The best audiobook readers, coupled with the best authors, take readers on incredible journeys and build entire worlds with nothing but their voice. Often seen as an easier way for busier bookworms to keep on top of their reading, audiobooks rely on a great narrator to keep readers captivated with excellent clarity, a mastery of accents, or even a flash of humour.
Read on for some of the most listened to audiobook narrators on Audible in the UK, so far in 2023.
Stephen Fry
As narrator of the world-famous Harry Potter series, Stephen Fry has been transporting UK listeners to the Wizarding World on Audible for years – fans have now listened to the Harry Potter books for over one billion hours on Audible in total.
The length of the books might have something to do with the incredible amount of time Audible users have spent listening to Stephen Fry, with 117 hours required to listen to the entire series. Stephen is also the audiobook narrator of Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive collection, and several of his own books – including acclaimed, historical journeys into Greek mythology with Mythos and Heroes.
Listen to all of Stephen Fry’s narrated audiobooks here.
Prince Harry
Spare, Prince Harry’s landmark autobiography, shot to the number one spot on bestselling lists when it was released in January. Promising an unrivalled inside look into the royal family, his life, and his relationship with Meghan Markle, it’s no surprise that the book has been the most popular audiobook on Audible so far in 2023.
Narrated by Prince Harry, readers can expect a deep dive into his relationship with the British media, his role as a working royal, and his experience after the death of his mother.
Spare is available for free with Audible’s free trial.
Lesley Manville
Known for her acting roles in The Crown and Sherwood, Leslie Manville is just as captivating as an audiobook narrator as she is on screen. Narrating the breakout hit The Thursday Murder Club and its sequel The Man Who Died Twice, Lesley Manville brings Richard Osman’s cosy-but-gripping crime novels to life with absorbing narration and a thrilling sense of suspense.
Lesley has said she’s grown ‘so attached’ to reading ‘Richard’s truly wonderful novels’, and given the enormous amount of time Audible listeners have spent engaging with the series, it’s clear she’s not the only one.
For more of Lesley Manville’s narrated audiobooks, check out The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Robert Glenister
The first Cormoran Strike novel burst onto the literary crime scene in 2013, authored by the mysterious Robert Galbraith. The Cuckoo’s Calling quickly topped national and international bestseller lists, before it was revealed that the author was a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling.
British actor Robert Glenister lends his distinguished voice and masterful accents to the riveting and contemporary ‘whodunnits’ Cormoran Strike is tasked to solve, with Troubled Blood and the latest entry in the series, The Ink Black Heart both featuring high on the list for Audible listening hours. The series has also been adapted for TV as Strike, now in its fourth season.
Meet Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike for the first time on Audible.
Andy Serkis
Another actor who has found success as an audiobook narrator, BAFTA award-winning Andy Serkis is perhaps best known for playing Gollum in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. However, he is also the audiobook narrator for the unabridged and classic books by J.R.R. Tolkien, available exclusively on Audible.
If you’re looking to begin your epic journey into Middle-Earth at the very start, Andy Serkis is also the Audible narrator for The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien’s timeless book about the events before the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
For a more recent foray into Middle-Earth, discover The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime.
The Jane Austen Collection Cast
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Jane Austen’s period novels remain as entertaining, witty, and poignant as ever in 2023 – and now you can listen to the ultimate collection of her work, narrated by some of the biggest actors on the planet. Claire Foy, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Billie Piper, Florence Pugh and Emma Thompson lend their voices to Jane Austen’s most well-loved stories, including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma.
Discover the Jane Austen Collection on Audible here, including a behind-the-scenes interview with the amazing cast of narrators.
Looking for your next favourite performance? Find the highest-rated and newest audiobooks here, including star-studded, multi-cast productions and narrator collections.
