Frederick Forsyth’s The Shepherd BBC Radio 3 Saturday, 24 December, 9.15pm
An original adaptation of the classic aviation Christmas tale Read by Luke Thompson, with a cappella pieces by the Saint Martin Singers Adapted for radio by Amber Barnfather With thanks to the RAF Museum, London, for their help with sound effects Available on the Radio 3 website for 30 days after broadcast. Search for ‘Between the Ears: The Shepherd’ online or in the iPlayer Radio app”. http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediap … e-shepherd
Between The Ears: The Shepherd
An innovative adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s haunting classic Christmas tale, read by Luke Thompson.
Written as a Christmas present for his wife, and first published in 1975, The Shepherd is a famous and much-loved aviation ghost story – and follows an RAF pilot as he flies back to Britain on 24 December and disaster unfolds.
Forsyth’s gripping story is a beautiful and compelling reflection on loneliness, fear, gratitude and sacrifice. It’s also thrillingly authentic – at the age of 19, Frederick Forsyth became one of the youngest pilots in the RAF where he served on National Service from 1956 to 1958.
Recorded in binaural sound, this programme’s soundscape features a cappella pieces, improvised sounds and mouth/body percussion by the Saint Martin Singers – specially recorded for the programme at St Giles-in-the-Fields.
It also includes symbolic sound effects using Christmas decorations, and Vampire aircraft recordings made at the RAF Museum, London.
Moggy
By: Zac Yates - 17th April 2022 at 20:30
Actors are often producers on films in which they don’t appear – for all we know this is the case and, given his history with the Vampire and flying in general and as such is simply on set to oversee and enjoy the aircraft? For me the biggest question is how this story can be turned into a feature-length film worthy of the expenditure such a production entails, as opposed to a short.
By: bazv - 12th April 2022 at 20:04
One would hope that Mr Travolta – being a pilot (or is that Boeing a pilot 🙂 ) himself would like to stick more or less to the story – well we can but hope !
By: Southern Air99 - 12th April 2022 at 12:13
From images I have seen it appears they have found a younger actor to play the unnamed pilot.
Maybe JT is indeed playing Marks, Joe, or ‘Johnny’ Kavanagh the Shepherd himself at a push.
Either that or as in the tradition of film, a new role has been invented for dramatic reasons?
By: Prop Strike - 11th April 2022 at 21:53
How interesting ! I hope Travolta, great actor that he is, has not been cast as a 20-something Vampire pilot.
He might be the bumbling Flt Lt Marks. or old Joe. There is nobody else really.
By: Southern Air99 - 11th April 2022 at 21:26
A resurrection of an old thread from the glory days, but currently a short film adaptation of ‘The Shepherd’ is being filmed up in Norfiolk at West Raynham.
Actor John Travolta is heavily involved (possibly as director/maybe starring?) and has been spotted by many, openly talking about the filming.
A few Vampire and Venom airframes are being utilised, with ejector seats removed for closeups to portray early fighter examples. FB.52. LN-DHY is one of the stars disguised as ‘WA123’
Some scenes have also been rumoured to have been shot at East kirkby with the taxiable Mossie, presumably also scanned for CGI-ing.
How true it will be to the novella, remains to be seen…
By: Moggy C - 25th December 2016 at 00:47
We extinguished all the lights except the candles by the fire and the Christmas tree lights and listened to it, a glass of Port to hand not far short of midnight.
I think we may have established a new Christmas tradition.
Moggy
By: Stratosphere - 24th December 2016 at 23:16
Yes indeed, brilliant.
Being an iconic tale I did not think you could improve on it.
Glad to be proved wrong and glad I recorded it.
Merry Christmas
By: Southern Air99 - 24th December 2016 at 22:53
A brilliant piece of listening indeed, a very haunting story.
The Vampire and Mossie sounds were brilliant.
By: Moggy C - 24th December 2016 at 19:47
Reminder.
Moggy
By: Moggy C - 1st December 2016 at 23:10
Indeed. It will be fascinating to see how they compare.
Moggy
By: Lysanderlover - 1st December 2016 at 20:51
This version is a classic in Canada:
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December 1, 2016 at 7:32 pm