Opening Lines

Opening Lines is a new series which unpacks the themes and impact of the books, plays and stories that are being dramatised in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.

It's presented by the legendary producer and script writer John Yorke, who has worked in television and radio for 30 years, and he shares his experience of storytelling and dramatisation with Radio 4 listeners. The whole series is FASCINATING I’m very proud to have produced episodes about Antic Hay by Aldous Huxley, Enduring Love by Ian McEwan, The History of Mr Polly by H.G. Wells and Death At La Fenice by Donna Leon. I’ve worked with academics, journalists, theologians, psychoanalysts and brilliant actors to tell the stories of the story.

For Christmas 2023, I also produced an episode about Comet in Moominland by Tove Jannson featuring interviews with Tove Jansson's biographer Tuula Karjalainen and John Finnemore who stars as Moomintroll in the Radio 4 adaptation of the book.

All episodes are available now on BBC Sounds and can be heard before the BBC Radio 4 weekend dramas at 14:45.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001tpwj