

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

May 23, 2025 • 28min
Pretender Prince: Episode 2: The Devil’s in His Head
Can Charles and his rag-tag Highland army seize control of Scotland’s capital city?In 1745 British Government troops are massing near Edinburgh at Prestonpans - and thousands of Highland clansmen must prepare for the fight of their lives in their daring bid to restore Prince Charles to the British throne.Jack Lowden presents the dramatic story of the rise and fall of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the 1745 Jacobite rebellion.
Written by Colin MacDonald with original music by Duncan Chisholm. Narrator……………………………………………..…....Jack LowdenBonnie Prince Charlie ……………….…………....Lorn Macdonald
Colonel John O’Sullivan ………………………...Gavin Mitchell
Lord George Murray……………………………….Robert Jack
Allan Ramsay………………………….……………....Kenny Blyth
Donald Cameron………………….………………..Sam James Smith
Allan Cameron……………………………………….Douglas Yannaghas
Catherine Cameron………………………..………Helen MackayWritten by.............................................................Colin MacDonaldMusic arranged by.............................................Duncan Chisholm
Music performed by Duncan Chisholm, Ingrid Henderson,
Martin O’Neill and Ross Ainslie.
With contributions by historians, Jacqueline Riding, Alistair Moffat
and Maggie CraigEdited by..............................................................Kris MacConachie
Studio Managers..............................................Sean Mullervy and Kris MacConnachie
Executive Producer..........................................Gordon Kennedy
Broadcast Assistant.........................................Clare HipkissProducer/Director............................................Bruce YoungRecorded at BBC Scotland Drama Studios, Pacific Quay, Glasgow
An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4

May 16, 2025 • 28min
Pretender Prince: Episode 1: The King of Birds
Jack Lowden presents a drama-documentary series on the rise and fall of Bonnie Prince Charlie. In 1745 Charles arrives in Scotland – with an army of just seven men. He must find a way to persuade thousands of Highland clansmen to risk their lives to join him in his bid to restore the Catholic Stuarts as the ruling monarchy of Great Britain. Written by Colin MacDonald with original music by Duncan Chisholm. Narrator ..... Jack LowdenBonnie Prince Charlie ..... Lorn Macdonald
Flora MacDonald ..... Hannah Donaldson
Colonel John O’Sullivan ..... Gavin Mitchell
Clan Chief MacDonald ..... Iain Macrae
Donald Cameron ..... Sam James Smith
Allan Cameron ..... Douglas YannaghasWritten by Colin MacDonaldMusic arranged by Duncan Chisholm
Music performed by Duncan Chisholm, Ingrid Henderson,
Martin O’Neill and Ross Ainslie.
With contributions by historians, Jacqueline Riding, Alistair Moffat
and Maggie CraigEdited by Kris MacConachie
Studio Managers Sean Mullervy and Kris MacConnachie
Executive Producer Gordon Kennedy
Broadcast Assistant Clare HipkissProducer/Director Bruce YoungRecorded at BBC Scotland Drama Studios, Pacific Quay, Glasgow
An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4

May 12, 2025 • 3min
Pretender Prince: Trailer
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.

May 9, 2025 • 28min
Discretion: Episode 5
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

May 2, 2025 • 29min
Discretion: Episode 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

Apr 25, 2025 • 29min
Discretion: Episode 3
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

Apr 18, 2025 • 29min
Discretion: Episode 2
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

Apr 11, 2025 • 29min
Discretion: Episode 1
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.

Apr 7, 2025 • 2min
Discretion: Trailer
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.

Feb 28, 2025 • 29min
Exemplar: Series 2: Episode 5
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