

Limelight
BBC Radio 4
The Limelight podcast - for fiction and drama serials you won't want to miss from Radio 4.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 26, 2025 • 30min
Spores: Series 2: Episode 2. Cruel Deceiver
It’s been 12 years since social worker Cassie discovered a mysterious mould in her home, invisible to almost everyone except her. Now the fungus has spread - its glowing spores a major global health threat, infecting the brains of those who inhale them. But many refuse to take seriously a menace they cannot see.
When spores erupt at a care home in Wales, Cassie’s son Bryn and 30 residents are exposed to infection. But how could this have happened when just days earlier the building was declared mould-free by a mycelium-sighted Inspector?
For Bryn there is only one explanation - not everyone who claims to see the mould can be trusted. But who is this rogue Inspector and why would they lie? In his search for answers, Bryn’s fraught relationship with Cassie will be tested to the limit as they battle to stop the fungus before the looming pandemic can take hold.In Greek mythology, Cassandra was condemned to speak the truth yet never be believed. A story of trust and what happens when we lose it. And of a hidden threat destroying the very thing that makes us powerful. Written and created by Marietta KirkbrideCassie ….. Kate O’Flynn
Bryn ….. Ben Skym
Pascal ….. Emmanuel Berthelot
Helen ….. Laurel Lefkow
Ethan ..... Philip Desmeules
Kirsten ..... Cristina Wolfe
Gareth ..... George Williams
Demonstrators ..... Théo Marceau and Félix Marceau
Ola ..… Aggy K. AdamsOther voices played by the castProduction Manager: Eleanor Mein
Production Assistant: Liis Mikk with Teresa MilewskiExecutive Producer: Sara DaviesTitle music: Ioana Selaru and Melo-Zed
Track laying: Andreina Gómez
Sound design: Jon Nicholls and Adam WoodhamsDirected and produced by Nicolas JacksonAn Afonica production for BBC Radio 4

Dec 19, 2025 • 28min
Spores: Series 2: Episode 1. False Hunter
The supernatural horror returns.It’s been 12 years since social worker Cassie discovered a mysterious mould in her home, invisible to almost everyone except her. Now the fungus has spread - its glowing spores a major global health threat, infecting the brains of those who inhale them. But many refuse to take seriously a menace they cannot see.
When spores erupt at a care home in Wales, Cassie’s son Bryn and 30 residents are exposed to infection. But how could this have happened when just days earlier the building was declared mould-free by a mycelium-sighted Inspector?
For Bryn there is only one explanation: not everyone who claims to see the mould can be trusted. But who is this rogue Inspector and why would they lie? In his search for answers, Bryn’s fraught relationship with Cassie will be tested to the limit as they battle to stop the fungus before the looming pandemic can take hold.
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was condemned to speak the truth yet never be believed. A story of trust and what happens when we lose it. And of a hidden threat destroying the very thing that makes us powerful. Written and created by Marietta KirkbrideCassie ….. Kate O’Flynn
Bryn ….. Ben Skym
Helen ….. Laurel Lefkow
Ethan ..... Philip Desmeules
Gwenni ….. Kezrena James
Gareth ..... George WilliamsOther voices are played by the castProduction Manager: Eleanor Mein
Production Assistant: Liis Mikk with Teresa Milewski
Executive Producer: Sara DaviesTitle music: Ioana Selaru and Melo-Zed
Score: Ioana Selaru
Track laying: Andreina Gómez
Sound design: Jon Nicholls and Adam WoodhamsDirected and produced by Nicolas JacksonAn Afonica production for BBC Radio 4

Dec 12, 2025 • 2min
Spores: Series 2: Trailer: Spores Series 2
A psychological horror story set amid the mysterious world of mycelium.

Dec 12, 2025 • 29min
Murder on Mars: Episode 5
Mars, 2048. The first settlers, a mix of international workers and the super-rich. And the first unexplained death.When a body turns up in the corridor between a scrappy warehouse and a half-built luxury hotel, no-nonsense Harbourmaster Rita Siddiqui finds herself in charge. With Earth temporarily out of contact and no official law enforcement on Mars, she ropes in Vice Captain Jaz Hickson, a wide-eyed young pilot who’s only just landed.But murder's not their only problem. Atmospheric tests have triggered a dangerous storm. Paranoia grows as the power fails. Lights, gravity, oxygen: everything is at risk.Rita and Jaz must navigate a growing list of suspects, a dwindling supply of patience, and a killer who’s not finished yet.Because even 140 million miles from Earth, people still have secrets. And someone’s willing to kill to keep them.With the hub evacuated, Rita and Jaz are alone. Can they find the murderer in time? Written by Tim FoleyCAST
RITA SIDDIQUI ..... NISHA NAYAR
JAZ HICKSON ..... LUKE NEWBERRY
WARD ..... STEFFAN RHODRI
NILS ..... DAVID MENKIN
GRACE ….. ELIZABETH AYODELE
MAX ..... SIDHANT ANANDSound: Sharon Hughes, Keith Graham and Neva Missirian
Production Co-ordinator: Luke MacGregor
Director: Anne Isger
Casting Manager: Alex CurranA BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4

Dec 5, 2025 • 28min
Murder on Mars: Episode 4
Mars, 2048. The first settlers, a mix of international workers and the super-rich. And the first unexplained death. When a body turns up in the corridor between a scrappy warehouse and a half-built luxury hotel, no-nonsense Harbourmaster Rita Siddiqui finds herself in charge. With Earth temporarily out of contact and no official law enforcement on Mars, she ropes in Vice Captain Jaz Hickson, a wide-eyed young pilot who’s only just landed. But murder’s not their only problem. Atmospheric tests have triggered a dangerous storm. Paranoia grows as the power fails. Lights, gravity, oxygen: everything is at risk.Rita and Jaz must navigate a growing list of suspects, a dwindling supply of patience, and a killer who’s not finished yet.Because even 140 million miles from Earth, people still have secrets. And someone’s willing to kill to keep them.Jaz finds a surprise resident on Mars. And Rita and Jaz venture onto the surface.Written by Tim FoleyCAST
RITA SIDDIQUI ..... NISHA NAYAR
JAZ HICKSON ..... LUKE NEWBERRY
DAN ..... JOANA BORJA
DR LI ..... CRYSTAL YU
GRACE ….. ELIZABETH AYODELE
DAMIEN ZERO ….. PAUL HILTON
MAX ..... SIDHANT ANANDSound: Sharon Hughes, Keith Graham and Neva Missirian
Production Co-ordinator: Luke MacGregor
Director: Anne Isger
Casting Manager: Alex CurranA BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4

Nov 28, 2025 • 29min
Murder on Mars: Episode 3
Mars, 2048. The first settlers, a mix of international workers and the super-rich. And the first unexplained death. When a body turns up in the corridor between a scrappy warehouse and a half-built luxury hotel, no-nonsense Harbourmaster Rita Siddiqui finds herself in charge. With Earth temporarily out of contact and no official law enforcement on Mars, she ropes in Vice Captain Jaz Hickson, a wide-eyed young pilot who’s only just landed. But murder’s not their only problem. Atmospheric tests have triggered a dangerous storm. Paranoia grows as the power fails. Lights, gravity, oxygen: everything is at risk.Rita and Jaz must navigate a growing list of suspects, a dwindling supply of patience, and a killer who’s not finished yet.Because even 140 million miles from Earth, people still have secrets. And someone’s willing to kill to keep them.Reeling from disaster, Rita’s secrets are revealed. Written by Tim FoleyCAST
RITA SIDDIQUI ..... NISHA NAYAR
JAZ HICKSON ..... LUKE NEWBERRY
DAN ..... JOANA BORJA
POWELL ..... JASON BARNETT
DR LI ..... CRYSTAL YU
WARD ..... STEFFAN RHODRI
NILS ..... DAVID MENKIN
GRACE ….. ELIZABETH AYODELE
MAX ..... SIDHANT ANANDSound: Sharon Hughes, Keith Graham and Neva Missirian
Production Co-ordinator: Luke MacGregor
Director: Anne Isger
Casting Manager: Alex CurranA BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4

Nov 21, 2025 • 29min
Murder on Mars: Episode 2
Mars, 2048. The first settlers, a mix of international workers and the super-rich. And the first unexplained death.When a body turns up in the corridor between a scrappy warehouse and a half-built luxury hotel, no-nonsense Harbourmaster Rita Siddiqui finds herself in charge. With Earth temporarily out of contact and no official law enforcement on Mars, she ropes in Vice Captain Jaz Hickson, a wide-eyed young pilot who’s only just landed.But murder's not their only problem. Atmospheric tests have triggered a dangerous storm. Paranoia grows as the power fails. Lights, gravity, oxygen: everything is at risk.Rita and Jaz must navigate a growing list of suspects, a dwindling supply of patience, and a killer who’s not finished yet.Because even 140 million miles from Earth, people still have secrets. And someone’s willing to kill to keep them.Jaz unearths the victim's secrets and learns his name. But the murderer has unfinished business.Written by Tim FoleyCAST
RITA SIDDIQUI ..... NISHA NAYAR
JAZ HICKSON ..... LUKE NEWBERRY
KAYA ..... SASHA MCABE
DAN ..... JOANA BORJA
POWELL ..... JASON BARNETT
WARD ..... STEFFAN RHODRI
NILS ..... DAVID MENKIN
MAX ..... SIDHANT ANANDSound: Sharon Hughes, Keith Graham and Neva Missirian
Production Co-ordinator: Luke MacGregor
Director: Anne Isger
Casting Manager: Alex CurranA BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4

Nov 14, 2025 • 29min
Murder on Mars: Episode 1
Mars, 2048. The first settlers, a mix of international workers and the super-rich. And the first unexplained death. When a body turns up in the corridor between a scrappy warehouse and a half-built luxury hotel, no-nonsense Harbourmaster Rita Siddiqui finds herself in charge. With Earth temporarily out of contact and no official law enforcement on Mars, she ropes in Vice Captain Jaz Hickson, a wide-eyed young pilot who’s only just landed. But murder's not their only problem. Atmospheric tests have triggered a dangerous storm. Paranoia grows as the power fails. Lights, gravity, oxygen: everything is at risk.Rita and Jaz must navigate a growing list of suspects, a dwindling supply of patience, and a killer who’s not finished yet.Because even 140 million miles from Earth, people still have secrets. And someone’s willing to kill to keep them.Written by Tim FoleyCAST
RITA SIDDIQUI ..... NISHA NAYAR
JAZ HICKSON ..... LUKE NEWBERRY
KAYA ..... SASHA MCABE
DAN ..... JOANA BORJA
POWELL ..... JASON BARNETT
DR LI ..... CRYSTAL YU
WARD ..... STEFFAN RHODRI
NILS ..... DAVID MENKIN
MAX ..... SIDHANT ANANDSound: Sharon Hughes, Keith Graham and Neva Missirian
Production Co-ordinator: Luke MacGregor
Director: Anne Isger
Casting Manager: Alex CurranA BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4

Nov 10, 2025 • 3min
Murder on Mars: Trailer
Mars, 2048. The first settlers, a mix of international workers and the super-rich. And the first unexplained death.When a body turns up in the corridor between a scrappy warehouse and a half-built luxury hotel, no-nonsense Harbourmaster Rita Siddiqui finds herself in charge. With Earth temporarily out of contact and no official law enforcement on Mars, she ropes in Vice Captain Jaz Hickson, a wide-eyed young pilot who’s only just landed.Rita and Jaz must navigate a growing list of suspects, a dwindling supply of patience, and a murderer who’s not finished yet.Because even 140 million miles from Earth, people still have secrets. And someone’s willing to kill to keep them.

Nov 7, 2025 • 28min
The Betrayed: Episode 5. Manhunt
A five-part drama about a family - and a society - divided by far-right populist extremism.When Louise a senior officer in the Garda Síochána sees her brother Frank on the news, taking part in an aggressive far-right protest she is shocked. Not least because she is and she had no idea Frank had been influenced by the populist extremists who hurl accusations of being 'traitors' at police and politicians alike.In the aftermath, Frank's face doesn't show up on CCTV. But when she threatens to have him arrested, he accepts the deal she reluctantly offers - she will cover for him if he promises to stay away from demos and protests.But then Louise learns that Frank is connected to a much wider network. He's in touch with organised extremists throughout Europe, Louise realises that Frank is on a path that could bring Ireland, and other countries, to the brink of chaos. The time has come to break up his network, whatever the family consequences.
LOUISE KENNY … Niamh Algar
FRANK KENNY … Jonathan Forbes
KEVIN … Stephen Hogan
TONY … Aidan O'Callaghan
DERVLA … Karen Ardiff
MICHAEL GRIFFITHS … Jonathan Harden
BASTIAN … Nicholas Murchie
STELLA … Jane Slavin
SORCHA … Amy McAllister
MARYAM … Lara Sawalha
Directed by Eoin O’Callaghan
A Big Fish/BBC N Ireland Production for Limelight


