Search results for ""bbc audio, a division of random house""

Nicola Bryant reads an exciting original story featuring the 12th Doctor, as played on TV by Peter Capaldi, and his companions Brandon and Alex.The TARDIS is under attack. Alien plants have taken root in its corridors, strange flowering tendrils that threaten to rip the Doctor’s ship apart. New companions Brandon and Alex venture into the heart of the TARDIS to discover the source of the infestation. Instead they find a secret door, and a forgotten world. The Doctor has unfinished business with the Arborites, living trees with long memories. Centuries ago he fought to prevent a galactic catastrophe - but now his past has come back to haunt him in ways he never thought possible. Can the Time Lord rescue his young friends before they are destroyed by his past mistakes, or will Hirolth rise to leave utter devastation in its wake? Duration: 1 hour 10 mins approx

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Lisa Bowerman reads this exciting classic novelisation of a Seventh Doctor TV adventure, the last in the original run of Doctor Who serials. “Attention to detail is a hallmark of this always excellent range” Doctor Who Magazine The Doctor brings Ace home to Perivale. On a summer Sunday it seems the least lively place in the universe, yet mystery lurks behind the calm facade. The members of Ace's old gang have gone away, each of them disappeared without trace. Something is killing the domestic pets of Perivale, and unearthly hoofprints scar the baked earth of the recreation ground. What strange force connects all these events? As Ace herself is transported to a distant planet, it seems that the Doctor may be stepping into a well-prepared trap. Can it be the work of the his old adversary, the Master - and if so, to what end? Lisa Bowerman, who played Karra in the 1989 BBC TV serial, reads Rona Munro’s complete and unabridged novelisation, first published by Target Books in 1990. Duration: 4 hours approx.

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Richard Franklin reads the exciting novelisation of a classic TV adventure featuring the Third Doctor, as played by Jon Pertwee. Eminent scientist Emil Keller has developed a revolutionary new process for the treatment of hardened criminals. His invention, the Keller Machine, is being heralded as a major scientific breakthrough.But Professor Keller is in truth the Master, and the Keller Machine is much more than a mere machine.Soon the Doctor, Jo, the Brigadier and UNIT are involved in a bitter struggle with the Master, an alien mind parasite, and a diabolical scheme to plunge the world into a Third World War... Richard Franklin, who played Captain Mike Yates in the BBC TV series, reads Terrance Dicks's novelisation of a 1971 TV serial by Don Houghton.

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Anneke Wills reads this exciting classic novelisation of a Second Doctor TV adventure. In the far future a group of humans is living an idyllic existence on a distant planet. Their colony is run like a gigantic holiday camp, and nothing seems to trouble their carefree existence. When one of them claims that the colony is being invaded by hideous monsters, no-one takes him seriously. But the Doctor's suspicions are immediately aroused. What is the terrible menace that lurks at the heart of this apparent paradise? Why are the colonists unaware of the danger that lies before their very eyes? And what is the Macra Terror? Anneke Wills, who played the Doctor’s companion Polly in the BBC TV series, reads Ian Stuart Black’s complete and unabridged novelisation, first published by Target Books in 1987. Duration: 3 hours 5 mins

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An unabridged reading of this classic novelisation of an adventure featuring the Third Doctor, as played on TV by Jon Pertwee. 'Axos calling Earth, Axos calling Earth…’ The creatures stood before them, offering friendship and their priceless Axonite, in return for - what?Only the Doctor remains suspicious. What is the real reason for the Axon’s sudden arrival on Earth? And why is the evil Master a passenger on their spaceship? He very soon finds out… Duration: 3 hours 40 mins.

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An unabridged reading of this novelisation of a classic 1960s TV serial, featuring the Second Doctor. When space beacon Alpha One disintegrates into lumps of metal, General Hermack of the Space Corps realises that space pirates have discovered a new source of precious argonite. After witnessing further destruction, the General leaves a squad of guards on beacon Alpha Four - just as the TARDIS materialises. Suspected by the Space Corps of being pirates, then pursued as spies by the pirates themselves, the Doctor, Zoe and Jamie attempt to unmask the mastermind behind the thefts of argonite. In doing so they risk execution, explosion, and asphyxiation in the vacuum of space. Duration: 4 hours approx.

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Amanda 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.

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The complete collection of acclaimed BBC Radio dramas based on John le Carre's bestselling novels, starring Simon Russell Beale as George Smiley. With a star cast including Kenneth Cranham, Eleanor Bron, Brian Cox, Ian MacDiarmid, Anna Chancellor, Hugh Bonneville and Lindsay Duncan, these enthralling dramatisations perfectly capture the atmosphere of le Carre's taut, thrilling spy novels. Call for the Dead is the first Smiley novel, which sees him looking into an apparent suicide only to uncover a murderous conspiracy;A Murder of Quality finds Smiley investigating a murder in a private school; The Spy Who Came in from the Cold introduces Alec Leamas, a British intelligence officer whose East Berlin network is in tatters; The Looking Glass War features former spy Fred Leiser, lured back from retirement to investigate a claim that Soviet missiles are being installed close to the West German border; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is the first book in the Karla trilogy, and sees Smiley searching for a mole who has infiltrated the Circus; The Honourable Schoolboy sees Smiley determined to destroy his nemesis, Karla, and his spy networks; Smiley's People finds George Smiley called out of retirement to exorcise some Cold War ghosts from his clandestine past; The Secret Pilgrim sees Smiley invited to dine with the eager new recruits at the Circus. He offers them his thoughts on espionage and, in doing so, prompts a former colleague to re-examine his own eventful secret life. 'A radio triumph...Simon Russell Beale's pitch-perfect master spy' - "Financial Times". Duration: 19 hours.

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Kenneth 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.

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June Whitfield stars as Miss Marple in eight thrilling full-cast BBC Radio 4 dramatisations.A Pocket Full of Rye A spate of unusual deaths is linked to the nursery rhyme 'Sing a Song of Sixpence'. 4.50 from Paddington After witnessing a murder on a train, Mrs McGillicuddy calls on Miss Marple. At Bertram’s Hotel Crime lurks beneath the surface of a respectable Mayfair hotel. The Body in the Library A mysterious blonde is found murdered in Dolly Bantry’s library. The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side At a benefit held at Gossington Hall, harmless Mrs Badcock is fatally poisoned. A Caribbean Mystery Bored in paradise, Miss Marple finds her interest aroused by an old soldier’s tale. Murder at the Vicarage Everyone in St Mary Mead detested Colonel Protheroe – but who killed him? A Murder is Announced A startling entry in a local paper’s personal column leads to a deadly shooting. These BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations feature eight of Miss Marple’s most complex and intriguing cases. Based on the original novels by Agatha Christie, they are performed by a stellar cast. Duration: 16 hours approx.

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Maggie 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.

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David Schofield reads this exciting original adventure featuring the 12th Doctor and Clara, as played by Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman in the BBC TV seriesThe Doctor and Clara are called to a mysterious, isolated house on a moonlet in the Asurmian Reach. There they meet the inscrutable Justin Winter and his two assistants, Joey and Carenza. Winter has called for the Doctor’s help: he and his friends are trapped in the house, all exits having long ago been sealed. When even the TARDIS proves unable to dematerialise, the Doctor and Clara quickly realises they are as much prisoners as their new acquaintances. Strange blood moths fly around their heads, and there’s a strange whispering and rustling from the shadows of the house’s interior. As tensions rise, the Doctor struggles to engineer a way out - and a staggering series of revelations are about to be made.David Schofield, who plays Odin in the Doctor Who Series 9 episodes The Girl Who Died and The Woman Who Lived, reads this thrilling original adventure by George Mann, part of the Tales of Winter quartet of stories. Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes. Reading produced by Neil Gardner. Sound design by David Darlington. Project Manager: John Ainsworth. Executive Producer: Michael Stevens

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Peter Purves reads John Lucarotti's novelisation of his classic First Doctor TV adventure. The TARDIS lands in Paris on 19 August 1572. Driven by scientific curiosity, the Doctor goes to meet and exchange views with the apothecary, Charles Preslin. Before he disappears, he warns Steven to stay 'out of mischief, religion and politics'. But in 16th Century Paris it is impossible to remain a mere observer, and Steven soon finds himself involved with a group of Huguenots. The Protestant minority of France is being threatened by the Catholic hierarchy, and danger stalks the Paris streets. As Steven tries to find his way back to the TARDIS he discovers that one of the main persecutors of the Huguenots appears to be...the Doctor! Peter Purves, who played Steven in the original BBC TV series, reads this novelisation of a fondly remembered classic story, the original episodes of which are lost from the BBC archives.

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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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Toby Longworth reads this original adventure for the Thirteenth Doctor and Graham, as played on TV by Jodie Whittaker and Bradley Walsh.“There is a darkness here. A darkness that feeds.”It's 1970, and record-breaking explorer Silvia Sandstrom has completed an epic lone drive to the North Pole. But as she activates her on-board experimental equipment, her vehicle is swallowed by a massive hole in the ice.Meanwhile the TARDIS is drawn to an arid wasteland, also apparently at the North Pole. There the Doctor and Graham meet Silvia - but it's clear that she is a woman out of her own time.Why is a nearby experimental base haunted by deranged figures? And who is the genius behind the Romanov Project, the wave of energy that now threatens to rip the Earth apart at every point in history?Toby Longworth reads Niel Bushnell’s atmospheric story about human endeavour and its consequences.

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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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Katy Manning reads this thrilling original adventure for the Third Doctor, as played on TV by Jon Pertwee, and his companion Jo Grant.An Escape Room with a sting in its tail is the setting for the Doctor and Jo’s latest encounter with a familiar enemy. Three young graduates and their tutor race against time to crack the codes, open the exit door, and obtain ‘A New Life’ – at least, that’s what the publicity said.As the Doctor observes proceedings, he begins to suspect that something far more sinister lurks on the other side of the door. To make matters worse, the room appears set to eliminate anyone who doesn’t make the grade.Working against time, the Doctor and Jo form an uneasy alliance with the gamers. What terror lies waiting for them all? Katy Manning, who played Jo in the BBC TV series, reads this tense thriller by Steve Lyons.? 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution LtdReading produced by Neil Gardner.Sound design by David Darlington.Project editor: John Ainsworth.Executive producer for BBC Audiobooks: Michael Stevens

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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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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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Anneke Wills reads an exciting novelisation of a classic TV adventure for the Second Doctor.When the TARDIS lands on a deserted volcanic island, the Doctor and his companions find themselves kidnapped by primitive sea-people.Taken into the bowels of the Earth, they discover they are in the lost kingdom of Atlantis. Offered as sacrifices to the fish-goddess, Amdo, the Doctor and his companions are rescued from the jaws of death by the famous scientist, Zaroff.But they are still not safe, and nor are the people of Atlantis. For Zaroff has a plan that will make him the greatest scientist of all time. He will raise Atlantis above the waves - even if it means destroying the world...Anneke Wills, who played Polly in the TV series, reads Nigel Robinson's novelisation of the 1967 TV serial by Geoffrey Orme.(©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Geoffrey Beevers reads an exciting novelisation of a classic TV adventure for the Fourth Doctor.The Doctor and Sarah arrive safely back on Earth - or do they? Why does the mysterious soldier march straight over a cliff, and then reappear unharmed? Why are they attacked by sinister mechanics with built-in guns for hands?Why is a picturesque country village at first deserted, then filled with mindless zombies? And why are the Doctor and Sarah's best friends trying to kill them?Will they be in time to defeat the deadly Kraals and their terrifying android invasion of Earth?Geoffrey Beevers, who played the Master in the BBC TV series, reads Terrance Dicks's novelisation of the 1975 TV serial by Terry Nation.(P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Nicholas Briggs reads this exciting novelisation of a classic TV adventure for the Fourth Doctor. A mysterious plague strikes Space Beacon Nerva, killing its victims within minutes. When the Doctor lands, only four humans remain alive. One of these seems to be in league with the nearby planet of gold, Voga... Or is he in fact working for the dreaded Cybermen, who are now determined to finally destroy their old enemies, the Vogans? The Doctor, Sarah and Harry find themselves trapped in the midst of a terrifying struggle to the death - between the ruthless, power-hungry Cybermen and the desperate, determined Vogans. Nicholas Briggs, who voices the Cybermen in the hit BBC TV series, reads Terrance Dicks's 1976 novelisation of a TV serial by Gerry Davis. Duration: 3 hours 20 mins approx. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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An exciting novelisation of a classic TV story featuring the Fourth Doctor, Romana and K9. On the planet Tigella, the Savants and the Deons are irrevocably opposed on one crucial issue: the Dodecahedron, mysterious source of all their power. To the Savants it's a miracle of science to be studied and used to benefit all. To the Deons it's a god, and not to be tampered with. When the power source begins to fluctuate, the whole planet is threatened. Zastor, Tigella's leader, welcomes the Doctor and invites him to arbitrate; yet the Time Lord may not be all he seems...

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Eight brand new recordings of original Hancock's Half Hour scriptsHancock's Half Hour was one of the most popular radio comedies of the 1950s, and the first modern sitcom. Over 100 episodes of the show were broadcast between 1954 and 1959, but 22 went missing from the BBC archives. Lovingly recreated by Radio 4 in front of a live audience at the BBC Radio Theatre, they can now be heard for the first time since their initial transmission. Collected here are the final eight episodes from the fourth series - including a special premiere of The Counterfeiter, which was never recorded by the original team.The episodes are: The Winter Holiday, Department Store Santa, The Diamond Ring, Prime Minister Hancock, Christmas at Aldershot, The Counterfeiter, The Christmas Eve Party and The New Year Resolutions.Written by Ray Galton and Alan SimpsonProduced by Neil Pearson, Paul Sheehan and Hayley SterlingMusic composed by Wally Stott, and performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Levon ParikianThanks to Tessa Le BarsFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 6 December 2018-31 December 2020Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, and with the classic score re-recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra, these hilarious episodes star Kevin McNally as The Lad Himself, with Kevin Eldon, Simon Greenall, Robin Sebastian, Susy Kane and Margaret Cabourn-Smith.

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Random House presents the audiobook edition of Cari Mora, written by Thomas Harris. ________________________________From the creator of Hannibal Lecter and The Silence of the Lambs comes a story of evil, greed and the consequences of dark obsession.________________________________Twenty-five million dollars in cartel gold lies hidden beneath a mansion on the Miami Beach waterfront. Ruthless men have tracked it for years. Leading the pack is Hans-Peter Schneider. Driven by unspeakable appetites, he makes a living fleshing out the violent fantasies of other, richer men. Cari Mora, caretaker of the house, has escaped from the violence in her native country. She stays in Miami on a wobbly Temporary Protected Status, subject to the iron whim of ICE. She works at many jobs to survive. Beautiful, marked by war, Cari catches the eye of Hans-Peter as he closes in on the treasure. But Cari Mora has surprising skills, and her will to survive has been tested before. Monsters lurk in the crevices between male desire and female survival. No other writer in the last century has conjured those monsters with more terrifying brilliance than Thomas Harris. Cari Mora, his sixth novel, is the long-awaited return of an American master.________________________________‘The last two decades of 19th century popular fiction were dominated by Conan Doyle and Sherlock Homes. A century on, suspense literature has achieved their equals in Thomas Harris.’ GUARDIAN‘Harris’s writing bears the hallmarks of honed perfection.’ THE TIMES

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The TARDIS materialises on a planet where the age of prosperity comes often, and precious jewels line the streets like litter. Overseeing the citizens is the bombastic Captain, half human and half machine. Lurking in shadows are the Mentiads, mysterious cowled figures who set their sights on certain individuals and claim them for their own. As the Doctor, Romana and K9 become entangled in local events they are caught between the apparently insane Captain and apparently sinister Mentiads. But then the Doctor makes a terrible discovery beneath the surface of the planet, and realises the true nature of the Captain's operations. Soon yet another planet comes under threat from the Captain, one which the Doctor knows well: Earth. Can he manage to save it from a terrible fate? John Leeson narrates this classic full-cast TV adventure, written by Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), and in a special bonus interview he recalls his time as the Voice of K9 in the BBC TV series. Also included are colour PDF files of the original TV camera scripts.2 CDs. 2 hrs 4 mins.

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’It is the Valley of Fear, the Valley of Death. The terror is in the hearts of the people from the dusk to the dawn. Wait, young man, and you will learn for yourself’. Sherlock Holmes is intrigued and disturbed when he receives an ominous coded message: a Mr Douglas of Birlstone House is in terrible danger. Before Holmes can act, shocking news arrives. Douglas has been founded dead – his face blown off by a shotgun. Scotland Yard is stumped. Was this suicide or murder? But Holmes is in no doubt. For he recognises the calling card of his nemesis: Professor James Moriarty. In this thrilling tale of fear and tyranny, stretching from the stark American coal valleys to an English country manor, Holmes must battle his greatest – and most lethal – enemy... 6 CDs. 6 hrs 17 mins.

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When a country doctor comes to Sherlock Holmes with a far-fetched tale of a sudden death, a devil dog and an ancient curse, Holmes is sceptical. Could the demise of Sir Charles Baskerville really have been caused by the gigantic ghostly hound which is said to have haunted his family for generations? Arch-rationalist Sherlock Holmes characteristically dismisses the theory as nonsense. Claiming to be immersed in another case, he sends Watson to Dartmoor to protect the Baskerville heir and to observe the suspects at close hand. But soon events take a dangerous turn, and it seems that the legend may be real... With Watson in dreadful peril, can Holmes uncover the terrible truth about the hound of the Baskervilles?6 CDs. 6 hrs.

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Ten guests travel to an island at the invitation of someone named U.N. Owen. All are strangers, but they have two things in common: they have all been responsible for someone's death, and none will leave the island alive. Over the next two days and nights, each of the guests is killed off in a different manner in keeping with the nursery rhyme, 'Ten Little Soldier Boys'. As they are picked off one by one, who could possibly be responsible? The killers are forced to turn detective so they can find the unknown murderer, but one by one they become victims... Billed as 'the famous detective story without a detective', And Then There Were None is one of Agatha Christie's darkest and most enduring tales.2 CDs. 1 hr 30 mins.

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One of the nation’s most popular presenters examines twenty marvels of the natural world from his extraordinary and pioneering experiences. How did Sir David track down a giant Earthworm? Why does he respect Rats? What was the first bribe in nature? Why do well known foods often have two names? And where can you see evidence of the earliest life on Earth? His enthusiasm is as infectious as ever, and conveys a unique fascination on topics as diverse as the Kiwi, Hummingbirds, Monsters, Butterflies, Chimps, Cuckoos, Fireflies and Elsa, the famous lioness. So listen to these stories to find out why Rats should be respected and which insects emerge from the ground only once every 17 years. Includes detailed programme notes inside the booklet.3 CDs. 3 hrs 15 mins.

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Worth his weight in marmalade sandwiches, here’s Paddington in four more favourite adventures. Whether he’s playing in the sand, going to the theatre, picnicking on the river or enjoying Christmas Day, you can be sure life will be full of surprises! The stories are ‘A Day at the Seaside’, ‘Pantomime Time’, ‘A Picnic on the River’ and ‘Paddington’s Christmas.' Introduced by Michael Hordern, who narrated the original BBC TV series Paddington.1 CD. 1 hr.

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Alan Bennett reads A.A. Milne's much-loved stories about a small bear and his friends. 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 'Winnie-the-Pooh', Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place, Eeyore loses a tail, Piglet meets a Heffalump, Eeyore has a birthday and gets two presents, and an expedition is mounted to the North Pole! 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.

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Linnet Ridgeway has led a charmed life. Blessed with beauty, enormous wealth and a devoted husband, she has everything anyone could wish for. But as the happy couple set out on an idyllic honeymoon cruise on the Nile, storm clouds are gathering... Linnet's former friend, Jacqueline de Bellefort, follows her and Simon wherever they go and Linnet senses she is in danger. At first her fears seem groundless. But an attempt is made first on her life and then on her husband's. Eventually the killer is successful, and Linnet is found horribly murdered. With an obvious suspect who cannot possibly have committed the crime, it is up to Hercule Poirot to probe the depths of a remarkable criminal mind and discover the dark secret behind what is only the first in a series of inexplicable deaths.2 CDs. 2 hrs 20 mins.

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Though Sally Jupp came from the village home for unmarried mothers, she seemed the ideal girl to help Mrs Maxie run a large Elizabethan manor house and look after her invalid husband. But the real Sally, pretty, ambitious and clever, was very different from the docile, repentant character she seemed to be. Murder shattered the tranquillity of her new home and Chief Detective Inspector Adam Dalgliesh arrived in the peace of a country Sunday to solve a case as mysterious as Sally herself. He soon discovers that there is no shortage of motives, and as he investigates, the complex secrets and powerful passions of village and family life come into play. This BBC Radio dramatisation stars Robin Ellis, with Hugh Thomas Grant and Siân Phillips. 2 CDs. 2 hrs.

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Widely regarded as a broadcasting classic, the 1981 BBC Radio dramatisation of The Lord of the Rings stars Ian Holm, Michael Hordern, Robert Stephens, John Le Mesurier and Peter Woodthorpe. This box set contains all three parts of the epic tale - The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him the Rings of Power - the means by which he will be able to rule the world. All he lacks in his plan for domination is the Ruling Ring, which has fallen into the hands of the hobbit, Frodo Baggins... Brian Sibley, one of the original dramatists, has written new opening and closing narration for the character of Frodo, played by Ian Holm. This collection also includes a bonus CD featuring Stephen Oliver's complete musical score, and a demo version of 'Bilbo's Last Song'.13 CDs. 13 hrs 15 mins.

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'To begin at the beginning: it is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black...' When Richard Burton breathed the opening words of Under Milk Wood into a microphone, broadcasting history was made. For this 'play for voices' conjures up the intimate dreams and waking lives of the inhabitants of a Welsh seaside village in a remarkable way. It is bawdy and beautiful; its colourful characters lust and love, gossip and fantasise. Through the magic of language, Under Milk Wood creates a rich modern pastoral which, once heard, touches the listener with its poetry and haunts the imagination for ever. This radio drama is the completed version broadcast in 1963 which includes several passages that were omitted from the first recording in 1954.2 CDs. 1 hr 41 mins.

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'They like the shadows. You know them as Plague Warriors...' When the Doctor arrives in the 19th-century village of Klimtenburg, he discovers the residents suffering from some kind of plague - a 'wasting disease'. The victims face a horrible death - but what's worse, the dead seem to be leaving their graves. The Plague Warriors have returned... The Doctor is confident he knows what's really happening; he understands where the dead go, and he's sure the Plague Warriors are just a myth. But as some of the Doctor's oldest and most terrible enemies start to awaken he realises that maybe - just maybe - he's misjudged the situation. Read by David Warner, who played Professor Grisenko in the Doctor Who episode Cold War, with Nicholas Briggs as the Cybermen.6 CDs. 5 hrs 32 mins.

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Kenneth Williams and Hugh Paddick are the notorious resting thespians in this hilarious collection of sketches from Round the Horne.‘Oh, hello. I’m Julian, and this is my friend Sandy...’ Through four series of Round the Horne, Julian and Sandy graced each episode with an encounter with ‘that nice Mr Horne’. Each week they'd be up to new tricks, from filmmaking (Bona Prods) to a travel agency (‘something exciting in a cheap package’) and a ‘bijou restaurantette’ (La Casserole de Bona Gourmet). In these 48 lally-trembling scenarios, Jools and Sand cater for the intimate at ‘omey in Bona Caterers, shake hands with a prospective member in Keep Britain Bona, set themselves up as Bona Tax Consultants and teach the world to talk proper in Bona School of Languages. Plus, they reveal to Mr Horne just what Julian received on his last birthday… This fantabulosa selection of Julian and Sandy sketches is brimming with sparkling repartee, gloriously camp humour and outrageous innuendo. So don’t be strange – come on in, rest your lallies and let your riah down with two of the best pros in the business. Duration: 3 hours 40 mins.

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Clare Corbett reads this novelisation of the TV adventure featuring the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday, as played on screen by Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson.In space, something can hear you scream. And that something is coming.On her first adventure in outer space, Ruby learns that the universe is bigger, more colourful, and crazier than she could ever have imagined. She also learns that even the Doctor can feel afraid and that certain nightmares are all too realClare Corbett reads Alison Rumfitt''s novelisation of Russell T Davies' first space adventure for the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby.? 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

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Dan Starkey reads this novelisation of the TV adventure featuring the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday, as played on screen by Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson.Earth's Regency era a time of culture, extravagance, sumptuous ballsand aliens?While Ruby is a popular new addition to the Duchess of Pemberton's ball, the Doctor's world is about to be forever rocked by a dashing visitor from space.With many party-guests facing an identity crisis like no other, it is up to the Doctor and Ruby to stop the menacing Chuldurs' plot.Dan Starkey reads Kate Herron and Briony Redman''s thrilling novelisation of their own BBC TV episode.? 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

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James Grout, Jimmy Mulville, Robert Duncan and Andy Hamilton star in six episodes from the third and fourth series of Old Harry''s Game, the comedy series set in Hell. Satan may rule the roost, but he''s beset by the poor unfortunates condemned to sit out Eternity with him. Amongst them are the Professor, who is convinced that societies evolve and mature until Satan introduces him to Bill Clinton. There''s also Scumspawn, who here finds himself trying to deal with a lager lout, and a new arrival in the form of a Health and Safety Officer - who soon announces that the lighting in Hell is inadequate. As for Satan himself, in this batch of episodes he is concerned about his image on Earth, persuaded to remake Casablanca (with Bogart, Bergman and a mutant alien), and determined to prove that the English are the worst nation on Earth. He also takes offence to W.B. Yeats'' verse description of him - and so pays a visit to the underworld''s own Poets'' Corner. The episode

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**Winner of the Gold Award for Best Drama in the New York Festivals Radio Awards 2018***A BBC radio adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Michael Cunningham, inspired by Virginia Woolf's Mrs DallowayThree separate women, living in different locations and eras, are linked by their passion for Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs Dalloway. As they each live through a Tuesday in June, their thoughts and experiences mirror each other and become interwoven.In Richmond in 1923, Virginia Woolf struggles to write a novel whose protagonist is Mrs Dalloway. In Los Angeles in 1949, Laura ignores her chores and small son to sit in bed reading Mrs Dalloway. In 1990s New York, Clarissa goes to buy flowers for a party, mirroring the start of the fictional Mrs Dalloway’s day. The party is in honour of her sick friend Richard, who long ago dubbed her Mrs Dalloway.As their stories intertwine, they converge to become one, weaving together themes of storytelling, domestic tension, friendship, love, loss, parental guilt, loneliness, bisexuality and the challenges of hosting social rituals.Adapted by Sony Award-winning dramatist Frances Byrnes, this affecting dramatisation stars Fenella Woolgar as Virginia Woolf, Teresa Gallagher as Laura and Rosamund Pike as Clarissa.'I am so thrilled by the BBC's production of my novel, The Hours, and - believe me - a novelist does not thrill easily' - Michael CunninghamDirected by Judith Kampfner and Polly Thomas Produced by Judith KampfnerA Corporation For Independent Media production for BBC Radio 4Duration: 2 hours approx.

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The brand new BBC Radio 4 full-cast series based on And Another Thing… the sixth book in the famous Hitchhiker’s Guide “trilogy”.Winner of the 2019 Audie Award for Science Fiction.Forty years on from the first ever radio series of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Arthur Dent and friends return in six brand new episodes, in which they are thrown back into the Whole General Mish Mash in a rattling adventure involving Viking Gods and Irish Confidence Tricksters, with our first glimpse of Eccentrica Gallumbits and a brief but memorable moment with The Ravenous Bugblatter Beast Of Traal.Starring John Lloyd as The Book, with Simon Jones as Arthur, Geoff McGivern as Ford Prefect, Mark Wing-Davey as Zaphod Beeblebrox, Sandra Dickinson and Susan Sheridan as Trillian, Jim Broadbent as Marvin the Paranoid Android and Jane Horrocks as Fenchurch, the cast also includes Samantha Béart, Toby Longworth, Andy Secombe, Ed Byrne, Lenny Henry, Philip Pope, Mitch Benn, Jon Culshaw and Professor Stephen Hawking.First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2018, the series is written and directed by Dirk Maggs and based on And Another Thing… by Eoin Colfer with additional unpublished material by Douglas Adams. This edition also includes over 50 minutes of unbroadcast bonus material.Listeners are reminded that the relaxed attitude to danger provided by Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses is no substitute for running around, screaming. Duration: 3 hours 35 minutes

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Julia McKenzie and Simon Carter star in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of E Nesbit’s much-loved children’s novel. ‘an enchanting adaptation’ Independent on Sunday On a hot, Edwardian summer’s day, five children are playing in a gravel pit when they dig up something very peculiar: a funny, furry, fat litte creature with the feet of a monkey and bat’s ears! The Psammead is a magical sand fairy who has the power to grant wishes: but the children can only have one wish a day, and the wishes only last until sunset. As the children try to get their hearts’ desires, things go hilariously wrong, and they have a series of amazing adventures that will change their lives. But their last wish gets them into terrible trouble, and it will take all the Psammead’s powers to put things right...This delightfully whimsical drama, adapted by Malcolm McKee, stars Julia McKenzie as the older Jane and Mother, and Simon Carter as the Psammead. The wonder and excitement of much-loved children’s classics lives on in BBC Radio’s acclaimed full-cast dramatisations, complete with evocative music and sound effects. Duration: 1 hour 30 mins approx.

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Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison and Colin Baker are among the readers of these 7 stories from the worlds of Doctor Who. The Planet of the Daleks is read by Jon Pertwee; Warriors of the Deep is read by Peter Davison; Vengeance on Varos is read by Colin Baker; The Novel of the Film (the 1996 TV Movie) and Earth and Beyond (three original short stories) are read by Paul McGann. With original music. Duration: 10 hours approx.

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A collection of full-cast dramatisations and readings from the bestselling author ‘There’s nobody like Binchy for warming the cockles’ Times Maeve Binchy was one of Britain’s best-loved storytellers and this compilation of her finest fiction, as heard on BBC Radio, demonstrates all the warmth, wit and compassion that made her so popular. Firefly Summer is a moving, humorous novel about a sleepy Irish town facing monumental change, dramatised in six parts with a full cast including David Soul and Lorcan Cranitch. No Nightingales, No Snakes features full-cast dramatisations of five Maeve Binchy short stories, with a distinguished cast including Niamh Cusack, Sam Dale and Harry Towb. The Garden Party contains four short stories specially commissioned for BBC Radio 4, read by Niamh Cusack, Dervla Kirwan, Doreen Hepburn and Stella McCusker. The Homecoming comprises four more stories exclusively written for BBC Radio 4, read by Sean Campion, Joanna Myers, Patricia Hodge and Kate Binchy. Dealing with families, friendship, love, loss, sorrow and joy, these stories will delight all Maeve Binchy fans. Duration: 6 hours approx

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David Troughton reads this gripping classic novelisation of a Second Doctor TV adventure featuring the Yeti and the Great Intelligence “Attention to detail is a hallmark of this always excellent range” Doctor Who Magazine For 40 years Professor Travers’ Yeti has been quiet, a collector's item in a museum. Then, without warning, it awakes and savagely murders. Patches of mist begin to appear in Central London, those who linger in it found dead, their faces smothered in cobwebs. When the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria arrive in the London Underground, they find that the web is remorselessly spreading. What’s more, hordes of Yeti are roaming the misty streets and cobwebbed tunnels, killing everyone in their path. London has been gripped tight in a web of fear. The Doctor and his friends unite with the army, led by one Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart, in defence of planet Earth. But an old enemy is lurking in the shadows… David Troughton, who has played several roles in the BBC TV series, reads this complete and unabridged novelisation, first published by Target Books in 1976. Duration: 4 hours approx.

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Matthew Beard and Sophie Rundle star in a brand new BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the bestselling novel by Neil Gaiman, narrated by Eleanor Bron. Challenged to retrieve a fallen star, Tristran Thorn leaves the sleepy English village of Wall and crosses into the land of Faerie and the realm of Stormhold. Locating the star, he discovers it is no meteorite, but a young woman, Yvaine. When Yvaine evades him and escapes, Tristran discovers he is not the only one in pursuit of the star: there are dark forces in this magical land, and he must find Yvaine before she falls into their clutches. As he does so, Tristran will uncover the secret to his own identity and a fate beyond his wildest dreams. Directed by Dirk Maggs and Heather Larmour, and featuring over 35 minutes of unbroadcast material, this stunning new dramatisation boasts an extensive cast including Frances Barber, Maggie Steed, Nicholas Boulton, Blake Ritson, Bryan Dick, Charlotte Riley, Aisling Loftus, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Alex Macqueen. There are also cameo appearances by Tori Amos and Neil Gaiman. Duration: 2 hours 30 mins approx.

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