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A A Gill

Andrew Swanston read law at Cambridge, but was inspired to write by his lifelong interest in early modern history. His Thomas Hill novels – The King’s Spy, The King’s Exile and The King’s Return – are set against the backdrops of the English Civil War, Cromwell’s Commonwealth and the early Restoration respectively. He is also the author of Waterloo: The Bravest Man and Beautiful Star and Other Stories. His first historical thriller set during the reign of Elizabeth I – Incendium (published in paperback as The Incendium Plot) – introduced readers to the academic, lawyer and intelligencer Dr Christopher Radcliff, whose adventures continue in Chaos. Andrew Swanston lives in Surrey.

A D Swanston

A E Langsford

A G Hopkins

A. J. BAIME is the New York Times best-selling author of The Arsenal of Democracy: FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War and Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans. Both books are in development for major motion pictures. Baime is a longtime regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Popular Science, and Men’s Journal. He lives in Granite Bay, California. Visit him at facebook.com/ajbaime and trumanbook.com.

A J Baime

A J Jacobs

A J P Taylor

Anthony James Pollard is a British medieval historian, specialising in the fifteenth century and in particular the Wars of the Roses. A leading authority in the field, he is profesor emeritus of Teesside University. His books include North-Eastern England during the Wars of the Roses, Richard III and the Princes in theTower, Imagining Robin Hood: the Late Medieval Stories in Historical Context and Warwick the kingmaker: Politics, Power and Fame.

A J Pollard

A J Rochester

A K Benjamin is a clinical neuropsychologist and the author of Let Me Not Be Mad: A Story of Unravelling Minds.

A K Benjamin

A. L. Berridge read English at Oxford, and taught for ten years before moving into television, where her production credits range from period drama and thrillers to long-running soaps. She has written two previous novels, Top Ten besteller Honour and the Sword and In the Name of the King. Into the Valley of Death is her third novel.

A L Berridge

Alison Gaylin's first job was as a reporter for a celebrity tabloid, which sparked a lifelong interest in writing about people committing despicable acts. More than a decade later, she wrote and published her Edgar-nominated first novel, HIDE YOUR EYES. 
 
She's since published nine more books, including the USA Today and international bestselling Brenna Spector suspense series, which has been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony and Thriller awards and won the Shamus award. 
 
She lives in upstate New York with her husband, daughter, cat and dog.

A L Gaylin

A Maxwell-Hyslop

A McArthur

A P Wavell

A.S. Webb is the Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter of Chaos, the first instalment of The Dark Pantheon Trilogy. She is inspired by stories rooted in history and mythology, that push the boundaries of imagination and urge us to reflect on what it means to be human.

A S Webb

A. A. Dhand is the author of six previous novels, and has been shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger Award. His DI Harry Virdee novels are currently being adapted for TV by the BBC. He was raised in Bradford and spent his youth observing the city from behind the counter of a small convenience store. After qualifying as a pharmacist, he worked in London and travelled extensively before returning to Bradford to start his own business and begin writing. The history, diversity and darkness of the city have inspired all his novels. For more information about A. A. Dhand and his books, follow him on X @aadhand, and on Instagram @aa_dhand.

A. A. Dhand

A. A. Gill

A. A. Milne

A. Anatoli

A. B. Poranek grew up sharing her time between Ontario, Canada and rural Poland, and eventually completed a veterinary degree at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. A lover of mythology and history, she enjoys exploring both in her writing. Her debut novel, Where the Dark Stands Still, an instant New York Times bestseller, is an ode to Poland's folktales, while A Treachery of Swans transports readers to a world inspired by 17th century France.

A. B. Poranek

A. Bradley

Professor A. C. Grayling is Principal of the New College of the Humanities at Northeastern University, London, and a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford. He has written and edited over thirty books on philosophy, history, science and current affairs. For several years he wrote columns for the Guardian newspaper and The Times and was the chairman of the 2014 Man Booker Prize.

A. C. Grayling

A.D. Miller is the author of Snowdrops, The Earl of Petticoat Lane and The Faithful Couple. Snowdrops was a bestseller and was shortlisted for many prizes including the Man Booker and the CWA Gold Dagger. It was translated into 25 languages. As Moscow Correspondent of The Economist A.D. Miller has travelled across the former Soviet Union and covered the Orange Revolution in Ukraine; he is now the magazine’s Culture Editor based in London. 
 
admillerbooks.com

A. D. Miller

A. E. Ellis

A. E. W. Mason

A. Humphreys

A. Igoni Barrett was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in 1979 and lives in Lagos. He is a winner of the 2005 BBC World Service short story competition, the recipient of a Chinua Achebe Center Fellowship, a Norman Mailer Center Fellowship, and a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Residency. His short story collection, Love is Power, or Something Like That, was published in 2013. In 2014 he was named on the Africa39 list of sub-Saharan African writers under 40. Blackass is his first novel.

A. Igoni Barrett

The short life of A.J.A. Symons (1900-41) was described by his biographer as an intricate and largely harmless confidence trick. His many interests included the collection of musical boxes and rare books as well as the study and practice of forgery; they left him time to edit an anthology of Edwardian verse and compose studies of H.M. Stanley and other notable figures. He is remembered for The Quest for Corvo, one of the most remarkable biographies ever written, and for co-founding the Wine and Food Society.

A. J. A. Symons

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Ian Rankin

Alexander Morton stars as the roguish detective Mr Cullender in two original radio dramas by Ian Rankin, and as Inspector Rebus in Let it Bleed – plus a selection of original stories 
 
Best known for his Inspector Rebus novels, Sir Ian Rankin is one of Britain’s most successful and acclaimed crime writers. He has won numerous awards, including the CWA Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement, and in 2023 he received a knighthood for services to literature and charity. 
 
He has also written extensively for BBC Radio, including two feature-length, full-cast period dramas set in Edinburgh in the 1790s, introducing the resourceful if low-born Mr Cullender (‘Cully’) – caddie, manservant and general dogsbody. This collection opens with those stories, in which the enterprising detective, played by Alexander Morton, goes in search of a double murderer (The Serpent’s Back) and investigates a series of ritualistic wine-cellar killings (The Third Gentleman). 
 
Next, Let it Bleed sees Morton starring as Detective Inspector John Rebus in the very first BBC Radio Rebus adaptation, in which the maverick cop probes political corruption and insider dealing – and uncovers the dark underbelly of 1990s Scotland. Among the supporting cast are James Bryce as DI Flower, Sarah Collier as DCI Gill Templer and Crawford Logan as Chief Superintendent Watson. 
 
Specially written for Radio 4, the gripping crime serial The Deathwatch Journal, read by Jimmy Chisholm, takes place inside an Edinburgh prison in 1962, where jailer Thomas Scott is watching over a condemned man sentenced to hang for the murder of his wife. But as they wait out the days until his execution, Scott begins to suspect that Telfer is innocent… 
 
Also included are eight of Ian Rankin’s short stories – some original tales commissioned for radio, others recorded from his collection Beggars Banquet: ‘The Only True Comedian’ (read by Steven McNicoll), ‘The Confession’ (read by Alec Heggie), ‘Unlucky in Love, Unlucky at Cards’ (read by Billy Riddoch), ‘A Deep Hole’ (read by Steven McNicoll), ‘Step Right Up’ (read by Dominic Cooper), ‘Facing the Music’ (read by James MacPherson), ‘Herbert in Motion’ (read by James Bryce) and ‘The Hanged Man’ (read by Steven McNicoll). Ranging from the comic to the macabre, they feature hit men, con men, comedians, a private eye, a road digger, an art curator, a serial killer – and Edinburgh’s very own John Rebus. 
 
 
Contents 
 
The Serpent’s Back 
The Third Gentleman 
Let it Bleed 
The Deathwatch Journal 
‘The Only True Comedian’ 
‘The Confession’ 
‘Unlucky at Love, Unlucky at Cards’ 
‘A Deep Hole’ 
‘Step Right Up’ 
‘Facing the Music’ 
‘Herbert in Motion’ 
‘The Hanged Man’ 
 
Copyright © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Cully & more

A BBC Radio Collection

John Dickson Carr

Four full-cast stories of suspense from the creator of Dr Gideon Fell 
 
The master of the ‘impossible crime’ novel, American author John Dickson Carr was renowned for his Golden Age detective stories featuring the eccentric genius Dr Gideon Fell. This collection brings together four of his captivating radio plays, including a time-slip murder mystery, a chilling supernatural tale, a menacing story of blackmail and retribution, and a life-or-death case for Dr Fell... 
 
Fire, Burn! – On a foggy night in 1960s London, Superintendent John Cheviot boards a taxi to Scotland Yard. But when he alights at his destination, the taxi is now a horse-drawn cab and the year is 1829... Pulled out of his own time, Cheviot finds himself investigating a seemingly inexplicable Regency murder – but can he avoid being framed? Starring Michael Denison, Rachel Gurney, Marjorie Westbury and John Westbrook. 
 
Blind Man’s Hood – Visiting their friends’ house on Christmas Eve, the Hunters are surprised to find the place deserted but for a mysterious young woman, who invites them in. As they sit by the fire, she proceeds to tell them the chilling tale of an unsolved Victorian murder, a sinister party game, and a spurned lover who wreaks a terrible revenge… Terrence Hardiman, Denys Hawthorne and Jill Bennett star in this eerie ghost story. 
 
The Speaking Clock – When Judith Ray and Ronald Gilbert arrive in a dimly lit antiques shop to confront their blackmailer, Charles Markham, they face a double surprise – and soon, events take an unexpected and dramatic turn... First broadcast in 1944 as part of the vintage horror series Appointment with Fear, this macabre tale stars Esme Percy, Belle Chrystall and John Dodsworth. 
 
The Clock Strikes Eight – A woman suffering from amnesia wakes in the middle of the night to find herself in an unfamiliar room, with no idea how she got there. To her horror, she is told that she is in a prison cell tor killing her lover – and that the hangman’s noose awaits her in the morning… Dr Fell is convinced of Helen Barton’s innocence – but can he uncover the truth in time to save her? Another classic 1944 episode from Appointment with Fear, starring Richard George and Grizelda Harvey. 
 
NB: Due to the age of these recordings, the sound quality may vary 
 
First published 1937 (Blind Man’s Hood), 1944 (‘The Speaking Clock’, ‘The Clock Strikes Eight’) 1957 (Fire, Burn!) 
 
© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Fire, Burn! & other mysteries

Four Full-Cast Vintage BBC Radio Dramatisations

James Swallow

A thrilling full-cast adaptation bringing Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell universe to life 
 
Veteran Fourth Echelon agent Sam Fisher has a new mission recruiting and training the next generation of Splinter Cell operatives for the National Security Agency's covert action division. But when a lethal assassin from Fisher's past returns from the dead on a mission of murder, he is thrust into a race against time as a sinister threat to global security is revealed. With his daughter Sarah signed up as his newest recruit, Sam Fisher has everything to lose in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The father and daughter duo must work together to stop a deadly villain from executing a horrific plan. 
 
In this fast-paced and thrilling listen both Sam and Sarah are forced to face their past. Can Sarah steel herself to take a life? And will Sam finally come face-to-face with his old nemesis Dima Aslanov? 
 
Number one best-selling thriller writer Tom Clancy is best-known for his spy thrillers set during the Cold War. The Hunt for the Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger and the Jack Ryan novels have all been turned into popular films and TV shows. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell is a series of action-adventure video games with accompanying novels, on which this stunning radio production is based. Starring Andonis Anthony (The Archers, Emmerdale), Daisy Head (Guilt, The Syndicate), Will Poulter (Black Mirror, Guardians of the Galaxy), Sacha Dhawan (Doctor Who), Nikesh Patel (Starstruck) this is an all-star production not to be missed. 
 
This immersive, action-packed thriller is recorded in 3D binaural audio. For the surround-sound experience please listen on headphones. 
 
Written by James Swallow 
Adapted by Sebastian Baczkiewicz 
Directed by Nadia Molinari, Lorna Newman and Jessica Mitic 
Produced by Lorna Newman, Jessica Mitic, Nadia Molinari 
Sound design by Sharon Hughes and Steve Brooke 
 
Cast 
Sam Fisher - Andonis Anthony 
Sarah Fisher - Daisy Head 
Anna Grímsdóttir - Rosalie Craig 
Charlie Cole - Sacha Dhawan 
Brody Teague - Will Poulter 
Samir Patel - Nikesh Patel 
Stone - Mihai Arsene 
Eighteen - Olga Fedori 
Jan Freling/Kathy - Rina Mahoney 
Buzzard - Tijan Sarr 
Gator/Gary Borden - Tom Kiteley 
Train Guard/Operator/Policeman - Joe Belham 
Andriy Kobin/Chef Jean Claude - Riad Richie 
Nabil - Ali Gadema 
Delim - Lloyd Thomas 
First Pilot /Guard/LeBeau - David Hounslow 
Second Pilot/Guard/Reporter/Bray/Killer - Roger Ringrose 
Portuguese announcer - Charis Jardim-Hinds 
 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2nd December - 20th January 2023 
 
©2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Firewall

A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation

R.D Wingfield

A collection of vintage thrillers from popular crime writer RD Wingfield 
 
Well known as the creator of Inspector Jack Frost, RD Wingfield scripted numerous twisty, suspenseful dramas for BBC Radio between 1968 and 1995. Many of the thirteen tales in this collection were originally thought to be lost, but thanks to the diligent efforts of Keith Wickham and the Radio Circle, who tracked down the missing audio, they are once again available to enjoy. 
 
In Cat and Mouse Game, a wealthy woman goes missing, and her husband is suspected of murder. Ambitious security officer Hastler has a lot to lose when a surveillance operation goes wrong in Saturday Roster, and in Nightmare, a killer has escaped from a psychiatric ward and may be returning to the scene of his crime. Blood Money finds a branch manager forced to deal with a ransom demand, while Better Never than Late features a policeman on the brink of retirement determined to crack an unsolved kidnapping case. 
 
Warring colleagues Davenport and Desmond discover the advantages of working together in Compensating Error, and in Slow Fuze, an unexploded bomb proves to be a golden opportunity for Major Derry. The Tenth Anniversary concerns the strange disappearance of a detective inspector exactly a decade after the famous Monkstead murders, Death of the Insured sees a terminally ill private eye hired to find an errant husband, and Balance Brought Forward and The Night They Deliver The Money both focus on bank directors faced with potential disaster. Smiling and Beautiful Death, meanwhile, centres around a concussed motorist, a mysterious midnight funeral and a village full of sinister locals… 
 
Capping off our collection is the six-part serial The Killing Season, written under the pseudonym Arthur Jefferson and set in a sleepy town experiencing an unprecedented Christmas crime wave. Among the casts of these intriguing dramas are Nigel Havers, Frances Jeater, Leslie Sands, Garard Green, Deryck Guyler and Andrew Sachs. 
 
With warm thanks to Keith Wickham and the Radio Circle 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by RD Wingfield 
 
Contents 
 
Cat and Mouse Game 
Saturday Roster 
Nightmare 
Blood Money 
Better Never Than Late 
Compensating Error 
Slow Fuze 
The Tenth Anniversary 
Death of the Insured 
Balance Brought Forward 
The Night They Deliver the Money 
Smiling and Beautiful Death 
The Killing Season 
Written by Arthur Jefferson (pseudonym of R.D Wingfield) 
 
© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

R.D Wingfield: Nightmare and Other Thrillers

13 Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramas

Tim Jackson

A full-cast environmental mystery set against the evocative backdrop of the Norfolk fens 
 
Mist rising over the fens. The haunting cry of the nesting bittern. But not everything is as pristine as it appears to be. The protection of nature and the pursuit of progress collide in this thrilling, full-cast, environmental drama. 
 
When Laura McLaren lands a much-needed job with the Environment Agency in Norfolk, her principal concern is the distance it involves from her fiancé Dean. But things soon change when Dean joins a development company, and Laura finds herself trying to help a young girl suffering from a mystery illness. As she seeks to unravel the source of a contamination in a local water supply, Laura quickly discovers greater distances, deeper mysteries, and concerns she had only previously dreamed about. Will the conflict between her career and her relationship with Dean change their lives irrevocably? And what can be done ensure the protection of the delicate eco-system of the fens in the face of relentless progress? 
 
Commissioned for Radio 4 by former Archers’ producer Vanessa Whitburn, this is a gripping full-cast dramatisation by author, playwright and economist Tim Jackson. Since 2016 Jackson has been Director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP), which aims to understand the economic, social and political dimensions of sustainable prosperity. His ground-breaking book Prosperity without Growth has been translated into twenty foreign languages and was named as a Financial Times ‘book of the year’ in 2010 and UnHerd’s economics book of the decade in 2019. 
 
Starring Rachel Atkins, Ian Pepperell, and Sean Baker, this series won the Public Awareness of Science (PAWS) Drama Fund award in 1997. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Tim Jackson 
Directed by Peter Leslie Wild and Vanessa Whitburn 
Music by Malcom McKee performed by Paul Arden Taylor 
 
Laura McLaren - Rachel Atkins 
Dean Finch - Ian Pepperell 
Alice Tibbett - Lesley Carvello 
Tom Tibett - Terry Molloy 
Alex Sawyer - Sean Baker 
Other parts played by Helen Palmer, Peter Tuddenham, Kelly Hunter, Tina Gray, Eric Allan, David Holt, Bella Hamblin, Joe Crowley, Marian Kemmer, Norman Bird, Use Stuart, Daphne Neville, Martin Cookson, Sunny Ormonde, Graham Padden, Peter Gunn, Ian Brooker and James Thackwray 
 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15th February - 26th March 1999 
 
©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Cry of the Bittern

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Drama

Philip Levene

A collection of intriguing thrillers by Philip Levene 
 
Philip Levene was a prolific radio dramatist who also penned 19 episodes of ITV’s The Avengers, which won him a Writers’ Guild Award. While many of his works have unfortunately been lost, this collection of surviving recordings showcases his exceptional talent. Produced between 1957 and 1973 and arranged in chronological order, they range from murder mysteries to psychological dramas with unexpected twists and turns, and feature full casts including Rolf Levebvre, Timothy West, Joan Sanderson, Frederick Treves, Betty Huntley-Wright, Margot Boyd and Eileen Derbyshire. 
 
Suspicious Mind centres on a thriller-loving old lady with a vivid imagination; while in Torment, a troubled young student claims to have committed a murder. Did it really happen, or is he just fantasising? In False Witness, a chip-shop owner finds that a murder case hangs on his identification of the perpetrator, and in Trump Card, an unhappy husband becomes infatuated with the maid and decides to take action. Murder in Mind finds beekeeper Herbert determined to stop his wife from selling their house, The Nightwatchman revolves around a mystery man admitted to hospital following an accident at a frozen food company, and The Ears of Dr Jeremy features a sharp-eared doctor who becomes concerned about the strange sounds emanating from a patient. 
 
A sensitive composer is forced to commit a terrible act in The Invader, and in Cold Storage, a man is accidentally locked in a cold store – and finds his imagination running wild. Obsessed with his prize-winning lawn, a retired stockbroker’s pride turns to paranoia in The Velvet Carpet, and in The Birthday Present, an antique paperweight sparks disturbing thoughts in the mind of a psychologist. A lecturer is murdered at a police training college in Murder is My Subject. All the witnesses are professionals – but so are all the suspects… Question of Guilt finds Peter Harris in prison for killing his landlady, but he swears he’s innocent. If he didn’t do it, who did? Three people whose close relatives had met with accidental death attend a séance in Murder Beyond. When a murder occurs, suspicion falls on each of them. And in Guardian Angel, ex-prisoner Ernie applies for a job as a security guard. Will it be his lucky day? 
 
With thanks to Keith Wickham of the Radio Circle for supplying the audio recordings. 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Murder is My Subject & other thrillers

15 Full-Cast Vintage BBC Radio Dramas

Jill Hyem

Eddie Maguire

Dawn Pavitt

Terry Wale

Andrew Sachs

Arnold Yarrow

Who is behind the mysterious advert reading ‘Wife available – what offers?’ 
 
What prompted a ‘third girl’ to suddenly pack her bags and leave her flatshare? 
 
And when a newly married couple’s honeymoon period comes to an abrupt end, is the wedding dress to blame? 
 
Conceived by respected writer Philip Levene, whose writing credits include 19 episodes of ITV’s The Avengers, these ten full-cast dramas read between the lines of newspaper personal ads to tell captivating tales of the human condition – each with an unexpected twist. 
 
The stories range from a rookie blackmailer who learns the pitfalls of the business and a husband and wife who get more than they bargain for when they try to sell some old jewellery, to a lonely librarian who hires a personal escort for an important date and a dodgy insurance broker who takes drastic measures to try and avoid exposure. 
 
Written by esteemed TV scriptwriters and starring a host of well-known names including Carole Boyd, Bernard Horsfall, Anne Stallybrass, George Cole and Wendy Craig, this entertaining and varied anthology is a treasure trove from the golden age of radio. 
 
This series of vintage radio plays was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme, 20 March – 25 September 1967. 
 
Episodes:Findings Keepings by Philip LeveneEvening Out by Jill HyemNo Square Deal by Eddie MaguireThird Girl Wanted by Jill HyemOff to a Good Start by Dawn Pavitt & Terry WaleWhat Am I Bid? by Eddie MaguireHome and Away by Dawn Pavitt & Terry WaleTime for a Coat by Andrew SachsThis Column Every Friday by Arnold YarrowThe Companion by Philip Levene 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Personal Column

10 Full-Cast Vintage BBC Radio Dramas

Jane Harris

Full-cast adaptations of two of Jane Harris’s gripping novels - plus an interview with the author 
 
Listen now to these two stunning, suspenseful historical dramas, performed by a full cast and based on the novels by best-selling author, Jane Harris. 
 
The Observations transports listeners to Scotland, 1863. A young Irish girl, Bessy Buckley, escapes her former life as a prostitute when she's hired as a maid in a big house near Edinburgh. But her new employer, Arabella, has secrets of her own. She encourages Bessy to write her thoughts and experiences in a journal, and subjects her to odd experiments. Bessy quickly grows attached to her mistress but things change when Bessy discovers Arabella has been writing a book, ‘The Observations’, a study of the ‘habits and nature of the Domestic Class’. Bessy is incensed, and concocts an act of revenge… Starring Lucy Paterson and Candida Benson (The Crown). 
 
In Gillespie and I, it’s 1888 and Harriet Baxter, an art-loving Englishwoman, arrives in Glasgow for the city's International Exhibition. She meets the Scottish painter, Ned Gillespie, and his wife, Annie - but tragedy is about to strike the Gillespies. A chilling listen, involving anonymous letters, sleazy journalism and a notorious court case. This gripping story is performed by a full cast including Phyllis Logan (Downtown Abbey), Kate Dickie (Game of Thrones) and Liam Brennan. 
 
Also included here is an interview with Jane Harris from Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, in which she discusses Gillespie and I. 
 
Jane Harris is a best-selling writer whose novels have been published in over 20 countries worldwide and translated into many different languages. In 2007 The Observations was short-listed for the Orange Prize for Fiction. Harris was nominated for the British Book Awards Newcomer of the Year and the Southbank Show/Times Breakthrough Award the same year. Gillespie and I was longlisted for the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction. 
 
©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Observations & Gillespie and I

Two Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

Rod Beacham

A collection of seven ingenious full-cast thrillers and crime dramas by Rod Beacham 
 
Actor, dramatist and founding member of Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre, Rod Beacham wrote over 15 plays for BBC Radio. This collection comprises seven crime dramas first broadcast on Radio 4’s ‘Saturday Night Theatre’ strand between 1980 and 1987, ranging in tone from tense whodunnits to light-hearted comedy thrillers. 
 
The Inter-City Contract – A chess-playing Hungarian, a concert harpist and a septuagenarian lady mountaineer are just some of the passengers on the overnight express to Edinburgh. Lurking amongst them is a hired assassin and his intended victim… Michael Maloney, Melinda Walker and Steve Hodson star in this gripping mystery set on a sleeper train. 
 
The Gortys Triangle – Crete is the setting for this suspenseful drama, which revolves around a young man’s death by drowning. Attempting to uncover the truth, his archaeologist cousin navigates the world of the super-rich and meets the mysterious Candy, who appears to be the key to it all. Starring Patrick Mower and David March. 
 
Thanks for Looking After Jeannie – When Dicky Doyle drops dead in Wormwood Scrubs, he takes the hiding place of some stolen jewels to his grave. Or does he? Criminal mastermind Jack Prince thinks otherwise – and this spells trouble... Peter Vaughan stars in this entertaining comedy thriller. 
 
Prince of Thieves – This sequel to the previous play finds arch-villain Jack Prince planning a gold bullion heist. But it’s not until he meets nutty computer expert Mad Doc Pargeter that he sees a way to break through the vault’s electronic doors… Starring Peter Vaughan, Bryan Pringle and June Tobin. 
 
Go Down in Darkness– Susan Penreith walked out of university in her second year, and has since vanished. She was always convinced that something terrible would happen to her when she was 25 – but what was she so afraid of, and why is her ex-boyfriend Matt suddenly having terrifying dreams about her? Steve Hodson, Frances Jeater and Glynis Brooks star in this eerie thriller. 
 
Disconnection – Peter Taylor has worked hard all his life for achievement and success, and now it finally seems within his grasp. Only then he makes a phone call – and the voice on the other end fills him with apprehension and terror… Starring David Daker. 
 
The Hubris File – Senior civil servant Pargeter is missing, and the only clues to the mystery lie in his diary. It reveals that he was under increasing strain – and that he was on the trail of a traitor within the ranks of the Intelligence Department. Could this double agent be responsible for his disappearance? Geoffrey Collins stars in this absorbing tale. 
 
 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Inter-City Contract & more

Seven Full-Cast BBC Radio Crime Dramas

Avie Luthra

Gary Brown

Jon Sen

Mike Harris

Newly-elected MP Bobby Khan navigating the corruption and tricky world of politics, power and community life.Bobby Khan has a bright future ahead of him. Young, charismatic and ambitious, he’s recently got married to his long-term girlfriend Lucy, and has just won an important by-election in the Northern constituency of Floxton West.As an Asian MP, he hopes to improve race relations in his community and bring people together – but when a white DJ is found beaten to death, and a Muslim constituent is arrested for his murder, Bobby faces pressure from the accused’s family to get involved. Then his cousin Wasim is imprisoned on terrorism charges, and Bobby’s idealism is shattered as he becomes embroiled in a series of personal and political dilemmas.Two years later, the dust has settled, and Bobby is a rising star in Westminster, with his sights set on a ministerial position. But a family bombshell and a blackmailer turn his life upside down once more – and when he backs an animal-testing laboratory in his constituency, he finds himself facing a violent backlash...Nitin Ganatra and Zubin Varla play Bobby in this thrilling tale of politics, power, corruption and betrayal. Among the stellar cast are Vincent Ebrahim, Bhasker Patel, Barbara Marten, Christopher Bisson, Gillian Kearney, Nicola Stephenson and Sacha Dhawan. 
Content Warning: Contains strong language and deals with themes of racism 
 
 
 Production creditsSeries 1 written by Avie Luthra and Gary BrownSeries 2 written by Mike Harris, Jon Sen and Avie LuthraProduced and directed by Pauline HarrisCastBobby Khan – Nitin Ganatra/Zubin VarlaElizabeth – Barbara MartenImran – Vincent Ebrahim/Bhasker PatelWasim – Christopher BissonTerry – John McArdleAyesha – Archie PanjablLucy – Gillian Kearney/Nicola StephensonPaul Deacon – David FleeshmanRashid Choudry – Amer NazlrRhobina Choudry – Rani MoorthyCraig Williams – Sam CurtisJerome – Aaron CobhamNewsreader – Mark EdwardsonMartha Kearney – HerselfHarry/Hanif – Sacha DhawanDI Brown/Pathologist – Seamus O’NeillMike Winters – Michael FeastBarry – Lee BoardmanIsabella – Fiona ClarkeDavid/Geraint – James QuinnSara – Millie Rose KinseyShazia/Woman – Balvinder SopalAli – Darren KuppanGraham – Jonathan KeebleKarl – Graeme HawleyMinister – Malcolm RaeburnHelen – Christine BrennanNews reporter – Shari VahlSchool children from St Mary's Church of England Infant and Junior School, ManchesterFraud adviser: Shari VahlPolitical adviser: Andrew RussellMusic consultant: Philip TagneyFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 May-8 June 2007 (Series 1), 31 July-14 August 2009 (Series 2)© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Prospect

A BBC Radio Political Drama

Simon Passmore

A collection of taut psychological dramas from one of radio’s leading thriller writers 
 
Simon Passmore is an acclaimed author and scriptwriter, who has also produced numerous films and TV series including Foyle’s War. This box set features all six of his compelling, character-driven radio dramas, each writhing with twists and heavy on menace. 
 
Offshore – Sailing out of Poole Harbour in a borrowed luxury yacht, Chris and Sam are looking forward to their cross-channel boat trip. But their idyllic weekend soon turns into a nightmare. Richard Lintern and Nadine Marshall star in this tense thriller. 
 
Accomplices – Former City lawyer Alice will do anything to escape the relentless grind of a life that’s careering downhill. But the price she must pay is getting higher by the minute… Starring Claudia Harrison as Alice, with Emily Joyce, Stephen Hogan, Lizzy Watts and Paul Rider. 
 
Going to Ground – Kent, 1940. With England braced for a German invasion, a secret resistance unit leaps into action. Whatever happens, none of them expects to see their families again. Starring Ivan Kaye, Anthony Flanagan, Rupert Evans, Guy Henry and Joshua Jenkin. 
 
The Patient – A doctor's night-time visits are sent off course when she starts receiving mysterious phone calls from a former patient. Lucy Akhurst stars in this eerie drama. 
 
Leverage – A high-flying investment banker is found dead, and at the funeral, his former girlfriend is unexpectedly questioned about when she last saw him. Retracing his last movements, her suspicions mount – can she expose a murder before it’s too late? Starring Claire Foy, Blake Ritson and Charlie Cox. 
 
Earworm – Tasked with producing an item for a show about Britain’s worst film director, TV researcher Mia (Chloe Pirrie) sets out to track down a long-lost cult horror movie. Undeterred by the urban myths surrounding the notorious video nasty, she seeks out the film’s secret – and puts herself in danger… 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Leverage & other thrillers

Six Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramas

Graham Greene

Alan Bennett, Claire Skinner, Charles Dance and Judi Dench are among the star casts of these superlative BBC Radio productions 
 
Graham Greene was the 20th century’s master of plot, an expert chronicler of Catholic guilt, Cold War intrigue, conflict and crime. A prolific polymath, his work incorporated serious novels, thrillers, short stories, screenplays, stage plays and more. 
 
This wide-ranging box set includes the finest examples of his early work, written between 1932 and 1948, and contains over 15 hours of unmissable drama. It includes captivating adaptations of his classic novels Stamboul Train, Brighton Rock, The Confidential Agent, The Power and the Glory, The Ministry of Fear and The Heart of the Matter, performed by an array of A-list actors including Joseph Millson, Claire Skinner, Kenneth Cranham, Stephen Rea, Charles Dance, Harriet Walter and Tom Hollander. 
 
Also featured are Greene’s only original radio play, The Great Jowett, starring Alan Bennett as the titular Oxford don, and an adaptation of his BAFTA-nominated screenplay The Fallen Idol, starring acclaimed classical actor Richard Pasco and a young Judi Dench. 
 
Concluding this definitive collection are two bonus pieces. Great Lives: Graham Greene sees war reporter Tim Butcher and presenter Matthew Parris exploring the strange world of Graham Greene, and in a fascinating 1971 interview from Radio 4’s Now Read On, the author himself discusses his novels with Magnus Magnusson – and reveals which book he considers to be his best... 
 
Contents 
Stamboul Train 
Brighton Rock 
The Great Jowett 
The Confidential Agent 
The Power and the Glory 
The Ministry of Fear 
The Heart of the Matter 
The Fallen Idol 
Great Lives: Graham Greene 
Now Read On 
 
Text copyright © 1932 (Stamboul Train), 1938 (Brighton Rock), 1939 (The Great Jowett, The Confidential Agent), 1940 (The Power and the Glory), 1943 (The Ministry of Fear), 1948 (The Heart of the Matter, The Fallen Idol) 
 
With thanks to Keith Wickham of the Radio Circle for supplying several of the audio recordings. 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Graham Greene BBC Radio Drama Collection: The Early Years

Eight full-cast productions including Stamboul Train, Brighton Rock & The Power and the Glory

A definitive collection of eight full-cast BBC Radio productions, featuring stellar talent including Alex Jennings, Michael Kitchen, Ben Miles and Bernard Cribbins 
 
‘Great value for money and a fine celebration of one of the most important English authors of the second half of the Twentieth Century. Greene's stories are brought to life by some of the greatest British actors, and the final documentary giving voice to the writer is truly the icing on the cake.' – Greg Jameson, Entertainment Focus 
 
One of the foremost novelists of the last century, Graham Greene left an indelible mark on the world of fiction. In his many masterpieces, he introduced his fans to ‘Greeneland’ – a shadowy world of sin, redemption, treachery and sexual betrayal, occupied by complex, ambivalent characters. 
 
That world is brought vividly to life in these eight stunning BBC Radio productions. They represent the very best examples of his later work, written between 1951 and 1982, and together comprise nearly 17 hours of riveting drama. Included in this substantial box set are adaptations of his masterly novels The End of the Affair, Our Man in Havana, A Burnt-Out Case, The Comedians, The Honorary Consul and Monsignor Quixote, all starring a wealth of distinguished actors, among them Ben Miles, Adjoa Andoh, Michael Kitchen, Paterson Joseph, Bernard Cribbins and Philip Jackson. 
 
Here, too, are the radio versions of two of his superb stage plays. The Potting Shed, a gripping psychological drama centred around faith and family secrets, stars Dame Sybil Thorndike, who took the lead role in the original Broadway production. And in the ingenious two-hander Yes and No, Clive Francis plays the Director, with Alex Jennings as the Actor, whose only lines are ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. 
 
Plus, a bonus programme, Graham Greene at 80, sees the great author in conversation with writer and broadcaster Nigel Lewis, discussing his life and writing. It includes contributions from his biographer. Norman Sherry, and his brother, Sir Hugh Greene, as well as extracts from Greene’s work read by Ian Holm. 
 
Contents: 
The End of the Affair 
The Potting Shed 
Our Man in Havana 
A Burnt-Out Case 
The Comedians 
The Honorary Consul 
Yes and No 
Monsignor Quixote 
Greene at 80 
 
Text copyright © 1951 (The End of the Affair), 1957 (The Potting Shed), 1958 (Our Man in Havana), 1960 (A Burnt-Out Case), 1966 (The Comedians), 1973 (The Honorary Consul), 1980 (Yes and No), 1982 (Monsignor Quixote) 
 
With thanks to Keith Wickham of the Radio Circle for supplying several of the audio recordings. 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Graham Greene BBC Radio Drama Collection: The Later Years

Eight full-cast productions including The End of the Affair, Our Man in Havana &  Monsignor Quixote

Iain Banks

Selected readings and full-cast dramatisations from across the literary and science fiction of Iain Banks 
 
Iain Banks, aka Iain M Banks, came to fame in 1984 with his transfixing debut The Wasp Factory, described as both ‘a work of unparalleled depravity’ and 'a masterpiece'. In 1993 he was acknowledged as one of the Best of Young British Writers, and his numerous bestselling books include The Crow Road, Complicity and the ‘Culture’ sci-fi series. Collected here are three of his best works, as heard on BBC Radio. 
 
The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks’ controversial first novel features one of literature’s most unsettling teenage boys. Sixteen-year-old Frank invites us inside his macabre world, as he describes experimenting with explosives, torturing insects – and killing his relatives. But he is not alone in his madness – his brother, Angus, has escaped from a psychiatric hospital and is making his way back home… Joseph McFadden reads this blackly comic cult classic, abridged by multi-award-winning playwright Craig Warner. 
 
The State of the Art – Arriving on Earth in 1977, the Culture ship Arbitrary finds a planet on the brink of self-destruction, obsessed with alien concepts such as ‘property’ and ‘money’. When agent Dervley Linter decides to go native, can Diziet Sma change his mind? Antony Sher, Nina Sosanya and Paterson Joseph star in this thrilling sci-fi novella, adapted for radio by Doctor Who writer Paul Cornell. 
 
Piece – As he waits to board a plane, Munro recalls two previous journeys. Travelling by bus and then train, he finds himself in parallel arguments started by the books he is carrying, pitching reason against faith. But life is too complicated for there not to be continual coincidences… This radio adaptation by Craig Warner of Iain Banks’ short story stars Bill Paterson. 
 
Espedair Street – Told in the style of a Radio 1 documentary, Paul Gambaccini presents the story behind the spectacular rise and tragic fall of the fictional 1970s mega-band, Frozen Gold – from the album deal that set a rock industry record, to the mysterious deaths of two of the band members. At the centre of it all is Weird, the songwriting genius from a Paisley housing scheme, who suddenly finds himself living a life of sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll… Starring John-Gordon Sinclair, Louise Beattie, James MacPherson and Steven McNicoll, and featuring original music by Iain Banks. 
 
Text copyright © Iain Banks 1984 (The Wasp Factory), 1987 (Espedair Street), 1989 (‘Piece’) 
The State of the Art copyright © Iain M Banks 1989 
 
The Wasp Factory 
Read by Joseph McFadden 
Abridged by Craig Warner 
Produced by Alex Burrett 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 March-5 April 1997 
 
The State of the Art 
The Ship – Antony Sher 
Diziet Sma – Nina Sosanya 
Dervley Linter – Paterson Joseph 
Li – Graeme Hawley 
Tel – Brigit Forsyth 
Sodel – Conrad Nelson 
Dramatised by Paul Cornell 
Directed by Nadia Molinari 
First broadcast BBC Radio 5, 5 March 2009 
 
Piece 
Munro - Bill Paterson 
Jack- Harry Jones 
Mo - Bash Kher 
Eve/the Voice - Susan Sheridan 
Adapted by Craig Warner 
Produced and directed by John York 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 June 1991 
 
Espedair Street 
Weird – John Gordon Sinclair 
Christine – Louise Beattie 
Davey – James MacPherson 
Ric – Steven McNicoll 
McCann – Sandy Morton 
Jean Webb – Margaret Clark 
Wes – Douglas Russell 
Wee Tommy – Martin Docherty 
Inez – Gowan Calder 
Nightclub manager – Graham Debanzi 
Pop biographer – Paul Gambaccini 
Dramatised by Joe Dunlop 
Music by lain Banks and Nigel Clark 
Keyboards: Brian Kellock, Guitar: Nick Clark, Drums: Gordon Wilson, Vocals: Monica Queen 
Directed by Dave Batchelor 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8-29 January 2008 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Iain Banks: A BBC Radio Collection

Including The Wasp Factory, The State of the Art & Espedair Street

Matthew Solon

Twelve jurors. One verdict. Can the jury decide?When high-profile company director Virginia Hart fights a libel case against journalist Pat Carver, twelve ordinary people find themselves navigating the complex and unfamiliar world of the civil court. A woman’s reputation is on the line, and they alone must decide whether the allegations made against her in the satirical magazine Shady Tales count as freedom of speech, or scurrilous defamation.But it soon becomes clear to the jury members that the trial will have an impact on their own lives. From big-shot banker Tyrone to shy, illiterate Shane; chatty, overly helpful Carol; feisty fashion model Samantha and aspiring businesswoman Folosade, they are each dealing with their own issues – and they all bring their own flaws, fears, values and prejudices to the case.The prosecution has barely made its opening statements before two of the jurors are at loggerheads, and tensions quickly begin to rise within the group. The lies, scandal and intrigue unfolding in the courtroom are mirrored in the jury room, and as the trial moves towards its climax, can the jurors work together to ensure justice prevails?Written by acclaimed actor and dramatist Matthew Solon, whose radio credits include Takeover, The Bid and Five Days in May, this thrilling drama features a star cast including Bill Nighy, Maggie Steed, Patrick Robinson, Gary Olsen, Tracy-Ann Oberman and Bhasker Patel.Production creditsWritten by Matthew SolonDirected by Andy Jordan and Jocelyn BoxallCastVirginia Hart – Suzanne BertishTyrone Spencer – Patrick RobinsonGilly Baxter – Maggie SteedMegan Evans – Rachel AtkinsPat Carver – Bill NighyMichael Whitely – Gary OlsenDermot O'Connor – Denys HawthorneWith Joseph Bennett, Philip Bretherton, Colin Bruce, Harry Ditson, Abi Eniola, Robert Hands, Jenny Howe, Kelly Hunter, Frances Jeater, Jonathan Keeble, Don McCorkindale, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Bhasker Patel, Dominic Power, Christopher Scott, Irene Sutcliffe, Badi Uzzaman, Geoffrey WhiteheadFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 September-16 October 1998© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Jury

A BBC Radio Full-Cast Drama

Jack Higgins

Full-cast dramatisations of three of Jack Higgins’ best-known novels 
 
Jack Higgins (the pen name of Henry Patterson) was the internationally bestselling author of 85 novels. He shot to fame with The Eagle Has Landed, which sold 50 million copies worldwide and became a hit film. Adapted for radio, it is included here, together with its gripping sequel The Eagle Has Flown and the sensational Falklands War thriller Exocet. 
 
The Eagle Has Landed – November 1943, and Winston Churchill is planning a weekend's relaxation in the Norfolk village of Studley Constable. Little does he know that a crack group of German paratroopers, aided by deadly IRA gunman Liam Devlin, are waiting to kidnap him and deliver him to Adolf Hitler…Starring Michael Fitzgerald, Frank Grimes, Rosemary Martin and Harry Patterson, aka Jack Higgins, this classic story is one of the greatest World War Two adventures ever told. 
 
The Eagle Has Flown – Gunned down during ‘Operation Eagle’, German paratrooper Kurt Steiner is alive, but a prisoner in the Tower of London. Now Himmler wants him back, and calls in the one man with the skills to retrieve him: Liam Devlin. Harry Paterson stars as himself, Jack Higgins, with Michael Fitzgerald as Steiner, Frank Grimes as Devlin and Graham Padden as Himmler. 
 
Exocet – Argentina has invaded the Falkland Islands, forcing Britain to send in a naval task force to reclaim them. With war looming, Brigadier Charles Ferguson of MI6 recruits the beautiful Gabrielle Legrand to spy on her Argentinian lover, Raul Montera. Her mission: to work alongside her ex-husband, Tony Villiers, to foil a Soviet plot to sell deadly Exocet missiles to Argentina… Peter Jeffrey, Michael N Harbour, Moir Leslie and William Hope star in this riveting four-part drama. 
 
Text copyright © Jack Higgins 1971, 1983 (The Eagle Has Landed), 1983 (Exocet), 1991 (The Eagle Has Flown) 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Jack Higgins 
 
The Eagle Has Landed 
Jack Higgins – Harry Patterson 
Steiner – Michael Fitzgerald 
Col Radl – Ian Hogg 
Joanna – Rosemary Martin 
Liam Devlin – Frank Grimes 
Molly – Holly Aird 
Pamela – Kimberly Hope 
Father Vereker – Simon Carter 
Churchill – Roger Hume 
Himmler – Graham Padden 
Canaris – Terry Molloy 
Hitler – David Halliwell 
Sturm – David Vann 
Meuhoff – Neil Coker 
Neuman – John Dixon 
Lemke – Stephen Garlick 
Betty Wilde – Heather Barrett 
Graham – Philip Molloy 
Arthur – Christopher Good 
George – Vincent Brimble 
Sgt Hofer – Geoffrey Whitehead 
 
The Eagle Has Flown 
Liam Devlin – Frank Grimes 
Jack Higgins – Harry Patterson 
Steiner – Michael Fitzgerald 
Vaughan – Quint Boa 
Himmler – Graham Padden 
Canaris – Terry Molloy 
Hitler – David Halliwell 
Mary – Melanie Revill 
Lavinia – Charlotte Westoram 
Shaw – David Neal 
Rommel – Gordon Reid 
Munro – Leon Tanner 
Carter – John Dixon 
Schellenberg – David Holt 
Kneussel – Richard Allenson 
Kramer – Richard O'Ryan 
Berger – Peter Meakin 
 
Exocet 
Brigadier Charles Ferguson – Peter Jeffrey 
Major Tony Villiers – Michael N Harbour 
Gabriel Legrand – Moir Leslie 
Harry Fox – Peter Acre 
Victor Vronski – David Bamber 
Col Raul Montera – William Hope 
Julio Garcia/Col Dwyer – Allan Corduner 
Nikolai Belov – David March 
Sgt Major Jackson – Eric Allan 
Chief Supt Carver/General Leopoldo Galtieri – John Church 
Anna Marchuk – Melanie Hudson 
Queen Elizabeth II/Margaret Thatcher – Melinda Walker 
Prof Paul Bernard – Keith Drinkel 
Major Langham/Major Espinet – Steve Hodson 
Journalist/Private Elliot – David Holt 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Eagle has landed, The Eagle has Flown and Exocet

Three BBC Radio Full-Cast Thrillers

Francis Durbridge

Anthony Head reads three unabridged novels by Francis Durbridge. 
 
In The World of Tim Frazer, the engineer-turned-spy's friend and ex-business partner Harry Denston has gone missing. That's not all: he owes money, and there are several people desperate to track him down. Frazer must put the pieces together. 
 
In Tim Frazer Again, when special agent Leo Salinger is killed by a fast car in Amsterdam, Frazer is sent over to trail the young woman who was at the wheel. Was it a genuine accident? The case grows more complicated at every turn. 
 
In Tim Frazer Gets The Message, Frazer is sent to Wales to find out why a British intelligence agent was brutally murdered. There's also the matter of a missing German scientist. Can Frazer find out what links the two agents, before it's too late? 
 
Anthony Head, famed for his TV roles in Buffy and Little Britain, reads these stories inspired by one of the most successful BBC TV serials of the 1960s. 
 
(P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

A Tim Frazer Trilogy

Three abridged novels

Three unabridged readings of original novels from the creator of Paul Temple. 
 
In The Desperate People, read by Neil Pearson, Philip Holt is determined to uncover the truth about the death of his brother, Rex, and those who were responsible for it. 
 
In Dead to the World, also read by Neil Pearson, Philip Holt's skills are again in demand after he meets Robert Scranton, a wealthy American, on a plane returning to England from the USA. 
 
In My Wife Melissa, read by Greg Wise, the wife of a journalist is found strangled, and all the evidence points to her husband as the culprit. It is up to Guy Foster himself to uncover the truth about his own wife and then find her killer. 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Francis Durbridge Investigates

Three unabridged novels

Toby Stephens reads three thrilling unabridged novels by Francis Durbridge. 
 
In Paul Temple Intervenes, the murder of a well-known American heralds a spate of celebrity deaths that become known as the Marquis murders. The police are baffled, and the Home Secretary is calling for Paul Temple to intervene... 
 
In Paul Temple and the Geneva Mystery, Paul faces danger once again as he and Steve must find the answer to one vital question: is Carl Milbourne, supposedly killed in a motor accident in Switzerland, dead or alive? 
 
In Paul Temple and the Margo Mystery, a brand of expensive designer coats sparks the latest mystery, when Steve goes missing and another woman is brutally strangled and thrown into the Thames. A trip to the funfair yields further clues... 
 
Toby Stephens, known for roles including Gustav Graves in Die Another Day, reads these stories based on some of the most popular BBC radio serials of the Twentieth Century. 
 
Caution: these stories contain language that may cause offense, and dated attitudes that reflect the age in which they are set. 
 
(P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Paul Temple Deduces

Anthony Head reads eight abridged novels by Francis Durbridge. 
 
Send for Paul Temple, based on the first ever Paul Temple radio serial, centres around the mystery of The Green Finger. 
 
In Paul Temple and the Front Page Men, a series of thefts is linked to high profile kidnapping cases - and then murder. 
 
News of Paul Temple links a vivacious actress, a mysterious letter and an enigmatic doctor in Paul's latest case. 
 
In Paul Temple and the Tyler Mystery, the main suspect in a murder case is someone Paul put away for fraud four years earlier... 
 
In Paul Temple East of Algiers, the Temples travel to Tunis in order to deliver a package - but a series of murders ensues. 
 
In Paul Temple and the Kelby Affair, a sensational diary appears to be at the centre of Alfred Kelby's murder. 
 
In Paul Temple and the Harkdale Robbery, a suspect involved in a robbery is found dead - in the garage of Paul's own country cottage. 
 
Paul Temple and the Curzon Case is a gripping story of kidnap, intrigue and sudden death, and Paul must work to find out if all the events are connected. 
 
Anthony Head, famed for his TV roles in Buffy and Little Britain, reads these stories inspired by one of the most successful BBC radio serials of the Twentieth Century. 
 
Caution: these stories contain language that may cause offense, and dated attitudes that reflect the age in which they are set. 
 
(P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Paul Temple at the Double

Eight abridged novels

James Hogg

BBC Radio 4 adaptations of James Hogg’s classic psychological thriller and one of his best-known stories of suspense – plus a bonus docudrama about his lifeJames Hogg was a farmer, poet, novelist and self-educated genius. A friend of Sir Walter Scott, he is recognised today as one of Scotland’s great writers. His masterpiece, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, has influenced authors from Robert Louis Stevenson to Irvine Welsh, and remains relevant today. Re-envisioned for radio, it is included here, alongside a chilling supernatural tale and a drama-documentary exploring his remarkable life.Confessions of a Justified Sinner – Believing he is predestined to go to heaven, Robert Colwan has committed terrible crimes without fear of reprisal. But now, two women are determined to hold him to account. Held captive, Robert begins his confession – but the words that come out of his mouth shock Bell and Arabella to their very core. Lorn Macdonald, Shauna Macdonald and Wendy Seager star in this electrifying reimagining of James Hogg’s seminal novel about a young man radicalised by religious fervour.The Brownie of the Black Haggs – Lady Wheelhope has a reputation as a violent and tyrannical mistress. Her servants are her pawns, to do with what she will – until the mysterious Merodach arrives, and she falls prey to a dangerous obsession… This macabre drama stars Irene Macdougall and James Chisholm.James Hogg: Portrait of a Justified Sinner – James Hogg was patronised by Edinburgh society and disregarded by the literati of the time. Yet now he is seen in some quarters as the finest of his contemporaries. John Shedden stars as Hogg and Iain Cuthbertson as Walter Scott in this fascinating docudrama, written and presented by Hugh Douglas and with contributions from historians, literary critics and admirers of the author.First published 1824 (The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner), 1828 (‘The Brownie of Black Haggs’)Cast and creditsWritten by James HoggConfessions of a Justified SinnerRobert – Lorn MacdonaldArabella – Shauna MacdonaldBella – Wendy SeagerDramatised by Robert ForrestDirected by Kirsty WilliamsStudio Recordings by Niall YoungSound Design and Original Music by Fraser JacksonFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 Mar 2023The Brownie of the Black HaggsLady Wheelhope – Irene MacDougallThe Laird – Paul YoungMerodach – James ChisholmBessie – Mary RiggansWattie – James BryceAdam – Alec HeggieDramatised by Marty RossDirected/produced by Bruce YoungFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 May 2003James Hogg: Portrait of a Justified SinnerJames Hogg – John SheddenWalter Scott – Iain CuthbertsonCharlotte Scott – Joyce DeansWordsworth – Anthony HydeDorothy Wordsworth – Judy CornwellTibbie Shiels – Mary RiggansWritten and presented by Hugh DouglasWith Professor David Daiches, Professor Douglas Gifford, Dr David Groves, Douglas Mack, Walter Barrie, James and Doreen Mitchell, Margaret LaverickDirected by Alec ReidSinger: Geoffrey DavidsonViolinist: Bill McNabFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 Jan 1985© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Confessions of a Justified Sinner & The Brownie of the Black Haggs

Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations of Two Classic Thrillers

Daphne du Maurier

A comprehensive collection of dramatisations of Daphne du Maurier’s works 
 
'Containing performances from well-known actors from past and present, Daphne du Maurier: The BBC Radio Collection is a rich feast for all fans of the writer's work.' - Entertainment Focus 
 
Daphne du Maurier was one of the 20th century’s most popular writers. Extraordinarily prolific, she produced a string of bestsellers, many of which were adapted as award-winning films. From romance and adventure yarns to psychological thrillers and supernatural tales, the breadth and imaginative variety of her storytelling continues to thrill us today. 
 
This bumper collection features her most famous works and some lesser-known gems, beginning with full-cast adaptations of seven of her much-loved novels – Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, Frenchman’s Creek, The King’s General, My Cousin Rachel, The Scapegoat and The House on the Strand. With settings ranging from the 19th century to the English Civil War and the Black Death of 1349, these thrilling tales take us from the wilds of Cornwall to Monte Carlo, Italy and northwestern France. Among the star casts are Susannah Corbett, Christopher Cazenove, Lorna Heilbron, Cathryn Harrison, Adam Godley, Hugh Burden and Ian Richardson. 
 
Next up are two of her acclaimed plays, The Years Between, set in the 1940s and telling the story of a woman whose MP husband is reported killed in action, and September Tide, a bittersweet love story centred around a mother, her newly-married daughter and her artist son-in-law. Diana Quick, Roger Allam, Paula Wilcox, Jonathan Firth and Alice Hart star in these twisty, subversive dramas. 
 
We conclude with a selection of Daphne du Maurier’s short fiction. Dramatised by Melissa Murray, ‘The Birds’ stars Neil Dudgeon and Nicola Walker. It is followed by ‘The Blue Lenses’ and ‘The Little Photographer’, starring Bethany Muir and Lucy Boynton respectively; and ‘The Apple Tree’, starring Charles Gray. Also included are full-cast adaptations of ‘Panic’ (starring Dinsdale Landen and Maureen O’Brien), ‘The Chamois’ (starring Christopher Cazenove and Anna Cropper), ‘The Alibi’ (starring Tony Britton and Sarah Badel), ‘Ganymede’ (starring John Le Mesurier and Anthony Daniels) and ‘Don’t Look Now’ (starring Jamie Parker and Aisling Loftus). 
 
Please note that the pieces in this collection range from vintage 1970s productions to modern adaptations, and the sound quality reflects the age of the recordings. 
 
Contents 
Jamaica Inn 
Rebecca 
Frenchman’s Creek 
The King’s General 
My Cousin Rachel 
The Scapegoat 
The House on the Strand 
The Years Between 
September Tide 
‘The Birds’ 
‘The Blue Lenses’ 
‘The Little Photographer’ 
‘The Apple Tree’ 
‘Panic’ 
‘The Chamois’ 
‘The Alibi’ 
‘Ganymede’ 
‘Don’t Look Now’ 
 
Text copyright © 1936 (Jamaica Inn), 1938 (Rebecca), 1941 (Frenchman’s Creek), 1943 (The Years Between), 1946 (The King’s General), 1949 (September Tide), 1951 (My Cousin Rachel), 1952 (‘The Birds’, ‘The Little Photographer’, ‘Blue Lenses’, ‘The Apple Tree’), 1954 (‘Panic’), 1957 (The Scapegoat), 1959 (‘The Chamois’, ‘The Alibi’, ‘Ganymede’), 1969 (The House on the Strand), 1971 (‘Don’t Look Now’). 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Daphne du Maurier: The BBC Radio Collection

Including Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, Frenchman’s Creek & more

Peter Whalley

A bumper collection of radio thrillers from acclaimed scriptwriter Peter WhalleyPeter Whalley was Coronation Street&rsquo;s longest-serving writer, scripting 601 episodes between 1979 and 2014. His other works included TV&rsquo;s Albion Market and Castles, 40 radio plays and 10 novels, and in 2009 he was presented with a Special Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards. Collected here are 14 of his finest radio crime dramas and thrillers, with full casts including Lee Ingleby, Joanne Froggatt, Tracy Wiles, Robert Pickavance, Jason Done, Lyndsey Marshal, David Calder and Paula Tilbrook.Our opening play, The Disappearance, is a compelling psychological thriller about a landlord and tenant who are not who they say they are, while in The Trial, Molly finds that falling in love with a stranger has never been scarier. In Who Shot Ada Tansey?, there&rsquo;s turmoil behind the scenes of a Northern soap opera when the leading lady is murdered, and after a death at a dinner party, the remaining diners become suspects in The Absent Guest. The Blackpool Detective follows actor-turned-PI Ben Lomax, as he takes over his father&rsquo;s investigation agency and is faced with a serious case. A terrible lie is about to be revealed in The Test, as the reinvestigation of an old murder threatens to turn John Newland&rsquo;s life upside down. And in When Last I Saw You, the law&rsquo;s failure leads a desperate woman to impose her own justice.A man picks up a female hitch-hiker in The Longest Journey &ndash; but both are concealing a secret. Blackmail is the theme of the six-part mystery serial Letters of Introduction, whereas The Second Son centres around identity, fraud and self-belief. When Lauren&rsquo;s estranged husband unexpectedly returns, his motives for walking out on her become clear in Reasons for Leaving. Hoodlums finds a gang of bank robbers reunited after years in prison: but old age hasn&rsquo;t blunted their criminal instincts. Nosy neighbours, a missing wife and a husband suspected of killing her are at the heart of Neighbourhood Watch, and in Nearly Dead, an old man is murdered in a geriatric hospital. With the other residents lost in their own worlds, can DI Halliwell fight through a fog of confusion to find the truth?Cast and creditsWritten by Peter WhalleyContentsThe DisappearanceThe TrialWho Shot Ada Tansey?The Absent GuestThe Blackpool DetectiveThe TestWhen Last I Saw YouThe Longest JourneyLetters of IntroductionThe Second SonReasons for LeavingHoodlumsNeighbourhood WatchNearly Dead&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Who Shot Ada Tansey? & other thrillers

14 Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramas

Paul Sellar

Four gritty thrillers from acclaimed dramatist Paul Sellar 
 
‘The master of deception layered upon deception’ Moira Petty, The Stage 
 
Paul Sellar is an award-winning playwright working in theatre, film and radio. This compulsive collection brings together four of his gritty, modern thrillers, set at the intersection of the murky worlds of corrupt business and criminality. 
 
The Gold Killing – Boxer turned businessman Joe Stein would normally run a mile from the Russian mafia and their dirty money. But a chance to invest in a Ghanaian gold mine with incredible deposits seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When the returns from the mine begin to pay dividends he’d rather be without, he finds himself in the biggest fight of his life – to stay alive… Robert Glenister stars in this gripping tale of fear, greed and fraud. 
 
How to Build a Supertower – When property tycoon Max Silver is persuaded to build an iconic new London skyscraper, he hopes it will secure his family’s future – and his own legacy. But he needs all his deal-making skills to avoid the traps put in his path by big business – and by sheer human folly. Starring Robert Glenister, this four-part drama takes you on a roller-coaster ride through the cut-throat domain of international commerce. 
 
The Moonflask – When a group of jobseekers meet on a back-to-work course they pool their various skills to plot a daring heist. Their plan: to steal a priceless Ming vase from an auction house and return it to its rightful owner. But who is conning whom? Lee Ross, Ken Bones and Sean Murray star in this fast-paced caper with a conscience that’s full of twists and turns. 
 
Takeover – Self-made tycoon Harry has fought his way to the very top of the business ladder. So when his less successful sibling, Adam, asks him for help fending off a hostile takeover bid from his dodgy rival Terry White, Harry agrees. But fortune can be fickle, and it favours the ruthless… Shortlisted for the 2012 Imison Award, this dark drama of duplicity and double-crossing stars Allan Corduner and Adam Levy. 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Gold Killing & more

Four Full-Cast BBC Radio Thrillers

Ted Allbeury

A collection of full-cast dramatisations and original radio plays from master storyteller Ted Allbeury – plus bonus programmes 
 
Described by Len Deighton as ‘a classic writer of espionage fiction’, Ted Allbeury based his many acclaimed spy novels on his own real-life experiences. In World War II, he served as an intelligence officer with Special Operations Executive, and subsequently ran agents across the border between East and West Germany during the Cold War. He began writing in his fifties, and went on to pen over 40 bestselling books, five of which are dramatised here alongside three plays specially written for BBC Radio and two bonus documentaries. 
 
The Lonely Margins tells the story of James Harmer, parachuted into France in 1944 on a secret mission. Christian Rodska and Kim Thomson star in this tense tale of danger and deceit. 
 
Inspired by actual events, The Other Side of Silence sees MI6 agent John Powell tasked with finding out why notorious traitor Kim Philby wants to return to England from Russia. James Bolam stars as Powell, with Nigel Hawthorne as Philby. 
 
In Long Ago and Far Away, starring David McAlister and Kate Binchy, two ex-SOE operatives find the past returning to haunt them when a voice on the radio brings back memories best left dormant. 
 
In Pay Any Price, a Presidential assassination sparks trouble for the CIA and SIS, as they deal with the consequences of a sinister programme known as MKUltra… Starring Barry Foster, Robert Beatty, Susannah Fellows and Michael J. Shannon. 
 
The Way We Live finds Andrew Collins discovering the unexpected repercussions of being ‘positively vetted’ by the Security Service, starring John Forbes-Robertson. 
 
Time Spent in Reconnaissance sees Peter Harvey finding out how an old military adage applies to his professional and private lives. This thrilling radio play stars Michael Cochrane. 
 
No Place to Hide centres around John Rennie (James Kerry), a secret agent whose loyalty is tested when he is ordered to do something he considers abhorrent. 
 
Meanwhile, in Deep Purple, starring Michael Melia, Louise Germain and Steve Hodson, the fates of a Secret Intelligence Service officer, a Russian defector and a prostitute are inextricably linked. 
 
We conclude with the fascinating two-parter Occupation: Spy, in which Ted Allbeury gives us his unique perspective on the shadowy world of spies and spying. 
 
NB: The language in these programmes reflects the era in which they were first broadcast 
 
Due to the age of these archive recordings, the sound quality may vary 
 
Text copyright © Ted Allbeury 1981 (The Lonely Margins, The Other Side of Silence), 1982 (Long Ago and Far Away), 1983 (Pay Any Price, The Way We Live, Time Spent in Reconnaissance), 1984 (No Place to Hide), 1989 (Deep Purple) 
 
'If you like spy stories rooted in the Second World War madness and Cold War paranoia, and appreciate quality radio drama, then ‘Occupation: Spy' will continue to delight for almost eighteen hours' - Greg Jameson 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Occupation: Spy

Eight Full-Cast BBC Radio Spy Thrillers

Simon Bovey

Four gripping sci-fi adventures from acclaimed scriptwriter Simon Bovey 
 
Simon Bovey is an established writer and director who has penned numerous compelling dramas for BBC Radio. Collected here are four of his sensational sci-fi tales, packed with mystery, suspense and terror... 
 
Cold Blood – Recorded in 2005 but set in 2015, this chilling serial follows a group of scientists conducting research in Antarctica. Once the most pristine environment in the world, this icy wilderness has become gold rush country. Biotechnology companies have raced to unravel the secrets of life in a cold climate, drawn by the lure of lightning in a bottle. Now someone’s captured it – and a killer is on the loose… Starring Tom Mannion, Tim McMullan, Ndidi Del Fatti, Helen Longworth and Stuart McLoughlin. 
 
The Voice of God – Investigating a series of mysterious Australian earthquakes, seismologist Sam Rideout and her outback guide, Joshua, make a sinister discovery when they track the tremors to their epicentre inside an old British nuclear test site. Joshua is Aboriginal, and Maralinga is a sacred place to his people. But it also happens to be a top-secret facility, researching a sonic super-weapon that could lead to global catastrophe… Clare Corbett, Matthew Dyktinski, Geoffrey Beevers and David Thorpe star in this tense apocalyptic thriller serial. 
 
Slipstream – It’s 1945, and the Allies are on course to win the war. But then an unidentified Nazi aircraft appears: silver, disc-shaped and capable of astonishing speed. When it shoots down 150 RAF bombers, Major Barton and his British Commando unit are sent on a dangerous mission to investigate… Rory Kinnear, Tim McMullan, Ben Crowe, Joannah Tincey and Rachel Atkins star in this action-packed serial set during World War II. 
 
Hive Mind – Written in 2010, this dystopian eco-drama is set in 2019, in a world where honeybees are officially extinct. Their role now falls to an army of seasonal migrant workers, hired by farmers like Sam Clark to pollinate crops by hand. It’s a costly, labour-intensive process, so when a new technological solution is developed in the form of tiny artificial ‘bees’, Sam jumps at the chance to try it. But the arrival of the Honeybots proves anything but ideal… Starring Tony Bell and Ania Sowinski, with Michael Shelford, Alison Pettitt, David Seddon and Lloyd Thomas. 
 
 
Written by Simon Bovey 
Directed by Marc Beeby 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Cold Blood & other stories

Four Full-Cast BBC Radio Sci-Fi Thrillers

Franz Kafka

Kafka’s finest works adapted for BBC radio – plus a biographical play, three discussion pieces and the award-winning Kafka The Musical 
 
A lawyer by day, Franz Kafka spent his nights writing visionary stories and novels exploring bureaucracy, power and alienation – iconic fiction that gave the world the adjective ‘Kafkaesque’. 
 
This BBC anthology showcases his most famous works. Metamorphosis tells the tale of Gregor Samsa, who wakes one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. Starring Tom Basden, this Radio 4 production gives Kafka’s classic a modern twist with a darkly comic edge. In The Trial, a protagonist known only as ‘K’ is plunged into a nightmare world when he is accused of an unknown crime. Iwan Rheon leads an all-star cast including Phil Davis and Mark Heap. 
 
Set in 1911, Kafka’s debut novel The Man Who Disappeared (Amerika) features a young man from Prague, sent away to the New World after an indiscretion with a girl. Read by Carl Prekopp, Tiny Tales offers an exquisite study in restlessness, while Dermot Crowley narrates the short story ‘A Country Doctor’. 
 
Also included is Franz and Felice, a biographical play, and the Kafkaesque drama Kafka: The Musical, in which the author finds he has been cast to play himself in a show about his own life. David Tennant stars in this award-winning Radio 3 production. Three fascinating documentary programmes round off our collection, with discussions pieces on the man and the work. 
 
First published 1915 (Metamorphosis), 1916 (‘A Country Doctor’), 1925 (The Trial), 1927 (Amerika) 
 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Franz Kafka: The Trial, Metamorphosis, Amerika & more

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast drama collection

Matthew Broughton

From the writer of Tracks and Broken Colours, a gripping new drama about the collision of medicine and something infinitely stranger 
 
When Dr Anna Diaz moves from an urban practice in Cardiff to take on a new job in Bly, a remote village in rural Wales, she finds a community reeling from the unexpected death of their last GP and a startling number of curious rare medical conditions. Among them, a young woman who has become so hairy she looks like an ape, a farmer who is growing new bones, a teacher who hasn't slept for a month, and an old man who has gained enormous amounts of weight and has horns growing out of his head. Deeply unsettled, the locals feel something viral and horrendous is happening to them - they're anxious, confused, afraid, and need help. 
 
Dr. Diaz is determined to understand what's happening, and to cure and reassure the people of the village. But when the sicknesses evolve and villagers start dying, things begin to balloon out of even the Doctor's serene control. The puzzle forms piece by piece as Anna's investigations into the disparate conditions reveal hidden connections. All the illnesses appear to be leading her to the previous GP, his death, and something she's never seen before. 
 
Starring Saran Morgan as Anna Diaz, Sion Daniel Young as Ged Diaz and Michelle Bonnard as Ruth. 
 
Cast: 
Anna Diaz &ndash; Saran Morgan 
Ged Diaz &ndash; Sion Daniel Young 
Ruth &ndash; Michelle Bonnard 
Mr Devonshire &ndash; Pal Aron 
Mr Dartington &ndash; Ifan Huw Dafydd 
Raymond &ndash; Ioan Hefin 
Maggie &ndash; Catrin Aaron 
Nell &ndash; Diana Yekinni 
Sian Ellis &ndash; Ceri Lloyd 
 
Credits: 
Written by Matthew Broughton 
Original music by Sion Orgon and Rhodri Davies 
Sound Design by Catherine Robinson 
Production Coordinators: Eleri McAuliffe and Lindsay Rees 
Directed by John Norton and Fay Lomas 
A BBC Audio Wales production for Radio 4 
 
&copy;2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Specialist

A Full-Cast BBC Mystery Thriller

Ben Lewis

A propulsive thriller starring Jack Rowan, Siena Kelly and Iain de Caestecker. 
 All three series of this fast-paced thriller from award-winning writer Ben Lewis, performed by a stellar cast – it will have you gripped from the first episode.When Jake signs up to a personal training programme that promises to turn the meekest man-boy into an alpha male, he doesn’t have a clue what he’s getting himself into. Two years later, his sister Maya sets out to uncover the truth. Life-changing events come thick and fast as The System’s true intent is revealed. In the shadowy world she uncovers, everything can shift in a heartbeat. Lives become polarized. Can Jake and Maya find it in themselves to resolve their differences and survive when their increasingly divided worlds collide? Time is running out and the siblings find themselves pulled into a fight for survival. For them. And for us.Who is really in charge? And can they stop The System?The System explores the dark fringes of masculinity through a nail-biting, cultish adventure that will have you hooked.Winner of the Prix Europa for Best Radio Series in 2021, this action-packed and engrossing thriller’s cast includes BAFTA nominee Siena Kelly (Adult Material), Jack Rowan (Noughts + Crosses) and Iain de Caestecker (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).Written by Ben LewisDirected by Kirsty WilliamsProduced by BBC ScotlandOriginal music and sound design by Danny Krass. Featuring tracks from Equiknoxx music collectiveCastJake - Jack Rowan (Series 1 and 3) / Alex Austin (Series 2)Maya - Siena KellyAlex - Iain de Caestecker 
Jerome - Don Gilét 
Beau - Matthew Needham 
DI Cohen/Jess - Chloe Pirrie 
Coyote - Divian LadwaGrace - Ashna RabheruDr Khalid Hassan - Souad FaressJess - Chloe PirrieRichard - Pip Torrens Liv - Jemima RooperAngel Investor/Matt Finch/Control - Rhashan StoneCarly/Amanda - Lois ChimimbaAsh/Reggie - Ian Dunnett JnrVoice of the Game/Robin - Ryan Sampson Wendy - Amelia BullmoreFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 May – 2 July 2021 (Series 1), 10 June – 9 July 2022 (Series 2), 15 September – 13 October 2023 (Series 3)©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The System: The Complete Series 1-3

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Thriller

Berkely Mather

Ten full-cast BBC Radio thrillers by Berkely Mather 
 
Berkely Mather (real name John Evan Weston-Davies) was a British author who wrote sixteen novels ranging from historical adventures to espionage fiction. A prolific writer for television and radio, he contributed scripts to TV series including Z Cars and The Avengers, and his film credits include Dr. No. 
 
Included here are some of his best radio thrillers, beginning with The Sand Leopard, charting the exploits of Geth Straker, captain of the Peregrine. The trouble-hunting mariner is commissioned to sail to the Red Sea in search of sunken Second World War bullion – but are his two new crew members what they seem? Neil McCallum stars as Straker in this action-packed drama. 
 
In The Hard Buy, it is the late 1960s, and wealthy young British playboy Brett Beaumont (John Rye) suddenly finds himself discredited and framed. Aboard his luxury yacht, he embarks on a dramatic journey to clear his name. 
 
The Meisterspringer, starring Cyril Shaps and Graham Blockey, sees ‘Meisterspringer’ Paul Mettold blackmailed by British agents into arranging the escape from prison of Russian spy James Carter. But the breakout does not go according to plan… 
 
The Bounce Back features six plays themed around retribution – Returned Without Thanks, Honesty’s The Best Fiddle, The Stake-Out, Just a Detail, Never Let Your Left Hand Know…, and Quick Returns. Among the casts are Hector Ross, Hilda Schroder, Henry Stamper, Humphrey Morton, Douglas Hankin, Sheila Grant, Alan Dudley and Ronald Herdman. 
 
Finally, the 30-minute drama Bird’s Eye View, starring Geoffrey Matthews and Cecile Chevreau, tells the story of an English convict on a French prison island who attempts to escape by boat – but on board, a surprise awaits him… 
 
NB: Due to the age of these recordings, the sound quality may vary. Some episodes contain dated attitudes and language 
 
 First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 31 July-18 September 1961 (The Sand Leopard), 15 October 1962 (Bird’s Eye View), 23 January-13 March 1967 (The Bounce Back), 27 June-22 July 1968 (The Hard Buy), 21 April-26 May 1985 (The Meisterspringer) 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Sand Leopard & Other Vintage Thrillers

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Collection

The year is 1Q84. This is the real world, there is no doubt about that. But in this world, there are two moons in the sky. Discover the 1Q84 Trilogy by Haruki Murakami.

1Q84

365 Days of Art

A BBC Christmas

A Black Book Thriller

A Box Full of Murders

A Cal Leandros Novel

A Christmas Mystery

The intelligent and capable police commissioner Guido Brunetti confronts crime in and around his home town of Venice.

A Commissario Brunetti Mystery

A DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation Series

A Daisy Story

Chronicling the lives of over three hundred characters, unrivalled for its scope and humour, this is a unique evocation of life in twentieth-century England.

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