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Big Broadcast
- Author
- Neil Brand
- Narrator
- various
- Publisher
- BBC Audio
- Publish Date
- 16 February 2023
- Run Time
- 4 hours 3 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
The fast-talking glamorous musical drama set in a 1930s Chicago radio studio
A radio caper set in Hollywood's Golden Age, Big Broadcast sees radio station WKAZ's most successful programme, 'The Hour of Charm', face trouble from gangsters, sponsors, moral guardians and politics, not to mention Chicago's own winters.
When an acrimonious songwriting couple are facing threats from notorious gangster Brannigan, will a song save the day? Sometimes the hour can seem long when you're radio staff - so what happens when Chicago snow traps you in the building completely? A new manager plans to change the whole format of the show, but a deep-voiced celebrity could use his charm to stop the manager in his tracks. And when the station is threatened with closure by the League of Decency, Katharine Hepburn herself comes to the rescue with her inimitable style.
Starring Samantha Spiro (Sex Education, Game of Thrones), Josie Lawrence (Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Eastenders), and Susannah Fielding (This Time with Alan Partridge, Black Mirror), this joyful, nostalgic musical drama will transport you to a different time and place.
Written by Neil Brand
Music by Neil Brand
Directed by David Hunter and Jessica Dromgoole
Cast
Samantha Spiro - Myrna (Series 2-3)
Josie Lawrence - Jean Forsythe
Nigel Harman - Grant Thornhill
Sam Dale - Arthur Clarke (Series 1-2)
Sean Baker - Brannigan
Joanna Monro - Myrna (Series 1)
Jane Whittenshaw - Sadie
Stuart McLoughlin - Billy
Jim Norton - Harry
Paul Heath - Jamie
Roslyn Hill - Georgia
Bettrys Jones - Caitlin
Ian Conningham - Doug/Jimmy Cagney/Cary Grant/Robert F. Winkler
Chris Jarman - Paul Robeson
Ryan Early - Arthur Clarke (Series 3)
Ryan Whittle - Jerry
Kerry Gooderson - Dixie
Stephen Hogan - Princeton
Emma Handy - Jess
Elizabeth Counsell - Grace Stibbens
John Lightbody - Stupendo
Lauren Cornelius - Norma Chaffey
Susannah Fielding - Katharine Hepburn
Neil McCaul - Arthur Clarke (Series 4)
Bettrys Jones - Barbara Meek
Heather Craney - Ramona Fairfax
Hasan Dixon - Jerry Soundguy
Clive Hayward - Preston Lanister
Franchi Webb - Danny Folly
BBC Singers - Margaret Cameron, Charles Gibbs, Olivia Robinson, Stephen Jeffes, Helen Neeves, Katherine Nicholson, Chris Bowen, Jamie W Hall, Nancy Cole, Jimmy Holliday
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:
1 June 2011 (Series 1)
24 December - 25 December 2014 (Series 2)
21 October - 28 October 2018 (Series 3)
20 December - 27 December 2020 (Series 4)
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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Details
- Author
- Neil Brand
- Narrator
- various
- Duration
- 4 hours 3 minutes
- Release Date
- 16 February 2023
- ISBN
- 9781529906332
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- BBC Audio
- Genre
- Humorous fiction, Satirical fiction and parodies, Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general
Synopsis
The fast-talking glamorous musical drama set in a 1930s Chicago radio studioA radio caper set in Hollywood's Golden Age, Big Broadcast sees radio station WKAZ's most successful programme, 'The Hour of Charm', face trouble from gangsters, sponsors, moral guardians and politics, not to mention Chicago's own winters.When an acrimonious songwriting couple are facing threats from notorious gangster Brannigan, will a song save the day? Sometimes the hour can seem long when you're radio staff - so what happens when Chicago snow traps you in the building completely? A new manager plans to change the whole format of the show, but a deep-voiced celebrity could use his charm to stop the manager in his tracks. And when the station is threatened with closure by the League of Decency, Katharine Hepburn herself comes to the rescue with her inimitable style.Starring Samantha Spiro (Sex Education, Game of Thrones), Josie Lawrence (Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Eastenders), and Susannah Fielding (This Time with Alan Partridge, Black Mirror), this joyful, nostalgic musical drama will transport you to a different time and place.Written by Neil BrandMusic by Neil BrandDirected by David Hunter and Jessica DromgooleCast Samantha Spiro - Myrna (Series 2-3)Josie Lawrence - Jean ForsytheNigel Harman - Grant ThornhillSam Dale - Arthur Clarke (Series 1-2)Sean Baker - BranniganJoanna Monro - Myrna (Series 1)Jane Whittenshaw - SadieStuart McLoughlin - Billy Jim Norton - HarryPaul Heath - JamieRoslyn Hill - GeorgiaBettrys Jones - CaitlinIan Conningham - Doug/Jimmy Cagney/Cary Grant/Robert F. WinklerChris Jarman - Paul RobesonRyan Early - Arthur Clarke (Series 3)Ryan Whittle - JerryKerry Gooderson - DixieStephen Hogan - PrincetonEmma Handy - JessElizabeth Counsell - Grace StibbensJohn Lightbody - StupendoLauren Cornelius - Norma ChaffeySusannah Fielding - Katharine HepburnNeil McCaul - Arthur Clarke (Series 4)Bettrys Jones - Barbara MeekHeather Craney - Ramona FairfaxHasan Dixon - Jerry SoundguyClive Hayward - Preston LanisterFranchi Webb - Danny FollyBBC Singers - Margaret Cameron, Charles Gibbs, Olivia Robinson, Stephen Jeffes, Helen Neeves, Katherine Nicholson, Chris Bowen, Jamie W Hall, Nancy Cole, Jimmy HollidayFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:1 June 2011 (Series 1)24 December - 25 December 2014 (Series 2)21 October - 28 October 2018 (Series 3)20 December - 27 December 2020 (Series 4)©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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