Showing results by narrator "Jim Broadbent" in All Categories

When Dorothy and her pet dog, Toto, are swept away from their Kansas home, they find themselves in the magical land of Oz where munchkins live, monkeys fly and Wicked Witches rule. In their quest to return home they meet a cast of characters that have become much loved by families since the story was first published in 1900. Dorothy, played by Lydia West (Years and Years) joins the Tin Woodsman, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion as they follow the yellow brick road to find the Wizard, played by Jim Broadbent (The Iron Lady, Moulin Rouge).

Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does, even down to how he butters his toast. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning the mail arrives, and within the stack of quotidian minutiae is a letter addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl from a woman he hasn’t seen or heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye.

Percy and his animal friends have delighted readers around the word for more than 30 years! Here you can listen to six fantastic park adventures, performed by Jim Broadbent. Percy the park keeper works hard looking after the park and his animal friends who live there. But Percy still likes to find time for some fun and games. And of course in Percy’s Park there’s always time for a story....

When Harold Fry nips out one morning to post a letter, leaving his wife hoovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the country to the other. He has no hiking boots or map, let alone a compass, waterproof, or mobile phone. All he knows is that he must keep walking - to save someone else's life.

Ever since Paddington arrived in England, he has shared his adventures with his aunt Lucy back in Peru. From meeting the Browns to discovering the sights and sounds of London, his letters tell the story of a kind-hearted bear discovering a whole new life - told with love, from Paddington.

Somehow, Paddington always manages to find himself in strange situations. From a squishy miscommunication involving oysters and public transit to a case of mistaken identity, there’s never a dull moment when a certain bear is around!

Often referred to as the father of science fiction, Victorian author Jules Verne is renowned for his fantastical adventures imagining extraordinary voyages to strange new horizons. Prolific and prophetic, he wrote over 50 novels and numerous short stories, in which he foretold the skyscraper, the submarine, space missions and even the Internet. Featured here are contemporary adaptations of four of his most famous tales, as well as a special episode of The Forum examining the long-lasting appeal of his work.

This six-part comedy series was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1988. Hosted by Stephen Fry, accompanied each week by Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Emma Thompson, and a selection of guests including Phyllida Law, Robert Bathurst, Julia Hills, and Alison Steadman, the show takes the form of a roundtable discussion, interspersed with sketches that veer tangentially from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Paddington Bear has been delighting adults and children alike with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures for more than 60 years. Here you can listen to seven hilarious Paddington stories, read by Stephen Fry and Jim Broadbent.

Paddington Bear has been delighting adults and children alike with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures for over 60 years. Here you can listen to seven hilarious Paddington stories, read by Stephen Fry and Jim Broadbent. Paddington is now a major movie star! Paddington Bear had travelled all the way from Darkest Peru when the Brown family first met him on Paddington station. Since then their lives have never been quite the same...for ordinary things become quite extraordinary when a bear called Paddington is around.

Paddington visits the Spring carnival in Little Venice. Read by actor Jim Broadbent. It’s Springtime again and Mr Gruber is taking Paddington down to the canal to join in the fun at the Spring Carnival. Hoping to win a boat ride for two, the friends enter the Busy Bee Adventure Trail. Paddington soon discovers that he’s very good at spotting things beginning with the letter B, but it seems that he’s not the only one with his eye on the prize…

On a volcanic island, in the middle of shark-infested waters, stands the Cruel School. The lessons are appalling, the school dinners are revolting and the teachers are terrifying—especially the mysterious science teacher Doctor Doktur. When Larker is sent to the school, she quickly realises something very odd is going on...something involving Doctor Doktur, a pair of strange spectacles and a ‘Monsterfication Machine’. And ultimately she finds herself face to face with a real life Megamonster.

As usual, Paddington manages to turn a perfectly normal outing into an adventure. Mr Gruber and Paddington are just about to be followed home by a crowd of eager tourists, when Paddington manages to lose them all in the maze. But, mysteriously, Paddington and Mr Gruber manage to escape from the maze unscathed.

An all-star cast attend a mysterious private club in this hilarious parody of classic horror tales. Membership of the exclusive Mausoleum Club isn't for the faint of heart. The Honorable Clarence Green wants in, but to join he must first hear the spine-chilling stories of the existing members, before enthralling them with one of his own. But are their stories fact or fiction? And will Green still want to join after hearing the horrors they have to tell?

Ever since that first primordial fireball exploded in the void countless aeons ago, people have been doing comic sketches on the radio. And this is no exception. These two mouth-watering series feature a whole host of tasty takeaway skits and shenanigans, from 'The Man At Parties No-One Wants To Talk To' and 'Britain's Stupidest Postman' to sauna novices, the perfect Proms punter and Batman in his dotage. Other highlights include regular characters Mr Makesalotofmistakes, who can't seem to get anything right, and smug yuppies Richard and Dulcie ('Rich and Dull') Perrier.

But at the zoo things don't go to plan. There are some very fierce, not to mention hungry animals there. It is not Paddington they are after though, it is his elevenses!

Hot on the heels of the 500 Words: Black Lives Matter competition hosted by Virgin Radio this month, Bonnier Books UK is publishing a collection of 100 inspiring, moving and poignant short stories submitted by children from across the country. Almost 6,000 children, aged between 5 and 13, submitted stories expressing their personal experiences, tales of empathy, learning and respect, building on the international conversation around Black Lives Matter.

A secret descendant of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, Ricky Lenin is a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist, fervently committed to overthrowing to the decadent world of British football. As a midfield maestro, he's perfectly placed to infiltrate England's top club, Felchester Rovers, where he proceeds to introduce his radical ideas. But there's more to his fellow players than meets the eye, and Ricky soon discovers he's not the only one seeking to foment revolution.

Paddington Bear is getting ready for a Halloween party, strictly for family only. He can’t wait for the party to start – as soon as he gets home from trick or treating! But nothing goes quite to plan after Paddington’s mean neighbour, Mr Curry, invites himself to the party and spoils all the fun. Luckily, Paddington has a special Halloween trick that might just save the day!

Percy’s friend, the hedgehog, has always longed to fly, but without wings, it’s an impossible dream. But then, one day, a stranger arrives in the park, needing his help. Will the hedgehog’s wish come true at last?