5ive Guys FC

82ASK

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

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Matthew Lewis

Jane Austen

Ann Radcliffe

Horace Walpole

Four full-cast dramatisations of classic Gothic novels, plus documentaries exploring the genre’s rise and enduring appeal 
 
Dark deeds, dastardly villains, innocent victims and supernatural happenings – these are the terrifying tropes that make up Gothic fiction, a genre that has captured our imagination for over 250 years. Blending both classic and modern dramatisations, this specially curated anthology couples thrilling masterpieces with insightful documentaries… 
 
We begin with A Gothic Quest, in which Louise Welsh examines what ‘gothic’ really means, and takes a look at its many appearances in poetry, fiction, art, architecture and film. In A Guided Tour of the Castle of Otranto, Rory McGrath explores the origins of gothic horror, first manifested in Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel. It is followed by a dramatisation of The Castle of Otranto itself, a dark supernatural tale of duplicity and dynastic rivalry. Treading warily into the book’s strange world in Kaleidoscope Feature: A Little Gothic Castle, Peggy Reynolds draws parallels between Walpole’s vision for his London villa, Strawberry Hill, and the haunted mansion in the novel. 
 
Next, we unveil the male gothic in a gripping drama featuring disguise, abduction, incest and murder. The Monk, based on the 1796 classic by Matthew Lewis, tells the story of Ambrosio (Michael Pennington), who is tempted into breaking his vows of chastity by a beautiful young nun. The dawn of the female gothic is revealed in The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, centred on a powerless young heroine trapped in an isolated castle and pitted against an evil Italian Count. Showcasing the Gothic satire is Jane Austen’s 1817 novel Northanger Abbey, poking fun at the popular sensation fiction of her day. In this witty drama, Catherine Morland is taken to Bath for the season, and finds that in her fertile imagination, danger and hair-raising horrors lurk around every corner. Georgia Groome, Miriam Margolyes and Bridgerton’s Luke Thompson star in this full-cast dramatisation. 
 
Wrapping up our collection is In Our Time: Gothic, which sees Melvyn Bragg and guest experts considering the origins and significance of the 18th century Gothic movement. 
 
 
First published 1764 (The Castle of Otranto), 1794 (The Mysteries of Udolpho), 1796 (The Monk), 1817 (Northanger Abbey) 
 
 
Content List 
 
Part 1. Gothic Imagination 
 
A Gothic Quest 
Presented by Louise Welsh 
 
Part 2. The First Gothic Novel: The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole 
 
A Guided Tour of the Castle of Otranto 
Presented by Rory McGrath 
 
The Castle of Otranto 
cast and credits to be announced 
 
Kaleidoscope Feature: A Little Gothic Castle 
Presented by Peggy Reynolds 
 
Part 3. Unveiling A Male Gothic: The Monk by Matthew Lewis 
 
The Monk 
Starring Michael Pennington, Sorcha Cusack, Emily Morgan, Christopher Douglas, Brian Smith, Jenny Funnell, Tessa Worsley, Mary Wimbush, Simon Hewitt, Anne Jameson, Alan Thompson, Melinda Walker, Mia Soteriou, Allan McClelland, Garard Green, Graham Blockey, Peter Acre, David Learner and Bernard Brown 
 
 
Part 4. The Dawn of a Female Gothic: The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe 
 
The Mysteries of Udolpho 
Starring Georgia Groome, Tracy Wiles, John Dougall, Finlay Robertson, Luke Thompson, Natasha Cowley, Stephen Wight, John Bowler, Karen Bartke and Alison Belbin 
 
Part 5. Gothic Satire: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen 
 
Northanger Abbey 
Starring Georgia Groome, Luke Thompson, Tracy Wiles, Kim Wall, Ainsley Howard, Alison Belbin, John Bowler, Karen Bartke, Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Wight, Finlay Robertson, Natasha Cowley, John Dougall, Nick Murchie, Keziah Joseph and Luke MacGregor 
 
 
Part 6. Gothic Legacies 
 
In Our Time: Gothic 
Presented by Melvyn Bragg 
With Chris Baldick, A N Wilson and Emma Clery 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Tales of Terror: A BBC Radio Gothic Drama Collection

The Castle of Otranto, The Monk, The Mysteries of Udolpho & Northanger Abbey

Paul M. Levitt

Bob Sinfield

What drove Harry Houdini - magician, escapologist, and one of the most famous men in the world? 
 
Whether it was escaping from handcuffs, a straitjacket or from a box filled with water, Houdini wowed audiences with his seemingly death-defying performance... This BBC Radio collection shares the story behind the trickery: in two fascinating full-cast dramas about the life of Harry Houdini, and in particular his public campaign to expose fraudulent spiritual mediums. 
 
In the stunning full-cast dramatisation Houdini, a man is naked against the world, bound in chains, deprived of all help. Performing a death defying escape from a galvanised iron can, filled with water and secured with massive locks. Failure means a drowning death! This is the gripping story of the master magician, escapologist, and at the time of his death in 1926, one of the most famous men in the world. Michael Maloney stars as Houdini, with Graham Crowden as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Lorelei King as Bess. 
 
Houdini, the showman, longed to believe that he might be able to communicate beyond the grave with his beloved mother, but knew far too much about the trickery and faking of the stage to be easily convinced. The Witch of Beacon Hill is the true story of how Harry Houdini tried to debunk psychics and mediums. Attending séances in disguise, accompanied by a reporter and a police officer he debunked the most famous and celebrated Boston medium Mina Crandon, also known as ‘Margery’. This radio drama tells Margery’s story, and the story of how Houdini set out to disprove her claims. Starring Shelly Thompson as Margery and Nigel Anthony as Houdini. 
 
This double edition collection comes with a bonus episode of Harry Houdini: Escape artist and showman with Rajan Datar. Through interviews, Datar charts the life and career of the legendary Houdini, with writer and biographer Adam Begley, Dr Matthew Solomon, and Dr Katharina Rein.Cast and credits 
 HoudiniWritten by Bob SinfieldProduced by Graham PassHarry Houdini - Michael MaloneySir Arthur Conan Doyle - Graham CrowdenBess - Lorelei KingLady Conan Doyle - Gwen TaylorDash - Jack KlaffWhitehead - Dan StraussDr Steves - Dick VosburghFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 2, Oct 1996The Witch of Beacon Hill Written by Paul M LevittDirected by Martin JenkinsLeroi Crandon - John Woodvine'Margery the Medium’ - Shelly ThompsonHarry Houdini - Nigel AnthonyJames Bird - Kerry ShaleCaldwell/Rand - Vincent BrimbleGray/Munn - Brian MillerMrs Corbridge/Mrs Weiss - Helen HortonCollins/Rubin - Joe DunlopGeorge - Ian TargettCaroline Churchill/Mrs Stinson - Hilda SchroderWinifred Churchill - Barbara AtkinsonHenry/Interviewer - Paul DowningLaura - Jane SlavinFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 Sep 1989The Forum: Harry Houdini: Escape artist and showmanPresented by Rajan DatarProduced by Fiona ClampinFirst Broadcast BBC World Service, 30 Dec 2021©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Houdini & The Witch of Beacon Hill

Two Full-Cast BBC Radio Historical Dramas

Susan Hill

An extensive collection of full-cast dramatisations and long-lost original radio plays by Dame Susan Hill 
 
Award-winning author Dame Susan Hill is best known for her hit ghost story The Woman in Black and her popular ‘Simon Serailler’ detective series, but she has also written extensively for radio. This audio anthology includes full-cast adaptations of two of her early novels, plus an additional 12 BBC Radio plays, many of them available for the very first time since their original broadcasts. 
 
Gentlemen and Ladies tells of the friendship and loneliness of a family living in a small Midland village, while Strange Meeting explores the relationship between two young subalterns in the First World War. These moving dramatisations star Patricia Hayes, Stephanie Cole, Martin Jarvis and David Timson. 
 
Themes of interdependence and isolation run through all Hill’s radio plays, which she describes as dealing with ‘human beings in confrontation’. In Taking Leave, a nephew visits the family he barely knows; in Lizard in the Grass, an orphan living in a clifftop convent is persecuted by one of the nuns, in The Cold Country, tempers fray when four explorers become snowbound in Antarctica and in Consider the Lilies, an ageing bachelor who sees angels finds himself drawn to a dying girl. Richard Hurndall, Helen Worth, Terry Scully, John Rollason and Tony Britton are among the star casts. 
 
A Window on the World focuses on students Nell (Patricia Gallimore) and Jess (Julie Hallam), who are mere observers of life – until one of them acts to alter the situation. Strip Jack Naked finds sick recluse James (Ian Richardson) shaken out of his austere existence by a visit from his estranged wife, but in The Sound that Time Makes, wife and mother Fay (Patricia Gallimore) is obsessively haunted by her schooldays. And with her wedding approaching, Helena (Carole Hayman) struggles to let go of her childhood in Here Comes the Bride. 
 
Chances features two interlinked monologues, read by Dames Judi Dench and Peggy Ashcroft, in which an Irish maid at a seaside hotel ponders her life, and a guest remembers better days and higher standards. A dying Frenchwoman summons her estranged daughter in Out in the Cold, starring Pauline Letts and Fiona Walker. Finally, Winter and Autumn focus on two couples, one elderly and resident in an old folks’ home, the other middle-aged and attempting to escape the past by moving house. Doreen Mantle, Cyril Luckham, June Brown and Bernard Hepton star as the spouses searching for meaning and connection. 
 
Copyright © Susan Hill 1968 (Gentlemen and Ladies), 1971 (Strange Meeting, Taking Leave, Lizard in the Grass), 1972 (The Cold Country), 1973 (Consider the Lilies), 1975 (A Window on the World, Strip Jack Naked), 1980 (The Sound that Time Makes, Here Comes the Bride), 1981 (Chances), 1982 (Out in the Cold), 1985 (Winter), 1986 (Autumn) 
 
Contents: 
Gentlemen and Ladies 
Strange Meeting 
Taking Leave 
Lizard in the Grass 
The Cold Country 
Consider the Lilies 
A Window on the World 
Strip Jack Naked 
The Sound that Time Makes 
Here Comes the Bride 
Chances 
Out in the Cold 
Winter 
Autumn 
 
Copyright © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Susan Hill BBC Radio Drama Collection

14 Full-Cast Dramas

Dan Freedman

Nick Romero

The swashbuckling exploits of Edwardian occultist and adventurer Lord Zimbabwe, written by and starring Nick Romero and Dan Freedman Laugh out loud at this 2000s sitcom featuring the outrageous time travelling Edwardian Lord Zimbabwe (Nick Romero), and his friend the German inventor Doctor Lilac (Dan Freedman). This pacy comedy has the travelling duo racing across space and time solving mysteries and thwarting evil enemies with the help (or lack thereof) of Zimbabwe’s butler, Theremin, who refuses to carry out any of his instructions, and Schrödinger, a semi-corporeal cat that exists in a superposition of quantum states of life and death.First stop on the adventure is Ancient Egypt, where Lord Zimbabwe must swash a buckle or two! The tackiest Pharaoh civilisation ever created experiences an untimely death and unwittingly unleashes an evil curse on humanity - will the intrepid adventurers be able to save the day as well as the damsel? There is barely time for a hot buttered crumpet and a cup of tea when a mysterious Countess begs Lord Zimbabwe to win back her soul from the Lord of the Underworld. The stakes are high – if the soul is not retrieved, the Countess is destined to become a Barry Manilow fan for eternity… Soon after, the beautiful Miss Clanton summons the occultist over the seas of time to the Wild West and the town of Tombstone, where her evil uncle, the Waffle Barron is set on dastardly acts. Despite his trusty butler Theremin, refusing to carry out any of his commands, Lord Zimbabwe presses on and faces his greatest challenge yet when an American heiress is subject to a cruel alien abduction and taken into space - will Zimbabwe and Dr Lilac successfully be able to reach the moon and save her? And more importantly, will they be back in time to feed Schrödinger?This delightful comedy, written by award-winning duo Nick Romero and Dan Freedman, famous for their fast jokes and clever puns, will have you laughing from here to there and back again.Cast and creditsWritten by Dan Freedman and Nick RomeroProduced by Helen WilliamsLord Zimbabwe - Nick RomeroDr Lilac - Dan FreedmanTheremin/Ringo - Peter DonaldsonProfessor Cockcroft/Contessa Del Monte/Miss Clanton - Sophie AldredPriest/Vicar - Colin GuthrieIke Clanton/Cletus - Owen OakeshottOther parts played by the cast.First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11 Jul - 1 Aug 2000©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Ectoplasm

A BBC Radio Sitcom

William Shakespeare

Robert Louis Stevenson

Oscar Wilde

Mary Elizabeth Braddon

James Hogg

BBC radio dramatisations of classic novels featuring some of literature’s most devious and compelling villainsCunning. Corrupt. Charismatic. The degenerate characters in this collection shun conventional morality, and will stop at nothing to get what they want... These five sensational dramas, set in locations ranging from 16th century Venice to Victorian England, revolve around their unscrupulous actions – and the devastating consequences of the choices they make.Othello – Lenny Henry stars in this acclaimed production of Shakespeare's great tragedy of love turned sour by unfounded jealousy. Othello is a brave general and a noble man – but the evil manipulations of his lieutenant, Iago (Conrad Nelson) provoke his descent into deluded rage.The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde – Introduced by David Tennant, this fast-moving dramatisation tells the disturbing tale of a scientist who experiments on himself to release his uncontrollable dark side, and of the lawyer’s daughter determined to bring him to book. Starring Stuart MacQuarrie, John Dougall and Madeleine Worrell.The Picture of Dorian Gray – Vain, hedonistic aristocrat Dorian Gray makes a Faustian pact to preserve his youthful beauty. But after years of decadence and selfish pleasure, is retribution on the horizon? Jamie Glover and Ian McDiarmid star in this adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s famous novel.Lady Audley’s Secret– Newly married to rich widower Lord Audley, former governess Lucy Graham glories in the delights of her new life. When her scandalous past is discovered, she will dare anything to preserve the security and wealth she has gained… Starring Hattie Morahan, Charlotte Emerson and Alex Wyndham, this thrilling serial retains all the mystery and suspense of Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s Gothic ‘sensation novel’.Confessions of a Justified Sinner – Robert Colwan believes he is destined for salvation no matter what crimes he commits. If you can kill without paying the price, how murderous can you become? And what, if anything, does that do to your psyche? Lorn Macdonald stars in this tense, eerie reimagining of James Hogg’s seminal novel about a young man radicalised by religious fanaticism.Content listOthelloWritten by William Shakespeare 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 Feb 2010The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr HydeWritten by Robert Louis Stevenson 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 Nov 2016The Picture of Dorian GrayWritten by Oscar Wilde 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 Jan-6 Feb 2000Lady Audley’s SecretWritten by Mary Elizabeth Braddon 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 Apr-1 May 2009Confessions of a Justified SinnerWritten by James Hogg 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 Mar 2023© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Immorality Unmasked: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

Five Full-Cast Dramatisations Including Othello, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde & The Picture of Dorian Gray

Honoré De Balzac

Stunning all-star adaptations of Balzac&rsquo;s finest worksThis brilliant collection of France&rsquo;s foremost nineteenth-century novelist and playwright delivers four of his most fascinating works - stories of love, rivalry, horror and adventure - all brought to life by a stellar cast including Stephen Fry and Alex Kingston. A huge influence on many of the most famous writers from Proust to Kerouac to Dickens, Balzac delivers beautifully observed and complex characters with an unsurpassed attention to the details of society at the time, making him an exemplary of realism in European literature.Pere Goriot - Dramatised in four parts, this is the story of Eugene, who has discovered that the mysterious Pere Goriot has two daughters who could provide the key to his entry into Parisian society&hellip; Starring Stephen Fry as the author Balzac and Alex Kingston as Delphine.Ursule Mirouet (The Inheritance) - 74 year old Dr Minoret has returned to live out his final days in his home town. His grasping nephews and nieces eagerly await his demise but the good doctor seems to favour his charming young ward, Ursule. What lengths are his family prepared to go to secure their inheritance? Starring Elizabeth Cassidy in the title role of this three-part production.The Mysterious Mansion - A grisly tale set in La Grande Breteche, the ruins of an abandoned house and neglected garden. Balzac is determined to uncover the story behind its tragic secrets&hellip; David Calder stars as the author.The Black Sheep - Balzac&rsquo;s classic tale of family rivalry set in 19th-century France. Philippe Bridau returns from the battle of Waterloo and steals from his mother to finance his gambling habit. It's left to his brother Joseph to rescue the family from destitution, but at what cost? Can he betray his own sibling? Geoffrey Whitehead leads the cast in the role of narrator.A wonderful collection from a superb author, performed by a stunning cast, this is a must listen for any fan of classic literature.Cast and creditsWritten by Honoré De BalzacPere GoriotFeaturing: Stephen Fry, Douglas Hodge, David Ross, Geoffrey Banks, Alex Kingston, Noreen Kershaw, Ian Mercer, Romy Baskerville, John Griffin, Clare Dow, Barbara Marten, Paul Broughton, Robin PolleyDramatised by David HopkinsDirected by Kate RowlandFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 Sep 1992Ursule Mirouet (The Inheritance) Featuring: Margot Boyd, Ronald Herdman, Alan Devereux, Patricia Gallimore, Haydn Jones, Sean Barrett, Stephen Thorne, Terry Molloy, Edward Kelsey, Patricia Gibson, Denys Hawthorne, Elizabeth Cassidy, Penelope Shaw, Geoffrey Matthews, Alexander JohnDramatised by Joan O&rsquo;ConnorDirected by Roger PineFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 Apr 1980The Mysterious MansionFeaturing: David Calder, Dorien Thomas, Dillwyn Owen, Tessa Gearing, Christopher Grimes, Marilyn Le Conte, Nigel Carrington, Manon Edwards, Alan TownerDramatised by Peter MackieDirected by David HunterFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7 Oct 1993The Black SheepFeaturing: Geoffrey Whitehead, Matthew Pidgeon, Briony McRoberts, Thomas Arnold, Alan Cox, Timothy Bateson, Lucy Paterson, Christian Rodska, Colette O'Neil, Jon Glover, Nyasha Hatendi, Chris PavloDramatised by Chris NolanDirected by Bruce YoungFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 Aug 2008&copy;2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Honoré De Balzac: Pere Goriot, The Black Sheep & more

Four BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisations

Walter de la Mare

Full-cast dramatisations and readings of classic tales by Walter de la Mare &ndash; plus bonus material. 
 
An award-wining poet, short story writer and novelist, Walter de la Mare is probably best known for his works for children and his perennially popular poem &lsquo;The Listeners&rsquo;. His ghost stories were much admired by H. P. Lovecraft and inspired subsequent authors of supernatural horror such as Robert Aickman and Ramsey Campbell. 
 
In 1921, his novel Memoirs of a Midget won the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction, and this haunting, surrealistic tale is the opening tale in our anthology. It tells the extraordinary life story of the diminutive Miss M, who struggles to find her place in Victorian society. Torn between her obsessive suitor Mr Anon and the cruel, beautiful Fanny Bowater, she seeks freedom in the dangerous world of the circus&hellip; Emma Fielding stars as Miss M, with Robert Glenister, Sylvestra Le Touzel and Anna Massey. 
 
Based on de la Mare&rsquo;s 1923 short story and starring Samuel West and Margaret Robertson, &lsquo;Seaton&rsquo;s Aunt&rsquo; sees Rupert Withers recalling the sinister relative of a boyhood friend &ndash; a woman he met just three times, but who left an indelible impression. Ghost Stories of Walter de la Mare contains four more uncanny tales &ndash; &lsquo;All Hallows&rsquo; (read by Richard E. Grant), &lsquo;Crewe&rsquo; (read by Kenneth Cranham), &lsquo;A Recluse&rsquo; (read by Anthony Head) and &lsquo;The Almond Tree&rsquo; (read by Julian Wadham). It is followed by a dramatisation of &lsquo;The Trumpet&rsquo;, starring Garard Green, in which a rector&rsquo;s son meets his best friend in church one moonlit night for a dare that ends in disaster. 
 
Also included are two bonus programmes celebrating the poetry of Walter de la Mare. In Adventures in Poetry: The Listeners, Peggy Reynolds introduces a reading of the much-loved poem, and explores its background, effect and lasting appeal with guests Russell Hoban, Sean Street and de la Mare&rsquo;s grandson Giles. And in Three Score and Ten, Ian Macmillan presents an archive recording from Christmas Day 1953 of Walter de la Mare reading his poems &lsquo;England&rsquo; and &lsquo;The Little Salamander&rsquo;. 
 
Credits 
Written by Walter de la Mare 
 
First published 1921 (Memoirs of a Midget), 1923 (&lsquo;Seaton&rsquo;s Aunt&rsquo;, &lsquo;The Almond Tree&rsquo;), 1926 (&lsquo;All Hallows&rsquo;), 1930 (&lsquo;Crewe&rsquo;, &lsquo;A Recluse&rsquo;), 1936 (&lsquo;The Trumpet&rsquo;) 
 
Memoirs of a Midget 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 March-2 April 1993 
Please note that the language used reflects the era in which the original novel was written. 
 
&lsquo;Seaton&rsquo;s Aunt&rsquo; 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 December 1995 
 
Ghost Stories of Walter de la Mare 
First broadcast BBC Radio 7, 24-28 December 2010 
 
The Trumpet 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 April 1986 
 
Adventures in Poetry: The Listeners 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 November 2008 
 
Three Score and Ten 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 October 2016 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Surreal and Supernatural Stories of Walter de la Mare

A BBC Radio Collection

Rosemary Timperley

Haunting tales from legendary writer Rosemary Timperley Delve into the world of Rosemary Timperley if you dare! In this chilling collection, discover ten chilling full-cast dramatisations of sinister stories and suspenseful tales and immerse yourself in a totally unique listening experience. Recorded with a full musical score, these standalone tales are perfect for fans of the supernatural and will raise goosebumps on even the warmest of days.Listen to ten of Timperley’s most thrilling tales, available to download as a collection for the first time and discover a terrifying and haunting world from a talented writer like no other.Walk on the Water - A young girl finds her whole life blighted by an encounter with a mysterious stranger.Listen to the Silence - Mary must face her fears but can she refuse an offer made by a strange voice claiming to be her grandfather?Channel Crossing - Can a holiday overcome the issues dividing a bickering family? Starring Peter Sallis and Nicholas Lyndhurst.Shadows of the Past - An amnesiac seeks answers in the house where he was traumatised as a child.Mists of Memory - Young cellist Janet meets a confused old man who seems oddly familiar. But what does he mean by 'music is where I live’?Dare Game - A chance meeting of old school friends revives memories of a very dangerous game…Little Girl Lost - Can Mrs. Grove really talk with her husband beyond the grave?Where are you, Juliet? - Rowena moves into a flat haunted by the presence of its previous owner, Juliet. But where is she and what is the mystery surrounding her disappearance?Hanged on Tuesday - Married on a Tuesday? A haunting exploration of the old folklore saying…Christmas Meeting - A woman is alone on Christmas, and it can be the loneliest day in the world.Born in 1920, Rose Timperley authored over 60 novels as well as hundreds of short stories and feature articles for the most popular publications of the day. A writer in tune with her society and its treatment of women, Timperley injects horror into her work in a way that makes her stories as relevant now as when they were written. Her work has been collected in many anthologies, including Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories. Timperley also wrote several acclaimed radio and television scripts with her short story Harry adapted into film several times.Please note: Due to the age of the recordings, the sound quality may vary.©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution LtdCreditsAll pieces written by Rosemary Timperley 
With thanks to Keith Wickham for sourcing audio files.Walk on the Water First Broadcast on the BBC World Service, Nov 1979Listen to the Silence First Broadcast on the BBC World Service, Jan 1982Channel Crossing First Broadcast on the BBC World Service, 5 Jul 1984Shadows of the PastFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 Feb 1972Mists of Memory First broadcast on the BBC World Service, Mar 1982Little Girl Lost First broadcast on the BBC World Service, Oct 1979Dare Game First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme, Apr 1964Where are you, Juliet? First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Oct 1987Hanged on TuesdayFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 Jan 1971Christmas Meeting First Broadcast on BBC Home Service Basic, 19 Dec 1963

Haunted: Tales of the Supernatural

Ten Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

Algernon Blackwood

A collection of strange and fantastical tales from Algernon Blackwood, plus bonus documentaries 
 
Described by H P Lovecraft as 'the one absolute and unquestioned master of weird atmosphere', Algernon Blackwood (CBE) was the acclaimed and prolific author of numerous ghost stories and horror tales. Throughout his lifetime, he wrote 14 novels, several children's books, a number of plays, and over 200 short stories. 
 
This anthology opens with a selection of stories featuring his most influential character, occult detective Dr John Silence. The inspiration for the famous horror movie Cat People, 'Ancient Sorceries' (read by Philip Madoc), sees a timid tourist becoming enchanted by a sleepy French town whose residents have an oddly feline manner. It is followed by four chilling dramatisations starring Malcolm Hayes as Silence. In The Nemesis of Fire, the psychic doctor investigates eldritch events at an English manor house; while Secret Worship is a chilling tale of haunting and evil in a Bavarian forest. A wilderness trip turns terrifying in The Camp of the Dog, and in The Empty Sleeve, a virtuoso violinist's desire for a rare instrument has dire consequences. 
 
Next up are three gripping standalone dramas: The Decoy (starring George Baker and Susan Jameson); Keeping His Promise (starring Eric Deacon and Christopher Neame) and The Human Chord (starring Philip Skale). 
 
Also included is Violet Pearn's captivating fantasy play The Starlight Express, adapted from Blackwood's imaginative children's novel A Prisoner in Fairyland and starring Denis Dowling, Patrick Barr and Cecile Chavreau. This is followed by The Willows, read by Roger Allam: a claustrophobic tale of suspense and terror, as two companions camp on a remote island and become convinced they see a body in the water. 
 
Three eerie supernatural stories are narrated by Blackwood himself in long-lost gems from the BBC Archive. They centre around mysterious encounters with a depressed Englishwoman ('The Occupant of the Room'), a man who was frightened to death ('The Woman's Ghost Story'), and the spectral presence of a town ('The Destruction of Smith'), and are followed by a quartet of strange stories ('Algernon Blackwood Tells a Strange Story'). 
 
To conclude, two bonus documentary programmes, presented by Blackwood, delve into his life and career. The Genesis of Ideas sees him revealing the sources of his material, while the reflective On Being Eighty finds him looking back on his many years of experience and experiment. 
 
Written by Algernon Blackwood. 
 
First published 1906 ('Keeping His Promise'), 1907 ('The Willows', 'The Woman's Ghost Story'), 1908 ('Ancient Sorceries', 'The Nemesis of Fire', 'Secret Worship', 'The Camp of the Dog'), 1910 ('The Human Chord'), 1911 ('The Empty Sleeve'), 1912 ('The Destruction of Smith'), 1916 ('The Starlight Express'), 1917 ('The Occupant of the Room'), 1921 ('The Decoy'), 1948 ('A Japanese Literary Cocktail') 
 
Special thanks to Keith Wickham for sourcing audio files. 
 
Contents List 
 
Ancient Sorceries 
The Nemesis of Fire 
Secret Worship 
The Camp of the Dog 
The Empty Sleeve 
The Decoy 
Keeping His Promise 
The Human Chord 
The Starlight Express 
The Willows 
The Occupant of the Room 
The Woman's Ghost Story 
The Destruction of Smith 
Algernon Blackwood Tells a Strange Story 
The Genesis of Ideas 
On Being EightyContent Note: Contains some dated references that reflect the language and attitudes of the time. 
&copy; 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Algernon Blackwood BBC Radio Collection

17 Supernatural Dramas and Ghost Stories

Arthur Conan Doyle

BBC Radio dramatisations and readings of some of Arthur Conan Doyle's other works - plus extracts from his letters and a bonus drama by Bert Coules 
 
Arthur Conan Doyle is well known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, but he also wrote numerous works in which the great detective played no part. Included here is a selection of the best, ranging from science fiction to tales of supernatural terror and rip-roaring adventures set in Jacobean and Regency England. 
 
Our collection opens with the first of three dramas featuring the hot-tempered, larger-than-life scientist and explorer Professor Challenger. 'The Lost World' stars David Robb as Challenger, he heads on an expedition to a plateau in the Amazon Basin. Following this drama we have two further dramatisations starring Bill Paterson as Challenger this time. In 'When the World Screamed', he sets out on a bold mission to be recognised by Mother Earth, while 'The Disintegration Machine' sees him investigating dastardly Latvian inventor Theodore Nemor. 
 
'The Captain of the Polestar' drama tells the chilling story of a ship trapped in the Arctic, and stars Alec Heggie as Craigie, a man haunted by a strange apparition. 
 
Also included are the short stories 'Playing With Fire', 'How It Happened', 'One Crowded Hour', 'The Fall of Lord Barrymore', 'The Sealed Room' and 'The Lost Special' (read by Edward de Souza, Sam Dale, Christopher Harper and David Schofield), and the fascinating series Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters, in which Forbes Masson and John Dougal read extracts from his correspondence to his mother about marriage, fatherhood, killing off Holmes and going into politics. Finally, how the author ran for Parliament in 1900 and lost is explored in Bert Coules' biographical drama Vote For Conan Doyle!, starring John Sessions. 
 
First published 1883 ('The Captain of the Polestar'), 1898 ('The Sealed Room', 'The Lost Special'), 1900 ('Playing With Fire'), 1911 ('One Crowded Hour'), 1912 ('The Lost World'), 1912 ('The Fall of Lord Barrymore'), 1913 ('How It Happened'), 1928 ('When The World Screamed'), 1929 ('The Disintegration Machine'), 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 
 
Track list 
Dramatisations 
1. Professor Challenger: The Lost World Episode 1- A Bridge to the Unknown 
2. Professor Challenger: The Lost World Episode 2 - Our Eyes Have Seen Great Wonders 
3. Professor Challenger: When The World Screamed 
4. Professor Challenger: The Disintegration Machine 
5. The Captain of the Polestar 
Short Stories 
6. Playing With Fire 
7. How It Happened 
8. One Crowded Hour 
9. The Fall of Lord Barrymore 
10. The Sealed Room 
11. The Lost Special 
Bonus content 
12. Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters 
13. Vote for Conan Doyle! 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Arthur Conan Doyle: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

Jonathan Holloway

Briony Glassco

Philip Martin

Natalia Power

Gregory Evans

Five full-cast BBC Radio Dramas to send a chill up the spine 
 
Thrilling, creepy, and utterly unforgettable, these five stories of strange voices, haunting passions, and terrifying nightmares will stay with you forever... 
 
In No Conferring, four students from Bracewell College, Cambridge, attempt a Christmas bonding week in order to prepare for their upcoming University Challenge appearance. But the isolated moorland cottage stay soon goes very, very wrong. Written by Jonathan Holloway. 
 
Myrtle, Mahonia and Rue finds a young landscape gardener who loves her work, but will do anything to escape the terrible nightmares she suffers from. Her only hope is a drastic course of action... Written by Bryony Glassco. 
 
Voices from Another Room sees an artist troubled by the voices he thinks he's hearing - voices discussing his murder. And what is worse: the voices are in the future, and the murder is due to happen at any moment. Written by Philip Martin. 
 
In Sally Go Round the Moon, Sally is working hard at her job - perhaps too hard. Is it stress that's making her hear the voice of a child no one else can? Or is she really being haunted? Written by Natalia Power. 
 
Ghosting is the tale of a young novelist, who agrees to some ghostwriting work on the memoir of supermodel Vita. Soon he discovers exactly how seductive Vita is - but how much will he risk for his work, and for Vita herself? Written by Gregory Evans. 
 
Featuring a star-studded cast including Neil Dudgeon (Midsomer Murders, Life of Riley, Common as Muck), Claire Cage (Casualty, Submarine), Damian Lynch (EastEnders, Tommies, Little Britain), Jaimi Barbakoff (The Archers, Black Mirror, The Power), Lydia Leonard (The Crown, Gentleman Jack, Ten Percent), Rachel Atkins (Absolute Power, Ed Reardon's Week, Mrs Sidhu Investigates), Jimi Mistry (Coronation Street, East is East, The Syndicate), and Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyle's War, Lewis), this is just the collection for those who love the chilling, spine-tingling dramas of The Man in Black, The Price of Fear, and Fear on 4. 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A Sting in the Tale

Five Eerie Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramas

Guy de Maupassant

BBC Radio adaptations of selected novels and short stories by the great 19th century French writer - plus bonus programmes 
 
Guy de Maupassant is renowned as one of the fathers of the modern short story. A protégé of Flaubert, he was celebrated for his naturalistic fiction, and wrote over 300 short stories, six novels, three travel books and one volume of verse in his short but highly productive lifetime. He died in an asylum aged just 43. 
 
This collection brings together dramatisations of some of his finest works. Adapted by Sony Award-winning dramatist Frances Byrnes, Bel Ami chronicles the corrupt rise of charming, ruthless journalist Georges Duroy (Jonathan Slinger). It is followed by Maupassant's most famous short story, 'The Dumpling', a satirical tale of a group of coach travellers fleeing occupied Rouen during the Franco-Prussian war. Dramatised for the first time on radio, it stars Miriam Margolyes. 
 
Set in Le Havre, Pierre et Jean centres around the jealousy that springs up between two brothers when a family secret is uncovered. Benedict Sandiford stars as Pierre, with Tim Treloar as Jean. Maupassant's tragicomic debut novel, Une Vie, starring Aimee Ffion Edwards, tells the story of Jeanne, a naive convent-educated aristocrat who dreams of romance, but finds marriage and adulthood treacherous and rotten. The haunting wintry tale 'The Inn' is next, in which young mountain guide Ulrich (Robin Laing) finds himself in sole charge of a remote Alpine hotel. 
 
A hidden past is also at the heart of 'Mademoiselle Pearl', a poignant love story starring Claire Neilson and Frank Middlemass. Alongside it is 'The Hand', the macabre supernatural tale of an English aristocrat, his gruesome trophy and his vengeful nemesis. Denis Quilley stars as Sir John Rowell. 
 
Also featured are two bonus dramas and a documentary about the great author. Confessions of a Hedonist is a phantasmagorical journey through five of Maupassant's most personal stories: 'A Strange Night Out', 'Mouche', 'Laid To Rest', 'Cockcrow' and 'Le Horla'. Adapted and translated by Simon Scardifield, it stars Elliot Cowan and Holli Dempsey. How an Umbrella Changed Everything, written by Shirley Cooklin and based on an idea by Maupassant, tells of a childless couple whose obsessive frugality has fateful repercussions. Nigel Lambert and Sheila Grant star as Charles and Clothilde Oreille. Finally, Meridian: Guy de Maupassant - Master of the Short Story explores Maupassant's life, work and lasting legacy. 
 
First published 1880 ('The Dumpling'), 1883 (Une Vie, 'The Hand'), 1885 (Bel-Ami), 1886 ('The Inn', 'Mademoiselle Pearl'), 1887 (Pierre et Jean, 'Le Horla'), c1890 ('Mouche', 'A Queer Night in Paris', 'Laid to Rest', 'Cockcrow') 
 
Production credits 
Written by Guy de Maupassant 
 
Contents: 
 
Bel Ami 
 
The Dumpling 
 
Pierre and Jean 
 
Une Vie 
 
The Inn 
 
Mademoiselle Pearl 
 
The Hand 
 
Maupassant's Confessions of a Hedonist 
 
How an Umbrella Changed Everything 
 
Meridian: Guy de Maupassant - Master of the Short Story 
 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Guy de Maupassant BBC Radio Drama Collection

Full-cast dramatisations of Un Vie, Bel Ami & more

Sheila Hodgson

A series of full-cast ghost stories based on plots by M. R. James 
 
In 1929, M. R. James penned an essay called 'Stories I Have Tried to Write', in which he detailed plots that had failed to blossom and fragments of tales that never materialised, recalling them 'for the benefit of someone else'. In this BBC Radio series, Sheila Hodgson takes advantage of his generosity, fleshing out these sketchy ideas into full-blown dramas. Some are narrated by M. R. James himself, while others feature the author as a character, caught up in strange, inexplicable events. 
 
The Whisper in the Ear - M. R. James recounts the curious affair of young undergraduate Robert Stafford and his mysterious train companion. 
 
Turn Turn Turn - The Cambridge provost tells a chilling cautionary tale of witchcraft in Cambridge, in an attempt to heal a rift between a vicar and his son. 
 
The Backward Glance - The unsettling story of a mysterious 18th-century mask made of black silk - and skin... 
 
Here Am I, Where Are You? - The tale of a cursed professor with a curious red book, a wayward nephew and a Georgian tankard. 
 
Echoes from the Abbey - An invitation to spend Christmas at Medborough Abbey leads to a ghostly encounter for distinguished academic Dr James. 
 
The Lodestone - A young illustrator becomes obsessed with drawing the gravestone of a 17th-century witch. 
 
The Boat Hook - Visiting Trondheim Cathedral, Dr James is unsettled by the appearance of a small model boat... 
 
David March and Michael Williams star in these haunting supernatural dramas, which will thrill all fans of M. R. James' original ghost stories. 
 
NB: Due to the age of some of the recordings, the sound quality may vary 
 
Written by Sheila Hodgson 
Based on ideas by M.R. James 
Directed by David Johnston 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

M. R. James: Stories I Have Tried to Write

Seven Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramas

Colin Haydn Evans

David Campton

Jill Hyem

Don Webb

Four hair-raising tales of terror, as heard on BBC Radio 4 
 
'Three hours worth of spooky entertainment ... there are some terrific performances to be enjoyed here' Entertainment Focus 
 
In these four supernatural dramas, first broadcast on radio in 1984, a house hides more than meets the eye; a B &amp; B landlady helps her guests forget their troubles; a Japanese man inadvertently awakens a vengeful spirit; and a mother and baby become unsettled in remote mill. 
 
 
Written by Colin Haydn Evans, David Campton, Jill Hyem and Don Webb, and starring Anna Massey, Rosemary Leach, Sean Barrett, and Pam Ferris, these eerie, atmospheric stories are guaranteed to give you goosebumps. Just don't listen with the lights off... 
 
Figures - Stuck in a marriage of convenience, unhappy Ann is searching for a refuge. So as soon as she sees the house, she knows it has to be hers. Its past is part of her future - all she has to do is sit in the upstairs room, kept locked for so long, and wait... 
 
Mrs M - Mrs Meadowsweet offers visitors to her country guesthouse a truly carefree holiday. Everybody is so happy. A little abstracted, perhaps, but certainly happy. New arrivals Madge and Arthur are suspicious, but can Mrs M win them over? 
 
Origami - When mild-mannered Mr Shimojo takes a room in Mrs Bestall's house, he becomes an instant hit with her young daughter, teaching her the Japanese art of paper folding. But no one is prepared for the sequence of horrifying events which his presence seems to generate... 
 
Witch Water Green - Barbara Tate and her baby girl are all alone in their new home - a converted mill deep in the countryside. The move has been stressful; Barbara is lonely and the baby is fretful. But there's another, deeper reason for her uneasiness... 
 
Cast and credits 
Figures 
Ann - Anna Massey 
Ralph Symons - Blain Fairman 
Rebecca Symons - Jill Lidstone 
Peter Fuller - Jon Strickland 
Alex Slade - Michael Bilton 
 
Written by Colin Haydn Evans 
Directed by Ian Cotterell 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 February 1984 
 
Mrs M 
Mrs Meadowsweet - Rosemary Leach 
Madge - Anne Jameson 
Arthur - Roger Hume 
Simon - Terry Molloy 
Miss Brazenose - Joyce Gibbs 
Inga - Patricia Gallimore 
 
Written by David Campton 
Directed by Peter Windows 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 February 1984 
 
Origami 
Mr Shimojo - Sean Barrett 
Helen Bestall - Carole Boyd 
Peter Trent - Christopher Scoular 
Lucy Bestall - Helen Worth 
 
Written by Jill Hyem 
Directed by Kay Patrick 
Pronunciation adviser: Masatoshi Tobia 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 February 1982 
 
Witch Water Green 
Barbara Tate - Pam Ferris 
Dr Jane Rayner - Jenny Lee 
The Rev Roy Brown - Nigel Anthony 
Johnny Goad - Brian Southwood 
Wendy Williams - Kate Lee 
 
Written by Don Webb 
Directed by Tony Cliff 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 March 1984 
 
&copy; 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Spine Chillers

A BBC Radio 4 Horror Collection

A thrilling collection of dramatisations from the classic Scottish master of tales 
 
Robert Louis Stevenson was a novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer, and created some of the most famous and influential characters in modern literature. From Long John Silver and David Balfour to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, his figures swiftly became the shorthand for piracy, monstrous medicine, and the slave trade in America. A master of atmosphere and an enthusiast of foreign travel, Stevenson wrote countless stories which have been enjoyed in film, television and theatre adaptations throughout the years. 
 
In this fantastic collection, enjoy the ripping adventures of Treasure Island, with young Jim Hawkins discovering a treasure map in a pirate's chest and soon finding himself drawn into a world of danger and high seas adventure with the charismatic Long John Silver. The next two stories are introduced by David Tennant (Doctor Who, Good Omens): Kidnapped, the thrilling tale of one young man's escape from the Jacobite rebellions, only to be press-ganged onto a slave ship heading for the plantations of America, and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the terrifying story of a scientist experimenting on himself, and the terrible dark discovery he makes, featuring Stuart McQuarrie (The Crown, Shetland) and John Dougall (The Girl on the Train, Holby City). 
 
Five further stories follow: 'The Bottle Imp', a twisted tale about a magic bottle, The Master of Ballantrae, a buccaneering tale of two rival brothers, and Weir of Hermiston, Stevenson's unfinished novel of passion and rebellion in the Lowlands. In 'Olalla', a family is hiding a terrible secret in the Spanish hills, and in 'Markheim', an unusual stranger is suspiciously helpful. 
 
Finally, two fascinating pieces of non-fiction: Travels with a Donkey, Stevenson's account of attempting to travel the French mountains with only a donkey for company and Great Lives, an episode of the series featuring Stevenson as the examined life. 
 
Starring such acclaimed actors as David Tennant, Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey, Lovejoy), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Mary Queen of Scots) and Alan Cumming (The High Life, The Good Wife), this is a collection not to be missed by any fan of literature or adventure. 
 
Contents List 
 
Treasure Island 
 
Kidnapped 
 
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 
 
'The Bottle Imp' 
 
The Master of Ballantrae 
 
Weir of Hermiston 
 
'Olalla' 
 
'Markheim' 
 
Travels with a Donkey 
 
Great Lives - Robert Louis Stevenson 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Robert Louis Stevenson: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

Treasure Island, Kidnapped, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and more

Mary Shelley

Lucy Catherine

Rebecca Lenkiewicz

Ann Ratcliffe

Mary Braddon

Edith Nesbit

Edith Wharton

Elizabeth Bowen

Howard Brenton

Bram Stoker

A chilling collection of classic gothic horror and ghost stories adapted or written by women 
 
In this breathtaking collection of gothic horror and eerie tales, draw the curtains and pull the blankets close for two classic Victorian horror tales in new adaptations, Dracula starring Nicky Henson, Charles Edwards, Don Gilet and Ellie Kendrick and Frankenstein, with Jamie Parker (Harry Potter) as Frankenstein and Shaun Dooley (Gentleman Jack, Broadchurch) as the Monster. Next is a thrilling drama about the scandalous Mary Shelley and Lord Byron in Bloody Poetry. In the sensational psycho-sexual thriller The Mysteries of Udolpho with Robert Glenister (Suspicion, Spooks), a young woman is trapped in a castle of nightmares and villains. But who can she trust? 
 
Four spine-chilling dramatised tales follow: The Cold Embrace, where a handsome artist makes a terrible mistake, Man-size in Marble, in which newly-weds must face a horrifying truth, Afterward sees a couple paying the price for an unexpected windfall, and The Demon Lover, featuring Jenny Howe (Silent Witness, Eastenders) about a woman struggling home through the Blitz. 
 
Finally, two of Mary Shelley's finest short stories, 'The Mortal Immortal '- when a young apprentice drinks a potion to cure his heartbreak but discovers a feeling far worse - and 'Rodger Dodworth: The Reanimated Englishman' - where a man is woken after 170 years encased in ice. 
 
Cast and credits 
 
Dracula 
Written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz 
Story written by Bram Stoker 
Directed by Jessica Dromgoole 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 14 October 2012 
 
Frankenstein 
Dramatised by Lucy Catherine 
Written by Mary Shelley 
Directed by Marc Beeby 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 28 October - 4 November 2012 
 
Bloody Poetry 
Written by Howard Brenton 
Adapted by Alison Hindell 
Directed by Alison Hindell 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 20 October 2012 
 
The Mysteries of Udolpho 
Written by Ann Radcliffe 
Dramatised by Catherine Czerkawska 
Directed by David Blount 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 13 October - 24 October 1996 
 
The Cold Embrace 
Written by Mary Braddon 
Produced by Marion Nancarrow 
Directed by Christopher Hawes 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 26 July 1997 
 
Man-size in Marble 
Written by Edith Nesbit 
Produced by Marion Nancarrow 
Dramatised by Christopher Hawes 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 17 November 1997 
 
Afterward 
Written by Edith Wharton 
Produced by Marion Nancarrow 
Directed by Christopher Hawes 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 24 November 1997 
 
The Demon Lover 
Written by Elizabeth Bowen 
Produced by Marion Nancarrow 
Directed by Christopher Hawes 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 17 July 1997 
 
'The Mortal Immortal' 
Written by Mary Shelley 
Produced by Gemma Jenkins 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 3 December 2005 
 
'Rodger Dodworth: The Reanimated Englishman' 
Written by Mary Shelley 
Produced by John Cardy 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 24 May 1982 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Gothic Imagination: Dracula, Frankenstein & more

A BBC Radio Drama Collection

Three classic stories from the 'Queen of Sensation Fiction' - plus bonus documentary 
Mary Elizabeth Braddon was one of the most important and influential female novelists of the 19th Century, and the founder (alongside Wilkie Collins) of the popular 'sensation fiction' genre. This collection features her best-known novel, Lady Audley's Secret, a thrilling tale of bigamy, murder and arson that outraged Victorian society on its first release - and was an instant bestseller. Also included are two atmospheric short stories and an edition of Sensational Women exploring her life and work. 
 
Lady Audley's Secret - Lucy Graham gains all the wealth she desires through her marriage to the devoted Sir Michael Audley. But her newfound security is threatened when young lawyer Robert Audley sets out to uncover the truth about her hidden past. Hattie Morahan, Charlotte Emmerson, Alex Wyndham and Sam Dale star in this electrifying dramatisation. 
 
 
The Cold Embrace - When Josef, a handsome young German artist, betrays his delicate fiancée, her vengeance is eerily appropriate... This chilling adaptation of Mary Elizabeth Braddon's ghostly story stars Stephanie Turner, Jonathan Firth and Alison Pettitt. 
 
Samuel Lowgood's Revenge - An impoverished clerk discovers that his rival in love has defrauded their employer. But what should he do with this knowledge? Barbara Flynn reads Braddon's 1861 tale of jealousy and retribution. 
 
Sensational Women: Mary Braddon - Sarah Dunant takes a look at the notorious sensation author, who was condemned for rotting the moral fibre of a whole generation of young women. 
 
First published 1860 ('The Cold Embrace'), 1861 ('Samuel Lowgood's Revenge'), 1862 (Lady Audley's Secret) 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Mary Elizabeth Braddon 
 
Lady Audley's Secret 
Mary Braddon - Hattie Morahan 
Lucy, Lady Audley - Charlotte Emmerson 
Sir Michael Audley - Sam Dale 
Phoebe Marks - Lizzy Watts 
Luke Marks - Benjamin Askew 
Robert Audley - Alex Wyndham 
George Talboys - Joseph Kloska 
Alicia Audley - Perdita Weeks 
Lieutenant Maldon - Jonathan Tafler 
Mr Dawson/Landlord - Paul Rider 
Mrs Vincent - Charlotte West-Oram 
Tonks - Deborah McAndrew 
Dramatised by Theresa Heskins 
Directed by Julie Beckett and Fiona Kelcher 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 April-1 May 2009 
 
The Cold Embrace 
Mary Braddon - Stephanie Turner 
Josef - Jonathan Firth 
Gertrude - Alison Pettitt 
Father - John Hartley 
Postmaster - Ioan Meredith 
Passenger - Hugh Dickson 
Woman - Carolyn Jones 
Fisherman - Chris Pavlo 
Parisienne - Tracy-Ann Oberman 
Dramatised by Christopher Hawes 
Produced by Marion Nancarrow 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 June 1997 
 
Samuel Lowgood's Revenge 
Read by Barbara Flynn 
Produced by Rebecca Nicholson 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18 November 1998 
 
Sensational Women: Mary Braddon 
Presented by Sarah Dunant 
Extracts read by Sally Beauman 
Produced by Lore Windemuth 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 October 1996 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Mary Elizabeth Braddon: Lady Audley’s Secret & more

A BBC Radio 4 Gothic Drama Collection

Sheridan Le Fanu

Dramatisations and readings of Sheridan Le Fanu's best-known Gothic masterpieces 
 
One of the leading ghost story writers of the Victorian era, Sheridan Le Fanu is renowned for his chilling tales of mystery and horror. His pioneering lesbian vampire novella Carmilla was a major influence on Bram Stoker's Dracula, and spawned numerous film adaptations including Hammer Horror's Karnstein Trilogy. 
 
Opening this anthology is a dramatisation of that classic tale, starring Anne-Marie Duff as Laura, the lonely girl living in a solitary Austrian castle, who strikes up a dangerous friendship with the mysterious, bewitching Carmilla. It is followed by Ian MacDiarmid's reading of 'Schalken the Painter', the eerie story of a 17th Century Flemish artist in love with his master's daughter. 
 
Le Fanu's suspenseful Gothic thriller, Uncle Silas, about a young heiress placed under the guardianship of her father's disgraced brother, is dramatised with a full cast including Teresa Gallagher, George Cole, Joan Sims and Dorothy Tutin. Also featured is The Le Fanu Ballads, a supernatural portmanteau drama bridging Le Fanu's era and our world today. Based on the short stories 'The Watcher', 'Madam Crowl's Ghost', 'Schalken the Painter' and 'Mr Justice Harbottle', and set in a basement nightclub in Dublin, it stars Paul Chahidi, Haydn Gwynne and Jonathan Forbes. 
 
One unabridged readings conclude our collection. In 'The Ghost and the Bonesetter', read by Sean Barrett, a terrified house-sitter receives an unusual request from the tyrannical spirit of a local squire. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Sheridan Le Fanu 
First published 1838 ('The Ghost and the Bonesetter'), 1839 ('Schalken the Painter'), 1847 ('The Watcher'), 1864 (Uncle Silas), 1871 ('Madam Crowl's Ghost'), 1872 (Carmilla, 'Mr Justice Harbottle') 
 
Carmilla 
Cast: Anne-Marie Duff, Brana Bajic, David Warner, Celia Imrie, Jacqueline Pearce, Nigel Anthony, Roger May, Kenneth Cranham 
Dramatised by Don McCamphill. Produced by Lawrence Jackson 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 June 2003 
 
Schalken the Painter 
Read by Ian McDiarmid. Produced by Lawrence Jackson 
First broadcast BBC Radio 7, 29-30 May 2006 
 
Uncle Silas 
Cast: Teresa Gallagher, Graham Crowden, Dorothy Tutin, Joan Sims, Kathleen Byron, Tessa Worsley, John Hartley, Jonathan Keeble, Roger May, Geoffrey Whitehead, Stephen Critchlow, George Cole, Jane Whittenshaw, George A Cooper, Becky Hindley, Pauline Letts, David Collings, John Evitts, Linda Regan, Joan Littlewood 
Dramatised by Alan Drury. Directed by Enyd Williams 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8-22 October 1995 
 
The Le Fanu Ballads 
Cast: Paul Chahidi, Haydn Gwynne, Jonathan Forbes, Ruth Everett, Matthew Durkan, Alexandra Hannant, Rebecca Crankshaw, Chris Jack, Michael Begley, Neil McCaul. 
Sheridan Le Fanu's ghost stories adapted by Neil Brand 
Directed by Tracey Neale. 
Music composed and played by Neil Brand, with 'Nuala's Ballad' sung by Ruth Everett 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 April 2022 
 
The Ghost and the Bonesetter 
Read by Sean Barrett. Produced by Gemma Jenkins 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 September 2001 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

J. Sheridan Le Fanu: A BBC Radio Full-Cast Gothic Horror Collection

Carmilla, Uncle Silas, Shalker the Painter & more

R D Wingfield

Five full-cast BBC Radio thrillers from renowned crime writer R.D. Wingfield 
 
Author and dramatist R.D. Wingfield was best known for creating one of Britain's most beloved fictional policemen, Inspector Jack Frost, who featured in 10 bestselling books and a hit ITV series starring David Jason. This collection includes the radio precursor to the novels and TV show, A Touch of Frost, plus four more gripping dramas. 
 
A Touch of Frost - DI Frost is tough, rough and rude. He does things his way - and gets results. But when Denton CID is faced with a spate of major crimes, including rape, robbery, a missing girl and a hit-and-run incident, he finds himself under pressure... Derek Martin stars as Jack Frost. 
 
Det Con Webster - Haydn Wood 
Det Chief Insp Cull - Stephen Thorne 
Supt Mullett - Alan Dudley 
Sergeant Wells - Ellis Dale 
PC Fletcher - Stanley Page 
WPC Susan Dean - Jill Lidstone 
Det Sgt Ingram - Gordon Reid 
PC Smith - Andrew Byatt 
Paula Grey - Alex Marshall 
Kitty Reynolds - June Brown 
Freddie Bicknall - Richard Gold-Parry 
Directed by Peter King 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 February 1982 
 
Outbreak of Fear - When Sergeant Fowler investigates a brutal death in the sleepy West Country fishing village of Polford, he soon discovers he has a serial killer on his hands. Leslie Sands, Nick Orchard and Nicholas Courtney star in this suspenseful drama. 
 
 Sergeant Fowler .... Leslie Sands 
 PC Beaumont .... Nick Orchard 
 Dave Clark .... Cornelius Garrett 
 The Doctor .... Paul Nicholson 
 Pete Carter .... Derek Graham 
 Mitchell .... Conrad Phillips 
 Rose .... Gillie Graham 
 Fred Dickey .... Fred Bryant 
 Albert .... Douglas Leach 
 Kim .... Deborah Paige 
 Mrs Trevor .... Patricia Gibson 
 Joe Hardy.... John Gabriel 
 Radio DJ..... Jim Reid 
 Vicar .....Ronald Russell 
Miss Reed... Ann Morrish 
 Chadwick .... Nicholas Courtney 
 Eric Farrow... Malcolm Young 
 Mrs Farrow.... Rosemary Sigel 
 Operator .... Brian Gear 
 Jackson... Roger Leach 
 Director: Brian Miller 
 First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 August-26 September 1982 
 
 Deadfall - Retired special agent and demolitions expert Harry Davis was once part of a disastrous attempt to assassinate an African leader. Now, years later, his past catches up with him when he is called back to try again. 
 
 Harry Davis - Bob Peck 
Jenny Brown - Julie Berry 
 Tom Crossland - Aubrey Woods 
 Colonel Travers - Peter Howell 
 Reynolds - Tim Reynolds 
 Joe - Alan Dudley 
 Det Sgt Redway - Stephen Thorne 
Police and Secret Agents- Michael Tudor Barnes 
Agent - Paul Gregory 
 Directed by Ian Cotterell 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 December 1987 
 
 Daylight Robbery - 'Elderly lady living alone in remote house, willing to take in paying guests.' Miss Pickering's newspaper advert seems innocuous, but she has an ulterior motive - as do the four gentlemen who reply. 
 
Miss Pickering -Monica Grey 
 Colonel Fryatt - Norman Shelley 
 Dr Brown - Jonathan Scott 
 Harris - Peter Woodthorpe 
 Wakeson - Howard Goorney 
 Bank Manager - Lewis Stringer 
 Woman in Telephone Kiosk - Daisy Bell 
 Jones - Brian Gear 
 Woman in Crowd - Elizabeth Havelock 
 Constable - Douglas Leach 
 Car Driver - David Ponting 
 Other parts played by the cast. 
 Directed at BBC Bristol by John Cardy 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 June 1977 
 
 The Cellar 
 In mourning for their little boy, the Bakers move into a secluded cottage - only to find that horror lurks below stairs... John Pullen and Rosalind Ayres star in this spine-tingling supernatural tale. 
 
Paul Baker - John Pullen 
Susan Baker - Rosalind Ayres 
Mr Crawford - Leonard Fenton 
Bill - Fred Bryant 
Alf - Gordon Dulieu 
Little Boy - Elizabeth Lindsay 
Directed by Gerry Jones 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7 April 1979 
 
 ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

R.D. Wingfield: A Touch of Frost and other thrillers

A BBC Radio 4 Drama Collection

M. R. James

Horror maestro Christopher Lee reads this quartet of supernatural tales, adapted from the stories of M. R. James 
 
Over a century ago, M. R. James was the provost of King's College, Cambridge. He would gather together a select group of students in his rooms every Christmas Eve, and give a candlelit performance of one of his superbly unsettling ghost stories. Christopher Lee recreates the spine-chilling atmosphere of those evenings, as he dons James' mantle to read these four fearful tales. 
 
The Stalls of Barchester - Perusing the papers of Archdeacon Haynes, our narrator uncovers a hidden history of intrigue, murder, a sinister cat and some strange ecclesiastical carvings. 
 
The Ash Tree - When Sir Matthew Fell, squire of Castringham Hall, testifies against suspected witch Mrs Mothersole, she is found guilty and hanged. From that day forward, a series of tragic events afflict the Fell family, all seemingly linked to the old ash tree growing in the Hall grounds... 
 
Number 13 - Staying in Room 12 of the Golden Lion in the Danish town of Viborg, historian Mr Anderson is perturbed by the mystery of the room next door. Who, or what, is the inhabitant of number 13? 
 
A Warning to the Curious - The horrific account of an archaeologist named Paxton, who takes the fateful decision to excavate the last of the legendary East Anglian crowns - and unleashes a terrifying supernatural force... 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by M. R. James 
Adapted by Ronald Frame 
Read by Christopher Lee 
Directed by Eleanor Yule 
Produced by Richard Downes 
Title music: Geoffrey Burgon 
Editors: James Hamilton and Phyllis Ironside 
Production manager: Monica O'Connor 
 
First broadcast on BBC Two on the following dates: 
 
The Stalls of Barchester 23 December 2000 
The Ash Tree 26 December 2000 
Number 13 29 December 2000 
A Warning to the Curious 31 December 2000 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Ghost Stories with Christopher Lee

Four chilling tales from the BBC TV series

William Ingram

Richard Davies

Maurice Travers

Barry Campbell

Roald Dahl

Rene Basilico

Elizabeth Morgan

Charles Birkin

Twenty tales of terror and suspense, brought to you by sinister storyteller Vincent Price 
 
Horror legend Vincent Price presents an anthology of eerie, unsettling tales with a devilish twist - some purportedly based on his own adventures, others narrated by him in his own inimitable style. 
 
Listen to his horrifying accounts of an unnerving piscatorial experience Down Under, a violinist with very special hands, a Bonfire Night party when a bullying father disappeared and a secretary's murderous revenge. Here, too, are the spine-chilling stories of a beloved cat with an unusual inheritance, a scientist whose experiments on his own son lead to unforeseen danger and a phoney clairvoyant and her client, who seeks a preview of eternity... 
 
Among the star casts are Garard Green, Peter Cushing, Bill Kerr, Coral Browne, Christopher Bidmead, Adrienne Corri, Betty Huntley-Wright, Freddie Jones, Edward Woodward, Annette Crosbie, Maurice Denham and Hywel Bennett. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by and starring Vincent Price 
Produced by John Dyas 
 
Remains to be Seen 
Dramatised by William Ingram from the story by Jack Ritchie. First broadcast BBC World Service, 1 September 1973 
 
William and Mary 
Dramatised by Barry Campbell from the story by Roald Dahl. First broadcast BBC World Service, 8 September 1973 
 
Cat's Cradle 
Dramatised by Richard Davis from the story 'The Squaw' by Bram Stoker. First broadcast BBC World Service, 15 September 1973 
 
Meeting in Athens 
Dramatised by Maurice Travers from the story 'So Pale, So Cold, So Fair' by Charles Birkin. 
First broadcast BBC World Service, 22 September 1973 
 
The Man Who Hated Scenes 
Dramatised by William Ingram from the story by Robert Arthur. First broadcast BBC World Service, 29 September 1973 
 
Lot 132 
Written and dramatised by Elizabeth Morgan. First broadcast BBC World Service, 6 October 1973 
 
The Waxwork 
Dramatised by Barry Campbell from the story by AM Burrage. First broadcast BBC World Service, 13 October 1973 
 
Fish 
Written and dramatised by Rene Basilico. First broadcast BBC World Service, 20 October 1973 
 
Soul Music 
Written and dramatised by William Ingram. First broadcast BBC World Service, 27 October 1973 
 
Guy Fawkes' Night 
Written and dramatised by Richard Davis. First broadcast BBC World Service, 3 November 1973 
 
Come As You Are 
Written and dramatised by William Ingram. First broadcast BBC World Service, 6 April 1974 
 
The Ninth Removal 
Dramatised by Barry Campbell from the story by R Chetwynd Hayes. First broadcast BBC World Service, 20 April 1974 
 
An Eye for an Eye 
Written by William Ingram. First broadcast BBC World Service, 27 April 1974 
 
Blind Man's Bluff 
Written and dramatised by William Ingram. First broadcast BBC World Service, 4 May 1974 
 
Goody Two Shoes 
Written and dramatised by William Ingram. First broadcast BBC World Service, 30 May 1983 
 
To My Dear, Dear Saladin 
Written by William Ingram. First broadcast BBC World Service, 6 June 1983 
 
The Family Album 
Written by William Ingram. First broadcast BBC World Service, 13 June 1983 
 
Out of the Mouths 
Written by William Ingram. First broadcast BBC World Service, 20 June 1983 
 
Not Wanted on the Voyage 
Written by William Ingram. First broadcast BBC World Service, 27 June 1983 
 
Is There Anybody There? 
Written by William Ingram. Music by Derek Price 
First broadcast BBC World Service, 4 July 1983 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distributio Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Price of Fear: 20 tales of suspense told by Vincent Price

A BBC Radio 4 vintage horror series

Victor Pemberton

A trio of terrifying radio tales starring Roger Delgado, Vincent Price and Honor Blackman 
 
Author, playwright and TV producer Victor Pemberton was probably best known as a script editor and writer for Doctor Who, and as the inventor of the Doctor's trademark sonic screwdriver. But he also created numerous dramas for radio, among them the three cult classics included here. 
 
The Slide - In the Kent new town of Redlow, the residents are shocked by a sudden earthquake. But a worse subterranean threat is still to emerge. When a torrent of mud oozes from the fissure and the local wildlife begins to die, expert seismologist Professor Gomez is called in. His analysis reveals the awful truth: the mud is sentient, intelligent - and lethal... Roger Delgado and Maurice Denham star in this thrilling seven-part sci-fi serial. 
 
Night of the Wolf - March, 1883, and a monster is on the loose in the East Anglian Fens... Concerned about his missing son, Robert, Judge Mathew Deacon travels from Pennysylvania to Cambridge to find out what has become of him. His inquiries lead him to the remote Northcott Manor, deep in the marsh country, where he finds a family hiding dark secrets - and comes face to face with a werewolf... This Gothic horror play stars Vincent Price and Coral Browne. 
 
Dark- Virginia's lover was murdered and her husband hanged. Then, years later, inexplicable events occur in the room where the murder took place. Summoned to investigate, medium Simon Elliott becomes possessed by people from the past. Can the dead really return to exert control over the living? Honor Blackman, Bessie Love and Nigel Anthony star in this suspenseful paranormal thriller. 
 
 
Produced by John Tydeman 
 
The Slide 
Professor Josef Gomez - Roger Delgado 
Hugh Deverill MP - Maurice Denham 
Janet Marshall - Elisabeth Proud 
Dr Ken Richards - David Spenser 
Anna Deverill - Marion Mathie 
'Tug' Wilson - Stephen Jack 
Mrs Wilson - Miriam Margolyes 
Sergeant Johnson - Wilfred Babbage 
Inspector Baxter - Geoffrey Matthews 
Constable/First Journalist/Pilot - Anthony Jackson 
Professor Landers - Rolf Lefebvre 
Professor Lippert - Allan McClelland 
Newscaster/AC2 Gibbons - Nigel Graham 
Mrs Luke - Noel Hood 
Nursing Sister - Eva Haddon 
Sorensen - Fraser Kerr 
RAF Corporal - Anthony Hall 
Barry - Glyn Dearman 
Nurse - Patricia Leventon 
Dr Robeson - Michael Kilgarriff 
Second Journalist - Hector Ross 
Third Journalist/Policeman/Ground Control - Brian Hewlett 
American Journalist - Peter Marinker 
Vicar - Noel Howlett 
Margaret Griffiths MP - Joan Matheson 
TV Interviewer - Henry Stamper 
Special effects: The BBC Radiophonic Workshop 
First broadcast BBC Radio Light Programme, 13 February-27 March 1966 
 
Night of the Wolf 
Judge Mathew Deacon - Vincent Price 
Robert Deacon, his son - Peter Whitman 
Mrs Northcott - Coral Browne 
Sybil, her daughter - Sheila Grant 
Dorothy, Sybil's daughter - Elizabeth Proud 
Nicholas, Sybil's son - John Rye 
Griffin, an undergraduate - Michael Cochrane 
Professor Forrester - Hugh Manning 
Sir Richard Burnett - Haydn Jones 
Morris - Paul Gaymon 
Jessie - Norma Ronald 
Technical assistants Jock Parrell, Marsail MacCuish, David Bitchinson and Alister Wilson 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 August 1975 
 
Dark 
Virginia Preston - Honor Blackman 
Mother - Bessie Love 
Simon Elliott - Nigel Anthony 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 February 1978 
 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Vintage BBC Radio Horror: The Slide, Night of the Wolf & Dark

Three full-cast supernatural thrillers

Charles Dickens

Henry James

Unabridged readings of four spine-tingling stories 
 
This suspenseful anthology collects together four gripping tales of gruesome scientific experiments and chilling supernatural events - all read in full by some of the very best voice actors. With over 18 hours of electrifying listening, tracked by chapter, these classic tales will have you on the edge of your seat. 
 
Frankenstein 
Mary Shelley's Gothic masterpiece about young scientist Victor Frankenstein, whose quest to create new life has horrific consequences... Read by Shaun Mason. 
 
A Christmas Carol 
Charles Dickens' timeless classic about a bitter old miser who has a Christmas epiphany when he is visited by four spirits. Read by Sean Baker 
 
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 
Robert Louis Stevenson's famous novella about a doctor who experiments with the duality of human nature - and in doing so creates a monster. Read by Sam Dale. 
 
The Turn of the Screw 
Henry James' terrifying tale of a governess sent to look after two children in a haunted country house. Read by Sam Dale and Clare Corbett. 
 
 
Credits: 
 
Frankenstein 
Read by Shaun Mason 
Produced by Martha Littlehailes 
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 24 August 2019 
 
A Christmas Carol 
Read by Sean Baker 
Produced by Anne Bunting 
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 22 August 2019 
 
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 
Read by Sam Dale 
Produced by Julian Wilkinson 
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 22 August 2019 
 
The Turn of the Screw 
Read by Sam Dale and Clare Corbett 
Produced by Julian Wilkinson 
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 1 November 2019 
 
 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

BBC Classics: Suspense Collection

Frankenstein, A Christmas Carol, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde & The Turn of the Screw

Virginia Woolf

A treasure chest of timeless short stories by some of the world's greatest authors 
 
Suspense and horror 
1 The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire - Arthur Conan Doyle 
2 The Signalman - Charles Dickens 
3 Lost Hearts - MR James 
4 The Sealed Room - Arthur Conan Doyle. 
5 Mrs Badgery - Wilkie Collins 
6 Wailing Well - MR James 
7 The Open Window - Saki 
8 How it happened - Arthur Conan Doyle 
9 The Tell-Tale Heart - Edgar Allan Poe 
10 The Cone - HG Wells 
11 A Haunted House - Virginia Woolf 
12 Rats - MR James 
13 The Oval Portrait - Edgar Allan Poe 
14 Tarquin of Cheapside - F. Scott Fitzgerald 
15 One Crowded Hour - Arthur Conan Doyle 
16 The Mezzotint - MR James 
17 The Masque of the Red Death - Edgar Allan Poe 
 
Love 
18 The Kiss - Kate Chopin 
19 Eleonora - Edgar Allan Poe 
20 About Love - Anton Chekhov 
21 The Lovers - Hans Christian Anderson 
22 Love - Guy De Maupassant 
23 The Sphinx Without a Secret - Oscar Wilde 
24 A Wedding Gift - Guy De Maupassant 
25 Kew Gardens - Virginia Woolf 
26 The District Doctor - Ivan Turgenev 
27 Happiness - Guy De Maupassant 
28 A Blunder - Anton Chekhov 
29 The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky - Stephen Crane 
30 In a Far-Off World - Olive Schreiner 
31 The Cook's Wedding - Anton Chekhov 
32 The Recruit - Honore de Balzac 
33 The Nightingale and the Rose - Oscar Wilde 
34 Pyramus and Thisbe - Ovid 
35 Aunt Hetty on Matrimony - Fanny Fern 
36 A Country Cottage - Anton Chekhov 
37 Marriage a la Mode - Katherine Mansfield 
38 The Statue of Limitations - Ernest Dowson 
39 The Dilettante - Edith Wharton 
 
Humorous 
40 Tobermory - Saki 
41The Mesmeric Mountain - Stephen Crane 
42 The Children's Joke - Louisa May Alcott 
43 At The Siren - Anton Chekhov 
44 The Garden Party - Katherine Mansfield 
45 The Cask of Amontillado - Edgar Allan Poe 
46 The New Dress - Virginia Woolf 
47 How I Built Myself A House - Thomas Hardy 
48 The Model Millionaire - Oscar Wilde 
49 A Pair of Silk Stockings - Kate Chopin 
50 At The Barbers - Anton Chekhov 
51 A Respectable Woman - Kate Chopin 
 
Folk &amp; Fable 
52 The Happy Prince - Oscar Wilde. 
53 The Elves and the Shoemaker - The Brothers Grimm 
54 The Emperor's New Clothes -Hans Christian Andersen 
55 The Tongue Cut Sparrow - Yei Theodora Ozaki 
56 Finn and the Scottish Giant - Harold F. Read 
57 The Postmaster - Rabindranath Tagore 
58 The Toys of Peace - Saki 
59 The Selfish Giant - Oscar Wilde 
60 The Flower Gatherer - Edward Thomas 
61 Araby - James Joyce 
62 The Interlopers - Saki 
63 Tom Thumb - The Brothers Grimm 
64 The Kabuliwalah - Rabindranath Tagore 
65 The Monkey's Paws - WW Jacobs 
 
Christmas 
66 The Little Match Girl - Hans Christian Andersen 
67 Papa Panov's Special Christmas - Leo Tolstoy 
68 Christmas Storms and Sunshine - Elizabeth Gaskell. 
69 The Gift of the Magi - O'Henry 
70 At Christmas Time - Anton Chekhov 
71 A Dill Pickle - Katherine Mansfield 
 
Classic Tales 
72 The Yellow Wallpaper - Charlotte Perkins Gilman 
73 The Fall of Lord Barrymore - Arthur Conan Doyle 
74 The Necklace - Guy De Maupassant 
75 Holiday Group - EM Delafield 
76 Three Questions - Leo Tolstoy 
77 The Cop and the Anthem - O'Henry 
78 The Fly - Katherine Mansfield 
79 The Christening - DH Lawrence 
80 After the Race - James Joyce 
81 The String Quartet - Virginia Woolf 
82 Two Friends - Guy De Maupassant 
83 An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge - Ambrose Bierce. 
84 A Gentleman Friend - Anthon Chekhov 
85 Ma'ame Pelagie - Kate Chopin 
86 Second Best - DH Lawrence 
87 El Verdugo - Honore de Balzac 
88 The Story of an Hour - Kate Chopin 
89 The Man of No Account - Bret Hart 
90 The Piece of String - Guy De Maupassant 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

BBC Classics: Ultimate Story Collection

90 unmissable tales

Daisy Johnson

Fifteen highly original and darkly unsettling supernatural stories, performed by some of Britain's finest actresses 
 
'This is what we know about The Hotel. It is bigger on the inside than on the outside. Do not go into Room 63. Doors and windows do not stay in the same places. The Hotel listens when you speak. The Hotel watches... We'll be at The Hotel soon.' 
 
A place of myths, rumours and secrets, The Hotel looms over the dark Fens, tall and grey in its Gothic splendour. Built on cursed land, a history of violent death suffuses its very foundations - yet it has a magnetism that is impossible to ignore. 
 
On entering The Hotel, different people react in different ways. To some it is familiar, to others a stranger. Many come out refreshed, longing to return. But a few are changed forever, haunted by their time there. And almost all those affected are women... 
 
Here are the stories of The Hotel: stories of children, mothers, monsters, cult film-makers, thrill-seekers and workers on the night shift, all with their own tales of its strange power, of the horrors of Room 63, and of desperate but failed attempts to escape its seductive pull. 
 
Included are: The Hotel (read by Sara Kestelman); The Witch (read by Nicola Walker), The Build (read by Maxine Peake); Infestation (read by Anne-Marie Duff); Clean (read by Ronke Adékoluejo); The Wedding (read by Alexandria Riley); Conference (read by Jessica Raine); The Monster (read by Bettrys Jones); Night Watch (read by Anne-Marie Duff); Briony (read by Adjoa Andoh); Haunted (read by Laurel Lefkow); Mother (read by Rebecca Root); The Story (read by Juliet Stevenson); The Priest (read by Barbara Flynn) and The Film (read by Sara Kestelman). 
 
Written by Daisy Johnson, one of Britain's best contemporary novelists and the youngest ever to be shortlisted for the Booker Prize, these deliciously chilling ghost stories will linger in your mind long after hearing. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Daisy Johnson 
Produced by Justine Willett 
 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 20 September-27 December 2020 
 
©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Hotel: A Series of ghost stories with a feminist twist

A BBC Radio 4 drama collection

Tom Crowley

Beth Crane

Janina Matthewson

Eno Mfon

Greer Ellison

Jesse Schwenk

Robert Valentine

Chris Sugden

Jen Sugden

Ten mind-altering tales from some of the best new drama writers 
 
There's a crack in reality. Our world has brushed up against another, and something is breaking through. Ordinary people are experiencing strange disruptions, as inexplicable events and bizarre elements from the other side start to interfere with their lives... 
 
A ghost soldier embarks on a time-travelling mission. A homeless woman discovers a portal to a parallel universe. A librarian becomes gradually invisible. A queue stretches across the North of England, as people wait years for an answer to one question. And a mother and daughter realise that someone - or something - is listening in on their conversations, and fixing their problems. These are just some of the intimate, immersive stories in this collection; all set in the same shared universe, and including seven standalones and one three-part drama. 
 
With echoes of The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror, Murmurs mixes horror, sci-fi and fantasy to gripping effect. Told through phone calls, answerphone messages, radio broadcasts, voice notes and other 'found recordings', and enhanced by an eerie, otherworldly soundscape, it will intrigue, disturb, disorientate and burrow deep under your skin. But don't be alarmed - just listen to the murmurs... 
 
Among the casts are Peter Bankole (Peaky Blinders), Abra Thompson (This Country), Camille Coduri (King Gary), Valene Kane (The Fall) and Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World). 
 
 
Production credits 
Music by Mary Epworth 
A BBC Cymru Wales Production 
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 9 January 2021 
 
Over and Out 
Lieutenant Beaumont - Peter Bankole 
Kim - Katrina Allen 
Amira - Helene Maksoud 
Jimmy - Adam Courting 
 
Written by Tom Crowley 
Directed by David Devereux 
 
When We Are Heard (Part 1) 
Millie - Abra Thompson 
Beth - Camille Coduri 
 
Written by Janina Matthewson 
Directed by James Robinson 
 
Night Jungle 
Eve - Aimee-Ffion Edwards 
Alison - Larissa Hope 
Mr Wensum - Ben Crowe 
June - Claire Cage 
 
Written by Beth Crane 
Directed by Helen Perry 
 
A Miracle 
Precious - Danielle Vitalis 
Temi - Doyin Ajiboye 
Crazy Lady - Janice Acquah 
The Reporter - Adam Courting 
 
Written by Eno Mfon 
Directed by John Norton 
 
When We Are Heard (Part 2) 
Millie - Abra Thompson 
Beth - Camille Coduri 
 
Written by Janina Matthewson 
Directed by James Robinson 
 
Last Night on Earth 
Germaine - Georgia Henshaw 
Detective Blake - Don Gilet 
Booker - Lloyd Everitt 
Ryan - Dom Francis 
 
Written by Greer Ellison 
Directed by John Norton 
 
Disappearances 
Mo - Valene Kane 
Midge - Dylan Llewellyn 
Midge's Mum - Eiry Thomas 
Library Technician - Saikat Ahamed 
 
Written by Jesse Schwenk 
Directed by Helen Perry 
 
Man's Best Friend 
Lloyd - Alex Lawther 
Nadia - Monica Sagar 
Jacquie - Heather Craney 
Marco - Lucio Veronesi 
Police Officers - Adam Courting &amp; Scarlett Courtney 
 
Written by Robert Valentine 
Directed by John Norton 
 
The Queue 
Elena - Adelle Leonce 
Bronwyn - Gwyneth Keyworth 
Neal - Ian Smith 
Wilkes - Jessica Turner 
Claire - Laura Christy 
Carlson - Ikky Elyas 
 
Written by Jen and Chris Sugden 
Directed by David Devereux 
 
When We Are Heard (Part 3) 
Millie - Abra Thompson 
Beth - Camille Coduri 
Nurse - Scarlett Courtney 
Train Announcer - Adam Courting 
 
Written by Janina Matthewson 
Directed by James Robinson 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Murmurs: Crack in Reality

A BBC Radio Immersive drama collection

Wilkie Collins

BBC radio productions of the finest works of Wilkie Collins: sensation novelist, early master of the mystery story, and pioneer of detective fiction 
 
Wilkie Collins was one of Victorian England's best-loved and best-selling authors, and a crime fiction pioneer. His enthralling 'sensation novels' such as The Woman in White paved the way for today's thrillers, and his tour de force The Moonstone is one of the first, and greatest, modern detective stories. 
 
This collection features dramatisations of these two masterpieces, with star casts including Toby Stephens (The Woman in White) and John Sharp (The Moonstone). Also included are adaptations of three of Collins' other major novels: No Name, The Law and the Lady and The Haunted Hotel, starring Sophie Thompson, Abigail Docherty and Henry Lloyd respectively. 
 
Collins was a prolific short story writer, and included here are a number of his shorter tales, such as a full-cast dramatisation of the ghost story 'Mad Monkton', starring Gary Bond, and readings of five tales of suspense: 'The Dream Woman' (read by David Suchet), 'The Biter Bit' (read by John Rowe), 'A Terribly Strange Bed' (read by Paul Daneman), 'The Stolen Letter' (read by Garard Green) and 'The Dead Hand' (read by Peter Marinker). Plus, the darkly comic 'Mrs Badgery' is read by Christopher Harper, while Ronald Pickup reads the murder mystery 'Who Killed Zebedee?', taken from the 1887 short story collection Little Novels. There are also dramatisations of five additional Little Novels tales: 'Miss Jeromette and the Clergyman', 'Mr Marmaduke and the Minister', 'Miss Bertha and the Yankee', 'Miss Morris and the Stranger' and 'Mr Percy and the Prophet', all starring Ronald Pickup as Wilkie Collins. 
 
A lifelong friend of Charles Dickens, Collins collaborated with him on several works including 'A House to Let', which was co-written by Collins, Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell and Adelaide Anne Proctor. Marcia Warren stars in an adaptation of this exciting tale of secrets and intrigue. 
 
Finally, in Night Waves: The Woman in White, Matthew Sweet joins Simon Callow, Kate Summerscale, Paul Lewis and Lisa Appignanesi to discuss the groundbreaking novel that catapulted Collins to literary stardom, exploring its lasting influence and asking how it stands up today. 
 
 
Contents 
1. The Woman in White 
2. No Name 
3. The Moonstone 
4. The Law and the Lady 
5. The Haunted Hotel 
6. 'Mad Monkton' 
7. 'The Dream Woman' 
8. 'The Biter Bit' 
9. 'A Terribly Strange Bed' 
10. 'The Stolen Letter' 
11. 'The Dead Hand' 
12. 'Mrs Badgery' 
13. 'A House to Let' 
14. 'Who Killed Zebedee?' 
15. 'Miss Jeromette and the Clergyman' 
16. 'Mr Marmaduke and the Minister' 
17. 'Miss Bertha and the Yankee' 
18. 'Miss Morris and the Stranger' 
19. 'Mr Percy and the Prophet' 
20. 'Night Waves: The Woman in White' 
 
 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Wilkie Collins BBC Radio Collection

Dramatisations and readings of his sensational stories including The Woman in White & The Moonstone

Edson Burton

Don Warrington stars as the enigmatic Deacon in this gritty contemporary fantasy trilogy 
 
In the spaces between inner-city Bristol and the netherworld walks Deacon, a mysterious, centuries-old drifter who arrives when least expected to save lost souls. In these three dramas, he comes to the aid of a boxer turned petty criminal, a teenager in danger and a refugee in hiding. 
 
Deacon 
Offered a 'job' by his former boxing trainer Jimmy, Mack is happy to oblige. All he has to do is deliver a car to a certain address by midnight - and not look in the boot. Then Mack hits an old man with the car. His name is Deacon, and although he looks like a tramp, he speaks words that are wise beyond this world. And he's about to change Mack's life, forever... 
 
Deacon: Moonlight on Water 
Sixteen-year-old Jas has a secret boyfriend, Ray, and she's planning to run away with him. But her ex, Zain, has found out, and pursues her into pitch-dark Eastville Park. Jas isn't scared: she knows how to handle Zain. But in this dangerous night-world, powerful spirits are abroad, and all is not what it seems... 
 
Deacon: Gabriel's Feast 
Grace has fled her war-torn homeland and sought sanctuary with a strange community on the fringes of Bristol. But what's driving their leader Gabriel? What are they preparing for? Despite Deacon's years and wisdom, he struggles to read the signs. Will he realise what is happening in time, or has he finally met his match? 
 
Created by writer and historian Edson Burton, these thrilling urban fantasy dramas are inspired by West African mythology and spirituality, and feature a predominantly black cast including musician and actor Ashley Thomas, aka Bashy, as Mack; Ashna Rabheru (Sex Education, Indian Summers) as Jas; Raj Bajaj (Killing Eve) as Zain; Don Gilet (EastEnders, Babyfather) as Ray; Diana Yekinni (Ije, Lunchtime Heroes) as Grace and Richard Pepple (Bridgerton, Beasts of No Nation) as Gabriel. 
 
 
 
 
Written by Edson Burton 
 
 
Starring Don Warrington as Deacon 
 
 
Deacon 
Mack - Ashley Thomas 
Mary - Leona Walker 
Jimmy - John Cording 
Price - Simon Ludders 
Waitress - Claire Cage 
Directed by James Robinson 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 July 2017 
 
Deacon: Moonlight on Water 
Jas - Ashna Rabheru 
Ray - Don Gilet 
Legba - Marega Palser 
Zain - Raj Bajaj 
Directed by John Norton 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 July 2019 
 
Deacon: Gabriel's Feast 
Grace - Diana Yekinni 
Gabriel - Richard Pepple 
Khan - Ikky Elyas 
Max/Legba - Marc Danbury 
Directed by John Norton 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 October 2020 
 
 
? 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Deacon

Three BBC Radio full-cast dramas

Various

Eleven uncanny stories inspired by the master of uncanny terror, H.P. Lovecraft 
 
One hundred years ago, H.P. Lovecraft created the Necronomicon, a grimoire of lost souls, magical rites and forbidden lore. Now, locked away, the hoarder of horror is after new voices, new blood, to add to his collection. 
 
Listen as he shares the tales that come to him, whispered through the keyhole and written in the dust. From ghost stories to encounters with demons, haunted houses and a fateful Celtic goddess, they will draw you into his claustrophobic and disturbing world, stir your imagination and awaken your deepest fears and nightmares... 
 
Introduced by Stephen Hogan as H.P. Lovecraft, these chilling, intimate dramas feature full casts including Elizabeth Berrington, Geoffrey Streatfeild, Stella Gonet, Derek Riddell, Jamie Glover, Adjoa Andoh, Sara Poyzer and Eddie Marsan. 
 
Track listing: 
1 - Out of the Depths by Melissa Murray 
2 - The Loop by Chris Harrald 
3 - Bleeder by Ed Hime 
4 - The Fly by Lynn Ferguson 
5 - Connected by Melissa Murray 
6 - Split the Atom by Lynn Ferguson 
 7 - The House on Pale Avenue by Richard Vincent 
8 - Original Features by Christopher William Hill 
9 - The Burial of Tom Nobody by Richard Vincent 
10 - Louisa's by Amanda Whittington 
11 - Night Terrors by Lizzie Nunnery

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