BBC Audio

About BBC Audio: Dashiell (Samuel) Hammett was born in 1894 in Maryland, USA. He grew up in Philadelphia and Baltimore, leaving school at 14 and taking a variety of jobs including messenger boy, clerk, yardman and machine operator. A move to San Francisco saw him enrolling as an operative in the Pinkerton Detective Agency, the experience of which would feed his story writing. After being discharged from duty during the First World War for health reasons, Hammett began writing short stories for publication in literary magazines such as Black Mask. He then turned to novels, rapidly publishing some of his most notable work - Red Harvest (1929), The Dain Curse (1929), The Maltese Falcon (1930) and The Glass Key (1931). A new life of celebrity in Hollywood and New York led him to meet the playwright Lillian Hellman; they subsequently lived together until Hammett's death. Heavy drink would blight the rest of Hammett's writing career. A further novel, The Thin Man (1934), became a famous film, as had most of its predecessors. He earned a living from scriptwriting; and many of the short stories he had written for Black Mask were collected in three books, The Adventures of Sam Spade (1944), The Creeping Siamese and Other Stories (1950) and The Continental Op (1974). Hammett enlisted in World War II before being discharged with emphysema. In 1948 his drinking became so heavy that he suffered an attack of delirium tremens, which frightened him into abstention. During America's period of McCarthyism in the 1950s, Hammett refused to testify about 'un-American activities' in Hollywood. For this he was sent to prison for six months. He died in 1961; a collection of short stories, The Big Knockout and Other Stories, was published in 1966. With his creation of Sam Spade, and the distinctive style in which he wrote, Hammett had created a sub-genre of detective fiction which has since been christened 'hard-boiled'.

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About BBC Audiobooks Ltd: Since the 1960s the very best of BBC radio's spoken word output has been available to own, first on record and cassette and now on CD and digital download. In addition to its extensive backlist catalogue, BBC Audio continues to publish a wide range of entertainment drawn from recent radio programming and the BBC archive.

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Six decades of BBC TV's most successful sci-fi series are celebrated in this collection of radio programmes. 
 
In Who Are We (The Classic Years and The Modern Years) Jo Whiley takes a trip through the Whoniverse to find out how the changing attitudes of Britain have been reflected through the TARDIS's travels. It’s a tale that features Dalekmania, Dad’s Army, Mary Whitehouse, Ridley Scott, Cybermen and the JFK assassination. 
 
Jo also learns how Doctor Who thrived during the wilderness years of the show's cancellation, with fandom playing a vital role in its return. Along the way Jo is joined by fans, stars and writers of Doctor Who including Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat and Chris Chibnall. There are also archive interviews with David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker, Peter Capaldi, Matt Smith, Christopher Eccleston, Billie Piper, Kylie Minogue, Patrick Troughton and many more. 
 
Meanwhile in Surviving Doctor Who Toby Hadoke presents a wry insight into the ups and downs of being one of the universe's most misunderstood species: the Doctor Who fan. 
 
? 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. 
Who Are We produced by Paul Sheehan for BBC Radio 2. Surviving Doctor Who produced by Luke Doran for BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Doctor Who at the BBC: Who Are We?

Doctor Who at the BBC

Highlights from Richard Burton’s finest BBC radio performances from the 1940s to the 1980s. 
 
Richard Burton was one of the most famous British actors of the twentieth century, renowned for his magical, mellifluous voice. Before Hollywood tempted him away, he worked frequently for the BBC and many of his most electrifying performances were recorded there. 
 
This classic compilation features some of the very best of Burton, including his very first radio role in The Corn is Green; the heroic Roland in The Dark Tower; the apocalyptic poem 'Fire and Ice'; Henry V on the eve of Agincourt; the spine-tingling Under Milk Wood and the poignant In Parenthesis. Also included is the complete recording of Emlyn Williams’ suspenseful thriller Night Must Fall. 
 
In addition, there are extracts from interviews in which Burton talks about Dylan Thomas, his love of rugby, his deepest ambition and his own feelings about his incomparable voice. 
 
Whether performing Shakespeare, reading Robert Frost or simply talking about his life and career, Burton is never less than compelling, and this unique anthology is a superb tribute to one of the great icons of stage and screen. 
Duration: 2 hrs 50 mins approx.

Burton at the BBC

Classic Excerpts from the BBC Archive

A galaxy of fascinating features from the BBC radio & TV archive, from the 1960s to the 2010s. 
 
The first nine volumes of 'Doctor Who at the BBC' form this unique collection of behind-the-scenes interviews, set reports, lively discussions, comedy skits and drama, drawn from the likes of Blue Peter, Woman's Hour, Today, Nationwide, Newsbeat, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, Dead Ringers, Week Ending, Graham Norton, Wogan's World and Pebble Mill at One. 
 
Among the rare and memorable gems are interviews with Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann, alongside Billie Piper, Catherine Tate, Freema Agyeman, Lalla Ward, Mary Tamm, Janet Fielding, Terry Nation, Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Steven Moffat and many more. 
 
Presented by Elisabeth Sladen, Anthony Head, Louise Jameson, Russell Tovey and Nicholas Courtney, the collection also includes three full-cast radio plays - Regenerations, Blue Sands and Golden Veils, and Dalek I Love You - plus the Radio 2 documentaries Project Who? and Who Is The Doctor? 
 
Volumes 1-3 written and produced by Michael Stevens 
Volume 5 written and produced by Malcolm Prince 
Volumes 6 & 7 written by Andrew Pixley and produced by Michael Stevens 
Volume 8 written and produced by David Darlington & Michael Stevens 
Technical presentation by Mark Ayres, Matt Budd, Steven Jones & David Darlington 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Doctor Who at the BBC: The Collection

The First Nine Volumes

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or an experienced Prommer, plan your summer through the 2013 BBC Proms season with the official Proms Guide. Contains: 
 
- brand-new articles on featured composers, insights on performers, new music and Proms Plus events 
 
- introduction to the season from Roger Wright, Director of the BBC Proms and Controller of BBC Radio 3 
 
- full listings for every concert and event – repertoire, performers, time, location, ticket and broadcast information 
 
- details on how to book tickets 
 
With beautiful photographs and images throughout, this official Proms Guide is the most comprehensive way to plan your summer’s Proms visiting, watching and listening. 
 
 
The BBC Proms is the world’s biggest and longest-running classical music festival and features many of the greatest artists and orchestras from the UK and around the world in over 80 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and Cadogan Hall. There are also daily free Proms Plus talks, workshops, performances and family events.

BBC Proms 2013: The Official Guide

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or an experienced Prommer, plan your summer through the 2014 BBC Proms season with the official Proms Guide. Contains: 
 
 · brand-new articles on featured composers, insights on performers, new music and Proms Plus events 
 
 · introduction to the season from Roger Wright, Director of the BBC Proms and Controller of BBC Radio 3 
 
 · full listings for every concert and event – repertoire, performers, time, location, ticket and broadcast information 
 
 · details on how to book tickets 
 
 · free season calendar to see all the concerts at a glance. 
 
With beautiful photographs and images throughout, this official Proms Guide is the most comprehensive way to plan your summer’s Proms visiting, watching and listening. 
 
 The BBC Proms is the world’s biggest and longest-running classical music festival and features many of the greatest artists and orchestras from the UK and around the world in over 80 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and Cadogan Hall. There are also daily free Proms Plus talks, workshops, performances and family events.

BBC Proms 2014: The Official Guide

In 2005, after sixteen years off-air, Doctor Who returned to BBC Television – and soon became more popular than ever before. In this special anthology of clips and interviews, featuring newly-released material, Elisabeth Sladen journeys back to the recent past to delve into the show’s dazzling success. With the help of extracts from radio programmes as diverse as Go 4 It, Jo Whiley, PM, Newsbeat and The Now Show, she explores the run-up to the launch of Series 1 and follows the programme’s progress right up to 2009, with the impending departure of David Tennant. Featuring the voices of David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Christopher Eccleston, Kylie Minogue, Freema Agyeman, Russell T Davies and many others, this is an absorbing retrospective look at how Doctor Who returned to our screens to capture the hearts of millions of fans.

Doctor Who At The BBC: A Legend Reborn

The actress behind the much-loved Sarah Jane Smith is your guide through this exciting, surprising and often funny mix of radio and TV features, all based around the worlds of contemporary Doctor Who. Travel behind the scenes in the company of David Tennant, Billie Piper, Freema Agyeman, Catherine Tate, Sarah Parish, Jessica Hynes, Thomas Sangster and many other stars of Series Two and Three. Learn more about how Doctor Who is made from Russell T Davies, Susie Liggat and Edward Thomas – and eavesdrop on an unusual phone call to Executive Producer Julie Gardner! Along the way you’ll enjoy many fascinating Doctor Who-related items from Blue Peter, Breakfast, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Front Row and Jo Whiley Meets Doctor Who, plus a host of extracts from BBC Radio Wales’s very own Doctor Who – Back in Time series! With laughter from the Dead Ringers and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue teams thrown in, and a bonus peek at The Sarah Jane Adventures, this exclusive release is guaranteed to provide two hours of enjoyment for Doctor Who fans young, old and in-between!

Doctor Who At The BBC: The Tenth Doctor

Two joyous archive celebrations of Doctor Who's 50th anniversary presented by Russell Tovey and Graham Norton. 
November 2013 marked 50 years since Doctor Who first arrived on BBC television, and Radio 2 marked the occasion with two very special programmes. 
 
Who Is The Doctor? Russell Tovey takes an epic journey through five decades of Doctor Who history and charts the fortunes of the series, from its origins in the 1960s and growing popularity in the 1970s, through the onset of stormy waters in the 1980s, to its triumphant rebirth and second golden age in the 21st Century. Among those telling the story are Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Barry Letts, Philip Hinchcliffe, Jenna Coleman, Louise Jameson, Matt Smith, David Tennant, Christopher Eccleston, Sylvester McCoy, Nicholas Briggs, Mark Ayres, Ben Foster, Mark Gatiss, Waris Hussein and Terrance Dicks alongside numerous other Doctor Who creators and contributors. 
 
Graham Norton In a special edition of his Saturday morning Radio 2 show, broadcast live from the 50th Anniversary Celebration in London, Graham presides over lively and humorous conversation with guests including Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Jenna Coleman, Peter Davison, Carole Ann Ford, Louise Jameson, Katy Manning, Kate O’Mara, Sylvester McCoy, Steven Moffat, William Russell and Matt Smith. Maria McErlane celebrates ten very special Days of the Doctor, and Graham casts an eye over some of the costumes that have featured in the series. Join Russell, Graham and a galaxy of stars for the festivities as they mark half a century of Doctor Who. 
 
Programmes produced by Malcolm Prince for BBC Radio 2. 
Please note that some edits have been made for this commercial release.

Doctor Who at the BBC Volume 9: Happy Anniversary

BBC Comedy

All 30 soundtrack episodes of the BBC TV version of Just a Minute 
 
Just a Minute is a radio perennial. Loved by listeners for almost 60 years, it’s the BBC’s longest-running and most popular panel game, having clocked up over 1000 episodes on Radio 4. And now, you can enjoy 30 more, with these sparkling soundtrack episodes from the BBC TV run of the show. 
 
First broadcast on BBC One in 1999 and BBC Two in 2012, they are chaired by the one and only Nicholas Parsons, who presides over a host of celebrity wordsmiths including Paul Merton, Pam Ayres, Clare Balding, Jo Brand, Gyles Brandreth, Barry Cryer, John Sergeant, Brian Sewell, Hugh Bonneville, Marcus Brigstocke, Julian Clary, Stephen Fry, Phill Jupitus, Miles Jupp, Shappi Khorsandi, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins and Liza Tarbuck. 
 
Though the format may be different, the aim of the game is still the same: to speak on a given theme for 60 seconds, without hesitation, repetition or deviation. Among the topics testing the panellists’ verbal dexterity are Ever Decreasing Circles, Mumbo Jumbo, Garden Gnomes, Yorkshire Pudding, Charlie Chaplin, A New Rule for Just a Minute, My 45th Birthday and Writer’s Block. 
 
So ready your ears for a feast of comic improvisations, magical monologues, cheeky challenges and outrageous one-upmanship, as the panellists set their sights on that rarest of beasts: a perfect, uninterrupted minute... 
 
NB: Contains mild innuendo. The humour in these programmes sometimes reflects the era in which they were first broadcast. 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Devised by Ian Messiter 
Chaired by Nicholas Parsons 
BBC One series produced and directed by Helena Taylor 
BBC Two series produced by Andy Brereton and Jamie Ormerod and directed by Richard van't Riet 
 
Episode list: 
 
BBC One 
19 Apr 1999: Barry Cryer, Su Pollard, John Sergeant and Brian Sewell 
20 Apr 1999: Tony Hawks, Wendy Richard, Steve Frost and Clare Baldin 
21 Apr 1999: Isla Blair, Gyles Brandreth, Linda Smith and Gary Wilmot 
22 Apr 1999: Pam Ayres, Peter Jones, Wendy Richard and Linda Smith 
23 Apr 1999: Jo Brand, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Hawks and Peter Jones 
26 Apr 1999: Barry Cryer, Stephen Frost, Tony Hawks and Wendy Richard 
27 Apr 1999: Michael Cashman, Peter Jones, Maria McErlane and Linda Smith 
28 Apr 1999: Liza Goddard, Richard Morton, Tom O’Connor and Richard Vranch 
29 Apr 1999: Clare Balding, Stephen Frost, Tony Hawks and Wendy Richard 
30 Apr 1999: Barry Cryer, Su Pollard, John Sergeant and Brian Sewell 
3 May 1999: Isla Blair, Gyles Brandreth, Linda Smith and Gary Wilmot 
4 May 1999: Maria McErlane, Steve Punt, Wendy Richard and Linda Smith 
5 May 1999: Gyles Brandreth, Ken Bruce, Liza Goddard and Richard Morton 
6 May 1999: Pam Ayres, Peter Jones, Wendy Richard and Linda Smith 
10 May 1999: Tony Hawks, Wendy Richard, Barry Cryer and Stephen Frost 
11 May 1999: Michael Cashman, Peter Jones, Maria McErlane and Linda Smith 
12 May 1999: Jo Brand, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Hawks and Peter Jones 
13 May 1999: Maria McErlane, Steve Punt, Wendy Richard and Linda Smith 
14 May 1999: Gyles Brandreth, Ken Bruce, Liza Goddard and Richard Morton 
26 May 1999: Liza Goddard, Richard Vranch, Richard Morton and Tom O'Connor 
 
BBC Two 
26 Mar 2012: Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins and Phill Jupitus 
27 Mar 2012: Paul Merton, Julian Clary, Stephen Fry and Russell Tovey 
28 Mar 2012: Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Marcus Brigstocke and Ruth Jones 
29 Mar 2012: Paul Merton, Liza Tarbuck, Gyles Brandreth and Miles Jupp 
30 Mar 2012: Paul Merton, Josie Lawrence, John Sergeant and Jason Manford 
2 Apr 2012: Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins and Tony Hawks 
3 Apr 2012: Paul Merton, Shappi Khorsandi, Hugh Bonneville and Jason Manford 
4 Apr 2012: Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Marcus Brigstocke and Stephen Mangan 
5 Apr 2012: Paul Merton, Liza Tarbuck, Gyles Brandreth and Tony Hawks 
6 Apr 2012: Paul Merton, Julian Clary, Stephen Fry and Shappi Khorsandi 
 
© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Just a Minute: The Complete BBC TV Collection

Every Soundtrack Episode from the Hit BBC Comedy Show

Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine travel the world in pursuit of species on the brink of extinction 
 
In 1985, The Observer magazine sent Douglas Adams to Madagascar to look for the exotic and potentially extinct aye-aye lemur. There he met zoologist Mark Carwardine, and together they made a radio pilot about their travels, In Search of the Aye-Aye. This led to a hugely popular radio series, Last Chance to See, later adapted as a bestselling book. Douglas Adams died in 2001, but his friend Stephen Fry took his place for a follow-up 20th anniversary television series, broadcast on BBC Two in 2009. 
 
This collection includes the initial pilot show and the complete BBC radio series from 1989, in which Adams and Carwardine embark on a quest to track down weird and wonderful threatened species across the globe. Voyaging from New Zealand to Chile, they hope to encounter the flightless Kakapo parrot, the river dolphin revered as the ‘goddess of the Yangtze’ and the secretive, confusing manatee – as well as the randy Rodrigues fruit bat, the terrifying (and smelly) Komodo dragon and the solitary Juan Fernandez fur seal. 
 
Funny, thought-provoking and poignant, Last Chance to See combines Adams’ inimitable humour and Carwardine’s expertise to provide a unique snapshot of our vanishing world and the rare creatures that inhabit it. 
 
Sadly the Kakapo remains critically endangered, and Yangtze River dolphin was declared functionally extinct in 2006. Part travelogue, part natural history show, this unforgettable account of a remarkable voyage of discovery serves as a reminder to protect our planet while we still can. 
 
Track listing: 
1 In Search of the Aye-Aye 
2 Ralph, The Fragrant Parrot of Codfish Island (the kakapo) 
3 Gone Fishing! (the Yangtze River dolphin) 
4 Animal, Vegetable or Mineral? (the Amazonian manatee) 
5 The Answer is Blowing in the Wind (the Rodrigues fruit bat) 
6 A Man-Eating, Evil-Smelling Dragon (the Komodo dragon) 
7 The Sultan of Juan Fernandez (the Juan Fernandez fur seal) 
 
Presented by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine 
 
Natural Selection: In Search of the Aye-Aye 
Produced by Tim Grout Smith 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 November 1985 
 
Last Chance to See 
Narrated by Peter Jones 
Produced by Chris Muir 
Series producer: Gaynor Shutte 
Additional music by Steven Faux 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 October 1989-8 November 1989

Last Chance to See: The original BBC Radio series

In search of the world's most endangered species

It’s San Francisco, 1928, and Sam Spade is a wisecracking, womanising Private Investigator. Missing husbands and unfaithful wives are his usual stock-in-trade, but when the beautifully distressed Miss Wonderley calls he gets involved in a dangerous caper most people would run a mile from.   Miss Wonderley asks Sam’s partner, Miles Archer, to shadow Floyd Thursby, whom she maintains has kidnapped her sister. But then Archer is shot dead, and Miss Wonderley’s story turns out to be a lie – just like her name, which is actually Brigid O’Shaughnessy.   And Miss O’Shaughnessy keeps on lying. But one thing’s for sure: she does know about the Maltese Falcon, an ancient statuette which has attracted more than one interested party.   With a bunch of heavies at his elbow and the police on his tail, Sam needs to think fast if he’s to outlive the person who killed his partner...

The Maltese Falcon (BBC Radio Crimes)

John Betjeman

Sir John Betjeman was one of the best-known and loved Poet Laureates. Even after his death, his popularity continues to garner acclaim and new admirers. Fortunately, he left behind a legacy of poetry readings and performances in the BBC archives that can be enjoyed in this comprehensive collection.   Selected from over thirty years of radio and television programmes, this compilation includes the very best of his performances and the most popular of his poems, among them 'Metro-land';  'A Subaltern’s Lovesong'; 'Diary of a Church Mouse'; 'In a Bath Teashop'; 'Pot Pourri from a Surrey Garden'; 'Youth and Age on Beaulieu River'; 'Trebetherick'; 'Myfanwy at Oxford'; 'Back from Australia' and 'Death at Leamington'.

Betjeman's Britain Poems From The BBC Archive

Spanking New on 7 is BBC7's first original comedy series. Compered by Robin Ince (from BBC2's The Office, E4's The Pilot Show and Radio 4's The In-Crowd) it showcases new or unknown stand-up comedians.This release features the best of the first series, including material not featured in the original BBC7 broadcasts. 
Spanking New on 7 has an edgier and more adult feel than other BBC comedy broadcasts. It's as close to being in a comedy club as you can get in your own home, but without the overpriced beer and hecklers! 
©2004 BBC Audiobooks Ltd. (P)2004 BBC Audiobooks Ltd.

Spanking New On 7

Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins offer you more than your fair share of laughs, songs, and silliness in their imaginatively titled BBC Radio 4 series. Mel and Sue are extremely well established performers on the comedy circuit. They are also familiar as the hosts of Channel 4's Late Lunch and as the stars of a number of TV commercials. Sue Perkins was a member of the Celebrity Big Brother household in 2002. 
©2003 BBC Audiobooks LTD (P)2003 BBC Audiobooks LTD

The Mel And Sue Thing

One day in Teletubbyland, Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po sang a song...a lovely song! They sing about a little nut tree and a Hey diddle, diddle rhyme. Teletubbies love to sing and children will love to hear them singing in Teletubbyland...again, again! 
©2008 BBC Audiobooks Ltd (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks Ltd

Teletubbies Singing In Teletubbyland

Peter Purves reads two vintage stories, first published in the 1960s, featuring the First Doctor. 
 
"Purves does a great job not just creating this off-kilter version of Hartnell’s Doctor but also those around him in this story." scifibulletin.com 
 
First published as an illustrated book in the 1960s and now a collector’s item, Doctor Who and the Invasion from Space sees the Doctor land in the futuristic world of The One. Along with the Mortimer family, whom he rescued from the Great Fire of London, he finds himself recruited to lead a galactic invasion from Andromeda — with the TARDIS instrumental in the plan! 
 
In Ten Fathom Pirates, a story from The Doctor Who Annual 1967, the Doctor encounters underwater raiders on a distant planet. Forced to accompany them on a mission to find parts for the TARDIS, he must use all his wits and ingenuity if he is ever to escape their company. 
 
Peter Purves, who played the First Doctor’s companion Steven Taylor in the BBC TV series, reads two stories brimming with the charm and naivety of a bygone age. 
 
World Distributors' Doctor Who Annuals were originally published from 1965 to 1986, a highlight of the year for fans of the programme, featuring text stories and comic strips based on the TV series. 
 
Stories taken from Doctor Who and the Invasion from Space and The Doctor Who Annual 1967, first published in 1966 by World Distributors Ltd. Text © BBC 1966 
 
Readings produced by Neil Gardner 
Sound design by David Darlington 
TARDIS sound effect composed by Brian Hodgson 
Executive Producer: Michael Stevens 
 
(P) &amp; © 2018 BBC Worldwide Ltd t/as BBC Studios 
 
Text © BBC 1966 
Cover images © BBC Studios 2018 
 
Cover design by Minty Design

Doctor Who and the Invasion from Space

First Doctor story

In more than 500 episodes of Parkinson between 1971 and 1982, Michael Parkinson interviewed some of the greatest show-business talents.In Parkinson's interview with The Goons, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe remember their "love/hate; let's get one over the BBC" relationship. Spike Milligan joins them from his sick bed in Australia, where he was suffering from the Lurgi. 
Slipping instantly from accent to accent, Yorkshire to Yiddish, Bluebottle to Bloodnok, Guinness to Gielgud, Peter Sellers, in his individual interview, relates showbiz anecdotes. Amid the hilarity, the authentic voice of Peter Sellers emerges, as he talks about his childhood, early career, and achievements. 
©1996, 2000, 2002 BBC Audiobooks LTD (P)1996, 2000, 2002 BBC Audiobooks LTD

Parkinson Interviews The Goons And Peter Sellers

A loyal tribute to 10 glorious years from BBC Radio 4's Week Ending team. From the archives of the legendary satirical radio comedy series Week Ending comes this compilation of satirical and sardonic sketches based on Margaret Thatcher's first 10 years as prime minister.First released on cassette as Ten Years With Maggie, this has now been reissued as a digital download for the first time, on the 30th anniversary of Mrs Thatcher's coming to power. 
Written by David Baddiel, Guy Jenkin, Rob Newman, John O'Farrell and many others, it features the vocal talents of Sally Grace, Bill Wallis, David Tate, Jon Glover and Chris Emmett. 
Week Ending became the nerve-centre of new writing in British comedy and was an early platform for Britain's major performers. It ran for over 1,100 episodes from 1970 to 1998 and inspired many TV and radio shows. 
©2009 BBC Audiobooks Ltd (P)2009 BBC Audio

Weekending With Maggie

To everything there is a season. A time to be born, a time to die, and a time to get a few things off your chest.The sequel to Grumpy Old Men: The Official Handbook covers a year in the sad and sordid life of a Grumpy Old Man, sorting into dates and seasons the many and manifold bloody irritations which multiply in this perpetual torment that we call modern living. 
Yes, it's a daily chronicle of life for the terminally irritable; an almanac of angst. If you know, live with, tolerate or, God forbid, ARE, a Grumpy Old Man, this is essential reading. 
©2005 BBC Audiobooks Ltd. (P)2005 BBC Audiobooks Ltd.

Grumpy Old Men The Secret Diary

A classic BBC compilation of nursery rhymes, with light-hearted commentary from two BBC presenters. 
 
In this popular collection, actors Andrew Branch and Anne Rosenfeld perform over fifty fantastic nursery rhymes, from familiar favourites to lesser-known gems, speaking the rhymes aloud and chatting about their meanings. As they listen, children are encouraged to think about and appreciate the words, increasing their communication skills as they join in and play. 
 
Among the favourites included are: Humpty Dumpty; Sing a Song of Sixpence; Hickory Dickory Dock; Hey Diddle Diddle; Little Jack Horner; Polly Put the Kettle On; Mary Mary Quite Contrary; Doctor Foster Went to Gloucester; Baa Baa Black Sheep; Little Miss Muffet; Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat; Goosey Goosey Gander; The Queen of Hearts; Boys and Girls Come Out to Play; Oranges and Lemons; Wee Willie Winkie; The House That Jack Built and Little Bo Peep. 
 
This unique collection brings to life traditional nursery rhymes with music and sound effects to thrill a new generation,and is ideal for preschool children who can listen and follow along.

50 Favourite Nursery Rhymes

A BBC spoken introduction to the classics

Outlandish stories from the vintage pages of Doctor Who Annual, brought to life by a host of Doctor Who voices. 
 
The Fishmen of Kandalinga takes the First Doctor to a planet of water, and a re-match with the alien Voord first encountered on Marinus. Planet of Bones see the Second Doctor, Ben and Polly enjoying hospitality on the planet Harmony - until a dreadful secret is uncovered. 
 
In The Phaser Aliens, the Third Doctor and Jo visit Australia to help with invisible UFOs, whilst the Fourth Doctor and Sarah are accused of being spies in Life Anew. The Fifth Doctor finds himself in an alien court of law in The Volcanis Deal, and then the Sixth Doctor and Peri are sent on a mission from Gallifrey by the Council of Time Lords in The Time Savers. 
 
Maureen O'Brien, Anneke Wills, Tim Treloar, Mina Anwar, Geoffrey Beevers and Dan Starkey read these fabulous tales first published in book form between 1965 and 1984. 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
Readings produced by Neil Gardner (Planet of Bones produced by Chatterbox Audio). Sound design by David Darlington. Executive producer for BBC Audiobooks: Michael Stevens

Doctor Who: The Phaser Aliens & Other Stories

Doctor Who Audio Annual

Geoffrey Beevers, Louise Jameson and Dan Starkey perform these stories and features from the celebrated book of the same name. 
 
First published in 1976, The Amazing World of Doctor Who thrilled fans with short stories and strips featuring the Fourth Doctor, Sarah and Harry in brand new adventures. It also supplied the low-down on the Doctor's past history and some of the foes he'd encountered to date. 
 
This nostalgic audio edition includes 'The Sinister Sponge', 'The Vampires of Crellium', 'On The Slippery Trail' and 'The Mission', plus 'A New Life' and 'Avast There' from the 1976 Doctor Who Annual. 'The Psychic Jungle' and 'Neuronic Nightmare' are multi-voice tales with thrilling sound design, and there are also charming mini-features on the Daleks, the Cybermen, the TARDIS and more. 
 
Dan Starkey (Strax), Louise Jameson (Leela) and Geoffrey Beevers (the Master) lend their vocal talents to these weird and wacky stories from the pages of the famous vintage book. 
 
Readings produced by Neil Gardner 
Sound design by David Darlington 
Executive Producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Amazing World of Doctor Who

This fascinating celebration of BBC Radio 4 features archive clips from some of the channel's best-loved programmes, including The Archers, Desert Island Discs, Today, Woman's Hour, Weekending, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, The Now Show, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Just a Minute, and many more. Amongst the personalities heard from during this radio extravaganza are Dame Edna Everage, Sue Lawley, Neil Kinnock, John Humphrys, Humphrey Lyttelton, Douglas Adams, John Peel, Angus Deayton, Kenny Everett, and Roy Plomley to mention just a few. 
This glorious evocation of an iconic radio station - and constant companion to many - will appeal to anyone with an interest in, and love of, radio broadcasting and the BBC in general. 
©2012 AudioGO Ltd (P)2013 AudioGO Ltd

This Is Radio 4 A Celebration

Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper are among those talking exclusively about the smash hit 2005 TV series Doctor Who in this BBC Radio 2 documentary, presented by Anthony Head. Project: Who? goes exclusively behind the scenes of Doctor Who to discover how the action-packed new BBC1 series was made, with award-winning writer and executive producer Russell T Davies at the helm. Featuring new and exclusive interviews with the cast and creative team, the programme examines why the BBC decided to launch the new television series now, nearly a decade after the Doctor's last small screen adventure. It also explores how the format of the show was developed for a new audience, how the character of the Doctor was cast, and how his adventures are launched and marketed around the globe. Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper - who play the Doctor and Rose - talk about their experiences on the new series, along with executive producers Julie Gardner and Mal Young, writer and executive producer Russell T Davies, writer Mark Gatiss, director Joe Ahearne, producer Phil Collinson and many others. This CD version also contains an additional 30 minutes of material not included in the BBC Radio 2 broadcast.

Doctor Who: Project Who?

BBC Radio 4 celebrates the remarkable life of Humphrey Lyttelton, jazz genius, radio legend and master of the breathtaking double entendre, as friends and admirers recall Humph’s highlights as chairman of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. Presented by Stephen Fry, this programme features clips from 36 years of Clue, plus specially recorded contributions from Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Sandi Toksvig, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Germaine Greer, and Dame Judi Dench, plus I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue producer Jon Naismith, and Humph’s link writer Iain Pattinson. 
 
‘He was a colossally good broadcaster possessed of a fantastic sense of timing’ - Mark Damazer, Radio 4 Controller 
 
‘A unique, irreplaceable talent’ - Mark Thompson, BBC Director-General 
 
‘Hooray for Humph’ - Times

I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue: Chairman Humph - A Tribute

In the world of work, there is one place where seniority means nothing, where shoptalk is banned, and where the persecuted minority gather regularly to discuss every subject under the sun: the smoking room.Set entirely in the smoking room of a large company, this eight-part comedy series explores the personal foibles and suppressed longings of an oddly assorted bunch of characters. These individuals wouldn't normally even socialise together, but their shared love of nicotine provides a tenuous link between them all. 
There's the smoking-room fixture with a passion for the postboy; the grouchy security guard; the thick-skinned office Romeo; the terminally paranoiac; the divorcee enjoying a new adolescence; an entirely self-centered emotional wreck; the boss who wants to be popular; and the voice of reason among all the madness. 
©2005 BBC Audiobooks Ltd. (P)2005 BBC Audiobooks Ltd.

The Smoking Room

Robin of Locksley returns from the Crusades to find his people starving and oppressed by the new Sheriff of Nottingham. Under this tyrannical regime, the slightest crime attracts the heaviest punishment, and dissent is impossible. Robin soon discovers that the only way to reason with the Sheriff is with bow and arrow, even if it means sacrificing his lands and becoming an outlaw. 
 
This exciting adventure is read by Richard Armitage, who plays Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood. It also features Robin and his loyal band of brothers, as seen in the hit BBC TV series. 
 
Crammed with action, humour, wit, and romance, this fantastic adaptation of the classic tale brings the legendary outlaw hero to life for a whole new generation.

Robin Hood: The Complete Series 1

Based on the BBC TV series

A bumper collection of vintage stories from the pages of Doctor Who Annual, featuring the first six Doctors and their companions. 
 
From the 1960s to the 1980s, the Doctor Who Annual was a fixture in every fan’s Christmas stocking. Larger than life and twice as colourful, the stories offered an exuberant – and often charmingly naïve – take on the BBC TV series. 
 
This volume features thirty readings by some of the best-loved stars of Doctor Who including Peter Purves (Steven), Anneke Wills (Polly), Geoffrey Beevers (the Master), Matthew Waterhouse (Adric), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Louise Jameson (Leela), Frazer Hines (Jamie), John Leeson (K-9), Terry Molloy (Davros) and Dan Starkey (Strax) plus the multi-talented Jon Culshaw. 
 
They include short stories for each of the first six Doctors, with fabulous titles including The Sons of Grekk, The King of Golden Death, Peril in Mechanistria, Dark Intruders, Scorched Earth, The Real Hereward, Planet of Fear, The Radio Waves, Terror on Tiro, The House That Jack Built, The Sinister Sponge, Justice of the Glacians, The Planet of Dust, A Midsummer’s Nightmare and The Creation of Camelot, and many, many more, plus the full-length Doctor Who and the Invasion of Space, read by Peter Purves, and bonus features including The Phoenix in the TARDIS, The Equations of Doctor Who and Who Is Doctor Who? 
 
(This collection contains the previously published volumes The Doctor Who Audio Annual, The Second Doctor Who Audio Annual, The Sinister Sponge & Other Stories, The Planet of Dust & Other Stories, and Doctor Who and the Invasion from Space.) 
 
(P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The Doctor Who Annual Compendium One

C.S. Lewis

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the second adventure in C. S. Lewis' classic Narnia series. 
 
When Lucy comes across the old wardrobe standing alone in the spare room, she thinks she has found a good place for hide and seek. But then she tumbles headlong into a magical world of fauns, dwarves, and giants, of animals that talk and horses that fly – the land of Narnia. 
 
It is so extraordinary that at first her brothers and sister don't believe it can be real. Soon, though, Peter, Edmund and Susan find Narnia too and the adventures really begin. Together they must battle against an evil White Witch to break her cruel grip on Narnia, a land she has cast in perpetual winter, without Christmas. Only one thing can hold fast against such wickedness: the mighty Aslan. 
 
The excitement which C. S. Lewis must have felt in creating this enchanted world is conjured up once again in this thrilling dramatisation of one of the best stories ever told. 
 
Starring Maurice Denham as the Professor, Camilla Power as Lucy, Henry Power as Edmund, Neil Jeffrey as Peter, Abigail Docherty as Susan, Rosemary Martin as Jadis and Stephen Thorne as Aslan. 
 
Written by C. S. Lewis 
Dramatised by Brian Sibley 
Produced by Geoffrey Marshall-Taylor 
Music by Elizabeth Parker of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop 
Text ©1950 C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. (P)2005 BBC Audiobooks LTD 
Narnia® and The Chronicles of Narnia® are trademarks of CS Lewis Pte Ltd.

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

First published by BBC Records and Cassettes in 1971, The Magic Roundabout includes 10 stories written and read by Eric Thompson, featuring the popular characters of Dougal, Florence, Zebedee, Dylan, Brian and Ermintrude. The stories include 'Dougal's Experiment' (in which he does some very complicated arithmetic); 'A Starry Night' (in which Dylan finds a missing star); 'The Moody Concerto' (in which Brian and Dylan try their hand at music); 'Dougal's Adventure' (in which Dougal goes on the roundabout) and 'The Stiff Necked Heliotropes' (in which Dougal deals with a horticultural problem). Also included are 'The Birds School' (in which Mr MacHenry teaches the birds how to sing); 'The Piano Carrier' (in which Dougal has trouble in moving his piano); 'Banana Skin' (in which Dougal has trouble with fruit); 'The Musical Box' (in which the musical box demonstrates its repertoire) and 'The Announcer' (in which Florence makes an announcement). A bonus interview with Eric Thompson (which was not on the original LP) is also included. Vintage Beeb: classic albums first available as BBC LPs, now available as CDs or downloads for the first time ever. N.B. This recording has previously been issued on CD with a different jacket.

Magic Roundabout, The (Vintage Beeb)

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