Listen to a sample
Arthur
- Narrator
- various
- Publisher
- BBC Audio
- Publish Date
- 20 March 2025
- Run Time
- 4 hours 22 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
Ben Whishaw and Philip Glenister star in these six plays telling the story of the fabled 5th Century king.
Britain, 493 AD. When 17-year-old stable boy Arran is visited by Merlin, he is forced to confront his true origins and seize his destiny. Pulling the sword from the stone, he is proclaimed King Arthur – but the tribal leaders refuse to acknowledge him, and the country is plunged into civil war. With Merlin’s help, Arthur travels to the Sacred Grove, where the Lady of the Lake presents him with the magical sword Excalibur.
Seven years later, Arthur holds court at Camelot, ruling as King with his Queen, Gwenfar, by his side. The kingdom is at peace – but this fragile stability cannot last, and Arthur’s attempts to usher in a new golden age are thwarted by rebellion, betrayal, treason and his own fatal human weakness…
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz and Steve May, these gripping plays take in all the famous Arthurian legends, from Lanslot’s tryst with Gwenfar to the quest for the Holy Grail. Ben Whishaw and Philip Glenister star as Arthur, with Ian McDiarmid as Merlin, Jane Lapotaire as Morgan, Eve Myles as Gwenfar and Andrew Scarborough as Lanslot.
Production credits
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz and Steve May
Directed by Gordon House
Produced by Gordon House and Jeremy Mortimer
Music by Zbigniew Preisner, with additional music by Lucinda Mason Brown
Cast
Morgan – Jane Lapotaire
Arthur – Ben Whishaw/Philip Glenister
Merlin – Ian McDiarmid
Young Morgan – Eve Best
Gaura – Pam Ferris
Ector – James Laurenson
Keir – Nicholas Boulton
Bryce – Christian Rodska
Kerwyn/Vespan – Stephen Hogan
Soldiers – Damian Lynch, Robert Hastie & Jason Chan
Bedvere – Shaun Dooley
Lot – Clive Russell
Rhyannon – Emily Wachter
Aidan – Phillip Fox
Young Gwenfar – Alice Ford
Gwenfar – Eve Myles
Leodegrance – Phillip Joseph
Bors/Servant – Robert Hastie
Maura – Alex Tregear
Lanslot – Andrew Scarborough
Elaine – Kaye Wragg
King Pellyn – Gerard McDermott
Mordred – Stuart McLoughlin
Galhot – Liam Garrlgan
Ossa – Damian Lynch
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 October-26 November 2004
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Sebastian Baczkiewicz and Steve May
- Narrator
- various
- Duration
- 4 hours 22 minutes
- Release Date
- 20 March 2025
- ISBN
- 9781787533394
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- BBC Audio
- Genre
- Plays, playscripts, drama, Radio plays, scripts and performances, Performing arts genres: Drama, Traditional or cultural fiction and true stories, tales and retellings, Historical fiction, Historical adventure fiction
Synopsis
Ben Whishaw and Philip Glenister star in these six plays telling the story of the fabled 5th Century king.Britain, 493 AD. When 17-year-old stable boy Arran is visited by Merlin, he is forced to confront his true origins and seize his destiny. Pulling the sword from the stone, he is proclaimed King Arthur – but the tribal leaders refuse to acknowledge him, and the country is plunged into civil war. With Merlin’s help, Arthur travels to the Sacred Grove, where the Lady of the Lake presents him with the magical sword Excalibur.Seven years later, Arthur holds court at Camelot, ruling as King with his Queen, Gwenfar, by his side. The kingdom is at peace – but this fragile stability cannot last, and Arthur’s attempts to usher in a new golden age are thwarted by rebellion, betrayal, treason and his own fatal human weakness…Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz and Steve May, these gripping plays take in all the famous Arthurian legends, from Lanslot’s tryst with Gwenfar to the quest for the Holy Grail. Ben Whishaw and Philip Glenister star as Arthur, with Ian McDiarmid as Merlin, Jane Lapotaire as Morgan, Eve Myles as Gwenfar and Andrew Scarborough as Lanslot.Production creditsWritten by Sebastian Baczkiewicz and Steve MayDirected by Gordon HouseProduced by Gordon House and Jeremy MortimerMusic by Zbigniew Preisner, with additional music by Lucinda Mason BrownCastMorgan – Jane LapotaireArthur – Ben Whishaw/Philip GlenisterMerlin – Ian McDiarmidYoung Morgan – Eve BestGaura – Pam FerrisEctor – James LaurensonKeir – Nicholas BoultonBryce – Christian RodskaKerwyn/Vespan – Stephen HoganSoldiers – Damian Lynch, Robert Hastie & Jason ChanBedvere – Shaun DooleyLot – Clive RussellRhyannon – Emily WachterAidan – Phillip FoxYoung Gwenfar – Alice FordGwenfar – Eve MylesLeodegrance – Phillip JosephBors/Servant – Robert HastieMaura – Alex TregearLanslot – Andrew ScarboroughElaine – Kaye WraggKing Pellyn – Gerard McDermottMordred – Stuart McLoughlinGalhot – Liam GarrlganOssa – Damian LynchFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 October-26 November 2004© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.