Molesworth: A BBC Radio Collection - Geoffrey Willans, Simon Brett Audiobook

Written by Geoffrey Willans, Simon Brett
Read by Griff Rhys Jones, Willie Rushton, Clive Swift, Penelope Nice, full cast
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 128 Kbps
Dramatization

Molesworth: A BBC Radio Collection
Down with Skool!, How to Be Topp & More
By: Geoffrey Willans, Simon Brett
Narrated by: Griff Rhys Jones, Willie Rushton, Clive Swift, Penelope Nice, full cast
Length: 3 hrs and 58 mins
Radio/TV Program
Release date: 25-05-2023
Language: English
Publisher: BBC Audio

A collection of BBC readings and dramas celebrating the much-loved schoolboy terror.

First featured in five books by Geoffrey Willans, with cartoon illustrations by Ronald Searle, Nigel Molesworth is one of the funniest comic creations in literature. A superbly satirical chronicler of 1950s England, he influenced a generation with his anarchic take on life.

These wonderfully entertaining recordings show the self-proclaimed ‘curse of St Custard’s’, at his very best. In Down with Skool! & How to Be Topp, based on the first two Molesworth books and read by Griff Rhys Jones, he gives us the lowdown on the Head Beak, masters, bullies and lessons - and offers his inimitable advice for tiny pupils on how to survive the first term.

Simon Brett’s sequel, Molesworth, finds the onetime ‘goriller of 3B’ now all grown up. Middle- aged and still surrounded by many of the characters from his youth, he’s as keen as ever to share his wisdom. Across four episodes, he presents a guide to the home, the office, the arts and leisure. Willie Rushton stars in this full-cast drama, with a cast including Clive Swift and Penelope Nice.

Topping off our collection is The Molesworth Report: How to Be Topp, a celebration and philosophical assessment - ahem! - of Nigel Molesworth by some of his fondest fans. ‘I couldn’t live with someone who didn’t enjoy the Molesworth books’, says the poet Wendy Cope. John Walsh, Sir Tim Rice and Russell Davies also pay tribute to the world-weary, ink-spattered schoolboy, whose comic misspellings, mangling of English and Latin and detestation of swots, snekes and oiks gave the world a cache of unforgettable images and catchphrases.

Credits

Down with Skool! & How to Be Topp

Read by Griff Rhys Jones

Abridged by Wendy Cope

Based on the books by Geoffrey Willans

Produced by Susan Roberts

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13-21 August 1991

Molesworth

Molesworth - Willie Rushton

Grimes - Clive Swift

Louise - Penelope Nice

Gillibrand/Darryl - Robert Harley

Peason/Grabber - Bob Sinfield

Fotherington-Thomas - Phil Nice

Arabella/Carole/Lucinda/Lady Eiderdown - Chrissy Roberts

Written by Simon Brett and based on characters created by Geoffrey Willans and Ronald Searle

Music by Oonagh Bernon

Produced by Mark Robson

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 March-13 April 1987

The Molesworth Report: How to Be Topp

With Wendy Cope, John Walsh, Sir Tim Rice and Russell Davies

Produced by Penny Arnold

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 May 2004

Cover illustration by permission of the Ronald Searle Estate

©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd