Bleak Expectations

The Complete BBC Radio 4 Series

By: Mark Evans

Narrated by: Anthony Head, Celia Imrie, David Mitchell, Geoffrey Whitehead, Jane Asher, Raquel Cassidy, Richard Johnson

The complete collected series 1-5 of the gloriously daft Victorian romp Bleak Expectations. 

Gasp at the evil Mr Gently Benevolent, played by Mr Anthony Head! Weep at the trials of our young hero, Pip Bin, played by Master Tom Allen! Be moved to joy and sorrow by the remarkable narration of Mr Richard Johnson! Swoon at the fragile beauty of Pip's poor mama, played by Miss Celia Imrie! Wonder at the thespian prowess of Mr Geoffrey Whitehead as six different siblings! Follow the remarkable adventures of young Pip Bin as he struggles to rescue himself and his sisters from the schemes of his evil and badly named guardian, Mr Gently Benevolent, and the blood-curdling Hardthrasher family. 

Immerse yourself in a timeless epic featuring terrifying schools, even worse prisons, opium dens, disguises, court cases, shipwrecks, underwater squirrels and swashbuckling long-lost aunts. Revel in the many fine quips, characters and scenarios written by Mr Mark Evans and produced by Mr Gareth Edwards, previously renowned for their craftsmanship on the works of Messrs Mitchell and Webb. 

Series 1: Televised as The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff on the BBC. Episodes: 'A Childhood Cruelly Kippered', 'An Adolescence Utterly Trashed', 'A Youth Utterly Crocked', 'A Young Adult Bitterly Dismantled', 'A Young Love Mercilessly Dismembered', 'A Life Sadly Smashed Then Happily Restored a Bit'. 

Series 2: 'A Happy Life Cruelly Re-Kippered', 'A Re-Kippered Life Smashed Some More', 'A Recovery Made Miserable', 'A Restoration Re-Ruined Only Even Worse', 'An Already Bad Life Made Worse but Sort of on Purpose', 'A Happy Life Broken' and 'Then Mended a Bit'. 

Series 3: 'A Lovely Life Re-Kippered Again Once More', 'A Now Grim Life yet More Grimmified', 'A Sort of Fine Life De-Niced Completely', 'A Horrible Life Un-Ruined and Then Re-Ruined Again', 'An Evil Life Sort of Explained', 'Lives Lost', 'Ruined Wrecked' and 'Redeemed'. 

Series 4: 'A Tolerable Life De-Happified', 'A New-Spoiled Life Smashed Some More', 'A Wretched Life Made Much, Much Sadder', 'A Painful Life Re-Miserablised', 'A Now Tricky Life Woefully Miseried Up', 'A Life Destroyed then Repaired and Re-Happied'. 

Series 5: 'A Pleasant Yet Dull Life Re-Evilled', 'A Re-Excited Life Made Distinctly Dangerous', 'An Alrightish Life Savagely Frozen to Bits', 'A Writerly Life Made Dreadfully Different', 'A Terrifying Life Made Even Scarier a Bit Some More', 'A Loved-Up Life Potentially Totally Annihilated'. 

Audio updated as of February 2020.

©2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Delightful

Funny, punny, clever heartfelt. Great voice acting and foley work. Top marks. World liste again.

Absolutely hilarious

I have actually lost count of how often I've listened to this. It is my absolute favorite! Probably over a hundred times by now, as I used to listen to this every night while trying to fall asleep (had noisy dorm neighbours that I needed to drown out and I can't fall asleep with music on). The characters are amazing and hilarious, I cannot pick a favorite, but Anthony Head is glorious in anything he does!
After 8 years and the fact that I know it by heart, it still makes me laugh. So five stars and swans all around!

Ripping yarns meets Dickens

The selection of the cast is first class, and the performance of the cast is superb.
The audio book is hilarious from start to finish.

😂😂😂😂😂

brilliant writing brilliant casting brilliant performances

I have listened to this again and again since I first heard the show years ago. if you're not dead then you'll enjoy this immensely. you may enjoy it as well if you're dead, I can't really say.

Hilarious

I read the description for this show awhile ago and thought it sounded weird and not very funny, but recently I finally decided to give it a shot, and honestly, I can’t believe I waited this long. Bleak Expectations is brilliant, especially if you know anything at all about Victorian literature. If you’re familiar with John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme, Bleak Expectations is a bit like an extended ‘since you asked me’ sketch- satirical, punny, and more than a little absurd. I often burst out laughing in public while I’m listening because it’s just so funny. The voice acting is also excellent, especially Anthony Head. Overall, really really great.