Radio plays, scripts and performances Books
Pan Macmillan The Original Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Book SynopsisMarch 1978 saw the first ever transmission of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on BBC Radio 4; the beginning of a cult phenomenon. March 2020 marks the 42nd anniversary of that first transmission – 42 being the answer, of course, to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. To mark the occasion, Pan Macmillan are bringing back into print The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Original Radio Scripts with an introduction from Simon Jones.The collection also includes the previously 'lost' Hitchhiker script from the 25th anniversary edition, 'Sheila's Ear' and the original introductions by producer Geoffrey Perkins and Douglas Adams.This collection, which is a faithful reproduction of the text as it was first published in 1985, features all twelve original radio scripts – Hitchhiker as it was written and exactly as it was broadcast for the very first time. They include amendments and additions made during recordings and original notes on the writing and producing of the series by Douglas Adams and Geoffrey Perkins. For those who have always loved Douglas Adams, as well as for his new generation of fans, these scripts are essential reading and a must-have piece of Adams memorabilia.This special anniversary edition will accompany reissued eye-catching editions of the five individual Hitchhiker books coming in March 2020: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Life, the Universe and Everything, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish and Mostly Harmless.Trade ReviewHe had almost a Wodehousian style and some of his phrases and jokes entered our language. He changed the way people spoke -- Stephen FryThere has never been another writer remotely like Douglas Adams. He discovered a completely new genre – scientific wit – and having discovered it he raised it to dizzying heights -- Tony RobinsonQuite good I suppose, if you like brilliantly entertaining books written with a touch of imaginative genius -- Griff Rhys JonesVery occasionally a book comes along that changes the way you laugh and what you laugh about -- Richard DawkinsOne of the world’s sanest, smartest, kindest, funniest voices * Independent on Sunday *Sheer delight * The Times *Magical . . . read this book * Sunday Express *
£14.24
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House The Secret Garden
Book SynopsisHarriet Walter and Beryl Reid star in this full-cast adaptation of the much-loved children's classic. When spoilt young orphan Mary Lennox is brought back from India to live in her uncle’s house on the Yorkshire Moors, she finds the blunt ways of the staff at Misselthwaite Manor an unpleasant shock. Bored and miserable, it seems as though life in England will be awful. But Misselthwaite has hidden delights and, when Mary begins to discover them, nothing is the same again. First, there is the secret garden – and with it comes a boy who knows all the wonders of the country. He can even talk to the birds! Then, as the old house gives up its biggest secret, Mary forms a magical friendship. Frances Hodgson Burnett's charming story is played out with all the freshness and warmth of the original novel in this BBC Radio full-cast dramatization.Trade Review"Mary is a tough feisty character, who manages to turn a whole household, and the lives of those in it, completely upside down... The book is brim full of magic and joy." --Sunday Telegraph
£11.87
BBC Worldwide Ltd Inspector Morse: BBC Radio Drama Collection:
Book SynopsisThree BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations starring John Shrapnel as Morse and Robert Glenister as Lewis, plus a bonus reading by Colin Dexter of one of his short stories.In Last Seen Wearing, Inspector Morse is reluctant to take over an old missing person case from a dead colleague. But two years, three months and two days after teenager Valerie Taylor’s disappearance, somebody decides to supply some surprising new evidence. . .In The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn Inspector Morse tackles the murder of an exam invigilator. The newly appointed member of the Oxford foreign exam syndicate was deaf, and he wasn’t from the insular world of the Oxford colleges. Now he is dead.After he’s rushed into hospital, Inspector Morse becomes intrigued by an old crime in The Wench is Dead. Could the wrong men have been hanged for the murder of Joanna Franks?Plus Colin Dexter reads his own short story, The Double Crossing, in which it is a good first day for a certain detective named Lewis.Gripping, suspenseful and entertaining, these BBC dramatisations were adapted by Guy Meredith from the original Inspector Morse novels by Colin Dexter.Duration: 4 hours 45 mins approx.
£24.00
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Robinson Crusoe
Book SynopsisDaniel Defoe was born in London in 1660. He worked briefly as a hosiery merchant, then as an intelligence agent and political writer. His writings resulted in his imprisonment on several occasions, and earned him powerful friends and enemies. During his lifetime Defoe wrote over two hundred and fifty books, pamphlets and journals and travelled widely in both Europe and the British Isles. Among his most famous works are Robinson Crusoe (1719), Moll Flanders (1722) and A Journal of the Plague Year (1722). Though Defoe was nearly sixty before he began writing fiction, his work is so fundamental to the development of the novel that he is often cited as the first true English novelist. He is also regarded as a founding father of modern journalism and one of the earliest travel writers. Daniel Defoe died in April 1731.Trade ReviewNever since childhood have I been so thoroughly immersed in a book—Jim Crace, Financial TimesAn 18th-century reader, raised on a high-minded diet of elegy and pastoral, must have felt stunned on first encountering the jagged prose of a Daniel Defoe, with its street-wise populism and delight in the commonplace—Terry EagletonRobinson Crusoe has a universal appeal, a story that goes right to the core of existence—Simon Armitage, GuardianDefoe should surely be credited with inventing the English novel—Mail on SundayDefoe was an imaginative genius—John Carey, Sunday Times
£11.87
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Treasure Island
Book SynopsisJack Shepherd and Iain Cuthbertson star in a BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the classic swashbuckling tale. Having outwitted a band of pirates to obtain a map disclosing the whereabouts of Captain Flint's treasure, Young Jim sets sail for Treasure Island. But the crew of the Hispaniola are not what they seem. Revealing themselves as another gang of cut throats, led by the villainous Long John Silver, they are hell-bent on seizing both the ship and the treasure. Will they succeed? The struggle of Young Jim and his friends as they do battle on the high seas is thrillingly played out in this full-bodied production starring Jack Shepherd, Iain Cuthbertson, Buster Merryfield and James McPherson as young Jim Hawkins.Trade Review • "It is a breathless journey and the closest thing to a real pirate adventure without an eye patch and a time machine... It is a unique work of genius." --Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl • "Who can think of a pirate without conjuring up the image of Long John Silver?" --Daily Mail
£11.87
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Radio Plays
Book SynopsisCaryl Phillips is one of the most respected writers of his generation. An award-winning author best known for his fiction, essays and stage plays, he is also the author of radio plays, nine of which were broadcast by the BBC between 1984 and 2016. Previously locked away in Phillips's archives, housed at the Beinecke Library at Yale University, these hidden gems are now published in Caryl Phillips's Radio Plays, the first collection of these important works of drama. Despite being previously overlooked, these radio plays are fully creative works and constitute an integral part of Caryl Phillips's literary universe. Not only do these dramatic texts display the author's hallmark mix of formal elegance and sharp social criticism, but they also offer compelling points of comparison with the rest of his wider writing. From the experience on an eighteenth-century slave ship and the life of a migrant family in 1980s England, to an account of James Baldwin''s time in Paris and Marvin GaTable of Contents0. Introduction 1. The Wasted Years (1984) 2. Crossing the River (1985) 3. The Prince of Africa (1987) 4. Writing Fiction (1991) 5. A Kind of Home: James Baldwin in Paris (2004) 6. Hotel Cristobel (2005) 7. A Long Way from Home (2008) 8. Dinner in the Village (2011) 9. Somewhere in England (2016)
£23.74
Profile Books Ltd Conversations from a Long Marriage: based on the
Book SynopsisJoanna and Roger have been married for over forty years. Children of the sixties, they're still free spirits, drawn together by their passion for music - and each other. Conversations from a Long Marriage is exactly that: following conversations that take them from the local café, to their kitchen table, taking in her resentment of new glasses - a symbol of ageing - and fury at being lectured by the dental hygienist. He has a dodgy knee and is on statins, and when they discuss the marriage break-up of their closest friends, Sally and Peter, there's jealousy and talk of affairs. She suggests there are advantages to single beds and separate holidays, and wants to go clubbing in Ibiza for her imminent 'big' birthday. Witty, big-hearted and a whole lot of fun, Conversations from a Long Marriage will resonate with couples of any age - but especially those who are still dancing in the kitchen, singing in the car and trying to keep the passion alive.Trade ReviewSublimely funny, touching ... Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam have had illustrious acting careers but can they ever have done anything better than Jan Etherington's two hander? This is a work of supreme craftsmanship * Radio Times *Witty and warm * The Spectator *Jan Etherington is a brilliant writer and these books are sheer joy -- Joanna LumleyConversations is a brilliant vehicle for tackling difficult subjects, like ageing and mortality, with a kind of clever, gentle, sardonic and affectionate humour, laced with human insight that makes you chuckle but can also unexpectedly move you. * Suffolk Magazine *Beautifully written * Observer *Sitcom is what most marriages are really like - repetitive and ridiculous - and Jan's words are some of the best ever written on the subject -- Richard CurtisAstute ... They are unlike anyone I actually know but, truly, I like them * The Times *This book gives me hope ... that life and marriage might permanently include taking the absolute piss while simultaneously dancing in the kitchen -- Emma FreudOne of the best writers for radio ... Her dialogue works because it is so true -- Simon BrettAn endearing portrait of exasperation, laced with hard won tolerance - and something like love * Guardian *Not just comedy but also a compelling, well-rounded drama. Brilliantly crafted, delightfully funny and perceptive ... they sparkle and spring vividly to life * Mature Times *Pin-sharp * The Lady *Exquisitely simple ... it captures the rhymes and language of spousal life [and] in these [Jan Etherington] hands it works perfectly -- Ben Dowell * The Times Pick of the Week *Comedies about likeable people are not common. Treasure this one * Sunday Times *Beautifully captured in Etherington's sparkling dialogue ... the couple whose flirty, combative relationship, ... made famous by Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam ... is now so beloved -- Simon O'Hagan * i Newspaper *This warm, witty portrait of a 40-year marriage is written with a pin-sharp perception. Sublimely funny, touching ... couple Joanna and Roger remain passionate about life, music and each other, as their conversations veer from reading glasses and dodgy knees to clubbing in Ibiza, separate beds and affairs. Lumley and Allam have had illustrious acting careers but can they ever have done anything better than Jan Etherington's two hander? A funny, relatable read ... this is a work of supreme craftsmanship * Radio Times *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Did I Say That Out Loud
Book SynopsisIn Did I Say That Out Loud? Jane Garvey and Fi Glover offer a series of essays interspersed with the waspish asides for which they are beloved, with witty musings on their lives, from pet deaths and garden hose repairs to the gender pay gap and the trouble with HRT patches. Their book promises to take mid-life by its elasticated waist and give it a brisk going over with a stiff brush. At a time of constant uncertainty, what we all need is the wisdom and experience of two women who haven't got a clue what's happening either.
£15.29
Cornerstone Im Sorry I Havent a Clue The Best of Forty Years
Book SynopsisBarry Cryer (Author) In 1958 Barry Cryer had a Number 1 hit record in Finland with the song 'Purple People Eater' by Sheb Wooley. Over his 50-year career he has written for, among many, Morecambe and Wise, Bruce Forsyth, Tommy Cooper, Frankie Howerd, Bob Hope and Richard Pryor. He is a comedy legend.Graeme Garden (Author) Graeme Garden is one third of the Goodies. He is a comedy legend.Tim Brooke-Taylor (Author) Tim was born in Buxton, Derbyshire, and studied at various schools in Buxton and Winchester before beginning an Economics and Law degree course at Cambridge University. In 1963, he became President of Footlights, the revue club in which he wrote and performed with Bill Oddie, Graeme Garden, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Jonathan Lynn and others. He toured extensively with the revue, Cambridge Circus, before moving into television.Jack Dee (Author) Writer, stand-up comedian and actor, JacTrade ReviewThe funniest comedy quiz show of them all -- Sue Arnold * Observer *The most genuinely and infallibly cheering programme on radio. -- Nigel Andrew * Daily Mail *The national theatre of fun. -- Gillian Reynolds * Daily Telegraph *
£8.54
Oxford University Press Scripting Empire
Book SynopsisScripting Empire recovers the literary and cultural history of West Indian and West African writing at the BBC in order to rethink the critical mid-century decades of shrinking British sovereignty, late modernism, and mass migration to the metropole. Between the 1930s and the 1960s, a remarkable group of black Atlantic artists and intellectuals became producers, editors, and freelancers at the corporation, including Una Marson, Langston Hughes, Louise Bennett, Wole Soyinka, Derek Walcott, Amos Tutuola, V.S. Naipaul, Sam Selvon, Cyprian Ekwensi, Stuart Hall, and C.L.R. James. Operating at the interface of a range of literary and broadcast genres, this loose network of African Caribbean writers and thinkers prompt a reassessment of the aesthetic, formal, and political fallout of decolonization between the outbreak of World War II and the first airings of post-colonial independence. Scripting Empire works comparatively across dozens of different programmes spanning the General Overseas Se
£78.00
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House The Pam Ayres Poetry Collection BBC Radio
Book SynopsisWarm and witty, direct and droll, the sharply funny Pam Ayres has been amusing and entertaining her many fans for more than 30 years since her first television appearance on Opportunity Knocks.
£13.31
Quarto Publishing PLC Well Documented
Book SynopsisWell Documented explores 100 of the most compelling documentaries, each with the power to change our perceptions and raise awareness of the world around us.Table of ContentsForeword IntroductionPEOPLE & PLACES Man with a Movie Camera, Araya, Chronicle of a Summer, The Up Series, Tokyo Olympiad, Portrait of Jason, Titicut Follies, Salesman, An American Family, Grey, Gardens, News from Home, Sherman’s March, Paris is Burning, SPOTLIGHT ON: City Symphonies, The Belovs, To Be and To Have, Touching the Void, Murderball, Dreams of a Life, Stories We Tell, Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Dick Johnson is Dead, A Secret LovePOLITICS & SOCIETY Primary, Minamata: The Victims and Their World, El Sopar, Harlan County, USA, A Grin Without a Cat, Roger & Me, SPOTLIGHT ON: Propaganda, Hoop Dreams, When We Were Kings, West of the Tracks, Nostalgia for the Light, The Queen of Versailles, How to Survive a Plague, Citizenfour, 13th, Fire at Sea, I Am Not Your Negro, Maiden, Infinite Football, Crip CampART & CULTURE Don’t Look Back, F for Fake, Amazing Grace, A Bigger Splash, Burden of Dreams, The Quince Tree Sun, Geri, The Gleaners and I, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, SPOTLIGHT ON: The Concert Film, Rize, Man on Wire, The Beaches of Agnès, The September Issue Exit Through the Gift Shop, Pina, Amy, Further Beyond, Dawson City: Frozen Time, The Beatles: Get BackHISTORY & CONFLICT The War Game, The Sorrow and the Pity, The World at War, The Battle of Chile, Hearts and Minds, Shoah, The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On, Lessons of Darkness, The Power of Nightmares, SPOTLIGHT ON: The War on Terror, Waltz with Bashir, Five Broken Cameras, The Act of Killing, State Funeral, For Sama, Exterminate All the BrutesSCIENCE & NATURE Nanook of the North, Life on Earth, Cosmos, Koyaanisqatsi, For All Mankind, SPOTLIGHT ON: A Fragile World, Grizzly Man, Manufactured Landscapes, Into Eternity, The Dust Bowl, Leviathan, CowCRIME & INJUSTICE The Thin Blue Line, Close-Up, Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer, 4 Little Girls, Bus 174, Capturing the Friedmans, SPOTLIGHT ON: Serial Crimes, Sisters in Law, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, Making a Murderer, O.J.: Made in America, Louis Theroux: Dark States, Stephen: The Murder that Changed a Nation, Collective, A Cop MovieSHORT FILMS À Propos de Nice, Land Without Bread, Night Mail, Listen to Britain, Blood of the Beasts, Daybreak Express, The Mad Masters, Night and Fog, The House is Black, LBJ, Powers of Ten, Ten Minutes Older, Gallivant, The Train Stop, Lift, Svyato, The Solitary Life of Cranes, Atlantics, A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness, Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) Index Picture Credits About the Author & Acknowledgements
£19.00
McFarland & Company Waging The War of the Worlds A History of the
Book SynopsisThe 1938 Orson Welles broadcast of ""The War of the Worlds"" was a landmark in the history of entertainment, sparking a public hysteria in America and a series of subsequent broadcasts around the world that elicited similar responses. This book examines the historic broadcast.
£20.89
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Confessions
Book SynopsisAlexander Zeldin is a writer and director for theatre and film. Alexander made work in Russia, South Korea and the Middle East as well as at the Naples Festival, before, between 2011-2014, developing a number of his own works as a teacher at East 15 Acting School. At this time, he also worked as an assistant director to Peter Brook and Marie-Helene Estienne.His critically acclaimed play, Beyond Caring, which told the story of several temporary workers meeting on a night shift in a meat factory, had its World Premiere at the Yard Theatre in Hackney in 2014, before transferring to the Temporary Theatre at the National Theatre in 2015. In 2015 Alexander was the recipient of the Quercus Trust Award and was appointed as Associate Director at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Beyond Caring toured the UK and a new US production, re-developed for the US by Alexander and produced by Lookingglass Theater in conjunction with David Schwimmer's company Dark Harbour Stories, opened in Chicago in April 2017.
£10.99
Orion Publishing Co Did I Say That Out Loud
Book SynopsisFrom the former editor-in-chief of Real Simple, enjoy this hilarious and deeply insightful take on the indignities of middle age and how to weather them with grace: 'A pure pleasure to read' (Cathi Hanauer, author of Gone). Do you hate the term “middle age?” So does Kristin van Ogtrop, who is still trying to come up with a less annoying way to describe those years when you find yourself both satisfied and outraged, confident and confused, full of appreciation but occasional disdain for the world around you. Like an intimate chat with your best friend, this mostly funny, sometimes sad, always affirming volume from longtime magazine journalist van Ogtrop is a celebration of that period of life when mild humiliations are significantly outweighed by a self-actualized triumph of the spirit. Finally! Featuring stories from her own life, as well as anecdotes from her unwitting friends and family, van Ogtrop encourageTrade ReviewJoyous, wise, reassuring and laugh-out-loud funny. I love these two women so much. * Elizabeth Day *I want to be like Fi and Jane when I grow up. * Clare Balding *A book like no other. Honest and very, very funny. Some bits made me want to cheer - a sentence on parenting teenage girls was so good I may get it tattooed on myself, possibly in Hebrew. * Sara Cox *If books were bubble baths... this was a truly luxurious read - filled with warmth, wit and wisdom. I enjoyed it so much that I actually felt guilty afterwards - books shouldn't be this enjoyable should they? Pages of poignancy, laughter and honest sharing. Fi and Jane are no better than they should be. And that's saying an awful lot. * Anita Anand *Honestly these two will stop at nothing for attention. * Kirsty Wark *You'll laugh, you'll nod your head so vigorously in agreement that you'll end up with whiplash and you'll buy a copy of this book for all your friends for Christmas. If you loved the late, great Victoria Wood, then you'll love Fi and Jane too. -- Sarra Manning * RED MAGAZINE *Friends, comrades, naughty girls at the back of the class, Glover and Garvey adopt their trademark approach of "oh FFS why doesn't everyone just do one"... It made me howl and snort the G&T that I just knew was going to give me a 72 hour hangover if I had another one. -- Sam Baker * NOON *The broadcasting duo are on fine form... I predict this will be a pre-Christmas hit in book and audio format, proving, once again, this pair's relevance. -- Patricia Nicol * SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE *Glover and Garvey are smart and perceptive with a dry sense of humour and a knack of hitting the nail squarely on the head... [the book is] wise, laugh-out loud funny and, just like the authors themselves, it never preaches. -- Emma Lee Potter * SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE *Hilarious and perceptive * INSIDE SOAP *If their radio incarnations are sensible and restrained, and their podcast selves freewheeling and prone to corpsing, the tone here lands somewhere in between. There is fluency and professionalism, but also intimacy and silliness that makes their podcast such a delight. To spend time with these two is to eavesdrop on a slightly sozzled, bracingly candid conversation between pals. -- Fiona Sturges * GUARDIAN - audiobook review *
£10.44
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House The Best Of Round The Horne
Book SynopsisThe Best of Round the Horne stars Kenneth Horne, the uncrowned head of the show'; Kenneth Williams, who played Rambling Syd Rumpo, Gruntfuttock, Sandy and Dr. Chou en Ginsberg M.A. (Failed); Hugh Paddick (Charles, Brown-Horrocks, Julian and Lotus Blossom); Betty Marsden (Daphne Whitethigh and terribly, terribly affected Fiona); and Bill Pertwee (Jocelyn Pettibone and two thinly disguised send-ups', Seamus Android and Rife Hobertson). Vintage Beeb: classic albums first available as BBC LPs, now on CD for the first time ever. This recording was previously released on LP in 1975, and subsequently on the cassette Round the Horne Volume 1.1 CD. 45 mins.
£10.22
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Mr Men Vintage Beeb
Book SynopsisMr Funny''s car is a shoe! It looks very funny when he drives to the zoo. But can he cheer up the animals? Mr Dizzy always gets things confused, until one day he happens upon a wishing well... Mr Bump tries his hand at many jobs, but keeps getting fired! Will he ever bump into one that''s suitable for him? Mr Fussy is a fussy old fusspot who dusts his flowers and irons his shoelaces! So how will he cope with Mr Clumsy? Mr Topsy-Turvy manages to turn a whole town upside down! Mr Small goes job hunting and finds, after all, he''s perfect as he is.1 CD. 44 mins.
£7.99
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Nineteen EightyFour
Book SynopsisGeorge Orwell (19031950) is one of England's most famous writers and social commentators. He is the author of the classic political satire Animal Farm and the dystopian masterpiece Nineteen Eighty-Four. He is also well known for his essays and journalism, particularly his works covering his travels and his time fighting in the Spanish Civil War. His writing is celebrated for its piercing clarity, purpose and wit and his books continue to be bestsellers all over the world.
£12.59
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Cabin Pressure The Complete Series 4
Book SynopsisCabin Pressure is set in the wing and a prayer world of a tiny, one-plane charter airline; staffed by two pilots, one on his way down, and one who was never up to start with. Whether it''s dealing with a stuffed sheep, an angry princess or a rogue fruit tray, no job is too small, but many, many jobs are too difficult. Carolyn Knapp-Shappey, MJN Air''s formidable boss, has employed two of the very cheapest pilots money can buy: Captain Martin Crieff, who''s always wanted to fly and won''t let a little thing like lack of ability stop him, and First Officer Douglas Richardson, smooth-voiced old sky god and eternal schemer. Passenger service is provided by the relentlessly cheery Arthur, proud inventor of both Surprising Rice and his own hat. Written by John Finnemore (John Finnemore''s Souvenir Programme, The Now Show), Cabin Pressure stars Stephanie Cole as Carolyn, Benedict Cumberbatch as Martin, Roger Allam as Douglas and John Finnemore as ArTrade ReviewHurray! Here's the fourth series of John Finnemore's splendid comedy made magical by the brilliance of its cast. -- Gillian Reynolds * Daily Telegraph *The more I listen to John Finnemore's Cabin Pressure, the more I think what a stonking masterpiece it is. Perfect in every department. -- Philip Pullman
£14.86
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Welcome to our Village Please Invade Carefully
Book SynopsisTwo series of the BBC Radio 4 sitcom about an alien invasion of a small village, starring Hattie Morahan and Julian Rhind-Tutt with Peter Davison and Jan Francis. When the small Buckinghamshire village of Cresdon Green is invaded by an alien race called the Geonin, the local residents come up against Uljabaan, the smooth-talking leader of the aliens.Trade ReviewA steady stream of laughs -- Will Salmon * SFX *
£22.50
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Round the Horne The Complete Series One
Book SynopsisKenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 16 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy.Round the Horne arrived on BBC radio in 1965, bringing laughter to Sunday lunchtimes throughout the land. Over the course of sixteen weekly episodes it carved a niche in the history of broadcast comedy, a sketch show which prodded the boundaries of propriety and innuendo. At its heart was the suave and upstanding Kenneth Horne, around which revolved the multiple naughty personas of Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden, Hugh Paddick and Bill Pertwee. Among the parade of regular characters were Julian and Sandy, the camp couple of resting thespians happy to turn their hands to anything, Rambling Syd Rumbo the musical cordwangler, Fiona and Charles the passionate duo, and J. Peasemold Gruntfuttock the world's dirtiest man. Meanwhile regular film parodies, spoof sagas and musical interludes peppered the mix.Round the Horne earned its pla
£24.30
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme: Series 9:
Book SynopsisThe complete ninth series of BBC Radio 4's award-winning sketch show'One of our best sketch writers' ObserverJohn Finnemore returns with his multi-award-winning sketch show, but this series is very different to the previous eight. There are still sketches and songs, and it's still written and performed by him and his usual fantastic ensemble cast - but with no live studio audience, John has taken the opportunity to try something new.Each episode in this series of Souvenir Programme consists of scenes from one person's life, played in reverse order. There's no narrative as such - it's still a sketch show - but as we follow the characters back in time, from lockdown Zoom calls to childhood birthdays and funerals, the individual sketches link up to form an overall picture, portraying the sprawling history of an entire multi-generational family.And, as if that wasn't enough, there are also some terrific tall tales, a paean of praise, and a truly unforgettable earworm...Clever, complex, hilarious and poignant, these Souvenir Programmes with a twist star Lawry Lewin as Russ, Margaret Cabourn-Smith as Deborah, Simon Kane as Jerry, Carrie Quinlan as Vanessa and John Finnemore as Newt.Cast and creditsWritten and performed by John FinnemoreEnsemble cast: Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Simon Kane, Lawry Lewin, Carrie QuinlanOriginal music composed by Susannah Pearse and Sally Stares, and arranged by Susannah Pearse and Tim SuttonRecorded and edited by Rich Evans at Syncbox PostProduction coordinator: Beverly TaggProducer: Ed MorrishA BBC Studios production© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
£16.82
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Fawlty Towers: The Complete Collection: Every
Book SynopsisJohn Cleese’s special introductions to each episode are included in this collection of all 12 TV soundtrack episodes.Welcome to Fawlty Towers, where attentive hotelier Basil Fawlty and his charming wife Sybil will attend to your every need - in your worst nightmare. With hapless waiter Manuel and long-suffering waitress Polly on hand to help, anything could happen during your stay - and probably will.Every episode of both TV series is included in this soundtrack collection: A Touch of Class; The Builders; The Wedding Party; The Hotel Inspectors; Gourmet Night; The Germans; Communication Problems; The Psychiatrist; Waldorf Salad; The Kipper and the Corpse; The Anniversary; Basil the Rat. Co-starring with John Cleese as Basil are Prunella Scales (Sybil), Andrew Sachs (Manuel), Connie Booth (Polly) with a supporting cast including Ballard Berkeley, Bernard Cribbins, Joan Sanderson, Geoffrey Palmer, Nicky Henson and Ken Campbell.Also included are special introductions to each episode by John Cleese.
£22.50
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Send for Paul Temple: A 1940 full-cast production
Book SynopsisBernard Braden stars in an original 1940 full-cast production of the very first Paul Temple adventureBetween 1938 and 1968 the exploits of amateur detective Paul Temple and his wife, Steve, enthralled generations of BBC radio listeners. Theirs was an exciting world of violence and glamour - car bombs and cocktail parties. In Paul and Steve’s very first adventure, starring Bernard Braden as Paul with Peggy Hassard as Steve, a spate of jewel robberies in the Midlands has left the police baffled. They are the work of a shadowy criminal mastermind known only as The Knave of Diamonds. But who is the Knave? And can he be stopped?All but one episode of the original 1938 BBC production of Send for Paul Temple are lost from the archives. However, this complete recording of a 1940 production - made for Canadian radio and based on the original BBC radio scripts - was recently rediscovered in the national Library and Archives of Canada. Digitally restored, all six episodes are now available for the very first time. Two bonus features are also included: the sole surviving sixth episode of the original 1938 production, starring the original Paul Temple, Hugh Morton, and an unbroadcast interview with the longest-running Paul Temple actor, Peter Coke.
£19.20
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Round the Horne: The Complete Series Two: 15
Book SynopsisKenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 15 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy.Round the Horne arrived on BBC radio in 1965, bringing laughter to Sunday lunchtimes throughout the land. Over the course of sixteen weekly episodes it carved a niche in the history of broadcast comedy, a sketch show which prodded the boundaries of propriety and innuendo. At its heart was the suave and upstanding Kenneth Horne, around which revolved the multiple naughty personas of Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden, Hugh Paddick and Bill Pertwee. Among the parade of regular characters were Julian and Sandy, the camp couple of resting thespians happy to turn their hands to anything, Rambling Syd Rumbo the musical cordwangler, Fiona and Charles the passionate duo, and J. Peasemold Gruntfuttock the world’s dirtiest man. Meanwhile regular film parodies, spoof sagas and musical interludes peppered the mix.Round the Horne earned its place in the annals of comedy history, and is fondly remembered today as a groundbreaking series that influenced many more to come. Here the entire second series can be enjoyed once again, plus the 1966 Christmas episode, 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and a special Transcription Services episode 'The Man With The Golden Thunderball'. along with a PDF booklet featuring cast biographies and a full series history.
£24.30
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House The Complete Talking Heads: The classic BBC Radio
Book SynopsisThe complete audio collection of Alan Bennett’s celebrated monologues, published together for the first time and performed by some of Britain’s best actorsThe Talking Heads monologues are widely regarded as one of Alan Bennett’s finest dramatic achievements. First broadcast on BBC TV and BBC Radio 4 in the 1980s and 1990s, they won a host of awards and huge popular acclaim, and remain among his most admired works today.This collection includes all twelve Talking Heads, plus the precursor of that series, A Woman of No Importance. Beautifully crafted and full of compassion and wry observation, each tale is ripe with the quirky, insightful detail that has become Bennett's trademark. The monologues are:A Woman of No Importance (Patricia Routledge); A Chip in the Sugar (Alan Bennett); A Lady of Letters (Patricia Routledge); Bed Among the Lentils (Anna Massey); Soldiering On (Stephanie Cole); Her Big Chance (Julie Walters); A Cream Cracker Under the Settee (ThoraHird); Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet (Patricia Routledge); The Hand of God (Eileen Atkins); Playing Sandwiches (David Haig); The Outside Dog (Julie Walters); Nights in the Gardens of Spain (Penelope Wilton) and Waiting for the Telegram (Thora Hird).Intensely moving, deeply engrossing and highly entertaining, these spellbinding soliloquies are essential listening.
£22.50
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House The Lady in the Van: A BBC Radio 4 adaptation
Book SynopsisMaggie Smith stars in this BBC radio adaptation of Alan Bennett's highly acclaimed autobiographical stage playAn eccentric old lady moves into a quiet street in Camden Town. There she remains, installed in her van in glorious self-sufficiency, until the council instructs her to move on. Then a kind homeowner invites her to move her van into his garden – where she stays for the next fifteen years. This is the fascinating story of the genteel vagrant who found a unique place in Alan Bennett's life and writing.But the drama is as much about the author himself as Miss Shepherd. Why did Alan Bennett let her commandeer his driveway? Was he acting out of kindness, weakness, or hidden guilt over not spending enough time with his own mother? Did he always subconsciously plan to exploit Miss Shepherd for literary profit? Thought-provoking and moving, The Lady in the Van tackles profound questions about social responsibility, homelessness and mental illness with a lightness of touch characteristic of Bennett the master storyteller.With a full cast including Adrian Scarborough, Marcia Warren and Alan Bennett, this bitter-sweet comic tale stars Maggie Smith as Miss Shepherd.Now a major BBC feature film, starring Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings.Trade ReviewPlayed by Maggie Smith, who captured her every infuriating nuance, you could almost smell her... -- Gillian Reynolds * The Daily Telegraph *
£14.28
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Dad's Army: The Lost Tapes: Classic Comedy from
Book SynopsisArthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn and Ian Lavender star in a collection of rediscovered Dad's Army gems. Published for the first time, these four instalments of Dad's Army have been brought together from a variety of archive sources, and in each case represent something unique. 'A Stripe for Frazer' is the surviving TV soundtrack from an episode whose film recording has long been missing in action; 'Santa on Patrol' and 'The Cornish Floral Dance' are two mini-episodes produced in 1968 and 1970 for BBC TV's Christmas Night With the Stars; finally, 'The Boy Who Saved England' is a mini-episode written by Jimmy Perry and starring Ian Lavender, recorded as part of BBC Radio 2's Last Night at the Paris programme in 1995. With a supporting cast including Arnold Ridley, John Laurie, James Beck, Bill Pertwee and Frank Williams, this is a fine quartet of episodes you're not likely to have seen or heard before. Don't panic! Duration: 1 hour approx.
£10.80
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Round the Horne: The Complete Series Three: 16
Book SynopsisKenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 20 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy.Round the Horne arrived on BBC radio in 1965, bringing laughter to Sunday lunchtimes throughout the land. It carved a niche in the history of broadcast comedy, a sketch show which prodded the boundaries of propriety and innuendo. At its heart was the suave and upstanding Kenneth Horne, around which revolved the multiple naughty personas of Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden, Hugh Paddick and Bill Pertwee. Among the parade of regular characters were Julian and Sandy, the camp couple of resting thespians happy to turn their hands to anything, Rambling Syd Rumbo the musical cordwangler, Fiona and Charles the passionate duo, and J. Peasemold Gruntfuttock the world’s dirtiest man. Meanwhile regular film parodies, spoof sagas and musical interludes peppered the mix.Round the Horne earned its place in the annals of comedy history, and is fondly remembered today as a groundbreaking series that influenced many more to come. Here the entire third series can be enjoyed once again, along with a PDF booklet featuring cast biographies and a full series history. Duration: 10 hours approx.
£27.00
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Paul Temple: The Complete Radio Collection:
Book SynopsisThree complete radio dramas featuring writer-cum-amateur detective Paul Temple, plus bonus archive material. When it comes to classic crime partnerships, Paul Temple and his wife Steve are the crème de la crème. Between 1938 and 1968 their glamorous exploits enthralled generations of radio listeners around the world. Here, presented in chronological order, are some of the amateur detective's earliest adventures. 'Send for Paul Temple' (1940) is an early remake of the now-lost original 1938 BBC production. 'Paul Temple Intervenes' (1942) finds Paul and Steve investigating a series of celebrity murders, whilst 'Paul Temple and the Vandyke Affair' (the original 1950 production, presented here for the very first time) concerns the strange disappearance of the Desmond baby and her sitter. Hugh Morton, Bernard Braden, Carl Bernard and Peter Coke play Paul in these episodes, with Bernadette Hodgson, Peggy Hassard and Marjorie Westbury as Steve. A bonus disc features rare archive material from otherwise lost productions, including the final episodes of 'Send for Paul Temple' (1938) and 'Paul Temple and the Front Page Men' (1938). Duration: 11 hours approx.
£27.00
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Doctor Who: Shadow in the Glass: A 6th Doctor
Book SynopsisAn unabridged reading of this original BBC Books novel featuring the Sixth Doctor, as played on TV by Colin Baker. When an RAF squadron shoots down an unidentified aircraft over Turelhampton, the village is immediately evacuated. But why is the village still guarded by troops in 2001? When a television documentary crew break through the cordon looking for a story, they find they've recorded more than they'd bargained for. Caught up in both a deadly conspiracy and a historical mystery, retired Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart calls upon his old friend the Doctor. Half-glimpsed demons watch from the shadows as the Doctor and the Brigadier travel back in time to discover the last, and deadliest, secret of the Second World War. Duration: 8 hours approx
£24.00
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House The Jane Austen BBC Radio Drama Collection: Six
Book SynopsisA collection of BBC radio full-cast dramatisations of Jane Austen's six major novels Jane Austen is one of the finest writers in the English language, and this volume includes all six of her classic novels. Mansfield Park: On a quest to find a position in society, Fanny Price goes to live with her rich aunt and uncle. Northanger Abbey: Young, naïve Catherine Morland receives an invitation to stay at the isolated Gothic mansion Northanger Abbey.Sense and Sensibility: Forced to leave their family home after their father's death, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood try to forge a new life at Barton Cottage. Pride and Prejudice: Mrs Bennet is determined to get her five daughters married well, so when the wealthy Mr Bingley and his friend Mr Darcy move into the neighbourhood her hopes are raised… Emma: Emma Woodhouse declares she will never marry, but she is determined to find a match for her friend Harriet. Persuasion: Eight years ago, Anne Elliot rejected a marriage proposal from a handsome but poor naval officer. Now her former love has returned… With an all-star cast including David Tennant, Benedict Cumberbatch, Julia McKenzie, Jenny Agutter, Toby Jones, Eve Best and Juliet Stevenson, these BBC radio adaptations are full of humour, romance, love lost and love regained.
£31.50
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Raymond Chandler: The BBC Radio Drama Collection:
Book SynopsisThe complete collection of landmark BBC Radio dramas of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe mysteries. Philip Marlowe is the archetypal noir detective: wisecracking and world-weary, hardboiled yet honourable. This volume includes all eight dramatisations of Raymond Chandler's groundbreaking crime novels featuring his iconic hero. The Big Sleep Marlowe is consulted by a wealthy family man with two big problems: his children. Farewell My Lovely Marlowe's search for an ex-con's ex-girlfriend leads him into danger. The High Window When rare gold coin is stolen from her collection, Mrs Murdoch hires Philip Marlowe to find it. The Lady in the Lake Businessman Derace Kingsley hires Marlowe to find his estranged wife Crystal. The Little Sister Commissioned to find Orfamay Quest's missing brother, Marlowe is drawn into the glamorous film world of Hollywood. The Long Goodbye Marlowe befriends a drunk named Terry Lennox, but comes to regret doing him a favour. Playback Hired to follow the mysterious Betty Mayfield, Marlowe soon finds that he is being tailed too... Poodle Springs Newly-married Marlowe puts his bride aside to look for a gambler on the run. Starring Toby Stephens as Philip Marlowe, these stylish, suspenseful dramatisations – full of witty, ironic dialogue and colourful characters – bring the beautiful, corrupt world of California in the '40s and '50s to luminous life. Duration: 11 hours approx.
£42.50
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Jane Eyre: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
Book SynopsisAmanda Hale and Tom Burke star in a brand new BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Charlotte Brontë's most beloved novel, adapted by Rachel Joyce. Orphan Jane learns at an early age that self-control is the surest means of retaining self-respect in adversity. It is a lesson that serves her well in the years ahead as she endures the misery of life with her cruel, uncaring aunt, followed by the harsh regime at Lowood Institution, a charity school for poor children. After taking the post of governess at Thornfield Hall, she meets the master of the house, the brooding, enigmatic Edward Rochester, and finds herself falling in love with him. It seems as if happiness may finally be within her grasp – but a series of strange events leads her to believe that Rochester is concealing a dark secret. When the truth is revealed, the heartbroken Jane will need all her inner strength and resilience to face up to it...Dramatised for radio by bestselling novelist Rachel Joyce (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry), this iconic love story stars Amanda Hale as Jane and Tom Burke as Rochester. Suffused with romance, passion, mystery and danger, it is a spellbinding tale that is as real and relevant today as when it was first published in 1847. Duration: 2 hours 30 mins approx.
£14.30
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Comedies: The
Book SynopsisThree classic radio productions from the BBC archives starring Nigel Hawthorne, Miriam Margolyes, Geraldine McEwan and a host of celebrated acting talent.These three legendary plays, performed by some of the best-known theatrical actors of the 20th Century, are the perfect way to commemorate England's greatestdramatist. The Taming of the Shrew: The controversial comedy about the battle of the sexes and a very unconventional marriage, starring Fenella Fielding as Katherine, with Miriam Margolyes as Bianca and Paul Daneman as Petruchio. A Midsummer Night's Dream: One of Shakespeare'sbest-loved plays, this tale of warring fairies, eloping lovers and the magic and madness of love has bewitched audiences since its very first performance. Starring Nigel Hawthorne as Oberon with Maureen O'Brien as Titania. Twelfth Night: Mistaken identity and a tangled love triangle lead to confusion and, ultimately, happiness in this comic masterpiece. Starring Dorothy Tutin as Viola, with Geraldine McEwan as Olivia and Stephen Murray as Malvolio. Recorded at BBC Broadcasting House and featuring the BBC Drama Repertory company, with specially composed music including a score from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, this is classic radio drama at its finest.Duration: 7 hours approx.Trade Review"This range of classic Target audiobooks continues to go from strength to strength..." Doctor Who Magazine
£22.50
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Boswell's Lives: BBC Radio 4 comedy drama
Book SynopsisMiles Jupp stars as James Boswell in four fantastic episodes of Jon Canter's BBC Radio 4 comedy. 'A work of genius' Radio Times James Boswell, Dr Johnson's celebrated biographer, turns time traveller to pursue other legends to immortalise in this award-winning comedy series. Hampered by his own pomposity and self-importance, he finds that his subjects get the better of him – with hilarious consequences.Interviewing Sigmund Freud, Boswell is wrong-footed when Freud asks all the questions, and on meeting Maria Callas (and her poodle) he becomes caught up in an opera of his own making. While talking to Harold Pinter he finds himself the victim of a betrayal, and Boris Johnson proves to be a formidable opponent – especially on the whiff-whaff table.Written by acclaimed comedy author Jon Canter, this hugely entertaining series won the Prix Europa for Best European Radio Series of the Year. It stars Miles Jupp as Boswell, with Henry Goodman as Freud, Arabella Weir as Callas, Harry Enfield as Pinter and Alistair McGowan as Boris Johnson. Duration: 2 hours approx.
£19.42
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Vanity Fair: BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
Book SynopsisStephen Fry narrates this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the famous Victorian comic novel. Orphan Becky Sharp and wealthy Amelia Sedley are best friends at Miss Pinkerton's Academy for Young Ladies. On leaving school, ambitious, social-climbing Becky looks for a rich man to support her, while the sweet-natured Amelia meets her old friend Dobbin, who is instantly captivated. Becky takes a job in the service of Sir Pitt Crawley, and uses her charm to hook his dashing son. However, marriage to Captain Rawdon of the Guards does not provide the fortune she seeks. Meanwhile, Amelia rejects the faithful Dobbin and becomes engaged to the handsome George Osborne – but destiny has some shocks in store for her, too. As time goes by, the girls' fortunes rise and fall. War, financial disaster and the ruin of her reputation leave the resourceful Becky undaunted, but Amelia finds it harder to bear fate's blows. It will be many years before their story is played out, and their futures finally decided... William Makepeace Thackeray's classic satire of passion and ambition, first published in 1847 and 1848, is a deliciously ironic portrait of English society and its mores. This engaging 2004 radio production, published for the first time on audio, features a distinguished cast including Emma Fielding as Becky Sharp, Katy Cavanagh as Amelia and Toby Jones as Jos Sedley. Duration: 5 hours approx
£19.20
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Love in Recovery: Series 1 & 2: The BBC Radio 4
Book SynopsisSue Johnston, John Hannah and Eddie Marsan are among the stars of this spellbinding, hilarious and uplifting comedy drama. Set entirely at a series of weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, these 13 episodes also feature Rebecca Front, Paul Kaye, Julia Deakin and Samantha Bond. Love in Recovery follows the lives of five very different recovering alcoholics. Eddie Marsan is Andy, the sweet but simple group leader. Sue Johnston is Julie, who's been known to have the odd relapse here and there, and everywhere. John Hannah is Simon, a snide journalist with a big secret. Rebecca Front is the snobby and guarded Fiona, who used to be a banker who had it all, and then lost the lot. Paul Kaye is Danno, a dodgy geezer with no front teeth, but a lot of heart. During the course of two series and a special Christmas episode, we hear them get to know each other, get on each other’s nerves, laugh, argue, fall apart, fall in love and, most importantly, tell their stories. Written and created by Pete Jackson, Love in Recovery is inspired by his own road to recovery. Duration: 5 hours approxTrade ReviewIt's a credit to Pete Jackson's writing and the cast's acting prowess that the listener can switch from laughing out loud to rapt silence. -- Jane Anderson * Radio Times *Final episode of what has been an astonishingly good new comedy series…The cast is impressive, the acting superb and if Pete Jackson, who wrote it from his own experience, doesn't get a prize there's no justice. -- Gillian Reynolds * The Daily Telegraph *…brilliant six-part comedy drama written by Pete Jackson. Each of the 15-minute vignettes unspool like manic Canterbury Tales, offering a set of soliloquies built around the awkward weekly meetings of disparate characters…The series feels sharp and fresh… -- Priya Elan * The Guardian *Inspired and inspiring * The Radio Times *Thoughtful, recognisable…seriously funny -- Gillian Reynolds * The Telegraph *
£21.60
BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House Anansi Boys: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast
Book SynopsisA gripping BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Neil Gaiman's bestselling and much-loved novelWhen his father dies, Fat Charlie Nancy discovers that not only was the late Mr Nancy actually the god Anansi, but that he also has a long-lost brother, Spider, who is everything Fat Charlie is not. When Spider begins to take over Fat Charlie's life, flat and even his fiancée Rosie, Fat Charlie is forced to make a pact that lands him in trouble with the gods themselves...Anansi Boys is a story of love, laughter, music and murder, old gods and new tricks that takes Fat Charlie from his home in South London to Florida, the Caribbean, and the very Beginning of the World itself. Or the End of the World. Depending on which direction you’re coming from.Jacob Anderson stars as Charlie, and he has written and performed a specially commissioned song – ‘Charlie's Song’ – which forms part of the magical fabric of Anansi Boys.Dramatised for Radio 4 by the award-winning Dirk Maggs (Neverwhere, Good Omens, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), the stellar cast of this series also includes Joseph Marcell, Lenny Henry, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Adjoa Andoh,Julie Hesmondhalgh and Julian Rhind-Tutt, as well as a cameo appearance from Neil Gaiman himself.Duration: 3 hours 15 mins
£19.20
Peter Lang Ltd The Archers in Fact and Fiction: Academic
Book SynopsisIf you have ever wondered about the ethical implications of Dr Richard Locke's affair with Shula Hebden Lloyd, or whether the ergonomic design of tractor seats could have prevented Tony Archer from getting a bad back, then this book is for you. Leading academics from across the United Kingdom use storylines from BBC Radio 4's The Archers to examine life in rural Borsetshire, bringing their academic research to new audiences. Is Lynda Snell a middleclass warrior? Can Rob Titchener be compared to Iago? The irreverent but thought-provoking contributionswill have you laughing and thinking.
£29.26
BBC Worldwide Ltd I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue 16: The Award Winning
Book SynopsisFour more extended episodes from the award-winning BBC Radio 4 series, specially compiled by producer Jon Naismith'ISIHAC is still unmissable. It remains the most thrillingly anarchic panel show in any media you care to name' Simon Mayo, Mail on Sunday‘The funniest comedy quiz show of them all’ Sue Arnold, The ObserverThe antidote to panel games returns with this sixteenth glorious collection, in which Jack Dee gives regular panelists Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden silly things to do. Joining them in this compilation are special guests Rob Brydon, Victoria Wood, Susan Calman and David Mitchell.Highlights include Uxbridge English Dictionary, One Song to the Tune of Another, French Monopoly, Swanee Kazoo, Sound Charades, Pensioner’s Film Club, Complete Cats, 84 Chicken Cross Road, Hirsute Film Club, Unromantic Endings, Just a Minim, the delightful Add a Word, Ruin a Film and, of course, Mornington Crescent.Get ready to chuckle along with the gang as they deploy the finest wit and wordplay, accompanied by Colin Sell on the piano and the lovely Samantha keeping score.Duration: 2 hours 20 mins approx.
£14.28
BBC Worldwide Ltd Rumpole and the Old Familiar Faces: A BBC Radio 4
Book SynopsisDesmond Barrit stars as Horace Rumpole in this full-cast, feature-length radio dramaRumpole has no special objection to Christmas – except that with the Old Bailey closed, he has no opportunity to exercise his skills in court. But over the course of one unusual holiday, he nonetheless manages to triumph in two very different cases…Dragooned into spending Christmas in Norfolk, at the home of one of Hilda’s old schoolfriends, Rumpole is feeling less than festive. Chilly Coldsands Rectory does not offer much in the way of enjoyment – but a trip to the local church and a surprise encounter with an old acquaintance leads to a God-given opportunity to indulge in a little seasonal, charitable blackmail.A New Year outing to see Aladdin also provides more excitement than expected. The traditional British pantomime is one of Rumpole’s favourite institutions, but he has a vague feeling that there’s something odd about this particular production. A post-panto drink, some overheard remarks and a glance at the programme confirm his suspicions – and put him on the path to solving an audacious crime…Starring Desmond Barrit as Rumpole and Joanna David as Hilda, with Tim McInnerny as Donald Compton and Nigel Anthony as Fred Timson.Written by John MortimerDirected by Marilyn ImrieProduced by Catherine BaileyPantomime music written and played by Neil BrandA Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4
£14.30
Profile Books Ltd Conversations from a Long Marriage: based on the
Book Synopsis'A sheer joy' JOANNA LUMLEY 'This book gives me hope ... that life and marriage might permanently include taking the absolute piss while simultaneously dancing in the kitchen' EMMA FREUD 'An endearing portrait of exasperation, laced with hard won tolerance - and love' GUARDIAN Joanna and Roger have been married for over forty years. Children of the Sixties, they're still free spirits, drawn together by their passion for music - and each other. Conversations from a Long Marriage is exactly that: following conversations that take them from the local café, to their kitchen table, taking in her resentment of new glasses - a symbol of ageing - and fury at being lectured by the dental hygienist. He has a dodgy knee and is on statins, and when they discuss the marriage break-up of their closest friends, Sally and Peter, there's jealousy and talk of affairs. She suggests there are advantages to single beds, separate holidays and wants to go clubbing in Ibiza for her imminent 'big' birthday. Witty, big-hearted and a whole lot of fun, Conversations from a Long Marriage will resonate with couples of any age - but especially those who are still dancing in the kitchen, singing in the car and trying to keep the passion alive.Trade ReviewJan Etherington is a brilliant writer and these books are sheer joy -- Joanna LumleySitcom is what most marriages are really like - repetitive and ridiculous - and Jan's words are some of the best ever written on the subject -- Richard CurtisThis book gives me hope ... that life and marriage might permanently include taking the absolute piss while simultaneously dancing in the kitchen -- Emma FreudOne of the best writers for radio ... Her dialogue works because it is so true -- Simon BrettAn endearing portrait of exasperation, laced with hard won tolerance - and something like love * Guardian *Sublimely funny, touching ... Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam have had illustrious acting careers but can they ever have done anything better than Jan Etherington's two hander? This is a work of supreme craftsmanship * Radio Times *Witty and warm * The Spectator *Beautifully written * Observer *Astute ... They are unlike anyone I actually know but, truly, I like them * The Times *Not just comedy but also a compelling, well-rounded drama. Brilliantly crafted, delightfully funny and perceptive ... they sparkle and spring vividly to life * Mature Times *Pin-sharp * The Lady *Exquisitely simple ... it captures the rhymes and language of spousal life [and] in these [Jan Etherington] hands it works perfectly -- Ben Dowell * The Times Pick of the Week *
£14.99
Alma Books Ltd Under Milk Wood and Other Radio Scripts
Book SynopsisUniversally regarded as Dylan Thomas's crowning prose achievement, it is accompanied here by two other radio scripts, Return Journey and Conversation about Christmas, both dating from 1947.
£8.54
Wild Goose Publications All That Matters: Pt. 2: Collected Scripts from
Book SynopsisThis is the second volume of John L. Bell's 'Thoughts For The Day', augmented by three extended essays, 'Indebting the future', 'The love of God and global warming' and 'The beast that is in us'. For seven years, John has been a contributor to Radio 4's Thought For The Day, attempting - as the project demands - to offer a religious perspective on m
£12.82
Dedalus Press Music for Dogs: Work for Radio
Book Synopsis
£8.55
Peter Lang AG Spaete Schriften zur Literatur. Teil 3:
Book SynopsisMit der dreibändigen Jubiläumsedition zum 100. Geburtstag liegen erstmals Helmut Heißenbüttels späte Schriften zur Literatur in gesammelter Form vor. Sie enthält bislang nur verstreut veröffentlichte Texte und zeichnet wesentliche Entwicklungslinien des essayistischen Werks nach. Der dritte Teil beinhaltet Aufsätze zu Poetik und Literaturtheorie, Gattungen und Geschichte radiophoner Literatur sowie Comic und Science Fiction, ebenso wie autobiographische Essays, Interviews und Schriften zum Kulturbetrieb. Er versammelt außerdem Texte zum Kriminalroman aus allen Phasen von Heißenbüttels jahrzehntelanger Auseinandersetzung mit dem Genre.
£76.10
