Showing results by narrator "Jim Broadbent" in All Categories

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 is a letter addressed to Harold from a woman he hasn't seen or heard from in 20 years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. Harold pens a quick reply and, leaving Maureen to her chores, heads to the corner mailbox. But then Harold has a chance encounter, one that convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person.

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.

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.

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.

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! 

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). 

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.

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.

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.

Percy the park keeper has been busy in his workshop for days. As his animal friends try to guess what he is making, Percy suddenly emerges sitting on top of a very strange machine. The animals jump aboard for what turns out to be a very bumpy ride.

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....

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?

Paddington is excited to be organising an Easter egg hunt for his neighbours. But, from finding empty supermarket shelves, to buying a box of broken Easter eggs, Paddington wonders if the hunt can ever go ahead. That is, until Mr Gruber’s book on Roman mosaics and some sticky marmalade give him a brilliant idea.

Three favourite stories of Paddington, the beloved classic bear from Darkest Peru, brought together in one volume. Paddington is now a major movie star! This special edition brings together three favourite classic adventures – Paddington in the Garden, Paddington at the Carnival and Paddington and the Grand Tour. Whether he is gardening, walking along the canal or seeing the sights of London – as always – there is never a dull moment when Paddington is around!

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. 

Percy the Park Keeper is planning a treasure hunt. All his animal friends are to follow a trail of clues around the park, and the first one to reach the end will find the treasure! The animals are so excited they can’t wait for the hunt to begin.

It’s a beautiful spring morning and a perfect opportunity for Percy to trim the overgrown maze. The animals decide to have some fun hiding on the stone lion in the middle of the maze, to surprise Percy. But the surprise is on them when they fall asleep and Percy, finding them, hides behind the statue and pretends his voice is the lion’s telling them to wake up. Percy has unravelled some string through the maze to help him find the way out, but the squirrel, thinking he is helping, has wound the string into a ball. Help Percy and his friends find the way out of the park.

Percy the park keeper is having a day off. It is a perfect day for doing nothing. But Percy’s peaceful picnic is disturbed when a little rabbit takes an unexpected tumble and needs help.

A storm is raging outside, and Percy the park keeper is having a sleepless night. When he gets up the following morning, Percy finds that the old oak tree has been blown down. It is a disaster for his animal friends who live there, but Percy is soon devising a plan to help his little friends find new homes.

Percy the park keeper always feeds the animals in the park where he lives. But one cold winter’s night, Percy discovers that his little friends need more than food and he must find a way to help them.