Learning English Stories

A lively retelling of The Wind in the Willows with Riverbank adventures and woodland characters. Scenes range from Mole’s curious first outing to Toad’s flashy car obsession and dramatic mishaps. There are daring rescues, a lost-and-found winter journey, and a clever plan to reclaim a home.

A globe-trotting wager to circle the world in eighty days sparks daring escapes and narrow misses. A detective trails the travellers across continents while dramatic rescues and tense flights raise the stakes. A lost ship, an arrest, a late return and an unexpected time-zone twist change everything. Romance and a wedding plan add a surprising personal turn.

A chilling Victorian ghost story retold in clear English. The plot follows a young governess, eerie sightings at a country estate, and mysterious behavior from two children. Strange disappearances, spectral figures, and a tense confrontation build to an unsettling conclusion.

A lively retelling of Treasure Island with dramatic scenes from tavern threats to jungle hideouts. The story follows map discoveries, mutiny plotting at sea, and tense confrontations on the island. It highlights clever escapes, buried treasure twists, and a surprising change in a notorious pirate. The theme explores 19 different uses of the word 'spot' woven through the narrative.

A dramatized reading of Oscar Wilde’s haunting tale about a portrait that bears the cost of a man’s sins. Tension builds as influence, vanity and moral decay take hold. Scandal, a ruined love, a shocking confrontation and a desperate final act drive the story forward.

A lively read of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, following Catherine Morland's love of Gothic novels and her trip to Bath. New friendships, flirtations and social deceptions unfold. Imagination and misunderstandings lead to a spooky visit to an abbey and a tense confrontation. Lies, revelations and reconciliations bring surprising resolutions and weddings.

A retelling of a classic fairy tale about a dangerous bargain and impossible tasks. The story follows a desperate rescue by a mysterious little man and escalating demands from a greedy ruler. Tension builds around a life-changing promise and a high-stakes name-revealing challenge. The tale ends with clever discovery and a dramatic unraveling.

Witch prophecies ignite a deadly struggle for power and fate. Ambition and plotting push a nobleman toward regicide and a crown. Paranoia fuels attempts to eliminate rivals and their heirs. Guilt erupts into madness and confession. A vengeful campaign builds to a bloody final confrontation.

Enjoy a classic story in English and learn 9 uses of ‘keep’ - in 5 minutes. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LISTEN TO BEATING SPEAKING ANXIETY: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/beating_speaking_anxietySUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English Conversations They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

A prince is on a quest to find a true princess, leading to a stormy night and a mysterious visitor. A clever queen devises a unique test, placing a single green pea under multiple mattresses to determine the young woman's sensitivity. After a sleepless night filled with discomfort, the princess proves her royal status, leading to a swift marriage. The story ends with a humorous twist as the pea becomes a museum exhibit, showcasing the oddity of royal trials.