Jeremy Mortimer Radio Plays
Jeremy Mortimer is a former Producer for BBC Radio Drama. He joined the BBC Radio Drama Script Unit in 1981 after a career in publishing and a short stint as a travel journalist, and after nearly two years of being locked in an office with a pile of scripts discovered the thrill of drama production.
He began editing the R4 Afternoon Play in 1983 and since then has done most jobs in the department including becoming Deputy Head in 1992 and taking on the role of Editor, Single Plays and Readings. He set up and ran the first BBC Radio Young Playwright's Festival in 1988 and edited the subsequent Festivals in 1992 and 1995. He won Sony Awards (Best Drama Productions) for 'HIROSHIMA THE MOVIE' by Michael Wall, 'DIFFERENT STATES' by Mike Walker. and FIVE KINDS OF SILENCE by Shelagh Stephenson, which also won a Writer's Guild Award in 1996. His production of 'Nicholas Nickleby' won a Voice of the Listener Award, and 'The Old Curiosity Shop' was Best Drama Production in 2003. Recent productions include LES MISERABLES, HAMLET, RICHARD 11, TROY, a trilogy of plays for Radio 3 on the Trojan War by Andrew Rissik, and a a new trilogy of plays, also by Andrew Rissik, on the Easter theme for broadcast on Radio 3 over Easter 2004.
Between 1998 and 2001, Jeremy was the chairman of the European Broadcasting Union Drama Project Group. He has written for the stage and for radio. In 1996 he co-produced a 10' x 10' film for BBC 2 and in 1998 he produced and co-directed a 30’ film about Thackeray for BBC Choice.
"Radio plays are too often packed with words, as if the writer is desperate to fit in as much information as possible to compensate for not having pictures. But one of the sounds you need in radio drama is silence. Radio is very much like film in its perspective and depth of focus - you can zoom in to things and then leave it quiet"............Jeremy Mortimer
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Producer's Choice - Jeremy Mortimer - BBC7
A new series featuring Radio Drama Producers selecting five of their own plays.
Mon 19 Jan 2004, 11:00 - 11:45 45 mins Painting Mrs Jones - by Rachel Joyce: Jennifer Jones sits for her portrait and wonders if the painting will reveal a new truth about her inner self. Lindsay Duncan stars in this dark tale. (original TX 15/5/98, repeated 3/12/98)
Tue 20 Jan 2004, 11:00 - 11:45 45 mins Milk - by Nell Leyshon & Stephen McAnena: Two parents have been forced to leave their dairy farm, and in unfamiliar surroundings, they face an even more demanding challenge. A meditation on the nature of fear and love, starring Kim Wall and Anabelle Apsion. The script won a Richard Imison Award. (original TX 7/3/02)
Wed 21 Jan 2004, 11:00 - 11:45 45 mins Human Rights - by Jonathan Lichtenstein: A police interview and a prisoner of conscience - but are either what they appear to be? (original TX 4/12/01)
Thu 22 Jan 2004, 11:00 - 11:45 45 mins The Disappearance Of Shirley McGill - by Katie Hims: Shirley's put up with marriage to the overbearing Vernon for 20 years. She turns to her only friend, the butcher, for solace. (original TX 27/2/03)
Fri 23 Jan 2004, 11:00 - 11:45 45 mins Starry Eyes - by Lucy Catherine: Leanne washes up in an all-night cafe. Remembering the lessons her father taught her, she finds consolation in the constellations. With Robin Weaver, Barry Foster and Tessa Worsley (original TX 6/5/99)
A FEW OF JEREMY'S PLAYS IN ORDER OF BROADCAST, 1982-2024-:
JAPANESE STYLE....1982
By Michael Wall. A strange, rather unhappy story of romance. With Michael Cochrane, Megumi Shimanuki. Produced by Jeremy Mortimer (ND)
A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE....1983
By Michael Wall. With Dorota Zieciowska, Michael Kitchen and Dilys Laye. Produced by Jeremy Mortimer.
SOUND EXPLOSION....1984
By Michael Wall. With Tessa Peake-Jones, Christopher Fairbank and Amanda Kirby. Produced by Jeremy Mortimer.
HIROSHIMA-THE MOVIE....1985
By Michael Wall. A Japanese girl helps a film director as he makes a movie about the Hiroshima story. But she has a secret. This is a love story with a difference. With Bill Paterson, Megumi Shimanuki and Robin Summers. Produced by Jeremy Mortimer Rebroadcast bbc7, 30 Aug 03. The play won Sony and Giles Cooper awards. (ND)
Jeremy directed other plays by Michael Wall - please see Michael's page.
HIM AND IT ....1988
Here's a fairy tale like no other. What is the gender of the commissioner? Why is fungus growing in his HQ? Why does he have only squirrels for company? Will the eggs hatch, and what about gasmasks for the badgers? Starring Nicola Macauley as Maurice, James Saxon as commissioner Sylvia, with Gart Whitaker, Anthony Jackson and Joanna Mackey. Directed by Jeremy Mortimer.
PAINTING MRS. JONES....1998
People say that one of the great strengths of radio drama is that you
can go anywhere or do anything. No sets to build; no costumes to design.
This may be true, but in my experience, the radio writer wants to take the
audience on a journey. He or she must start by creating characters they
can believe in. As a very accomplished actress, Rachel Joyce knows all
about bringing characters to life. I had worked with Rachel a few times
when she told me she wanted to try her hand at writing radio drama.
PAINTING MRS. JONES, with its echo of Oscar Wilde's "Portrait of Dorian
Gray" was her third play for radio. I was delighted to be able to cast Lindsey
Duncan and James Lawrenson......(taken from Jeremy's introduction to
the BBC7 repeat)
THE DJ WHO USED TO BE A NUN'S TALE 2000
Part of the Chaucer 600th anniversary: "2000 Tales", where
travellers who're stranded at a moterway service station
because of appalling weather decide to tell each other stories
to pass the time whilst waiting to be rescued...with Robert
Glenister, Zita Sattar, Frances Tomelty, Carl Grosse, Eleanor
Bron; directed by Jeremy Mortimer.
MILK....2002
A lot of people want to write, and those who are bitten by the bug
know how much hard work is involved. Coming up with fresh ideas, finding a
way to tell the story, creating the characters and finding a distinct voice
for each of them. It can be exhilarating and dispiriting by turns. A few
years ago in radio drama we set up the scheme called "Double Acts", pairing
first-time radio writers and asking them to collaborate on a play. Nell Leyshon
from Bournemouth and Stephen McAnena from Belfast worked away at theirs over the better
part of nine months, exchanging drafts by email, and at one point, spending three days
locked together in an office in Broadcasting House in London. This play,
"Milk", is the fruit of their labours......(taken from Jeremy's introduction to
the BBC7 repeat, 2004)
(Tx Dates given)
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, dramatised by Lin Coghlan and Sebastian Baczkiewicz Woman's Hour Monday 31st Dec 2001 - Friday 1st Feb 2002
Filling the Empty Space R3 Sunday Feature 12th May 2002
Billy the Kid by Michael Ondaatje dramatised by Sarah Phelps Friday Play Friday 16th August 2002
Frederica Quartet by A.S Byatt dramatised by John Harvey Woman's Hour Monday 13th - Friday 31st May, Monday 9th Sept - Fri 27th Sept 2002
By the Coast of Coromandel by Lavinia Murray Aft Play 26th Dec 2002
Footballing for Girls by Katie Hims Woman's Hour Monday 10th - Friday 14th June 2002
States of Mind by Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan Friday Play Friday 18th October 2002
Mr. Bensley's Pram by Dylan Ritson Saturday Play 23rd November 2002
Little Joe by Murray Gold R3 Sunday Sunday 22nd December 2002
The Old Curiosity Shop by Dickens, dramatised Mike Walker Woman's Hour Monday 22nd Dec 2002 - Fri Jan 17th 2003
Dad and the Afghan by Lizzie Slater Aft Play Mon 17th Feb 1415 2003
Agatha Christie presents The Case Of The Perfect Carer dramatised by Mike Walker 11.30 am Mons 17 Feb/ 24 Feb/3 Mar 2003
The Disappearance of Shirley McGill by Katie Hims Aft Play Thurs 27th February 1415 2003
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SHIRLEY McGILL....2003
....."Every so often, a writer appears on the scene who just
takes your breath away. Katie Hims' first radio play,
'The Earthquake Girl', won a Richard Imison Award in 1998,
and since then her work has never failed to make an impression
. In Katie's world there is a semblance of normality but
underneath all that you can be sure that something strange
-- and rather magical -- is going on. I think that radio
drama is at its best when it looks at the world through a
slightly distorting lens, and Katie uses this to show us
her stories of meek people doing heroic deeds and unlikely
couples finding love. Stories which can make us laugh, and
make us cry." (Jeremy Mortimer on BBC7, 22 January 2004).
Stalingrad Kiss by Sebastian Baczkiewicz R3 Sunday Sun. 9th March 2003
Dionysos by Andrew Rissik R3 Sunday Sun 20th April 18.30 2003
Williwaw by David Zane Mairowitz Aft Play Fri 2nd May / 14.15 2003
A Packet of Seeds (Various) R3 Sunday Sunday 22nd June 2003
Clean by Jennifer Farmer R3 Wire Thursday 3rd July 2003
CAESAR ! By Mike Walker, after Suetonius Classic Sundays 20th July, 27th July, 3rd August 2003
Where There's A Will by John Mortimer Book of the Week Mon 27th Oct - Fri 31st Oct 2003
Dolphin Therapy by Nat Segnit Friday Play Friday 16th January 2004
Killing Mr Mort by Peter Sansom Aft Play Monday 19th January 2004
Canterbury Tales readings Monday 2nd - Friday 6th February 2004
A Profound Secret by Josceline Dimbleby Book of the Week Mon 5 April - Fri 2 April 0945 2004
Little Violet by Philip Osment Aft Play Monday 5th April 1415 2004
The Art of Love by Andrew Rissik R3 Sunday Sunday 11th April 1830 2004
Resurrection by by Andrew Rissik
R3 Sunday
Sunday 11th April 2030 2004
Caesar!
R4 Classic Serial by Mike Walker. July 2005, 3 episodes.
Caesar....2007
Mar 07; classic serial. Three more plays about the rulers of Rome; by Mike Walker. BBC blurb for
episode 3: An Empire Without End As the Empire in the West begins to crumble before the forces of Atilla the Hun; it is left to an unlikely coalition of kingmakers to select the last Roman Emperor. Can Romulus Augustus survive? Romulus ...... Tom Hiddleston /Priscus ...... David Collings /Barbaria ...... Adjoa Andoh/Emperor Leo ...... George Baker /Maximinus ...... Sam Dale /Attila ...... Victor Sobchak /Orestes ...... Mark Straker /Odo ...... Joseph Kloska /Ricimer ...... Christian Rodska / Other parts played by Saikat Ahamed and Paul Richard Biggin. / Director Jenny Mortimer.
Daphnis and Chloe….2007
27 Jun 07. By Longus, adapted by Hattie Naylor. Two naive young lovers, beset by pirates, are aided by supernatural forces and the power of love. Producer Jeremy Mortimer.
Dombey and Son....2007
Mike Walker's adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic tale of family relationships, in 20 episodes, for
Woman's Hour. Charles Dickens ...... Alex Jennings Dombey ...... Robert Glenister Florence ...... Abigail Hollick Young Florence ...... Eliza Darby Paul ...... Jacob Theato Mr Carker ...... Adrian Lukis Captain Cuttle ...... Trevor Peacock Mrs Brown ...... Geraldine James Dr Blimber ...... Robin Soans Mrs Pipchin ...... Flaminia Cinque Dr Peps ...... Karl Johnson Polly Toodles ...... Pam Ferris Susan ...... Nadine Marshall Walter ...... Joseph Arkley Young Walter ...... Jordan Clarke Toots ...... Sam Pamphilon Other parts played by Ben Crowe; Peter Marinker; Simon Treves; Alex Lanipekun and Lloyd Thomas. Music by Nicolai Abrahamsen. Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer.
The Trial and Death of Socrates by Sebastian Baczkiewicz Radio 3 Drama on 3 Sun 10th Feb 2008 With Joss Ackland as Socrates
Myrrah: New Metamorphoses by Colin Teevan Radio 4 Afternoon Play Mon 3rd March 2008
Take One Night by Rachel Joyce Radio 4 Afternoon Play Fri 13th June 2008
Balance of Power by Deborah Davis Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Drama 8th – 12th Sept 2008
The Dig by John Preston Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Drama 15th- 19th Sept 2008
Random by Debbie Tucker Green Radio 3 The Wire Sat 11th October 2008
The Late Mr Shakespeare by Robert Nye dramatised by Jonathan Broadbent Radio 4 Saturday Play Sat 1st November 2008 With Jim Broadbent as Pickleherring
The Pattern of Painful Adventures by Stephen Wakelam Radio 3 Drama on 3 Sun 23rd November 2008 With Sir Antony Sher as William Shakespeare
Mr Luby’s Fear of Heaven By John Mortimer Radio 4 Afternoon Play 31st December 2008 With Jeremy Irons as Lewis Luby
The Man in Black : The Tower by Mike Walker Radio 7 January 2009
Déjà vu by Alexis Zegerman Radio 4 Afternoon Play Wed 4th feb 2009
Planet B Series 1 – The Wild Gang by Matthew Broughton Radio 7 9th March 2009
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells dramatised by Philip Osment Radio 3 Drama on 3 22nd Feb 2009 With Robert Glenister as the Time Traveller
Henry VIII by William Shakespeare Radio 3 Drama on 3 19th April 2009 With Matthew Marsh as Henry, and Patrick Malahide as Cardinal Wolsey
The Black Bono by Gabriel Bisset Smith Radio 4 Friday Play 28th Aug 2009
The Night They Tried to Kidnap the Prime Minister by Martin Jameson Radio 4 Afternoon Play 15th July 2009 with Tim McInnerney as Alec Douglas Home
The Last Tsar by Ian Curteis Radio 4 Afternoon Play 28th August 2009 with Sir Derek Jacobi as George Vth
The Farewell Symphony by Stephen Wyatt Radio 3 20 minutes 10th Sept 2009 with Richard Briers as Haydn
Life complicated: Status Pending by Marcy Kahan Radio 4 Afternoon Play 7th Oct 2009
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens dramatised by Mike Walker Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Drama Nov/Dec 2009
Cast: Alex Jennings, Daisy Haggard, Lizzy Watts, Carl Prekopp, Patrick Kennedy, Matt Addis, Jason Watkins, Pauline Quirke, Philip Fox, Annabelle Dowler, Adam Arnold, Neil Stuke, Lee Ross, Stephen Hogan, Jamie Foreman, Lynn Farleigh, Benjamin Askew, Nicola Miles-Wildin, Paul Rider, Malcolm Tierney, Janice Acquah, Jonathan Tafler
The Changeling by Thomas Middleton Radio 3 Drama on 3 29th November 2009 With Anna Madely and Zubin Varla
The Tobacco Merchant’s Lawyer by Iain Heggie Radio 4 Afternoon Play 14th December 2009 with Ian MacDiamid
Plantagenet Series 1 by Mike Walker, Radio 4 Classic Serial February 2009 With David Warner, Jane Lapotaire, Ed Stoppard and Neil Stuke
The Herald in the Sky by Glyn Maxwell Radio 4 29th November 2009
Planet B Series 2 – Dark Star by Matthew Broughton 27th December 2009
Say What You Want to Hear: The Startup by Tim Wright Radio 4 Afternoon Play Tuesday 9th Feb 2010
Can You Tell Me the Name of the Prime Minister ? by Martin Jameson Radio 4 Afternoon Play Fri 14th 2010
An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley Radio 4 Saturday Play 29th May 2010 With David Calder, Frances Barber, Geoffrey Streatfeild, Morvern Christie and Sam Alexander
A Chaos of Wealth and Want by Penny Gold Radio 4 Afternoon Play Friday 9th July 2010 with David Haig
London Street Cries Radio 4 Afternoon Feature 5th – 9th July 2010
Rescue Me by Tanika Gupta Radio 4 Afternoon Play Wed 31st August 2010
Stopgap by Julie Mayhew Radio 4 Afternoon Play Wed 8th Sept 2010
2011-04-05, 14-15, Radio 4, Afternoon Drama - Deja-Vu, By Alexis Zegerman
2011-05-29, 15-00, Radio 4, Classic Serial - Plantagenet, Series 2, 3 x 55m
2011-06-04, 14-30, Radio 4, Saturday Drama - Little Platoons, by Steve Waters
2011-07-10, 15-00, Radio 4, Classic Serial - Titus Groan, by Mervyn Peake, 5 x 55m
2011-08-22, 14-15, Radio 4, Afternoon Drama - Souvenirs, By Barbara Norden
2012-01-11, 23-00, Tina C's Global Depression Tour, 5 episodes
2012-02-06, Dickens in London, 4 x 15m, 10-45
2012-03-06, 14-15, Afternoon Drama - The Tobacco Merchant's Lawyer, Glasgow 1780.
2012-04-01, 15-00, Classic Serial - Plantagenet, Series 3 Henry V - True Believers, by Mike Walker, 3 x 55m
2012-04-21, 14-30, Saturday Drama - An Inspector Calls, By J. B. Priestley
2012-05-10, 14-15, Afternoon Drama - Stopgap, by Julie Mayhew.
2012-06-16, 09-10, James Joyce's Ulysses
2012-06-29, 21-00, Friday Drama - Four Trees down from Ponte Sisto
2012-10-03, 14-15, Afternoon Drama - A Chaos of Wealth and Want
2012-11-25, 15-00, Classic Serial, The Count of Monte Cristo, 4 x 55m
2013-02-04, 14-15, The Real George Orwell, Biographical Dramas: Dreaming
2013-02-09, 14-30, Saturday Drama, The Liberty of Norton Folgate
2013-02-10, 15-00, George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, in two episodes
2013-02-18, 14-15, George Orwell, Biographical Drama: Jura
2013-02-23, 21-00, George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four Episode 2
2013-05-14, 14-15, Afternoon Drama, A Tale of Two Cities Recalled to Life ; 5 episodes
2014-05-25, 15-00, Classic Serial, Barnaby Rudge, 3 x 55m
2014-08-02, 14-30, Saturday Drama, His Master's Voice - Archie Andrews
2015-03-05, 14-15, Drama, Mrs Pickwick's Papers
2015-04-18, 14-30, Drama, The Raft of the Medusa
2015-07-04, 14-30, Saturday Drama, The Liberty of Norton Folgate
2016-03-23, 14-15, Drama, Blake in Lambeth
2016-09-11, 16-00, Letters from Inside, 5 x 15m
2016-12-16, 14-15, Drama, The Last Submarine Hunter
2017-05-30, 14-15, Tumanbay, Series 2: Holy Father
2017-10-04, 14-15, Drama, The Slow Kapow
2017-12-02, 21-00, Friday Drama, God's President, Mugabe of Zimbabwe
2019-03-02, 20-00, Archive on 4, Walking the Wild Mind
2020-02-05, 14-15, Drama, The Disappearance of Mr. Chan
2020-06-13, 15-00, Drama, Lockdown Theatre Festival: Shoe Lady and The Mikvah Project
2020-12-21, 10-45, Dickens, Edwin Drood, 10 x 15m
2023-04-29, 14-15, The Rival, by Jude Cook
2023-09-21, 14-15, Radio Waves, by Magdalene Bird et al ; sci-fi
2023-09-23, 15-00, Kaleidoscope 3: Sieveking, by Tina Pepler
2024-10-13, 15-00, Little Dorritt, dram, Mike Walker, 3 x 55m
NOTES ON SOME OF THE LATER PLAYS
11 Feb 10 Say What You Want to Hear - The Startup
By Tim Wright. Erik and Mike set up a website for people to voice their secret thoughts.
Erik ...... Stephen Tompkinson,
Mike ...... Ewan Bailey,
Scarlett ...... Keely Beresford,
Stephen ...... John Biggins,
Roseanne ...... Alison Pettit ,
Max ...... Nigel Hastings.
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer.
14 Feb 10 Classic Serial
Plantagenet, What is A Man?
1/3.Series of plays by Mike Walker, inspired by Holinshed's Chronicles, about the early years of the Plantagenet dynasty.
Notes for episode I: The first of the House of Anjou to be king of England, Henry II's long reign was finally beset by conflict with his sons.
King Henry II ...... David Warner,
Queen Eleanor ...... Jane Lapotaire,
Prince Richard ...... Joseph Cohen-Cole,
Prince Hal ...... Piers Wehner,
Prince Geoffrey ...... Rhys Jennings,
William Marshall ...... Stephen Hogan,
Bertran de Bourne ...... Bruce Alexander,
King Louis ...... Philip Fox,
Courtier ...... John Biggins.
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer.
14 May 10 Can You Tell Me the Name of The Prime Minister?
By Martin Jameson. A week after the election, psychiatrist Liz De Souza is called to examine a patient at a secure government research facility. Disorientated and confused, he is convinced that Tony Blair is still Prime Minister. A Science Fiction mystery.
Liz De Souza...........Amita Dhiri ,
Sarah De Souza........Suzanna Hamilton ,
Mal ......................Jude Akuwudike,
Greer.....................Tony Bell ,
Thorpe..................David Seddon,
Debbie Campbell......Christine Kavanagh.
Director: Jeremy Mortimer.
29 May 10 An Inspector Calls
By JB Priestley.
The Birlings are celebrating the engagement of their daughter Sheila when a police Inspector calls. Each member of the family is questioned about their relationship with a young woman, Eva Smith. And they each have to face up to their role in her tragic story.
Inspector Goole ..... Toby Jones,
Arthur Birling.......David Calder,
Sibyl Birling......Frances Barber,
Sheila Birling ...... Morvern Christie,
Eric Birling ...... Sam Alexander,
Gerald Croft ......Geoffrey Streatfeild,
Edna......... Vineeta Rishi.
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer.
9 Jul 10 A Chaos of Wealth and Want
The play focuses on an episode in the career of the great chronicler of London life and pioneer of oral history, Henry Mayhew. In the 1850s, Mayhew spent his days gathering verbatim testimonies from the city's poor for his 'London Labour and the London Poor'. No moralising do-gooder, he believed he could talk to such people on equal terms. It took his challenging friendship with Jack, a sharp-witted teenage coster (market trader) and his over-trusting attempt to assist Mouse, a drunken child-runaway with a winning smile, to teach him where the borders lie.
At the heart of the story is Mayhew himself: a vigorous, humorous, volatile, improvident, totally engaging, totally exasperating man. No wonder he sees similarities between himself and the street people he interviews; no wonder he drives his wife to distraction.
Henry Mayhew ... David Haig,
Jane Mayhew .... Alison Pettit,
Jack........ Steven Webb,
Mouse....... Sam Alexander,
Sal.......... Joanna Monroe,
Arthur ........ Sam Dale,
With Keely Beresford, Michael Shelford, Vineeta Rishi.
Written by Penny Gold.
Director Jeremy Mortimer.
4 Aug 10 Rescue Me
By Tanika Gupta.
Rukhsana is a successful lawyer in her late 20s, living in London where she shares a house with Arif, who, like her, is British Bengali.
When her mother has a heart attack, Rukshana returns to Dhaka to be with her family. Then she calls Arif. Her parents have taken her mobile and her passport. And they won't let her leave the house. She's very scared.
Arif ...Richard Sumitro,
James ...Tony Bell,
Rukhsana ...Nisha Nayar,
Munera ...Nina Wadia,
Shaqueeb ...Shiv Grewal ,
Mother/Nurse ...Shobu Kapur,
Cabbie/ Priest ...Bhasker Patel.
Written by Tanika Gupta.
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer.
8 Sep 10 Stopgap
By Julie Mayhew.
New graduate Max takes a temp job while on her way to bigger things. She considers her colleague Emma to be a victim of dull office life, but Emma's secret postcards tell a very different story.
Emma ..... Liz White,
Max...... Claire Harry,
Ian..... Iain Batchelor.
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer.
Radio 4 - 2012-01-11, 23:00 - Tina C's Global Depression Tour
Country legend Tina C challenges the Secretary for the US Treasury, the Chairman of the
Federal Reserve and the former CEO of Goldman Sachs that where they
have failed, she can come up with a solution to the Global Recession,
and sets off on a six country tour to prove it. With guest
appearances from economists and financial journalists, including Will
Hutton, Paul Mason and Gillian Tett. This week she visits
the United States.
Tina C ...Christopher
Green, with Gillian Tett, Victoria Inez Hardy and James Lailey. Musical
arrangements by Duncan Walsh Atkins and Christopher Green. Produced by
Jeremy Mortimer.
Radio 4 -2012-02-06, 10:45 - 15 Minute Drama- Dickens in London
A Not-Overly-Particularly-Taken-Care-of Boy. By Michael Eaton. Five
short plays broadcast to mark the bi-centenary of Charles Dickens's
birth.The theme of these plays is the Dickens's changing relationship
with the city that fired his imagination. Each of the plays tells a
unified, 'stand-alone' story, but it also contributes to an
over-arching narrative - organised around the sounds of the city and
the life story of the man whose footsteps pounded those streets.
Based on 'Gone Astray' -written in 1853, 'The Pantomime of Life',
written in 1837 and 'Meditations In Monmouth Street', from Sketches by
Boz.
CastBoy ..... Hugo
Docking, Young Gentleman ..... Samuel Barnett, Street Arab ..... Ryan
Watson, Uncle ..... Sam Dale, Gog ..... Jude Akuwudike, Lad ..... Henry
Devas, Judge / Magog ..... Sean Baker, Mother / Clothes Shop Woman .....
Joanna Monro, Wife ..... Deeivya Meir, Pal ..... Iain Batchelor. Music by
Neil Brand. Directed by Jeremy Mortimer.
Radio 4 - 2012-03-06 - Afternoon Drama: The Tobacco Merchant's Lawyer
Glasgow 1780. Lawyer
Enoch Dalmellington represents the ambiguities of Scottish society
since the Union. He detests the corruption of Glasgow's merchants,
but can't resist being bought off by them; he dreams of Scottish
independence, but is too canny to mention it. And there's a wake-up
call to a city whose history has always been more rich, varied and
morally ambiguous than the dominant narrative of victimhood allows.
Dalmellington ..... Ian
McDiarmid. Produced by Jeremy Mortimer.
Radio 4 - 2012-04-01 - Classic Serial - Plantagenet: Ser 3, Henry V - True Believers
By Mike Walker, inspired by Holinshed's Chronicles. Luke Treadaway, Al
Weaver and Carl Prekopp play Henry the Fifth, Henry the
Sixth and Richard the Third in the conclusion to Mike Walker's
dramatic chronicle of the Plantagenets. The series charts the ultimate end of the
first great dynasty of English kings.
Ep. 1: Young prince Hal will inherit an
unstable throne, and a kingdom riven with heresy and rebellion.
Victory over the rebel Hotspur, and then the French, will bring peace
to England and glory to the king - but at what cost to the man?
Hal ...Luke
Treadaway, Catherine...Lydia Leonard, Thomas of Earlham...James Lailey, Sir
John Oldcastle...Nicky Henson, Henry IV...Paul Moriarty, Badby...Simon
Bubb, Bradmore...Carl Prekopp, with Rikki Lawton, Gerard McDermott and
Christopher Webster. Produced by Jeremy Mortimer and Sasha Yevtushenko.
Radio 4 - 2012-04-15: Classic Serial- Plantagenet: Richard III
The Three Brothers. By Mike Walker. Despite his rebellious brother
Clarence, and the formidable dowager Queen Margaret, Edward IV
manages to bring a modicum of stability to the kingdom of England.
But discontent at the power of his wife and her family erupt into
civil war after his death, and his brother Richard is forced to take
increasingly drastic steps to uphold Plantagenet power.The final
episode of the series.
Queen Elizabeth...Nancy
Carroll, Edward 4th...Simon Bubb, Richard 3rd...Carl
Prekopp, Clarence...Christopher Webster, Margaret...Aimee Ffion
Edwards, Warwick...Gerard McDermott, Stafford...Adam
Billington, Lewis...James Lailey, Bishop...Paul Moriarty. Produced by
Jeremy Mortimer and Sasha Yevtushenko.
Radio 4 - 2012-04-21 14:30 - Saturday Drama: An Inspector Calls
By J. B. Priestley.The Birlings are
celebrating the engagement of their daughter Sheila when a police
Inspector calls. Each member of the family is questioned about their
relationship with a young woman, Eva Smith. And they each have to
face up to their role in her tragic story.
Inspector Goole ...
Toby Jones, Arthur Birling....David Calder, Sibyl Birling...Frances
Barber, Sheila Birling ... Morvern Christie, Eric Birling ... Sam
Alexande, Gerald Croft ...Geoffrey Streatfeild, Edna... Vineeta Rishi.
Produced by Jeremy Mortimer.
Radio 4 2012-06-29 Friday Drama - Four Trees down from Ponte Sisto
Twenty-five years agoin Rome, an American student named Geoffrey Charde fell to his death
from a wall above the river Tiber, late at night and with no
witnesses, four trees down from Ponte Sisto. Since then, his mother,
the poet Sharon Charde has been writing her way through all the
dimensions of her son's death. Adapted and composed
for radio by Gregory Whitehead. Performed by Anne Undeland. Producer
Jeremy Mortimer.
Radio 4 2012-10-03 Afternoon Drama - A Chaos of Wealth and Want
By Penny Gold. Henry Mayhew dedicated his life to recording the testimony of the poor and dispossessed in
1850's London. But he never offered them charity. Until he met Mouse.
Henry Mayhew...................... David Haig
Jane Mayhew...................... Alison Pettit
Jack...................... Steven Webb
Mouse...................... Sam Alexander
Sal...................... Joanna Monroe
Arthur...................... Sam Dale
Actor...................... Keely Beresford
Actor...................... Michael Shelford
Actor...................... Vineeta Rishi
Producer...................... Jeremy Mortimer
Radio 4 - 2012-11-25: Classic Serial - The Count of Monte Cristo,1
By Alexandre Dumas, adapted for radio by Sebastian Baczkiewicz.At the age of nineteen,
seaman Edmond Dantès has a charmed life - about to be
promoted to Captain, and engaged to the beautiful Mercedès.
But Marseilles in 1815 is a dangerous place, and three of Dantes'
acquaintances set in train a chain of events that will lead Edmond to
fourteen years of solitary confinement in the notorious Chateau D'If.
Edmond Dantes .................... Iain Glen
Haydee.................... Jane Lapotaire
Abbe Faria.................... Richard Johnson
Monsieur Morrell.................... Robert Blythe
Danglars.................... Toby Jones
Fernand.................... Zubin Varla
Caderousse.................... Ben Crowe
Jacopo.................... Joe Sims
Captain Patin.................... Patrick Brennan
Albert de Morcerf.................... Will Howard
Antoine.................... Will Howard
Claude.................... Paul Stonehouse
Max Morrell.................... Adam Nagaitis
Mathilde.................... Liza Sadovy
Julie Morrell.................... Eleanor Crooks
Producers.................... Jeremy Mortimer & Sasha Yevtushenko.
To coincide with the broadcast of The Count of Monte Cristo, the Book of the Week is Tom Reiss's account of the life of Alexandre Dumas's father - General Alex Dumas.
From Gillian Reynolds' radio review, DT, 7 Jan 13:
Jeremy Mortimer leaves the BBC in March but he has more plays to be broadcast before then: a serial version of Orwell's '1984' (with Pippa Nixon), two afternoon plays about Orwell, and new plays by Craig Warner and Mark Ravenhill.
2013-06-11, A Tale of Two Cities, 5 - The Substance and the Shadow
Dickens, adap. Mike Walker. Sydney Carton is in Paris with Lucie and her father, determined to try and save Charles Darnay's life. An encounter in a Paris street with someone from the import-export trade may just provide the ghost of a chance.
Charles Dickens .................... Robert Lindsay,
Jarvis Lorry .................... Jonathan Coy,
Miss Pross .................... Alison Steadman,
Dr Alexandre Manette .................... Karl Johnson,
Lucie Manette .................... Lydia Wilson
Charles Darnay .................... Andrew Scott,
Sydney Carton .................... Paul Ready,
Therese Defarge .................... Tracy Wiles,
Jerry Cruncher .................... Carl Prekopp,
Barsad .................... Gerard McDermott,
Court President .................... Paul Moriarty,
Young Manette .................... Christopher Webster,
Young Evremonde .................... Adam Billington.
Other roles -. Rikki Lawton, Alex Rivers.
Music by Lennert Busch
Produced by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer.
2014-08-02, Saturday Drama: His Master's Voice - Archie Andrews
By James Maw and Tim Sullivan. Rob Brydon is ventriloquist Peter Brough and his doll Archie Andrews in a new play that tells the story behind one of the most successful radio shows of all time. The 1950s radio show Educating Archie, with 16 million listeners, made Peter Brough famous. The Royal Family were fans. His show introduced the world to Eric Sykes (writer), Tony Hancock (Archie's Tutor), Max Bygraves (another tutor) and Julie Andrews (Archie's girlfriend).
After eight years on radio, Educating Archie transferred to television. Then one day in 1961, Peter Brough locked the dummy in a suitcase and left him on the top of a wardrobe for forty years.
Peter Brough and Archie:........... Rob Brydon,
Peggy Brough ....... Fenella Woolgar,
Arthur Brough ....... Michael Bertenshaw,
Christopher Brough ....... Thomas Williams-Boyle,
Romey Brough ....... Eliza Harrison-Dine,
Liz and Hattie Jacques ....... Stephanie Racine,
William Haley ....... James Lailey,
Max Bygraves ....... Ewan Bailey,
Edith and cloakroom girl ....... Harriet Collings,
Producer ....... Jeremy Mortimer.
2015-03-05, 14-15 Mrs Pickwick's Papers
By Mike Walker. Mrs Joyce Pickwick, roving commissioner for local government, has been a thorn in the side of the civil service for years, and try as he might, Mr Scrope can't seem to get rid of her. But now, as Mrs P gets in too deep in an investigation into the waste disposal business, he thinks he is in with a chance.
Mrs Pickwick ......... Annette Badland,
Sam Weller ....... Susan Wokoma
Tracy Tupman ....... Jane Slavin ,
Gus Snodgrass ........ Stephen Critchlow ,
Mr Legion .......... Stephen Critchlow ,
Scrope ......... Sam Dale ,
Alfie 'Jingle' Bell ....... Ian Conningham,
Producer...... Jeremy Mortimer.
2016-09-15, 19-45 Letters from Inside
By Tahmima Anam and read by her. A letter to her unborn child. Inspired by Oscar Wilde's De Profundis written in Reading Prison in 1897. Oscar was jailed between 1895 and 1897. This is part of a series of 5 broadcasts related to his time in Reading Prison.
Produced by Barney Rowntree and Jeremy Mortimer.
Executive Producer: Joby Waldman.
Indie (Reduced Listening).
2017-10-04, 14-15 The Slow Kapow
By Ed Harris. An unexpected event at school gives Ed special powers - like turning into a minotaur. Comic drama.
Ed ........ Ed Harris,
Ricky ....... Carl Prekopp,
JJ ........ Ewan Bailey,
Expert ....... Clare Corbett,
with
Fred Woodley Evans,
Alexandra Parry and
Aslan Ntumba.
Producer..... Jeremy Mortimer.
2017-12-02, Friday Drama: God's President: Mugabe of Zimbabwe
By Kwame Kwei-Armah. The drama tells the story of the Lancaster House negotiations and the way Zimbabwe became independent. In 1980, the country voted for Robert Mugabe to head the first independent government. The Lancaster House Agreement brought independence to Rhodesia following Ian Smith's Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965.
Robert Mugabe .... Lucian Msamati,
Edgar Tekere ..... Danny Sapani ,
Bishop Muzorewa ..... Chuk Iwuji,
Lord Carrington ..... Richard Cordery
Robin Renwick ..... Tony Bell,
Joshua Nkomo ..... Jude Akuwudike
Ian Smith ..... William Gaminara ,
Sir Shridath Ramphal ..... Kwame Kwei-Armah,
Kenneth Kaunda ..... Ben Onwukwe
Bob Marley ..... Lloyd Thomas,
With Sean Baker, David Seddon, Alison Pettit.
Produced by Jeremy Mortimer.
23 Sep 23: Saturday Play - Kaleidoscope 3
By Tina Pepler. Set in February 2023, a new play to mark the BBC Centenary of radio drama about the early years of the wireless.
In 1928, radio producer and WW1 pilot Lance Sieveking’s play Kaleidoscope told the story of the life of a man from the cradle to the grave. Sieveking wrote about the experience of using the sound mixing panel for the first time. “I felt exactly as I felt on that cold bright morning when I had been told to take the aeroplane into the air alone for the first time. Exactly.”
A hundred years later, sound designer Iris finds herself following Sieveking’s path in the air, and on the air waves.
Iris .…. Scarlett Brookes,
Lance Sieveking .…. David Haig,
Tom ….. David Kirkbride,
David ….. Sam Troughton,
Selin ….. Elif Knight,
Cassie ….. Lucy Reynolds.
Sound design by Alisdair McGregor and Calum Perrin.
Production Assistant Annie Keates Thorpe.
Directed and produced by Jeremy Mortimer.
Indie (Reduced Listening).
