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4 Extra Debut. All is not what it seems, when a 14th-century Tony Soprano makes his deathbed confession. Stars Colin McFarlane.

Terry Jones introduces the first of ten tasty Renaissance tales.

The 100 stories which make up Giovanni Boccaccio鈥檚 humane and comic masterpiece come from all over the world.

This Renaissance work is considered a landmark in the history of literature.

The stories are vividly reset by Boccaccio among the flourishing merchant classes in the cities of 14th-century Italy.

But their witty, satirical, bawdy voice sounds utterly modern, and their subjects - love, fate, sex, religion, morality - are universal.

鈥淟uckily, God listens to the sincerity of our prayers, and takes no account of their ignorance鈥︹

All is not what it seems, when a 14th-century Tony Soprano makes his deathbed confession.

Adapted in ten parts by Robin Brooks

Ciappelletto ..... Colin McFarlane
Musciatto ..... Sam Dale
Holy Friar ..... Michael Bertenshaw
Federico ..... Monty d鈥橧nverno
Anselmo ..... Paul Heath
Doctor ..... Ian Conningham

Music arranged and performed by Robert Hollingworth and Paula Chateauneuf.

Lyric translations by Silvia Reseghetti.

Script Consultant: Guyda Armstrong

Produced and directed by Jonquil Panting

First broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 3 in December 2014.

15 minutes

Last on

Tue 13 Jan 2026 01:45

Credits

Role Contributor
Writer Giovanni Boccaccio
Adaptor Robin Brooks
Performer Robert Hollingworth
Performer Paula Chateauneuf
Ciappelletto Colin McFarlane
Musciatto Sam Dale
Holy Friar Michael Bertenshaw
Federico Monty d'Inverno
Anselmo Paul Heath
Doctor Ian Conningham
Producer Jonquil Panting
Director Jonquil Panting

Broadcasts

  • Mon 1 Dec 2014 22:45
  • Mon 12 Jan 2026 06:45
  • Mon 12 Jan 2026 11:45
  • Mon 12 Jan 2026 17:45
  • Tue 13 Jan 2026 01:45