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Jarvis & Ayres’ tenth James Bond dramatisation for Radio 4. The 1953 spy thriller - the first and most famous of all Ian Fleming’s novels. With a devastating final twist.

The mysterious Le Chiffre works in France as undercover paymaster of a communist-controlled trade union. He’s embezzled union funds and lost the lot. His plan - recoup the money at the gambling tables of Casino Royale, Northern France.

M, head of MI6, gives James Bond the mission of bankrupting Le Chiffre at baccarat. M has assigned attractive Vesper Lynd as Bond’s assistant.

Bond confronts Le Chiffre at the Casino. Will he succeed in destroying the villain? After apparent kidnap and Bond’s torture by Le Chiffre, James realises he’s in love with Vesper. Then events take a wholly unexpected turn.

But James Bond, amid extraordinary revelations, remains cruelly professional to the last.

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
Dramatised by Archie Scottney
Directed by Martin Jarvis

Cast:
James Bond….Toby Stephens
Vesper Lynd….Susannah Fielding
Le Chiffre….Hugh Bonneville
Felix Leiter….Josh Stamberg
René Mathis….Matthew Wolf
M….John Standing
Head of Staff….Lloyd Owen
Barman….Darren Richardson
Mrs Dupont….Anna Mathias
Assassin….Andre Sogliuzzo
Nurse….Moira Quirk
Doctor….Henri Lubatti
Le Patron......Alan Shearman
Ian Fleming (Narrator)......Martin Jarvis
Other parts played by members of the company.

Original music composed and played by A-Mnemonic
Sound design: Charles Carroll, Neil Wogenson, Mark Holden
Producer: Rosalind Ayres
Director: Martin Jarvis

A Jarvis & Ayres production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4