Opening Lines Podcast
Producer and writer John Yorke has worked in television and radio for 30 years, and he shares his experience with Radio 4 listeners as he unpacks the themes and impact behind the books, plays and stories that are being dramatised in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.
Episodes to download
-
![]()
Our Man in Havana - Episode 1
Sun 7 Jan 2024
John Yorke looks at Graham Greene鈥檚 classic dark comedy, Our Man in Havana.
-
![]()
The Greatest Gift
Christmas Eve 2023
John Yorke takes a look at Philip Van Doren Stern鈥檚 short story, The Greatest Gift.
-
![]()
Comet in Moominland
Sat 23 Dec 2023
John Yorke takes a look at Tove Jansson's 1946 novel Comet in Moominland.
-
![]()
A Grain of Wheat
Sun 17 Dec 2023
John Yorke looks at A Grain of Wheat, Ng农g末 wa Thiong鈥檕鈥檚 groundbreaking Kenyan novel.
-
![]()
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Sun 10 Dec 2023
John Yorke explores the classic of modern Argentinian literature, Kiss of the Spiderwoman.
-
![]()
A Many-Splendoured Thing - Episode 2
Sun 3 Dec 2023
John Yorke delves into Han Suyin鈥檚 fascinating love story A Many-Splendoured Thing.
-
![]()
A Many-Splendoured Thing - Episode 1
Sun 26 Nov 2023
John Yorke delves into Han Suyin鈥檚 fascinating love story A Many-Splendoured Thing.
-
![]()
-
![]()
The Betrothed - Episode 2
Sun 12 Nov 2023
John Yorke explores the Italian 19th century classic novel The Betrothed.
-
![]()
The Betrothed - Episode 1
Sun 5 Nov 2023
John Yorke explores the Italian 19th century classic novel The Betrothed.
-
![]()
She Who Was No More
Sun 29 Oct 2023
John Yorke looks at 1952鈥檚 She Who Was No More by French duo Boileau-Narcejac.
-
![]()
The Mahabharata - Episode 2
Sun 22 Oct 2023
John Yorke looks at the Hindu story that is one of the world鈥檚 greatest epics.
-
![]()
The Mahabharata - Episode 1
Sun 15 Oct 2023
John Yorke looks at the Hindu story that is one of the world鈥檚 greatest epics.
-
![]()
Lark Rise to Candleford - Episode 2
Sun 8 Oct 2023
John Yorke explores Flora Thompson鈥檚 much-loved book Lark Rise to Candleford.
-
![]()
Lark Rise to Candleford - Episode 1
Sun 1 Oct 2023
John Yorke explores Flora Thompson鈥檚 much-loved book Lark Rise to Candleford.
-
![]()
If on a Winter's Night a Traveller
Sun 24 Sep 2023
John Yorke takes a look at Italo Calvino's novel If On A Winter's Night A Traveller.
-
![]()
Democracy in America
Sun 17 Sep 2023
John Yorke takes a look at Alexis de Tocqueville鈥檚 seminal work, Democracy in America.
-
![]()
The Three Musketeers - Episode 2
Sun 10 Sep 2023
John Yorke unpicks the sometimes overlooked aspects of The Three Musketeers.
-
![]()
The Three Musketeers - Episode 1
Sun 3 Sep 2023
John Yorke on the swashbuckler to end all swashbucklers - The Three Musketeers.
-
![]()
In Patagonia
Sun 6 Aug 2023
John Yorke explores groundbreaking travel writing classic In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin.
-
![]()
-
![]()
Mother Courage and Her Children - Episode 2
Sun 23 Jul 2023
John Yorke takes a look at Bertolt Brecht鈥檚 Mother Courage and her Children.
-
![]()
Mother Courage and Her Children - Episode 1
Sun 16 Jul 2023
John Yorke takes a look at Bertolt Brecht鈥檚 Mother Courage and her Children.
-
![]()
Cloudstreet - Episode 2
Sun 18 Jun 2023
John Yorke delves into Tim Winton鈥檚 beloved novel Cloudstreet, published in 1991.
-
![]()
Cloudstreet - Episode 1
Sun 11 Jun 2023
John Yorke delves into Tim Winton鈥檚 beloved novel Cloudstreet, published in 1991.
-
![]()
One Moonlit Night
Sun 4 Jun 2023
John Yorke takes a look at Caradog Prichard's ground-breaking novel, One Moonlit Night.
-
![]()
A Room With a View - Episode 2
Sun 28 May 2023
John Yorke explores EM Forster鈥檚 1908 novel A Room with a View.
-
![]()
A Room With a View - Episode 1
Sun 21 May 2023
John Yorke explores EM Forster鈥檚 1908 novel A Room with a View.
-
![]()
Anna Karenina - Episode 3
Sun 14 May 2023
John Yorke explores the world of Leo Tolstoy鈥檚 great novel Anna Karenina.
-
![]()
Anna Karenina - Episode 2
Sun 7 May 2023
John Yorke looks at the themes and structure of Tolstoy鈥檚 great novel Anna Karenina.
