Radio Drama: Little Bexham

The Little Bexham cast is revealed

The stars of BBC Radio Norfolk's forthcoming drama Little Bexham have been announced.

More than 50 people from across Norfolk answered the call for auditions, each hoping to land one of the 12 parts.

After a week of deliberations, the judges have agreed their cast for the radio soap created by Downham Market author Sue Welfare, that places Norfolk at its heart.

"It was really tough choosing the right people for Little Bexham, I'm only sorry we couldn't include everyone," said BBC Radio Norfolk presenter Roy Waller.

"Now that we've got our cast I just want to get started, it's really exciting to be working on something like this."

Excited cast

The judges spent hours listening over and over again to the audition recordings, carefully blending the voices on offer to create the right sound for the characters in Little Bexham.

When gathered for a photocall outside The Forum in Norwich, the soon-to-be radio soap stars were in a buoyant mood.

"This is a big step for me as this is the career that I want to go into," said 19-year-old Daniel Herrick, from North Walsham, who will play Jamie Hall.

Ben (Sam) & Daniel Herrick (Jamie Hall)

"I was ecstatic to find out I'd got a part - it's beyond my wildest dreams. I'm over the moon."

In Little Bexham, Jamie's best mate is Sam - played by 15-year-old Ben, from Norwich.

"I saw the auditions on the website and thought it looked fun," he said.

"I just thought I do it for the experience and see whether I get the part - and it turned out good."

Like many Norfolk villages, the locals enjoy time socialising in the pub. Little Bexham's landlord Bob Duffy is played by 63-year-old Trevor Thurston, from Norwich.

"I'm very pleased, and honoured to be honest, because the competition must have been great," he said.

New territory

The BBC has a worldwide reputation for drama, but producing a project of this nature is new territory for BBC Radio Norfolk.

"It gives us the opportunity to look at issues affecting the community through a medium different from the traditional interview," said Amy Barratt, producer of The Roy Waller Show.

"It may be a more digestible way of discussing life in our county," she added.

Little Bexham cast

So the cast is decided and the recording dates are set. Here is the complete cast list for Little Bexham.

Sophie and Bob from The Mardlers Arms

The Hall family

Alice Hall - Maureen Silver
Jim Hall - Colin Johnson
Andy Hall - Trevor Markworth
Pat Hall - Sarah Flowers
Jamie Hall - Daniel Herrick

The Mardlers Arms

Bob Duffy (landlord) - Trevor Thurston
Sophie Grey (business consultant) - Ann Slaughter

Villagers

Lisa Johnson (Pat's best friend) - Maria Smithson
Ben Hartman (Runs the organic farm shop) - Clive Stubbs
Jill Collins (Ben's partner) - Rachel Miller

Sam (Jamie's best friend) - Ben Dilks
Harry Holman (Alice's lover) - Barry Foster

Little Bexham will be broadcast on BBC Radio Norfolk on Tuesday and Thursdays at 1.30pm, with an omnibus edition on Sundays at 1.45pm. The final episode of the series is broadcast on Tuesday, 27 November, 2007.

We regret that due to rights issues, we are not able to make the drama available 'on demand' but you can 'listen live' at the time of broadcast using the links on this page.