BBC Thursday – 11th of February

As usual, when I get behind in listening BBC throws way too many tempting dramas. I choose for you only 5 items from my list. I think these will be the most interesting.

 

1. Little Dorrit – Charles Dickens, narrated by Ian McKellen

When Arthur Clennam returns to England after many years abroad, he takes a kindly interest in Amy Dorrit, his mother’s seamstress, and in the affairs of Amy’s father, William Dorrit, a man of shabby grandeur, long imprisoned for debt in Marshalsea prison. As Arthur soon discovers, the dark shadow of the prison stretches far beyond its walls to affect the lives of many, from the kindly Mr Panks, the reluctant rent-collector of Bleeding Heart Yard, and the tipsily garrulous Flora Finching, to Merdle, an unscrupulous financier, and the bureaucratic Barnacles in the Circumlocution Office.

BBC Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Goodreads

Day left: 13
Duration: 60 min | 5 episodes aired Monday – Friday
Rating: ★★★★★

Let’s start with a classic. I’ve only just started listening to this, but I really liked the first episode. I haven’t read the book (and it’s unlikely I will) but I think this dramatization is well done and work these few hours of your listening time. Plus we could hear Sir Ian McKellen’s voice among the others.

 

2. The Fire Inside – Nick Stafford

A stranger seeks shelter at an isolated farmhouse in the depths of winter. The occupants, Jack and Mavis, put him in an upstairs room, sparking a sinister chain of events – and an investigation into what has really been going on…

BBC Link

Day left: 19
Duration: 45 min | 1 episode
Rating: ★★★★☆

If you want to hear a somewhat creepy tale here’s something for you. It’s weird, it’s mysterious and it sends chills through your body while you listen.

 

3. Rumpole – John Mortimer

John Mortimer’s classic courtroom stories, starring Maurice Denham

Originally a TV series created by writer and barrister John Mortimer, Rumpole hit the BBC radio airwaves in 1980. Case-by-case, Rumpole recalls his work at the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales.

The confession of Guilt | The Dear Departed | The Gentle Art of Blackmail | The Rotten Apple | The Man of God | The Defence of Guthrie Featherstone | The Show Folk | The Fascist Beast | The Case of Identity | The Expert Witness | The Course of True Love | The Perils of the Sea | The Age of Retirement

Day left: 21
Duration: 30 min | 13 episode
Rating: ★★★★☆

This is one of the series that returns to BBC once in a while and I keep listening to it over and over again :P. It’s not perfect, but I like it. Rumpole also isn’t a very positive character, but, at least, he can be fun.

 

4. Alexander – David Wade

 

The story of Alexander the Great, with a distinguished cast list of Barry Foster, Simon Ward and Brian Cox.

BBC Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Goodreads

Day left: 27
Duration: 60 min | 6 episodes
Rating: ★★★★★

Have you listened to all of the Plantagenet dramas? Here’s another historical story for you, this time about Alexander the Great. A very well done drama I’ve listened to two years ago. I probably will listen to it again :).

 

5. Only you can save mankind – Terry Pratchett

As the alien fleet crosses the computer screen, 12 year old Johnny prepares to blow the ScreeWee into a million pieces – sparking a wild seesaw adventure involving space warfare, starships and aliens.

Terry Pratchett’s sci-fi fantasy stars Tim Smith as Johnny, Janet Dale as ScreeWee Captain, Michael Angelis as the Gunnery Officer, Mark Finn as the PT Teacher, Akhbar Karim as Wobbler and Marian Kemmer as Johnny’s Mother.

BBC Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Goodreads

Day left: 27
Duration: 30 min | 3 episodes
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Let’s end this week’s BBC episode with yet another of Pratchett’s stories. To be honest, this one wasn’t my favorite, but maybe you’ll like it? I still found it interesting.

 

Happy listening and see you next week 🙂