Audio - Big Finish Classics: The Box of Delights

Christmas comes early as Big Finish Classics: The Box of Delights is opened by Big Finish Productions in time for the summer holidays...

Press Release

Now due for a June 2021 release, this brand-new full-cast audio adaptation is based on the beloved novel by John Masefield, and follows the classic fantasy adventure about a schoolboy who is entrusted with a magical box. He soon realizes he has the ability to time travel and shapeshift, as he is thrown into a race against time to protect the box from an evil magician and to save Christmas.

Alongside the previously announced Sir Derek Jacobi as Cole Hawlings and Mack Keith-Roach as Kay Harker, more of the star-studded cast of this ten-part epic production has been revealed.

David Warner stars as philosopher Arnold of Todi alongside Mark Gatiss as dark magician Abner Brown, with his gang made up of Louise Jameson (Sylvia Daisy Pouncer) Nicholas Pegg (Foxy-Faced Charles) and Damian Lynch (Chubby Joe).

Playing the residents of Seekings House are Lizzie Waterworth-Santo (Peter Jones), Clare Corbett (Maria Jones) and Deeivya Meir (Susan Jones), with Lisa Bowerman (Caroline Louisa) and Mina Anwar (Ellen).

And voicing a whole host of other magical and non-magical folk are Tim Bentinck, Sam Stafford, George Naylor, Tony Millan, Dan Starkey, Barnaby Edwards, Homer Todiwala, Annette Badland and Raj Ghatak.

Mark Gatiss said: “There’s something special about The Box of Delights. From the opening Victor Hely-Hutchinson music, it is so beautiful it makes your hair stand on end. The whole idea and the tale has got such a sort of magic to it.

“And Abner’s a great part. The idea of a corrupt magician posing as a clergyman... it's weird and mystical and then also villainous. What can I say? It’s why you do it!”

Producer Emma Haigh added: “I’m thrilled we can finally reveal the wonderful cast for The Box of Delights. To have such stellar talent join the adventure was such a privilege and it was a joy to hear them all at work – their voices swept me away every day of recording. And I can’t wait for the production to be released so everyone can join this magical adventure too.”


Big Finish Classics: The Box of Delights is available to pre-order as a limited edition 6-CD box set (priced at £34.99) or digital download (at £29.99), at www.bigfinish.com.

Please note the box set edition is limited to 1,000 copies only.

Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mail-out of collector’s edition CDs may be delayed due to factors beyond our control, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.

Image - Sir Derek Jacobi - composition (c) Clayton Hickman