Israbel, The Silver Sky & more

Synopsis

Five tales of time-travel, vampires, Snow White and Odysseus from the legendary Tanith LeeTanith Lee was one of the 20th century’s most influential writers of fantasy, horror and science fiction. She wrote over 90 novels and 300 short stories, as well as children’s books, poems and several episodes of Blake’s 7. Her many accolades include several World Fantasy Awards (including the Lifetime Achievement Award) and she was the first woman to win the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel. This collection contains five of her fantastic stories, including three specially written for radio.The Silver Sky – Paul Baxter, a research scientist into time-travel, makes the unilateral decision that the first test flight will be a manned one. The risk is enormous. The result is a meeting of two different worlds… Paul Darrow and Elizabeth Bell star in this 1980 audio drama, a sci-fi puzzle story set on a mysterious planet where the sea is pink and the sky silver.Israbel – Rich, lovely Israbel is the cynosure of all eyes – but as a vampire, she cannot see her own reflection. So she hires an artist to paint her portrait so that she can discover what she looks like – only for him to fall in love with her… Mark Bonnar and Claire Harry read this haunting story of dangerous obsession, abridged by Gemma Jenkins and introduced by Natalie Haynes.Red Wine – Writer Constantine hires the young, beautiful Eve Smith to type the manuscript of his autobiography. As his menacing story unfolds, she should be terrified – but her reaction is not at all what Constantine expects… Stephen Thorne and Penelope Reynolds star in this original play for radio, first broadcast in 1977.Red as Blood – A witch queen enlists the help of a hunter and a rebel angel in an attempt to rescue her stepdaughter, Bianca, from her sinister heritage. Stella Gonet reads this dark retelling of the Snow White fairy tale.Bitter Gate – In her first play for radio, Tanith Lee gives a new feminist slant to the classic myth of Odysseus’s return to Ithaka to reclaim his wife Penelope from her suitors. Stephen Thorne stars as Odysseus, with Elizabeth Bell as Penelope.Production creditsWritten by Tanith LeeThe Silver SkyPaul Baxter – Paul DarrowElzereth – Elizabeth BellDene – Simon MolloyFrancesca Baxter – Anne ReidClyde/Computer – Andy RashleighSir Arthur Maddock – John JardineJohn Lass/Technician – David FleeshmanReporter – John TalbotPhotographer/Computer – Nina HollowayNurse – Mary CunninghamTechnician – Martin OldfieldDirected by Kay PatrickMusic and effects: David Fleming-WilliamsIsrabelIntroduced by Natalie HaynesRead by Mark Bonnar and Claire HarryAbridged and produced by Gemma JenkinsRed WineConstantine/Constantine’s father/Constantine as a young man – Stephen ThorneEve/all other parts – Penelope ReynoldsDirected by Richard WortleyRed as BloodRead by Stella GonetProduced by Gemma JenkinsBitter GateOdysseus – Stephen ThornePenelope – Elizabeth BellEurymakos – Michael CochraneTelemakos – Brian HewlettGod – Gerald CrossGoddess – Jill BalconAntinous – Sean BarrettMentor – Tim FearonIrikleia – Betty BaskcombSwineherd – Anthony JacobsBeggar King – Neville JasonFirst Suitor – Nick BrimbleSecond Suitor – Tim BrownKryse – Penelope ReynoldsDirected by Richard WortleyIncidental music composed and conducted by Christos Pittas(P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd