The Gibson: A BBC Radio 4 Supernatural Thriller

by Bruce Bedford, Freddie Jones (Narrator), Full Cast (Narrator)

Robert Glenister stars in this time-hopping supernatural thriller set in (and under) Bath.

It's 1999, and aspiring poet Saul Judd is living quietly in Bath with his wife, Elise, and son, Thomas. But when he wins a competition he never intended to enter, he is drawn into a web of dark forces and mysterious events.

What is the link between leprous Prince Bladud, founder of Bath; a Dark Ages scribe's prophetic chronicle; a geriatric nursing home resident's warnings and a toddler's terror of 'the Gibson room'? Why is someone sending Saul threatening messages attached to assegais? And who are the Guardians - and what do they want?

As Saul struggles to put the pieces together, he unwittingly puts himself and his family in great danger. For unbeknownst to him, an ancient power source is buried under a hill outside Bath and two rival factions have been battling for millennia to control it. As the city gears up to celebrate the opening of the Bath Festival, Saul must prepare for the endgame - and for the fight of his life.... 

Created by award-winning scriptwriter Bruce Bedford, this gripping science-fiction series stars Robert Glenister as Saul, with Sharon Duce, Freddie Jones, John Telfer and Timothy West.

Directed by Andy Jordan.

Original music composed by Thomas Johnson.

Music realised by Robin Lever.

Special Dick Mills (BBC Radiophonic Workshop).

Cast

Saul Judd - Robert Glenister

Elise Judd - Sharon Duce

Scribe - Freddie Jones

Scribe's Wife/Thomas - Kate Binchy

Haensel Sethria - Constance Chapman

Prince Bladud - John Telfer

Rough Peasant - Trevor Cooper

Karim el Hatel - Sam Dastor

Chairwoman - June Barrie

Northern Man - Geoff Serle

Guardian/Optician/Narrator - Jonathan Adams

Selwyn Fist - Timothy West

Rita - Liz Goulding

Priscus - Gordon Reid

Roman Stranger - Michael Stroud

Landlord/Alan- Jonathan Tafler

Roman Officer - John Abineri

Miss Dewhurst - Zoe Hicks

Martin - Steve Woodward

Tracey - Katy Carmichael

Newsreader/Writer - Cornelius Garrett

Leaflet Man/Guardian - Bill Bellamy

Patricia Gwent/Brownie - Melanie Hudson

Control/Link Man - Geoffrey Collins

Punch/CBS Reporter - Philip Manikum

John/Foil Leader - Paul Cresswell

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2nd July-6th August 1992

Audible Audio

Published December 10, 2020

About the author

Bruce Bedford cut his writing teeth on diverse facets of journalism, freelancing for The Sunday Times, The Observer, and news agencies. Then he decided to bercome a script writer. His particular forte proved to be in writing plays and serials for BBC Radio 4; his first won the BBC Radio Bristol playwriting competition, and a later one was shortlisted for the Prix Italia and the Sony Award. He is now writing for the small and large screen.

He taught creative writing at Yeovil College in Somerset, and has given writing workshops and talks - all without having to resort to the administration of anaesthetic. He enjoys roaming the countryside, and claims that a pointless ramble has often given him the resolution to a particularly knotty script-plotting problem. Consequently, he advocates a pair of walking boots* as an indispensable part of the writer's hardware.