Radio Classics

Five seminal science fiction classics are brought vividly to life in these gripping BBC Radio dramatisations, with casts including Robert Glenister, William Gaunt, Carleton Hobbs and Joanne Froggatt. "Frankenstein" (1994) is adapted from one of the first science fiction novels, Mary Shelley's...

All 60 surviving episodes from the first four series of the fabulous forerunner to Round the Horne - plus bonus programme Forty Laughing Years An irresistible mix of of sketches, songs, puns and double entendres, Beyond Our Ken kept the nation laughing over seven series and 123 episodes between...

The first two series of the iconic 1950s science fiction trilogy, set in the unimaginably far-flung future of the late 20th century Written by veteran radio producer Charles Chilton, Journey into Space kept Light Programme listeners enraptured between 1953 and 1958. Almost eight million people...

Gripping crime dramas featuring Scotland Yard’s Detective Inspector John Appleby A double bill of Scottish crime writer Michael Innes’ DI John Appleby novels adapted with a full cast. Written during the golden age of detective fiction, these two gems from the archive are a thrilling listen...

Christopher Lee's highly-acclaimed and award-winning BBC Radio 4 history of the British Empire. Britain had the biggest empire the world has ever known. At one time a quarter of the global land mass was British. Over a third of the world was insured at Lloyds. At his coronation, more than 400...

The Birling family are spending a happy evening celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling to Gerald Croft - a marriage that will result in the merging of two successful local businesses. Yet just when everything seems to be going so well, they receive a surprise visit from an Inspector Goole...

The tenth and eleventh series of the side-splitting Senior Service spoof Left hand down a bit! The clueless crew of HMS Troutbridge have returned to port after months at sea, and are soon getting into more hilarious scrapes... Included here are the complete Series Ten and Eleven of the...

Charlie Fairbanks was born in the dead center of the United States at the dead center of the 20th century. Americans are going to the moon, and Charlie’s sure he’ll be the first one there. But as he shines his spotlight on the moon, so too does it illuminate the darker side to his nation’s history. Radio is a story about memory, love and spaceships.

The complete Series 5-7 of the legendary BBC radio comedy One of the funniest and most popular series on radio between 1958 and 1964, Beyond Our Ken delighted audiences nationwide throughout its seven series and 123 episodes. Packed with sketches, songs, catchphrases and innuendo, it mixes...

The third, fourth and fifth series of the nautical comedy, plus Christmas Special and The TV Lark The Navy Lark gang are back for more seafaring shenanigans… Collected here are the complete Series 3, 4 and 5 of the much-loved show, including the long-lost episode ‘The Cornish Exercise’...

The first two series of the vintage seafaring comedy – plus Special The Wrens’ Reunion One of BBC Radio’s most popular and long-running sitcoms, The Navy Lark sailed the airwaves for an impressive 15 series between 1959 and 1977. Included here are the complete Series 1 and 2, featuring the...

Double double acts Newman & Baddiel and Punt & Dennis join forces in the radio precursor to their iconic TV show Launched in 1989 on Radio 1, The Mary Whitehouse Experience rode the alternative comedy wave for four series until 1990, winning a Sony Gold Award and sparking a hit BBC TV spin-off...

A collection of thrilling tales from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, including six full-cast dramas and a short story read by Benedict Cumberbatch In the first half of the 20th century, the detective story exploded in popularity. Innovative authors penned whodunits, whydunits and...

The eighth and ninth series of the vintage comedy about life aboard a Royal Navy frigate There's more fun on the ocean waves in these 33 hilarious episodes, as the hapless Captain Povey and his reluctant subordinates are caught up in more comic capers. Contained here are the complete Series...

Maurice Denham is the famous French detective Maigret and Michael Gough is his creator Georges Simenon in these five classic radio dramatisations. Parisian detective Jules Maigret first appeared in print in 1931, and went on to feature in 76 novels and 28 short stories. An enduringly popular...

33 episodes from Series 8-10 of the much-loved Civil Service sitcom, plus the 1971 Special For fifteen years between 1962 and 1977, The Men from the Ministry kept audiences laughing over the course of 13 series, plus a fourteenth series recorded for overseas in 1980. This third volume features...

The sixth and seventh series of the much-loved comedy, plus the 1965 Christmas Special All aboard HMS Troutbridge for maritime mishaps and merriment, as the crew return from eventful leave and sail into more trouble. This collection contains the complete Series Six and Seven of the long-running...

Crime classics featuring the gentleman detective Lord Peter Wimsey and amateur sleuth Montague Egg, plus a bonus short story and two programmes about the iconic Dorothy L. Sayers One of the four Golden Age ‘Queens of Crime’, Dorothy L. Sayers is best known as the creator of Lord Peter Wimsey...

A double serving of thrilling vintage spy drama featuring the tenacious Captain Jim Nicholson "These productions are pure ‘Boys Own'-style entertainment...I found them to be thoroughly engrossing, with the actors conveying earnestness throughout." - Entertainment Focus A treat from the archive...

The complete Series 11-14 of the long-running Civil Service sitcom The hugely popular precursor to ‘Yes Minister’, The Men from the Ministry had the nation in stitches for 13 series between 1962 and 1977. In 1980, a fourteenth series, comprising remakes of episodes from Series 1-4, was made...