Jane Austen: The 250th Anniversary Collection: Four Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

by Jane Austen, Tamsin Grieg (Narrator)

A female-centred collection of four dramatisations celebrating Jane Austen’s classic novels - plus bonus series When I Met Jane Austen

On 16 December 1775, a literary icon was born. Jane Austen’s groundbreaking novels pioneered the romantic comedy genre and put women front and centre, depicting their innermost thoughts and feelings. To celebrate her 250th anniversary, here are four new dramas, focusing on the fabulous, flawed, funny and fascinating women who blaze out from her books. Full of her characteristic wit and biting comedy, they feature star-studded casts including Tamsin Greig, Isabella Laughland, Luke Thompson, Miles Jupp, Adjoa Andoh, and Ben Hardy.

Pride and Prejudice – Featuring one of the best-loved heroines in literature – lively, quick-witted Elizabeth Bennet – this dramatisation tells the story of the five Bennet sisters’ romantic escapades, as they endeavour to fulfil their mother’s dreams and marry well.

Sense and Sensibility – When their father’s death turns their world upside down, rational, reserved Elinor Dashwood and her impulsive, emotional sister Marianne leave their old lives behind and embark on a voyage of romantic discovery.

Northanger Abbey – Seventeen-year-old Catherine Morland is a kind, honest and unworldly young woman with a head full of Gothic novels and little experience of the real world. So when wealthy, handsome Henry Tilney invites her to Northanger Abbey, she is determined to discover its dark secrets...

Mansfield Park – Aged just nine, Fanny Price is sent away from her impoverished parents to live with her rich relatives at Mansfield Park. Shaped by family and adversity, this displaced child becomes a fiercely moral young woman with an unshakable conscience – and as she navigates the complexities of love and jealousy, her true strength of character is revealed.

When I Met Jane Austen – Ten of the world’s most prominent authors and thinkers talk to Jane Austen biographer Paula Byrne about when they first encountered the great writer. Featuring contributions from David Baddiel, Andrew Davies, Amy Heckerling, Marlon James, Philippa Perry, Gurinder Chadha, Val McDermid, Colm Toibin, Katherine Rundell and Kate Atkinson.


Cast and credits
Written by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice
Starring Tamsin Greig, Isabella Laughland, Luke Thompson, Miles Jupp, Rosie Cavaliero, Lucy Doyle, Kitty O’Sullivan, Gaia Wise, Imogen Front, Louis Landau, Toby Regbo, Adjoa Andoh, Catherine Bailey, Josh Bryant-Jones, Sasha McCabe, Jasmine Hyde, Clive Haywood, and Sarah Thom

Dramatised by award winning writer Rachel Joyce
Produced by Tracey Neale
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 Dec 2025

Sense and Sensibility
Starring Tamsin Greig, Madeleine Mantock, Rose Basista, Ben Hardy, Enyi Okoronkwo, Richard Goulding, Ava Talbot, Jasmine Hyde, Carolyn Pickles, Clive Hayward, Django Bevan, Sasha McCabe, and Bethan Rose Young

Dramatised by Claudine Toutoungi
Produced by Anne Isger
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 Dec 2025

Northanger Abbey
Starring Madeleine Gray, Will Howard, Cecilia Appiah, Ella Smith, John Heffernan, Scarlett Courtney, Jasmine Hyde, Josh Bryant-Jones, and Django Bevan

Dramatised by Clara Glynn
Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2-9 Nov 2025

Mansfield Park
Starring Lydia Wilson, Bryan Dick, Tala Gouveia, Tom Mothersdale, Janice Acquah, Madeleine Worrall, Joshua Riley, John Hollingworth, Samuel Valentine, Faith Alabi, and Hollie Burgess

Dramatised by Clara Glynn
Directed by Gaynor Macfarlane
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 10-17 Jul 2022
When I Met Jane Austen
Presented by Paula Byrne
With David Baddiel, Andrew Davies, Amy Heckerling, Marlon James, Philippa Perry, Gurinder Chadha, Val McDermid, Colm Toibin, Katherine Rundell and Kate Atkinson
Produced by Maggie Ayre
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8-19 Dec 2025

© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Genres: Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published December 25, 2025

About the author

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works are an implicit critique of the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her deft use of social commentary, realism and biting irony have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.

The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1817—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and the unfinished novel The Watsons.
Since her death Austen's novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her reputation occurred in 1833, when they were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series (illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering and sold as a set). They gradually gained wide acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience. Her work has inspired a large number of critical essays and has been included in many literary anthologies. Her novels have also inspired many films, including 1940's Pride and Prejudice, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2016's Love & Friendship.

Reviews

[Laura and Literature · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really fun! Loved it.

I want to reread all of Jane Austen now. 😍

[J Fearnley · Rating 4 out of 5]

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (IN 25 PARTS) BY JANE AUSTEN NARRATED BY JULIE ANDREWS #JANEAUSTEN250 @BBCSOUNDS #CLASSICCLUB

Celebrating 250 years of Jane Austen

My thoughts

It’s not often that I listen to audio books but when I saw that this BBC Sounds adaptation, in conjunction with Noiser Productions, was being narrated by Julie Andrews I was intrigued and soon found myself very much enjoying listening to this version. Julie Andrews has a terrific voice to listen to and renders an excellent reading.

The story is, of course, well known and has had several film and TV adaptations as well as those made for the Radio. This adaptation comes in 25 weekly parts of 30 – 40 minutes in length. It felt a bit drawn out at first but a reasonable pace and a faithful reading which allows a leisurely consideration whether new to the book or not.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it Jane Austen’s characters are brought to life by Andrews and the wit we have come to expect from Austen is nicely delivered. The story is delightful and having read it many years ago and seen a number of the screen, big and small, offerings there is a lovely cosy sense to being able to sit back, relax and let the story flow into your mind.

I am counting this as my Classic Club read although I will no doubt be reading it again in the not too distant future.


A Noiser podcast production. Noisier – podcast: Apple (available on Apple and various – may incur a charge). I listened on BBC Sounds over 25 episodes each episode has a 12 month expiration. Part 1 was released on 30 September 2025.

Julie Andrews (Narrator) - Comprehensive bio on Classic FM : ‘Julie Andrews: Legendary soprano’s movies, age, children and all you need to know’ (18 December 2023)

[Amani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not big on audiobooks, but was curious about this version of Pride & Prejudice which features Luke Thompson as Mr. Darcy. I enjoyed listening to it, I think mostly for the novelty of listening to (a retelling of) a story that I have read many times already. However, I felt myself constantly comparing the voice actors to the actors of the 2005 movie and the 1995 miniseries – which is probably unfair but inevitable. Had a hard time squaring Thompson's quite amiable tone (and occasional chuckles that to me felt out of character) with Darcy's – as I perceive it – more stoic, thorny manner toward most people, at least initially. He instead came off as rather friendly.