BBC Radio 4 Teams with Pulitzer Prize-Winning Writer on Audio Thriller “Don’t Listen to This”

As part of its Limelight series of audio dramas, BBC will be debuting on December 27th the audio thriller “Don’t Listen to This” on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Created by Pulitzer Prize-winning Canadian writer Anthony Del Col, the story centers on the death of a top esports athlete and his former team psychologist’s journey to uncover the truth behind it. Her journey through the world of esports – its fans, owners and players - leads her towards the abandoned development of an online arena battle game, its deceased creator and an audio clip from a cut scene… that may have the power to kill people.

“The world of esports is the perfect place to set a story – full of drama, intrigue, friendship, ego, money and more,” Del Col says. “I’m so excited to have teamed up with BBC Studios and a fantastic cast to create this psychological thriller that will make listeners lean in to find out what happens next (or to stop listening because they’re, quite frankly, scared).”

The five-episode series stars Sophie Wu (“Kick-Ass”) as psychologist Cressida Yang, Thaddea Graham (“Sex Education”) as player/streamer Blu_Devil, Nikesh Patel (“The Devil’s Hour”, “Starstruck”) as team owner R.J. Park and Jonny Weldon (“One Day”) as shoutcaster Rooftop. The series is directed and produced by BBC Studios’ Nadia Molinari, Jessica Mitic and Lorna Newman, who oversaw the success 2022 audio series “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell”.

To create the series, Del Col consulted with LoL players and staff at Riot Games over the span of a few years. The game referenced in “Don’t Listen to This”, “Ghosts of Infinity”, is inspired by LoL as well as Counterstrike. The producers were also able to get to UK streamer Dan “Foxdrop” Wyatt to contribute some voice performances.

The first episode, entitled “London”, will be released on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds on December 27th, with each of the additional episodes debuting the following Fridays (with the final episode playing on Friday, January 24th).