The Unforgiven

The BBC Radio 4 Prequel to Waking the Dead

By: Barbara Machin

Narrated by: full cast, Sue Johnston

Length: 3 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

A gripping five-part crime thriller set 15 years before Waking the Dead.

Set in 1984 – a world without DNA, CCTV, mobiles, or the internet – The Unforgiven, reveals how the iconic Waking the Dead team got together, before they became an official cold case unit. 

Trouble erupts as a serial killer launches a huge legal appeal against his conviction, claiming police corruption, and pointing the finger directly at young DC Peter Boyd – and implicating forensic scientist, Frankie Wharton. With Boyd forced to disappear, criminal profiler, Grace Foley, and cops, Spencer Jordan, and Mel Silver, join Frankie to clear their names and save Boyd from disgrace and possible prison. Told over five days, with each character taking turns to tell their story, this heart-stopping case sees them racing to beat the clock as the unthinkable unfolds. 

Written by Barbara Machin, who created Waking the Dead for BBC1, this electrifying drama stars the original cast of the Emmy-winning hit TV series – Sue Johnston, Holly Aird, Claire Goose and Wil Johnson.

©2019 BBC Worldwide Ltd (P)2019 BBC Worldwide Ltd

engrossing

great actors, great story, great performance. this def kept in hanging on every word.

Excellent

Good story brought to life by most of the original cast. With Boyd mostly sidelined the other team members get to shine. Sound effect work is thoughtful as well as good.

Nice to hear from old friends

Enjoyed hearing new story from a old favorite. Story had holes and changed timeline from show, some very noticeable! Missed Trevor Eve, nice hearing from original cast, wondered if Eve had been available if story would have been written different! Over all very enjoyable to long time fan of series. Hope they do another one, or reboot show!

Very good and entertaining but suddenly ended halfway through last chapter

I think this a faulty recording. Performance stopped inexplicably halfway through chapter 5.
Are you aware of this?

Great prequel to Waking the Dead

Sterling performances of an excellent story by a familiar cast, this dramatisation has the perfect blend of psycho serial killer horror mingled with the back stories of the team up against him. Thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend.

Excellent adaptation

I was really impressed how this worked as radio drama rather than TV. Great cast.

bloody amazing

absolutely bloody amazing. It was brilliantly written and the cast fantastic. kept me glued to it to the end. would recommend this to any one especially those who enjoy a thrilling crime

Wonderful

Prequel to Waking the Dead set in the eighties. Superb cast and a wonderful atmosphere that really sucks you in and never lets go. Sublime

a great listen, superbly constructed

gripping, excellent writing, superbly acted with plot twists and turns. listened again to catch the clues and detail missed first time around

brilliant

This production is amazing and I couldn't wait to finish it!! The best thing about it is the tension it builds throughout, right until the very end.

Very good story

A tense story performed by an excellent cast ,keeps you hooked to the end,thoroughly recommended.

Wonderful to revisit an old favourite

I ended up binging all 5 episodes together, it was so wonderful to be back in a world with Grace, Frankie, Mel, Spence and Boyd. It really worked so well as a audio drama too. Would love some more trips back to Waking The Dead now.