BBC Radio 4 will mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of A.A. Milne’s beloved Winnie-the-Pooh stories this October with a special week of programming, introduced by Her Majesty the Queen.<\/p>\n
The celebrations will feature five newly recorded readings of classic tales, alongside a new drama inspired by the campaign to save the real-life Hundred Acre Wood.<\/p>\n
Broadcasting on BBC Radio 4 at 11.45am from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, Winnie-the-Pooh 100 brings together an acclaimed cast of readers to revisit Milne’s timeless stories of Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin and friends. The season begins with a specially recorded introduction by Her Majesty the Queen, recorded earlier this year at Pooh Sticks Bridge in Ashdown Forest, the landscape that inspired the Hundred Acre Wood.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on her lifelong affection for the stories, Her Majesty recalls childhood games of Pooh Sticks and describes Winnie-the-Pooh as offering “kindness, wisdom” and “simplicity in a very complicated world”.<\/p>\n
Throughout the week, listeners will also enjoy five stories from the first Winnie-the-Pooh collection, read daily by Sir Lenny Henry, Ambika Mod, Jim Broadbent, Toby Jones and Hayley Atwell. The readings celebrate the enduring charm, humour and wisdom of Pooh and his companions, a century after their first publication.<\/p>\n
The season culminates on Saturday 17 October with Drama on 4: Save the Hundred Acre Wood, a new play by Edward Kemp based on the true story of the campaign to protect Ashdown Forest. The drama explores how, despite a lifetime of distancing himself from the well-loved stories, Christopher Robin Milne became involved in efforts to preserve the landscape that inspired his father’s most famous creation.<\/p>\n
Alison Hindell, Commissioner for Drama and Fiction at BBC Radio 4, said: “For a century, Winnie-the-Pooh has captivated readers of all ages with stories full of gentle humour and subtle wisdom. We’re delighted to mark this much-loved character\u2019s centenary on Radio 4 with new readings from an exceptional cast, alongside Edward Kemp’s moving drama exploring the efforts to save Ashdown Forest, famously fictionalised by A.A. Milne as the Hundred Acre Wood. Together, these programmes celebrate the enduring appeal of Milne’s characters and the particular landscape in which they are set.\u201d<\/p>\n
Winnie-the-Pooh 100<\/p>\n
Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, 11.45am, BBC Radio 4<\/p>\n
Five new 15-minute readings from A.A. Milne’s original Winnie-the-Pooh stories, introduced by Her Majesty the Queen. Readers are Sir Lenny Henry, Ambika Mod, Jim Broadbent, Toby Jones and Hayley Atwell. Produced by Kate MacDonald and abridged by Jeremy Mortimer for Reduced Listening.<\/p>\n
Drama on 4: Save the Hundred Acre Wood<\/p>\n
Saturday 17 October, 3.00pm, BBC Radio 4<\/p>\n
A new play by Edward Kemp exploring the effort to save Ashdown Forest, the inspiration for the Hundred Acre Wood, and Christopher Robin Milne’s role in the campaign. Starring Robert Bathurst, Lia Williams, Rosie Jones and Anton Lesser, with music by Sarah Homer. Directed by Jeremy Mortimer. Produced by Reduced Listening for BBC Radio 4.<\/p>\n
Who Are You in Winnie-The-Pooh? (Rerun)<\/p>\n
Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, 10.45pm, BBC Radio 4<\/p>\n
Another chance to hear the series which celebrates the 100th anniversary with Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce asking some the UK’s most celebrated children’s writers who they most identify with in A A Milne’s timeless tales from the Hundred Acre Wood.<\/p>\n
Producer: Rosie Boulton. A Must Try Softer Production<\/p>\n