BBC Radio Podcasts from My Own Shakespeare

My Own Shakespeare

Radio Drama at 90 Julius Caesar

The first radio drama, a scene from Julius Caesar, was broadcast 90 years ago.

Andrew Marr

Broadcaster Andrew Marr chooses a speech from King Lear (Act 5 Scene 3).

Shami Chakrabarti

Shami Chakrabarti chooses Isabella's speech from Measure for Measure (Act 2 Scene 2).

Michael Portillo

Michael Portillo chooses a speech from Troilus and Cressida (Act 3 Scene 3)

Gyles Brandreth

Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth chooses a speech from King Lear (Act 5 Scene 3).

Martha Kearney

Martha Kearney chooses an Oberon speech from A Midsummer Night's Dream (Act 2 Scene 1)

Jonathan Dimbleby

Broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby chooses a speech from Cymbeline

Neil MacGregor

British Museum Director Neil MacGregor chooses the opening Chorus from Henry V

Melvyn Bragg

Broadcaster Melvyn Bragg chooses a speech from King Lear (Act 3 Scene 2)

Charles Hazelwood

Conductor Charles Hazelwood chooses a scene from Richard the Third (Act 1 Sc 4)

Jim Al-Khalili

Scientist Jim Al-Khalili chooses Edmund's speech from King Lear (Act 1 Scene 2)

Kwame Kwei Armah

Playwright Kwame Kwei Armah chooses a speech from Othello (Act 1 Sc 3)

Paul Whitehouse

Comedian Paul Whitehouse chooses a speech from King Lear (Act 1 Sc 5)

Chris Patten

Chris Patten chooses a speech from Coriolanus (Act 5 Scene 4)

Alexandra Harris

Alexandra Harris chooses a speech from A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Act 5 Scene 1)

Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry chooses Mistress Quickly's speech from Henry V (Act 2 Scene 3)

Jools Holland

Musician Jools Holland chooses a passage from Henry IV Part 2 (Act 5 Sc 5)

Stephen Hough

Stephen Hough chooses ‘Once More Unto the Breach’ from Henry V (Act 3 Scene 1)

Benjamin Zephaniah

Poet Benjamin Zephaniah chooses the final speech from A Midsummer Night's Dream

Margaret Drabble

Margaret Drabble chooses Titania’s speech from A Midsummer Night's Dream (Act 2 Scene 1)

Zoe Wanamaker

Actress Zoe Wanamaker chooses the opening Chorus from Henry V

Nicholas Hytner

Nicholas Hytner chooses a scene from Henry IV Part 2 (Act 3 Scene 2)

Hilary Mantel

Novelist Hilary Mantel choses Mark Anthony’s speech from Julius Caesar (Act 3 Scene 1)

Rowan Williams

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams chooses a speech from Macbeth (Act 3 Scene 2)

Bettany Hughes

Historian Bettany Hughes chooses a moment from Twelfth Night (Act 4 Sc 2)

Jane Glover

Conductor Jane Glover chooses a passage from As You Like It (Act 5 Sc 2)

Wendy Cope

Poet Wendy Cope chooses Sonnet 29 as the piece of Shakespeare that inspired her most.

David Hare

Playwright David Hare chooses a speech from Macbeth (Act 3 Scene 1)

Gareth Malone

Gareth Malone chooses 'Once More unto the Breach.. ' from Henry V (Act 3 Scene 1)

Jeremy Hunt

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt chooses Sonnet 29 as his piece of Shakespeare