Izzard and Rhind-Tutt to read classics, while HC produces Gazza audio original

High-profile names Eddie Izzard and Julian Rhind-Tutt are reading audiobooks of classic stories for Wildfire and Hodder. Meanwhile HarperCollins is marking World Cup fever with an audio original, Gazza in Italy by Daniel Storey.

Wildfire signed a world rights audio deal with Eddie Izzard to narrate a new reading of the Charles Dickens classic Great Expectations - the audiobook for which is now on sale.

The actor, author and stand-up comedian decided he wanted to read the novel, first published as a serial between December 1860 and August 1861, when he discovered a coincidence of birth that connected him with the famous author.

"I’m exactly 150 years younger than Dickens to the day," said Izzard. "7th February 1812, 7th February 1962. Doesn’t mean anything, but it means slightly more than being 147 years and 12 days…"

Wildfire’s publishing director Alex Clarke said: "We are delighted to be working with the inimitable Eddie Izzard on this fresh new reading of Dickens’ famous coming-of-age novel. Eddie has brought all the enthusiasm, dedication and spirit to this reading that you would expect, and we anticipate the emergence of a whole new wave of Dickens fans on the audiobook’s release."

Rhind-Tutt, best known for starring in the comedy TV show "Green Wing", is reading The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy for an unabridged audiobook with Hodder & Stoughton. Out this July, the classic adventure tale is set in Paris during the French Revolution and is being re-issued in digital format to coincide with Hodder & Stoughton’s 150th anniversary. 

Ellie Wheeldon, audio and digital editor, commented: "Baroness Orczy is an iconic Hodder author and The Scarlet Pimpernel has been beloved for over a century in many guises. We’re thrilled to be bringing it to a whole new audience with this very special audiobook."

Rhind-Tutt has also narrated audiobooks by Roald Dahl, Hilary Mantel, C.S. Lewis, David Nicholls and Sophie Hannah, among others, while The Scarlet Pimpernel has already been adapted for 12 films, three Broadway musicals, six television programmes and three radio series since its original publication in 1905. 

Meanwhile HarperCollins is marking World cup fever by teaming up with the Totally Football podcast on an audiobook account of Paul Gascoigne, Gazza in Italy by Daniel Storey. Now out, the book is the company’s second audio original and is be read by broadcaster James Richardson, who is also providing a foreword.