Latest news…
Advance HE – Leading Departments
Here I am seemingly hard at work as part of the delivery team for the 'Leading Departments' programme for Advance HE, designed to support new and existing heads of university departments to meet their operational challenges. This is one of Advance HE's most...
Wild Workout for kids!
It was a treat to record a few animal voices for Nature Nurture's inspiring Wild Workout Project. Click on the images to learn more and hear some of the samples. "Aimed at children aged 2 – 11 with an emphasis on grown-ups joining in too, the exercise...
First Principles
I'm currently narrating Herbert Spencer's best-known work for Ukemi and WFHowes. His doctrine of Social Darwinism (he was contemporary with Darwin) alleged that principles including natural selection within evolution apply to human societies, social classes, and...
Kingdom of Rebels – Free Listen Offer!
The latest installment of Derek Birks' thrilling Wars of the Roses series is now available at Audible and other outlets. Ned's story continues at a cracking pace. I have a few free copies of the full audiobook to give away. Please let me know if you would like one. ...
Seneca the Younger
Meanwhile more classical goings-on in the ManCave with two recordings of Seneca the Younger. The first is his treatise 'On Benefits' for Ukemi Audiobooks: subtle and comprehensively considered advice from Nero's chief political counsellor. I'm not sure that Nero...
Freddie’s Field of Dreams – now nominated for a BAFTA
Now BAFTA nominated in the 'Best #realityandconstructedfactual Program' category. I'm really pleased to have been given the chance to narrate this 3-part documentary series. The boys Freddie recruits for his cricketing experiment in Preston have some amazing stories...
Living Paintings and other charity reading
For several years I have been recording books and extracts for this fabulous charity based just down the road in Newbury. Living Paintings provide tactile books with audio descriptions to help enhance and transform the lives of blind and partially sighted people. ...
Christmas Killer anyone?
Nov 2022 sees the release of this great collection of short stories. Don't be misled by the title; this isn't a fluffy bauble for the tree, Hills's writing is electric in places and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It would make a great gift for someone you think...
The Final Nail – latest in the Stefan Ahnhem Fabian Risk series
More grim and gritty goings-on for Fabian. The bulk of the action of this one takes place in Copenhagen, showing the darkly imagined underbelly of the police force and judicial system there as horribly corrupt. This looks to be the last in the series, but you never...
More Roman adventures heading out this summer!
There are 2 New installments in Derek Birks' action-packed 'Last of the Romans' series appearing this month! New Dawn is a novella that slots in nicely before the longer book 3: Land of Fire. (Buy or listen to a sample of New Dawn on Audible) There have been lots...
A podcaster!
Fantastic to work with the delightful Susana Roza on a series of 16+ podcasts for Amplity Health on the subject of Managing/Coaching/Leading effectively. Lots of interviews with very bright people and some giggles along the way too!
Britannia – World’s End
Very pleased to announce the release of the second book in Derek Birk's exiting Romans series, recorded in the ManCave. There is a lot of action in this one, and insight into the state of the country at the end of the Roman Empire. For research, I took a trip down...
The Eden House Mysteries by Bill Kitson
Despite a sudden boom in local building work, I managed to get the first couple of books in this series of five recorded in the ManCave. Looking forward to recording the remainder in Chippenham and St Agnes for Chatterbox. Preview here on Audible
Robin Hood and the Castle of Bones
About to head to Oxford to read Robin Hood and the Castle of Bones, the latest in Angus Donald's thrilling and warmly reviewed Outlaw series. I love reading these adventures of Alan Dale, the Trouvere among Robin's band, who gets himself into some serious scrapes in...
Cor blimey, it’s the rozzers!
Playing a grim, bald DS in a superb immersive training experience for ATT Read more about the project here. As of March 2023 it no longer runs, but the work of ATT continues on other huge industrial projects around the UK and beyond, using award-winning interactive...
Kings of a Dead World
I don't often get to read books set in the future. This was a welcome departure and a revelation. The novel has shades of 1984 and also presents a compelling vision of a world facing the consequences of our current massive climate crisis. Coming soon from WFHowes...
The Flower Barn fundraiser
I was delighted to lend my voice to this fundraiser for friends Johnny & Zanna Hoskins and their lovely family. They run Spindle Flowers in Dorset and you can see their story in a 4 min video posted on YouTube here. Spoiler alert - They did it!!
Going Back
The third in Neil Lancaster's thrilling Tom Novak series (the second one I have read) has just left the ManCave Studio, heading for the light of day. Tom heads back to Sarajevo where he needs all his wits and skills. Being a Serb brought up in Scotland and chatting...
Struggling with Dry January?
I voiced the foreword and real-world reviews for this inspiring book, the accounts of which caused me serious pause for thought in the run up to Christmas. If I do decide to quit (not quite yet), it will be this book I turn to!
Sabina in the Studio
As part of a local initiative, my wife Sabina and I chipped in with some contributions to a virtual advent calendar. Her choice was this inspired reading of The Darkling Thrush by Thomas Hardy, which I think she captured perfectly. I don't normally let her in the...
Loving You from Here
I contributed narration for some very moving real accounts for this practical guide that aims to help families dealing with the impact of a child's death. "Loving You from Here explores the traumatic impact of losing a baby through stillbirth and neonatal...
The Last of the Romans
I'm excited to announce the release of the first book in Derek Birks' Roman series. This is a great adventure story, set at the end of the Roman Empire, and following the fascinating real historical figure of Ambrosius Aurelianus as he escapes Italy and travels...
Farmworld TV
I've been providing narration for documentaries on agricultural machinery for several years now. I'm even beginning to be able to distinguish one tractor from another! It's all the work of two brothers from Germany, Jörn and Tammo Gläser - great to work with, and...
Broken Blue Line
It was a privilege to read this account of a long, committed and costly career in the police force. Here's the book publisher's summary: "Ali was dubbed Supercop for the number of arrests he made: more than 1,000 over one 18-month period, when the average arrest rate...
Robin Hood and the Caliph’s Gold
I'm delighted to say that Angus Donald has decided to write more of the backstory of Robin Hood (and Alan Dale of course), starting with this adventure on the journey back from Crusading in the Holy Land. Angus' books are always great to read: he writes to be read...
“Sensational” review of Piers Plowman in The Times
I was delighted to receive news that my Ukemi recording of Piers Plowman not only made it as "Audiobook of the Week" (July 18th 2020) but was described by reviewer Christina Hardyment as a "sensational treatment". Here's the full review: To my shame, all I could...
Blog chat with Jools Montague of EDGE NLP
Back in 2016 I did my NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Practitioner course with the lovely Jools and Pip of EDGE NLP. 4 years later in lockdown, Jools asked me for a chat on the Edge Podcast series and here's the result - half an hour of me rambling on Soundcloud!...
A fine time with Durkheim
This is perhaps not going to be everyone's cup of tea, let me say that! But for students of theology and sociology, you might want to put your kettle and your slippers on as Durkheim takes you through some early and continuing religious practises in a kind of...
A new challenge from the Middle Ages!
I'm grateful to Ukemi for giving me the chance to read another classic piece of literature, this time from 12th Century French courtier, Chretien de Troyes. I'm looking forward to learning a lot more about chivalry. This is one for any fans of the Arthurian...
More from Derek Birks’ Rebels & Sons series
I'm delighted to have now finished the next book in this fast-paced and compelling historical epic series set at the time of the Wars of the Roses, the second book (after Feud) of four in this saga. Available here!
Piers Plowman
It has been a busy time in the ManCave, recording a real variety of books. This one should spark a reaction from anyone who has studied English Literature at degree level or who's interested in the development of English Lit and political and theological thinking. ...
Latest Stefan Ahnhem thriller in production
It's nearly a year since the audio release of Motive X. Anyone following this series won't be disappointed with how the story builds and how Ahnhem keeps piling the tension on not only his main character Fabian Risk, but his family and colleagues too. A very...
King Kovid and the Great Invasion
Delighted to lend my voice to this fantastic project by my friend Anat Shabi, who is the author of several adventure books helping kids and adults understand the wonders of the human body in an imaginative way. Follow the link to watch King Kovid 19th making plans...
Recording regardless!
Like most people in these times of isolation due to Covid-19, I have lost a great deal of my regular employment. Things are likely to change permanently in the field of Learning and Development, more delivery passing onto virtual platforms, for example. Meanwhile, I...
Leading Departments – Advance HE
One of my favourite recurring jobs - the Leading Departments simulation run by Advance HE - has been rolled out since 2015. This time we're back in Bristol, helping, developing and supporting heads of departments in UK universities meet their operational and...
Rogers Going Rogue
The second book in Neil’s Tom Novak series. Tom must try to deal with a spate of deadly terrorist attacks on the streets of London. There are some great characters and plenty of action in this one. I enjoyed bringing it to life. Available here at Rakuten Kobo **...
Amplity Health – What we do!
Delighted to have been part of this! Have a look at the video Amplity have produced to explain the range of services we are providing in the area of capability development. (The link will open in LinkedIn). I have loved working with Amplity (formerly Tardis Medical)...
George Pearly is a Miserable Old Sod
This has to be one of the funniest books I have had the pleasure to record. "Seventy year-old British ex-pat miserymonger George Pearly lives on the Costa del Sol, all alone except for his ancient, three-legged dog, Ambrose. George hates his life and everybody in it....
Jekyll & Hyde!
I was delighted to record a new version of 'The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson for Rakuten-Kobo. What superb writing. A pleasure to read. It's now available here - have a listen to the sample - and you can get it free if...
The Bootneck – now available on Audible
'The Chameleon Project'—a Black Operations unit led by Bruce McQuillian, whose existence is only known to a handful of men. When a corrupt politician with an appetite for preteen girls is kidnapped and tortured while under his unit's surveillance, McQuillian is...
New work in Saudi Arabia
My work has taken me all over the world in the last few years. October saw my first visit to Saudi Arabia, where I was part of a team working with leaders from KAUST- the King Abdullah University For Science And Technology. There were few students on the Campus, but...
The Open Air Drawing Room exhibits at The Turner Contemporary Gallery
My wife Sabina and I were delighted to work with Actor and Performance Artist Eric MacLennan on this project that aims to set a world record for a piece of art with the greatest number of contributing artists ever. To date over 500 people have contributed watercolours...
New headshots
Thank you to photographer Gareth Davies http://www.gdphotography.co.uk/
Leading Roles publish in The Times Higher Education
Leadership intelligence: can theatre academics guide HE managers? Teesside’s Leading Roles project uses stage techniques to train university staff in handling ‘challenging conversations’ and conflict, write Sharon Paterson, Paul Hessey and Mike Rogers Source: Getty...
Joining Voicebank London
I'm very pleased to be putting my voice work into the capable hands of Deborah Pearce and Kirsten Troy at Voicebank London. Please now contact them for all enquiries relating to voice jobs. EMAIL voices@voicebanklondon.co.uk TEL Tel: +44 (0)20 3326 5430 Mob: +44 (0)75...
“Motive X” in production
The recording of the latest Stefan Ahnhem thriller is underway in the ManCave... Gripping stuff! Perfect for fans of Jo Nesbo and Scandi Noir in general. Update - now available on Audible.co.uk...
The Giveaway!
To celebrate the relaunch of my website this week, I'm giving away 10 of my audio books free to the first 10 people to request one. There are no strings! These are gifts and you don't need to sign up for any expenses, please just have a look at the books and let me...
Jonny Pizzazz
I was trawling through some voice samples the other day and rediscovered this character - Jonny Pizzazz, classic club comic - part of my first efforts to get a voice reel together. I think we recorded this under a towel in mate's basement flat.
The Open Air Drawing Room
Just learned I’ll be joining the cast for Eric Maclennan’s new show, The Open Air Drawing Room. Eric is a fabulous actor and performance artist. Eric (left), Jane Nash (right) and I worked on A Voyage Around My Bedroom a couple of years ago and A Tale of Two Cities in...
Off to Ancient Athens
Very pleased to have been given the green light to narrate Thucydides’ history of the Peloponnesian War for Ukemi Audiobooks in the ManCave Studio. Thucydides was an Athenian historian and general. His history recounts the fifth-century BC war between Sparta and...
New voicereel samples
I loved working with JP Orr at https://theshowreel.com/ to get a different selection of Commercial and Narrative samples for my ongoing VO work. You can find the full reels in the Voice section here.
Stefan Ahnem’s Fabian Risk Series
These three very tense gritty thrillers will all be available in the next few weeks. All recorded in the ManCave Studio! Hopefully there will be future Fabian Risk books out later in the year.
Lucky Travels
I’ve had another fabulous year of varied work, and feel particularly lucky to have travelled to eleven countries within the past 12 months: Portugal, Germany (4 times!), Switzerland, Denmark, Hungary, Taiwan, Slovakia, Austria (twice!), Italy, Greece, and Japan...
Fun on the Farms!
It’s going to be a busy run up to Christmas in the ManCave. I’m back recording 4 documentary narratives for the Glaser brothers: experts in agricultural machinery throughout the world. This time we’re off to South America!
Where are the Wurzels?
Another video narration for the Glaser brothers in the bag. I’m learning a lot more about combine harvesters! Available to buy here… Go on, you know you want to.
Moving History and Leading Departments
I’m delighted that two of my favourite programmes to deliver in the Higher Education sector will be retained (and possibly expanded) next year by Advance HE. Advance HE was formed in March 2018 by the merger of the Equality Challenge Unit, the Higher...
Unter den Linden
Berlin is one of the fabulous cities I have begun to travel to on a regular basis This month Sabina and I went just for the hell of it during one of the hottest weekends of the year, and I managed to catch this shot of her cooling off under the shower of spray in the...
Fall Down Dead – latest audiobook from Stephen Booth
I just spent a lovely couple of days at Isis Studios in Oxford, recording the latest in Stephen Booth's Cooper & Fry series, Fall Down Dead. This is the 18th book in the series, and the 8th I have recorded. Thanks to my friend Mike Dale for local pronunciation...
Of course I’m hungry, I’m Hungarian!
Enjoyed a fabulous weekend visiting Budapest and the shores of Lake Balaton, where we drank, feasted and played football with the World Cup in the background. Thanks to my great friend Prof Zoltan Markus, who hosted so genially! X
What will come from this Feud..?
Delighted to be recording this premier novel by Derek Birks; the first from ManCave studios! The audiobook version will be released mid-August. It's cracking-paced historical fiction set during the Wars of the Roses. Click here to read more about Derek's work....
The ManCave Studio is now up and running!
I have built a new studio in West Berkshire and am very happy to be now working from The ManCave! For those interested in the technical side, I record using a Sennheiser MKH 416 and Audient ID4 Audio USB Interface. The studio (behind King Tut!) is Soundbricks 1 and...
In Ruins
Possibly the most hideous photo of the two of us there will ever be… At least I hope so! This is me with my wife Sabina, who co-runs Filament Theatre. We put together one part of a five-part promenade theatre piece for the reopening of Reading Abbey Ruins. Even our...
Blood Reckoning to be released in March
The 4th book in Danielle Ramsay's gritty crime dramas set in Whitley Bay is released on Audible on 15th March. Not for the fainthearted!
Joining an EPIC team
I'm delighted to start working with ATT - Active Training Team - as an actor/facilitator on their delivery of EPIC for Tideway: a multi-billion pound London construction project. EPIC is immersive, simulation-based health & safety training at its award-winning...
It’s a varied life! Russian tractors, anyone?
Narrated by yours truly earlier this year. Great guys to work with - real specialism. I wasn't always confident of my Russian pronunciation, but it seems to have passed!! https://www.landtechnikvideos.de/en/produkte.html
Scarlet Pimpernel airs on Radio 4
The Scarlet Pimpernel Ep 1/2 Sunday 10 December 3.00pm-4.00pm BBC RADIO 4 James Purefoy stars as Sir Percy Blakeney in Jonathan Holloway's new adaptation of Baroness Orczy's classic tale, set in the French Revolution. Holloway's political interpretation is brought to...
Blind Alley released October 2017
The third Jack Brady novel was released this month on Audible. Just trying to find the rights holder for number 2! The first novel in this series was my first Audiobook, recorded back in 2000. Native Geordies, please forgive and forget the accent.
Bib & Tucker
Celebrating with some of my fab and glamorous colleagues at Tardis Medical. It’s always great to work with people who not only care about what they do but love doing it!