PRH commissions all-star cast for Beatrix Potter audio

Penguin Random House is celebrating Beatrix Potter’s birthday with a new audio edition of Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales, narrated by stars including Olivia Colman, Tom Hardy and David Harewood.

Oscar-winner Colman will be reading The Tale of Peter Rabbit, while Harewood, of "Homeland" fame, will be reading The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher. Mandip Gill ("Doctor Who", "Hollyoaks") is reading The Tale of Pigling Bland, and Hardy ("The Revenant", "The Dark Knight Rises", "Peaky Blinders") is reading The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit. Lily James also features, reading the part of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle.

The complete cast further comprises: Richard Armitage, Pearl Mackie, James Norton, David Tennant, Suranne Jones, Aisling Bea, Yrsa Daley-Ward, Hugh Bonneville, Lily James, Gemma Whelan, Mandip Gill, Jessie Ware, James Acaster, Jenna Coleman, Joanna Lumley, Will Young, Matt Baker, Robert Webb, Alfred Enoch and Ben Bailey Smith, a.k.a. Doc Brown.

Featuring all 23 of Beatrix Potter’s classic tales that have charmed and enchanted children for generations, the new collection brings the storybook heroes "vividly to life in audio with bespoke sound effects and music", according to PRH.

Ygraine Cadlock, editorial director for PRH Children's Picture Books & Partnerships, said: "The tales of Beatrix Potter are loved by generations of readers around the world. We know how much children have enjoyed listening to the stories over the years, and we’re hugely excited at launching this audio collection with a fantastic cast of new names. These narrations bring Beatrix’s much-loved characters to life and are sure to enchant children and families everywhere."

It will be published on 17th September 2020 as an audio download and physical CD.