7 BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas

The Price of Oil

A collection of factual dramas exploring the history of oil - and the price we pay for it 
 
Ever since it was first drilled over 150 years ago, oil has been both a blessing and a curse. It has enabled economic growth; provided an efficient energy source; fuelled our entire infrastructure - and caused wars, pollution and global warming. These seven dramas, set between 1951 and 2045, and taking us from postwar Iran to futuristic Lancashire, examine the role oil has played in shaping our world: recounting incredible stories of wealth, power, politics and corruption. 
 
Stand Firm, You Cads! By Jonathan Myerson tells the colourful tale of how Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh took back the nation's oil from the British, and the chaos and conflict that followed. In Looking for Billy by Nigel Williams, a private detective investigates protests against an Alaskan pipeline - and finds out what oil did to the indigenous Inupiat people. The Weapon, by Jonathan Myerson, is a tense, thrilling dramatisation of the 1973 OPEC siege, while Baby Oil, also written by Myerson, is based on real events in the propaganda campaign at the outbreak of the First Gulf War. 
 
In Someone's Making a Killing in Nigeria by Rex Obano, a local businesswoman is caught up in the violent consequences of the Ogoni people's campaign against the oil industry. No Two Days by Joy Wilkinson is a mesmerising maze of stories about risk, passion and deep-sea oil, centred around an ambitious journalist's attempts to investigate the 2010 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion. And in Tamsin Ogleby's future oil comedy Blood from Stone, a father-and-son energy company struggles with the new economics of the oil market. Is Ralph right about getting out for good? Is his dad Charlie more addict than businessman? And will we ever be able to give up oil? 
 
Anna Maxwell Martin, Raad Rawi, Jemma Redgrave, Paul Ritter, Nicholas Le Prevost , James McArdle, Nadine Marshall, Faye Marsay, Obi Abili, David Ajala, Jude Akuwudike, and Alun Armstrong are among the casts in these enthralling dramas. Also included are two short clips in which Nicolas Kent discusses the difference between directing for radio and stage, and explains his inspiration for The Price of Oil. 
 
Production credits 
Devised by Nicolas Kent, with Jack Bradley and Jonathan Myerson 
Produced by Jonquil Panting 
 
Listening Order 
 
Stand Firm, You Cads! 
Written by Jonathan Myerson. Directed by Nicolas Kent. Pianist: Laurie O'Brien 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 September 2015 
 
Looking for Billy 
Written by Nigel Williams. Directed by Nicolas Kent. Inupiat translations provided by Chelsey Zibell 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 September 2015 
 
The Weapon 
Written by Jonathan Myerson. Directed by Jonquil Panting 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 September 2015 
 
Baby Oil 
Written by Jonathan Myerson. Directed by Nicolas Kent 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 September 2015 
 
Someone's Making a Killing in Nigeria 
Written by Rex Obano. Directed by Jonquil Panting 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 October 2015 
 
No Two Days 
Written by Joy Wilkinson. Directed by Nicolas Kent 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 October 2015 
 
Blood from Stone 
Written by Tamsin Oglesby. Directed by Jonquil Panting 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 October 2015 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Jonathan Meyerson

Stephen Mangan

Sheila Reid

Annabel Scholey

Will Keen

Liz White

Rosemary Leach

Crawford Logan

Rebecca Johnson

Anna Madeley

Robin Soans

John Dougall

Sam Dale

Anthony Glennon

Geoffrey Beevers

Full Cast

Two Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramas

Jonathan Myerson, a celebrated TV and radio dramatist known for his works such as "The Republicans" and "Nuremberg" and "That Was Then," adds another feather to his cap with the series A Harlot’s Progress and its sequel Marriage a la Mode. A Harlot’s Progress, based on William Hogarth's iconic series of paintings, humorously fleshes out the tale of Moll Hackabout, a country girl who meets her downfall in the streets of London. 
 
Series 1 begins one day in 1732, an impoverished portraitist abandons his classical training and sets out to paint the wicked tale of a country girl's downfall on the streets of London. It's a story which will lead him and his imaginary heroine, Moll Hackabout, to very different ends. 
 
William Hogarth: Will Keen 
Jean: Shella Reid 
Moll: Liz White 
London girl: Amelia Lowdell 
London girl: Annabel Scholey 
Mrs Needham: Rosemary Leach 
Charteris: Crawford Logan 
Gourlay: Gerard McDermott 
Wagondriver: Stephen Critchlow 
Giuseppe: Paul Reynolds 
Solomon: Nickolas Grace 
Bess: Amelda Brown 
James: Ben Crowe 
Dr Rock: Ben Crowe 
Client: Geoffrey Beevers 
Joshua: Geoffrey Beevers 
 
 
Series 2 - Marriage a la Mode, is a continuation of Hogarth's narrative exploring the complexities of a marriage forged in the financial world. Both series brilliantly bring to life the stories within and behind Hogarth's famous engravings, combining historical insight with comedic flair. 
 
William Hogarth: Will Keen 
Jane Hogarth: Rebecca Johnson 
Charles: Stephen Mangan 
Emily Grubpump (Later Countess Squander): Anna Madeley 
Grubpump: Robin Soans 
Sylvester Silvertongue/ Sir Andrew: John Dougall 
Old Squander: Sam Dale 
Misaubin: Sam Dale 
Mrs Wisebourne: Nichola McAulffle 
Tyers: Anthony Glennon 
Clarissa: Poppy Friar 
Missus: Rachel Bavidge 
Steward: Mark Straker 
Simmy: Jasmine Callan 
Little William: Jordan Clarke

Jonathan Meyerson

Books by Jonathan Meyerson

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