The Last Resort & more

Synopsis

Dramatised readings from the award-winning Jan Carson, plus bonus interview with the author herselfNorthern Irish writer Jan Carson won the EU Prize for Literature 2019 for her novel The Fire Starters, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2023. Her work has been translated into over 15 languages and appeared in numerous journals and on BBC Radio 3 and 4. Contained within this collection are a selection of Carson’s captivating monologues, performed by a wealth of accomplished TV and stage actors.In Moving Mountains, a group of Ballymena locals rally together to try and save Slemish mountain, said to be where Saint Patrick had his first vision of God. Can they prevent it from being sold to a Japanese theme park? Jo Donnelly, Andrew McCracken, Ignacy Rybarczykn, Aoibhéann McCann and Michael McCondron narrate this serialised story, told from five different perspectives.UnRaveling, read by Liam Neeson, sees a former world-class pianist, now beset by dementia, reaching for the rhythm of Ravel that his fingers have not forgotten.Disappearance is at the heart of The Last Resort, ten linked tales themed around an uncanny clifftop caravan park plagued by impossible thefts. The narrators include Patrick Buchanan, Roísín Gallagher, Christopher Grant, Jo Donnelly, Ignacy Rybarczyk, Beccy Henderson, Seamus O’Hara, Carol Moore, Ian McElhinney and Dearbháile McKinney.Specially commissioned for radio and read by Roísín Gallagher, Tara Lynne O’Neill, Lisa Dwyer Hogg and Seamus O’Hara, Egg and Beans revolve around mothers and children; In Loco Parentis features a woman determined to be the World’s Best Aunt; and Shadowing Gordon finds a writer discovering that exorcising ghosts isn’t nearly as easy as it looks. Rounding off our collection, we hear Jan Carson recalling her Presbyterian childhood in Another Northern Ireland: Traybakes, as she reveals what the ladies in the church kitchen taught her about community, creativity – and finding her own voice.Production creditsWritten by Jan CarsonMoving MountainsRead by Jo Donnelly (The Lord Mayor), Andrew McCracken (Darren), Ignacy Rybarczyk (Tomasz), Aoibhéann McCann (Joss) and Michael Condron (Colin)Produced by Michael ShannonEdited by Andy MartinUnRavelingBill – Liam NeesonProduced by Justine PotterAssistant Producer: Usman MullanSound Designer and Editor: John ScottPianist: Lauryna SableviciuteThe Last ResortRead by Patrick Buchanan (Pete), Roísín Gallagher (Lois), Christopher Grant (Richard), Jo Donnelly (Anna), Ignacy Rybarczyk (Vidas), Beccy Henderson (Alma), Seamus O’Hara (Malcolm), Carol Moore (Kathleen), Ian McElhinney (John), Dearbháile McKinney (Lynette)Produced by Michael ShannonEggRead by Roísín GallagherProduced by Michael ShannonBeansRead by Tara Lynne O’NeillProduced by Michael ShannonIn Loco ParentisRead by Lisa Dwyer HoggProduced by Michael ShannonExecutive Editor: Andy MartinShadowing GordonRead by Seamus O’HaraProduced by Michael ShannonVAM: Another Northern IrelandWith Jan CarsonProduced by Ophelia Byrne and Conor Garrett‘A born storyteller’ The Guardian© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) BBC Studios Distribution Ltd