Limelight

Jack Lowden presents a compelling drama-documentary series on the rise and fall of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the 1745 Jacobite rebellion. Written by Colin MacDonald with original music by Duncan Chisholm.

When Reid and Maria visit Kokorov at the palace it's clear he and the Ambassador have a special relationship. Could Maria and Natsev be on course for a similar alliance but along different lines? New alliances formed and previous suspicions now confirmed, it's time for Maria to make a decision about her next steps.Maria...Sinead Keenan Reid...Kevin McNally President Kokorov..John Albasiny Maria's Father...Piotr Baumann Gilroy...Sean Rigby Natsev...Avital LvovaAll other roles by Eddie Toll, Anna Krippa, Ani Russo and Hana Zidek Written by Chris Brandon Produced by Claire Broughton Direction, Sound Design and additional production by John Wakefield The Executive Producer is Jed Mercurio.With thanks to Theresa Bubbear and Leigh Turner for their testimony and Tanya Nedashkovskaya for her translations.A Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4

When Reid tells Maria she is to be recalled to London she's incredulous, but he is firm, her recent injuries mean she is better off, in his opinion, back in London. When she arrives however she's met by an unexpected government official, Gilroy, who has some questions, and information, that challenges, and in some ways confirms Maria's most recent suspicions.Soon she's travelling back out of the UK to the embassy, to an unexpected welcome.Maria...Sinead Keenan Reid...Kevin McNally Adam...Declan Rodgers Gilroy...Sean Rigby Maria's Father...Piotr Baumann Natsev...Avital LvovaAll other roles by Eddie Toll, Anna Krippa, Ani Russo and John AlbasinyWritten by Davy Banks. Produced by Claire Broughton Direction, Sound Design and additional production by John Wakefield The Executive Producer is Jed Mercurio.With thanks to Tanya Nedashkovskaya for her translationsA Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4

After Adam's concern that Reid is shielding certain parties with his assessment of the crash report, Maria leaves hospital to confront him. At the embassy, Reid is scathing, Maria is new to this, there are many factors at play and even a suggestion of another country's involvement could be catastrophic. Challenged by Maria as to how he can be sure, Reid sets her up with a meeting to speak to those fears head on. Maria...Sinead Keenan Reid...Kevin McNally Adam...Declan Rodgers Bolin Wu...Lobo Chan Maria's Father...Piotr Baumann Paul...Edward Hogg Nick Kim...Vincent LaiAll other roles by Eddie Toll, Anna Krippa and Ani Russo Written by Davy Banks. Produced by Claire Broughton Direction, Sound Design and additional production by John Wakefield The Executive Producer is Jed Mercurio.With thanks to Tanya Nedashkovskaya for her translations.A Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4

Travelling to the crash site courtesy of the Americans, Maria and Kathy meet up with Air Crash investigator Adam Cheney who's been sent from London for his expertise. Alina Natsev from local security is there too, ostensibly managing the site but also managing a key witness who appears to have seen the crash when it happened. Adam shares his doubts with Maria on what the witness says he thinks he saw, versus what the scene seems to show. As Maria and Kathy choose to return to the Embassy by car, it seems the surprises of the day are not going to be limited to false information...Maria...Sinead Keenan Reid...Kevin McNally Paul...Edward Hogg Adam...Declan Rodgers Kathy...Kiran Sonia Sawar Nick Kim...Vincent Lai Natsev...Avital LvovaAll other roles by John Albasiny, Alexander Ballinger, Anna Krippa, Eddie Toll and Ani RussoWritten by Chris Brandon Produced by Claire Broughton Direction, Sound Design and additional production by John Wakefield The Executive Producer is Jed MercurioWith thanks to Tanya Nedashkovskaya for her translationsA Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4

Maria Kossecka, a newly appointed Deputy Head of Mission, navigates her first major diplomatic engagement with her boss, James Reid. They attend a rally for presidential candidate Milan Ogrisovic, who promotes unity and pro-European ideals. The conversation humorously highlights the importance of personal connections in diplomacy and the inner conflicts faced by diplomats. Tensions rise dramatically with an unexpected plane crash involving a key political figure, raising urgent questions about its impact on the upcoming election.

Maria Kossecka - newly appointed Deputy Head of Mission in a former Soviet State - arrives in the country on the eve of a contentious presidential election that seems likely to install a pro-Western candidate. However, after spending an evening where she and her new boss, Ambassador James Reid, entertain this new man of the hour, Maria wakes to find he has been killed - his plane brought down in what looks like a targeted attack. As the British are unexpectedly tasked with overseeing the investigation into the crash by the incumbent president, Maria is forced to manage a complicated tangle of evidence, conspiracy, and competing interests inside and outside the country. Will she manage to find out the truth before civil unrest in the country threatens to escalate out of control? And what will this mean for British interests in the region?Written by Chris Brandon and Davy Banks, Discretion is a reminder of the necessity of diplomacy on a global stage. The Executive Producer is Jed Mercurio.Starring Sinead Keenan and Kevin McNally.Discretion is a Hat Trick Production for BBC Radio 4.

When Veritas is hit by sophisticated cyber attack, Jess and Maya have to work with DS Gray to identify the attackers and stop them. Will they do it in time to save the company? Exemplar: “an audio recording made by a forensic analyst to recreate the precise audio conditions of a piece of evidence in a criminal or civil case.”The return of a modern day thriller set in the world of audio forensics. In Exemplar, Gina McKee plays Jess, a forensic analyst born and bred in the North East. Together with her colleague Maya, she undertakes a different sound challenge in every episode. When DS Serena Gray comes into their world, things become a little bit more complicated.Created by leading sound designers, Ben and Max Ringham, and rooted in factual research. The first series of Exemplar won Best Series at the 2022 BBC Audio Drama Awards. Jess ….. Gina McKee Maya ….. Shvorne Marks DS Gray ….. Clare Perkins Jill ….. Tracey Wilkinson Dan ….. Malcom RidleyWriters: Dan Rebellato, with Ben and Max Ringham Audio forensic consultants: James Zjalić, plus Dr Katherine Earnshaw and Bryony Nuttall, forensic specialists in speech and audio at the Forensic Voice Centre Police consultant: Alex Ashton Sound recordist: Alisdair McGregor Production coordinator: Annie Keates Thorpe Sound design: Ben and Max Ringham with Lucinda Mason Brown Original music: Ben and Max Ringham Directors: Polly Thomas and Jade Lewis Executive producer: Joby WaldmanA Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 4

Jess faces off with the unsettling gang leader Danny Fenchurch during a high-stakes police interrogation. Meanwhile, Maya deciphers a strange video, revealing whispered truths. Suspicion mounts as hidden connections between characters emerge, with cryptic taps hinting at a boy's desperate plea. The tension thickens with looming cyber threats that amplify the pressure. This gripping narrative showcases the challenges of audio forensics amidst a web of crime, secrecy, and unraveling relationships.

Audio analysts Jess and Maya dive into a high-stakes police sting, supporting a terrified teenager to infiltrate a drug gang. They face navigational chaos as they track a fugitive through complex roadways and poor signal areas. Tensions rise with each radio communication, revealing complicated dynamics within the law enforcement team. Meanwhile, they analyze sound delays to pinpoint crucial locations during the operation. The atmosphere is thick with intrigue as suspicions about insider knowledge in drug operations surface.