We are having another celebration here at Silksoundbooks. Today is the birthday of star audio book reader Stephen Tompkinson who was born in 1965 in Stockton-on-Tees. He grew up in Lancashire and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

We first got to know Stephen through his role in Drop The Dead Donkey in the nineties. Since then he has starred in the film Brassed Off, and the TV series In Deep Other TV appearances have included Grafters, All Quiet on the Preston Front and the wonderful Ballykissangel.

In January 2006 he starred in a new ITV drama series Wild at Heart about a Bristol vet relocating to Africa. This led to the recent production of Stephen Tompkinson's Great African Balloon Adventure, a three part documentary about his adventures in a hot air balloon travelling from Tanzania to Namibia.

Set closer to home, The Card, read as an unabridged audiobook by Stephen Tompkinson, is set in the Midlands region of England. Arnold Bennett's very entertaining novel tells how the hero of the story, Henry Machin, makes his way up the social ladder of a Northern British potteries town to become a nineteenth century celebrity, with all the benefits and pitfalls that brings. Stephen's obvious affinity with the North off England really adds to the story.

Happy birthday Stephen, from all of us at Silksoundbooks.

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