Cate Blanchett to star in her first major radio drama The Fever for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

When John Tiffany approached us with Cate’s idea of recording The Fever, I knew listeners would love this brilliant example of powerful longform drama.

— Alison Hindell, Radio 4’s Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction

• Blanchett’s first major radio drama is a 90-minute adaptation of Wallace Shawn’s critically acclaimed play The Fever
• Jack Lowden will narrate Pretender Prince, about Bonnie Prince Charlie
• Huge hit Central Intelligence returns for series two, starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris and Johnny Flynn
• Also new from Limelight is Discretion, executively produced by Jed Mercurio in his first Radio 4 drama credit, written by Chris Brandon and Davy Banks
• The Talented Mr Shakespeare starring Mark Gatiss, and Casino Royale starring Toby Stephens and Hugh Bonneville

BBC Radio 4 has announced a raft of exciting new commissions coming soon to Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. This includes The Fever, a 90-minute radio adaptation of the critically acclaimed play by actor and playwright Wallace Shawn, starring Cate Blanchett in her first major radio drama. In The Fever, Blanchett delivers a blistering monologue, playing an unnamed woman from a privileged background who falls ill in a civil war-torn country and plummets into a feverish self-examination. Surrounded by poverty, the tortured traveller’s thoughts turn inward, contemplating her ethical relationship with the world and impact her life has had.

Alison Hindell, Radio 4’s Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction, says, “As the biggest commissioner of original audio drama, the BBC continues to invest in the future of the genre. We think carefully how we can bring the very best to our audiences, in ways which suit their listening habits, both on air and on demand on BBC Sounds. When John Tiffany approached us with Cate’s idea of recording The Fever, I knew listeners would love this brilliant example of powerful longform drama. I’m also really proud of the success of Limelight, and audiences are sure to enjoy Jack Lowden’s compelling narration of Pretender Prince. There is something here for everyone – from gripping podcast dramas to classics like King Lear, these new commissions show the versatility and variety of audio drama as a genre.”

Pretender Prince, narrated by Jack Lowden and produced by Absolutely Productions, tells the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie (Lorn MacDonald), a man who believes he is born to be King of Great Britain and to put the Catholic Stuarts back on their rightful throne. This five-part series tells the story of his doomed attempt to claim the throne and his dramatic escape.

Pretender Prince is part of the Limelight series of serial audio dramas, which launched in 2021 to bring unmissable podcast dramas to new audiences, showcasing fresh approaches to serialised storytelling from the very best new and established writing, acting and production talents. Limelight has become hugely popular with listeners, consistently ranking in the top ten most-listened-to podcasts on BBC Sounds.

Also part of Limelight is series two of hit podcast drama Central Intelligence from Goldhawk Productions, starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris, and Johnny Flynn. Central Intelligence dramatizes the true insider story of the CIA from the perspective of Eloise Page (Cattrall), one of the agency’s most powerful women. This series explores the next decade of the CIA’s history as the Cold War heats up and covers events including the failed US-backed invasion of Cuba and the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Also new from Limelight is Discretion by Hat Trick Productions, executive-produced by Jed Mercurio in his first drama for Radio 4, and written by Chris Brandon and Davy Banks. Maria Kossecka (Sinead Keenan), newly appointed Deputy Head of Mission in a former Soviet state, arrives in the country on the eve of a contentious presidential election that seems likely to install a pro-Western candidate. However, after spending an evening where she and her new boss, Ambassador James Reid (Kevin McNally), entertain this new man of the hour, Maria wakes to find he has been killed - his plane brought down in what looks like a targeted attack. Will Maria uncover the truth before civil unrest escalates?

Mark Gatiss will star as Sir Robert Cecil in The Talented Mr Shakespeare, a comic drama about the rivalry between William Shakespeare (Tom Mothersdale) and Christopher Marlowe (Arthur Hughes). It is Wilf Scolding’s first writing and directing credit for Radio 4 and is produced by Perfectly Normal Productions. The drama follows Shakespeare, a talented but incredibly pompous writer, as he stumbles home alone after being thrown out of the pub for drunken disorderliness, whilst Marlowe plots to kill him. Shakespeare fans can also look forward to a new adaptation of King Lear starring Richard Wilson, from Brill Productions. The play will be broadcast in two one-hour parts, and features music from world-renowned cellist Steven Isserlis, and also stars Greta Scacchi as Goneril, Trevor Fox as the Fool and Jos Vantyler as Edgar, with further casting to be announced.

Radio 4 has also commissioned Local Hero, a radio reimagining of Bill Forsyth’s 1983 film by Bafflegab Productions. Texan energy company executive Mac MacIntyre (Harry Lloyd) is dispatched to the tiny Scottish fishing village of Ferness to buy out the town for an oil refinery. However, the village works unexpected magic on Mac, leading him to realize that not everything of value is for sale.

Finally, Radio 4 listeners can look forward to Casino Royale, the tenth James Bond dramatisation by Martin Jarvis and Rosalind Ayres. This adaptation of Ian Fleming’s 1953 spy thriller stars Toby Stephens as James Bond, Susannah Fielding as Vesper Lynd, and Hugh Bonneville as Le Chiffre. Bond is tasked with bankrupting Le Chiffre at baccarat, leading to a thrilling confrontation at the Casino Royale.

Notes

The Fever 19th April, 15:00 – 16:30

Woman – Cate Blanchett

Directed by John Tiffany and Steven Hoggett

Produced by Susan Roberts for BBC Radio 4

Sound by Catherine Robinson and Pete Ringrose

Central Intelligence Series Two 20th June, 14:15 – 14:45

1/10

Also available as a boxset on BBC Sounds from 20th June

Kim Cattrall as Eloise Page

Ed Harris as Allen Dulles

Johnny Flynn as Richard Helms

Geoffrey Arend as Frank Wisner

Further casting TBA

Central Intelligence is written by Greg Haddrick, directed by John Scott Dryden and produced by Emma Hearn. The executive producers are Howard Stringer and Jeremy Fox. It is a Goldhawk Production for BBC Radio 4.

Discretion 11th April, 14:15 – 14:45

1/5

Also available as a boxset on BBC Sounds 11th April

Written by Chris Brandon and Davy Banks. The Executive Producer is Jed Mercurio. Produced by Hat Trick Productions for BBC Radio 4. Sound Design by John Wakefield.

Cast :

Maria - Sinead Keenan

Reid - Kevin McNally

Kathy - Kiran Sonia Sawar

Paul - Edward Hogg

Alina Natsev - Avital Lvova

Milan Ogrisovic - Laurentiu Possa

President Kokorov - John Albasiny

Bolin Wu - Lobo Chan

Maria’s Father - Piotr Baumann

Adam - Declan Rodgers

Gilroy - Sean Rigby

Nick Kim - Vincent Lai

Galina - Anna Krippa

All other roles by Eddie Toll, Ani Russo and the cast

Pretender Prince 16th May (all episodes available on BBC Sounds) 14:15 – 14:45,

1/5

Cast:

Narrator - Jack Lowden

Bonnie Prince Charlie - Lorn Macdonald

Flora MacDonald - Hannah Donaldson

Colonel John O’Sullivan - Gavin Mitchell

Lord George Murray - Robert Jack

Clan Chief MacDonald - Iain Macrae

Allan Ramsay - Kenny Blyth

Donald Cameron - Sam James Smith

Allan Cameron - Douglas Yannaghas

Catherine Cameron - Helen Mackay

Writer: Colin MacDonald

Director and producer: Bruce Young

Exec Prod: Gordon Kennedy

The Talented Mr Shakespeare 7th May, 14:15 – 15:00

Cast:

Mark Gatiss as Sir Robert Cecil

Arthur Hughes - Christopher Marlowe

Harry Kershaw - Will Kemp

Renee Lamb - Lady Audrey

Tom Mothersdale - Will Shakespeare

Alana Ramsey - Queen Elizabeth & Martha

Travis Ross - John the Messenger

Written and Directed by Wilf Scolding

Producer: David Morley

A Perfectly Normal production for BBC Radio 4

King Lear 8th June, 15:00 – 16:00, 1/2

Cast:

Richard Wilson – King Lear

Greta Scacchi - Goneril

Trevor Fox - The Fool

Jos Vantyler – Edgar

With music by Steven Isserlis. Produced by Clive Brill. A Brill production for BBC Radio 4

Local Hero 27th April, 15:00 – 16:00

Cast:

Mac - Harry Lloyd

Stella - Sophie Kennedy Clark

Danny - Greg McHugh

Marina - Kiran Sonia Sawar

Ben - Clive Russell

Happer - Harry Ditson

Roddy - John Scougall

Gideon - David Gant

Written by Marty Ross

Adapted from the film by Bill Forsyth

Editing and sound design by Charlie Brandon-King

Music by Jon Griffin

Produced by Simon Barnard

Directed by Ken Bentley

A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4

Casino Royale 20th April, 15:00 – 16:00

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

Dramatised by Archie Scottney

Directed by Martin Jarvis

Cast:

James Bond - Toby Stephens

Vesper Lynd - Susannah Fielding

Le Chiffre - Hugh Bonneville

Felix Leiter - Josh Stamberg

René Mathis - Matthew Wolf

M - John Standing

Head of Staff - Lloyd Owen

Barman - Darren Richardson

Mrs Dupont - Anna Mathias

Assassin - Andre Sogliuzzo

Nurse - Moira Quirk

Doctor - Henri Lubatti

Le Patron - Alan Shearman

Ian Fleming (Narrator) - Martin Jarvis

Other parts played by members of the company.

Original music composed and played by A-Mnemonic

Sound design: Charles Carroll, Neil Wogenson, Mark Holden

Producer: Rosalind Ayres

Director: Martin Jarvis

A Jarvis & Ayres production for BBC Radio 4