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The Citadel: Series 1-6 cover art

The Citadel: Series 1-6

By: A. J. Cronin
Narrated by: George Blagden, Richard Fleeshman
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Summary

An epic BBC radio drama series set in the Welsh valleys, about medical life before the NHS 

Based on AJ Cronin’s award-winning 1937 novel of the same name, which partly inspired Nye Bevan to create the NHS, this gripping dramatisation centres on Andrew Manson, a newly trained GP in 1920s Wales. 

Young and idealistic, he is full of enthusiasm when he first arrives in the small mining village of Drineffy, where he is to work as assistant to the elderly Dr Page. But he soon encounters corruption, apathy and appalling medical practices, and becomes determined to storm the citadel of the medical establishment and make a difference. 

In these six series, he befriends the cynical Dr Denny and helps him to deal with a typhoid epidemic; meets the love of his life, Christine; performs a remarkable doctoring feat in a crisis; takes a new job in a larger town; becomes caught up in the 1926 miners’ strike – and makes a desperate attempt to save the life of someone close to him… 

Adapted by well-known scriptwriter Christopher Reason, this compelling drama about a dedicated doctor developing his career and family life against the backdrop of a country undergoing significant change stars Richard Fleeshman (Coronation Street, Call the Midwife) and George Blagden (Versailles, Vikings).

Written by AJ Cronin

Dramatised by Christopher Reason

Produced by Gary Brown and Pauline Harris

Directed by Gary Brown

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 October-3 November 2017 (Series 1) 5-9 March 2018 (Series 2), 9-13 July 2018 (Series 3), 17-21 September 2018 (Series 4), 15-19 April 2019 (Series 5), 7-11 October 2019 (Series 6)

©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

What listeners say about The Citadel: Series 1-6

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What an amazing book

This is the first audio book I have listened to. It won't be the last

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3 people found this helpful

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Absolutely fantastic

Loved this audiobook. Wonderful story and really well performed. Gives a great insight into the circumstances surrounding the birth of what went on to become our NHS. Alongside an illustration of the moral maze which surrounds a doctor’s work.

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1 person found this helpful

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Enjoyable listen if you like an older style

I enjoyed this story of a young idealistic doctor and his forays into trying to change the medical world prior to the NHS being set up. I can't locate the cast but it's probably on the web. Occasionally the narration by a fellow doctor grates slightly as he's so negative but overall it's very good

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Excellent!

Very well dramatised, and very good narration. Read the book many years ago as a Student Nurse.

Really enjoyed this Audible book.

Thank you.

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1 person found this helpful

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a captivating performance.

I have enjoyed many audio books but this BBC dramatisation of this book was brilliant. many actors were used to tell this story. I looked for the original book but it was very stuffy and like a pre war public broadcast. so I'm very pleased I went with this version, complete with Welsh accents and mining songs. im on the look for other BBC ones now.

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A good example of radio dramas

A wealth of great radio/voice acting. The main characters are all very talented and this works there. Enjoyable listening

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  • Overall
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Excellent

Almost as good as the autobiography of Cronin: Adventures in two Worlds. In fact his story is even more touching.

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Pre NHS

What a fabulous cast and the screenplay was superb. Music was appropriate and meaningful. Well done! I was totally drawn in by the characters and the storyline. Didn’t want it to end.

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  • Overall
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Excellent adaptation of an important seminal work.

A very important story to continue to be told.. Excellent narrators. Enjoyed this very much.

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Good, but

I enjoyed this, and Denny was superb, but I thought the script was unhelpfully melodramatic.

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