skip to main |
skip to sidebar
GEORGE ORWELL - ANIMAL FARM (320kbs-m4a/200mb/1hr27mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 24th August 2025
George Orwell described his short novel as a fairy story, but it's a satire on the Soviet Communist system.
But 'Animal Farm' still reads as a powerful warning despite all the changes in world politics since it was first published in 1945.
Of course, there is no real George Orwell - it was the pen name of Eric Blair - a writer and political commentator.
Ever since his early death in 1950, he has been the darling of some on both the left and the right of British politics - whilst being reviled by others.
For all the beautiful simplicity of his writing and storytelling Orwell/Blair is a contradictory figure - an anti-establishment, pro-English, ex-Etonian ex-policeman and socialist, who was ardently anti-authoritarian. He was as anti-fascist as he was anti-communist, a former Spanish Civil War soldier who was anti-war but pro the Second World War.
The author dramatised his own novel
One night, on an English farm, Major the boar recounts his vision of an utopia where his fellow creatures own the land along with the means of production and are no longer the slaves of humans.
Before long, his dream comes true and for a short while all animals really are equal. But the clever pigs educate themselves and soon learn how to extend their own power, inevitably at the expense of the rest of the community.
Narrated by Tamsin Greig.
Napoleon .....Nicky Henson
Squealer ..... Toby Jones
Snowball ..... Patrick Brennan
Boxer ..... Ralph Ineson
Clover ..... Liza Sadovy
Major ..... Robert Blythe
Benjamin ..... Paul Stonehouse
Muriel ..... Sarah Thom
Mollie ..... Lizzy Watts
With:
Eleanor Crooks
Ben Crowe
Will Howard
Gerard McDermott
Adam Nagaitis
Stephanie Racine
Musical Director: Neil Brand
Director Alison Hindell
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2013.
GREAT LIVES SERIES 28 - ALAN JOHNSON ON GEORGE ORWELL (320kbs-m4a/63mb/27mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 26th August 2021
Whilst at school, a young Alan Johnson was given some money by a teacher and told to go and buy four copies of any book for the school library. He headed down the Kings Road in Chelsea, stopping only for a sly cigarette along the way. Having already read 'Animal Farm', he picked 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying' and yearned for the life of lead character Gordon Comstock.
In conversation with Matthew Parris, former Home Secretary Alan Johnson explains why Orwell was crucial to his education and political development. He's surprised to learn that Orwell is not on the National Curriculum, and insists that Orwell would have hated I.D. cards. They're joined by Jean Seaton, Professor of Media History at the University of Westminster and Chair of the Orwell Prize.
Orwell was in the news recently when the outgoing Director-General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, turned down a proposal to erect a statue of George Orwell outside BBC Broadcasting House, reportedly telling Joan Bakewell that it was 'far too Left-wing an idea.'
Producers: Beatrice Fenton and Toby Field.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.
GEORGE ORWELL - NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR (320kbs-m4a/261mb/1hr54mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 29th & 30th January 2020
Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth. Sick and separated from his wife, he lives alone in a one-room flat in Victory Mansions in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal.
One of the most influential novels of the 20th century, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four was first published in 1949. Dramatised by Jonathan Holloway.
Winston Smith ... Christopher Eccleston
Julia ... Pippa Nixon
O'Brien ... Tim Pigott-Smith
Parsons ... Kim Wall
Charrington ... Robert Blythe
Syme ... Sam Alexander
Prostitute ... Susie Riddell
With Christine Absalom, Don Gilet, Joe Sims and Joshua Swinney
Director: Jeremy Mortimer
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2013.
NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR - 1. EPISODE 1 (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 29th January 2020
When Winston finds love, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities.
NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR - 2. EPISODE 2 (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 30th January 2020
Winston Smith has found love and comfort with Julia, and now they are determined to join the Brotherhood, a secret, counter-revolutionary organisation pledged to destroy The Party. But for The Party's enemies, deep in the Ministry of Love, there is the threat of Room 101.