A brand new adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s iconic novel, set against the turbulent backdrop of the American Civil War

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2026 SPEAKIES - BEST AUDIO DRAMA ADAPTATION
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2026 SPEAKIES - BEST PERFORMANCE (Claire Perkins)

Margaret Mitchell only had one book published in her lifetime, but it was a blockbuster. The epic, 1000-page, 1936 Pulitzer Prize-winning Gone With The Wind?has been hailed as the Great American Novel, sold over 30 million copies worldwide and is one of America’s most cherished books. Epic and sweeping in scale, it tells the story of a passionate, headstrong young woman whose destiny is forged by love and war.

Sixteen-year-old Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara lives a life of ease and privilege at her wealthy family’s Georgia plantation home, Tara. But her carefree world is about to be turned upside down. When the man she adores, Ashley Wilkes, marries another woman, she is heartbroken – but worse is in store for her and her family. As the Civil War rips through the South and Atlanta burns, she finds herself fighting for survival. Determined to save her beloved Tara, Scarlett enlists the help of cynical opportunist Rhett Butler, and they embark on a tempestuous romance – yet she cannot let go of her dreams of Ashley...

With its unforgettable anti-heroine and vivid depiction of a nation mortally divided and a people forever changed, this classic tale has entranced readers and movie audiences for 90 years. Both seminal and controversial, it has attracted criticism for its racist attitudes, sympathetic stance towards the Confederate South and failure to address the evils of slavery. This major radio retelling skilfully navigates these problematic issues, while never losing sight of the novel’s heart: its compelling characters and stirring, irresistible narrative.

Production credits

Written by Margaret Mitchell

Produced by Tracey Neale

Cast

Narrator/Mary - Clare Perkins
Scarlett O'Hara - Samantha Dakin
Rhett Butler- Jacob Fortune-Lloyd
Melanie Wilkes - Rebekah Murrell
Prissy, Honey - Madeline Charlemagne
Aunt Pittypat - Laurel Lefkow
Frank Kennedy - Finlay Robertson
Sam/Charles/Soldier/Captain - Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong
Ellen/Suellen/Offensive Woman/ Belle - Clare Corbett
Stuart/Brent/ Soldier 1/Officer - Joe Jameson
Gerald/Dr Meade/Colonel/ Jonas Wilkerson/Ragged Man/ Rioter -Sam Dale
Peter/ Captain/ Soldier - David Webber
Pork/Soldier 1/ Foreman - Richard Pepple

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8-22 February 2026

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