Joseph Delaney used to be an English teacher, before becoming the best-selling author of the Spook's series, which has been published in 30 countries and sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide. The first book, The Spook's Apprentice, was adapted into a major motion picture starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.

Joseph Delaney

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Ian Serraillier

A BBC radio full-cast dramatisation of Ian Serraillier’s classic wartime story. 
 
When the Germans march into Poland in 1941, the Balickis’ happy family life is shattered. With their parents taken away by Nazis, Ruth, Edek and Bronia are forced to fend for themselves in the dangerous, war-ravaged city of Warsaw. 
 
When Edek is captured too, the girls are desperate. Then they meet orphaned street urchin Jan, who carries with him a talisman of hope: a silver sword paperknife that they recognise as having belonged to their mother. 
 
Realising that their parents may still be alive, Ruth and Bronia set off on an epic journey to Switzerland to search for them. With Jan by their side, they are determined to reunite the family – and their first step is to find Edek. But the road ahead is full of danger and hardship, and they will facemany challenges along the way... 
 
This moving story of friendship, courage and solidarity brings to life the reality of a Europe laid waste by war. 
 
Cast: 
Ruth - Sarah McDonald Hughes 
Edek - Stephen Hoyle 
Bronia - Hester Cox 
Jan - Aqib Khan 
Margaret/Irka/Mrs Wolff - Maggie Fox 
Joseph/German 1/Mr Wolff - Malcolm Raeburn 
Ivan - David Fleeshman 
Soldier/American GI - Andrew Blake 
Doctor - Lloyd Peters 
Cook/Mrs Borowicz - Szilvi Naray Davey 
The Burgomaster/Captain Malinowski - Jonathan Keeble 
 
Adapted by Chris Wallis. 
Produced and directed by Charlotte Riches.

The Silver Sword

A BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation

Susan Cooper

Two magical adventure stories from the queen of fantasy 
 
Immerse yourself in the magical world of Susan Cooper’s imagination. Drawing upon Celtic and Norse mythology and English folklore, Cooper creates worlds like no other. She is best known for her The Dark Is Rising series, the first of which is included in this magical adventure collection, with two tales adapted for radio and brought to life by a full cast. 
 
In Over Sea, Under Stone siblings Simon, Jane and Barney are holidaying with their great-uncle in Cornwall, and make a curious discovery in a cluttered attic. What they expected to be an ordinary summer in the village of Trewissick turns into something very unordinary - and frightening... Starring Ronald Pickup as Great Uncle Merry and Struan Rodger as Hastings. This is the is the first instalment of Cooper’s classic The Dark Is Rising series and a listening treat. 
 
King of Shadows is a magical adventure story set both in the present day and in Elizabethan England. Chosen to play Puck in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shakespeare's Globe, young American Nat Field travels to London. Visiting the theatre for the first time, he falls seriously ill. When he awakes, he finds that he has gone back 400 years in time. Will he ever be able to return home… Starring Robert Glenister (Strike, Hustle, Spooks) as Will and Adam Sims (Lost in Space, Band of Brothers) as Nat. 
 
These stunning listens are perfect for fans of His Dark Materials, The Hobbit, CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia and Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea Cycle. These stories are a delight for listeners young and old and not to be missed. 
 
Note: King of Shadows deals with sensitive themes of grief. 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Susan Cooper 
 
Over Sea, Under Stone 
Dramatised by David Calcutt 
Directed by Nigel Bryant 
Music by Martin Allcock 
 
Great Uncle Merry - Ronald Pickup 
Jane - Naomi Kerbel 
Simon - Ben Gutteridge 
Barney - Edward Clarke 
Hastings - Struan Rodger 
 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20th Aug - 10th Sep 1995 
 
King of Shadows 
Written by Susan Cooper 
Dramatised by Beatrice Collin 
Directed by Gaynor MacFarlane 
 
Rachel - Buffy Davis 
Queen Elizabeth - Sally Dexter 
Harry - Tom George 
Will - Robert Glenister 
Doctor - Martin Hyder 
Nat - Adam Sims 
Arby/Richard Burbage - Andrew Woodall 
 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20th Mar 2003 
 
©2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Over Sea, Under Stone & King of Shadows

Two Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

Ian Fleming

A BBC full-cast dramatisation of Ian Fleming’s much-loved children’s classic, brought to life on radio for the first time. 
 
When the Pott family save Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from the terrible fate of being crushed to the size of a matchbox at the scrapyard, she repays Caractacus, Jeremy and Jemima with the best road trip ever. For Chitty is no ordinary car: she can talk – and float – and fly! 
 
The amazing automobile takes the Potts on a trip to the seaside followed by a fantastic journey across the Channel to France, where two cunning criminals are planning to rob Paris’s most famous chocolatier, Monsieur Bon Bon. Can Chitty and the Potts find the secret hideout of terrifying gangster Joe the Monster and his sidekick, Man-Mountain Fink, and foil their evil plans? 
 
Jump aboard for a magical story full of adventure, fun and excitement, starring Imogen Stubbs as Chitty and Alex Jennings as Caractacus Pott. 
 
Cast: 
Chitty...Imogen Stubbs 
Caractacus Pott...Alex Jennings 
Jeremy Pott...Bertie Gilbert 
Jemima Pott...Kerry Ingram 
Joe the Monster...David Fleeshman 
Lord Skrumshus/Garage Man/ Monsieur Bon Bon/Man-Mountain Fink...Eric Potts

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

John Meade Falkner

When fifteen-year-old John Trenchard discovers a secret passage into the vault of the powerful Mohune family, his peaceful life in the Dorset village of Moonfleet is at an end. It is said that Captain Mohune, the notorious Blackbeard, haunts the place with wild and bloodcurdling cries, forever seeking his hidden treasure.   As John sets off in a search of that treasure, a fabled diamond, he becomes caught up in the dangerous coastal smuggling runs and is forced to flee the country in the company of Elzevir Block, the man who is to become like a father to him.   From echoing vaults and stormy seas to dank dungeons and deep wells, the suspense of John’s search for hidden treasure is thrillingly evoked in this fully dramatised classic adventure, starring Robert Glenister and James Laurenson.

Moonfleet

Lewis Carroll

Kenneth Grahame

E Nesbit

Rudyard Kipling

The Brothers Grimm

Hans Christian Andersen

Louisa May Alcott

Oscar Wilde

An irresistible anthology of folklore, fables and perennial favourites, including four novels and 17 short stories 
 
This superlative collection of children's stories brings together a feast of fantastic fiction, read in full by a host of top narrators and with a comprehensive track listing for ease of listening. Comprising everything from fairytales for little ones to thrilling adventures for pre-teens, these unabridged readings are ideal for families to keep, treasure and dip into as their children grow. 
 
Listed by suggested age range and with track numbers provided, the stories are as follows: 
 
Ages 4+ 
1-12 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (read by Carolyn Pickles) 
13 Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (read by Jonny Holden) 
14 The Elves and the Shoemaker by the Brothers Grimm (read by Sam Dale) 
15 Too Clever By Half by E Nesbit (read by Helen Capp) 
16 Tom Thumb by the Brothers Grimm (read by Shaun Mason) 
 
Ages 7+ 
17-25 The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (read by Michael Bertenshaw) 
26 How the Camel Got His Hump by Rudyard Kipling (read by Kenny Blyth) 
27 The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen (read by Shaun Mason) 
28 The Raspberry Worm by Zacharias Topelius (read by Debbie Korley) 
29 The Tongue Cut Sparrow by Yei Theodora Ozaki (read by Sean Baker) 
30 The Elephant's Child by Rudyard Kipling (read by Tony Turner) 
31 The Magic Bed by Hartwell James (read by Chris Pavlo) 
32 How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin by Rudyard Kipling (read by Tony Turner) 
33 The Tortoise and the Rain by MI Ogumefu (read by Kenny Blyth) 
34 The Baba Yaga by Katharine Pyle (read by Susan Jameson) 
 
Ages 9+ 
35-41 The Call of the Wild by Jack London (read by Joseph Ayre) 
42 Finn and the Scottish Giant by Harold F Hughes (read by Paul Hickey) 
43 The Children's Joke by Louisa May Alcott (read by Catherine Cusack) 
44 The Ants and the Treasure by MI Ogumefu (read by Kenny Blyth) 
45 The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde (read by Tony Turner) 
46-59 The Railway Children by E Nesbit (read by Sarah Ovens) 
 
Production credits 
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 21 December 2018-1 November 2019 
 
Produced by Simon Richardson (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Tortoise and the Rain, The Elephant's Child, The Ants and the Treasure, How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin, How the Camel Got His Hump, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Happy Prince), Karen Holden (The Wind in the Willows), Martha Littlehailes (The Call of the Wild), Anne Bunting (The Railway Children), Anne Isger (Too Clever By Half, The Tongue Cut Sparrow, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Children's Joke, Finn and the Scottish Giant) and Mabel Wright (Tom Thumb, The Raspberry Worm, The Magic Bed, The Baba Yaga, Peter Rabbit) 
The Raspberry Worm edited by Andrew Lang 
 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

BBC Classics Children’s Library

A timeless collection of 21 tales for all ages

Michael Bond

Four charming tales starring the marmalade-loving bear from darkest Peru.   The stories are: ‘Please Look After This Bear’, ‘A Bear in Hot Water’, ‘A Disappearing Trick’ and ‘Paddington and the Amateur Dramatics.’   ‘Please look after this bear’ said the label around Paddington’s neck, so the Brown family take him home and do just that. Life with Paddington, however, is full of surprises –as you’ll find out in these four great dramatised stories!

Paddington Please Look After This Bear & Other Stories

Jack London

A BBC radio full-cast dramatisation of this much-loved classic adventure about a dog named Buck. 
 
In Yukon, Canada during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, strong sled dogs were in high demand. Buck is stolen from his comfortable home in California and sold into service as a sled dog in Alaska. He becomes progressively feral in the harsh environment, where he is forced to fight to survive and dominate other dogs. 
 
Sold to a group of inexperienced gold hunters, he is eventually saved by John Thornton, with whom he forms a deep bond. 
 
Exciting and action-packed, The Call of the Wild explores the timeless relationship between man and dog, and the draw of primitive instincts that pull Buck away from humanity towards the wilderness. 
 
Starring Robert Jack, Finn Den Hertog, Robin Lane, Nick Underwood and Melody Grove.

The Call of the Wild

Worth his weight in marmalade sandwiches, here’s Paddington in four more favourite adventures. Whether he’s playing in the sand, going to the theatre, picnicking on the river or enjoying Christmas Day, you can be sure life will be full of surprises! The stories are ‘A Day at the Seaside’, ‘Pantomime Time’, ‘A Picnic on the River’ and ‘Paddington’s Christmas.' Introduced by Michael Hordern, who narrated the original BBC TV series Paddington.

Paddington A Day At The Seaside & Other Stories

Dick King-Smith

A BBC radio full-cast dramatisation of Dick King-Smith’s enchanting children’s story about Harmony Parker and her magical 50p coin. 
 
Harmony Parker is ten years old and loves animals. She longs for a pet of her very own, but her parents won’t allow it. All she can do is keep hoping, dreaming and wishing. 
 
Then Uncle Ginger comes to visit from India. He and Harmony become friends, and he gives her a very special present. Not a puppy, but something even better: a magical 50 pence piece with the power to grant seven wishes. All she has to do is rub the point of the coin opposite the Queen’s nose. 
 
Harmony starts wishing right away, and is soon the proud owner of some of the things she wants most in the world. But she discovers that you have to be careful what you wish for, as the Queen’s nose doesn’t always grant wishes in quite the way you might expect... 
 
This fantastic tale from the bestselling author of Babe, The Sheep-Pig starsLauren Mote as Harmony and Rupert Graves as Uncle Ginger. 
 
Cast 
Harmony...Lauren Mote 
Uncle Ginger...Rupert Graves 
Mr Parker...Richard Lumsden 
Mrs Parker...Matilda Ziegler 
Melody...Holly Bodimeade 
Postman/Mr Sharkey...Richard Fitzsymons 
Traffic warden/News anchor...Miche Docherty 
Kevin Rhys Dunlop 
Reporter...Julia Paul 
Dramatised by Elizabeth Kuti 
Produced and Directed by Heather Larmour

The Queen's Nose

J. M. Barrie

When Peter Pan flies into the night nursery of Wendy, John and Michael Darling, he takes them on the journey - and the adventure - of a lifetime. Mermaids, wolves and Indians weave their spell in the magical Never Never Land - where also lurks the wicked Captain Hook.  Relive the wonder and excitement of J.M Barrie's timeless classic in this spectacular, swashbuckling full cast dramatistion, directed by award-winning producer Dirk Maggs.

Peter Pan

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