A Radio Play Spinoff of Neil Gaiman's 'Neverwhere' Airs This Week

The cast and production team of How The Marquis Got His Coat Back (Photo: BBC Radio 4/BBC)

BBC Radio 4 is launching a follow-up to their star-studded 2012 radio adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere. Gaiman’s sprawling fantasy story is set in a mysterious world called London Below, which exists under the streets of the city and is ruled over by a variety of colorful figures.  

The new 45-minute radio drama will adapt Gaiman’s How the Marquis Got His Coat Back, a short story that continues the adventures of Neverwhere’s cunning Marquis de Carabas. You may remember that he was killed by the villainous Mssrs Vandemar and Croup in the original story, but a little thing like death is hardly enough to keep a man like The Marquis down.

As the title indicates, this story follows the Marquis on a journey to find his lost coat, among other things. 

The cast includes such familiar faces as Paterson Joseph, who appeared as The Marquis in the original 1996 television version of Neverwhere, Adrian Lester, Don Warrington and Mitch Benin.  James McAvoy and Bernard Cribbins are also part of the series' cast, reprising their respective roles as Richard Mayhew and the Old Bailey from the 2012 radio play.

And if that's not enough, Gaiman himself is making an appearance! He'll be playing a character called The Boatman, who ferries The Marquis across Mortlake, the River of the Dead

How the Marquis Got His Coat Back will premiere on Friday, November 4 at 2:15 GMT. But remember, since we here in America haven’t put our clocks back yet, there’s only a four-hour time difference between the US and UK right now.

You can listen via the BBC Radio 4 website, which streams globally, or use any one of a half-dozen radio apps such as Tune In Radio to get your Gaiman fix. The drama will also stream on the BBC iPlayer Radio for at least a week after its broadcast, so you have plenty of time to give it a listen. .

Anyone planning to check Marquis out? (I'm so excited for this!)


Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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