1. The Palace

Available for 25 days

Within the Palace walls, a series of disturbing crimes throws the court into confusion and unrest. Shonagon's brilliance and wit is called upon for more than her Empress's amusement. Robert Forrest's thriller and love story, inspired by the diary of Sei Shonagon, a court lady to the Empress Sadako in 10th century Japan. Shonagon...........................Ruth Gemmell Narimasa..................................John Rowe Empress...................................Laura Rees Tadanobu.........Benedict Cumberbatch Saisho................................Caroline Martin Emperor.........................Richard Madden Yukinari.................................Mark Bazeley Producer: Lu Kemp First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2008.