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  • The Complete Talking Heads

  • The Classic BBC Radio 4 Monologues Plus A Woman of No Importance
  • By: Alan Bennett
  • Narrated by: Alan Bennett, Patricia Routledge
  • Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (674 ratings)
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The Complete Talking Heads cover art

The Complete Talking Heads

By: Alan Bennett
Narrated by: Alan Bennett,Patricia Routledge
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Summary

The complete audio collection of Alan Bennett's celebrated monologues, published together for the first time and performed by some of Britain's best actors.

The Talking Heads monologues are widely regarded as one of Alan Bennett's finest dramatic achievements. First broadcast on BBC TV and BBC Radio 4 in the 1980s and 1990s, they won a host of awards and huge popular acclaim and remain among his most admired works today.

This collection includes all twelve Talking Heads, plus the precursor of that series, 'A Woman of No Importance'.

Beautifully crafted and full of compassion and wry observation, each tale is ripe with the quirky, insightful detail that has become Bennett's trademark. The monologues are: 'A Woman of No Importance' (Patricia Routledge); 'A Chip in the Sugar' (Alan Bennett); 'A Lady of Letters' (Patricia Routledge); 'Bed Among the Lentils' (Anna Massey); 'Soldiering On' (Stephanie Cole); 'Her Big Chance' (Julie Walters); 'A Cream Cracker Under the Settee' (ThoraHird); 'Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet' (Patricia Routledge); 'The Hand of God' (Eileen Atkins); 'Playing Sandwiches' (David Haig); 'The Outside Dog' (Julie Walters); 'Nights in the Gardens of Spain' (Penelope Wilton) and 'Waiting for the Telegram' (Thora Hird).

Intensely moving, deeply engrossing and highly entertaining, these spellbinding soliloquies are essential listening.

©2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
  • Radio/TV Programme

What listeners say about The Complete Talking Heads

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  • 01-01-16

Bleak but brilliant!

Fantastic writing read so well, so much of the story is in what is not said but it's easy to read between the lines. Don't listen when you are feeling down though as it may finish you off!

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15 people found this helpful

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Fantastic

Great stories read by wonderful actors.I loved all of them.Very touching but also very funny.

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8 people found this helpful

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Brilliant

Wonderful moving stories. Brilliant Alan Bennett. Will listen to it again and Oder copies for my friends

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Hours of entertainment !

A great collection of funny , insightful and touching stories. As only Alan Bennett can do !

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent Bennett

Never ,ever ,get tired of listening to these wonderful monologues . I know them from the eighties and they never fail to delight . A real treat to listen to .

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Most of the stories are good

There were a couple that I wasn't so keen on, although I have had the cd's of this series I thought I'd like to hear them again. I was much more aware of the extreme left wing views of Alan Bennett than I was the first time around. Nevertheless - he is an amazing observer of people and generally I enjoyed this set of monologues.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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loved these stories

What made the experience of listening to The Complete Talking Heads the most enjoyable?

I loved the different readers and the stories were very engaging. I was inspired to listen to these monologues after seeing the Alan Bennett film ' lady in the van'

Who was your favorite character and why?

Margaret in the 'Woman of no importance '

Have you listened to any of Alan Bennett and Patricia Routledge ’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I enjoyed others but this was my favourite

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Will listen to more Alan Bennett plays

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2 people found this helpful

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Wow

When other kids at school were worshiping people like Gaza and Pele I found myself listening to the beautifully crafted words of Alan Bennett read with such precision and emotion by the actors involved.

The works of this man has always inspired me to tell stories with such power and Talking Heads has always been The Benchmark to Aspire to Start at.

This is the definitive collection. Do download to be transported not only back in time but to be led in a journey to discover the power of storytelling.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Classic Alan Bennett

The original and the best with flawless performances by all involved. The stories are so good, you revisit them again and again.

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1 person found this helpful

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brilliant

wonderfully written, tragic and poignant at the same time, yet laugh out loud funny in places. always with the twist at the end. i loved all the stories.

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