Bernardine Evaristo: A BBC Radio Collection: Including original writing for radio, plus full-cast adaptations of The Emperor’s Babe and Hello Mum

Full-cast dramatisations and original plays and stories from the award-winning author.

Bernardine Evaristo won the Booker Prize 2019 with her novel, Girl, Woman, Other and the one-off Women's Prize Outstanding Contribution Award in 2025. The author of ten books, her 2013 novel Mr Loverman was adapted into a BBC 1 drama series in 2024, winning two BAFTAS. She has received over 90 awards and honours and is Professor of Creative Writing at Brunel University of London. Featured here are some of her most innovative works, as well as an illuminating documentary about her life and career.

The Emperor’s Babe – Set in AD 211, this drama adaptation of Evaristo’s 2001 verse novel, follows Zuleika, of Nubian heritage, who grows up wild and adventurous in Roman London and has a dangerous affair with the Roman emperor, Septimius Severus

Hello Mum – Fourteen-year-old Jerome grows up on a rough housing estate and makes a mistake that has disastrous consequences. Now he needs his mother to understand why - and what the world looks like through his eyes. A powerful tale adapted from Evaristo’s 2010 novella

Madam Bitterfly and the Stockwell Diva - Feisty South Londoner, Charmayne, is determined to make it big in Hollywood – no matter what it takes…A wickedly comical take on the hierarchy of colour, told in verse

Medea – Mapping the Edge – Three writers: Amanda Dalton, Alison Fell and Evaristo, wrote three versions of the Medea myth featuring characters from Greece, Yemen and Yorkshire, which were integrated into a stunning and unique single drama. Originally staged as a promenade theatre production by Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, with WilsonWilson Company. Dalton adapted it for radio

On Top of the World – A woman's feelings of alienation and isolation lead her to the frozen landscape of the beautiful Arctic

London Choral Celestial Jazz – Bernardine Evaristo reads her own experimental verse short story, inspired by Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood, and featuring four very different Black women who navigate the high-octane, adrenaline-charged streets of contemporary London

Profile: Bernardine Evaristo –A radio documentary about Bernardine Evaristo and her life

Original Text copyright © Bernardine Evaristo 2001 (The Emperor’s Babe), 2003 (Madam Bitterfly and the Stockwell Diva), 2005 (On Top of the World), 2010 (Hello Mum), 2014 (London Choral Celestial Jazz), 2003 (Medea – Mapping the Edge) text copyright © Amanda Dalton, Alison Fell and Bernardine Evaristo

Content Warning: contains strong language and deals with themes of racism

Written by Bernardine Evaristo

The Emperor’s Babe Zuleika – Michelle Asante Felix – Paul Chahidi Alba – Alex Tregear Valeria – Hannah Wood Tranio – Rick Warden Severus – Terence Anderson

Hello Mum Jerome – Anthony Welsh Adrian/Boy – Damson Idris Kimisi – Nadine Marshall Delmar – Malachi Kirby Keith – Jude Akuwudike Dexter – Alex Lanipekun with Robert Blythe, Joe Sims

Madam Bitterfly and the Stockwell Diva Charmayne – Petra Letang Sonia – Sharon Duncan-Brewster Hortense – Dona Croll Rhona – Stephanie Turner Keisha – Clare Perkins Principal – Martin Hyder

Medea – Mapping the Edge Mildred – June Broughton Young Mildred – Tassia Messimeris Jamal – Sushil Chudasama Gerald – Martin Pirongs Nadia – Sara Powell Jason – Danny Seward Maddy – Lexi Strauss Texan – Deka Walmsley Narrator – David Fleeshman

On Top of the World Read by Adjoa Andoh

London Choral Celestial Jazz Read by Bernardine Evaristo

Profile: Bernardine Evaristo

© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

© 2025 BBC Digital Audio (Lydbog): 9781529917956

Udgivelsesdato

Lydbog: 11. september 2025