Gambits

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

The Board

20211031

Adrian Scarborough kicks off a dazzling new short story series, set in what might seem like and ordinary Essex village, but is anything but. Today, in 'The Board', it's Hallowe'en, and the village of Little Purlington has been gripped by chess fever....

Reader: Adrian Scarborough is an acclaimed TV and stage actor, known best for roles in Gavin & Stacey, The King's Speech and Gosford Park.

Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary.

Producer: Justine Willett

Adrian Scarborough kicks off a dazzling new short story series by Eley Williams.

Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.

2: The King

20211107

Stephen Mangan continues a new short story series, set in what might seem like and ordinary Essex village, but is anything but. Today, in 'The King', Little Purlington has been gripped by chess fever, but the father of the local chess prodigy struggles to understand his son...

Reader: Stephen Mangan is a British actor, known best for his TV roles in Episodes, I'm Alan Patridge and Green Wing.
Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary.
Producer: Justine Willett

Stephen Mangan continues a dazzling new short story series for Radio 4 by Eley Williams.

Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.

3: The Pawn

20211114

The next in a new short story series by Eley Williams. Little Purlington might seem like an ordinary Essex village, but is anything but. Today, in 'The Pawn', as chess fever continues to grip the village, the local teenage rebel finds herself making her own sacrifice...

Reader: Rebekah Murrell currently playing Juliet in The Globe's Romeo and Juliet.
Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary.
Producer: Justine Willett

A new short story series for Radio 4 by Eley Williams, riffing on the theme of chess.

Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.

4: The Rook

20211121

The next in a dazzling new short story series set in Little Purlington - a seemingly ordinary English village, but which is anything but. Today, in 'The Rook', a woman living secretly in the local folly finds herself under suspicion for the strange happenings in the village...

Reader: Jasmine Hyde
Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary.
Producer: Justine Willett

A new short story series by Eley Williams, set in an Essex village gripped by chess.

Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.

5: Check

20211128

The next in a gripping new short story series, set in Little Purlington - a seemingly ordinary English village, but which is anything but.

Today, in 'The Check', local chess prodigy Matthew thinks he might know who is behind the strange acts of misrule in the village...

Reader: Harry Redding
Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary.
Producer: Justine Willett

The next story in series set in a seemingly dull village, now gripped by a game of chess.

Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.

6: The Bishop

20211205

Anton Lesser continues Eley WIlliams' dazzling short story series, set in Little Purlington - a seemingly ordinary English village, but which is anything but.

Today, in 'The Bishop', as the village continues to be gripped by chess, the local curate reveals some startling truths about who might be behind the strange acts of misrule in the village...

Reader: Anton Lesser is an acclaimed stage and screen actor, known most recently for his roles as Thomas More in Wolf Hall and Harold Macmillan in The Crown.
Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary.
Producer: Justine Willett

Anton Lesser continues Eley Williams' series set in an Essex village gripped by chess.

Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.

7: Sacrifice

20211212

Today: we learn why chess tutor Mary finally returned to the village - and what led her to leave...

Reader: Jasmine Hyde
Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary.
Producer: Justine Willett

The next in a new series for Radio 4 by Eley Williams set in a village gripped by chess.

Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.

8: The Queen

20211219

Tracy-Ann Oberman continues Eley Williams' short story series, set in what might seem like and ordinary Essex village, but is anything but. Today, in 'The Queen', the mother of the local chess prodigy has some startling revelations of her own...

Reader: Tracy-Ann Oberman
Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary.
Producer: Justine Willett

Tracy-Ann Oberman continues by Eley Williams series set in a village gripped by chess.

Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.

9: The Knight

20211226

Susannah Fielding continues Eley Williams' short story series set in an Essex village gripped by chess, and where dark secrets lurk behind its closed doors. Today, in 'The Knight', a woman finds herself in the home of the parents of the village's chess prodigy, and finds herself she enacting some revenge of her own...

Reader: Susannah Fielding
Writer: Eley Williams
Producer: Justine Willett

A new short story series for Radio 4 by Eley Williams, set in a village gripped by chess.

Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.

The Scoresheet

20220102

Adrian Scarborough reads the final instalment of Eley Williams' short story series set in an Essex village gripped by chess, and where dark secrets lurk behind its closed doors.

Today, in 'The Scoresheet', as the human chess pieces arrange themselves on the village green with Matthew's match against the grandmaster set to begin, things suddenly, and shockingly, come to a head....

Reader: Adrian Scarborough

Writer: Eley Williams

Producer: Justine Willett

Shocking revelations on the village green in the final story in a new series for Radio 4.

Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	The Board	20211031	Adrian Scarborough kicks off a dazzling new short story series, set in what might seem like and ordinary Essex village, but is anything but. Today, in 'The Board', it's Hallowe'en, and the village of Little Purlington has been gripped by chess fever.... Reader: Adrian Scarborough is an acclaimed TV and stage actor, known best for roles in Gavin & Stacey, The King's Speech and Gosford Park. Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary. Producer: Justine Willett Adrian Scarborough kicks off a dazzling new short story series by Eley Williams. Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.
02	2: The King	20211107	Stephen Mangan continues a new short story series, set in what might seem like and ordinary Essex village, but is anything but. Today, in 'The King', Little Purlington has been gripped by chess fever, but the father of the local chess prodigy struggles to understand his son... Reader: Stephen Mangan is a British actor, known best for his TV roles in Episodes, I'm Alan Patridge and Green Wing. Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary. Producer: Justine Willett Stephen Mangan continues a dazzling new short story series for Radio 4 by Eley Williams. Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.
03	3: The Pawn	20211114	The next in a new short story series by Eley Williams. Little Purlington might seem like an ordinary Essex village, but is anything but. Today, in 'The Pawn', as chess fever continues to grip the village, the local teenage rebel finds herself making her own sacrifice... Reader: Rebekah Murrell currently playing Juliet in The Globe's Romeo and Juliet. Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary. Producer: Justine Willett A new short story series for Radio 4 by Eley Williams, riffing on the theme of chess. Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.
04	4: The Rook	20211121	The next in a dazzling new short story series set in Little Purlington - a seemingly ordinary English village, but which is anything but. Today, in 'The Rook', a woman living secretly in the local folly finds herself under suspicion for the strange happenings in the village... Reader: Jasmine Hyde Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary. Producer: Justine Willett A new short story series by Eley Williams, set in an Essex village gripped by chess. Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.
05	5: Check	20211128	The next in a gripping new short story series, set in Little Purlington - a seemingly ordinary English village, but which is anything but. Today, in 'The Check', local chess prodigy Matthew thinks he might know who is behind the strange acts of misrule in the village... Reader: Harry Redding Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary. Producer: Justine Willett The next story in series set in a seemingly dull village, now gripped by a game of chess. Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.
06	6: The Bishop	20211205	Anton Lesser continues Eley WIlliams' dazzling short story series, set in Little Purlington - a seemingly ordinary English village, but which is anything but. Today, in 'The Bishop', as the village continues to be gripped by chess, the local curate reveals some startling truths about who might be behind the strange acts of misrule in the village... Reader: Anton Lesser is an acclaimed stage and screen actor, known most recently for his roles as Thomas More in Wolf Hall and Harold Macmillan in The Crown. Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary. Producer: Justine Willett Anton Lesser continues Eley Williams' series set in an Essex village gripped by chess. Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.
07	7: Sacrifice	20211212	The next in a dazzling new short story series set in Little Purlington - a seemingly ordinary English village, but which is anything but. Today, in 'The Rook', a woman living secretly in the local folly finds herself under suspicion for the strange happenings in the village... Today: we learn why chess tutor Mary finally returned to the village - and what led her to leave... Reader: Jasmine Hyde Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary. Producer: Justine Willett The next in a new series for Radio 4 by Eley Williams set in a village gripped by chess. Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.
08	8: The Queen	20211219	Tracy-Ann Oberman continues Eley Williams' short story series, set in what might seem like and ordinary Essex village, but is anything but. Today, in 'The Queen', the mother of the local chess prodigy has some startling revelations of her own... Reader: Tracy-Ann Oberman Writer: Eley Williams is the author of Attrib. and Other Stories, and a debut novel, The Liar's Dictionary. Producer: Justine Willett Tracy-Ann Oberman continues by Eley Williams series set in a village gripped by chess. Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.
09	9: The Knight	20211226	Susannah Fielding continues Eley Williams' short story series set in an Essex village gripped by chess, and where dark secrets lurk behind its closed doors. Today, in 'The Knight', a woman finds herself in the home of the parents of the village's chess prodigy, and finds herself she enacting some revenge of her own... Reader: Susannah Fielding Writer: Eley Williams Producer: Justine Willett A new short story series for Radio 4 by Eley Williams, set in a village gripped by chess. Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.
10	The Scoresheet	20220102	Adrian Scarborough reads the final instalment of Eley Williams' short story series set in an Essex village gripped by chess, and where dark secrets lurk behind its closed doors. Today, in 'The Scoresheet', as the human chess pieces arrange themselves on the village green with Matthew's match against the grandmaster set to begin, things suddenly, and shockingly, come to a head.... Reader: Adrian Scarborough Writer: Eley Williams Producer: Justine Willett Shocking revelations on the village green in the final story in a new series for Radio 4. Short story series by Eley Williams set in what might seem like an ordinary Essex village.