin to understand the events that brought him to to the scaffold. Starring Julian Rhind-Tutt as Charles I. 
 
Charles II, Part One: Through the World in Various Fortune – When news of Oliver Cromwell's death reaches Brussels, the exiled Charles II plots his return. Starring Jamie Parker as Charles II. 
 
Charles II, Part Two: The Long Lease of Pleasant Days– Charles II plots to confound parliamentary reformers and secure the throne for his brother. Starring Pip Torrens as Charles II. 
 
James II: The Storms of this Deceitful World– 1688. After just four years as King, James II flees England in the Glorious Revolution. How did it all go so wrong? Starring James Fleet as James II. 
 
William III and Mary II: To Have and To Hold– Dutch William marries his Stuart cousin for reasons of politics, not passion – but their partnership proves crucial when it comes to ruling England. Starring Mark Edel-Hunt as William III and Elaine Cassidy as Mary. 
 
Queen Anne: Myself Alone– Queen Anne must abandon long-held allegiances to command parliament’s loyalty and rule with authority. Starring Fenella Woolgar as Queen Anne. 
 
Bonnie Prince Charlie: Who Dares to Be Free– Charles Edward Stuart, the ‘Young Pretender’, risks everything for the Stuart name. Starring Blake Ritson as Charles. 
 
Charlotte Stuart: The Last Stuart – Is Charlotte Stuart as driven as her predecessors, or the last victim of the Stuart curse? Starring Kate O’Flynn as Charlotte. 
 
Produced and directed by Jessica Dromgoole, Sasha Yevtushenko, Marc Beeby and Gemma Jenkins.

The complete BBC Radio 4 dramas

The Real George Orwell

A series of four BBC Radio full-cast dramas exploring the disjuncture between the man who was Eric Blair and the writer who was George Orwell.

A series of four BBC Radio full-cast dramas exploring the disjuncture between the man who was Eric Blair and the writer who was George Orwell. 
 
George Orwell - the pen name of Eric Blair - was a writer and political commentator who is very hard to pin down. He is a complex mass of confusions - an anti-establishment, pro-English, ex-Etonian, ex-policeman, and socialist, who was ardently anti-authoritarian. He was as anti-fascist as he was anti-communist, a former Spanish Civil War soldier who was anti-war but pro the Second World War. 
 
Burma: After an undistinguished academic career at Eton, Eric leaves in December 1921. When the girl he hopes to marry rejects him, he sets sail for Burma to join the colonial police. His experiences in Burma will affect him profoundly. When he rejects the Empire and returns to England, Blair begins to spend more and more time with the poor. 
 
Dreaming: In September 1938, Eric and Eileen Blair leave London for Marrakech. He is hoping that the climate will be good for his health, and that he will be able to complete his novel, Coming Up for Air. But the bruising reception he received following the publication of Homage to Catalonia is troubling Eric. And both Eric and Eileen are still feeling guilty about the fate of one of their Spanish Civil War comrades, Georges Kopp. 
 
Loving: Eric Blair's relationship with the opposite sex could be a distraught one; over the course of his lifetime, he made several awkward marriage proposals to different women. But his relationship with Eileen O'Shaugnessy, whom he married in 1935, had a huge influence both on his life and his writing. 
 
Jura: In 1947, the year after Eileen's death, Eric leaves London and moves to Jura in the Scottish Hebrides, with his sister Avril, and his three year old son. He is suffering from tuberculosis but is determined to try and make a go of living off the land. But most of all he is determined to finish Nineteen Eighty-Four, his final book. 
 
Cast: 
Eric Blair . . . Joseph Millson 
Eileen Blair… Lyndsey Marshall 
Jacintha Buddicom . . . Sophie Roberts 
Wilson . . . Joseph Kloska 
Inspector d'Souza . . . Ernest Ignatius 
Georges Kopp…Ewan Bailey 
Avril Blair…Liza Sadovy 
Ricky Blair…James Foster 
Other parts played by Armaan Kirmani, Derek Riddell, Alun Raglan, Paul Stonehouse, Ben Crowe, Will Howard, Alun Raglan, Alexandra Guelff, Lizzy Watts. 
 
Burma was written by Mike Walker and directed by Kate McAll. 
Dreaming was written by Mike Walker and directed by Jeremy Mortimer. 
Loving was written by Jonathan Holloway and directed by Kate McAll. 
Jura was written by Jonathan Holloway and directed by Jeremy Mortimer.

Eleven BBC Radio 4 dramas

Tsar: An epic chronicle of the Russian leaders

Eleven compelling BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas telling the stories of the Russian tsars

Mike Walker (Author) 
Mike Walker is an award-winning dramatist, documentary writer and author. He has adapted many classic novels for BBC Radio 4, including War and Peace, On the Beach and A Tale of Two Cities, which won him the Bronze Sony Award for Best Drama in 2012. Among his original radio plays are Alpha - winner of the Sony Drama Award (World Service); its companion play Omega; Landfall, The Product and the Plantagenet series of historical dramas. He has also written several novels, including one for young adults, Bad Company.

Eleven compelling BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas telling the stories of the Russian tsars 
 
Broadcast to mark the centenary of the Russian revolution, this extraordinary drama cycle by Mike Walker comprises eleven ambitious plays spanning over 400 years, exploring the lives of Russia’s key rulers from Ivan the Terrible to Vladimir Putin. 
 
Ivan the Terrible: Absolute Power - The rise and fearsome reign of the first Tsar of All Russia. Starring David Threlfall as Ivan IV. 
 
Boris Godunov: Ghosts - Did Boris Godunov have Ivan the Terrible's son killed? And what happened when the murdered boy came back from the dead - leading an army? Starring Shaun Dooley as Boris Godunov. 
 
Peter the Great: The Gamblers - Moscow, 1682 and two joint tsars rule: one, Ivan, is feeble-minded and the other is Peter, a child of ten years old. Starring Will Howard as Peter. 
 
Peter the Great: Queen of Spades - Distracted by his new capital, St Petersburg, and wife Catherine, Peter ignores his opponents: until his own son Alexei declares his colours. Starring Elliot Cowan as Peter. 
 
Catherine the Great: Husbands, Lovers and Sons - Did Catherine foresee the consequences of staging a coup d'état against her husband the Tsar? Or did she want him dead from the start? Starring Samantha Spiro as Catherine II. 
 
Alexander I: Into the Woods – The story of the reluctant Tsar who took on the greatest threat Russia had ever faced – Napoleon Bonaparte – and won. Starring Joel MacCormack as Alexander I. 
 
Alexander II: The People’s Will – Revolutionary terrorist cell The People’s Will is determined to assassinate the Tsar. But in the struggle between autocracy and socialism, there can be only one winner. Starring Joseph Millson as Alexander. 
 
Nikolai II: Three Hundred Years - In 1913, the Romanov dynasty celebrated three hundred years on the Russian throne. But a mere four years later, Tsar Nikolai II was forced to abdicate. Starring Raymond Coulthard as Nikolai II. 
 
Lenin: Tears – As the Soviet era begins, Lenin joins the provisional government, but soon becomes set on seizing complete power for his Bolsheviks. Starring Paul Ritter as Lenin. 
 
Joseph Stalin: The Last Bolshevik – In 1941, the Soviet Union was invaded by the Nazis – and Joseph Stalin retired to his dacha, seemingly defeated... Starring Brian McCardie as Stalin. 
 
The Shield and the Sword – Thirteen interconnected stories about the enigmatic Russian President, Vladimir Putin. Starring Nicholas Murchie as VV. 
 
Written by Mike Walker 
Produced and directed by Sasha Yevtushenko and Alison Hindell

Nine BBC Radio 4 dramas

Plantagenet: The epic chronicle of a dynasty

A series of original full-cast dramas by Mike Walker about the Plantagenet dynasty

Inspired by Holinshed's Chronicles, this series of radio dramas about the Plantagenet dynasty tells the story of the birth of a new Europe after the dark ages. The issues of control, of freedom, of belief, and the temptations of power were new to an age which had no template for domination on this scale. 
 
Henry II: What is a Man? - The first of the House of Anjou to be king of England, Henry II's long reign is beset by conflict with his sons. Starring David Warner as King Henry II and Jane Lapotaire as Queen Eleanor. 
 
Richard I: Lionheart - Prince Richard has become heir apparent, but in the face of Henry II's refusal to acknowledge his position, he turns to the Crusades. Starring Ed Stoppard as Richard. 
 
John, by the Grace of God - The fourth son of Henry II never expected to succeed to the English throne. When he does, he reveals a talent for making enemies. Starring Neil Stuke as King John. 
 
Edward I: Old Soldiers - Edward Longshanks - the Hammer of the Scots - was grief-stricken after the death of his first wife. But he finds new love with Margaret, sister of the French King. Philip Jackson as Edward I and Ellie Kendrick as Margaret. 
 
Edward II: The Greatest Traitor - While Edward's power is prey to his passions, his queen, Isabella, and his most powerful ally, Roger Mortimer, find a passion of their own. Starring Sam Troughton as Edward II. 
 
Richard II: And All Our Dreams Will End in Death – Richard II, having proved his mettle in quelling the Peasants' Revolt, disappoints his courtiers as he pursues peace and culture as an alternative to fighting and swiving. Starring Patrick Kennedy as Richard II. 
 
Henry V: True Believers - Young prince Hal will inherit an unstable throne, and a kingdom riven with heresy and rebellion. Victory over the rebel Hotspur will bring peace to England and glory to the king - but at what cost to the man? Starring Luke Treadaway as Hal. 
 
Henry VI: A Simple Man - The once-great England of Henry V is bankrupt and losing territory in France, but the weak, idealistic Henry VI is incapacitated by bouts of insanity. Queen Margaret is forced to take up arms to protect her royal line. Starring Al Weaver as Henry VI and Aimee Ffion Edwards as Margaret. 
 
Richard III: The Three Brothers: Edward IV manages to bring a modicum of stability to the kingdom of England, but discontent erupts into civil war after his death, and his brother Richard is forced to take drastic steps to uphold Plantagenet power. Starring Nancy Carroll as Queen Elizabeth, Simon Bubb as Edward IV and Carl Prekopp as Richard III. 
 
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer, Jessica Dromgoole and Sasha Yevtushenko.

Landfall (BBC Radio 4 The Saturday Play)

A BBC Radio 4 science fiction adventure by Mike Walker 
 
When five lost souls, recruited by a company to travel to an abandoned planet, all they know is that they are there to retrieve the only known sample of an ore left over from an old mining operation. However, their task becomes considerably more complicated when one of the five has a close encounter with the indigenous plant life which seems to have some very odd, very powerful properties. Soon they are battling not only to stay alive, but to hang on to the very things which make them all human. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Mike Walker. 
Directed by Marc Beeby. 
With sound design by Pete Ringrose and Colin Guthrie. 
 
Nicola Miles-Wilden as Cally 
Cyril Nri as Intaba 
Clare Perkins as Hudson 
Alex Tregear as JD 
Adeel Akhtar as Hussam 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 19 March 2011 
 
 
©2011 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2011 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Michele Hanson

Jenny Landreth

Sally Worboyes

Mike Walker

Wendy Lee

Janet Maw

Edna Dore

Luisa Bradshaw-White

Paola Dionisotti

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Comedy Drama

A light-hearted comedy drama about a mother, daughter and grandmother living together under one roof – based on the stories by Guardian columnist Michele Hanson What does it feel like to be middle-aged? For Gillian it feels like being twenty-seven in your own head, sixty-five in the mirror, ninety to your children and your mother still thinking you're twelve… 
 
Gillian lives with her 19-year-old daughter and 89-year-old mother, and life is a constant balancing act. Who is the chief dissenter among the three women who live noisily together under one roof: opinionated daughter, Chloe, very opinionated elderly mother Berenice, or the poor beleaguered Gillian in-between? Stuck in the middle, Gillian feels she must carry on being sensible, while everyone else - the young and the old - run amok. Her mother grumps about in the garden and her daughter sobs upstairs. She finds on these occasions that she tends to play football with the dog. For Gillian, living in a rather dramatic household, empty nest syndrome seems a delightful prospect… Cast and credits Written by Wendy Lee, Jenny Landreth, Sally Worboyes, Mike WalkerBased on stories by Michele HansonDirected by Cathryn Hor, Tabitha Potts, Marylin ImrieProduced by Marylin ImrieGillian - Paola Dionisotti (series 1-6), Janet Maw (series 7-10)Bernice - Edna DoreChole - Luisa Bradshaw-White Other parts played by John Rowe, Frances Jeater, Bruce Alexander, Angela Down, Ann Beach, Geoffrey Whitehead, Tilly Gaunt, Andrew Falvey, Ben Crowe, Tilly Vosburgh, Priyanga Elan, Giles Fagan, Irene Sutcliffe, Ann Beach, Harry Myers, Alison Pettitt, Sarah Jane Holm, Sean Maguire, Andrew Falvey, Iwan Thomas, Brian Parr, David Antrobus, First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15th - 19th Jun 1998 (series 1), 22nd - 27th Jun 1998 (series 2), 29th Jun - 3rd Jul 1998 (series 3), 6th - 10th Jul 1998 (series 4), 13th - 17th Jul 1998 (series 5), 20th - 24th Jul 1998 (series 6), 14th - 16th Dec 1998 (series 7), 21st - 25th Dec 1998 (series 8), 28th Dec 1998 - 1st Jan 1999 (series 9), 4th - 8th Jan 1999 (series 10).©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Mike Walker

Books by Mike Walker

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter