# I would like too see the return of audio drama **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** radio-podcast\ **Created:** [January 15, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-too-see-the-return-of-audio-drama/957856 "2022-01-15T17:56:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![umbrella\_man32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@umbrella\_man32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umbrella_man32)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-too-see-the-return-of-audio-drama/957856/1 "2022-01-15T17:56:20Z")
Forget Netflix and streaming i have been listening to vintage radio dram ex. george gracie allen, dragnet i rather see a return of this format then what"s playing nowadays ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2022, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-too-see-the-return-of-audio-drama/957856/2 "2022-01-15T18:00:50Z")
There are, in fact, a lot of “drama podcasts” out there now – rather than being the typical podcast format (one or more hosts talking about stuff), they’re using the podcast format to produce actual storytelling. A few lists of top “drama podcasts”: > **[15 Audio Drama Podcasts to Get You Hooked on Fiction](https://discoverpods.com/audio-drama-podcasts-fiction/)** > > With the arrival of spring comes many new developments: picnic weather, floral dresses with pretty hats, and really, really bad allergies. Luckily the itch in my nose can’t even compete with my itch for new audio drama podcasts and I’ve been fighting... > **[Best Audio Drama and Fiction Podcasts for 2023: Gain Perspective, Lose Austerity](https://www.thepodcasthost.com/fiction-podcasts/best-audio-fiction-podcasts/)** > > The best audio drama and fiction podcasts for 2023 beat downsizing with vivid imaginary experiences that give perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2022, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-too-see-the-return-of-audio-drama/957856/3 "2022-01-15T19:30:27Z")
BBC radio has been producing audio drama ([including some great comedy series](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brilliant-the-cabin-pressure-appreciation-thread/823784)) all along. And [Audible.com](http://Audible.com) has been producing a few audio dramas lately. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-too-see-the-return-of-audio-drama/957856/4 "2022-01-16T15:35:48Z")
There have been a few comparatively recent detective/crime dramas featured on the Sirius XM radio network. But nothing beats the true classics. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_jAbgqwDGM8/maxresdefault.jpg "American Kremlin - I Was a Communist For the FBI") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jAbgqwDGM8) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-too-see-the-return-of-audio-drama/957856/5 "2022-01-16T16:48:49Z")
Moved to CS (from IMHO). ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2022, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-too-see-the-return-of-audio-drama/957856/6 "2022-01-17T02:20:05Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > There are, in fact, a lot of “drama podcasts” out there now Thanks for these! One nice thing about being an artist is that I can listen to audiobooks (and a lot of radio dramas) while drawing. I’m always looking for ‘old time radio’ and I’m working my way through [Casey, Crime Photographer.](https://archive.org/details/OTRR_Casey_Crime_Photographer_Singles) Appreciate the post referencing John Finnemore’s _Cabin Pressure_ (Benedict Cumberbatch, and Roger Allem from Endeavour, make a hilarious pair of pilots). BBC4 also produced _John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme._ Most of it is just really funny, clever sketches, but [Season 9 is all intertwined with flashbacks etc.](http://johnfinnemore.blogspot.com/2021/06/how-to-listen-to-series-9-of-john.html) There are even blogs devoted to [how to listen to it](https://well.since-you-ask.me/) and keep track of which character/year it is. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-too-see-the-return-of-audio-drama/957856/7 "2026-03-28T10:03:33Z")
To add to the list of possibilities: > **[Directory of Radio Plays | The Synchromesh](https://the-synchromesh.eu/directory-of-radio-plays/)** > > Library of Audio Dramas A Library of Audio Dramas From Producers Across Europe We have compiled this searchable library of audio dramas from producers across Europe to showcase the range and quality of audio drama as an art form. This library is... ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-too-see-the-return-of-audio-drama/957856/8 "2026-03-28T11:54:19Z")
Can I shock you? Alan Partridge is way ahead of you and tried to boost interest in radio drama and even produced his own which appeared on his Mid Morning Matters radio show. Pt 1- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz7QGT4qs2s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz7QGT4qs2s) Pt 2 - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMB-Jaw2EvY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMB-Jaw2EvY) Lovely stuff! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-too-see-the-return-of-audio-drama/957856/9 "2026-03-28T12:46:40Z")
Stephen King’s **The Mist** was given a really decent “radio play” adaptation back in the mid-80s. There is maybe one minor mis-step in the presentation, but overall an excellent way to kill 75 minutes. Plus, _IT’S IN 3-D SOUND!_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dyVluyaqOY0/maxresdefault.jpg "Stephen King - The Mist In 3D Sound (fully dramatized audiobook from 1984)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyVluyaqOY0) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-too-see-the-return-of-audio-drama/957856/10 "2026-03-30T16:03:21Z")
If you want to (re)-discover the classics, my NPR station has a dedicated show: [The Big Broadcast | WAMU](https://wamu.org/show/the-big-broadcast/) I like “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar” and “Dragnet”