Search results for ""BBC Audio, A Division Of Random House""

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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Bonnie Langford 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 Tate.A ship at the edge of space. A robot with a secret. A sinister presence.The Doctor and Donna are trapped on board a mysterious spacecraft. Fate of the crew: unknown. Fate of the universe if what’s on board gets out: terminal.Bonnie Langford, whose plays Mel in the BBC TV series, reads Mark Morris’s novelisation of the 2023 television adventure by Russell T Davies.? 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution LtdReading produced by Neil Gardner.Sound design by David Roocroft.Executive producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens.

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David Banks reads this exciting novelisation of a TV adventure for the Seventh Doctor, Ace, and the Cybermen.Launched into space 350 years ago, a meteor is returning to Earth. Inside it waits Nemesis, a silver statue made of the living metal validium, the most dangerous substance in the Universe.Three factions await the statue: the neo-Nazi de Flores and his stormtroopers; Lady Peinforte, who saw Nemesis exiled in 1638, and the advance part of a Cyberman invasion force.Meanwhile, the Doctor and Ace are in Windsor...David Banks, who played the Cyberleader in the TV series during the 1980s, reads Kevin Clarke's novelisation of his own 1988 TV serial.? 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution LtdReading produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke Audio.Sound design by Simon Power.Executive producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens.

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Journey back in time with this nostalgic audio presentation performed by Jon Culshaw, Dan Starkey, Maureen O'Brien, Louise Jameson, Katy Manning and Geoffrey Beevers.It's the 1970s, and you're invited behind the scenes of Doctor Who. You'll go on location to witness the recording of two classic TV adventures (The Sea Devils and Robot) and spend time inside a vintage BBC television studio. You'll also learn how to write a script or make a monster, 1970s-style!Authors Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke will guide you through the first ten years of Doctor Who history, detailing how it was created, the people who brought it into being, and the actors who portrayed the Doctor, his friends and their monstrous enemies.Along the way you'll hear some of the Doctor's key early adventures recounted as Time Lord records, UNIT Memos, and other in-story documentation.Brought to life by an array of familiar Doctor Who voices, this celebration of the programme's early days is a delight for fans of all ages.Cover illustration by Chris Achilleos © House of AchilleosReadings produced by Neil Gardner/Ladbroke AudioSound 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 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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Janet Fielding reads this action-packed novelisation of a classic TV adventure for the Fifth Doctor.When the TARDIS materialises on Earth in the year 2084, the Doctor once again encounters the Sea Devils.Formerly the masters of this planet, but now forced to live in the murky depths of the sea, their intention is to reclaim their position of domination. Aiding them in a dastardly plan to attack humanity's defences are the Silurians, also known to the Doctor of old.With deceit and subterfuge rife among the Sea Base personnel, can there be any hope for the Doctor's attempts to broker peace between humans and reptiles?Janet Fielding, who played Tegan in the BBC TV series, reads Terrance Dicks's novelisation of the 1984 TV serial by Johnny Byrne.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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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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Colin Baker reads this dynamic novelisation of a TV adventure featuring the Sixth Doctor and Peri. The inhabitants of the planet Karfel are suffering under the tyrannical rule of their leader, the Borad, who has brought his world to the brink of interplanetary war.Those who dare to oppose the will of the Borad are mercilessly sacrificed to the Timelash, a fate considered by many to be worse than death.When the Doctor arrives on Karfel he soon discovers the Borad's horrifying plan - and realises he must be stopped at all costs.(P) 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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Frazer Hines reads a brand new story featuring the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe.The TARDIS brings its occupants to Calico Three, an Earth-like planetoid where industrial foundries are worked alongside sophisticated technology. The Doctor is staggered to learn about the Resurrection Plant, which re-births anyone mortally wounded in the line of work.While Jamie is put to work in the foundry, Zoe and the Doctor investigate the Plant - but when the machine goes terribly wrong, they must work with the locals to combat a horrifying monster. The Doctor also uncovers a shameful secret that, for him at least, hits close to home.Frazer Hines, who played Jamie in the TV series, reads Will Hadcroft's intriguing adventure.©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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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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Dan Starkey reads this imaginitive original story featuring the Twelfth Doctor and Nardole."Time: the present. Place: Smalltown, USA. A town like any other. A sleepy world of white picket fences, front porch gliders and freshly-mown lawns, a Pontiac or Chevrolet in every driveway."But the streets are empty, with not a sound to be heard, and no-one to hear it if there was. Because this town is merely an empty stage, waiting for its players to take their parts. They're due to make their entrance any moment now, strangers in a strange land, somewhere in that timeless space known only as The Nightmare Realm."It's into this strange world of shifting sands that the TARDIS propels the Doctor and Nardole, who think they're in 1950s suburbia until an apparent nuclear attack takes them into far darker territory, with a series of terrifying consequences...Dan Starkey, who played the Sontaran Strax in the TV series, reads this unsettling original story by Jonathan Morris(P) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution LtdReading produced by Neil GardnerSound design by David RoocroftProject editor: John AinsworthExecutive producer: Michael Stevens

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Don’t panic! The Hitchhiker’s saga returns once again with a full-cast dramatisation of Mostly Harmless, the fifth book in Douglas Adams’s famous ‘trilogy in five parts’.‘A radio event... the great original cast has been reassembled’. Gillian Reynolds, The Daily TelegraphWhile frequent flyer Arthur Dent searches the universe for his lost love, Ford Prefect discovers a disturbing blast from the past at The Hitchhiker’s Guide HQ. Meanwhile, on one of many versions of Earth, a blonder, more American Trillian gets tangled up with a party of lost aliens having an identity crisis. And just when Arthur thinks he has found his true vocation on the backwater planet of Lamuella, the original Trillian turns up with more than a little spanner in the works. A stolen ship, a dramatic stampede and a new and sinister Guide lead to a race to save the Earth … again. But this time, will they succeed?Simon Jones returns as Arthur, Geoffrey McGivern as Ford, Mark Wing-Davey as Zaphod Beeblebrox, Susan Sheridan as Trillian, Sandra Dickinson as Tricia McMillan, and Stephen Moore as Marvin. William Franklyn is the Book, Rula Lenska is also the Book and Samantha Béart is Random. Guest stars include Miriam Margolyes, Griff Rhys Jones, John Challis, Roy Hudd, Saeed Jaffrey, and Jonathan Pryce.This extended CD edition features 40 minutes of material not heard on BBC Radio 4.Duration: 2 hrs 30 mins approx.

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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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Richard Briers, Adrian Scarborough and Terence Rigby star in this full-cast dramatisation, narrated by Alan Bennett.When Mole abandons his spring cleaning one morning, he surfaces into the sunlight and encounters the Water Rat. Mole stays with Ratty in his snug waterside home, and soon he meets Ratty’s friends: Badger, who lives in the Wild Wood, and the incorrigible Toad of Toad Hall. This timeless tale of waterside Britain has been loved by generations of children and acclaimed as a classic. The story of Mole, Ratty, Badger and Toad and their escapades never fails to enchant. Many of the original cast from Alan Bennett's acclaimed National Theatre production appear in this Radio 4 dramatisation, including Richard Briers as Rat, Adrian Scarborough as Mole and Terence Rigby as Albert - with Alan Bennett as the narrator.

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Harriet Walter and Beryl Reid star in this full-cast adaptation of the much-loved children's classic. When spoilt young orphan Mary Lennox is brought back from India to live in her uncle’s house on the Yorkshire Moors, she finds the blunt ways of the staff at Misselthwaite Manor an unpleasant shock. Bored and miserable, it seems as though life in England will be awful. But Misselthwaite has hidden delights and, when Mary begins to discover them, nothing is the same again. First, there is the secret garden – and with it comes a boy who knows all the wonders of the country. He can even talk to the birds! Then, as the old house gives up its biggest secret, Mary forms a magical friendship. Frances Hodgson Burnett's charming story is played out with all the freshness and warmth of the original novel in this BBC Radio full-cast dramatization.

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An unabridged reading of this exciting novelisation of a First Doctor television adventure. It is ten million years in the future, and the Earth is about to plunge into the Sun. A gigantic Space Ark has been launched, to take the last of humanity to a new life on the planet Refusis II. Accompanying the humans on their journey are the Monoids, strange reptilian creatures from an alien world. When the TARDIS materialises on board, the Doctor and his friends are greeted with suspicion, which soon turns to open hostility when Dodo inadvertently infects the Ark's crew with a long-forgotten virus. It is an accident which will have a terrible effect on mankind, an effect which will last for seven hundred years... Duration: 4 hours approx.

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The award-winning BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Vikram Seth’s masterpiece‘The drama highlight of the year…this sumptuous production, wonderfully atmospheric, written with pace and performed, by an all-Indian cast, quite superbly. The novel may be vast but I was convinced by this version right from the start. Magnificent drama’ - Radio TimesA Suitable Boy is Vikram Seth's epic love story set in India. Funny and tragic, with engaging, brilliantly-observed characters, it is as close as you can get to Dickens for the twentieth century. The story unfolds through four middle-class families - the Mehras, Kapoors, Khans and Chatterjis. Lata Mehra, a university student, is under pressure from her mother to get married. But not to just anyone she happens to fall in love with. There are standards to be met and finding a husband for Lata becomes a family affair in which all the members are to play a part. The characters struggle, they try to buck the system, to break free of restraint, of interference - but ultimately their strength and sense of being comes from their family and friends. It is a celebration of ordinariness; a beautifully composed story that is an affirmation of family and friendship. In his sweeping epic, Vikram Seth has created an entire world filled with warmth, humour, pathos, tragedy - in short, life. Recorded on location in India, A Suitable Boy is made by the production team behind the award-winning Bleak House and The Handmaid's Tale.Shortlisted for the Irish Times International Fiction Prize, 1993.Winner of the Commonwealth Writers Prize, 1994.Winner of the WH Smith Literary Award, 1994.Dramatised and directed by John Dryden. A Goldhawk Production.Duration: approx. 6 hours on 5 CDs.

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Ian Carmichael stars as Lord Peter Wimsey in these definitive BBC radio dramatisations of Dorothy L Sayers' classic crime novelsAristocratic amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey was the master creation of Dorothy L Sayers, widely acknowledged as one of the four original ‘Queens of Crime’. These full-cast adaptations – first broadcast on BBC radio in the 1970s, and presented here in their entirety – are admired by fans of the genre worldwide.Whose Body? is the tale that first introduced Lord Peter to the world, and sees him investigating the case of a corpse in a Battersea bathtub and a vanished oil millionaire.In Clouds of Witness, Lord Peter’s eldest brother stands accused of murder. In collaboration with Inspector Parker, Wimsey slowly uncovers a web of lies and deceit within his own family...Unnatural Death finds Peter probing the mysterious death of an elderly lady. He suspects foul play, and with the help of the indomitable Miss Climpson, sets about his investigations in deepest Hampshire...Produced by Simon Brett (author of the ‘Charles Paris’ series), these acclaimed dramas also feature Peter Jones, Patricia Routledge, Miriam Margolyes and Garard Green.Duration: 10 hours 30 minutes approx.

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Peter England, Una Stubbs and Crawford Logan star in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Philippa Pearce’s enchanting time-slip tale. When his brother catches measles, Tom is sent away to stay with his Aunt Gwen and Uncle Alan, and is thoroughly fed up about it. What a boring summer it’s going to be! But tedium turns to adventure when, lying in bed one night, he hears the old grandfather clock in the hall strike thirteen. What can it mean? As Tom creeps downstairs and opens the door, he finds a beautiful garden, and glimpses a girl in old-fashioned clothing. As he revisits the garden over the next few nights, he watches the seasons change from spring to autumn, and children come and go. But no-one seems to see him – until he meets Hatty, and the two become firm friends. With his new playmate, Tom embarks on the adventure of a lifetime... This magical drama stars Peter England as Tom, with Una Stubbs as Aunt Gwen and Crawford Logan as Uncle Alan. 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: 2 hours 15 mins approx.

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Nine more episodes from the fourth series of the popular radio comedy, plus bonus programme Forty Laughing YearsFull of whimsical witticisms, sketches, songs, puns and double entendres, Beyond Our Ken entertained the nation over seven series and 123 episodes. Published for the first time on audio, the nine episodes in this volume were initially broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1960-61.In these evergreen shows, Kenneth Horne’s escapades include trying to get his windows cleaned, recounting the story of Raffles, being offered the freedom of the city of Giggleswade, and dealing with some morning callers.Meanwhile, Hornerama investigates topics of immediate interest, including ‘Love and Marriage’, ‘Old British Customs’ and ‘The Film Industry’. There’s also musical interludes from the Hornets, Janet Waters and the BBC Variety Orchestra.The episodes include Room at the Top, The Horse Soldiers, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Charge of the Light Brigade, A Hatful of Rain, Twelve O’Clock High, Tea and Sympathy, Some Come Running and Tunes of Glory. Also included is the 1962 tribute programme Forty Laughing Years, hosted by Kenneth Horne.Duration: 5 hours approx.

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A 30-part landmark series for BBC Radio 4, written and presented by Neil MacGregor'The new blockbuster by the museums maestro Neil MacGregor ... The man who chronicles world history through objects is back ... examining a new set of objects to explore the theme of faith in society' Sunday TimesIn this major new BBC radio series, Neil MacGregor investigates the role and expression of shared beliefs through time and around the world.Using specially selected objects from the British Museum and beyond, talking to experts from various disciplines and visiting key locations from the river Ganges to Jerusalem, he examines how rituals and systems of belief have shaped our societies. Looking at communities from the distant past to the present day, both in Europe and worldwide, his focus moves from the beginnings of belief and the elemental worship of fire, water and the sun, through festivals, pilgrimages and sacrifices, to power struggles and political battles between faiths and states.Among the objects featured are the Lion Man, a small ivory sculpture which is about 40,000 years old; a 16th century ivory and gold qibla, used to find the direction of Mecca; and the Lampedusa Cross, made from pieces of a refugee boat wrecked off the Italian coast in 2013.Produced by BBC Radio 4 in partnership with the British Museum, this enlightening series explores humanity’s enduring need to believe, belong and connect with the cosmos.Duration: 6 hours 50 mins.

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Matthew Waterhouse reads this novelisation of a classic 1982 TV serial featuring the Fifth Doctor, as played on TV by Peter Davison. When the TARDIS materialises on an alien space craft, the commander of the ship - the reptilian Monarch - invites the Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan to continue their journey to Earth in his company. Monarch’s hospitality even extends to a generous offer to liberate the time travellers from the shortcomings of their bodies and replicate them as androids - so much more practical. Although Adric finds this proposal extremely attractive, the Doctor has good reason to be suspicious of Monarch's motives... Matthew Waterhouse, who played Adric in Doctor Who, reads Terrance Dicks's novelisation of a four-part TV serial by Terence Dudley.

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Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison and Colin Baker are among the readers of these 12 stories from the worlds of Doctor Who. The Curse of Peladon is read by Jon Pertwee; Kinda is read by Peter Davison; Attack of the Cybermen is read by Colin Baker; Out of the Darkness (three short stories) is read by Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant; and Short Trips (six short stories) is read by Nicholas Courtney and Sophie Aldred. With original music.

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Jon Culshaw reads the brand new novelisation of a classic Doctor Who adventure by Douglas Adams. The hugely powerful Key to Time has been split into six segments, all of which have been disguised and hidden throughout time and space. Now the even more powerful White Guardian wants the Doctor to find the pieces. With the first segment successfully retrieved, the Doctor, Romana and K9 trace the second segment of the Key to the planet Calufrax. But when they arrive at exactly the right point in space, they find themselves on exactly the wrong planet – Zanak. Ruled by the mysterious ‘Captain’, Zanak is a happy and prosperous planet. Mostly. If the mines run out of valuable minerals and gems then the Captain merely announces a New Golden Age and they fill up again. It’s an economic miracle – so obviously something’s very wrong... Duration: 10 hours approx.

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Stephen Fry narrates this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the famous Victorian comic novel. Orphan Becky Sharp and wealthy Amelia Sedley are best friends at Miss Pinkerton's Academy for Young Ladies. On leaving school, ambitious, social-climbing Becky looks for a rich man to support her, while the sweet-natured Amelia meets her old friend Dobbin, who is instantly captivated. Becky takes a job in the service of Sir Pitt Crawley, and uses her charm to hook his dashing son. However, marriage to Captain Rawdon of the Guards does not provide the fortune she seeks. Meanwhile, Amelia rejects the faithful Dobbin and becomes engaged to the handsome George Osborne – but destiny has some shocks in store for her, too. As time goes by, the girls' fortunes rise and fall. War, financial disaster and the ruin of her reputation leave the resourceful Becky undaunted, but Amelia finds it harder to bear fate's blows. It will be many years before their story is played out, and their futures finally decided... William Makepeace Thackeray's classic satire of passion and ambition, first published in 1847 and 1848, is a deliciously ironic portrait of English society and its mores. This engaging 2004 radio production, published for the first time on audio, features a distinguished cast including Emma Fielding as Becky Sharp, Katy Cavanagh as Amelia and Toby Jones as Jos Sedley. Duration: 5 hours approx

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Three classic radio productions from the BBC archives starring Nigel Hawthorne, Miriam Margolyes, Geraldine McEwan and a host of celebrated acting talent.These three legendary plays, performed by some of the best-known theatrical actors of the 20th Century, are the perfect way to commemorate England's greatestdramatist. The Taming of the Shrew: The controversial comedy about the battle of the sexes and a very unconventional marriage, starring Fenella Fielding as Katherine, with Miriam Margolyes as Bianca and Paul Daneman as Petruchio. A Midsummer Night's Dream: One of Shakespeare'sbest-loved plays, this tale of warring fairies, eloping lovers and the magic and madness of love has bewitched audiences since its very first performance. Starring Nigel Hawthorne as Oberon with Maureen O'Brien as Titania. Twelfth Night: Mistaken identity and a tangled love triangle lead to confusion and, ultimately, happiness in this comic masterpiece. Starring Dorothy Tutin as Viola, with Geraldine McEwan as Olivia and Stephen Murray as Malvolio. Recorded at BBC Broadcasting House and featuring the BBC Drama Repertory company, with specially composed music including a score from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, this is classic radio drama at its finest.Duration: 7 hours approx.

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Robin Soans reads this original adventure featuring the 12th Doctor and Clara, as played by Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman in the BBC TV series. The TARDIS is summoned to an ‘space cathedral’ by Shadrak Winter, the High Cardinal of the Cult of the Prime Self. Soon to be relieved of his post by way of assassination, Shadrak has used his family’s calling card to bring the Doctor to his aid. His followers have long fled the Sinful, highly contagious slug-like creatures which he himself has succumbed to - and which now imperil the Doctor and Clara. As Clara discovers more about the Cult of the Prime Self - currently the fourth most popular religion - the Doctor becomes infected, all but lost to appalling guilt and self-recrimination. As he seeks to absolve himself of his perceived sins, Clara must use all her survival instincts to escape the Sinful’s advances and rescue her vulnerable friend. Robin Soans, who appeared in the 1981 Doctor Who serial The Keeper of Traken as well as in Series 9 in 2015, reads this atmospheric original adventure by James Goss, part of the Tales of Winter quartet of stories. Duration: 1 hour 10 mins approx.

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Benedict Cumberbatch reads these four new Sherlock Holmes stories by John Taylor'An Inscrutable Masquerade'/ 'The Conundrum of Coach 13'/ 'The Trinity Vicarage Larceny'/ 'The 10.59 Assassin'Inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes stories, John Taylor has written four more mysteries featuring the world’s greatest detective. Read by acclaimed actor Benedict Cumberbatch, these new adventures share all the suspense of the original tales.In a drawer in his bureau, Dr Watson keeps a locked cedarwood chest – a ‘box of secrets’. It contains an archive of notes referring to some of Holmes’ cases that, for one reason or another, never saw the light of day. Now, for the first time, Watson has decided to reveal the truth to the world... In these four thrilling stories, Holmes experiments with the science of ballistics, locates some missing gold bullion, investigates the theft of a large amount of money and solves the baffling mystery of the Stovey murder.

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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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Julie Hesmondhalgh read this new novelisation of the TV adventure featuring the Thirteenth Doctor and friends.Kerblam! is the biggest online retailer in the galaxy - but how did it become so big? When the Doctor's Kerblam! package includes a mysterious request for help, she heads straight to the company's warehouse moon to investigate.Going undercover as Kerblam! workers, the TARDIS fam find that several human employees have vanished in sinister circumstances. Could the automated workforce be to blame? Or has the whole operation been compromised by forces unknown? The Doctor soon learns that when it comes to wrapping things up, she has nothing on Kerblam!...Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Judy in the BBC TV episode, reads Pete McTighe's novelisation of his 2018 TV episode.? 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution LtdReading produced by Audio Always.Sound design by David Darlington.Executive producer for BBC Audiobooks: Michael Stevens.

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Maureen O'Brien reads this new novelisation of a BBC TV adventure featuring the Tenth Doctor, as played on screen by David Tennant.The first human colony on Mars is destined for destruction in a nuclear explosion. This tragedy is a fixed point in history. The laws of time dictate that it cannot - must never - be changed. But as the Doctor's darkest hour comes calling, he resolves to break the rules as he never has before...Maureen O'Brien, who played Vicki in the BBC TV series, reads Phil Ford's novelisation of his 2009 TV episode co-written with Russell T Davies.? 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 Audiobooks: Michael Stevens.

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Silas Carson reads this new novelisation of a BBC TV adventure featuring the Tenth Doctor and Donna."The Ood came from a distant world, they voyaged across the stars, all for one purpose... to serve."The TARDIS lands on the Ood-Sphere in the year 4126. Here, human profiteers have subjugated the Ood: the gentle creatures are forced into servitude and sold across the galaxy as the perfect slaves. But now, some are fighting back. Their eyes turn red as they throw off their chains and kill their oppressors...The Doctor and Donna soon learn that the planet of the Ood holds cruel and awesome secrets. As they battle for justice and survival, the fate of the entire Ood race hangs in the balance. Will the outcome be salvation - or extinction?Silas Carson, who voiced the Ood in the BBC TV series, reads Keith Temple's novelisation of his 2008 TV episode.? 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 Audiobooks: Michael Stevens.

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