

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

Aug 22, 2025 • 2min
Mothercover: Trailer
 Gwen is recruited to spy on another mum in her local baby group. But how long can she keep up the act?An Aberystwyth-set thriller, by BAFTA Cymru nominee Fflur Dafydd, with original music by Mercury Prize nominees Gwenno and Rhys Edwards. 

Aug 22, 2025 • 33min
Central Intelligence: Series 2: Episode 10
 The story of the CIA, told from the inside out by veteran agent Eloise Page. Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris, and Johnny Flynn. In Episode 10... It’s 1963. Vietnam is spiralling. President Kennedy, convinced the war is un-winnable, authorises secret support for a South Vietnamese military coup. But cracks are forming within both the CIA and the White House. Then, in Dallas, the unthinkable happens. The most famous assassination in history changes everything. What if Kennedy had lived to pull back from the brink? 
 Cast: 
Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall 
Allen Dulles..........Ed Harris 
Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn 
Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia 
Bob McNamara..........Rob Benedict 
Ngo Diệm.......... Jon Jon Briones 
John ‘Jack’ F. Kennedy..........Armand Schultz 
Lou Conein..........Philip Desmeules 
Madam Nhu……….Lourdes Faberes 
Bobby Kennedy……….Eric Sirakian 
Roger Hillsman……….Rufus Wright
John McCone……….Tim Ahern 
Ngô Đình Nhu……….Yung 
Quang..........Thaiger Nguyen 
Henry Cabot Lodge ……….Kerry Shale 
Jock Richardson……….Greg Lockett All other parts played by members of the cast. 
 
Written by Greg Haddrick 
Created by Greg Haddrick & Jeremy Fox 
Directed by John Scott Dryden 
 
Original music by Sacha Puttnam 
 
Sound Designers & Editors: John Scott Dryden, Adam Woodhams, Martha Littlehailes & Andreina Gomez Casanova 
Script Consultant: Misha Kawnel 
Script Supervisor: Alex Lynch 
Trails: Jack Soper 
Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Paul Clark & Paul Clark 
Sonica Runner: Flynn Hallman 
Marc Graue Sound Engineers, LA: Juan Martin del Campo & Tony Diaz 
 
Director: John Scott Dryden 
Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn 
Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott Dryden 
 
A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4 

Aug 15, 2025 • 33min
Central Intelligence: Series 2: Episode 9
 The story of the CIA, told from the inside out by veteran agent Eloise Page. Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris and Johnny Flynn. 
 
In Episode 9…  After the Bay of Pigs disaster, JFK demands accountability - CIA Director Allen Dulles is out. In his place, chaos brews. Enter Ed Lansdale, the CIA’s eccentric covert action operative, tasked with a bold mission - kill Castro by any means necessary. Exploding cigars, poisoned wetsuits, and psychological warfare take centre stage, as Richard Helms watches his long-game strategy inch closer to deadly execution.  Cast:
Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall
Allen Dulles..........Ed Harris
Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn
Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia
John ‘Jack’ F. Kennedy..........Armand Schultz
Bob McNamara..........Rob Benedict
Bobby Kennedy……….Eric Sirakian 
Richard Bissell..........Ian Porter 
Clover Dulles..........Laurel Lefkow 
Roger Maheu..........Adam Sina
John McCone……….Tim Ahern 
“Joe”..........Raad Rawi All other parts played by members of the cast.Written by Greg Haddrick 
Created by Greg Haddrick & Jeremy Fox 
Directed by John Scott Dryden 
 
Original music by Sacha Puttnam 
 
Sound Designers & Editors: John Scott Dryden, Adam Woodhams, Martha Littlehailes & Andreina Gomez Casanova 
Script Consultant: Misha Kawnel 
Script Supervisor: Alex Lynch 
Trails: Jack Soper 
Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Paul Clark & Paul Clark 
Sonica Runner: Flynn Hallman 
Marc Graue Sound Engineers, LA: Juan Martin del Campo & Tony Diaz 
 
Director: John Scott Dryden 
Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn 
Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott Dryden 
 
A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4 

Aug 8, 2025 • 35min
Central Intelligence: Series 2: Episode 8
 The story of the CIA, told from the inside out by veteran agent Eloise Page. Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris and Johnny Flynn. 
 
In Episode 8... A young President takes office, but the shadows of the Cold War are closing in. John F. Kennedy inherits a covert CIA plot to remove Fidel Castro—an operation born under Eisenhower and fuelled by anti-communist zeal. Pressured to act but desperate to avoid open war, Kennedy green-lights a quiet invasion. What follows is a catastrophic failure on Cuban shores: the Bay of Pigs. In his first major test, Kennedy is pulled into the deep end of Cold War deception—and blood is already in the water. 
 
Cast: 
Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall 
Allen Dulles..........Ed Harris 
Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn 
Frank Wisner..........Geoffrey Arend 
Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia 
John ‘Jack’ F. Kennedy..........Armand Schultz 
President Eisenhower..........Kerry Shale 
Bob McNamara..........Rob Benedict 
Richard Bissell..........Ian Porter 
Tracy Barnes..........Adam Sina 
James Jesus Angleton..........Philip Desmeules 
Adlai Stevenson.........Patrick Poletti 
Annie Bissell..........Carlyss Peer 
Elizabeth..........Laurel Lefkow 
Pilot.......... Walles Hamonde 
JFK’s Secretary..........Jennifer Armour 
Bissell children.......... Hugo & Leela-Grace Dryden All other parts were played by members of the cast.Written by Greg Haddrick 
Created by Greg Haddrick & Jeremy Fox 
Directed by John Scott Dryden 
 
Original music by Sacha Puttnam 
 
Sound Designers & Editors: John Scott Dryden, Adam Woodhams, Martha Littlehailes & Andreina Gomez Casanova 
Script Consultant: Misha Kawnel 
Script Supervisor: Alex Lynch 
Trails: Jack Soper 
Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Paul Clark & Paul Clark 
Sonica Runner: Flynn Hallman 
Marc Graue Sound Engineers, LA: Juan Martin del Campo & Tony Diaz 
 
Director: John Scott Dryden 
Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn 
Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott Dryden 
 
A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4 

Aug 1, 2025 • 32min
Central Intelligence: Series 2: Episode 7
 The story of the CIA, told from the inside out by veteran agent Eloise Page. Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris and Johnny Flynn. 
 
In Episode 7... 1959–1960. The global order is shifting fast. Revolution erupts in Cuba. John Foster Dulles, the fading architect of America’s Cold War stance, is gravely ill. In the Congo, chaos reigns—drawing urgent attention from Washington. To the CIA, it’s not just rebellion; it’s the next major front in the Cold War. As Eisenhower’s presidency winds down, the U.S. races to contain Soviet influence in Africa. The temperature is rising—and it’s Kennedy who’ll be handed the fuse. Cast: 
Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall 
Allen Dulles..........Ed Harris 
Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn 
Frank Wisner..........Geoffrey Arend 
Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia 
President Eisenhower..........Kerry Shale 
John Foster Dulles..........Nathan Osgood 
Clover Dulles..........Laurel Lefkow 
Richard Bissell..........Ian Porter 
Julia Helms..........Carin Chea 
Christian Herter..........Raad Rawi 
Patrice Lumumba..........Jonathan Nyati 
Larry Devlin..........Patrick Poletti 
Doctor..........Greg Lockett 
Macy Dulles..........Flynn IvoAll other parts were played by members of the cast
 
Written by Greg Haddrick 
Created by Greg Haddrick & Jeremy Fox 
Directed by John Scott Dryden 
 
Original music by Sacha Puttnam 
 
Sound Designers & Editors: John Scott Dryden, Adam Woodhams, Martha Littlehailes & Andreina Gomez Casanova 
Script Consultant: Misha Kawnel 
Script Supervisor: Alex Lynch 
Trails: Jack Soper 
Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Paul Clark & Paul Clark 
Sonica Runner: Flynn Hallman 
Marc Graue Sound Engineers, LA: Juan Martin del Campo & Tony Diaz 
 
Director: John Scott Dryden 
Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn 
Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott Dryden A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4 

Jul 25, 2025 • 32min
Central Intelligence: Series 2: Episode 6
 The story of the CIA, told from the inside out by veteran agent Eloise Page. Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris and Johnny Flynn. 
 
In Episode 6… It’s 1957 and the Agency’s legendary spymaster Frank Wisner, haunted by his own unravelling mind, is desperate to keep Indonesia from slipping into the Soviet sphere. His solution - a sordid blackmail plot involving a fake X-rated film meant to ruin President Sukarno’s reputation and shatter his hold on power. But as the plan spirals into chaos, Frank’s fragile sanity teeters on the brink – revealing the high human cost of America’s shadow wars and the secret toll they take on those sworn to fight them from the inside out.  Cast:
Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall
Allen Dulles..........Ed Harris
Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn
Frank Wisner..........Geoffrey Arend
Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia
President Eisenhower..........Kerry Shale
John Foster Dulles..........Nathan Osgood
Billie Monroe..........Valentina Arena
Alfred Ulmer..........Walles Hamonde
Bill Parker..........Patrick Poletti
Queen of Greece..........Marina Koem
Colonel Joop..........Ferandi Yennas
Allen Pope ..........Greg LockettAll other parts played by the castOriginal music by Sacha PuttnamWritten by Greg Haddrick, who created the series with Jeremy Fox
Sound Designers & Editors: John Scott Dryden, Adam Woodhams, Martha Littlehailes & Andreina Gomez Casanova
Script Consultant: Misha Kawnel
Script Supervisor: Alex Lynch
Trails: Jack Soper
Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Paul Clark & Paul Clark
Sonica Runner: Flynn Hallman
Marc Graue Sound Engineers, LA: Juan Martin del Campo & Tony DiazDirector: John Scott Dryden
Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn
Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott DrydenA Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4 

Jul 18, 2025 • 30min
Central Intelligence: Series 2: Episode 5
 The story of the CIA, told from the inside out by veteran agent Eloise Page. Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris and Johnny Flynn.In Episode 5... 1957. The Space Race is heating up, and the CIA is desperate to locate the Soviet launch site. Rising officer Eloise Page is sent to Atsugi Air Base in Japan—home of the secretive U-2 spy plane. As tensions climb and the stakes reach the stratosphere, the battle for space begins far above the clouds—and deep in the shadows.Cast:
Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall
Allen Dulles..........Ed Harris
Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn
Frank Wisner..........Geoffrey Arend
Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia
Richard Bissell..........Ian Porter
President Eisenhower..........Kerry Shale
John Foster Dulles..........Nathan Osgood
Addy Hawkins..........Carlyss Peer
Dmitri Skolbetsyn..........Branko Tomović
Mikhail..........Phillipe Bosher
Radar Operator..........Eric Sirakian 
Elizabeth..........Laurel LefkowAll other parts played by the castOriginal music by Sacha PuttnamWritten by Greg Haddrick, who created the series with Jeremy Fox
Sound Designers & Editors: John Scott Dryden, Adam Woodhams, Martha Littlehailes & Andreina Gomez Casanova
Script Consultant: Misha Kawnel
Script Supervisor: Alex Lynch
Trails: Jack Soper
Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Paul Clark & Paul Clark
Sonica Runner: Flynn Hallman
Marc Graue Sound Engineers, LA: Juan Martin del Campo & Tony DiazDirector: John Scott Dryden
Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn
Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott DrydenA Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4 

Jul 11, 2025 • 30min
Central Intelligence: Series 2: Episode 4
 The story of the CIA, told from the inside out by veteran agent Eloise Page. Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris and Johnny Flynn.As Egypt’s Nasser seizes the Suez Canal, global powers scramble. The British want control back. The Soviets move in. And the CIA races to keep Egypt from slipping behind the Iron Curtain. In the shadow games of empire, Eloise Page watches the balance of power shift.Cast:
Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall
Allen Dulles..........Ed Harris
Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn
Frank Wisner..........Geoffrey Arend
Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia
Richard Bissell..........Ian Porter
Clover Dulles..........Laurel Lefkow
James Jesus Angleton..........Philip Desmeules
President Eisenhower..........Kerry Shale
John Foster Dulles..........Nathan Osgood
Addy Hawkins..........Carlyss Peer
Prime Minister Eden..........Rufus Wright
Elizabeth..........Laurel Lefkow 
Queen Frederika..........Marina KoemAll other parts played by the castOriginal music by Sacha PuttnamWritten by Greg Haddrick, who created the series with Jeremy Fox
Sound Designers & Editors: John Scott Dryden, Adam Woodhams, Martha Littlehailes & Andreina Gomez Casanova
Script Consultant: Misha Kawnel
Script Supervisor: Alex Lynch
Trails: Jack Soper
Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Paul Clark & Paul Clark
Sonica Runner: Flynn Hallman
Marc Graue Sound Engineers, LA: Juan Martin del Campo & Tony DiazDirector: John Scott Dryden
Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn
Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott DrydenA Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4 

Jul 4, 2025 • 31min
Central Intelligence: Series 2: Episode 3
 The story of the CIA, told from the inside out by veteran agent Eloise Page. Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris and Johnny Flynn.In Episode 3… 1956. Stalin is dead, and Khrushchev is breaking ranks. As whispers of a bold speech ripple through Soviet circles, Eisenhower gives CIA chief Allen Dulles one mission: get the speech - at any cost. Cast:
Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall
Allen Dulles..........Ed Harris
Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn
Frank Wisner..........Geoffrey Arend
Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia
Richard Bissell..........Ian Porter
Clover Dulles..........Laurel Lefkow
James Jesus Angleton..........Philip Desmeules
President Eisenhower..........Kerry Shale
John Foster Dulles..........Nathan Osgood
General Mike O’Daniel..........Ian Porter
Koca Popovic..........Branko Tomović
Blokhintsev..........Phillipe BosherAll other parts played by the castOriginal music by Sacha PuttnamWritten by Greg Haddrick, who created the series with Jeremy Fox
Sound Designers & Editors: John Scott Dryden, Adam Woodhams, Martha Littlehailes & Andreina Gomez Casanova
Script Consultant: Misha Kawnel
Script Supervisor: Alex Lynch
Trails: Jack Soper
Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Paul Clark & Paul Clark
Sonica Runner: Flynn Hallman
Marc Graue Sound Engineers, LA: Juan Martin del Campo & Tony DiazDirector: John Scott Dryden
Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn
Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott DrydenA Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4 

Jun 27, 2025 • 30min
Central Intelligence: Series 2: Episode 2
 The story of the CIA, told from the inside out by long-serving CIA agent Eloise Page.  Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris, Johnny Flynn, Stephen Kunken and Kelly Marie Tran.In Episode 2, CIA’s maverick agent, Colonel Ed Lansdale attempts to bring South Vietnam behind one leader – the anti-communist, US-friendly, Ngô Đình Diệm. But Diệm is eccentric, uncompromising and lacks charisma: turning him into a popular hero is a challenge. Cast:
Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall
Allen Dulles..........Ed Harris
Virginia Spence ..........Kelly Marie Tran
Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn
Colonel Ed Lansdale..........Stephen Kunken
Frank Wisner..........Geoffrey Arend
Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia
Ngô Đình Diệm..........Jon Jon Briones
"Lightening" Joe Collins..........Rob Benedict
General Mike O’Daniel..........Ian Porter
Pat Kelly & Madam Nhu..........Lourdes Faberes
Ngô Đình Nhu..........Yung
President Eisenhower..........Kerry Shale
John Foster Dulles..........Nathan Osgood
General Mike O’Daniel..........Ian PorterAll other parts played by the castOriginal music by Sacha PuttnamWritten by Greg Haddrick, who created the series with Jeremy Fox
Sound Designers & Editors: John Scott Dryden, Adam Woodhams, Martha Littlehailes & Andreina Gomez Casanova
Script Consultant: Misha Kawnel
Script Supervisor: Alex Lynch
Trails: Jack Soper
Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Paul Clark & Paul Clark
Sonica Runner: Flynn Hallman
Marc Graue Sound Engineers, LA: Juan Martin del Campo & Tony DiazDirector: John Scott Dryden
Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn
Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott DrydenA Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4 


