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Hereford Production Company Rural Studios Delivers Two Standout Episodes for BBC’s Christmas Schedule, Including Monica Dolan’s Persuasion and Steffan Rhodri’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 

Rural Studios, the commercial production arm of Rural Media, is proud to announce the broadcast of two major new episodes of BBC Four’s acclaimed literary series The Read, each contributing to the BBC’s ramp-up to its Christmas television schedule. 

Leading into the festive season, Monica Dolan’s reading of Jane Austen’s Persuasion will air on BBC Four on 18 December at 8.00pm, followed by Steffan Rhodri’s reading of C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which will be broadcast on BBC Four on Christmas Day at 7.00pm. The Narnia episode will also be available to audiences on BBC One Northern Ireland on 26 December and BBC Two Wales on 30 December. 

These two productions mark a significant milestone for Rural Studios, placing its work at the heart of the BBC’s seasonal storytelling and showcasing the studio’s capacity to deliver high-quality, literature-led programming for national audiences. 

Episode 1: Persuasion, performed by Monica Dolan 

Broadcast: 
• BBC Four – 18 December at 8.00pm 

Part of a series defined by intimate, single-performer readings of major works of literature, this episode features BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning actor Monica Dolan in a deeply compelling interpretation of Austen’s Persuasion. Dolan brings emotional nuance, wit and clarity to the story of Anne Elliot, exploring themes of lost love, social expectation and personal resilience. 

Monica Dolan said: 

“The genius I felt I experienced of Austen in reading her aloud is that she is, of course, truly literary – gosh, those sentences are long! – but somehow she manages to be utterly gossipy at the same time! It was such a total pleasure to convey PERSUASION. No sooner had I got the first part in the can, than I was imploring this terrific company to invite me back to do other ‘reads’! THE READ requires every scrap of concentration and skill you have as an actor and the whole challenge and the joy is in this bare communication: Everything is stripped back, it is just you, the writer and the audience. 

There are adaptations galore, of Austen, of course, so we have many opportunities to hear her characters’ dialogue, and that is great – but it is in being privy to her inner monologue, her sharp and gleeful observations of those characters that affords the greatest privilege and delight. It was joyous to have a chance to portray that and to savour it myself.” 

Episode 2: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, performed by Steffan Rhodri 

Broadcasts: 
• BBC Four – Christmas Day at 7.00pm 
• BBC One Northern Ireland – 26 December 
• BBC Two Wales – 30 December 

Steffan Rhodri (Gavin and Stacey, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) delivers a captivating reading of C.S. Lewis’s beloved classic. His performance transports viewers into the world of Narnia: a land of eternal winter, talking animals, epic battles and the enduring magic of Aslan. 

The episode follows evacuee Lucy Pevensie as she stumbles through an old wardrobe into Narnia, soon joined by her siblings as they confront the tyrannical White Witch and fulfil an ancient prophecy through sacrifice, bravery and unity. 

Steffan Rhodri said: 

“It was such a joy to rediscover this great story, which I’d taken for granted that I knew very well in detail but actually didn’t! Quite rightly, it exists there for most of us deep down in our cultural consciousness somewhere, so to have the opportunity to share it in an intimate way like this, especially at Christmas time, was a real treat.” 

Rural Studios: Regional Production at National Scale 

Filmed on location in both Cheshire and Manchester, these two productions reinforce Rural Studios’ growing reputation as a regional leader in broadcast-quality television. Despite being a compact team, Rural Studios continues to punch above its weight, delivering content that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with national productions from its professional facilities in Herefordshire. The studio brings together experienced practitioners and emerging regional talent, strengthening the creative ecosystem across the West Midlands. 

Julie Colman, Rural Studios’ Head of Production, said: 

“Working on The Read has been a milestone for Rural Studios. We’re immensely proud to contribute not just one but two standout episodes to the BBC’s Christmas schedule. It demonstrates the exceptional quality our regional talent can deliver, and it’s been an honour to collaborate with performers of Monica Dolan’s and Steffan Rhodri’s calibre.” 

Stephen James-Yeoman, BBC Commissioning Executive, added: 

“We’re incredibly proud of The Read at BBC Arts, having commissioned five consecutive series of this innovative and much-loved programme. It’s a celebration of great literature, teamed with some of the UK’s most respected actors to create memorable works which have really resonated with audiences. It also allows actors to show their true breadth and skill in a way which few other programmes can as they give fresh takes on favourite books, and we look forward to seeing where The Read can take us in the future.”