Nigella Lawson has written eleven bestselling cookery books including the classics How to Eat and How To Be A Domestic Goddess – the book that inspired a whole new generation of bakers. These books, and her TV series, have made her a household name around the world. 
 
www.nigella.com 
@Nigella_Lawson

Nigella Lawson

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Lucy Catherine

Series 5-7 of the Viking epic of love, revenge and faith set in 11th-century Iceland 
 
Born into a world of otherworldly beauty yet unforgiving harshness, Icelandic heroine Gudrun must fight to forge an independent path and live according to her own rules. A tenacious survivor, she has endured much pain in her young life, from widowhood to the death of her lover, the burning of her family home, separation from her beloved daughter, Sigrid, and being cut adrift from her homeland. 
 
Now, after many years away, Gudrun sails once more into Icelandic waters, with a plan to rescue her daughter who is being brought up in the new Christian faith. But her return to the Sacred Land is not the homecoming she had hoped for, and she soon finds herself exiled again and heading for the New World, with all its new possibilities and new dangers. 
 
Meanwhile, Sigrid arrives in England to marry a man she has never met. Struggling to understand this strange new land of Saxons and Danes, she must keep her darkest secret well-hidden if she is to survive... 
 
Written by Lucy Catherine and inspired by the famous Icelandic Laxdæla saga, this epic tale of love, revenge and faith stars Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders, War and Peace) as Gudrun, with Rosie Boore and Hollie Burgess as Sigrid. 
 
Written by Lucy Catherine 
Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko and Jessica Dromgoole 
 
Cast 
Gudrun - Kate Phillips 
Freija - Samantha Dakin 
Dag - Cameron Percival/Joseph Ayres 
Sylvia - Carolyn Pickles/Susan Jameson 
Volva - Carolyn Pickles 
Aoife - Lucy Doyle 
Hakon/Guard 2/Priest/King Sweyn - Michael Bertenshaw 
Bolli/Guard 1 - Lewis Bray 
Aslak - Tony Turner 
Sigrid - Rosie Boore/Hollie Burgess 
Leif - Don Gilet/Chris Pavlo 
Warrior - Don Gilet 
Frederick - Simon Scardifield 
Heidr - Jeannette Percival/Helen Clapp 
Kjartan - Luke MacGregor/Ian Dunnett Jnr 
The Virgin - Marilyn Nnadebe 
Sailors - Chris Harper and Joseph Ayre 
Gorm - David Hounslow 
Canute - Aaron Gelkoff 
Gunnar - Chris Pavlo 
Panuk - Kenny Blyth 
Saxon - Joseph Ayre 
Vali/Dane - Chris Harper 
Tofa - Debbie Korley 
Jesus - Paul Hilton 
Truda - Charlotte East 
Monk/Servant - Ian Dunnett Jnr 
Tobias - Hasan Dixon 
Abbot Bettega/John Crescentius/Pope - Roger Ringrose 
Nun - Emma Handy 
Woman/Garvinicus - Jane Whittenshaw 
Soldiers - Ian Dunnett Jnr and Hasan Dixon 
Jesson at 7 - Harry Clarke 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 3-14 December 2018 (Series 5), 20-31 May 2019 (Series 6), 1-12 March 2021 (Series 7)

Gudrun: Series 5-7

A Viking Epic inspired by the Icelandic Sagas

Neil Gaiman

A full-cast dramatisation of Neil Gaiman's magical retellings of the Norse myths, inviting us into a world of gods and monsters, tricks and trust, fiery endings and new beginnings 
 
Winner of The London Book Fair CAMEO Award 2020 for Book to Audio adaptation. 
 
'And the game begins anew…' 
 
Meet the trickster god Loki and his astonishing children – the giant wolf Fenrir, Jormungundr the snake that encircles the world, and Hel, the little girl who grows up to be Queen of the dead. Here, too, is Odin the all-father, who sacrificed his eye to see the future; Thor the thunderer, who defends Asgard with his fearsome strength and mighty hammer; and Freya the understandably angry, most beautiful of the gods and always being gambled for by unwanted suitors. 
 
From the beginning of the universe in fire and ice, to the very end of the world, Ragnarok, these enthralling tales of gods, goddesses, dwarves and giants bring the ancient myths to vigorous life. 
 
Diana Rigg, Derek Jacobi, Colin Morgan, Natalie Dormer and Neil Gaiman himself are among the stellar cast in these spellbinding stories of old betrayals – and new hope.

Norse Mythology

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

Annamaria Murphy

Alan Harris

Meic Povey

All eleven series of the mystical drama set in the wild Welsh coastal village of Glan Don 
 
When Gareth finds his wife Diane in bed with another man, the couple attempt to save their marriage by uprooting from London to the West Wales village where Gareth grew up, and buying the local pub. It's a bit of a dive - the wallpaper's peeling, there are squirrels in the saloon bar and something's growing out of the pool table. But it's got potential, and they're determined to make a go of it. 
 
Soon, the locals are flocking to The Druid's Rest - and as Diane discovers, her husband's old friends are an eccentric bunch. There's ex-soldier Gwyn, who carries a machine gun everywhere; garrulous waitress Megan; cook Matty, whose dishes cast a spell over everyone who eats them; and enigmatic potman (and narrator) Emlyn, who seems built into the fabric of Glan Don. And then there's Bethan - beautiful, bewitching Bethan, Gareth's teenage sweetheart, who may still have a hold on his heart... 
 
If the villagers are strange, Glan Don itself is even stranger. Steeped in ancient folklore, it is both eerie and enchanting. The sea is an all-pervading presence, magical and menacing in turn, home to mermaids and submerged forests. On land are haunted caves, dark woods, ruined castles, old lead mines - and legendary beings including ghosts, dragons, witches and the King under the Hill. 
 
As Gareth and Diane struggle to cope with the dual challenges of running a pub and dealing with the supernatural, will Glan Don bring them closer together - or tear them apart? 
 
Starring Elis James (Tourist Trap), Louise Ford (Chickens), Amy Hoggart (Almost Royal), Emma Sidi (W1A), Ifan Huw Dafydd (Gavin &amp; Stacey) and Amy Ffion Edwards (Detectorists), Curious Under the Stars takes us deep into a Welsh landscape of myth, magic and mayhem. 
Gareth - Elis James/Sion Pritchard/Richard Elis 
Diane - Louise Ford/Amy Hoggart/Emma Sidi 
Emlyn - Ifan Huw Dafydd 
Bethan - Eiry Hughes/Hannah Daniel 
Gwyn - Matthew Gravelle 
Matty - Siw Hughes 
Megan - Aimee-Ffion Edwards/Gwyneth Keyworth 
Pierre - Lee Mengo 
Gwyneth/Customer - Kath Weare 
Charlie - Donal Gallery 
Magda - Wanda Opalinska 
Gregor - Marc Danbury 
Guto - John Weldon 
Referee/Doctor - Mike Bubbins 
Gertrude - Joanna Scanlan 
Fluffy - Sion Pritchard 
Hadrian - Paul Rhys 
Geraint - John Pierce-Jones 
Fleur - Catrin Stewart 
The Ghost - Owain Gwynn 
 
Anwen - Juno Robinson 
 
 
Created by Meic Povey 
Written by Meic Povey, Annamaria Murphy and Alan Harris 
Directed by James Robinson and Nigel Lewis 
A BBC Cymru Wales Production 
Music: Knee-Deep in the North Sea by Portico Quartet 
 
 
 
 
? 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Curious Under the Stars

The complete BBC Radio 4 magical comedy drama

Sebastian Baczkiewicz

Kate Clanchy

Five dazzling plays showcasing characters from the reign of biblical King David 
 
In these fascinating, moving and insightful plays, a different light is shone on the famous biblical King. From the original mission of King Saul to find the shepherd boy after Samuel's prophecy, to David's final days of sickness and neglect, and taking in his days of war raids and spying as well as his loves and losses as his wives battle for status and attention, the tales bring to life a man who all too often is a figure of myth rather than a flawed and passionate human. 
 
Featuring a rich cast including Sheridan Smith (The Royale Family, Cilla, Gavin & Stacey), Linda Bassett (Call the Midwife, Lark Rise to Candleford), David Calder (The Lovecraft Investigations, Conclave), Claire Rushbrook (Whitechapel, Secrets & Lies), Adam Levy (Industry, The Witcher) and Christopher Godwin (The Dig, The Miniaturist). 
 
True Anointed 
Eleazar - David Calder 
David - Adam Levy 
Goliath - Ewan Bailey 
Saul - Gerard Murphy 
Samuel - John Bennett 
Jesse - David Timson 
Agag - Christopher Godwin 
Michal - Claire Rushbrook 
Other parts were played by Sarah Paul and Carl Prekopp 
Music by Sylvia Hallett 
Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett 
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz 
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer 
 
Hazar's Chicken 
Bone - Tony Marshall 
David - Adam Levy 
Abner - David Timson 
Hazar - Ewan Bailey 
Abigail - Helen Longworth 
Saul - Gerard Murphy 
Jonathan - Carl Prekopp 
Head Man - Christopher Godwin 
Music by Sylvia Hallett 
Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett 
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz 
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer 
 
The Loved One 
Anat - Ann Mitchell 
Young Anat - Gemma Saunders 
Saul - Gerard Murphy 
Abaiathar - Ewan Bailey 
Sweet - David Timson 
Samuel - John Bennett 
Eleazar - David Calder 
Music by Sylvia Hallett 
Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett 
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz 
Directed by David Hunter 
 
Michal, Saul's Daughter 
Eglah - Sheridan Smith 
Michal - Claire Rushbrook 
Abigail - Caroline Langrishe 
Servant - Ewan Bailey 
Music by Sylvia Hallett 
Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett 
Written by Kate Clanchy 
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer 
 
 
Abishag the Virgin 
Bathsheba - Linda Bassett 
Abishag - Alison Pettitt 
Nathan - Christopher Godwin 
David - David Timson 
Music by Sylvia Hallett 
Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett 
Written by Kate Clanchy 
Directed by David Hunter 
 
Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4: 
15 January - 12 February 2002 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Kings

Five BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramas

Pilgrim walks again between the worlds of magick and of men in this eerie supernatural adventure 
 
Fated to eternally walk the line between the worlds of faerie and men, reluctant hero Pilgrim finds himself facing an old adversary in this superbly uncanny two-parter. 
 
When he donates a priceless portrait to the struggling Timbermoor Museum to ensure it stays open, there's one particular shabby exhibit Pilgrim hopes to keep safe. So he's disconcerted to hear that the item in question, Cochrane's Boot, has got lost in transit. 
 
But someone has found it - and unleashed the spirit within it. Troubled teen Rabbit Owen has been shunned by the townsfolk since he unwittingly caused the death of his friend, but now, with the help of his 'auntie', it's payback time... 
 
Meanwhile, guilt-ridden museum curator John Wayne pays a visit to the exclusive, elusive Grey Lodge Chalets, situated in an ancient grove deep in the heart of the woods. He needs to speak to one of the residents, but first he must deliver a tithe to the sinister supervisor, Mr Buttoner. John is willing to pay - but he has no idea how high the price will be. 
 
With the Timbermoor Imp, Sally Mop, liberated from her prison, Rabbit is riding high - and as Hallowe'en arrives and the locals prepare to gather around the Sun Stone for their annual celebrations, the stage is set for a much darker ritual. Can Pilgrim save John from a dance with death, turn Rabbit away from revenge, and prevent a terrible sacrifice? 
 
Cast: 
William Palmer ..... Paul Hilton 
 John ..... Stefan Adegbola 
 Rabbit ..... Louis Jay Jordan 
 Amy ..... Charlotte East 
 Piper ..... Katie Redford 
 Vaughan ..... Luke Nunn 
 Eddie/Mr Buttoner ..... Roger Ringrose 
 Sally ..... Jane Whittenshaw 
 Janice ..... Ellie Piercy 
 Ginger ..... Emma Handy 
Produced by Marc Beeby and directed by Jessica Dromgoole 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23-30 October 2020

Pilgrim: The Timbermoor Imp

The BBC Radio 4 fantasy drama series

Sebastien Baczkiewicz

Rachel Joyce

Peter Jukes

A trilogy of contemporary plays inspired by tales from The Arabian Nights 
 
The Casper Logue Affair by Sebastian Baczkiewicz: An absurd black comedy thriller, set in Baghdad. Junior diplomat Bob Goldacre is in trouble: the American businessman he was looking after has vanished from a Baghdad street. As the suspects pile up, Goldacre is going to have his work cut out if he wants to save his career and make sure that justice is done. 
 
The Porter and the Three Ladies by Rachel Joyce: It is time for Shahrazad to tell another tale to save her life. In this story within a story, we find out that if Joe doesn't find the exclusive to satisfy his ruthless editor, he will lose his job. He finds three beautiful women in Damascus but what is the truth behind their secret life? 
 
A Dish of Pomegranates by Peter Jukes: Shared roots and scattered families in the melting pot of modern Jerusalem. Tired after a stressful trip, Ajib is stopped by security officers as he tries to fly out of Ben Gurion airport on his way home to the U.S. They don't think his story adds up. Can he make them believe him? And does he actually know the whole story himself? 
 
 
The Casper Logue Trilogy 
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz 
Directed and produced by Abigail le Fleming 
 
Cast 
Shahrazad: Sirine Saba 
Shahrayar: Kevork Malikyan 
Aseera: Betsabeh Emran 
Rahim: Sargon Yelda 
Goldacre: Trevor White 
Hammond: Bruce Alexander 
Casper: Nathan Osgood 
Kindermann: Rufus Wright 
Carlton: John Biggins 
Charlene: Alison Pettit 
 
The Porter and the Three Ladies 
Written by Rachel Joyce 
Directed by Tracey Neale 
Produced by Abigail le Fleming 
 
Cast 
Shahrazad: Sirine Saba 
Shahrayar: Kevork Malikyan 
Joe: Stephen Tompkinson 
Margot: Joanna Monro 
Mira: Indira Varma 
Affyah: Jasmine Jones 
Juliba: Melissa Advani 
 
A Dish of Pomegranates 
Written by Peter Jukes 
Directed by Mary Peate 
Produced by Abigail le Fleming 
 
Cast 
Shahrazad: Sirine Saba 
Shahrayar / Vardan: Kevork Malikyan 
Ajib: William El-Gardi 
Orit: Betsabeh Emran 
Rafi: Zubin Varla 
Howard: Allan Corduner 
Julia: Keely Beresford 
Café Owner: Stefan Kalipha 
Tawfik / Trader 2: Mozaffar Shafeie 
Trader 1 / Flight Attendant: David Seddon 
Protestor: Rufus Wright 
 
Originally broadcast in March 2010. 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Arabian Afternoons

Three full-cast dramas inspired by tales from The Arabian Nights

Gareth Jones

Full-cast dramatisation of the hot-blooded historical romance set in 18th century Wales 
 
&lsquo;Jones has a talent for writing natural witty dialogue&hellip;&rsquo; Best Sellers 
Sworn allegiances, cruel punishments, broken hearts, shattered dreams and ancient magic make for an utterly spellbinding listen in this full-cast adaptation of Gareth Jones&rsquo;s masterful novel.1745. 18th century Wales is a land that time forgot. The burden of squalid poverty and the power of medieval superstition is writ large on the landscape as the adventurer, womaniser and dreamer Gruffydd comes to reclaim his birthright after the Jacobite Rebellion drives out George II. Hoping to deliver his people from the brutal control of a dissolute overlord, the local Squire Sir John Ffowlke, Gruffydd settles in the village of Cwmystwyth. Unrecognised, he becomes the local conjurer on whose magical powers the desperate villagers soon come to depend. Boldly, he fights for a vision of the future where they are free from the feudal chains that bind them.But Gruffydd is surrounded by enemies. Charisma may not be enough to keep him alive and if his people see through him, he may be faced with a bloody reckoning. The conflicting forces within the village of Cwmystwyth must be overcome if Gruffydd is to be able to unite the downtrodden community and guide its inhabitants towards freedom and a new life. Can any good come of a lie, however inspired?This powerful dramatisation of the novel by Gareth Jones is brought to life by Philip Madoc and Peter Halliday. Immerse yourself in the mystery, superstition, power and lust of a world long gone.Cast and creditsWritten by Gareth JonesDirected by Adrian MourbyProduced by BBC WalesGruffydd - Philip MadocIolo - Loan MeredithSir John Ffowlke - Peter HallidayMadlen - Meg Wynn OwenMari - Beth Morris Rhiannon Bevan - Lisabeth MilesHywel Bevan - Robert BlytheMihangel - Gareth SnookRachel - Donna EdwardsHannah - Adrian T FurseTalbot - Graham BlockeyCol Johnes - James BensonGwilym Brewer/Horseman - Dorien ThomasOld Thomas/Barnabas - Dillwyn OwenThomas Jenkins - Gareth ArmstrongJailer/Tollgate Keeper - David CharlesThomas Powell - Gerald JamesMorgan Brewer - Maurice ElliottLandlords daughter/Lissi Gillian - Gillian Elisa ThomasAmaranth - Helen RobertsRingmaster - Dorian Thomas Buddug - Di Botcher Sian - Rhian Morgan First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 Feb &ndash; 6 Apr 1986&copy;2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Lord of Misrule

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation

Colin Haydn Evans

Seven of Shahrazad's stories of love, magic and mystery - plus bonus documentary 
 
A collection of fabulous tales of genies, heroes, flying carpets and fantastic voyages, The Arabian Nights has enchanted generations of children and adults. Forged in the Islamic Golden Age, it was brought to Europe in the 18th Century, where it became an instant sensation. Included here are seven full-cast dramatisations, starring Carolyn Backhouse as Shahrazad and Derek Jacobi as the King, as well as a bonus edition of In Our Time exploring the story behind the tales. 
 
Ghanim, the Thrall of Love - To escape the executioner's sword, Shahrazad beguiles the King with a spellbinding tale of love, jealousy, betrayal - and a magic drum. 
 
The Ebony Horse - The magical story of a handsome prince, a beautiful princess, and a remarkable wooden horse. 
 
The Three Suitors - When Jamilla's lover is thrown in prison, she devises a cunning plan to free him, involving a carpenter, a magistrate, a bogus camel-cleaner, and a wardrobe... 
 
The Ninth Pedestal - Prince Zain inherits eight valuable statues - but the ninth is missing. He goes on a quest to find it - but what he discovers is beyond price... 
 
Homza's Dance - The hunt for a lost arrow leads Prince Ahmed into an amazing adventure of sorcery and transformation. 
 
The Hunchback - A series of bizarre accidents befall an eccentric cast of characters in a tale that's full of twists and turns. 
 
The Dream of Baba Abdullah - In a final attempt to save her life, Shahrazad invites the king to enter the final story with her - or return alone... 
 
In Our Time: The Arabian Nights - Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the myths, tales and legends of this ever-shifting sea of stories. 
 
Cast and credits 
Adapted by Colin Haydn Evans 
Directed by Nigel Bryant 
Music: Sue Harris and Steafan Hannigan 
 
Starring Carolyn Backhouse as Shahrazad and Derek Jacobi as the King. 
 
Ghanim, the Thrall of Love 
Wazir - Simon Carter 
Ghanim - Michael Lumsden 
Leila - Moir Leslie 
Caliph - Duncan Law 
Rahil - Mary Wimbush 
Slave - Richard O'Ryan 
Old Man - Geoffrey Banks 
 
The Ebony Horse 
Kamar - James Telfer 
The Sage - Roger Hume 
Shams - Teresa Gallagher 
Kamar's father - John Baddeley 
 
The Three Suitors 
Jamilla - Rachel Atkins 
Hassan - William Chubb 
Faris - Geoffrey Banks 
Gaoler - Michael Mears 
Magistrate - Philip Anthony 
Carpenter - John Baddeley 
Shahrazad's father - Simon Carter 
 
The Ninth Pedestal 
Prince Zain - James Telfer 
Moubarak - John Baddeley 
Genie - Steve Hodson 
Maysun -Teresa Gallagher 
 
Homza's Dance 
Ahmed - James Telfer 
Peri Banou - Rachel Atkins 
Sultan - Philip Anthony 
Sorceress - Mary Wimbush 
Hussein - Steve Hodson 
 
The Hunchback 
Tailor - Harry Landis 
Tailor's wife - Maria Charles 
Doctor's wife - Mary Wimbush 
Doctor - Philip Anthony 
Seamstress - Kate Binchy 
Christian - John Baddeley 
Watchman - Jonathan Owen 
Magistrate - Maurice Denham 
Hunchback - Tania Ison 
 
The Dream of Baba Abdullah 
Baba Abdullah - Daniel Strauss 
Dervish - Geoffrey Banks 
 
In Our Time 
Presented by Melvyn Bragg 
With Robert Irwin, Marina Warner and Gerard van Gelder 
Produced by James Cook 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Tales from the Arabian Nights

A BBC Radio 4 Drama

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

Graeme Fife

The lavish seven-part saga of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table 
 
'Wonderful... pure pleasure' The Listener 
 
The Arthurian legends have long held a powerful grip on our collective imagination, inspiring numerous poets, novelists and playwrights to interpret them in countless different ways. In this epic play cycle, based on Malory's classic Le Morte D'Arthur, Graeme Fife gives us his dramatic, in-depth retelling of these perennially popuar myths. Focusing on seven key characters: Merlin, Tristram, Gareth, Lancelot, Galahad, Guenever and Arthur himself, he builds a vivid, multi-layered picture of the fabled king and his heroic knights. 
 
We hear the tales of Merlin, the great magician, brought down by the beautiful Nimue; Tristram and his illicit passion for Isolde; and the mysterious 'Beaumains', who sets out to rescue an unknown, besieged lady from Castle Perilous. Here, too, are the stories of Sir Lancelot du Lac, the Queen's champion and jewel of the Round Table; his saintly son, Galahad; Guenever, whose love for him will tear Camelot apart - and Arthur, the King, who chose the sword Excalibur over its scabbard, and sealed his fate. And behind them all lurks the shadow of Morgan le Fay, Arthur's nemesis, and Mordred, the son destined to destroy him... 
 
Told in allusive, poetic language, and with majestic, evocative music by Steven Faux, this sumptuous drama is full of enchantment, adventure, chivalry and courtly love. It stars Keith Baxter as Arthur, with Paul Scofield as Merlin, Anna Massey as Morgan le Fay, Nicholas Farrell as Lancelot and Jill Balcon as Guenever. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Graeme Fife 
Music by Stephen Faux 
Produced and directed by John Powell 
 
Main Cast 
Arthur (man and boy) - Keith Baxter 
Morgan le Fay - Anna Massey 
Merlin - Paul Scofield 
Lancelot du Lac - Nicholas Farrell 
Gareth - Crawford Logan 
Tristram - Rupert Frazer 
Lady Guenever - Jill Balcon 
Sir Galahad - Benny Young 
 
Other Cast 
Nimue - Tara Dominick, King Vortigern - Michael Graham Cox, Uther Pendragon/ Sir Dinadan - James Greene, Merlin (child) - Jill Lidstone, Sir Kay - Michael Kilgarriff, Archbishop - John Moffatt, Isolde - Sarah Badel, King Mark - John Franklyn-Robbins, Sir Pellinore - Jonathan Scott, Sir Dinadan - James Greene, Lynet - Rosalind Shanks, Sir Gawain - Ioan Meredith, King Pelles - Maurice Denham, His daughter, Lady Elaine - Eva Haddon, Sir Perceval - Ian Saynor, Prince Morded - Tom Hunsinger, Elaine of Astolat - Moir Leslie, The Hermit Naciens - Peter Penry-Jones, Sir Bors - Douglas Blackwell, Abbot - John Bull, Sir Agravain - Angus Pope, Sir Bedivere - Edward de Souza and Brian Miller, Simon Treves, Vincent Brimble, Jo Kendall, Marcia King and Donald Gee. 
 
Episode List 
 
Merlin 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11 November 1990 
 
Tristram 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18 November 1990 
 
Gareth 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 November 1990 
 
Lancelot 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 December 1990 
 
Galahad 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 December 1990 
 
Guenever 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16 December 1990 
 
Arthur 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 December 1990 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Arthur The King

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast drama

Andrew Martin

Andrew Martin reflects on Britain's customs, attitudes and social and supernatural phenomena in these six BBC Radio series 
 
Drawn from Radio 3's The Essay strand and presented by journalist and award-winning author Andrew Martin, this beguiling collection brings together his witty, Alan Bennett-esque observations on England's disappearing pastimes, rituals and beliefs. 
 
Yorkshire sees him musing on the county of his birth and upbringing, as he considers his 'Tyke' identity and the ancient rivalry between Yorkshire and Lancashire; chews over questions of class in 'God's Own County'; ponders its past and future; and recalls the coastal jaunts of his youth. In Hanging On, Martin celebrates five aspects of British life that are still with us - just, as he raises a toast to the boating pond; the ventriloquist's doll; the telephone; the milkman and sex shops. 
 
The Lost Hours memorialises the staging posts of the day that are gradually fading away, such as elevenses and the cocktail hour; while England Ejects explores the inclinations and habits that no longer seem so vital nowadays, including modesty, gentility and Sunday church-going. The Further Realm sees Martin contemplating whether he believes in ghosts; reflecting on mediaeval and modern sightings and telling tales of the undead from resonant times of the year. Finally, in The Sound and the Fury, he discusses the noises that annoy us, from piped music to public transport announcements, asking 'how do we cope with jarring sounds in our world today, and could we live without the daily cacophony?' 
 
Quirky and engaging, these delightfully entertaining essays will give you a whole new perspective on the modern world - and the world beyond. 
 
Production credits 
Produced by Duncan Minshull (Yorkshire, Hanging On, England Ejects, The Further Realm, The Sound and the Fury) and Karen Holden (The Lost Hours) 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on the following dates: 23-27 January 2012 (The Sound and the Fury), 27-31 January 2014 (England Ejects), 26-30 October 2015 (The Further Realm), 17-21 April 2017 (Hanging On), 21-25 January 2019 (Yorkshire), 25-29 October 2021 (The Lost Hours) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

On the World Around Us

25 Explorations of Britain, Past and Present

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12 Vintage books that make perfect Christmas gifts

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The Body Keeps the Score: how a book about trauma is transforming readers’ lives

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