Natalie Dormer, Colin Morgan and Derek Jacobi cast in Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology on Radio 4

The new adaptation of Gaiman’s bestselling retelling of Norse myth will also star Diana Rigg, Luke Newberry and Nonso Anozie among others

Published: Thursday, 22 November 2018 at 12:01 am

The cast has been revealed for BBC Radio 4’s annual adaptation of works by author Neil Gaiman, with the latest project – an hour-and-a-half production of Gaiman’s 2017 work Norse Mythology – set to star actors including Game of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer, Merlin’s Colin Morgan and legendary thesp Derek Jacobi.

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The new adaptation of Gaiman’s book (which retold Norse myths) is said to invite listeners into “a world of gods and monsters, fiery endings and new beginnings, tricks and trust,” and also stars Diana Rigg, Nonso Anozie and In the Flesh’s Luke Newberry in a large ensemble cast.

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“What is so marvellous about the gods is how human they are, there is no infallibility,” said Gaiman, who also cameos in the audio drama as The Radio.

“They are the gods of a cold place and they are always on guard against characters who are even colder – the frost giants. They’re very ‘us’, they’re incredibly human and it is that humanity that makes them fascinating.”

“It’s great fun when you step into realms of fantasy, and radio is the perfect place for fantasy because you don’t need the million dollar CGI effects,” said Game of Thrones star Dormer, who plays Freya in the drama.

“The listeners’ imaginations do everything, so I really do think that radio is incredibly well suited to it – especially this time of year.

“Christmas time is the storytelling time of year, families together, gathered around the fire as our teller has us in this. The Gaiman productions always get an incredible cast, it’s a pleasure to be a part of it.”

“I love playing fantasy roles,” added Jacobi. “I played the Master in Doctor Who at one time – that was a revelation, that was extraordinary.

“I had dear friends, whom I didn’t know were Doctor Who ‘nuts’ who when I announced that was going to play the Master got quite hysterical, and said ‘you actually get to say ‘I am the Master’? And I said yes!”

A full synopsis for the one-off drama, which airs on Boxing Day, is below:

Meet the trickster god Loki and his astonishing children – the giant wolf Fenrir, Jormungundr the snake that encircles the world, and Hel, the little girl who grows up to be Queen of the dead. And Odin the all-father, who sacrificed his eye to see the future, Freya the understandably angry, most beautiful of the gods and always being gambled for by unwanted suitors. The stories take us to the very end of the world, Ragnarok.

Intriguingly, this drama reunites several cast mates from HBO series Game of Thrones (including Rigg, Dormer and Anozie) as well as some actors who’ve appeared in previous Radio 4 adaptations of Gaiman’s work.

Dormer played Door in the star-studded 2013 audio version of Gaiman’s book Neverwhere, while Morgan portrayed Newt Pulsifer in Good Omens, an adaptaion of the book written by Gaiman with Terry Pratchett that is currently being made into a TV series starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen.

A full list of the cast and the characters they play can be found below:

Diana Rigg – Teller Derek Jacobi – Odin Colin Morgan – Loki Natalie Dormer – Freya Nathaniel Martello-White – Thor Rhashan Stone – Fenrir Nonso Anozie – Thrym Luke Newberry – Balder Eviee Lavery – Magnus Grace Doherty – Young Hel Lucy Doyle – Sif Don Gilet – Hod Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong – Tyr Alexandra Constantinidi – Hel Lewis Bray – Ivaldisson Michael Bertenshaw – Brokk Cameron Percival – Eitri Saffron Coomber – Angrboda Neil Gaiman – The Radio

The drama is adapted by Lucy Catherine for Radio 4.

Previous adaptations of Gaiman's work for the station have included the aforementioned Neverwhere and Good Omens, as well as How the Marquis Got His Coat Back, Stardust and Anansi Boys.

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Neil Gaiman’s Norse mythology airs on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday 26th December from 3.00-4.30pm

Authors

Radio Times commissioning editor Huw Fullerton. He sits in front of a shelving unit, looking at the camera and smiling. He wears glasses and has a moustache

Huw FullertonCommissioning editor

Huw Fullerton is a commissioning editor for Radio Times magazine handling comedy, entertainment and specialist drama. In a previous regeneration, he covered all things sci-fi and fantasy for RadioTimes.com.

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