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The Dick Francis BBC Radio Drama Collection cover art

The Dick Francis BBC Radio Drama Collection

By: Dick Francis
Narrated by: Bill Nighy,Nigel Havers,full cast,Siân Phillips,Francis Matthews,Tony Osoba,Mick Ford,Hywell Bennett,Eric Allan
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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.

©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

What listeners say about The Dick Francis BBC Radio Drama Collection

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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!

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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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.

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2 people found this helpful

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Good value

Lots of stories included, with only minor adjustments to plots and very well done. The included Hret Lives was interesting

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

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.

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1 person found this helpful

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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.

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poor sound quality and production

terrible recording, and production speech inaudible and fluctuates so constant adjustment needed.A shame because usually enjoy dick Francis.

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Intriguing Great Lives Episode

The radio plays are followed by an episode of Great Lives with Matthew Parris which I found fascinating.

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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…!

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  • Overall
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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,

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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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.

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  • 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....

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  • 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..

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • 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.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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