Adam Usden

Adam Wagner

Adam Wasson

Adam Weymouth's work has been published widely, including in Granta, The Atlantic, The Observer and the BBC. His first book, Kings of the Yukon, won the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year, the Lonely Planet Adventure Travel Book of the Year and the Prix Paul-Emile Victor. He has been named by the National Writing Centre as one of ten writers shaping the UK's future.

Adam Weymouth

Adam Wisniewski-Snerg (1937-95) was born on the outskirts of Warsaw. His science fiction writing is largely focused around the consequences of totalitarianism. Although largely unread during his lifetime, after his suicide in 1995 his work began to receive major critical attention. He is now considered to be, along with Stanislaw Lem, one of Poland's greatest science fiction writers.

Adam Wisniewski-Snerg

Ade Edmondson

Adele Lang

Adele Nozedar is an author and photographer. Previously, she was in a cult indie band, then ran her own indie record label and became A&amp;R Director/General Manager of a major record company. 
 
Her wide-ranging passions are reflected in her books, which include The Hedgerow Handbook (2012), The Signs and Symbols Sourcebook (2011), The Secret Language of Birds (2006), and The Element Encyclopedia of Native Americans (2013).

Adele Nozedar

Adele Puhn

Adeline Yen Mah

Adelle Waldman is a freelance writer and book critic. She worked as a reporter at the New Haven Register and the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and wrote a column for the Wall Street Journal's website. Her articles also have appeared in The New York Times Book Review,The New Republic,Slate,The Wall Street Journal, and other national publications. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Adelle Waldman

Aditi Kakade Beaufrand is an Indian illustrator based in France. She likes experimenting with bright, happy colours. She grew up reading fairytales, watching animated films and imagining adventure stories, and her style is an embodiment of her Indian heritage and western culture. She loves animals and taking long walks on the beach, but she is never too far away from a pencil and a paper to draw her perception of the world.

Aditi Kakade Beaufrand

Aditya Chakrabortty

Adiva Geffen is a bestselling writer and playwright. Her plays have appeared on major stages in Israel, she lectures and leads numerous writing workshops and she is a board member of the Israeli Writers’ Association. 
 
 Geffen started out as a special-education teacher, before serving as the spokesperson for the Habima National Theatre for more than a decade. She founded and subsequently led the Israeli Theatre Award for ten years, and now serves as head of The Gnazim Institute of the Hebrew Writers Association, the largest Hebrew literature archive in the world. 
 
 Born in Haifa, Israel and the mother of three sons, Geffen now lives in Tel Aviv with her partner Aharon Meidan.

Adiva Geffen

Adnan Sarwar, 35, is a former British soldier who served in the Iraq War.  He has since worked as a military consultant to film and is a writer based in London.  Read more at www.adnansarwar.com / @adnansarwar

Adnan Sarwar

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Loos (1877-1933) was a leading Austro-Hungarian architect, perhaps most famous for the revolutionary 'Loos House' opposite the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, which caused outrage when it was built in 1912, and the wonderful American Bar, also in Vienna. He wrote extensively on architecture and design, working in reaction to the elaborate mass of decoration celebrated by the Vienna Secession movement.

Adolf Loos

Adolfo García Ortega

Adomnan of Iona

Adonis

Adriaan Van Dis

Adrian Bean

Adrian Bliss is a creator, writer and performer from London, best known for his comedy sketches which, explore everything from history to natural science to religion. Adrian's work has earned him nearly 20 million followers across social media and has been featured in CNN, The Times and Vogue. Adrian was named one of the New Faces of Comedy at Just For Laughs, and his one-man play Inside Everyone sold out its debut run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival prior to opening.

Adrian Bliss

Adrian Desmond

Adrian Edmondson

Adrian Fort

Adrian Gilbert

Adrian Henri

Adrian House

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Nick Hancock

Nick Hancock finds out what people, places and pop songs his celebrity guests would consign to oblivion 
 
Room 101 is the anti-Desert Island Discs. Instead of picking the tracks, books and luxuries they love, guests are invited to banish their least favourite things to Orwell's eponymous chamber of horrors. Twenty-seven episodes of the show were broadcast on Radio 5 between 1992 and 1994, and it went on to run for 18 hit series on BBC TV before relaunching on Radio 4 in 2023. 
 
This specially-curated collection contains 16 of the very best editions of the original radio series. Included are the first ever show, in which Paul Merton reveals his aversion to Northanger Abbey, the city of Edinburgh and Kenneth More's laugh, and the final one from 1994, which sees Andy Hamilton hoping to rid the world of Look Back in Anger, 'Long Haired Lover from Liverpool' and Field of Dreams. 
 
Among the other famous names discussing their bugbears and bête noires are Helen Lederer, Trevor and Simon, Caroline Quentin, Tony Hawks, Kevin Day, Maria McErlane and Mark Lamarr. Weighing up their arguments (and adding a few prejudices of his own) is host Nick Hancock, who has the final say on what stays and what goes. 
 
Will he let Arthur Smith put Barbara Cartland into Room 101? What has Jenny Eclair got against 'My Little Pony' videos? Why does Ian Hislop detest 'We Are The Champions'? And why does Steve Punt think Platform 5 at East Croydon station is the worst place in the world? All will be revealed in these bright and breezy shows, as some of our favourite celebrities share their peeves, pet hates and personal stories. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Nick Hancock 
Produced by Lissa Evans and Phil Clark 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 5 on the following dates: 
 
Paul Merton 9 January 1992 
Jenny Eclair 16 January 1992 
Arthur Smith 30 January 1992 
Steve Punt 6 February 1992 
Ian Hislop 14 August 1992 
John Walters 4 September 1992 
Helen Lederer 11 September 1992 
Donna McPhail 2 October 1992 
Trevor Neal and Simon Hickson 3 September 1993 
Caroline Quentin 10 September 1993 
Tony Hawks 17 September 1993 
Kevin Day 15 October 1993 
Maria McErlane 22 October 1993 
Mark Lamarr 29 October 1993 
Nick Revell 27 February 1994 
Andy Hamilton 25 March 1994 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Room 101

Highlights from the Classic BBC Radio 5 Comedy Series

Barry Cryer

Martin Booth

Graeme Garden

Paul B. Davies

Fresh and funny comedy performed by an all-star cast 
 
This hilarious, fast paced, parody sketch show sends up classic BBC radio shows, travels through time and brings you Shakespeare as you've never heard it before. Tune in to Desert Island Discs with a twist, appreciate an orange-inal version of Hamlet and discover Tolstoy with a peel good factor. A spoof show like no other, The Long Hot Satsuma is a laugh out loud comedy packed with quick witted lines and the trademark dry humour of veteran comedians Alison Steadman, Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden. Action packed episodes include a high court judge-cum-plumber, a BBC announcer with the pips, an alien takeover and some unique royal commentary. A smooth blend of cleverly crafted comedy and pitch perfect parody, this show is full of juicy bits and will have you rolling with laughter. Keep listening, the zest is yet to come! 
 
Recorded in front of a live audience, Olivier award winning and BAFTA nominated actor Alison Steadman (Abigail's Party, Gavin and Stacey) performs with radio comedy legend Barry Cryer (I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue) and TV and radio star Graeme Garden (The Goodies). Their unmistakable voices and wit make this classic sketch show as fresh and funny today as it was when first recorded. Listen to all eight episodes now in this a-peeling new download only edition. 
 
Cast and credits 
 
Produced by Dirk Maggs 
 
Featuring an ensemble cast 
Graeme Garden 
Barry Cryer 
Alison Steadman 
Paul B. Davies 
Julia Hills 
 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 2, May-July 1989 
 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Long Hot Satsuma

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Produced by Dirk Maggs

Lemn Sissay

Award-winning writer Lemn Sissay explores the idea of uniqueness across different aspects of his life 
 
'Creative, surprising - and unique' The Telegraph 
 
If you Google 'Lemn Sissay', all the results will be about him - he's the only person in the world with that name. But that's not the only thing that makes him unique. In this fascinating series, he mixes stand-up, poetry and interviews to explore four more situations in his life where he stood out, alone, and examines how that uniqueness made him feel. 
 
'The Only Poet on the Bill' finds Lemn considering his formative years on the 1980s comedy circuit, and chatting to fellow poet Tony Walsh about performing his poem 'This is the Place' at the vigil for the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. In 'The Only Non-Graduate at the Graduation', he reflects on being appointed Chancellor at Manchester University, and giving out degrees despite not having one himself. He also speaks to the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Donna Ludford, about how she felt becoming a councillor without having attended university. 
 
'The Only Black Man in the Village' sees Lemn drawing on his experience of growing up in an all-white town, and talking to Oscar-nominated writer/director Cornelius Walker about his documentary Black Sheep. And in 'The Only Foster Child in the House', he discusses his adolescence in children's homes and his lifetime of advocacy for young people raised in the care system, as well as speaking to campaigner and care leaver champion Terry Galloway. In each episode, Lemn is joined by Henry Normal, who interrupts at will to ask questions about the show. 
 
Comprising Lemn's signature blend of artistic yet extraordinarily honest comedy, this absorbing series explores issues of race, class, education and lack of empowerment, asking thought-provoking questions about how we define ourselves, and why it matters. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written and performed by Lemn Sissay 
With Tony Walsh, Donna Ludford, Cornelius Walker, Terry Galloway 
Commentary: Henry Normal 
Recorded by Jerry Peal 
Sound mixing by Rich Evans 
Produced by Ed Morrish 
A Lead Mojo production for BBC Radio 4 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 3-24 March 2023 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Lemn Sissay is the One and Only

A BBC Radio 4 Series

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

Denise Mina

Full-cast dramas and short stories from bestselling author Denise Mina, plus a bonus interview 
 
An acclaimed novelist, playwright and comic book writer, Denise Mina has won numerous awards, including the CWA John Creasy Dagger for Best First Crime Novel and the Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Award (twice). Her 'Paddy Meehan' series has been adapted for BBC TV, and she has presented numerous television and radio programmes. Included here are six of her stories, as heard on BBC Radio, plus a bonus biographical programme. 
 
The Dead Hour - Glasgow, 1984. Called out to a domestic dispute involving a female lawyer, cub reporter Paddy Meehan accepts a bribe to keep the story out of the papers. But when the woman is found dead the next day, Paddy feels compelled to investigate. Starring Amy Manson. 
 
Three Fires - Focussing on the rise and fall of fanatical Dominican preacher Girolamo Savonarola, Denise Mina turns her satirical eye on Renaissance Florence and the events leading up to the Bonfire of the Vanities. Kieran Hodgson reads this gripping historical tale. 
 
'Squirrels are Pretty from Far Away' - Alice is disturbed by the squirrels infesting her new home, but when she is accused of a crime it is the squirrels who come to her rescue. Read by Tracy Wiles. 
 
'In a State of Nature' - A murder under Tanzanian skies, and a beautiful young woman is left rootless after her rich, kindly lover disappears mysteriously at a roadside petrol station. Read by Emma Currie. 
 
Hurtle - Three financial dealers are trapped in a plummeting lift during a major trading scandal. But did someone deliberately cause the lift to malfunction? Starring John Kielty, Crawford Logan and Alexandra Mathie. 
 
The Meek - Baby Simone has Down's Syndrome, and her mother is convinced she has special powers. Is she traumatised, or is Simone really leading a parallel life in a world where superheroes exist and are being hunted down? Meg Fraser and Sarah Gordy star in this dark, surreal drama. 
 
Inspecting Detectives - Ex-detectives Tom Wood and Peter Ritchie give Denise Mina the 'good cop, bad cop' treatment to find out what makes her tick, grilling her on her life, her writing, and her portrayal of police work. 
 
Text copyright © Denise Mina 2002 ('Squirrels are Pretty from Far Away', 'In a State of Nature'), 2003 (Hurtle), 2006 (The Dead Hour), 2009 (The Meek), 2022 (Three Fires) 
All rights reserved 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Denise Mina: A BBC Radio Collection

The Dead Hour, Three Fires & more

Ellie Taylor

All twelve episodes of Ellie Taylor's hilarious show, in which she explores controversial subjects with help from the studio audience and sidekick Robin Morgan 
 
Comedian, actor and bestselling author Ellie Taylor welcomes us to her 'safe space', a place where anyone can air their views, gripes and dislikes without fear of persecution. Assisting her on her confessional journey are sidekick Robin Morgan and members of the audience, who share their own dark and disturbing beliefs at the beginning of each show. 
 
Having heard from them, Ellie goes on to get her own opinions off her chest. Through stand-up and sketches, she gives us her hot take on topics such as masculinity, the environment, parties, the news, the Internet and billionaires. Talking to special guest experts including fitness instructor 'Mr Motivator', travel journalist Simon Calder, The Traitors' Amanda Lovett and her own mum, Ellie discusses whether exercise and holidays should be banned, explains why she thinks reality TV is culturally significant and asks whether having kids has ruined her life. 
 
Are parties more hassle than they're worth? Is monogamy really all it's cracked up to be? And should the UK break up into lots of little kingdoms, Game of Thrones-style (but with fewer dragons)? Get ready to have your beliefs challenged and your minds blown, as Ellie tackles these questions and more... 
 
Production credits 
Written by and starring Ellie Taylor and Robin Morgan 
With special guests including Ellie's mum Jill, Rupert Wesson, Ed Stafford, Ella Al-Shamahi, Derrick Evans ('Mr Motivator'), Isabel Hardman, Simon Calder, Oobah Butler, Amanda Lovett, Gabby Storey and Robert Watts 
Produced by Sam Michell and Georgia Keating 
Executive Producer: James Robinson 
Production Co-ordinator: Becky Carewe-Jeffries 
Sound editor: Marc Willcox 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
 
Series 1 
Motherhood 7 April 2020 
Masculinity 14 April 2020 
The Environment 21 April 2020 
Monogamy 28 April 2020 
 
Series 2 
Parties 6 August 2021 
Exercise 13 August 2021 
The News 20 August 2021 
Holidays 27 August 2021 
 
Series 3 
The Internet 29 March 2023 
Reality TV 5 April 2023 
The UK 12 April 2023 
Billionaires 19 April 2023 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Ellie Taylor’s Safe Space: Series 1-3

A BBC Radio Stand-Up Comedy Show

Graham Duff

The hilarious cult comedy classic starring Mark Gatiss 
 
The year is 2099 and planet Earth is in crisis. A change in its orbit has resulted in days being 25 hours long (except Thursday, which hasn't existed for over a decade) and the extra months of Janril, Febtober, and Marchuary. In a post-apocalyptic England, the cattle-clasm has wiped out the majority of livestock and climate change has formed the drizzly season of Hamble. However, hope is at hand for the planet in the form of Professor Nebulous (Mark Gatiss, League of Gentlemen). 
 
The brilliant professor is head of the eco-troubleshooting organisation K.E.N.T. (the Key Environmental Nonjudgemental Taskforce) and it's his job to save the world. Sure, he might have nearly killed one of his colleagues and destroyed the Isle of White when trying to move it in order to get more sunlight, and yes, the organisation is so underfunded it subsidises its work by running a launderette, but, Nebulous and his team of maverick misfits are determined to get Mother Earth back on track. 
 
In this hilarious sci-fi comedy, the professor and his colleagues must pit their wits against sentient dust, killer cacti, naked aliens and the evil Dr Klench (David Warner, Titanic, Star Trek VI) who is bent on world domination. Will Nebulous ever be able to overcome the past trauma inflicted by his professional clown parents? Are tarts really extinct? And can K.E.N.T. save the day before the spin cycle finishes? In Bod we trust! 
 
Nebulous is a comedy classic written by Graham Duff and also stars Graham Crowden, Paul Putner, Rosie Cavaliero and Julia Dalkin. Guest stars include Steve Coogan, David Tennant, Julia Davis and Brian Blessed. 
 
"Graham Duff's series sounds like a winning blend of Doomwatch, Quatermass and British silliness that has cult written all over it." The Times 
 
"Doctor Who fans may well have found a new love-object." Guardian 
 
Content Warning: Some of the humour in this series may cause offence. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Graham Duff 
Directed by Nicholas Briggs 
Produced by Ted Dowd 
Composer Malcolm Boyle 
 
Professor Nebulous - Mark Gatiss 
Dr Klench - David Warner 
Paula Breeze - Rosie Cavaliero 
Rory Lawson - Graham Duff 
Harry Hayes - Paul Putner 
Gemini - Julia Dalkin 
Sir Ronald Rolands - Graham Crowden 
Other parts played by Matthew Wolf 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 January - 10 February 2005 (Series 1), 5 April - 10 May 2006 (Series 2), 15 May - 19 June 2008 (Series 3) 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Nebulous: The Complete Series 1-3

A BBC Radio Sci-Fi Comedy

Paul Sinha

Paul Sinha and his audience join together to compile the questions for a perfect pub quiz 
 
'If you love armchair quizzing, chances are you'll love this' The Times 
 
Stand-up star, quizzer and Rose d'Or winner Paul Sinha is banned from taking part in pub quizzes - so he's decided to create his own. In his bid to put together the ultimate syllabus for this great social tradition, he offers up a wealth of surprising and original questions - as well as the fascinating stories behind the answers. He then goes on to open it up to the audience, who attempt to stump him with their own favourite puzzlers. 
 
Series 1 comprises four rounds - Literature, The World, Four-Letter Words and Everything - while Series 2 ranges across a variety of topics including New Cities, Themes, Monkeys and Apes, Truth, Chat GPT and 2023. Each show is packed with jokes, puns, fascinating facts and scintillating trivia. 
 
Which author's bestselling work was inspired by his filing cabinet? How many countries sit along the Equator? Where was the first British woman to win Miss World born? And which anagram of 'A TWISTED COLON' connects gorillas in 2001 and orangutans in 1978 and 1980? Find out in this quirky, question-packed quiz show! 
 
Production credits 
Written and presented by Paul Sinha 
Additional material: Oliver Levy 
Additional questions: The Audience 
Original music: Tim Sutton 
Sound engineers: Jerry Peal and David Thomas 
Photographer: Andy Hollingworth 
Produced by Ed Morrish 
A Lead Mojo production for BBC Radio 4 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
 
Series 1 
Round One: Literature 21 April 2022 
Round Two: The World 28 April 2022 
Round Three: Four-Letter Words 5 May 2022 
Round Four: Everything 12 May 2022 
 
Series 2 
Episode 1: New Cities 4 September 2023 
Episode 2: Manchester 11 September 2023 
Episode 3: Hampshire 18 September 2023 
Episode 4: Suffolk 25 September 2023 
Episode 5: Somerset 2 October 2023 
Episode 6: Themes 9 October 2023 
Episode 7: Monkeys and Apes 16 October 2023 
Episode 8: Truth 23 October 2023 
Episode 9: Chat GPT 30 October 2023 
Episode 10: 2023 6 November 2023 
 
&copy; 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Paul Sinha’s Perfect Pub Quiz: The Collected Series 1 and 2

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy

BBC Radio Comedy

Five fantastic series of the award-winning impressions show &ndash; plus 13 superb Specials 
 
Serving up razor-sharp caricatures and explosively satirical truth-bombs since January 2000, Dead Ringers is one of Radio 4&rsquo;s most popular and critically-acclaimed comedy shows. In these five series, first broadcast between 2015 and 2019, media mauling and celebrity savaging are once more the order of the day, as Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis MacLeod, Debra Stephenson and Duncan Wisbey poke fun at the worlds of politics and entertainment. 
 
In the wake of the Brexit vote, the team give us their in-depth analysis of the highs, lows and madness of the EU referendum campaigns. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn are the targets of some post-election skewering; Donald Trump has a &lsquo;dino-mite&rsquo; idea; and there&rsquo;s terror in store as a haunted Boris Johnson meets the Mr Hyde to his Mr Hyde. 
 
Plus, Morrissey, Pam Ayres and Chas n&rsquo; Dave gives us their best James Bond theme tunes; David Sedaris and Alan Bennett have a biscuit-off; Joan Bakewell explains Love Island to Radio 4 listeners &ndash; and British superheroes the National Treasures welcome their newest member: Lorraine Kelly... 
 
Also featured are 13 sparkling Specials, including a wealth of tinsel-topped Christmas editions; 2016&rsquo;s speculative &lsquo;A Look Back at the Year 2020&rsquo;; the one-off drama &lsquo;An Alien Has Landed&rsquo;, imagining what would happen if an extra-terrestrial visited Earth; and the 2019 Election Special, examining every twist, turn and embarrassing face-saving platitude from the candidates. 
 
Cast and credits 
Starring John Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Duncan Wisbey, Lewis MacLeod and Debra Stephenson 
Produced and created by Bill Dare 
With Sanjeev Bhaskar (An Alien Has Landed) 
Guest cast: Josh Berry (Series 18, Episode 5) 
Production Coordinator: Beverly Tagg 
Music composed by John Whitehall 
 
Written by Nev Fountain, Tom Jamieson and Laurence Howarth with: Simon Alcock, Ed Amsden, Liam Beirne, Jack Bernhardt, Catherine Brinkworth, James Bugg, Sarah Campbell, Tom Coles, Lewis Cook, Max Davis, Sarah Doran, Sara Gibbs, Alex Hardy, Alex Harvey, Danielle Harvey, Laura Major, Jane McCutcheon, Charlotte Pearson, Vivienne Riddoch, Mike Shephard, Edward Tew, Duncan Wisbey 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 14 August-11 September 2015 (Series 15), 25 December 2015 (Christmas Special), 1 January 2016 (New Year Special), 18 June-22 July 2016 (Series 16), 23-30 December 2016 (Christmas Specials), 16 June-21 July 2017 (Series 17), 22-29 December 2017 (Christmas Specials), 17 February 2018 (An Alien Has Landed), 8 June-13 July 2018 (Series 18) 7-21 December 2018 (Christmas Specials), 7 June-12 July 2019 (Series 19), 13-27 December 2019 (Election Special &amp; Christmas Specials) 
 
&copy; 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Dead Ringers: Series 15-19 Plus Specials

The BBC Radio 4 Impressions Show

Sandi Toksvig

Sandi Toksvig and her celebrity guests explore the Danish concept of 'hygge' 
 
One of the few Danish words that British people have become familiar with, 'hygge' is a specifically Scandinavian notion of snugness, comfort and contentment. It's all about enjoying the simple pleasures, like curling up with a book on a rainy afternoon or cradling a cup of hot cocoa while wearing a chunky sweater. 
 
In this convivial chat show, Danish comedian and author Sandi Toksvig takes a deep dive into both the concept and the Danish way of life. Broadcasting from her toasty log cabin deep in the heart of rural Denmark (complete with sauna, underground wine-cellar and three-tier bird bath that dispenses miniature hot towels), she invites her special guests to join her in front of an open fire and talk about what 'hygge' means to them. 
 
Grayson Perry explains how learning new things can bring deep joy; Bridget Christie describes her love of running; Clive Myrie relates his passion for opera and poetry, and Brian Cox tells us how he finds comfort in physics, piano playing and Sibelius' Fifth Symphony. Sandi also chats about Australian Christmasses with Krishnan Guru-Murthy, discusses hopeless DIY with Andy Hamilton, muses on the soothing magic of fragrance with Lyse Doucet and hears from David Blunkett about mishaps in Braille and guide dogs behaving badly... 
 
These funny, feelgood shows are full of cosy charm and congenial conversation, so join Sandi and friends as they talk 'hygge' and put the world to rights - all over a delectable mug of warm spiced wine. 
 
Production credits 
Hosted by Sandi Toksvig 
Produced by Julia McKenzie 
Additional material written by Simon Alcock, Charlie Dinkin, Rajiv Karia and Tasha Dhanraj 
Production Coordinators: Carina Andrews and Katie Baum 
Sound Recordist and Editor: Rich Evans 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
Series 1 featuring: Grayson Perry and Sindhu Vee, Bridget Christie and Clive Myrie, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Rose & Rosie, Prof Brian Cox and Zoe Lyons, Alan Davies 
 
Series 2 featuring: Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Gina Miller, Andy Hamilton, Lyse Doucet, David Blunkett 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 2-31 December 2020 (Series 1), 27-31 December 2021 (Series 2) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Sandi Toksvig’s Hygge

The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Chat Show

Lucy Catherine

An original drama spotlighting The Three Musketeers' iconic antagonist, Milady de Winter 
 
Young, beautiful and courageous, Milady de Winter is a cunning spy, talented thief, and ruthless killer. She glides with ease through the streets and gilded halls of 17th-century France and England, turning heads or, with a click of her fingers, disappearing anonymously into a crowd. Driven by intellect and fierce desire, she is willing to go to any lengths to achieve her ambitions - and outwit the powerful men who try to crush her. 
 
We first meet her as a young novice, forced by her father to enter a convent against her will. Exploiting her natural charms, she escapes back into the world, where she gains wealth and privilege. But a terrible ordeal at the hands of Athos leaves her penniless and alone. Fleeing to Paris, she is recruited into the service of the French crown, and schooled in the dark arts of espionage. There, her path crosses that of the Musketeers once more - and, deceived and betrayed by D'Artagnan, she begins a relentless and obsessive quest to destroy them. 
 
Scarred by violence and forged in the fire, Milady undergoes a metamorphosis from wayward teenager to cold-hearted avenger - but as she ventures down the darkest of roads, she risks losing everything for the chance to satiate her lust for revenge... 
 
A fascinating retelling of a classic tale, this tense, thrilling drama puts one of literature's greatest villains centre stage, reimagining Cardinal Richelieu's seductive, deadly fixer as a sharp-witted survivor with a compelling story to tell. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Lucy Catherine 
Produced by Sasha Yevtushenko 
 
Cast 
Milady - Anjana Vasan 
Father Laurent - Luke Nunn 
De La Fere/Athos - Sam Troughton 
Richelieu - Carl Prekopp 
Comtesse/Madame Canard - Elizabeth Counsell 
Marie Therese - Rhiannon Neads 
Rochefort/Executioner - Don Gilet 
Father/Jailer - Shaun Mason 
Sheffield/Executioner/Innkeeper - Gerard McDermott 
De Winter - Joe Kloska 
Felton - Gavin Singh Chera 
D'Artagnan - Ian Dunnett Jnr 
Buckingham - Ryan Whittle 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4-11 September 2023 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Milady de Winter

A BBC Radio 4 Drama

Gary Russell

Seán Carlsen reads this original adventure for the Tenth Doctor and Martha, as played on TV by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman. 
 
The waters of the Pacific Ocean form the backdrop of this foray into Eighteenth Century seafaring for the Doctor and Martha, when the TARDIS materialises on board the Blue Groper sailing ship. 
Grudgingly accepted as stowaways by Captain Sadler's crew, the travellers learn that the ship is on a mission to Luna Puesta, 'the land where the moon has set'. 
 
There, just off the coast of New Zealand, Professor James Tomlinson hopes to locate a missing archaeological link between dinosaurs and man. 
 
But what the expedition finds on arrival is far beyond the Professor's wildest dreams... 
 
 
? 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
Reading produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke Audio. 
Sound design by David Darlington. 
Executive producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens.

Doctor Who: The Lagoon Monsters

10th Doctor Audio Original

Christopher Douglas

Andrew Nickolds

Ed Reardon returns to lead us through the ups and downs of his life in this 15th series 
 
'His dejection is ... our delight' Radio Times 
 
Berkhamsted's most famous son is back, still ensconced in his 'stylish capsule urban living unit' (aka small office conversion) and continuing to pursue his part-time relationship with Maggie. However, he's once more on the brink of the breadline as his agent, Ping, has failed to come up with any major offers of work, and his best mate and deadly rival, Jaz Milvain, remains a perpetual thorn in his side. 
 
Ed also finds himself supporting his daughter Eli in her new career as a 'Storyteller', tutoring a new student in his creative writing class (Pearl having left to join the silver workforce as a store detective), and struggling to divert himself after the loss of Elgar. Seeking distraction, he tries his hand at woodworking, starts a weekly 'Soapbox Corner', contemplates relaunching his online Quiz Nights and takes advantage of a 'blind recruiting initiative' to apply for a new role. Could the tantalising prospect of a real job - with a regular income - give him the impetus he needs to re-engage with the world? 
 
This fifteenth series is dedicated to its co-creator, Andrew Nickolds, who died in 2022. Christopher Douglas plays Ed, with Barunka O'Shaughnessy as Ping, Pippa Haywood as Maggie, Philip Jackson as Jaz and Lisa Coleman as Eli. Also starring are Geoffrey Whitehead as Stan, Sally Grace as Olive and Ellen Thomas as Winnie. 
 
Written by Andrew Nickolds and Christopher Douglas 
Produced by Dawn Ellis 
Production co-ordinator: Katie Baum 
Sound: Jon Calver 
Dedicated to Andrew Nickolds, who sadly passed away mid-way through writing the series 
 
Cast 
Ed Reardon - Christopher Douglas 
Ping - Barunka O'Shaughnessy 
Jaz Milvain - Philip Jackson 
Eli - Lisa Coleman 
Stan - Geoffrey Whitehead 
Olive/Kebab Woman - Sally Grace 
Winnie - Ellen Thomas 
Maggie - Pippa Haywood 
Jake/Lifeguard - Sam Pamphilon 
Derek - Robert Powell 
Shop assistant/WPC/Claude/Firefighter - Rachel Atkins 
Pool tannoy/Radio presenter/HRH/Sheila - Nicola Sanderson 
Quizzy/Shop assistant - Helen Monks 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 July-17 August 2023 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Ed Reardon’s Week: Series 15

A BBC Radio 4 sitcom

Mark Wright

Mina Anwar reads an exciting original adventure for the Ninth Doctor and Rose, as played on TV by Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper. 
 
High on the summit of a bleak Yorkshire moor, the Scar Hill Hotel is used to bad weather. Yet, on a dark afternoon in January, the ferocious snowstorm that engulfs the hotel surprises even its managers, Mike and Jess. 
 
Also caught off guard are the handful of paying guests, all now stranded until rescue teams can get through. When Mike doesn't return from a recce, and two new arrivals introduce themselves as the Doctor and Rose, a night of terror begins. 
 
Something is out there in the snow, hunting. Old Wiggins believes it's the fabled Beast of Scar Hill, the same creature that's done for his sheep. The Doctor's keeping an open mind, as he and Rose fight a losing battle to keep everyone safe. 
 
Someone knows the truth behind the attacks, and the secret that lies out on the moor. But who? 
Mina Anwar, who has had TV roles in Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures, reads Mark Wright's tense and atmospheric thriller. 
 
? 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
Reading produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke Audio. 
Sound design by David Roocroft. 
Executive producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens.

Doctor Who: The Beast of Scar Hill

9th Doctor Audio Original

Darren Jones

Hired assassin Doom is on a mission to save her own life before Death catches up with her. If she can find the Doctor they might be able to help her - but where in Time and Space are they? 
 
These four missions - The Steel Cascade, The Martian Dilemma, An Ood Halloween and Dark Space - take Doom to a Mediterranean cruise ship in 1966, the planet Mars in the distant past, San Francisco in 1999, and finally a desolate planet in a dying solar system. 
 
Along the way she meets former TARDIS travellers Ian and Barbara, the mighty Ice Warriors, and Brian the Ood. But when a mysterious stranger with silver hair and sunglasses turns up, will he be Doom's salvation? 
 
Written by Darren Jones and read by Sooz Kempner, Jaye Griffiths and Silas Carson, these four original stories form part of the multi-platform Doom's Day adventure to celebrate Doctor Who's 60th anniversary. 
 
? 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
Readings produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke Audio. 
Sound design by David Roocroft. Project editor: John Ainsworth. Doom's Day Project Manager: James Page. 
Executive producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens.

Doctor Who: Four from Doom's Day

Doom's Day Audio Original

Pete McTighe

Julie Hesmondhalgh reads this new novelisation of the TV adventure featuring the Thirteenth Doctor and friends. 
 
Kerblam! is the biggest online retailer in the galaxy - but how did it become so big? When the Doctor's Kerblam! package includes a mysterious request for help, she heads straight to the company's warehouse moon to investigate. 
Going undercover as Kerblam! workers, the TARDIS fam find that several human employees have vanished in sinister circumstances. Could the automated workforce be to blame? Or has the whole operation been compromised by forces unknown? The Doctor soon learns that when it comes to wrapping things up, she has nothing on Kerblam!... 
Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Judy in the BBC TV episode, reads Pete McTighe's novelisation of his 2018 TV episode. 
 
&copy; 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd &copy; 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
Reading produced by Audio Always. 
Sound design by David Darlington. 
Executive producer for BBC Audiobooks: Michael Stevens.

Doctor Who: Kerblam!

13th Doctor Novelisation

Stephen Baxter

David Troughton reads this gripping adventure by award-winning author Stephen Baxter, featuring the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe. 
 
The Wheel. A ring of ice and steel turning around a moon of Saturn, and home to a mining colony supplying a resource-hungry Earth. 
It's a bad place to grow up. The colony has been plagued by problems. Maybe it's just gremlins, just bad luck. But the equipment failures and thefts of resources have been increasing, and there have been stories among the children of mysterious creatures glimpsed aboard the Wheel. Many of the younger workers refuse to go down the warren-like mines anymore. 
And then sixteen-year-old Phee Laws, surfing Saturn's rings, saves an enigmatic blue box from destruction. Aboard the Wheel, the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe find a critical situation - and they are suspected by some as the source of the sabotage. They soon find themselves caught in a mystery that goes right back to the creation of the solar system. A mystery that could kill them all. 
 
? 2012, 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2012, 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
Text © Stephen Baxter 2012

Doctor Who: The Wheel of Ice

2nd Doctor Novel

Josie Long

Josie Long presents four entertaining and educational comedic essays, aided by Maeve Higgins and special guests 
 
Award-winning comedian Josie Long has performed nine hit stand-up shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, subsequently touring them around the UK and internationally. This BBC Radio series was adapted from her hit 2009 stage show, and finds her attempting to unravel the mysteries of the universe through ad hoc research. Using the knowledge she's gleaned, she gives us the lowdown on her selected subject - with the help of her special guests, who join in with questions, illustrations and interruptions. 
 
In Astronomy for Dummies, Josie uses the textbook of the same name to try and get to grips with the complexities of the solar system. As she flicks through its pages, she learns how to identify constellations, joins the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence - and finds her cosmic twin... The Enlightenment sees her pondering the history of collecting things. From her childhood frog collection to the Pitts Rivers Museum, she considers why we love acquiring, categorising and displaying objects - and how doing so makes us better people... 
 
In Obscure Animal Facts, Josie attempts to level up, and become unbeatable at Trivial Pursuit. Sharing her favourite facts about the animal kingdom, she recalls her animal-activist past, interrogates her father over his quiz-buff history and reflects on the deep joy of being dorky. And in Propriety, Plants, Grandparents and Growing Your Own, she finds out how being outside connects us to nature, muses on apple names and adventure botanists, and discovers how her granny's gardening book holds the key to al fresco happiness. 
 
Among Josie's special guests are The Infinite Monkey Cage's Robin Ince; German comedian Henning Wehn; Josie's dad Geoff Long; and the host of Jordan, Jesse, Go!, Jesse Thorn. 
 
Production credits 
Written by and starring Josie Long 
Produced by Colin Anderson 
With Maeve Higgins, Robin Ince, Professor Stephen Maran, Henning Wehn, Daniel Harkin, Chris Neil, Jesse Thorne, Geoff Long, Isy Suttie 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18 February-11 March 2009 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

All of the Planet's Wonders

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series

Keith Temple

Silas Carson reads this new novelisation of a BBC TV adventure featuring the Tenth Doctor and Donna. 
 
"The Ood came from a distant world, they voyaged across the stars, all for one purpose... to serve." 
The TARDIS lands on the Ood-Sphere in the year 4126. Here, human profiteers have subjugated the Ood: the gentle creatures are forced into servitude and sold across the galaxy as the perfect slaves. But now, some are fighting back. Their eyes turn red as they throw off their chains and kill their oppressors... 
The Doctor and Donna soon learn that the planet of the Ood holds cruel and awesome secrets. As they battle for justice and survival, the fate of the entire Ood race hangs in the balance. Will the outcome be salvation - or extinction? 
Silas Carson, who voiced the Ood in the BBC TV series, reads Keith Temple's novelisation of his 2008 TV episode. 
 
? 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
Reading produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke Audio. 
Sound design by David Roocroft. 
Executive producer for BBC Audiobooks: Michael Stevens.

Doctor Who: Planet of the Ood

10th Doctor Novelisation

Phil Ford

Maureen O'Brien reads this new novelisation of a BBC TV adventure featuring the Tenth Doctor, as played on screen by David Tennant. 
 
The first human colony on Mars is destined for destruction in a nuclear explosion. This tragedy is a fixed point in history. The laws of time dictate that it cannot - must never - be changed. But as the Doctor's darkest hour comes calling, he resolves to break the rules as he never has before... 
 
Maureen O'Brien, who played Vicki in the BBC TV series, reads Phil Ford's novelisation of his 2009 TV episode co-written with Russell T Davies. 
 
 
? 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
Reading produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke Audio. 
Sound design by David Darlington. 
Executive producer for BBC Audiobooks: Michael Stevens.

Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars

Terrance Dicks

Malcolm Hulke

Journey back in time with this nostalgic audio presentation performed by Jon Culshaw, Dan Starkey, Maureen O'Brien, Louise Jameson, Katy Manning and Geoffrey Beevers. 
 
It's the 1970s, and you're invited behind the scenes of Doctor Who. You'll go on location to witness the recording of two classic TV adventures (The Sea Devils and Robot) and spend time inside a vintage BBC television studio. You'll also learn how to write a script or make a monster, 1970s-style! 
 
Authors Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke will guide you through the first ten years of Doctor Who history, detailing how it was created, the people who brought it into being, and the actors who portrayed the Doctor, his friends and their monstrous enemies. 
 
Along the way you'll hear some of the Doctor's key early adventures recounted as Time Lord records, UNIT Memos, and other in-story documentation. 
 
Brought to life by an array of familiar Doctor Who voices, this celebration of the programme's early days is a delight for fans of all ages. 
 
Cover illustration by Chris Achilleos © House of Achilleos 
Readings produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke Audio 
Sound design by David Darlington 
Executive producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Making of Doctor Who

The Original 1970s Programme Guide

Maureen Lipman

Two series of Maureen Lipman's monologues and musings, plus four comedy dramas written especially for her 
 
'Marvellous' Daily Telegraph 
 
Award-winning actress and comedian Maureen Lipman has been entertaining audiences for over half a century. Her career has encompassed film, theatre, TV and radio; she has written several bestselling autobiographies; and in 2020 she was made a Dame in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. In this sparkling collection, the irrepressible 'Queen of Coronation Street' takes to the airwaves with her hilarious monologues, diverting duologues and amusing anecdotes - all recorded in front of a live audience. Also included are four comedy dramas showcasing her manifold talents. 
 
Maureen & Friends finds her following in the footsteps of the late, great Joyce Grenfell as she brings her own incisive wit to the monologue tradition. Series 1 finds her riffing on topics as diverse as Jane Austen, pesky rodents, stroppy teenagers, Balkan windscreen-washers and life in the Covid era; while in Series 2 she is joined by fellow actor Oliver Cotton to give life and opinions to a variety of comic characters, both human and animal - from a crossword whiz to a Canada goose. 
 
In A Month of Maureen, she stars in four comedy dramas specially scripted for her: 
Three Journeys tells the poignant, funny tale of a mother and son. Five Lessons is a delightful comedy about a pianist and his pupil. Dead Rellies centres around a revelatory trip to a Jewish cemetery. Theodora Potts: Victorian Psychic is a surreal comedy-drama featuring a medium with a secret, who's about to meet her match. 
Among Maureen Lipman's co-stars are Jasper Britton, Julian Rhind-Tutt, George Layton and Tracy-Ann Oberman. 
 
Credits 
 
Maureen & Friends 
Written and performed by Maureen Lipman with Oliver Cotton 
Produced by David Hunter and Tracey Neale 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 December 2019-3 January 2020 (Series 1) and 16-23 March 2022 (Series 2) 
 
A Month of Maureen 
Produced and directed by Marion Nancarrow 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6-27 November 2017 
 
Three Journeys 
Molly - Maureen Lipman 
Paul - Jasper Britton 
Written by Gary Brown 
 
Five Lessons 
PW - Maureen Lipman 
Conrad - Julian Rhind-Tutt 
Written by Marcy Kahan 
Pianist Peter Ringrose 
 
Dead Rellies 
Fay - Maureen Lipman 
Alan - George Layton 
Cynthia - Julie Teal 
Written by Gary Brown 
 
Theodora Potts: Victorian Psychic 
Theodora Potts - Maureen Lipman 
Sioux Sioux - Tracy-Ann Oberman 
Adolphus/Dr von Ubermench - Neil McCaul 
Countess - Ellie Darvill 
The Earl - Clive Hayward 
Mr Brown - Rupert Holliday Evans 
Clemmie - Abbie Andrews 
Mr Soames - Gary Duncan 
Woman with birthmark - Isabella Inchbald 
Written by Tracy-Ann Oberman and Ivor Baddiel 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Maureen & Friends

A BBC Radio Collection of Comedy Monologues and Dramas

Bill Dare

A collection of the hilarious show-within-a-show about two daytime TV presenters 
 
Sit back, dip your biscuit in your tea, and relax... because Mike and Sue are here! In each episode of this mid-morning spoof, the sofa-bound host couple Mike and Sue and their live studio audience tackle various topics of the day - no matter how clumsily. 
 
Ranging from shopping addictions and teenagers to cults and holidays, the programme intersperses studio segments with sketches on the day's topics, so if you've ever wanted to know what gardening and terrorism have in common, or what the wider public really feels about marriage, listen up. Plus: could therapy have helped Henry VIII, what are the most dangerous ducks, and will Mike and Sue win the TV award that, surely, everyone knows they deserve? Plus a moving appeal on behalf of actors who make moving appeals. 
 
Starring Jan Ravens (Dead Ringers, Spitting Image), Robert Duncan (Old Harry's Game, Drop the Dead Donkey), Sally Phillips (Miranda, Smack the Pony), Steve Punt (The Now Show, Horrible Histories), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Friday Night Dinner, Toast of London), Alistair McGowan (The Big Impression, Have I Got News for You), Ronni Ancona (Last Tango in Halifax, The Big Impression), and many more. This four-series run will scratch any itch you have for mid-morning mayhem, no matter the time of day, and is just the thing for fans of The Now Show and Knowing Me, Knowing You. 
 
Cast and credits 
Mike - Robert Duncan 
Sue - Julia Hills (Series 1) 
Sue - Jan Ravens (Series 2-4) 
 
Assorted roles: 
Sally Phillips 
Tracy-Ann Oberman 
Steve Punt 
Alistair McGowan 
Ronni Ancona 
Bill Dare 
Roger Blake 
Mark Kilmurry 
Dan Strauss 
Debbie Isitt 
Tim De Jongh 
Christopher Douglas 
Toby Longworth 
Emma Kennedy 
Martin Jarvis 
Pauline McLynn 
Karl MacDermott 
Jonathan White 
Conor Lambert 
Mario Rosenstock 
Farrell Fleming 
 
Music by Mike Burton 
Written by Steve Punt, Christopher Douglas, Dan Gaster, Will Ing, Ben Silburn, Ian Brown, James Hendrie, Bert Tyler-Moore, George Jeffrie, Tim De Jongh, David Spicer and Hugh Rycroft 
Created by Bill Dare 
 
Produced by Pete Sinclair, Julia Hills, Jo Clegg, Aled Evans and Helen Williams 
 
Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4: 
25 April - 30 May 1996 (Series 1) 
4 June - 9 July 1997 (Series 2) 
17 September - 22 October 1998 (Series 3) 
14 September - 19 October 1999 (Series 4) 
Sadly Episode 2 of Series 2 could not be included as it is lost from the BBC Archive 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Life, Death & Sex with Mike and Sue

A BBC Radio 4 comedy

The first seven series of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 impressions show - plus three sparkling Specials 
 
Wickedly funny and bitingly satirical, Dead Ringers has been lampooning politicans, celebrities and media pundits for over 20 years. In these seven series, first broadcast between 2000 and 2002, the team give us their peerless impressions of the personalities we love to laugh at: from Tony Blair and George W. Bush to Brian Sewell, Posh n' Becks and Kirsty Wark. 
 
In their surreal alternate universe, Jack Nicholson joins the cast of Last of the Summer Wine, Alan Bennett and Thora Hird reveal their dark sides over a pot of Earl Grey, and a desperate Doctor calls directory enquiries in search of his arch-enemy, The Master. Plus, Hamlet receives the classic sitcom treatment, Anne Robinson puts her family through its paces to find The Weakest Child - and there's horror at the Simon Bates Hotel... 
 
Also included are The Archers Special, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the much-loved soap opera; the 2001 Election Special; and the 2002 Golden Jubilee Special, in which the impressionists take a right royal look back over 50 years of British cultural life. 
 
NB: Contains humour and language that some listeners may find offensive 
 
Cast and credits 
Starring Alistair McGowan, John Culshaw, Kate Robbins, Simon Lipson, Jan Ravens, Kevin Connelly, Phil Cornwell, Mark Perry and Lewis MacLeod, with Matthew Cox and Stefano Paolini 
Created by Bill Dare 
Produced by Bill Dare, Mario Stylianides and Danny Wallace 
Associate producer: Adam Bromley 
Music composed by John Whitehall 
 
Written by Nev Fountain, Tom Jamieson and Laurence Howarth with: Richard Ayoade, Ivor Baddiel, Mike Barfield, DA Barham, Colin Birch, Simon Blackwell, Ashley Blaker, Magic Bob, Ashley Boroda, James Cary, Steve Cochrane, Dave Cohen, Ali Crockatt, Ed Dyson, Paul Ebbs, Gez Foster, Terry Franks, Marcus Harvard, Mike Haskins, Mark Haynes, Jon Holmes, Matthew Holness, Andy Hurst, Robin Ince, George Jeffrie, Richard Lewis, Simon Littlefield, Trevor Lloyd, Ewan Marshall, Paul McKenzie, Oriane Messina, Henry Naylor, Ged Parsons, Steve Parry, George Poles, Steve Punt, Shaun Pye, Dan Robins, Stuart Robinson, Tony Roche, Fay Rusling, Rupert Russell, Arnie Sidebottom, Martin Smith, Dan Tetsell, Toby Thunder, Alison Todd, Bert Tyler-Moore, Richard Webb, Mike Weedy 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 7-28 January 2000 (Series 1), 16 June-4 August 2000 (Series 2), 17 November-15 December 2000 (Series 3), 25 December 2000 (The Archers Special), 6-27 April 2001 (Series 4), 6 June 2001 (Election Special), 24 August-7 September 2001 (Series 5), 7 December 2001-11 January 2002 (Series 6), 19 April-10 May 2002 (Series 7), 4 June 2002 (Golden Jubilee Special) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Dead Ringers: Series 1-7 plus Specials

Seven more series of the popular BBC Radio 4 impressions show - plus a selection of unbroadcast material 
 
Since the turn of the millennium, Dead Ringers has been giving us its skewed, hilarious take on the famous and the infamous. The show has won a British Comedy Award, a Sony Gold Award, and a Press Guild Award for Radio Programme of the Year - and won a legion of fans with its merciless parodies, mocking every programme, institution and politician you hold dear. 
 
Satire meets silliness in these seven series, as the gravelly-voiced Doctor inquires about interstellar travel on the London Eye, Scooby Doo and the gang enter the terrifying London Congestion Zone, and Stephen Fry presents a BAFTA tribute to someone - but he's not entirely sure who... Elsewhere, some familiar voices phone up the European Space Agency, the team add a bit of festive cheer to Crimewatch and Embarrassing Bodies, and Mel and Sue give their double entendres a good old squeeze in The Great British Innuendo. 
 
Also featured is a sparkling selection of unbroadcast material from the razor-sharp BBC Radio 4 comedy. 
 
NB: Contains humour and language that some listeners may find offensive 
 
Cast and credits 
Starring John Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Mark Perry, Kevin Connelly, Phil Cornwell, Duncan Wisbey, Lewis MacLeod and Debra Stephenson, with Brian Bowles 
Created by Bill Dare 
Produced by Bill Dare, Katie Tyrell, Mario Stylianides and Katie Marsden 
Music composed by John Whitehall 
 
Written by Nev Fountain, Tom Jamieson and Laurence Howarth with: Ed Amsden, Daniel Audritt, Jack Bernhardt, Colin Birch, Simon Blackwell, James Bugg, Sarah Campbell, Carl Carter, Lucy Clarke, Tom Coles, Tony Cooke, Ali Crockatt, Rhodri Crooks, Jon Culshaw, Bill Dare, Max Davis, John Finnemore, Gerard Foster, Paul Gannon, Jon Holmes, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Robin Ince, Paul Kerensa, Gráinne Maguire, Laura Major, Henry Naylor, Benjamin Partridge, Steve Punt, Pete Reynolds, Tony Roche, David Scott, Chris Thompson, Richard Ward, Mark Watson, Duncan Wisbey 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 16 August-6 September 2002 (Series 8), 10-31 January 2003 (Series 9), 5 September-3 October 2003 (Series 10), 16 September-21 October 2005 (Series 11), 30 July-3 September 2014 (Series 12), 26 December 2014-2 January 2015 (Series 13), 10 April-8 May 2015 (Series 14) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Dead Ringers: Series 8-14 plus Specials

John Sergeant

Greg Dyke

Gyles Brandreth

Jennie Bond

Roy Hattersley

Adam Hart-Davis

Antony Worrall-Thompson

Esther Rantzen

Janet Street-Porter

Lorraine Kelly

Edwina Currie

Alan Carr

Sue Perkins

Lucy Porter

Robin Ince

The comedy panel game where all the questions are about the guest host 
 
Welcome to The Personality Test, the panel show in which a brand new host takes the chair for every episode to present a quiz entirely themed around themselves. Each gets to run the show by their own rules, devising topics and queries based on their life, whims, fancies and past glories. Among the showbiz celebrities in the hot seat are Gyles Brandreth, Jennie Bond, Antony Worrall Thompson, Esther Rantzen, Janet Street-Porter and Edwina Currie, while the rounds include Love It Or Hate It, True or False, That Special Day and Life's a Pitch. 
 
Is John Sergeant a fan of Julia Roberts? Would Greg Dyke give Radio 4 just a minute, or leave it on a desert island? And does Claire Rayner have a penchant for jelly babies? Having spent a week swotting up on their host, the contestants must tackle these questions and more, as they do their best to amuse, entertain, charm, flatter - and occasionally, flirt outrageously - in a bid to chalk up the points and win the game. Battling it out are regular panellists and comedy heavyweights Alan Carr, Sue Perkins, Robert Ince, Lucy Porter, Will Smith and Carrie Quinlan. 
 
Intriguing and challenging, riotous and revealing, this unique panel show shines a fascinating spotlight on the interests and enthusiasms of your favourite personalities - and keeps you laughing along the way. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Richard Turner, Simon Littlefield and Kieron Quirke 
Devised and produced by Aled Evans 
 
Series 1 presented by: John Sergeant, Greg Dyke, Gyles Brandreth and Jennie Bond 
With Sue Perkins, Alan Carr, Lucy Porter, Will Smith, Robin Ince and Natalie Haynes 
 
Series 2 presented by: Roy Hattersley, Rick Wakeman, Adam Hart-Davis, Antony Worrall Thompson, Claire Rayner and Esther Rantzen 
With Sue Perkins, Lucy Porter, Robin Ince, Mark Dolan and Will Smith 
 
Series 3 presented by: Janet Street-Porter, Lorraine Kelly, Andrew Neill, Edwina Currie, Toyah Willcox and Eve Pollard 
With Sue Perkins, Will Smith, Nick Doody, Lucy Porter, Robin Ince, Carrie Quinlan and Dan Tetsell 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 July-2 August 2006 (Series 1), 7 December 2006-11 January 2007 (Series 2), 5 July-9 August 2007 (Series 3) 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The Personality Test

The complete BBC Radio 4 comedy quiz series

Brian Cox

Four more series of the multi-award-winning science/comedy show 
 
Celebrating the wonders of the universe since 2009, The Infinite Monkey Cage combines wit and wisdom to explore scientific concepts in an entertaining, accessible way. In these four series, physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince are back to 'put a smile on the face of science' (The Independent). They're joined by a wealth of boffins, brainiacs and celebrity science enthusiasts, all keen to share their hard facts, soft theories and bold comic deviations. 
 
Beginning with the end of the universe, they tackle topics including black holes, the human brain, Neanderthals and the science of cooking - and attempt to answer profound philosophical questions such as 'What is life, and how did it start?', 'Is time an illusion?' and ''What is reality?' There's also an astronaut's guide to isolation, featuring Helen Sharman, Chris Hadfield, Nicole Stott and Apollo 9's Rusty Schweickart; a look back at 60 years of chimpanzee research with Jane Goodall; and a history of rock (not in the Rolling Stones sense, but actual rolling stones). 
 
Plus, the duo play Animal Top Trumps to find out whether we should prefer beautiful bats to much-maligned flies; travel deep below the ocean waves to see what lies beneath; discover how trees communicate using the Wood Wide Web; and learn why two brains are definitely better than one... 
 
Among their special guests are Eric Idle, Steve Martin, Matt Lucas, Tim Minchin, Bill Bailey, Mark Gatiss, Steve Jones, Ross Noble, Sara Pascoe, Prof Alice Roberts, Carlo Rovelli, Harold McGee, Dr Janna Levin, Dave Gorman, Brendan Hunt and Katy Brand. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Brian Cox and Robin Ince 
Producer: Alexandra Feachem 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Infinite Monkey Cage: Series 22-25

James Casey

25 episodes from the long-running BBC comedy series starring the legendary Les Dawson 
 
For over a decade between 1974 and 1985, lugubrious funnyman Les Dawson had radio audiences in stitches with his hit comedy show Listen to Les. 
 
Included in this collection are 25 vintage episodes, showcasing the gravel-voiced master of mirth at his very best. All your favourite characters are here, including gossip-loving housewives Cissie and Ada; chat show host Cosmo Smallpiece; the elegant Sophisticates and the hilariously dismal Desponds - as well as Wotan, Man of Steel; the debut appearance of comic discovery Justin Jest; and a rare interview with boxer Sugar Albert Ackroyd. 
 
You'll hear tales of 1920s gangsters, Britain's first space hero, and Leonard Shufflebottom: a man so thin, he was once used as a dipstick. Les also pays tribute to a feisty barber and a sheep-headed publican, presents his very own versions of Dallas and Columbo, reflects on the British sense of humour - and reveals how the mother-in-law joke was invented... 
 
Packed with deadpan one-liners, melancholic monologues, side-splitting sketches and unforgettable piano sing-alongs, these classic shows are sure to have your tear ducts prickling with laughter. 
 
NB: Some of the humour on this recording reflects the era in which it was first broadcast 
 
Production credits 
Performed by Les Dawson 
With Roy Barraclough, Colin Edwynn, Daphne Oxenford and Eli Woods 
Written and produced by James Casey 
Music by Brian Fitzgerald 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 11 August 1974-17 March 1985 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Listen to Les

A BBC Radio 4 vintage comedy

Lynne Truss

Three series of funny natural history tales from Lynne Truss, featuring a star cast of narrators 
 
Recorded in front of a live audience, these wry, funny tales introduce us to the varied creatures who make their homes on the shoreline, in garden ponds and in our attics. In 18 comic monologues, they reveal the truth about what life is really like in their respective habitats - and it's much more eventful than you might think... 
 
Tidal Tales from the Rock Pool features salty stories from a roving, joke-loving Periwinkle (Bill Wallis); a house-proud Hermit Crab (Geoffrey Palmer); a figure-conscious Sea Anemone (Alison Steadman); a tough talkin' Goby Fish (Sean Power); a poetic, love-struck Limpet (Samantha Bond) and a diligent Lugworm (Tony Robinson). 
 
In Gossip from the Garden Pond, we peek between the lily pads to meet a Tadpole who loves wiggling and doesn't want to grow up (Julian Rhind-Tutt); a beautiful, highly-sexed Dragonfly (Alison Steadman); a hotly pursued Water Boatman (Sandi Toksvig); a ferocious Great Diving Beetle (David Ryall); a timid, arachnophobic Garden Spider (Amanda Root) and a self-righteous Great Pond Snail (James Fleet). 
 
And in Rumblings from the Rafters, we venture into the draughty attic of a rambling old house in Amersham to hear from a subversive, head-banging Death Watch Beetle (Bill Paterson); a bossy, stressed Queen Wasp (Alison Steadman); a fast-thinking, acrobatic House Fly (Lee Mack); a big-hearted Soprano Pipistrelle Bat (Pam Ferris); an Edible Dormouse who's convinced he's a Russian spy (Hugh Dennis) and a Peacock Butterfly with a feisty past (Amanda Abbington). 
 
Written and introduced by Lynne Truss, with wildlife soundscapes by Chris Watson, these hugely entertaining, surprisingly informative anthropomorphic tales teem with drama and adventure - you'll never look at a rock pool, pond or roof space in the same way again... 
 
Written and introduced by Lynne Truss 
Produced by Sarah Blunt 
Sound design by Chris Watson 
 
Tidal Talk from the Rock Pool 
The Periwinkle and the Hermit Crab 
The Anemone and the Goby Fish 
The Limpet and the Lugworm 
 
Gossip from the Garden Pond 
The Tadpole and the Dragonfly 
The Water Boatman and Great Diving Beetle 
The Garden Spider and Great Pond Snail 
 
Rumblings from the Rafters 
Death Watch Beetle and Queen Wasp 
House Fly and Soprano Pipistrelle Bat 
Edible Dormouse and Peacock Butterfly 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 1-15 May 2012 (Tidal Talk from the Rock Pool), 7-21 Sept 2014 (Gossip from the Garden Pond), 26 June-10 July 2016 (Rumblings from the Rafters) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Natter from the Natural World

A BBC Radio Comedy Collection

Andy Hamilton

All seven series of Andy Hamilton's fiendishly funny award-winning comedy set in Hell. 
 
'Satirical, philosophical - and devilishly funny' Gillian Reynolds, Daily Telegraph 
 
Welcome to Hell - where nobody can ever quite catch the barman's eye. In this collection, which contains all seven series of Old Harry's Game, get ready for some wicked one-liners and scorching satire. 
 
Satan is fed up after a millennia in charge of Hell, especially given the prospect of an eternity still running the damned place. Although he does enjoy playing pranks on the world of the living and devising wry torments for the souls in his keeping, he often wistfully recalls his past as an archangel... 
 
Over the course of the series, we meet various famous figures now languishing in Hell, including a foul-mouthed Jane Austen, a mindless Helen of Troy and a less-than-heroic Samson. Satan takes Hell resident Thomas on a tour of his life, his assistant Scumspawn has trouble with a pushy computer, and love drives The Professor to extreme action. Satan and The Professor find a huge, empty space in Hell (when they enter Scumspawn's brain), a Health and Safety officer notes that the lighting is inadequate, and Satan punishes a feng shui expert. And then Edith arrives... 
 
Seven series of the Sony Award-winning comedy (plus the Christmas and Olympic specials) starring Andy Hamilton as Satan and a regular cast of acclaimed actors including Annette Crosbie as Edith, Timothy West as God, James Grout as The Professor, Jimmy Mulville as Thomas and Robert Duncan as Scumspawn. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Andy Hamilton 
Produced by Paul Mayhew-Archer 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 November - 28 December 1995 (Series 1), 7 April - 12 May 1998 (Series 2), 24 March - 28 April 1999 (Series 3), 29 March - 3 May 2001 (Series 4), 31 December 2002 - 1 January 2003 (2002 Christmas Special), 20 September - 11 October 2005 (Series 5), 27 September - 1 November 2007 (Series 6), 19 February - 26 March 2009 (Series 7), 23 December - 30 December 2010 (2010 Christmas Special), 12 July - 19 July 2012 (Olympic Special). 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Old Harry’s Game

The Complete Series of the Award-Winning BBC Radio 4 Comedy

Described by his creator as 'short, fat and primitive', Evert Bäckström is a rather unique homicide detective but he is undeniably the real deal with it comes to modern policing. 
 
This series is blackly comic, thrillingly compelling and utterly real.

Bäckström

CAMP GOLD

Caedmon Aisquith

Cairo Trilogy

Can You Solve the Murder?

Capital

Care Bears

Cartoon Kid

Cath Kidston

A crime-fiction series with a twist - private investigator Catherine Berlin, is a damaged soul struggling with a heroin addiction, but she still manages to do her best, even when her own neck is on the chopping block.

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