What do you think?
Rate this book
Good Omens: The BBC Radio 4 dramatisation
- GenresAudiobook
Audio CD
Published January 15, 2015
About the author
Terry Pratchett
695 books47.6k followersSir Terence David John Pratchett was an English author, humorist, and satirist, best known for the Discworld series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983–2015, and for the apocalyptic comedy novel Good Omens (1990), which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 26, 2026
Good Omens: The BBC Radio 4 dramatisation was originally broadcast as a six‑episode comic drama in 2014. If you’ve read the book, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch published in 1990, you probably don’t need any encouragement to listen to this CD.
“According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday in fact. Just after Any Answers on Radio 4 …”
I don’t think there are any spoilers in that, but perhaps you’d better wait until next Saturday to find out definitely ...
The novel is a collaboration between the late lamented Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, who also have cameo roles as a couple of inept “Keystone cop”-style policemen. Mostly authored by Terry Pratchett I would say, in his anarchic and decidedly silly fashion. Neil Gaiman would be responsible for the darker creative elements, (which never last for long before being exploded by some random frivolous and fortuitous fluke).
However we are reliably informed, by Agnes Nutter forsooth, that events have been set in motion to bring about the End of Days. She predicted this centuries ago, around the time that they used to burn witches (a very nasty habit, at least one of our heroes would agree, but the other might quite like the idea … ) So the armies of Good and Evil are gathering and making their way towards the sleepy English village of Lower Tadfield, where Agnes assures us in her no-nonsense North Country accent, (assumed by Josie Lawrence) Armageddon will take place.
Two immortal beings are especially interested: Crowley and Aziraphale (played respectively by two stalwarts of Radio 4 comedy, Peter Serafinowicz and Mark Heap). One is a Demon and one is an Angel, but this duo seem to get along perfectly well:
“Look, you know I´m right. You´d be as happy with a harp as I´d be with a pitchfork.”
“You know we don´t play harps.”
“And we don´t use pitchforks. I was being rhetorical.”
They both agree that Armageddon must take place; it has been predestined to do so, but perhaps not quite yet. They have been living on Earth for several millennia and have become rather fond of the place. But they don't want to invoke the Metatron (the Voice of God). So they team up to prevent the coming of the Antichrist, the final battle between Heaven and Hell – and the end of the pleasant existence they enjoy on Earth.
Crowley is a demon who has lived on Earth since the dawn of creation. Originally called “Crawly”, he is the Serpent who tempted Eve with the apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Aziraphale is an angel who has lived on Earth since the dawn of creation. He guarded the East gate entrance to the Garden of Eden with a flaming sword, which he gave to Adam and Eve on their expulsion from the Garden out of concern for their well-being. Now he has grown to love the finer things of human life, enjoys haute cuisine and owns an antiquarian bookshop in London. He quizzes Crowley on what he has been doing over the last few years.
Crowley has been overseeing the early years of the Anti-Christ, who was supposedly born and raised in the household of an American politician, but … well if you know the plot of “The Omen”, you already know this bit. There are many sneaky references to previous horror novels or films … or history. (Have you noticed the name of the demon?)
But Atlantis is rising, fish are falling from the sky, and everything seems to be going to the Divine Plan. And they have temporarily misplaced the AntiChrist? The nun responsible, who they were sure had gone over to the Dark Side, must have been a bumbling fool. Even when they do find her, the orphanage has changed its function.
However it doesn’t take them long to identify the location of the AntiChrist. The trouble is that he seems to have his own ideas of what constitutes a Good Idea:
“I don’t see what’s so terrific about creating people as people and then getting upset ’cause they act like people”, said Adam severely. “Anyway if you stop telling people it’s all sorted out after they’re dead they might try sorting it out while they’re alive. If I was in charge I’d try making people live a lot longer like old Methuselah.”
Adam (one of my favourite characters in this adaptation) is the leader of a kids’ gang: the equivalent of Richmal Crompton’s “William”. He and his youthful cronies have plenty of imagination and plenty of ideas, but always like to get home for tea. It doesn’t really help when the Hell-hound arrives. Crowley and Aziraphale had been banking on this huge, malevolent, slavering entity to assist them in fulfilling the plan, but Adam has his own ideas. He has always wanted a dog. You know, one of those energetic scruffy ones with a lop-sided floppy ear; one who would bound around happily with him, be keen to share Adam’s adventures - and be loyal to a fault.
The Hell-hound duly arrives in the right place at the right moment, .
And we must bear in mind that:
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions. (This is not actually true. The road to Hell is paved with frozen door-to-door salesmen. On weekends, many of the younger demons go ice skating down it.)”
Meanwhile Witchfinder Shadwell and his assistant Newton Pulsifier are also en route to Tadfield to investigate unusual phenomena in the area, while Anathema Device, the descendant of prophetess Agnes Nutter (and our voice of reason), tries to decipher her ancestor’s cryptic predictions. Plus of course the Four Horse-persons of the Apocalypse - War, Famine, Pollution (who explains to us that this function had to be updated) and Death - are assembling.
This is an enjoyable listen, and sharply scripted:
“Don’t think of it as dying,” said Death. “Just think of it as leaving early to avoid the rush.”
Nevertheless, it pales in comparison with the later television series, made in 2019 over 6 series. That was so popular that it spawned a second series of 6 episodes in 2023 and a further feature‑length episode in 2026. (This is described as a 90‑minute finale, so perhaps we are to assume that Armageddon will come some time this year?)
In a radio adaptation, it is good to be able to imagine the special effects, such as a demon speeding down the motorway in a Bentley which is aflame, or Madame Tracy (who works as a medium and lives next door to the Witchfinder Sergeant, Mr Shadwell. He calls her the “Whore of Babylon”, but in reality she’s a warm‑hearted, middle‑aged Cockney, albeit a fraudulent psychic, always ready with a cup of tea) flying overhead on her motorbike.
However a good TV dramatisation can mesmerise with its special effects. Plus whereas the radio casting was very good, with its unlikely angel and demon duo, the TV’s was well nigh perfect. The demon Crowley had plenty of sardonic presence, given expression by Peter Serafinowicz, but give David Tennant the part, and he will dominate the screen with his gleeful brand of cool (or perhaps hot), badness (and we all know how attractive a bad boy can be). The angel Aziraphale conjured up by Michael Sheen, provides a shining foil to his opponent - and erstwhile partner in crime. Each seems to effortlessly revel in portraying the good side of evil and the evil side of good. The television adaptation is worth watching for their sparring alone.
Just occasionally a radio series can soar above all the other media. This was the case with “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. Unusually, it actually started life as a radio series, before its scriptwriter wrote it as a novelisation. It was subsequently made into various television series and films in both Britain and America. None of these match the original radio series (which has been voted on CD as “the best comedy CD of all time”).
Since Dirk Maggs directed the original “Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy”, working closely with Douglas Adams, and also directed this Good Omens radio adaptation, we could expect something extraordinary. Which we got … something ridiculously and quirkily English, bombarding its audience with references to popular English culture, which must surely bamboozle a wider audience. The pace is fast and frenetic. It’s probably even more enjoyable if you know the text. It is unique, and for this I rate it at 4 stars. It lasts for 4 hours and 19 minutes; the CD has almost an extra hour to the broadcast.
But I wouldn’t listen to it again. Not even for the outtakes which are added to this CD. They don’t seem to work, and simply aren’t as entertaining as on TV. The television series would get 5 stars.
“God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players [i.e. everybody], to being involved in an obscure and complex variant of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won’t tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time.”
If you find this passage wryly humorous, but still aren’t sure you would like an apocalyptic comic novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, I urge you to give the TV series a try. You might be surprised.
“According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday in fact. Just after Any Answers on Radio 4 …”
I don’t think there are any spoilers in that, but perhaps you’d better wait until next Saturday to find out definitely ...
The novel is a collaboration between the late lamented Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, who also have cameo roles as a couple of inept “Keystone cop”-style policemen. Mostly authored by Terry Pratchett I would say, in his anarchic and decidedly silly fashion. Neil Gaiman would be responsible for the darker creative elements, (which never last for long before being exploded by some random frivolous and fortuitous fluke).
However we are reliably informed, by Agnes Nutter forsooth, that events have been set in motion to bring about the End of Days. She predicted this centuries ago, around the time that they used to burn witches (a very nasty habit, at least one of our heroes would agree, but the other might quite like the idea … ) So the armies of Good and Evil are gathering and making their way towards the sleepy English village of Lower Tadfield, where Agnes assures us in her no-nonsense North Country accent, (assumed by Josie Lawrence) Armageddon will take place.
Two immortal beings are especially interested: Crowley and Aziraphale (played respectively by two stalwarts of Radio 4 comedy, Peter Serafinowicz and Mark Heap). One is a Demon and one is an Angel, but this duo seem to get along perfectly well:
“Look, you know I´m right. You´d be as happy with a harp as I´d be with a pitchfork.”
“You know we don´t play harps.”
“And we don´t use pitchforks. I was being rhetorical.”
They both agree that Armageddon must take place; it has been predestined to do so, but perhaps not quite yet. They have been living on Earth for several millennia and have become rather fond of the place. But they don't want to invoke the Metatron (the Voice of God). So they team up to prevent the coming of the Antichrist, the final battle between Heaven and Hell – and the end of the pleasant existence they enjoy on Earth.
Crowley is a demon who has lived on Earth since the dawn of creation. Originally called “Crawly”, he is the Serpent who tempted Eve with the apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Aziraphale is an angel who has lived on Earth since the dawn of creation. He guarded the East gate entrance to the Garden of Eden with a flaming sword, which he gave to Adam and Eve on their expulsion from the Garden out of concern for their well-being. Now he has grown to love the finer things of human life, enjoys haute cuisine and owns an antiquarian bookshop in London. He quizzes Crowley on what he has been doing over the last few years.
Crowley has been overseeing the early years of the Anti-Christ, who was supposedly born and raised in the household of an American politician, but … well if you know the plot of “The Omen”, you already know this bit. There are many sneaky references to previous horror novels or films … or history. (Have you noticed the name of the demon?)
But Atlantis is rising, fish are falling from the sky, and everything seems to be going to the Divine Plan. And they have temporarily misplaced the AntiChrist? The nun responsible, who they were sure had gone over to the Dark Side, must have been a bumbling fool. Even when they do find her, the orphanage has changed its function.
However it doesn’t take them long to identify the location of the AntiChrist. The trouble is that he seems to have his own ideas of what constitutes a Good Idea:
“I don’t see what’s so terrific about creating people as people and then getting upset ’cause they act like people”, said Adam severely. “Anyway if you stop telling people it’s all sorted out after they’re dead they might try sorting it out while they’re alive. If I was in charge I’d try making people live a lot longer like old Methuselah.”
Adam (one of my favourite characters in this adaptation) is the leader of a kids’ gang: the equivalent of Richmal Crompton’s “William”. He and his youthful cronies have plenty of imagination and plenty of ideas, but always like to get home for tea. It doesn’t really help when the Hell-hound arrives. Crowley and Aziraphale had been banking on this huge, malevolent, slavering entity to assist them in fulfilling the plan, but Adam has his own ideas. He has always wanted a dog. You know, one of those energetic scruffy ones with a lop-sided floppy ear; one who would bound around happily with him, be keen to share Adam’s adventures - and be loyal to a fault.
The Hell-hound duly arrives in the right place at the right moment, .
And we must bear in mind that:
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions. (This is not actually true. The road to Hell is paved with frozen door-to-door salesmen. On weekends, many of the younger demons go ice skating down it.)”
Meanwhile Witchfinder Shadwell and his assistant Newton Pulsifier are also en route to Tadfield to investigate unusual phenomena in the area, while Anathema Device, the descendant of prophetess Agnes Nutter (and our voice of reason), tries to decipher her ancestor’s cryptic predictions. Plus of course the Four Horse-persons of the Apocalypse - War, Famine, Pollution (who explains to us that this function had to be updated) and Death - are assembling.
This is an enjoyable listen, and sharply scripted:
“Don’t think of it as dying,” said Death. “Just think of it as leaving early to avoid the rush.”
Nevertheless, it pales in comparison with the later television series, made in 2019 over 6 series. That was so popular that it spawned a second series of 6 episodes in 2023 and a further feature‑length episode in 2026. (This is described as a 90‑minute finale, so perhaps we are to assume that Armageddon will come some time this year?)
In a radio adaptation, it is good to be able to imagine the special effects, such as a demon speeding down the motorway in a Bentley which is aflame, or Madame Tracy (who works as a medium and lives next door to the Witchfinder Sergeant, Mr Shadwell. He calls her the “Whore of Babylon”, but in reality she’s a warm‑hearted, middle‑aged Cockney, albeit a fraudulent psychic, always ready with a cup of tea) flying overhead on her motorbike.
However a good TV dramatisation can mesmerise with its special effects. Plus whereas the radio casting was very good, with its unlikely angel and demon duo, the TV’s was well nigh perfect. The demon Crowley had plenty of sardonic presence, given expression by Peter Serafinowicz, but give David Tennant the part, and he will dominate the screen with his gleeful brand of cool (or perhaps hot), badness (and we all know how attractive a bad boy can be). The angel Aziraphale conjured up by Michael Sheen, provides a shining foil to his opponent - and erstwhile partner in crime. Each seems to effortlessly revel in portraying the good side of evil and the evil side of good. The television adaptation is worth watching for their sparring alone.
Just occasionally a radio series can soar above all the other media. This was the case with “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. Unusually, it actually started life as a radio series, before its scriptwriter wrote it as a novelisation. It was subsequently made into various television series and films in both Britain and America. None of these match the original radio series (which has been voted on CD as “the best comedy CD of all time”).
Since Dirk Maggs directed the original “Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy”, working closely with Douglas Adams, and also directed this Good Omens radio adaptation, we could expect something extraordinary. Which we got … something ridiculously and quirkily English, bombarding its audience with references to popular English culture, which must surely bamboozle a wider audience. The pace is fast and frenetic. It’s probably even more enjoyable if you know the text. It is unique, and for this I rate it at 4 stars. It lasts for 4 hours and 19 minutes; the CD has almost an extra hour to the broadcast.
But I wouldn’t listen to it again. Not even for the outtakes which are added to this CD. They don’t seem to work, and simply aren’t as entertaining as on TV. The television series would get 5 stars.
“God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players [i.e. everybody], to being involved in an obscure and complex variant of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won’t tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time.”
If you find this passage wryly humorous, but still aren’t sure you would like an apocalyptic comic novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, I urge you to give the TV series a try. You might be surprised.
July 19, 2026
great performance. watched the TV show already some time ago, still very entertaining!
July 17, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
Good Omens: The BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatization
By Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
This is obviously a spoof of The Omen and it took all of five seconds for me to be completely hooked. From the first scene I knew I was in for a wild ride of British humor, clever wordplay, and absolute chaos.
I have to say, listening to this BBC Radio dramatization was the perfect format for me. The full cast, sound effects, music, and pacing made it feel like old-school radio magic. As Rachel would say, "Just let a book be a book." Well, I'm adding my own version: Just let a radio show be a radio show!
The cast brings so much personality to every character that I never once missed having visuals. In fact, I preferred this experience over trying to watch the television adaptation. The audio allowed my imagination to do the work, and honestly, that's where this story shines.
What I loved most was the friendship between the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley. They are supposed to be on opposite sides of the cosmic battle, yet they're the most relatable characters in the entire apocalypse.
Favorite Quotes:
• "Many people, meeting Aziraphale for the first time, formed three impressions: that he was English, intelligent, and gayer than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide."
• "It may help to understand human affairs to be clear that most of the great triumphs and tragedies of history are caused not by people being fundamentally good or fundamentally evil, but by people being fundamentally people."
• "God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of His own devising."
This dramatization reminded me why I love BBC productions so much. They know how to adapt a story without stripping away its heart, humor, or intelligence. The production was originally created for BBC Radio 4 as a full-cast adaptation of the novel, and it absolutely captures the spirit of Gaiman and Pratchett's brilliant partnership.
Bonus: This hilarious short audio dramatization is available through Libby if your library carries BBC Audio titles. At just over four hours, it's the perfect listen for a road trip, a rainy afternoon, or while avoiding your actual responsibilities. Check your library catalog because many listeners have found it through the Libby app.
Final Verdict:
A hilarious, smart, and wonderfully performed audio experience that proves radio drama is still alive and well. If BBC keeps making productions like this, I'll keep listening. Give me more BBC adaptations, more full casts, and more stories that trust the audience's imagination.
Keep giving me the BBC.
Good Omens: The BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatization
By Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
This is obviously a spoof of The Omen and it took all of five seconds for me to be completely hooked. From the first scene I knew I was in for a wild ride of British humor, clever wordplay, and absolute chaos.
I have to say, listening to this BBC Radio dramatization was the perfect format for me. The full cast, sound effects, music, and pacing made it feel like old-school radio magic. As Rachel would say, "Just let a book be a book." Well, I'm adding my own version: Just let a radio show be a radio show!
The cast brings so much personality to every character that I never once missed having visuals. In fact, I preferred this experience over trying to watch the television adaptation. The audio allowed my imagination to do the work, and honestly, that's where this story shines.
What I loved most was the friendship between the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley. They are supposed to be on opposite sides of the cosmic battle, yet they're the most relatable characters in the entire apocalypse.
Favorite Quotes:
• "Many people, meeting Aziraphale for the first time, formed three impressions: that he was English, intelligent, and gayer than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide."
• "It may help to understand human affairs to be clear that most of the great triumphs and tragedies of history are caused not by people being fundamentally good or fundamentally evil, but by people being fundamentally people."
• "God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of His own devising."
This dramatization reminded me why I love BBC productions so much. They know how to adapt a story without stripping away its heart, humor, or intelligence. The production was originally created for BBC Radio 4 as a full-cast adaptation of the novel, and it absolutely captures the spirit of Gaiman and Pratchett's brilliant partnership.
Bonus: This hilarious short audio dramatization is available through Libby if your library carries BBC Audio titles. At just over four hours, it's the perfect listen for a road trip, a rainy afternoon, or while avoiding your actual responsibilities. Check your library catalog because many listeners have found it through the Libby app.
Final Verdict:
A hilarious, smart, and wonderfully performed audio experience that proves radio drama is still alive and well. If BBC keeps making productions like this, I'll keep listening. Give me more BBC adaptations, more full casts, and more stories that trust the audience's imagination.
Keep giving me the BBC.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews