44 Scotland Street: The Complete Series 1-5

Full-Cast BBC Radio Adaptations of the Much-Loved Novels

De: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrado por: Crawford Logan, Carol Ann Crawford, Belle Jones, Anita Vettesse, James Mackenzie, Samuel Keefe, full cast

The complete BBC radio adaptations of Alexander McCall's bestselling series.

Inspired by Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, 44 Scotland Street started life as a serial in The Scotsman. It was a huge hit, and was soon novelised, adapted on stage and dramatised for BBC Radio 4. Collected here are all five radio series, in which we follow the interconnected lives of the residents of adjoining flats in a tenement in Edinburgh's Georgian New Town.

There's Pat, a young tenant who arrives at 44 Scotland Street to flat-share with handsome surveyor Bruce (a man with more of an eye for the ladies than for a sound property); Matthew, setting up the Something Special Gallery with little knowledge of art; and child prodigy Bertie Pollock, who wants the life of an ordinary little boy, but instead has psychotherapy, yoga and Italian conversation lessons. And at the local café, owner Big Lou is looking for love - but seems doomed to romantic disappointment...

Their chance day-to-day criss-crossings, quirky foibles and comic adventures are all observed by Number 44's longest-term resident, anthropologist Domenica MacDonald, her painter friend Angus Lordie - and Angus' dog, Cyril, the only canine in Scotland with a gold tooth.

Full of charm, humour and empathy, these delightful dramas star Carol Ann Crawford and Crawford Logan, with a superb cast including James Mackenzie, Samuel Keefe, Belle Jones and Anita Vettesse.

Also included is an edition of Radio 4's Bookclub, in which Alexander McCall Smith talks about his novel 44 Scotland Street with James Naughtie and readers.

Written and dramatised by Alexander McCall Smith

Produced and directed by David Ian Neville

Music by Tom Cunningham

Cast:

Domenica/Mrs MacGillvray - Carol Ann Crawford

Raeburn Todd/Dr Fairbairn/Angus Lordie/Glasgow Man/Dr Fairbairn - Crawford Logan

Bruce - James Mackenzie/James Rottger

Ian Rankin - James Mackenzie

Irene - Rosalind Syndney/Emma Currie

Bertie - Euan Lee/Simon Kerr

Matthew - Samuel Keefe

Pat - Belle Jones

Stuart - Tom Freeman/David Jackson Young

Big Lou/Antonia/Miss Harmony/Glasgow Woman/Stewardess/Fiona/Claire/Barmaid - Anita Vettesse

Markus/Lawyer - Matthew Zajac

Social Worker - Molly Innes

Olive - Sophie Lawrence

Alec/Gerry - Simon Donaldson

Lard O'Connor - Iain Agnew

The New Pretender - David Jackson Young

Secretary/Mr Lawrence - Richard Conlon

Torquil MacLean/Hotel Clerk - James Bryce

Edinburgh Man - David Jackson Young

Andy - Daniel Aitken

Katie - Helen Mackay

Miss Campbell - Nicola Roy

Neill - Gavin Jon Wright

First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 30 April-4 May 2012 (Series 1), 9-13 February 2015 (The Blue Spode Tea Cup), 30 May-3 June 2016 (Edinburgh for Pretenders), 20-24 February 2017 (Series 4), 20-24 August 2018 (Series 5)

©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Great storytelling

The characters are memorable. I enjoy this series by Alexander McCall Smith. I look forward to reading his other books on Audible.

Great listen, but truncated

I loved these stories, but wish I had the complete books. Awesome listen. Toward the end, it felt like there were holes in the plot. I think the holes would be filled in if I had the complete books. Loved the characters

Human Emotions Feelings and Behaviour Patterns

Really loved it. Amusing and also sad at times
Writer knows about human behaviour for sure

Very entertaining

This is like a Scottish Jane Austin novel. It makes a great story of the details of the lives of a small circle of Aberdeen neighbors. The acting is superb. I highly recommend it.

Loved having different actors perform

I see each character in a new light now. Hope to hear more performances like this one.

Very enjoyable.

A very nice dramatization. I
Of Alexander McCall Smiths’ books. What a warm heartening experience.

Good narrators but disappointing narrative

These glimpses of neighbors’ lives don’t add up to a meaningful whole. It’s trivial and sometimes as petty as gossip.