Series 4 poster
← The Read

Series 4

4 episodes · 18th December 2025

Acclaimed actors combine with classic literature, breathing new life into iconic stories.

Episodes

Persuasion still
Episode 1

Persuasion

Bafta and Olivier Award-winning actor Monica Dolan gives a captivating reading of Jane Austen’s much-loved novel.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe still
Episode 2

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Steffan Rhodri (Gavin and Stacey, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) gives an enchanting reading performance of CS Lewis’s timeless classic, as we step into the magical world of Narnia, filled with adventure, courage and Turkish Delight.
The 39 Steps: The Read with John Hannah still
Episode 3

The 39 Steps: The Read with John Hannah

Murder, conspiracy and espionage are the themes of John Buchan’s gripping novel, set against the backdrop of WWI, that sees Richard Hannay, a bored adventurer, become embroiled in a plot to assassinate a political figure.
The Picture of Dorian Gray with Luke Thompson still
Episode 4

The Picture of Dorian Gray with Luke Thompson

Oscar Wilde’s haunting tale of beauty, vanity and moral corruption, where eternal youth comes at a terrible price. Luke Thompson delivers a spellbinding performance of Wilde’s only novel.