08:24, 12 February 2026
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
An all-star ensemble comes together to celebrate RNIB (the Royal National Institute of Blind People) 9th decade of bringing the joy of reading to blind and partially sighted people.
Via a special recording of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, 12 of the UK’s best-known actors have lent their voices to convey the classic love story. Some of the famous faces voices include Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh, Ted Lasso’s Phil Dunster, The Night Manager’s Alistair Petrie, and Ghosts stars Charlotte Ritchie, Ben Willbond and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
The leading sight-loss charity began their pioneering Talking Books Service in 1935, creating the world’s first audio library for blind and partially sighted people. Since then, the service has evolved with technology, from gramophone records to digital downloads, Alexa devices, USB sticks and DAISY CDs, offering over 50,000 titles free of charge.
Each actor in the new recording reads between two and four chapters, bringing to life Austen’s beloved characters. Lucy Scott, who played Charlotte Lucas in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, also returns for the recording. RNIB’s Vice President, Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, provides a foreword and reads one of the chapters himself.
James Bartlett, Reading Services Manager at RNIB, said: “This special recording of Pride and Prejudice is a fitting tribute to Talking Books’ legacy. Technology has changed how we access stories over the past 90 years, but the joy of losing yourself in a good book remains the same.”
Several contributors shared personal connections to the service. Adjoa Andoh spoke of a sight-impaired family member whose love of reading was sustained by Talking Books, while Kiell Smith-Bynoe cited his grandfather’s sight loss as motivation to participate.
Coronation Street actress Lisa George, who lives with a sight condition, added: “Talking Books is an iconic service, and Pride and Prejudice is an iconic love story. It has been an honour to lend my voice to this recording.”
To mark the anniversary, this special edition is available not only to RNIB Talking Books users but also to the wider public via the RNIB website, head to this link to listen.
For more information, visit www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/talking-books.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
RNIB. The Royal National Institute of Blind People is taking a stand against exclusion, inequality and isolation to create a world without barriers where people with sight loss can lead full lives. Learn more here.
Extant. This is the UK’s leading professional performing arts charity for visually impaired actors and practitioners. Discover their work here.
Vocal Eyes. A national charity that provides audio description for theatre, museums, and galleries, increasing access for both audience members and performers. They believe that blind and visually impaired people should have the best possible opportunities to experience and enjoy art and heritage. Find out more here.
This positive news article aligns with the UN SDG Reduced Inequalities.
