Search results for ""BBC Audio""

Scott Handcock is an English writer, director and producer who has been involved in a number of audio plays for Big Finish Productions. In 2022 he joined television production company Bad Wolf as the script editor for the British science fiction TV series Doctor Who, beginning with the show's fourteenth series.

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Paul Merton (Reader) Paul Merton was born in 1957, long before such things were fashionable. He spent his first eight years living within cheering distance of Fulham Football ground at Craven Cottage although he can't remember any cheering. Upon leaving school with two ropey A Levels and a CSE Grade 5 Maths, Paul enlisted in the Civil Service where he survived for two and a half years. He made his stand-up debut at London's Comedy Store in 1982 where his policeman on acid routine regularly stopped the show. In 1985 he joined the Comedy Store Players, an improvised comedy group which led, in 1988, to him appearing on Whose Line is it Anyway? for the first few series before he couldn't stick it anymore. He has appeared on Have I Got News For You as a team captain since 1990 and is also proud of his other long running gig, Radio 4's Just a Minute. Other TV highlights include his eponymous surreal sketch series from 1991-3; interviewing Spike Mi

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Samuel Pepys was born on 23 February 1633, the son of a London tailor. He graduated from Cambridge in 1654, and in 1655 he married Elizabeth St Michel. He started work for Sir Edward Montague, a relation who later became the 1st Earl of Sandwich, and through him first went to sea. Pepys later found work with the Navy Office, eventually rising to become Secretary of the Admiralty. He also became a JP, an MP and a Fellow of the Royal Society. In later life he was accused of being part of the anti-monarchist Popish Plot', and was twice imprisoned for it. Upon his second release he retired to Clapham, then considered to be in the country'. Samuel Pepys died on 26 May 1703. His diaries, which had been written in code, were bequeathed to Magdalen College, Cambridge, where they can still be viewed.

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Terrance Dicks became Script Editor of Doctor Who in 1968, co-writing Patrick Troughton's classic final serial, The War Games, and editing the show throughout the entire Jon Pertwee era to 1974. He wrote many iconic episodes and serials for the show after, including Tom Baker's first episode as the Fourth Doctor, Robot; Horror at Fang Rock in 1977; State of Decay in 1980; and the 20th anniversary special, The Five Doctors in 1983. Terrance novelised over sixty of the original Doctor Who stories for Target books, including classics like Doctor Who and the Abominable Snowmen and Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion, inspiring a generation of children to become readers and writers. He died in August 2019, only weeks before the publication of his final Doctor Who short story, 'Save Yourself', in The Target Storybook.

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Six more thrilling stories of adventure in Time and Space from the original Doctor Who Annuals.Larger than life and twice as colourful, from the 1960s to the 1980s the stories within the Doctor Who Annual were exuberant and charmingly naive. Now, in this second audio volume, Peter Purves (Steven), Anneke Wills (Polly), Geoffrey Beevers (the Master), Matthew Waterhouse (Adric) and Nicola Bryant (Peri) read another selection of these colourful and energetic tales, with atmospheric sound design.In Peril in Mechanistria, the First Doctor finds primitive humans enslaved to machines in a world of metal. The Second Doctor must rescue Ben in The Sour Note, whilst in Scorched Earth the Third Doctor and Sarah are challenged by a virulent virus on Varium III. The Fourth Doctor has Double Trouble after he and his companions return to UNIT HQ, and then the Fifth Doctor and Adric visit a Planet of Fear. Finally, in The Radio Waves, the Master schemes to turn Londoners against politicians and the Royal Family. Can the Sixth Doctor and Peri stop him?Also included from 1966 is The Equations of Doctor Who, a vintage essay about the mysteries of the Doctor and his TARDIS.Take a nostalgic journey through time with these vintage Doctor Who tales. Duration: 2 hours 20 mins approx.

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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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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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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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Fabulous tales from the vintage pages of Doctor Who Annual, brought to life by a host of Doctor Who voices.In 'The Sons of the Crab' the First Doctor finds himself a prisoner on a nightmarish world in the Crab Nebula. The Second Doctor is faced with a dilemma posed by the bird-like Arcturans in 'Only A Matter of Time', and in 'War in the Abyss' the Third Doctor goes in search of Jo Grant's missing uncle.The Fourth Doctor and Leela try to help the victims of 'Famine on Planet X', whilst the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa find themselves on a 'Night Flight to Nowhere' - courtesy of the Master!In 'Time Wake' the Sixth Doctor and Peri search for the entity behind a dangerous temporal corridor in London.Two short additional features ponder the 'Secrets of the TARDIS' and examine the conundrum that is 'One Doctor - Five Men.'Dan Starkey, Geoffrey Beevers, Anneke Wills, Jon Culshaw, Louise Jameson and Colin Baker are our guides through these weird and wacky stories from Doctor Who Annual.Readings produced by Neil GardnerSound design by David DarlingtonExecutive producer: Michael Stevens(P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Jacqueline King reads this brand-new adventure for Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary, based on a script by Russell T Davies and featuring the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna Noble, as played on TV by David Tennant and Catherine Tate.A life-changing encounter. A fugitive from the stars. Wrathful warriors in pursuit.Landing on Earth, the Doctor finds a stranded alien in need of protection – and is dragged headlong into the life of his old friend Donna Noble, knowing that if she ever remembers their time together, she will die…Jacqueline King, whose plays Sylvia Noble in the BBC TV series, reads Gary Russell’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/Ladbroke Audio.Sound design by David Darlington.Executive producer for BBC Audio: Michael Stevens.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Sue Johnston, John Hannah and Eddie Marsan are among the stars of this spellbinding, hilarious and uplifting comedy drama. Set entirely at a series of weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, these 13 episodes also feature Rebecca Front, Paul Kaye, Julia Deakin and Samantha Bond. Love in Recovery follows the lives of five very different recovering alcoholics. Eddie Marsan is Andy, the sweet but simple group leader. Sue Johnston is Julie, who's been known to have the odd relapse here and there, and everywhere. John Hannah is Simon, a snide journalist with a big secret. Rebecca Front is the snobby and guarded Fiona, who used to be a banker who had it all, and then lost the lot. Paul Kaye is Danno, a dodgy geezer with no front teeth, but a lot of heart. During the course of two series and a special Christmas episode, we hear them get to know each other, get on each other’s nerves, laugh, argue, fall apart, fall in love and, most importantly, tell their stories. Written and created by Pete Jackson, Love in Recovery is inspired by his own road to recovery. Duration: 5 hours approx

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

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

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

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The complete collection of landmark BBC Radio dramas of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe mysteries. Philip Marlowe is the archetypal noir detective: wisecracking and world-weary, hardboiled yet honourable. This volume includes all eight dramatisations of Raymond Chandler's groundbreaking crime novels featuring his iconic hero. The Big Sleep Marlowe is consulted by a wealthy family man with two big problems: his children. Farewell My Lovely Marlowe's search for an ex-con's ex-girlfriend leads him into danger. The High Window When rare gold coin is stolen from her collection, Mrs Murdoch hires Philip Marlowe to find it. The Lady in the Lake Businessman Derace Kingsley hires Marlowe to find his estranged wife Crystal. The Little Sister Commissioned to find Orfamay Quest's missing brother, Marlowe is drawn into the glamorous film world of Hollywood. The Long Goodbye Marlowe befriends a drunk named Terry Lennox, but comes to regret doing him a favour. Playback Hired to follow the mysterious Betty Mayfield, Marlowe soon finds that he is being tailed too... Poodle Springs Newly-married Marlowe puts his bride aside to look for a gambler on the run. Starring Toby Stephens as Philip Marlowe, these stylish, suspenseful dramatisations – full of witty, ironic dialogue and colourful characters – bring the beautiful, corrupt world of California in the '40s and '50s to luminous life. Duration: 11 hours approx.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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