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John Yorke unpacks the themes behind the stories in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.

Producer and writer John Yorke unpacks the themes and impact behind the books, plays and stories that are being dramatised in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.

Producer and writer John Yorke has worked in television and radio for 30 years, and he shares his experience with Radio 4 listeners as he unpacks the themes and impact behind the books, plays and stories that are being dramatised in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.

Opening Lines: Venice

Venice

BBC Radio 4 - Opening Lines, Venice

John Yorke explores the enduring appeal of Venice by Jan Morris.

The series that explores books, plays and stories and how they work. John Yorke looks at an enduring classic of travel writing, Venice by Jan Morris.

Hailed as the best non-fiction account of the city, Venice was published in 1960 and became an international best seller.  It was the first in a series of city ‘portraits’ by Jan Morris that included Oxford, Hong Kong and Trieste. She went on to publish over 40 books including her monumental account of the British Empire, Pax Brittanica. 

John Yorke delves into how Jan Morris defied boundaries in Venice and explores why Morris’ first impressions of the city in 1945 were so powerful to her. He also listens to other readers of Venice who talk about Morris’ vivid description and playful wit.  And Jan Morris herself refers to the city of Venice as a touchstone in Conundrum, her account of her gender reassignment in the 1970s.

John Yorke has worked in television and radio for 30 years, and he shares his experience with Radio 4 listeners as he unpacks the themes and impact of the books, plays and stories that are being dramatised in BBC Radio 4’s Sunday/Saturday Drama series. 

From EastEnders to the Archers, Life on Mars to Shameless, he has been obsessed with telling big popular stories. He has spent years analysing not just how stories work but why they resonate with audiences around the globe and has brought together his experience in his bestselling book Into the Woods. 

As former Head of Channel Four Drama, Controller of BBC Drama Production and MD of Company Pictures, John has tested his theories during an extensive production career working on some of the world’s most lucrative, widely viewed and critically acclaimed TV drama. As founder of the hugely successful BBC Writers Academy John has trained a generation of screenwriters - his students have had 17 green-lights in the last two years alone. 

Contributors:
Sara Wheeler – writer and author of a new biography about Jan Morris due out in 2026.
Rachel Spence – arts journalist and poet and author of Venice Unclocked. 

Credits:
Venice by Jan Morris, published by Faber, 3rd revised edition 1993
Conundrum by Jan Morris, published by Faber, revised 2001

Archive clips of Jan Morris from Radio 4’s Bookclub, originally recorded in June 2008.
Archive clip of Michael Palin from Archive on 4 - Jan Morris: Writing a Life, originally recorded in January 2022.
Venice sound bed from recordings by producer, BBC Sound FX library and BBC Radio 3’s Slow Radio: Venice Between the Bells. 

Researcher: Nina Semple
Production Manager: Sarah Wright
Producer:  Julian Wilkinson
Executive Producer: Sara Davies
Sound by Iain Hunter

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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