Narrated by Derek Jacobi and Benedict Cumberbatch and Christopher Eccleston and Iain Glen and Imogen Stubbs and Clive Mantle and Amanda Redman and Bertie Carvel and Mary Wimbush and Frances Barber and Adjoa Andoh and Tim McInnerney and Full Cast, The Ultimate Iliad & Odyssey by Homer has a runtime of 5 hrs 44 mins on Audible.
Publisher’s Summary
The ultimate, full-cast dramatisations of Homer’s two epic Greek masterpieces, with exceptional casts including Derek Jacobi, Christopher Eccleston, Tim McInnerny and Benedict Cumberbatch
REDISCOVER THE EPIC MYTHS BEFORE YOU SEE CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
Attributed to the Greek poet Homer, The Iliad and The Odyssey are among the greatest and most influential works of the past 3000 years, often claimed as the cornerstones of Western literature. These unmissable BBC dramas breathe new life into the classic stories, adding an extra dimension with stunning casts and specially composed music. Vivid, visceral and action-packed, they will transport you to the battlefield of Troy, and take you on a fantastic journey with the wandering king of Ithaca…
The Iliad – In pursuit of the beautiful Helen, stolen by the Trojan prince Paris, an Achaean battle fleet has sailed from Greece. For nine years the army of the Achaeans has lain siege to Troy, but still the great city stands – and in the ranks, failure breeds resentment and feuding. When the great warrior Achilles is humiliated by his leader, Agamemnon, he refuses to take any further part in the fight. But when the Trojan hero Hector kills his closest friend, Patroclus, he rampages back into battle to take a terrible revenge… Derek Jacobi narrates Homer’s gripping tale of fury, grief, love and war, dramatised by Tom Holland and starring Christopher Eccleston, Iain Glen, Imogen Stubbs and Andrew Sachs.
The Odyssey – The Trojan War is long over, but Odysseus is still struggling to get home. After a decade of fighting and a further ten years battling storms and calamities, the Gods have decided that it is time for him to return to Ithaca. But Poseidon still wants revenge… As Odysseus is freed from the coils of Calypso, who had held him prisoner for seven years, we hear the incredible tale of his seafaring adventures, and his encounters with enchantresses, nymphs, monsters, prophets and ghosts. And we learn of his faithful wife Penelope who waits for him, besieged by suitors, and their son Telemachus who has a quest of his own… This stunning production won Gold at the 2005 Spoken Word Awards and was acclaimed Best Audio Drama at the 2009 Audie Awards. Tim McInnerny stars as Odysseus, with Amanda Redman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bertie Carvel, Adjoa Andoh and Frances Barber.
The Iliad
Homer – Derek Jacobi
Achilles – Christopher Eccleston
Hector – Iain Glen
Agamemnon – Bill Wallis
Helen – Imogen Stubbs
Chryses – Clive Mantle
Athena/Andromache – Suzanna Hamilton
Hero/Hecuba – Mia Soteriou
Odysseus – Michael Elwyn
Priam – Andrew Sachs
Paris – Tom Espiner
Menelaus – John MacKay
Thetis – Jacqueline Tong
Zeus – Michael Fenton Stevens
Patroclus – Jamie Glover
Apollo – Chris Donnelly
Dramatised by Tom Holland
Produced and directed by Viv Beeby and Jeremy Howes
The Odyssey
Odysseus – Tim McInnerny
Penelope – Amanda Redman
Telemachus – Benedict Cumberbatch
Athena – Janet McTeer
Zeus – John Wood
Eurycleia – Mary Wimbush
Hermes – Bertie Carvel
King Alcinous – Geoffrey Whitehead
Queen Arete – Cheryl Campbell
Princess Nausicaa – Alice Hart
Calypso – Adjoa Andoh
The Cyclops – Barrie Rutter
Antinous – Danny Webb
Eurymachus – Jonathan Keeble
Amphinomus – Chris Pavlo
Eurylochus – Ewan Bailey
Polites – John Rowe
Elpenus – Stephen Hogan
Eurybates – Philip Fox
Antiphus/Shipmate – Jon Glover
Eumaeus – Ioan Meredith
Circe – Frances Barber
Ghost of Anticleia – Joanna McCallum
The Sirens: Elena Ferarri, Belinda Sykes, Harriet Williams
Dramatised by Simon Armitage
Directed by Janet Whitaker
© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
Audiobook Details
- Narrated by: Derek Jacobi and Benedict Cumberbatch and Christopher Eccleston and Iain Glen and Imogen Stubbs and Clive Mantle and Amanda Redman and Bertie Carvel and Mary Wimbush and Frances Barber and Adjoa Andoh and Tim McInnerney and Full Cast
- Length: 5 hrs 44 mins
- Publisher: BBC Digital Audio
- Release year: 2026
- Audible category: Literature & Fiction / Classics / Literature & Fiction
Listener Ratings
The Ultimate Iliad & Odyssey holds an average listener rating of 4.7/5 from 16 Audible ratings.
On Audible, ratings for this title break down into narration performance and story separately:
- Performance (narration): 4.9/5
- Story: 4.8/5
- 5-star ratings: 81% of all ratings
What Audible Listeners Are Saying
5/5 stars — “Brings it to life”
I found the Odyssey deadly dull when I was forced to read it as an undergraduate. This version is just right for someone like me–it’s edited to be simpler and leaner, the language is very accessible, and the performances are excellent. I was able to appreciate the story for the first time, and I can finally see why it is a classic. The Iliad was okay though I didn’t like it as much–it was very focused on the details of battle and affronts to honor that demand further bloodshed, and the various interventions (interferences?) of the gods became quite confusing. So my rating is for the Odyssey in particular, though I appreciated listening to an abbreviated version of the Iliad as well. Kudos to those who offer accessible versions of these ancient texts.— RH, Audible listener
5/5 stars — “there voice acting “
top tier voice acting. it’s as captivating as the movie. 100% recommend listening to im going to check out other books. look for my review xD— David j, Audible listener
5/5 stars — “Tight adaptations”
These are dramatic adaptations of both epic poems. They are well done and well acted with stellar casts. The Iliad adaptation ends with the death of Hector, which is reasonable but doesn’t account for Achilles and his end. The Odyssey is exceptionally well done with the gods, just as in the epic poem, acting as intervening narrators in Odyssey’s journey. Though the text has a rhythm to it, it isn’t the original text translated purely. I have no problem with that as it is very faithfully adapted and not modernized. I really wish this was accompanied with a physical book like when I was a kid. I would eat it up! This, combined with an illustrated edition of each epic, would be a great way to ignite a love of reading in a child. They will love the stories, they aren’t overly graphic on the erotic elements, they have the gore to a PG level. Exceptionally well done.The ending of the Odyssey is exceptionally emotional and well done. Bravo.
— Brian J. Willis, Audible listener
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