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Noughts & Crosses

A BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation

by Malorie Blackman

Length 1 hour 55 minutes

Language English

Narrators Tracy Wiles, Zawe Ashton, Rikki Lawton, Adjoa Andoh, Full Cast, Carl Prekopp, Alex Lanipekun, Jude Akuwudike & Nikki Amuka-Bird

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Summary
About the author
About the narrator

A thrilling adaptation of Malorie Blackman's bestselling novel about young love in a dystopian world

Callum and Sephy have known each other since they were babies. His Mum used to work for hers as housekeeper, and they played together and became best friends. Then Callum's mother lost her job, and they had to start meeting in secret. Because Callum is a Nought - a second class citizen - and Sephy a Cross, one of the elite. And Noughts and Crosses can't mix...

In this segregated society, Noughts are nonentities - discriminated against, denigrated, denied decent education. But now Callum's passed the entrance exams and been allowed into Sephy's posh school. Surely this is his first step to a better life, one where he and Sephy can be together?

Only it doesn't work out that way. Instead of acceptance, the couple face opposition, intimidation and violence. They know they're made for each other - but the world keeps tearing them apart. And soon bigger things will prevail. Like the bombing...

Malorie Blackman's groundbreaking book has won a host of awards and become a modern classic, with themes of racism and prejudice that still resonate today. This powerful, hard-hitting dramatisation was written by award-winning playwright Janice Okoh, and stars Zawe Ashton as Sephy, with Rikki Lawton as Callum.

Also included is a bonus episode of Word of Mouth, in which Malorie Blackman talks to Michael Rosen about her lifelong love of reading, the writing that has shaped her, and how she's used language in her own influential work.

Cast
Sephy - Zawe Ashton
Callum - Rikki Lawton
Meggie/Jasmine - Adjoa Andoh
Ryan/Andrew Dorn - Carl Prekopp
Jude - Alex Lanipekun
Lynette/Sarah - Tracy Wiles
Kamal - Jude Akuwudike
Kelani Adams - Nikki Amuka Bird
Mr Pingule - Israel Oyelumade
Mr Stoll/Judge - Richard Pepple
Soanes/Sgt Collins - Gerard McDermott
Shania - Victoria Inez Hardy

Adapted by Janice Okoh
Director/Producer Marion Nancarrow

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 February 2012

(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

YA Fiction

Malorie Blackman has written over seventy books for children and young adults, including the Noughts & Crosses series, Thief and a science-fiction thriller, Chasing the Stars. Many of her books have also been adapted for stage and television, including a BAFTA-award-winning BBC production of Pig-Heart Boy and a Pilot Theatre stage adaptation by Sabrina Mahfouz of Noughts & Crosses. There is also a major BBC production of Noughts & Crosses, whose soundtrack was curated by Roc Nation (Jay-Z's entertainment company) as executive music producer. In 2005 Malorie was honoured with the Eleanor Farjeon Award in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the world of children's books. In 2008 she received an OBE for her services to children's literature, and between 2013 and 2015 she was the Children's Laureate. Most recently Malorie wrote for the Doctor Who series on BBC One, and the fifth novel in her Noughts & Crosses series, Crossfire, was published by Penguin Random House Children's in summer 2019.

Zawe Ashton is an actress, playwright and director who started acting at the age of six. Her portrayal of Vod in Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong’s Fresh Meat won her a cult following and the diversity of her work across television, film and stage has attracted numerous accolades. Recent credits include the BBC/Netflix TV series Wanderlust, the Netflix feature film Velvet Buzzsaw and Betrayal at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Her play for all those women who thought they were Mad will be staged for the first time this year. She lives in London.