Afternoon Reading

Weekdays 3.30pm-3.45pm

A short story or an abridged book, often by writers who are new to radio.

 
 
EpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
RepeatedDescription
01A Georgian Trilogy, A Peacock In Sulphur20100202 Series of specially-commissioned stories by James Hopkin, inspired by his travels in Georgia in autumn 2008.
Niko Pirosmani was one of Georgia's greatest artists, but was it his art that killed him?
Read by Allan Corduner
Produced by Rosalynd Ward
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4.
01Alan Sillitoe Short Stories 20100221By Alan Sillitoe. A young boy undertakes his most ambitious pyrotechnic project.
Philip Jackson reads a story by best-selling author Alan Sillitoe.
A young boy's obsession with fire engines develops into an addiction to lighting small fires. However, a few short-lived flames and a cloud of smoke in the street doesn't seem enough. He goes to the local wood for his most ambitious pyrotechnic project to date.
A Pacificus production for BBC Radio 4.
01Bath Festival Stories By Candlelight, Stowmont20100302 By Sadie Jones. The owner of a house is overtaken by forces he doesn't understand.
01City Of Two Continents, The Byzantine Passage20100119 Series of short stories marking Istanbul's tenure as European Capital of Culture in 2010.
A young girl's life changes forever when she glimpses the man to whom she is betrothed.
By Jenny White, read by Melody Grove.
By Jenny White. A young girl glimpses the man to whom she is betrothed.
01Jennings' Little Hut, The Squatters 20100131Mark Williams reads one of Anthony Buckeridge's classic school stories, abridged in five parts by Roy Apps.
'Until Darbishire had finished making his famous ventilating-shaft out of that disused drain-pipe, it was just as well they had got air-conditioned walls.' It was only a little hut, but Jennings was very proud of it. And the other boys at Linbury Court were proud of their huts too.
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
It was only a little hut, but Jennings was very proud of it.
01Once Seen, The Lodger20100126 Series of three stories inspired by a very modern small-ads phenomenon.
By Anna Maxted, read by Sandra Duncan.
Victoria is widowed, middle-aged and living in cold, wet London rather than her hot, sunny adopted homeland, Portugal. She has a lodger she is singularly ill-equipped to cater for; nonetheless he is grateful to her. This is a surprise for Victoria, which then leads to another.
A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.
By Anna Maxted. Widowed Victoria has a lodger whom she is ill-equipped to cater for.
01Singles20060717 Five stories being aired as a tribute to writer Clare Boylan, who died earlier this year.
Read by Lynda Bellingham.
When Connie goes on a singles holiday, she strikes up an unexpectedly meaningful relationship with her room-mate.
Producer Heather Brennon 
01Squirrels20060619 Series highlighting the best work from over 250 Creative Writing Groups in the North of England.
By Karen Whitchurch, read by Barbara Marten.
Squirrels are an ageing woman's only contact with reality in the psychiatric ward she has long inhabited. It's quite idyllic at first, but neither the staff nor the squirrels are quite what they seem.
01The Cherry Orchard With Rugs20050822 Matt Lucas reads Rose Tremain's short story about a brief encounter on a Eurostar journey to Paris.
01The Rhapsody Blues20060410 By Candace Allen, read by Ricky Fearon.
An ambitious young Black pianist from the Midwest is witness to the premiere of the Rhapsody.
02Bath Festival Stories By Candlelight, The Ghost Writer20100303 By Amanda Craig. Chance throws together two novelists with very different backgrounds.
02Benny Gets The Blame20060718 Read by Stephen Hogan.
A look back to those days of childhood when the backstreets were full of youngsters playing out their imaginary games.
Producer Heather Brennon 
02Jennings' Little Hut, The Kettle Of Fish 20100207Mark Williams reads one of Anthony Buckeridge's classic school stories, abridged in five parts by Roy Apps.
Mr Wilkins blows his top when he finds Jennings and Darbishire looking for a fish - up a tree.
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
Mr Wilkins blows his top when he finds Jennings looking for a fish - up a tree.
02Mad Girls In The Attic20050823 Deborah Mcandrew reads Michele Roberts's tale inspired by Charlotte Bronte. Adele's French maid at Thornfield Hall tells of their life there as she travels back to France.
02Old Blood20060620 By Christiane Algar, read by Carol McGuigan.
Charting the relationship between an aristocratic lady and her philandering husband, told through the eyes of a young servant girl.
03Jennings' Little Hut, General Sir Melville Merridew 20100214Mark Williams reads one of Anthony Buckeridge's classic school stories, abridged in five parts by Roy Apps.
A distinguished former pupil is to pay the school a visit.
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
03The Mission To Brazil20060719 Read by Dermot Crowley.
The hard-living, hard-bitten priest is surprised to learn an inheritance comes his way. Or does it?
Producer Duncan Minshull 
03Working From Home20060621 By Iris Woodford, read by David Fleeshman. A travelling drover comes across an injured highwayman and decides to help, rather than turn him in.
03 LASTBath Festival Stories By Candlelight, The Whisper20100304  By Diana Evans. Rachel is a burden to her neighbours, but she carries a burden of her own.
03 LASTCasual Cruelty, The Villager20100211 Series of short stories by the American author Shirley Jackson, who wrote in a style of 'creeping unease' from the 1940s until her death in 1965.
Miss Clarence's visit to an apartment in Greenwich Village, New York, gives her an unexpected insight into other people's lives as well as her own.
Read by Glenne Headly.
A Jarvis and Ayres production for BBC Radio 4.
Miss Clarence's visit to Greenwich Village gives her an insight into other people's lives.
03 LASTOnce Seen, The Up Escalator20100128 Series of three stories inspired by a very modern small-ads phenomenon.
By Matt Beaumont.
As the narrator travels up towards daylight on the escalators at London's Holborn tube station, the second longest on the network, she gazes into the startling grey eyes of a man coming down. He looks at her for the entire length of the journey, even turning round once they've passed. But how will she ever gaze upon them again? Perhaps an ad is the answer.
Read by Jane Collingwood.
A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.
By Matt Beaumont. A woman gazes into the eyes of a man descending past her on an escalator
04Cupid Strikes, Sparks2010020420100207By Frances Tomelty. When Gracie's husband died, she decides it's time for personal growth.
Stories exploring the reality behind St Valentine's Day.
When Gracie's compost-obsessed husband dies, she decides it's time for some radical personal growth.
Written and read by Frances Tomelty.
Producer Eoin O'Callaghan.
04Jennings' Little Hut, Shortage Of Glass 20100221Mark Williams reads one of Anthony Buckeridge's classic school stories, abridged in five parts by Roy Apps.
Jennings and Darbishire must think fast when the General wants to see an old school photograph.
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
Jennings and Darbishire must think fast. The General wants to see an old school photograph
04Life On Mars20060720 Read by Maggie Cronin.
After Tom's death, Anna struggles to negotiate a maze of grief, loneliness, anger, and rediscovery.
Producer Michael Quinn.
04Whitby Pier20060622 By Mary C Clarke of Airedale Writers Circle, read by Emma Lowndes.The meeting between a doctor and the mother who gave her up for adoption at birth - both women believe it will be their first meeting as adults, but not so.
05 20060602 Five enchanting short stories by American writer Gina Ochsner, about people who feel that their lives are loose skins they've not quite grown into and which perhaps won't ever fit.
5/5. A Blessing
Superstition and tradition prevent Russian immigrants from living their American dream.
Read by Zhivila Roche 
05Job's Skin20050826 Written and read by Alasdair Gray, inspired by the Book of Job.
A torrent of ill fortune afflicts Job. Though practically bankrupt by dot.com traders, and despite losing his two sons in an international disaster, he continues to count his blessings.
05 LASTCupid Strikes, Interview With A Cupid 20100214By Polly Devlin. A revealing interview gives a rare insight into Cupid's world.
Stories exploring the reality behind St Valentine's Day.
A revealing interview gives a rare insight into Cupid's world.
By Polly Devlin, read by Julian Clary.
05 LASTIt Didn't Mean A Thing20060721 Read by Pat Laffan.
When Hector has a fling at the office Christmas party, it has unforeseen consequences.
Producer Roland Jacquarello.
05 LASTJennings' Little Hut, The Difficult Guest 20100228Jennings tries to play the perfect host, but the General's grandson gives him the slip.
05 LASTWater Mouse20060623 By Maureen Fenton of Clitheroe Writing Group, read by Angela Mounsey.A rather shy woman's appearance and demeanour are transformed when her clothes disappear at the swimming baths and she has to wear someone else's.
 Hard Frosts In Florence20061110 By David Pownall. In this play specially written for Paul Scofield, a deeply-troubled Michelangelo returns to Florence to view his statue of the boy David ? Flesh caught in stone - for the last time.
Michelangelo....Paul Scofield
Director Martin Jenkins.
Gilbert Harding....Roger Allam
Derek....Ben Crowe
Roger....Keith Drinkel
Philip....Carl Prekopp
Nancy....Jenny Funnell
Psychiatrist....Ian Masters
Female fan....Jean Trend 
 The Hair Of The Dog 2007052720081222Short story by Jane Gardam. Humour and tenderness colour Eleanor's reflections on her daughter Rosie's wedding 25 years before. Abridged by Jules Wilkinson 
  2007052820081223By Michael Faber. A father is close to experiencing the happiest moment of his life.
Richard Schiff reads a short story by Michael Faber, abridged by Richard Hamilton. A husband and father is close to experiencing the happiest moment of his life.
 Pillars Of The Community 20090108 By Anneliese Mackintosh. A young woman attends a dinner party hosted by her neighbours.
Comedy by Anneliese Mackintosh.
A young woman attends a dinner party hosted by her neighbours, who seem to be hiding something.
Read by Natalie Bennett.
 

See Also

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  • Autumn Anthology
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  • A-z Of Dr Johnson: Johnson's Miscellany, The
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  • Bath Festival Stories
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  • Be Prepared [reading]
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  • Borderlands
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  • Brighton Women
  • Brush With Fame, A
  • Bull From The Sea, The
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  • Casino, The
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  • Cheltenham Festival Readings
  • Cheltenham Festival Stories
  • Cheltenham Literature Festival
  • Choice Of Stories By Jane Gardam, A
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  • Georgian Trilogy, A
  • Getting Away From It
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  • Granta Stories
  • Great Short Stories
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  • Overheard
  • Own Hair, Own Teeth
  • Parlez-vous British?
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  • Pavilion Pieces
  • Penelope's People
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  • Perspectives
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  • Peter Pan And Wendy
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  • Pier Shorts
  • Points Of Entry
  • Poor, Obscure, Plain And Little
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  • Poste Restante
  • Postscripts By J B Priestley
  • Psychobabble
  • Puppets Through America
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  • Readings From Bath
  • Red Herrings
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  • Ring Road
  • Salesman In Beijing
  • Same Difference
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  • Selected Stories By Isaac Bashevis Singer
  • Sentences
  • Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
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  • Sleepers
  • Small Crimes In An Age Of Abundance
  • Smilers, The
  • Songs In The Key Of Lennon
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  • Spinning Yarns [reading]
  • Spring Collection
  • Sputnik
  • Spy Stories
  • Square Peg In A Round Hole, The Life And Opinions Of Sydney Smith
  • Stopover Stories
  • Stories By Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky
  • Stories From The Bath Festival
  • Stories From The Bath Literature Festival
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  • Stories From The Manchester Literature Festival
  • Stories From The Middle East
  • Stories Of The Heart And Mind
  • Strange Things Done In The Midnight Sun
  • Sunshine And Showers
  • Sussex Peep Show
  • Take Off
  • Tales From A Long Room
  • Tales From Firozsha Baag
  • Tales From Ireland
  • Tales From The Low Countries
  • Tales From Westminster
  • Tapertime
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