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About Barry Hines: Kes, Billy’s Last Stand & more

Three dramas by Barry Hines and an abridged reading of his classic Kes ( A Kestrel for a Knave ) Yorkshire-born author Barry Hines is renowned for his 1968 novel A Kestrel for a Knave ( later turned into Ken Loach’s award-winning film Kes) and for scripting the BAFTA-winning BBC TV film Threads . The titles in this collection explore his signature theme – working-class life in Northern England – and include a trio of radio dramas alongside an abridged version of Kes , read by Stephen Tompkinson. Billy’s Last Stand – Casual labourer Billy makes his living shovelling coal into people’s sheds and cellars. It’s a one-man job: until the parasitic Darkly turns up, offering him a business partnership. Arthur Lowe and Ronald Baddiley star in Barry Hines’ darkly comic debut play. Two Men from Derby – Elbow-deep in domestic chores, miner’s wife Freda is visited by Joe and George, two scouts from Derby County FC who want to sign her husband as a professional footballer. But Dick is nowhere to be found… Regarded by Hines as the best thing he ever wrote, this slow-burn drama stars Sharon Duce, Colin Edwynn and Bernard Gallagher . Looking at the Sun – When redundant miner Stewart lands a job at a nuclear power station, he has high hopes for a new beginning. But his wife Lisa’s concerns about the plant put their marriage under increasing strain. Starring Chris Brailsford as Stewart and Gillian Waugh as Lisa. Kes – Neglected at home and bullied at school, Billy’s sole comfort is the wild bird of prey he has trained from a fledgling. But his newfound happiness is short-lived... Stephen Tompkinson reads this adaptation of Hines’ heartbreaking coming-of-age tale of a boy and his kestrel. Text copyright © Barry Hines 1965 ( Billy’s Last Stand ), 1968 ( A Kestrel for a Knave ), 1976 ( Two Men from Derby ), 1992 ( Looking at the Sun ) Production credits Written by Barry Hines Billy’s Last Stand Billy – Arthur Lowe Darkly – Ronald Baddiley Two Men from Derby Freda – Sharon Duce Joe – Colin Edwynn George – Bernard Gallagher Winnie – Juliet Cooke Stanley – Charles Booth Looking at the Sun Stewart – Chris Brailsford Lisa – Gillian Waugh Mr Ellis – Gerry Kersey Clayton – Robin Polley Janice – Belinda Chapman Melanie Lee – Barbara Dryhurst Japanese photographer – Fenella Norman Sharland – Christopher Kent Martyn – Peter Bell Colin – Nick Spurr Kevin – Colln Meredith Alison – Caitlin Smith Kes Read by Stephen Tompkinson © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd