James Bond - Complete BBC Radio Drama Collection - Ian Fleming

Written by Ian Fleming
Read by Michael Jayston, Toby Stephens, Martin Jarvis, John Standing, Janie Dee, Julian Sands, Alfred Molina, Full Cast
Format: Mixed
Bitrate: Variable
Dramatization

All ten of the BBC’s feature-length James Bond adaptations.

Nine of them are part of an on-going series starring Toby Stephens as James Bond. The other one is an unrelated 1990 production of You Only Live Twice starring Michael Jayston as Bond.

These are all my recordings from the BBC iPlayer, with the exception of Dr. No which I downloaded from an older torrent. Dr. No hasn’t been repeated since 2011, meaning that it pre-dates the modern iPlayer and therefore doesn’t sounds as good as the others, more like an Audible book from a few years back.

The Toby Stephens Bonds are listed in broadcast order, however there is little in the way of continuity between stories. As usual, there is one exception, ‘You Only Live Twice’ is set directly after ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’

1. Dr. No (1958)

Bond is sent to investigate a strange disappearance on the island of Jamaica, and discovers that the heart of the mystery lies with a sinister recluse known as ‘Dr No’.

2. Goldfinger (1959)

When James Bond begins his pursuit of an international criminal, he discovers that a daring heist is on the agenda - and mass murder.

3. From Russia With Love (1957)

The Russians want Bond dead. Will his romance with a beautiful spy cloud Bond’s judgement?

4. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1963)

Bond infiltrates Blofeld’s Swiss mountain-top lair. He learns that Blofeld and aide Irma Bunt are brainwashing young women. Why? Is biological warfare involved?

You Only Live Twice (1964)

Grief-stricken agent 007’s latest mission sparks a fatal encounter in a Japanese garden of death. Ian Fleming’s thriller with Michael Jayston.

5. Diamonds Are Forever (1956)

A diamond-smuggling pipeline leads Bond to New York and Las Vegas. Who is ‘ABC’? What is Tiffany’s secret?

6. Thunderball (1961)

SPECTRE hijacks a Vindicator bomber carrying two atomic bombs. Two major cities will be decimated unless a huge ransom is paid.

7. Moonraker (1955)

It’s 1954, Winston Churchill sends Bond undercover to protect Moonraker against possible treachery. Can the launch go ahead?

8. Live and Let Die (1954)

James Bond’s deadly battle with voodoo psychopath Mr Big. From the jazz joints of Harlem to danger in Jamaica with 007’s unexpected ally, the beautiful psychic, Solitaire.

9. The Man With the Golden Gun (1964)

Bond must eliminate international assassin, Scaramanga. But he has a conscience. In cold blood? Can he do it?