
Show Notes
A cutting-edge thriller about an Artificial Intelligence takeover, written in consultation with leading AI and cybersecurity experts. In Episode 4, Iain and Mel are forced to run for their lives as military personnel receive deepfaked orders. The AI gains control of internal government communications, and Nisha clashes with cabinet ministers over the right course of action. The London Internet Exchange is compromised, and Iain, Mel and Nisha are forced to consider what price is worth paying for human freedom. Cast: Iain - Edward Bluemel Mel - Corinna Brown Zaina - Fatima Adoum Roland - Philip Bretherton Jess - Alix Wilton Regan Nisha - Seyan Sarvan Sam - Kenneth Omole Andrea - Beth Chalmers Oliver - Sean Rigby Marcus - Wilf Scolding John - Joseph Mydell Susan - Karen Bryson Lyssa - Catriona Stirling Supporting roles - Sean Baker Created by James Dobbyn and Anthony Povah Written by James Dobbyn Original Music by Steven D Griffiths and Isla Noir Artificial Intelligence consultant: Saffron Huang Cybersecurity consultant: Adam Orton Sound Designer: Lucinda Mason Brown Director: John Wakefield Story Producer: Sarah Olley Producer: Chris Grezo Executive Producer: John Scott Dryden A Strange Boy production for BBC Radio 4
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Following an Arctic storm, the crew of the research vessel Coralith Epsilon find themselves stranded in thick pack ice. Cut off from the outside world and running low on supplies, hope arrives in the form of a mysterious Morse code message. But the ship that comes to the rescue is not what they expected. Trapped together in a frozen limbo, two crews separated by a century must survive starvation, the elements, and paranoia to get home. A chilling five-part supernatural thriller that blends claustrophobic survivalism, cosmic sci-fi and environmental geopolitics, set in one of the most hostile places on Earth - the Arctic tundra. Written by the writers of the award-winning drama podcast 'Up In Smoke', Cambria Bailey-Jones and Guy Larsen. MARIA.....Raffey Cassidy TIMOTHY.....Sacha Dhawan FRED.....Tanya Moodie LAURA.....Tiffany Smith Writers: Cambria Bailey-Jones and Guy Larsen Director: Nadia Molinari Sound Designer and Technical Producer: Sharon Hughes Technical Producer: Sam Dickinson Production Co-ordinator : Pippa Day Series Script Editor: Lorna Newman Casting Manager: Alex Curran Series Scientific Consultant: Prof. James Lea from the University of Liverpool Weather Consultant: Andy Cutcher Arctic Historian Consultant: Peter Martin Army Consultant: Alec Heron Ship Navigation Consultants: Martha Armitage & James Butters A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4.
When a stranded Arctic research vessel transmits a call for help, the ship that comes to the rescue is not what they expected. Trapped together in a frozen limbo, two crews separated by a century must survive starvation, the elements, and paranoia to get home. A chilling five-part supernatural thriller that blends claustrophobic survivalism, cosmic sci-fi and environmental geopolitics, set in one of the most hostile places on Earth - the Arctic tundra. Written by the writers of the award-winning drama podcast 'Up In Smoke', Cambria Bailey-Jones and Guy Larsen. Listen to the whole series on BBC Sounds from 23 October, 2026. A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4.
After the devastating revelation about Edward's wife, Thornfield is burning. But Axel has an offer for Charly. In a near-future world on the brink of societal collapse, the wealthiest 0.01% have retreated into luxury bunkers. These high-tech fortresses boast swimming pools, cinemas, and hydroponic farms, but their inhabitants live in a bubble of paranoia and control. Charly takes a job tutoring the children of reclusive billionaire Edward in his doomsday bunker. But when strange things start happening, it seems dark secrets are buried in this vast bunker too. In the real world, the super-rich are already building bunkers ready to provide sanctuary from the apocalypse. In Chloë Myerson claustrophobic thriller, we ask: what happens next? CAST Charly ..... Ava Hinds-Jones, Edward ..... Jacob Fortune-Lloyd Axel ..... Alexander Arnold, Obi ..... Joshua-Alexander Williams, Popo ..... Liz Sutherland-Lim Mei ..... India Moon Huxley ..... Ayrton English Esther ..... Kerry Gooderson Dmitry ..... Tom Kiteley Other parts are played by David Holt. Written by Chloë Myerson Production Co-ordinator: Ben Hollands Sound Design: Peter Ringrose, Keith Graham, Andy Garratt Director: Anne Isger A BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4
What secret is hidden in Thornfield's forbidden East Wing? And what lengths will Charly go to, to find out? In a near-future world on the brink of societal collapse, the wealthiest 0.01% have retreated into luxury bunkers. These high-tech fortresses boast swimming pools, cinemas, and hydroponic farms, but their inhabitants live in a bubble of paranoia and control. Charly takes a job tutoring the children of reclusive billionaire Edward in his doomsday bunker. But when strange things start happening, it seems dark secrets are buried in this vast bunker too. In the real world, the super-rich are already building bunkers ready to provide sanctuary from the apocalypse. In Chloë Myerson claustrophobic thriller, we ask: what happens next? CAST Charly ..... Ava Hinds-Jones Edward ..... Jacob Fortune-Lloyd Obi ..... Joshua-Alexander Williams Popo ..... Liz Sutherland-Lim Dev ..... Danny Ashok Axel ..... Alexander Arnold Kal ..... Tom Kiteley Huxley ..... Ayrton English Mei ..... India Moon Other parts are played by David Holt Written by Chloë Myerson Production Co-ordinator: Ben Hollands Sound Design: Peter Ringrose, Keith Graham, Andy Garratt Director: Anne Isger A BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4
Guests arrive at Thornfield. But what is Edward hiding from Charly? In a near-future world on the brink of societal collapse, the wealthiest 0.01% have retreated into luxury bunkers. These high-tech fortresses boast swimming pools, cinemas, and hydroponic farms, but their inhabitants live in a bubble of paranoia and control. Charly takes a job tutoring the children of reclusive billionaire Edward in his doomsday bunker. But when strange things start happening, it seems dark secrets are buried in this vast bunker too. In the real world, the super-rich are already building bunkers ready to provide sanctuary from the apocalypse. In Chloë Myerson claustrophobic thriller, we ask: what happens next? CAST Charly .... Ava Hinds-Jones Edward ..... Jacob Fortune-Lloyd Obi ..... Joshua-Alexander Williams Dev ..... Danny Ashok Axel ..... Alexander Arnold Popo ..... Liz Sutherland-Lim Mei ..... India Moon Huxley ..... Ayrton English Zack ..... Waj Ali Brett ..... Kerry Gooderson Other parts are played by David Holt Written by Chloë Myerson Production Co-ordinator: Ben Hollands Sound Design: Peter Ringrose, Keith Graham, Andy Garratt Director: Anne Isger A BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4