Andrew Sachs will be joined by fellow audiobook stars Adjoa Andoh, Michael Brandon and Kerry Shale, and best-selling author and screenwriter David Nicholls, as they discuss developing literature into audio and film, and announce the winner of The Best Audiobooks of the Year 2009. The event will be chaired by The Guardian’s Alison Flood on Saturday 26th September at 4.30pm.

Perhaps best known for his unforgettable portrayal of Spanish waiter Manuel in Fawlty Towers, Andrew Sachs’ prolific acting career spans over fifty years. His latest audio work is a reading of Alexander McCall Smith’s online novel - The Dog Who Came in from the Cold - written and recorded exclusively for the Daily Telegraph. Launched on Monday 21st September, for the next thirteen weeks listeners can download a new chapter read by Andrew Sachs each day, from www.telegraph.co.uk.

Fellow audio actor Adjoa Andoh has read all the audiobook versions of Alexander McCall Smith’s No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency seriers, and her latest – Tea Time for the Traditionally Built – has been shortlisted for The Best Audiobook of the Year 2009, the winner of which will be announced at Saturday’s event. Adjoa’s other acting credits include BBC 1’s Casualty and Doctor Who.

One half of unforgettable duo Dempsey and Makepeace, Michael Brandon was recently seen on stage as Jerry Springer, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award. His audio credits include The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly, also shortlisted for Best Audiobook of the Year.

Kerry Shale has acted in over 200 BBC radio play. He has won a Sony Award as Best UK Radio Actor and a Writers' Guild Award for his radio dramatisation of Dr Strangelove. His audiobook credits include Yann Martel’s Life of Pi and this year’s Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup. Kerry has also appeared as a panelist on BBC 2’s Newsnight Review and BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Review.

One of the hottest writers in television, David Nicholls recently adapted the highly acclaimed Tess of the D’Urbervilles for the BBC, and has also had huge hits with Cold Feet for ITV and a moderen day adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, also for the BBC. In 2004, David took the publishing world by storm with his debut Starter for Ten. His much anticipated novel One Day was published in June this year.

The five panellists will be discussing how literature is developed into film and audio, as part of Chiswick Book Festival.

Beyond Books - Saturday 26th September, 4.30pm - Raphael Room, St Michael & All Angels Church, Chiswick.

Full Programme of Events

 

September 24, 2009