Listen free for 30 days
-
The Dick Francis BBC Radio Drama Collection
- Six Full-Cast Dramatisations
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Nigel Havers, full cast, Siân Phillips, Francis Matthews, Tony Osoba, Mick Ford, Hywell Bennett, Eric Allan
- Length: 13 hrs and 27 mins
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for £25.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
Fast-paced radio dramatisations of six of Dick Francis's classic racing thrillers, plus bonus documentary.
Enquiry
After riding the favourite into second place, jockey Kelly Hughes loses his licence. But he didn't throw the race and is determined to find out who framed him....
Rat Race
A cushy job transporting passengers between racecourses turns dangerous for pilot Matt Shore when his plane explodes and he's embroiled in a deadly plot.
Bonecrack
Abducted by masked men, Neil Griffon is faced with a deadly ultimatum - obey the instructions of a ruthless crime czar, or risk the destruction of his father's racing stables.
Whip Hand
Disabled ex-jockey turned investigator Sid Halley is faced with a triple threat when he is asked to guard a horse, probe a suspicious syndicate and find a swindler.
Proof
When a party to celebrate the success of the racing season ends in tragedy, wine dealer and amateur sleuth Tony Beach investigates.
Bolt
Asked by a princess to fend off a dangerous cousin who is making threats, Kit Fielding agrees to help. But he also has problems of his own to deal with....
Among the casts of these six action-packed adaptations are Bill Nighy, Nigel Havers and Siân Phillips.
Also included is a bonus episode of the Radio 4 series Great Lives, presented by Matthew Parris, in which Francis's biographer Graham Lord, chairman of the British Horseracing Board Martin Broughton and racing correspondent Jonathan Powell explore the life and work of the champion thriller writer.
Please note that due to the age of some of these recordings, sound quality may vary.
More from the same
What listeners say about The Dick Francis BBC Radio Drama Collection
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- LizzyL
- 27-02-22
I didn't like the format of this book.
I just didn't like the format of this book. There is Too much background noise, so I won't listen any more!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jerapah
- 10-04-23
Fun Nostalgia
Very dated. I loved the books at the time, but the books/plots were always thin … and these dramatisations are even thinner. A fun background listen, but nothing more.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ann Binns
- 17-09-21
Good value
Lots of stories included, with only minor adjustments to plots and very well done. The included Hret Lives was interesting
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Miss J Arnold
- 07-05-23
Weird volune
Loved the books but not these dramatisations.
I also struggled with volume, very variable. Some bits I had to turn right up, then someone would shout and it would then be too loud. This became a preoccupation.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Bibi Green
- 17-04-22
A bit dated!
Some of these were better than others, but overall they all seemed a bit dated. There was also quite a bit of unconvincing acting throughout.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mandy P
- 21-03-22
poor sound quality and production
terrible recording, and production speech inaudible and fluctuates so constant adjustment needed.A shame because usually enjoy dick Francis.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Neil
- 05-06-23
Intriguing Great Lives Episode
The radio plays are followed by an episode of Great Lives with Matthew Parris which I found fascinating.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Archer10
- 01-06-23
A must for fans
I didn’t have any trouble with volume, as other reviewers have said - I listen on an iPhone at night in bed. I thoroughly enjoyed the dramas but I am a big fan of Dick Francis’ books too. I guess they are a bit dated in places, but so is Pride and Prejudice…!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- IWFIcon
- 15-05-23
Great collection
Ignoring the "great lives" piece at the end which takes delight in hammering home that Dick Francis (probably) didn't write his own books - his wife was responsible - this is a good set of six full-cast dramatisations of his work,
Many are not themselves about "racing" in any real sense but just happen to be set in and around racing.
I found all six entertaining and worth the listen. Some great names bring life to their parts and whilst the stories are not exactly intricate mysteries that need careful attention to pick apart, they are fun and entertaining and offer up just enough twists and turns to keep you going,
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- mrs ce horton
- 09-01-23
First class storytelling as ever
Love the drama and brilliant of its time acting and accents. Some greats of the 60’s and 70’s British acting elite come together to tell the gripping and first class stories from the one and only, master of the racing thriller, Dick Francis.
A riotous read, racing along at a flat out gallop. Brilliant.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- T.W.
- 29-04-22
I love Dick Francis....but this..
very hard to listen to... volume up, down, all around no consistency...I get it was diff ppl reading but really hard to follow ...some so low you crank it up to even hear then they blast your ears with music...not happy...I want to hear the stories. but I want my credit back also....
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Lyn
- 17-03-22
Sound volume uneven and chapter headings bloated
Overall I enjoyed this collection especially as at least 3 titles are not yet available standalone on Audible.. However I found the voice volumes very uneven and often too soft to really hear. Sound effects often overly loud. The chapter/part headings annoyed me...why the repetitive titles and performers, not to mention the very long and loud music.
There were some very interesting story edits especially in 'Proof' which I failed to see any great purpose in..
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Johnnie Walker
- 23-02-22
Doesn't really work
If you already know the Dick Francis novel, you can make sense of the broadcast but it feels very shallow. If you do not know the novel, you will have a difficult time even understanding the plot.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- bda31175
- 17-09-22
Fun.
I discovered Dick Francis along with the proliferation of sports gambling in the US. His stories center around the British horse racing scene that I've learned has been around at least since Wodehouse. The novels are very good and the radio adaptations are fun too. From the first radio play to the second you can hear the differences in production, one very starched collar, the next Miami vice in the rain. Highly recommended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- K. Lange
- 03-06-22
Real Good stuff
Good stories, good actors. A nice way to spend your alone time. These are all about horse racing, but then you learn something that way too.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!