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A new Five Part series – for the BBC Limelight Podcast strand, and BBC Radio 4. (31st May 2024)
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Category Archives: radio
Broken Colours
All 3 Series of BROKEN COLOURS are now available on BBC SOUNDS
Series 3 is now available on BBC SOUNDS.
****UPDATE****. BROKEN COLOURS Series 3 will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 30th November 2023.
***UPDATE***. BROKEN COLOURS Series 2 will be broadcast on BBC RADIO 4 on the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th of December 2022. It will be available on BBC SOUNDS after it goes out. (The series has 4 x 45 min episodes.)
My new series BROKEN COLOURS is on BBC Radio 4 and available as a Podcast from Tuesday 22nd February 2022.
(On R4 it goes out every Tuesday for 5 episodes of 45 mins. On Podcast it’s 10 eps of 22 mins approx.)
“Jess meets Daniel and falls in love. It changes both of their lives. Holli Dempsey and Josef Altin star in a new thriller of conflicting perception.”
CAST:
Jess…..Holli Dempsey
Dan…..Josef Altin
Johnny…..Tom Byrne
Melissa…..Alexandria Riley
Petal…..Rina Mahoney
Daisy…..Grace Cooper Milton
EPS 1, 2, 4 and 5 (Eps 1-4, 7-10 of the podcast) – written by Matthew Broughton.
EP 3 (Eps 5&6 of the podcast) written by Faebian Averies
Sound design by Catherine Robinson and Nigel Lewis
A BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 4, directed by John Norton and Emma Harding.
All episodes of the Podcast version of Broken Colours are now available on the ‘Drama of the Week’ podcast – Here.
Sunday Times 20/2/22
UPDATE: December 2022. Broken Colours is on the short-list, nominated for a BBC AUDIO DRAMA AWARD for Best Original Series.
Tracks Abyss
The COMPLETE TRACKS BOX SET.
All episodes of all 5 series of TRACKS are now available here:
Series 1 – Tracks ORIGIN (9 x45 mins)
Series 2 – Tracks STRATA (6 x 15 mins)
Series 3 – Tracks CHIMERA (9 x 45 mins)
Series 4 – Tracks INDIGO (10 x 15 mins)
Series 5 – Tracks ABYSS (9 x 45 mins)
All episodes available on iTunes, Spotify, and BBC Sounds.
(and probably elsewhere too.)
WRITER’S NOTE:
40+ episodes. More than 24 hours of drama.
Now the full series has been been broadcast, here are a few THANKS.
The main Producer/Director on TRACKS is James Robinson. (James and I have worked together on this series for over 6 years. There’s no better creative collaborator.)
The main Sound Designer throughout has been the amazing Nigel Lewis of BBC Wales in Cardiff. (He was given the Best Use of Sound award at the Audio Drama Awards for his work on Tracks Series 1.)
Our sound engineer has been the terrific Cathy Robinson of BBC Wales in Cardiff.
The production team in Cardiff, Eleri, Lindsay, Willa have been supportive, good humoured, and brilliant throughout.
Our leading actors have been extraordinary and a dream to work with: Romola Garai, Fiona O’shaughnessy, Hattie Morahan, and Olivia Poulet.
And, of course, our Freddy – Jonathan Forbes. (A force of energy, and creativity every step of the way.)
We’ve also had an incredibly strong guest and support cast- too many to mention.
We’ve had other writers on some episodes in series 3 and 5 – who have all embraced the show and done amazing work – Lucy Catherine, Caroline Horton, Timothy X Atack, Matt Hartley, and Katherine Chandler.
And a number of Directors on episodes in series 3 and 5:
John Norton, Rebecca Lloyd Evans, Carl Prekopp.
And Helen Perry, and Abigail Le Fleming in Series 1 who both helped set up the show.
Thanks also to the commissioners Alison Hindell, and Jeremy Howe (who took the punt on Tracks in the first place.) Without them it wouldn’t have happened.
In the top menu there’s a link to some Q&As I did after Series 1 aired.
I have now added some subsequent Q&As – in particular these relate to Series 5 and the ending of the whole show.
Finally – thanks for listening! Especially those of you who have stuck with us throughout. Your engagement has meant so much. MB
PRESS FOR SERIES 5 – TRACKS ABYSS:
Observer Review – 8th November 2020
INTERVIEW: An interview with Matthew Broughton for Sci-fi Bulletin.
TRACKS ABYSS has been shortlisted in “The Creativity Award” category at the British Podcast Awards 2021.
TRACKS Series 4 : INDIGO
The fourth Series of Tracks: Indigo is now available.
10 Episodes of 15 minutes each.
Details Here.
The entire series (and all 3 of the previous series) are available on BBC SOUNDS and as a PODCAST.
(Be aware that the episodes are often out of order on BBC SOUNDS (I have no idea why) – so double check or use the Tracks Homepage:)
TRACKS HOMEPAGE ON BBC WEBSITE
Starring:
Dr Helen Ash – Romola Garai
Freddy Fuller – Jonathan Forbes
Helen is involved in a serious car accident – but why did the car hit her? Where was she going? What is wrong with her baby daughter Frances? And what’s wrong with time?
Press:
The Observer
Daily Mail
Sunday Times
TRACKS series 1, 2 and 3. (and 4)
Ahead of Series 4, TRACKS Indigo-
The BBC have put the first 3 series of TRACKS onto BBC SOUNDS.
For design consistency the first series is now called TRACKS Origin.
and CHIMERA
(For reasons I don’t understand, the episodes are often out of order on BBC SOUNDS – so do double check!)
Are all now available:
COMING SOON: Series 4: Tracks Indigo
Gulliver’s Travels on Audible
My version of GULLIVER’S TRAVELS is now available to buy on AUDIBLE.
Starring Arthur Darvill.
I’ve previously blogged on this 3-part drama series here.
Tracks Chimera
Tracks Chimera (Tracks Series 3)
The return of Dr Helen Ash and Freddy.
Tracks Chimera is now going out every Thursday at 2.15pm on BBC Radio 4. (The series finale will be broadcast on R4 on 27th December.)
All 9 episodes are also now available online as a boxset and podcast.
EPISODE 3 – (Written by Matt Hartley)
EPISODE 4 – (Written by Lucy Catherine)
EPISODE 6 – (Written by Caroline Horton)
EPISODE 7 – (Written by Timothy Atack)
Podcast (All episodes of Series 3 are now available.)
WARNING: From 26 January 2019 TRACKS: CHIMERA will no longer be freely available to listen to online (The BBC are planning a commercial release later this year).
If you want to hear Series 1 and 2 – They are available on AUDIBLE and AMAZON.
Helen and Freddy in studio
Tracks Chimera – Previews / Reviews:
Radio Times
The Times
The Mail
The Times (2/11/18)
Music:
(A list of some of the music used in this series)
Black Phase – by Tim Hecker
Toccata – by Jaga Jazzist
E-musik – by Neu!
Satellite Snyper – by Pantha Du Prince
Im Bann – by Pantha Du Prince
Laker Boo – by Portico Quartet
We Move Lightly – by Dustin O’halloran
Shattered Glass – by DJ Food
Turquoise Hexagon Sun – by Boards of Canada
Seoul – by Amiina
Boga – by Amiina
Elephant Gun – by Beirut
September Song – Agnes Obel
Scenic World – by Beirut
Muesli – by Minotaur Shock
Beau Nash – by Minotaur Shock
La Foule – by Edith Piaf
Never Understand – by The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Refused are fucking dead – by The Refused
Barok Main – by Mica Levi and Oliver Coates
Singularity – by Jon Hopkins
TRACKS: Strata
TRACKS STRATA is Series 2 of Tracks
Tracks: Strata is a prequel to the first series, and is set in 1980 in the mountains of Snowdonia.
It stars Fiona O’Shaughnessy (Utopia), Kai Owen (Torchwood) and Robert Pugh (Game Of Thrones).
Told over six 15-minute episodes, the drama is an online-first commission for Radio 4. It will be serialised as a podcast online before being broadcast on air as two 45-minute Afternoon Dramas.
TRACKS – Series 1:
TRACKS STRATA (Tracks Series 2):
Tracks: Strata will be broadcast as an omnibus on BBC Radio 4 – 7 & 8 December at 2.15pm.
Omnibus – TRACKS STRATA:
All Episodes of Series 1 and 2 are now available on AUDIBLE or AMAZON.
Cast:
Rachel…. Fiona O’Shaughnessy
Ifan…. Kai Owen
Sam…. Robert Pugh
Afa…. Betsan Llwyd
Charlotte…. Shelly Rees
Ronny…. Dafydd Emyr
Directed by James Robinson
A BBC Cymru Wales Production
13/11/17 – Tracks Strata was reviewed on Front Row – BBC Radio 4. (Roughly the last ten minutes of the programme.)
10/12/17 – Tracks Strata was Sheila McClennon’s BBC Radio 4 ‘Pick of the Week.’ (It appears as the second item in the programme.)
LINKS:
Tracks Strata – Guardian Preview
*****Slightly Spoiler-ish*****
(Don’t read if you’d rather not hear anything about the story before you listen to it.)
This (below) is from the BBC publicity:
“Snowdonia, 1980. It’s the dawn of a new decade and the future is coming. But in the wilds of Snowdonia, the ancient history of the landscape is hard to escape.
Rachel Turner is looking for fossils with her four year-old son, Joe. But when a freak earthquake shakes the land beneath their feet, Joe vanishes. With the help of two locals, Rachel embarks on a desperate search to find her son. But as darkness descends, the secrets hidden in the ancient forests of the mountain are uncovered.
The first series of Tracks became the most successful drama series launched by Radio 4 in 2016. Over nine 45-minute episodes it told the story of Dr Helen Ash, as she uncovered a dark medical conspiracy.
Tracks: Strata is a prequel to series one, set 36 years before the events that rocked the life of Helen Ash. It explores the roots of a conspiracy that’s set to envelop the world.”
Radio Times
Tracks Strata is nominated for a BBC AUDIO DRAMA AWARD
Tracks
TRACKS is a 9-part conspiracy thriller with a cast led by Romola Garai.
It was Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 (August-October 2016.)
Series 1 is available to download as a Podcast and on the BBC Iplayer
Series 2 of Tracks – “TRACKS: Strata” – is now available – Info and blog post
(9 Episodes x 45 mins) Trailer
Series 1 – EPISODES 1-9
Episode 1 – The Nervus Vagus – is Here
Episode 2 – The Broca and Wernicke Areas – is Here
Episode 3 – The Pineal Gland – is Here
Episode 4 – The Bridge of Varolius – is Here
Episode 5 – Hippocampus – is Here
Episode 6 – Nociceptors – is Here
Episode 7 – The Accumbens Nucleus – is Here
Episode 8 – Amygdala- is Here
Episode 9 – Habenula – is Here
(Archive: Here’s a STATEMENT by R4 about the broadcast of the last episode of Tracks)
All Episodes from Series 1 and 2 are now available on AUDIBLE or AMAZON
PRESS/REVIEWS/MEDIA
Review of Episode 1 in The Guardian
Review of Episode 1 in The Spectator
TRACKS Ep 6 was a R4 – “Pick of Week” – (18/9/16) – Chosen by Hardeep Singh Kohli.
TRACKS Producer, James Robinson was interviewed on Radio 4 Friday 30/10/16 – discussing audience FEEDBACK
TRACKS – DIRECTORS / PRODUCERS:
Episodes 1,2,5,8,9 – James Robinson @mcgrin
Episodes 3,4,6 – Helen Perry @bellaperry
Episode 7 – Abigail Le Fleming @haywarddollerton
Supervising Sound Designer – Nigel Lewis
SOME MUSIC USED IN THE SERIES:
Tracks theme – (written for the series) by Stu Barker.
Studio Suicide, 1980 – By Tim Hecker.
Prungen – By Jaga Jazzist.
Dido’s Lament (Dido & Aeneas) – Andreas Scholl, William Orbit, & Rico Conning.
Some Absolute End – Bill Ryder-Jones.
A1 – Olafur Arnalds & Nils Frahm.
I’ll See You In My Dreams – Johnny Mercer (featuring the Pied Pipers.)
Symphony Number 4 in G major: III. Ruhevoll, Poco Adagio – Mahler
Body Eraser – Halls.
Cancer – I Break horses
Other News:
(12/11/16): An interview with James Robinson (including audio) detailing some of the process of How We Made Tracks
Tracks short-listed for a British Podcast Award
Tracks short-listed for some BBC Audio Drama Awards
Tracks short-listed for a Prix Europa Award
A Tracks Q&A can be found on the menu above – beware it contains spoilers.
Readers/Listeners comments for Tracks are here under the Tracks post, under the Contact page, and under the Tracks Q&A page.
Frank Zappa and Me
I’ve adapted Pauline Butcher’s memoir: “Freak Out – My life with Frank Zappa” for the afternoon drama slot on BBC Radio 4.
The play is called “Frank Zappa and Me” and it goes out at 2.15pm on Tuesday 6th March 2014.
The details are here.
Matthew Broughton's Blog 