Gordon Cuthbert Griffin M.B.E. (born 19 December 1942) is an English actor, audiobook reader, casting director, dialogue coach, singer, composer and lyricist. Early life Griffin comes from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, though he was actually born at Gilsland in Northumberland, where his family temporarily located in wartime. He trained at Rose Bruford College. Career As a stage actor, he has half a century's experience of working in theatres up and down the British Isles, and in English-speaking productions overseas. He took part in the first national tour of Godspell, and played in Julius Caesar and in Murder in the Cathedral at Chichester Festival Theatre. Other UK regional theatres where he has performed include Derby Playhouse and the Octagon Theatre, Bolton. For twenty years he has been Casting Director for The English Theatre of Hamburg and has cast over fifty plays, including The Importance of Being Earnest, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Arms and the Man, Candida, Blithe Spirit, The Caretaker, Private Lives and The Circle, as well as the plays of LaBute and David Mamet. As a cabaret singer he has performed with his singing partner Francoise Geller in the UK and elsewhere. He has composed music and lyrics for productions such as The Circle, Educating Rita, When the Reaper Calls, Over the River, Through the Woods and April in Paris. His first film job, in Arabesque, required him to play a scene with Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren. On television he has been a presenter on Play School, he played Inky in two series of Chips' Comic for Channel 4 and he spoke the first line in the first episode of Byker Grove. Griffin has worked as a dialogue coach on Byker Grove and Kavanagh QC. Through doing radio drama he realised that he could display great versatility with his voice alone, accessing a greater range of parts than would otherwise be possible. (For instance, in the late 'sixties when well into his twenties he took over the part of Billy the eldest grandson in The Dales, formerly Mrs Dale's Diary, who had previously been played as a boy with an unbroken voice, and played him till the serial ended.) He 'got in on the ground floor' when audiobooks started to be recorded. For many years he has been a voiceover specialist and has recorded nearly eight hundred audiobooks, mostly unabridged. The subjects have been as varied as Homer's Odyssey, Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and novels by H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, as well as more modern writers like Hilary Mantel and Melvyn Bragg. Also many titles in the Golden Age of Murder series for the British Library, and non-fiction titles such as Elegy: The First Day on the Somme, and Breakfast is a Dangerous Meal by Terence Kealey, among many others. AudioFile Magazine wrote: "Griffin is not just a narrator, but an artist of the Spoken Word. He is in the top five of the most borrowed audiobook narrators in the world.". In 2015-2016 his 2015 reading of Kate Ellis 's The Death Season was the sixth most borrowed adult audiobook from UK public libraries, as reported by the Public Lending Right office. His more unusual audio recordings include having been the courteous voice advising alighting passengers to "Mind the gap, please" on the London Underground. In 2017, Griffin was appointed MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List "For services to People with Sight Impairment".
I’m about an hour into this and I’m very impressed with the narrator. As someone who trained with a voice coach for a year, I know how hard it is. An expat listening in Florida.
This was one of the best murder mysteries I’ve read in years. The complexity of the plot, characterization, & descriptions o scenes & background were right up there w/ Agatha Christie & others. I am also v. impressed w/ the narrater. He is like a one man band just as the first commentator said. I really hope that more of this author’s audiobooks show up on TH-cam & soon! Thank you!
Mention of Martins bank brought my lovely dad to mind. Martins was his 1st bank when at the age of 40 he needed an account to receive his pay from his new career as a school master. A big step up in 1959 from his previous job on the railway.
That sounds like an interesting story. How did he go from the railway to teaching? Especially so much later than most. I'm thinking WWII had something to do with it?
WOW! What a PERFECT study in the effects of a narcissistic patriarch! No one was good enough, not even his own offspring. I am enjoying every syllable of this beautifully narrated, beautifully written novel! Thank you!❤
Thank you for your introduction of a brief description of the author of this fantastic story using the pseudonym George Bellaris, great name by the way. I was sad he wasn't respected, honoured and paid correctly by his publisher, he deserved far more recognition and financial wealth. He character descriptions are masterly and his sorry fascinating. The narration was remarkable and brilliant and did great justice to this radio adaptation of this murder mystery. Thanks again I felt I was there with all the action and characters. Xxxx❤👏👏👏👏
A good narrator can really make or break the enjoyment of an audiobook. This one has a very familiar voice heard on many of them. You only have to compare him with the awful A/I narrations to appreciate that he is a master of his art.
@@vespadavidson2315 Do you know how to show courtesy and respect? If you need help with your manners and common decency…. Show a bit of decorum. It too is free. Good grief.
Completely wrapped up in this skillfully written mystery! British families, behaving in sheer naughtiness! I'm NY Toms very British/Brazilian future wife MD
Hello Martin. We are customers of yours. We have have many of your books and I have read this one before. Really enjoy listening to them at night when I can't sleep and my eyes r too tired to read. Thank you for putting them on TH-cam. This narrator is excellent.
Loved this story and the way it was read absolutely fab. The music at the end didn't bother me and did not take away from what was an amazing audiobooks. Thank you so much for an excellent job.
I love this author. I love the detail. I love the characterization. I read many golden age mysteries, and I'm glad I found Bellairs. He rivals Christie with his poor opinion of human nature. At times he's savage.
Well, well, well, over six and one-half hours of what you claim to be lovely reading and you spend the majority of your comment castigating the person who took the time and trouble to make that lovely reading available to you. Perhaps you didn't mean it that way...
Great book, I enjoyed it a lot; but the way the music came out of the blue harshly at the end kind of wrecked my thougtful afterglow. Maybe fade it in so people can choose to click off
Or maybe you should make the effort to start your own youtube channel and do it yourself. Think of all the thoughtful afterglows you'll be giving to others.....
To you and the 4 people who gave a thumbs-up to your comment: If you spend much time on youtube you will learn there is a very good reason for the loud music at the end. And if you can't stand the loud music, you should pay for the audiobook instead of listening to it for free without the author's permission. It's a funny thing, but these literary types think they deserve to be paid for their efforts.
All is good , but if you are listening while sleeping , there is unnecessary music at end which would wake you up . Suggest to remove it which is otherwise a good narrative
This was a fantastic reading. To the person who replaced the reader’s contact information with obnoxious music: that was an unnecessary dick move. Do you need to be spiteful and mean?
The music at the end is unfortunately a must on you tube. It is technical solution found so that the audiobook would be posted and free for everyone to listen. Othewise you should pay for it.
Enjoyed it but very of its time, pander to the Lord of the manner who gets off (even though he tried to kill the police man)!!! The woman where treated with the usual suspicion & malice 🥱
In another culture it's known as art and entertainment. Some sensitive little Indian child may read your comment and grow up to be ashamed for liking that "awful" music. Have you no heart?
A narrator can make or break even a good book. Thank you for a good one.
Could not have said it better. Thank you for sharing.....enjoy
Who is the narrator?
So wonderful for the narrator to include the biographical sketch of Bellairs. He is excellent and my instinct to subscribe was a good one.
Oh my gosh, what is better than discovering a new author? I am loving this, and the narrator is amazing. Thank you so very much.
This reader is like a one man band! You know what I mean? What a good reader! Thank you for sharing.
I believe it is Gordon Griffin. He is an amazing audiobook reader & very accomplished actor. I have listened to many of his readings
One man band....what a unique description of the narrator's style....I'll have to remember that.😀👍
He makes a really good story even better!
Gordon Cuthbert Griffin M.B.E. (born 19 December 1942) is an English actor, audiobook reader, casting director, dialogue coach, singer, composer and lyricist.
Early life
Griffin comes from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, though he was actually born at Gilsland in Northumberland, where his family temporarily located in wartime. He trained at Rose Bruford College.
Career
As a stage actor, he has half a century's experience of working in theatres up and down the British Isles, and in English-speaking productions overseas. He took part in the first national tour of Godspell, and played in Julius Caesar and in Murder in the Cathedral at Chichester Festival Theatre. Other UK regional theatres where he has performed include Derby Playhouse and the Octagon Theatre, Bolton.
For twenty years he has been Casting Director for The English Theatre of Hamburg and has cast over fifty plays, including The Importance of Being Earnest, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Arms and the Man, Candida, Blithe Spirit, The Caretaker, Private Lives and The Circle, as well as the plays of LaBute and David Mamet.
As a cabaret singer he has performed with his singing partner Francoise Geller in the UK and elsewhere. He has composed music and lyrics for productions such as The Circle, Educating Rita, When the Reaper Calls, Over the River, Through the Woods and April in Paris.
His first film job, in Arabesque, required him to play a scene with Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren.
On television he has been a presenter on Play School, he played Inky in two series of Chips' Comic for Channel 4 and he spoke the first line in the first episode of Byker Grove.
Griffin has worked as a dialogue coach on Byker Grove and Kavanagh QC.
Through doing radio drama he realised that he could display great versatility with his voice alone, accessing a greater range of parts than would otherwise be possible. (For instance, in the late 'sixties when well into his twenties he took over the part of Billy the eldest grandson in The Dales, formerly Mrs Dale's Diary, who had previously been played as a boy with an unbroken voice, and played him till the serial ended.)
He 'got in on the ground floor' when audiobooks started to be recorded. For many years he has been a voiceover specialist and has recorded nearly eight hundred audiobooks, mostly unabridged. The subjects have been as varied as Homer's Odyssey, Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and novels by H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, as well as more modern writers like Hilary Mantel and Melvyn Bragg. Also many titles in the Golden Age of Murder series for the British Library, and non-fiction titles such as Elegy: The First Day on the Somme, and Breakfast is a Dangerous Meal by Terence Kealey, among many others. AudioFile Magazine wrote: "Griffin is not just a narrator, but an artist of the Spoken Word. He is in the top five of the most borrowed audiobook narrators in the world.". In 2015-2016 his 2015 reading of Kate Ellis 's The Death Season was the sixth most borrowed adult audiobook from UK public libraries, as reported by the Public Lending Right office.
His more unusual audio recordings include having been the courteous voice advising alighting passengers to "Mind the gap, please" on the London Underground.
In 2017, Griffin was appointed MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List "For services to People with Sight Impairment".
@@adoculos4521 thank you!
I’m about an hour into this and I’m very impressed with the narrator. As someone who trained with a voice coach for a year, I know how hard it is. An expat listening in Florida.
First time author and reader for me... what a splendid surprise. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Wonderful introduction... almost a story on it"s own.
Charming. Would so like more.
The narrator was soothing with
perfect pitch
.
& such
good translation of the characters.
Thank you. It was a pleasure
Thank you for finding a brilliant reader for great writing. So enjoyable to listen to.
For someone with diminished hearing, this is a great narrator.
The narration was perfect and the story was great. I didn't want it to end.
Fabulous narrator, he brings the characters to life and he really does justice to the author’s inventive mind. Wonderful book 😊
15
Excellent choice. Thank you for the time and energy you’ve shared to upload these wonderful audiobooks.
Good story and an equally good narrator 😊 I highly recommend this, thank you
Loved the book. I look forward to hearing more from the author.
Wonderful, wonderful. Brilliant story and narration. Thank you so much and more please
This was one of the best murder mysteries I’ve read in years. The complexity of the plot, characterization, & descriptions o scenes & background were right up there w/ Agatha Christie & others. I am also v. impressed w/ the narrater. He is like a one man band just as the first commentator said.
I really hope that more of this author’s audiobooks show up on TH-cam & soon! Thank you!
Mention of Martins bank brought my lovely dad to mind. Martins was his 1st bank when at the age of 40 he needed an account to receive his pay from his new career as a school master. A big step up in 1959 from his previous job on the railway.
That sounds like an interesting story. How did he go from the railway to teaching? Especially so much later than most. I'm thinking WWII had something to do with it?
train drivers earn more than teachers these days !
The narrator is amazing Great story. Thanks
WOW! What a PERFECT study in the effects of a narcissistic patriarch! No one was good enough, not even his own offspring. I am enjoying every syllable of this beautifully narrated, beautifully written novel! Thank you!❤
Misandrists are so included but I imagine you are completely blind to that.
Such a delight!! Written in a very normal way which I wish these Novels today would do. Want to hear more n the reader is awesome!!! Thanks.
What a lovely cosy mystery! The narrator is wonderful!
Am hooked on George Bellairs now!
Thank you for your introduction of a brief description of the author of this fantastic story using the pseudonym George Bellaris, great name by the way. I was sad he wasn't respected, honoured and paid correctly by his publisher, he deserved far more recognition and financial wealth. He character descriptions are masterly and his sorry fascinating. The narration was remarkable and brilliant and did great justice to this radio adaptation of this murder mystery. Thanks again I felt I was there with all the action and characters. Xxxx❤👏👏👏👏
It is an audio book. I usually buy them and download on my iPhone. I feel a little guilty for not paying for this. ☺️
👍Brilliant narration of a really interesting story.👏🙂
Thank you for sharing.
Listening in Donegal, Ireland.☘
Me too!
Listening from Masterton, New Zealand. Wonderful story. ❤
Listening from Atlanta, Georgia, USA and enjoying this George Bellairs novel very much.
A good narrator can really make or break the enjoyment of an audiobook. This one has a very familiar voice heard on many of them. You only have to compare him with the awful A/I narrations to appreciate that he is a master of his art.
Thank u so much...fortunate to hv found this...amazing story made even more interesting with a lovely narration❤
It was great to discover a new author, and the narrator is extremely good.
It’s like a Charles Dickens’ novel. Excellent story and narration. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
George Bellairs was a prolific writer. Please please give us more🙏🏻
Thanks for letting us know, I had no idea. Wow!
I agree, I'd love to hear more of his books.
Excellent. Nice to know the background of the author as well. Much appreciated. Thank you.
Would be nice, perhaps, to avoid the lengthy preamble and to know when the novel proper begins
(Just my own personal preference).
@@DJAC63 do you understand how to skip forward..?
If you need help with your personal hygiene...........?
@@vespadavidson2315
Do you know how to show courtesy and respect?
If you need help with your manners and common decency….
Show a bit of decorum. It too is free.
Good grief.
@@DJAC63 touch a nerve....?
Completely wrapped up in this skillfully written mystery! British families, behaving in sheer naughtiness! I'm NY Toms very British/Brazilian future wife MD
Great reader, very well done! Good story. Thank you for this!
Good story and fantasticly read. Thank you ever so much.
Excellent reading and it is too bad that Ballairs did not get more recognition when he was alive. The story was also excellent.
Hello Martin. We are customers of yours. We have have many of your books and I have read this one before. Really enjoy listening to them at night when I can't sleep and my eyes r too tired to read. Thank you for putting them on TH-cam. This narrator is excellent.
Loved this story and the way it was read absolutely fab. The music at the end didn't bother me and did not take away from what was an amazing audiobooks. Thank you so much for an excellent job.
Enjoyed the story and amazing narration. Look forward to more by this author. I’ll buy a cup of coffee soon. Thanks.
Thank you for being such an awesome narrator,
An excellent reading…thank you! 😀♥️
The best reader I have ever heard!
This is brilliant
Excellent narrator.
I love this author. I love the detail. I love the characterization. I read many golden age mysteries, and I'm glad I found Bellairs. He rivals Christie with his poor opinion of human nature. At times he's savage.
Gk y😊
Iu te 888pG😊😮😅🎉para m lo y😮l 😢d h😮a d oa😊0a
M?😅yp😅😅g my n.G😊o pl d
Good story,very well read
Very enjoyable story line and brilliantly well read. Thank you
Good story, great narrator.
Indian music at 7:06:19 will wake you up if you fell asleep to it
Copyright breach detection blocker. Commonplace on TH-cam audiobooks.
The price we pay for not actually paying a price; so to speak..
Thank you
Good to know. Ty.
Ohhh noooooo!!!!! I can’t stand that. It ruins the entire experience. Anything but Indian please!
@@DJAC63can’t it be soothing British music to go with the book?
Perfect! Thank you.
lovely story for an "amateur" beautifully written.
Thank you so, so much...............
The story begins at 7:47
Thank you!
Thank You..
Wonderful narrator.
I actually met someone named Littlejohn in Alberta Canada and he called his farm Littlejohn’s Sherwood Forest. I loved it!
I wish there are more Bellaire mystery books available in audio
Good job! 👽👽👽
Jolly brilliant 😊❤
Lovely reading.Thankyou.
Sudden blaring music at end inappropriate & inconsiderate of those of us who enjoy restful listening.
Well, well, well, over six and one-half hours of what you claim to be lovely reading and you spend the majority of your comment castigating the person who took the time and trouble to make that lovely reading available to you. Perhaps you didn't mean it that way...
enjoyable - thanks
Great audiobook
The story starts at 7:47 after an introduction to the author and book.
Thank you.
Bravo!
Great book, I enjoyed it a lot; but the way the music came out of the blue harshly at the end kind of wrecked my thougtful afterglow. Maybe fade it in so people can choose to click off
Or maybe you should make the effort to start your own youtube channel and do it yourself. Think of all the thoughtful afterglows you'll be giving to others.....
@@doylegaines1319 I'd enjoy that but don't have the skills.
I liked the reading, but it was spoiled by the loud music at the end.
To you and the 4 people who gave a thumbs-up to your comment: If you spend much time on youtube you will learn there is a very good reason for the loud music at the end. And if you can't stand the loud music, you should pay for the audiobook instead of listening to it for free without the author's permission. It's a funny thing, but these literary types think they deserve to be paid for their efforts.
FYI to listeners: the story starts at 7:50 minutes in.
All is good , but if you are listening while sleeping , there is unnecessary music at end which would wake you up . Suggest to remove it which is otherwise a good narrative
2:29:50 chapter 7 (bookmark)
4:29:04 chapter 12 (bookmark)
Gordon Griffin was the real star of the show!
It would be helpful if you would post a synopsis of the books you offer. Thanks.
Story finally starts at 7.50 !!!!
Thank you
The length of this book encourages me to ask if the reader is brave enough to take on '
John Halifax gentleman, that would be wonderful!
I think you will find that the excellent Gordon Griffin has narrated hundreds of audio books across diverse genres. Seek him out 😊
Reader 🌟🌟
I think the narrator is actor Christopher Timothy, from the old Creatures Great and Small 😁
7:48 is the first chapter though the stuff about the author before that is quite interesting
Story starts at 7:49
Yes bank managers do tend to concentrate on fiction. 😂😂😂😂
Starts at 7.50.
Excelente storyline, Excelente Reader.
Story starts at 7min 45sec
Loud music at the end
2 hours have passed. When will the investigation begin? Is little john a detective or a social worker?
This was a fantastic reading.
To the person who replaced the reader’s contact information with obnoxious music: that was an unnecessary dick move. Do you need to be spiteful and mean?
What time chapter 1 start???
It start at 7:50.
Thank you!
Why the music ?... I like to fall asleep to audiobooks ,but that music just wakes me up again. Again why the music?
The music at the end is unfortunately a must on you tube. It is technical solution found so that the audiobook would be posted and free for everyone to listen. Othewise you should pay for it.
6:13:35
Ps what was their website and why did they cover it up with the Punjabi tune?
It somehow keeps the copyright holders from finding that their book has been posted for free on TH-cam
💙🎙📖💙
How do you signal in your country "I won't be long"?
"Revin imediat" 😊
Skip the waffle to get to the actual book ... 7.55
Enjoyed it but very of its time, pander to the Lord of the manner who gets off (even though he tried to kill the police man)!!!
The woman where treated with the usual suspicion & malice 🥱
4:06
That awful music at the end 😡😡😡😡🤮🤮🤮🤮
In another culture it's known as art and entertainment. Some sensitive little Indian child may read your comment and grow up to be ashamed for liking that "awful" music. Have you no heart?
th-cam.com/video/nrkZmGI6CjM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=PM0f7EKFTyYq3w3d
❤
Gordon Griffin narrator
Rather annoying that Basildon is now up north !
My god! What a miserable lot of characters. Great narration though. Thank you.
35
Brilliant
Rabb thought he was a Malcolm Tucker, but now finds out he's not. If you treat people like s###, you're going to find people are going to sink you.