Search results for ""bbc audio""

Kenneth Williams, Clement Freud, Derek Nimmo, Peter Jones and Paul Merton are the ‘Famous Five’ of Just a Minute: sparkling raconteurs whose sharp wits and skill made them consistently a pleasure to listen to. Each brings their own unique quality to the show, and this box set showcases their highlights - the moments which reveal these talented players at the very top of their game. Also among the featured shows are the first ever Just a Minute, plus the 25th anniversary edition and the infamous episode when Clement Freud failed to appear and the show’s ever capable chairman Nicholas Parsons replaced him as a panellist. Full of fast-paced, irreverent fun and ferocious competition, this collection is a goldmine of wonderful comedy nuggets from five fantastically funny comedians.11 CDs. 11 hrs.

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When Irene Spencer meets Vera Small at her daughter Lesley’s wedding reception, they embark upon a correspondence that is quite unlike any other in the history of letter-writing. Both Irene and Vera are happily widowed and endowed with errant offspring. They live in a world of church fêtes and amateur dramatics, but love nothing more than dipping their pens in the vitriol pot – while remaining the firmest of pen-pals. Feisty, naughty and endlessly funny, Ladies of Letters provides a hilarious insight into suburban friendships as they really are! ‘Quite honestly as I laid the last letter aside I felt a better person for having glimpsed behind the net curtains of Mrs Small’s and Mrs Spencer’s life.’ - Sue Townsend.1 CD. 1 hr 30 mins.

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Maeve Binchy is one of Britain’s most popular and bestselling authors, and this collection of four stories from the BBC Radio 4 archive shows her at her most insightful and imaginative. In The Garden Party, Helen envies her neighbour Debbie Kennedy’s garden – and her life – but discovers that things are not always as they seem; while The Special Sale sees lonely Yvonne arranging a special lunch for her friend Frank and his children on the day after Christmas. The Sensible Celebration finds Lorna about to throw a small party to celebrate the decade gone by: but as she plans, she starts to think about her life, and her marriage. Finally, in Dolly’s Mother, the beauty, grace and efficiency of her perfect parent have always made Dolly feel inferior – until the day of her sixteenth birthday. These four stories, never collected together in book form and unique to audio, are read by acclaimed actors Niamh Cusack, Dervla Kirwan, Doreen Hepburn and Stella McCusker.1 CD. 57 mins.

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Most of us can tell the difference between a Blue Tit and a Blackbird or a Robin and a Wren, but what happens if you close your eyes – can you still tell which bird is which simply by listening to their song? If the answer is no, then this practical audio guide to the songs of British garden birds is the easy way to get to know the songs of some of our most popular and best-loved songbirds. Recorded on location in the Somerset Levels, in the garden of birdwatcher, writer and broadcaster Stephen Moss, this helpful and practical guide will quickly enable you to sort out your Blue Tits from your Great Tits and your Hedge Sparrows from your Tree Sparrows. Joining Stephen and presenter Brett Westwood, wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson is armed with an array of microphones that allow us to eavesdrop on the songs, calls and alarm cries of the birds we see around us. Packed with useful information and helpful tips, this guide is for anyone who wants to understand more about the beautiful birds which share our parks and gardens every day.1 CD. 1 hr 15 mins.

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What is the connection between a bear of very little brain and a honey pot? Usually it's the very sticky paw of Winnie the Pooh, as he takes a break between adventures for a little something. In these five stories, taken from the book The House at Pooh Corner, Pooh and Piglet build a house for Eeyore, Tigger comes to the forest and has breakfast, Piglet nearly meets the Heffalump again, Pooh invents a new game and Owl moves house. As usual they are accompanied by Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl - to say nothing of Pooh's very clever young human friend, Christopher Robin. Now with a musical introduction, Alan Bennett's delightful readings bring each and every character in the forest to life.1 CD. 1 hr 5 mins.

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An international cast of suspects, all passengers on the crowded train, are speeding through the snowy European landscape when a bizarre and terrible murder brings them to an abrupt halt. One of their glittering number lies dead in his cabin, stabbed a mysterious twelve times. There is no lack of clues for Poirot - but which clue is real and which is a clever plant? Poirot realises that this time he is dealing with a murderer of enormous cunning and that in a case frought with fear and inconstencies only one thing is certain - the murderer is still aboard the train waiting to strike again... John Moffatt stars as Hercule Poirot, with a stellar cast including Joss Ackland, Sylvia Syms, Francesca Annis, and Siân Phillips.Soon to be released as a film, directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Penelope Cruz, Olivia Coleman, Dame Judi Dench, Daisy Ridley, Derek Jacobi, and Michele Pfeiffer, The Murder on the Orient Express is a perennial classic.

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Lizzie Hopley reads the TARDIS''s enthrallingly in-depth account of her incredible adventures to date.Packed with stories from across time and space, this is the first ever memoir by the TARDIS.Did you ever wonder why I chose you all those years ago? I wanted to see the universe, so I stole a Time Lord and I ran away...'The Doctor has a unique bond with their TARDIS. They've always loved the old girl' for the way she's gone looking for trouble anywhere in the universe. The Doctor says they stole the TARDIS from Gallifrey. The TARDIS disagreesshe stole them. It hasn't always taken the Doctor where they want to go, but it's made sure to take them where they needed to be.For the TARDIS is far more than just a time machine crossed with a spaceship. Its life reflects the Doctor's life a shared wanderlust and longing to explore. Now you can revisit the Doctor's adventures as seen through the eyes or the flashing rooftop light, at least of the TARD

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Kevin McNally stars in five brand new recordings of original Hancock's Half Hour scripts by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. Now, five of them have been recreated by BBC Radio 4, with Kevin McNally taking the role made famous by Tony Hancock.

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When Sylvia and her old nurse Nana agree to keep house for Gum, they know they will be looking after his fossil collection while his away on his travels. But imagine their surprise when one day he brings them something else - three baby girls whose names all being with 'P'! Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil are not really sisters - even their surname is invented. The girls decide to 'put our name in the history books because it's our very own', and enrol at the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. Each Fossil uses her individual talents to achieve their joint aim in this captivating story, now a modern children's classic.2 CDs. 2 hrs.

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Paul Copley and Timothy Bateson star in a BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation of E. Nesbit's enchanting and unforgettable classic. Roberta, Peter and Phyllis lead an ordinary suburban life with Mother and Father, enjoying trips to the zoo and the pantomime. But when Father is mysteriously taken away one night, everything changes. The children must move to the country, to a little white cottage near the railway line, where eventually they find that there are plenty of adventures to be had and friends to be made - including Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. But the mystery remains - what has happened to Father, and will he come back? The story of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis and their life in the country has never been out of print since it was first published in 1906. Charming, sentimental and unforgettable, the novel retains all its enchantment and enduring appeal in this BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation.

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A BBC Radio 4 full-cast drama starring Derek Martin, the precursor to the popular TV series and novels. Jack Frost is disheveled, disorganised and disrespectful. His superiors don't like him. He has a habit of doing things his way – and getting results. But when Denton CID is faced with a spate of major crimes, Frost finds himself under pressure. A young woman becomes the sixth victim of a multiple rapist, a teenage girl goes missing, there's a robbery at the Purple Parrot nightclub, and an old man is injured in a hit-and-run. With all this on his plate, Frost has little time and less patience for paperwork – but if he doesn't submit the overtime reports, there will be hell to pay. Has Frost bitten off more than he can chew? A Touch of Frost gave rise to a hugely successful TV series that ran between 1992 and 2010. This gritty drama, first broadcast on Radio 4 in 1982, features Derek Martin as Jack Frost, with a supporting cast including Haydn Wood, Stephen Thorne and Alan Dudley. Classic Radio Crime: presenting vintage detectives for your investigation! Duration: 1 hour 25 mins approx.

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Somewhere on the frontier between thought and reality exists the Discworld, a parallel time and place which might sound and smell very much like our own, but which looks completely different… Collected together for the first time are seven full-cast BBC Radio dramatisations of Terry Pratchett’s novels, with star-studded casts including Martin Jarvis, Sheila Hancock, Anton Lesser, Philip Jackson, Alex Jennings and Mark Heap.Now being published for the very first time, the adaptations in this collection are:MortHopeless young peasant Mort is hired as an apprentice to Death. He'll have free board, use of the company horse, and being dead isn’t even compulsory. In fact, it's a dream job - until he discovers that it can be a killer on his love life...Wyrd SistersThree witches meet on a blasted heath. A king is cruelly murdered. A child heir and the kingdom’s crown are both missing. But Granny Weatherwax finds that meddling in royal politics is a lot more complicated than certain playwrights would have you believe... Guards! Guards!In Ankh-Morpork, the Haves and the Have-Nots are about fall out. Again. The Night Watch’s Captain Vimes is used to this but when the Have-Nots find the key to a lethal, dormant weapon that even they don’t understand, he knows it’s time so sober up. EricWhen precocious young Eric Thursley summons a demon from the loathsome pit to fulfil his every wish, he wants what everyone wants – immortality, to rule the world, and have the most beautiful woman love him. Instead he gets Rincewind, the Disc’s most incompetent wizard. Small GodsOn the Discworld, Gods are as numerous as herring roe, all elbowing for space at the top. In such a competitive environment, you need an acolyte, and fast. For the Great God Om, Brutha is the Chosen One, or at least the only One available…Night WatchLiving in the past is hard. Dying in the past is incredibly easy, especially when there is a serial killer on the loose who targets coppers. Commander Sam Vimes of the City Watch is back in his own rough, tough past, and he has a job to do.***Bonus Story*** In addition to these Discworld novels, this collection will also include a full-cast dramatisation of Only You Can Save Mankind, from the Johnny Maxwell series. As an alien fleet crosses his computer screen, Johnny prepares to blow the ScreeWee into a million pieces...'The voice cast is fantastic' - StarburstDuration: 13 hours 15 minutes approx.15 CDs

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Eighteen episodes from Eric and Ernie’s BBC Radio 2 comedy series, collected together for the very first timeBetween 1975 and 1978, when they were at the peak of their popularity on BBC TV, Morecambe and Wise also starred in their own radio series, with each episode scripted by the one and only Eddie Braben.This feast of gags, sketches and song and dance numbers — plus of course Ernie’s ‘plays what I wrote’ — features a host of special guests including Ann Hamilton, Anita Harris, Gayle Hunnicutt, Richard Caldicot, Percy Edwards, Nicola Pagett, Brian Wilde, Des O'Connor, Vince Hill, Penelope Keith and The Nolan Sisters.So pull back the stage curtain and settle down to nine hours of sparkling comedy, in the company of ‘the tall one with glasses’ and ‘the one with the short, fat, hairy legs’. Honestly, you can’t see the join.The Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise ShowWritten and adapted by Eddie BrabenProduced by John BrowellThe Best of British Laughs – Morecambe & WisePresented by Barry TookProduced by John BrowellThe Entertainers: Morecambe & Wise: Two of a KindPresented by Frank DixonProduced by Herbert SmithPlease note: some of the humour on this recording reflects the era in which it was first broadcastThe comedy in this release reflects the attitudes and conventions of the era in which it was first broadcastRunning time: 9 hours approx.

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Sue 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 approx

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Tom Hiddleston (The Night Manager) stars as Jonathan Harker with David Suchet (Poirot) as Dracula in Liz Lochhead and John Foley's powerful BBC radio adaptation of the classic novel by Bram Stoker. When solicitor Jonathan Harker sets off for Transylvania to sell the mysterious Count Dracula a Gothic mansion, his bride-to-be Mina begs him to stay – to no avail. But on arrival at Dracula's castle, deep in a black forest surrounded by wolves, Harker wishes he had listened to his fiancée. The Count is welcoming but unnerving, and his castle oppressive. Plagued by nightmares, Harker soon longs to leave... Back in Whitby, Mina is increasingly worried. She has heard nothing from Jonathan, and now her sister Lucy – newly engaged to Harker's friend, Dr Seward – is becoming pale and thin. In Seward's lunatic asylum in London, a madman named Renfield babbles about his master who is coming. And as a midnight storm rages, a black ship heads towards the English coast... Acclaimed poet and playwright Liz Lochhead's adaptation was first performed on stage in 1985, and this thrilling radio drama was broadcast on the World Service in 2006. Suspenseful, chilling and suffused with dark eroticism, it retains all the eerie dread of Stoker's infamous horror novel. Duration: 2 hrs approx.

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Thrilling full-cast radio dramatisations of three of Charles Dickens' classic novels. Charles Dickens is one of the most renowned novelists of all time, and this second volume of the dramatised canon of his work includes the gripping historical novel Barnaby Rudge, picaresque comedy Martin Chuzzlewit and bittersweet tale of family relationships Dombey and Son. Barnaby Rudge Against the background of the anti-Catholic riots of the 1780s, young Barnaby Rudge becomes entangled with the fanatical George Gordon and his campaign for 'No Popery'. But mob violence, the burning of Newgate Prison and the shadow of murder put his life in danger... Martin Chuzzlewit Disinherited by his wealthy grandfather because of his love for the beautiful Mary, Martin Chuzzlewit sets sail for America to seek his fortune. Dombey and Son Wealthy Paul Dombey is desperate for a male heir to continue the family business, and neglects his six-year-old daughter Florence. Then, at last, the longed-for son is born – but Dombey's hopes for him go unfulfilled... With a star cast including Simon Cadell, Bill Nighy, Alex Jennings, Robert Glenister, Geraldine James and Pam Ferris, these BBC radio adaptations bring out all the suspense, adventure, satire and social realism of Dickens' three classic masterpieces. Duration: 19 hours approx.

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Celia Imrie and Toby Jones star in this BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of Gerald Durrell's much-loved comic gem. My Family and Other Animals is the classic tale of naturalist Gerald Durrell's magical 1930s childhood on pre-war Corfu. His descriptions of his eccentric family and his encounters with the local creatures are full of humour and charm, and the book has delighted readers of all ages for sixty years. Ten-year-old Gerry is the youngest member of the Durrell family, which also consists of Mother, pompous eldest son Larry, gun-mad second son Leslie, acne-ridden sister Margo, and Roger the dog. When they arrive in Corfu, Gerry is thrilled to find a paradise of exotic wildlife to be explored. Soon he is embarking on natural history expeditions, swimming in the clearblue sea and befriending the island's inhabitants.Gerry's relatives are less impressed with his exploits, especially when his burgeoning animal collection sparks chaos at the family's Christmas party... With a specially created soundtrack, this vivid adaptation takes the story out of the studio and into the Greek wilderness that enthralled Durrell the young naturalist. Duration: 2 hours approx.

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The 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.

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An unabridged reading of a classic novelisation of the 1987 TV adventure featuring the Seventh Doctor and Ace. The TARDIS brings the Doctor and Ace to 1943, and a British Naval camp in North Yorkshire. Dr Judson is using the ULTIMA code-breaking machine to decipher the runic inscriptions at the nearby church; meanwhile Commander Millington is obsessed with his research into toxic bombs to hasten the end of World War Two. Nearby, an ancient evil stirs beneath the waters at Maidens Point. What connects all of these to a thousand year old curse?

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Dan Starkey reads this new novelisation of the TV adventure featuring the Twelfth Doctor and Clara.For years, 20 million shape-changing Zygons have lived among us in secret. They wear human form, hiding in plain sight. Now a fanatical Zygon splinter group seek to expose their own kind and provoke a conflict that will force both sides to the brink of Armageddon to ensure their own survival.It took three Doctors to broker a fragile peace between Zygons and Humans. Now the Twelfth must face the fallout alone. With his allies compromised and his companion believed dead, can he stop the world from plunging into war?Dan Starkey, whose roles in the BBC TV series include the Sontaran Strax, reads Peter Harness's novelisation of his 2015 TV episodes.? 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Jamie Glover reads a thrilling novelisation of an adventure in history for the First Doctor.It's 1794, and the TARDIS materialises some distance from Paris during the French Revolution, the scene of the infamous Reign of Terror. Soon the Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara find themselves caught up in the tangled web of historical events.Who is James Stirling, the master-spy to whom Ian must deliver a message? What world-shattering events are being discussed in a deserted inn off the Calais road? And can the Doctor and his friends escape a violent and bloody death at the dreaded guillotine?Jamie Glover, who played William Russell in BBC TV's An Adventure in Space and Time, reads Nigel Robinson's novelisation of the 1964 TV serial by Dennis Spooner.(P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Bonnie Langford reads this thrilling novelisation of the debut TV adventure for the Seventh Doctor. Assailed by violent bolts of energy, the TARDIS is blasted off-course and forced to land on the barren planet of Lakertya. The turbulence triggers the Doctor's sixth regeneration - but that is the least of his worries. Why has the Rani, that ruthless renegade Time Lady, brought the Doctor to Lakertya? What are the hideous Tetrap guards? Who are the eleven geniuses she has imprisoned in her stronghold, and what is the vital significance of Strange Matter? Aided by the faithful Mel, the Doctor must do all he can to stop the Rani's diabolical scheme before it affects the whole of creation. Bonnie Langford, who played Mel in the BBC TV series, reads Pip and Jane Baker's novelisation of their 1987 TV adventure. Duration: 3 hours approx. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Dan Starkey recounts a brand new adventure in Victorian Wales for the Eighth Doctor, as played on TV by Paul McGann.In 1890s Cardiff, reporter James MacFarlane is intrigued by rumours of 'anaesthesia frolics', at which gatherings the latest frontier in pain relief is demonstrated to influential guests.After he speaks to someone who attended several such 'frolics' - and left with a hand and two fingers missing - James realises that the events have a dark side. Contriving an invitation, he is astounded to find another guest also investigating - it's his old friend the Doctor!Reunited in mystery, the Doctor and James enter the murky underbelly of polite Cardiff society, where they uncover a shattering secret - and a monster lurking at its heart.Dan Starkey, who played Strax in the BBC TV series, reads Andrew Lane's dark and brooding tale.Reading produced by Neil GardnerProject Editor & Executive Producer: Michael StevensSound Design: David Darlington? 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Geoffrey Beevers reads this exciting novelisation of a classic TV adventure for the Fourth Doctor, as played on TV by Tom Baker.The huge, octopus-like Kroll lives deep in the swamps of the humid, steamy planet Delta Three. To the native swamp-warriors, Kroll is an angry, mythical god. To the money-grabbing alien technicians, it is a threat to their profit-making scheme.When the Doctor and Romana arrive, in search of another segment of the Key to Time, they have to face the suspicion of the lagoon dwellers, the stupidity of the technicians and, finally, the power of Kroll itself...Geoffrey Beevers, who played the Master in the TV series, reads Terrance Dicks's novelisation of a 1978 TV adventure by Robert Holmes.(P) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution LtdCover illustration by Andrew SkilleterReading produced by Neil GardnerSound design by Simon PowerExecutive producer: Michael Stevens

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Alex Kingston reads her brand new novel featuring River Song, from the worlds of Doctor Who.1939, New York. Private Eye, Melody Malone, is hired to find a stolen ruby, the Eye of Horus. The ruby might hold the secret to the location of Cleopatra's tomb - but everyone who comes into contact with it dies.Can Melody escape the ruby's curse?1939, New York. River Song, author of the Melody Malone Mysteries, is forced to find a reality-altering weapon, the Eye of Horus - but everyone who comes into contact with it dies. River doesn't believe in curses - but is she wrong?From the top-security confines of Stormcage to the barbarism of first-century Egypt, River battles to find the Eye of Horus before its powers are used to transform the universe. To succeed, she must team up with a most unlikely ally - her own fictional alter ego, Melody. And together they must solve another mystery: Is fiction changing into fact - or is fact changing into fiction?

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A thrilling selection of weird and wonderful short stories from the pages of Doctor Who Annual. Jon Culshaw, John Leeson, Terry Molloy, Louise Jameson, Dan Starkey and Geoffrey Beevers read seven stories from the legendary Doctor Who Annual of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. In Justice of the Glacians the First Doctor gets into difficulties in a snowy wilderness. The Second Doctor, Jamie and Victoria fall into the clutches of the Mastermind of Space, whilst the Third Doctor and Sarah go in search of The Time Thief. The Fourth Doctor is taken prisoner with Leela on The Planet of Dust, then joins Romana and K9 for A Midsummer's Nightmare. The Fifth Doctor and Tegan encounter the Master at The Creation of Camelot, and the Sixth Doctor and Peri observe an intriguing Interface in time.Set the co-ordinates for nostalgia with these vintage tales, all featuring atmospheric sound design.

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Catrin Stewart reads this brand new novelisation of an action-packed TV adventure for the Eleventh Doctor and Clara.'We must get to the bottom of this dark and queer business, no matter what the cost!'Something ghastly is afoot in Victorian Yorkshire. Something that kills. Bodies are washing up in the canal, their skin a waxy, glowing red... But just what is this crimson horror?Madam Vastra, Jenny and Strax are despatched to investigate the mystery. Strangely reluctant to assist their enquiries is Mrs Winifred Gillyflower, matriarch of 'Sweetville', a seemingly utopian workers' community.Why do all roads lead to the team's old friends, Clara and the Doctor?Who is Mrs Gillyflower's mysterious silent partner, Mr Sweet?And will the motley gang be in time to defeat the mysterious power that threatens all the world with its poison?Catrin Stewart, who played Jenny in the BBC TV series, is joined by Dan Starkey as Strax in this reading of Mark Gatiss's novelisation of his own 2013 TV script.(P) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution LtdReading produced by Neil GardnerSound design by Simon PowerExecutive producer: Michael Stevens

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Technology affects almost everything we do, and its possibilities can be both exhilarating and daunting. This collection features two radio documentaries exploring Douglas Adams’ vision of the digital future, plus Did Douglas Get it Right?, presented by Mitch Benn.Douglas Adams was a passionate technology enthusiast. His bestselling The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is full of futuristic tech, and in 1990 he predicted something very like the World Wide Web in the BBC2 film Hyperland. So in 1999, he was the natural choice to present Radio 4’s The Internet: The Last 20th Century Battleground. In it, he looked at the explosion in online communication, the evolution of cyberspace, and the risks and opportunities of the new virtual world.A year later, he hosted The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Future, in which he and his guests discussed how music, publishing, broadcasting, and society in general would be transformed in the 21st century. Sadly, this was Adams’ last BBC project: his death in 2001 meant he would never see if his visions came true.However, in 2015, Mitch Benn dipped into the archives for a follow-up programme, Did Douglas Get it Right?, revisiting Adams’ predictions to discover how prescient (or otherwise) they turned out to be...Fascinating, funny and insightful, these three programmes are a wonderful tribute to Douglas Adams, and a treat for fans and futurists alike.Produced by Mark Rickards.

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Anneke Wills reads this exciting novelisation of a classic First Doctor TV adventure set in Cornwall. On the 17th Century Cornish coast, villainous pirates roam the seas searching for treasure, while the townspeople have turned to smuggling, wheeling and dealing in contraband. The TARDIS materialises in this wild and remote place, and the Doctor and his new companions, Ben and Polly, find themselves caught up in the dubious activities of the locals. When the Doctor is unwittingly given a clue to the whereabouts of the treasure, the pirates are determined to extract the information - whatever the cost... Anneke Wills, who played Polly in the BBC TV series, reads Terrance Dicks's complete and unabridged novelisation of a 1966 TV serial by Brian Hayles, first published by Target Books in 1988. "This range of classic Target audiobooks continues to go from strength to strength..." Doctor Who Magazine (P) 2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Text © Terrance Dicks 1988 Cover illustration (1987/2019) by Alister Pearson Composite image by David Lavelle Reading produced by Lizzie Davies Recorded at Chatterbox Audio

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C.S. Lewis’s acclaimed and universally loved novels spring to life in these spellbinding full-cast BBC dramatisations.Anyone who’s visited Narnia wants to go back again, and these radio dramas make for a hugely entertaining first-time or return journey, with a cast including Bernard Cribbins, Maurice Denham, Richard Griffiths, Martin Jarvis, Sylvester McCoy, John Sessions, Fiona Shaw and Timothy Spall.The Magician’s Nephew: When Polly and Digory discover some magic rings, they begin the most exciting and dangerous journey of their lives - and encounter the mighty lion Aslan… The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Lucy, Peter, Edmund and Susan enter a magical world of talking fauns and flying horses, where the evil White Witch has cast Narnia in perpetual winter.14 CDs. 15 hrs 8 mins.The Horse and His Boy: Shasta and his talking horse Bree flee from a life of slavery and head for the freedom of Narnia, facing many perils along the way.Prince Caspian: Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund are called upon to help Caspian free Narnia of his evil uncle’s regime and reclaim freedom and happiness.The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: Edmund, Lucy and Eustace join King Caspian on a perilous mission to find his friends, the seven lost Lords of Narnia. The Silver Chair: Jill and Eustace set out to find King Caspian’s lost son, and in the grim land of the Earthmen they encounter the wicked Green Lady.The Last Battle: The King is in danger, and Narnia faces its darkest hour. Eustace and Jill must help its people fight for the future of the once-glorious kingdom.

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Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster and the Thought Police uncover each act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party. Yet Big Brother will not tolerate dissent - even in the mind. For those with original thoughts they invented Room 101... Nineteen Eighty-Four is George Orwell's terrifying vision of a totalitarian future in which everything and everyone is slave to a tyrannical regime. Christopher Eccleston, Tim Pigott-Smith and Pippa Nixon star in this new drama, part of BBC Radio 4's 'The Real George Orwell' season - a Radio 4 journey that explores the disjuncture between the man who was Eric Blair and the writer who was George Orwell.

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Mr 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.

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A collectible slipcase containing three exciting Doctor Who audiobooks, each featuring the Daleks! In Daleks: The Chase, the TARDIS is pursued through Time and Space by the Daleks, who are intent on preventing any future intervention in their plans by the Doctor. In Daleks: Mission to the Unknown and Daleks: The Mutation of Time, the leader of Earth in the far future, Mavic Chen, has allied himself with the Daleks. When the Doctor steals the core of the Time Destructor, his arch enemies pursue him across the galaxy in order to retrieve it. Read by Maureen O'Brien, Peter Purves and Jean Marsh, with Nicholas Briggs as the voice of the Daleks, these recordings feature specially composed music and sound effects.15 CDs. 17 hrs 45 mins.

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'It's very easy to kill - so long as no one suspects you.' So says Miss Pinkerton when ex-policeman Luke Fitzwilliam meets her on a train. Luke doesn't take much notice of this little old lady's story about a serial killer on the loose in her village - until her predictions start to come true, when he feels compelled to check it out. Very soon the race is on to prevent any more murders... Dramatised by Joy Wilkinson, and with a distinguished cast including Patrick Baladi, Lydia Leonard, Michael Cochrane and Marcia Warren, this is a gripping BBC Radio dramatisation of one of Agatha Christie's most ingenious detective stories.2 CDs. 1 hr 30 mins.

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The 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.

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Young Robinson Crusoe has a burning ambition to be a sailor. Paying no attention to his parents’ warnings he runs away to sea to embark on a series of thrilling adventures: struggles with Barbary pirates, a shipwreck and the extraordinary meeting with Man Friday... Roy Marsden plays the older Robinson Crusoe looking back on a life of recklessness, daring and adventure – and the survival of twenty-eight years, two months and nineteen days on a desert island. Based on the real-life adventures of Alexander Selkirk, Robinson Crusoe was one of the very first adventure stories to be published in English literature. It remains as gripping today as it did on first publication in 1719, and this enthralling dramatisation perfectly evokes the excitement and adventure of the original book.2 CDs. 2 hrs.

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Warm 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. Her humorous observations of daily life touch a chord with anybody who's ever been bewildered by the exercise craze or has yearned after the vanished Spotted Dick. In this collection, Pam reads over 50 of her best-known and loved poems, including such favourites as 'Oh I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth', 'I'm a Starling...me Darling', 'Will I have to be Sexy at Sixty?', and 'St. Tesco'. Many of the poems include a personal introduction by Pam.2 CDs. 2 hrs 5 mins.

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An unabridged reading of this novelisation of a 'missing' TV adventure featuring the Celestial Toymaker.Drawn into 'the nexus of the primeval cauldron of Space-Time', the Doctor and Peri are somewhat surprised to find themselves at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.Is it really just chance that has brought them to the funfair? Or is their arrival somehow connected with the sinister presence of a rather familiar Chinese Mandarin?Once again the Doctor encounters his deadly adversary the Celestial Toymaker in this adventure by Graham Williams, planned but never made for the TV series in 1986.Reading produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke Audio.Sound design by Simon Power.Executive producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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aye Griffiths reads this original adventure for the Twelfth Doctor and Clara, as played on TV by Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman.For Clara Oswald, life has fallen into a routine. By day she teaches the pupils at Coal Hill School, and by night - and at weekends - she travels in Time and Space with the Doctor.Clara's having the time of her life, enjoying all the thrill and laughter of being with the Doctor - until, one day, there's somebody else.To Clara's immense shock, the Doctor has acquired a new companion - and Arix is just as at home in the TARDIS as she has been. Suddenly, Clara's world has tilted on its axis.As the two companions size each other up, the Doctor is caught between them. And when they all wind up in an alien swamp, it's time for a reckoning of grievances, grudges - and bravery.Jaye Griffiths, who played Jac in the Doctor Who TV series, reads Steve Lyons's compelling and moving character piece.? 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution LtdReading produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke Audio.Sound design by David Roocroft.Executive producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens.

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**Neil Gaiman was the WINNER of the BBC Audio Drama Award 2015 for Outstanding Contribution to Radio Drama**Beneath the streets of London there is another London. A subterranean labyrinth of sewers and abandoned tube stations. A somewhere that is Neverwhere... An act of kindness sees Richard Mayhew catapulted from his ordinary life into the strange world of London Below. There he meets the Earl of Earl's Court, faces a life-threatening ordeal at the hands of the Black Friars, comes face to face with the Great Beast of London, and encounters an Angel. Called Islington. Accompanied by the mysterious Door and her companions, the Marquis de Carabas and the bodyguard Hunter, Richard embarks on an extraordinary quest to escape from the fiendish assassins Croup and Vandemar and to discover who ordered them to murder her family - all the while trying to get back to his old life in London Above. Contains over 25 minutes of additional unbroadcast material, including extended scenes, bloopers and outtakes.Adapted for radio by the award-winning Dirk Maggs, this captivating dramatisation features a stellar cast including David Harewood, Sophie Okonedo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Christopher Lee, Anthony Head and David Schofield. 3 CDs. 3 hrs 48 mins.

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Tim Treloar reads this exciting novelisation of a classic TV adventure for the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith.The expedition to Zeta Minor began with eight men. Seven were murdered. One survived - but he was not the murderer.The Doctor and Sarah land on the planet at the same time as the expedition's rescue team, and are immediately taken prisoner as the suspected murderers. But even stranger things soon begin to happen...What terrible creature inhabits this wild, desolate planet, killing mercilessly and lurking in the murky depths of the Black Pool? Will anyone ever be allowed to leave alive?Tim Treloar reads Terrance Dicks's novelisation of the 1975 TV serial by Louis Marks, first published by Target Books in 1977.Reading produced by Neil Gardner.Sound design by Simon Power.Executive Producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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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 GardnerSound design by David DarlingtonExecutive Producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Dan Starkey reads a brand new adventure in 1900s Antarctica for the Eighth Doctor, as played on TV by Paul McGann.Indomitable reporter James Macfarlane has travelled to the remote MacReady Base near the South Pole, his mission to interview the famed explorer Pentius Rochdale. On arrival Macfarlane is astonished to discover that the base's new medical officer is none other than the Doctor!Macfarlane is intrigued by rumours of strange goings-on at the Base, whilst a recent attack on a neighbouring station - by creatures unknown - attracted the Doctor's attention. The two friends focus on Rochdale's expedition to find the legendary lost continent of Mu, which he believes may lie in Antarctica.When a series of grisly deaths disturbs the Base's calm, the Doctor's suspicions are aroused. Whatever is preying on people, it's intelligent and has deadly claws and teeth. But by the time he and Macfarlane have uncovered the truth, they are well within biting distance of the teeth of ice...Dan Starkey, who played Strax and other Sontarans in the BBC TV series, reads this chilling tale by Andrew Lane.? 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution LtdReading produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke Audio.Sound design by David Darlington.Executive producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens.

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Dan Starkey reads this novelisation of the brand new adventure for Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary, featuring the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna Noble, as played by David Tennant and Catherine TateA sinister toyshop. The Earth erupting in violence. Shockwaves travelling through history.With old friends powerless to help, the Doctor is drawn into a deadly duel against an old nemesis who can bend reality to his will – and change the Doctor’s life for ever…Dan Starkey, whose roles in the BBC TV series include the Sontaran Strax, reads James Goss’s novelisation of the 2023 television adventure by Russell T Davies.This edition includes some unique chapters specially adapted for the audiobook medium.? 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution LtdReading produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke Audio.Sound design by Oliver Denman.Executive producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens.

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

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Nicholas Briggs reads this epic novelisation of the Second Doctor's debut TV adventure. Following an encounter with the Cybermen, the Doctor's life appears to hang in the balance - until, before the eyes of his companions Ben and Polly, his physical appearance is transformed!Disoriented after his regeneration, the Doctor takes the TARDIS to the Earth colony planet Vulcan. Ben and Polly are disturbed - the Doctor isn't the man he used to be. The Doctor is also worried; the colonists have found the remains of two Daleks, which they plan to revive!Once reanimated, the Daleks claim that they are content to serve humanity. Can it really be true? Or do they have their own, more sinister plans?Nicholas Briggs, who is the voice of the Daleks in Doctor Who, reads John Peel's novelisation of the original 1966 TV serial by David Whitaker.(Contains some descriptions of violence.) Reading produced by Neil Gardner.Dalek voices produced by Nicholas Briggs.Sound design by Simon Power.Executive Producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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A new edition of the collection featuring each of the Doctor's full-cast BBC radio adventures - and more.In The Paradise of Death and The Ghosts of N-Space, the Third Doctor reunites with Sarah Jane Smith and UNIT for adventures on Earth and beyond, first broadcast on BBC Radio in the 1990s.In Doctor Who and the Pescatons, made for LP release in 1976, the Fourth Doctor and Sarah fight alien invasion on present day Earth.The duo return in Exploration Earth: The Time Machine, for BBC Schools Radio, in which they witness the Earth's early development.Whatever Happened To...Susan? is a tongue-in-cheek look at how Susan Foreman's life might have turned out after her adventures with the Doctor, and Slipback is a full-throttle adventure for the Sixth Doctor and Peri, first broadcast on BBC Radio in 1985.Also included in this new edition is a 45 minute conversation with Elisabeth Sladen, recorded exclusively for BBC Audio in 2004.©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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

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