Test Match Special – The 2005 Ashes: Settling the Score
Broadcasts begin Wednesday 23 July across BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
Broadcast schedule:
- 1-hour feature programme to go live on BBC Sounds from 6am on Wednesday 23 July
- Programme to air in two halves during lunch breaks on 23 and 24 July on Test Match Special on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
- Full programme on BBC Radio 5 Live on 24 July at 8pm, including a live listen along on the BBC Sport website and app
- Behind-the-scenes podcast released on 28 July on BBC Sounds
- Repeat broadcasts scheduled for November and December 2025 (exact date TBC), to coincide with the next Ashes series
The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Radio 5 Live, and BBC Sport’s Test Match Special are joining forces to celebrate one of the most iconic moments in British sporting history – England’s unforgettable 2005 Ashes triumph – in a special new audio programme called The 2005 Ashes: Settling the Score.
The collaboration reimagines the drama of that legendary summer through the emotional power of music, archive commentary and storytelling, with narration by acclaimed actor Charles Dance. Blending real match audio and cinematic narration, all soundtracked by the full force of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the programme tells the gripping tale of the five-Test series that changed English cricket forever.
The programme’s emotional arc is soundtracked by classical favourites and modern works performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Expect the iconic drama of Prokofiev’s Montagues and Capulets, Soul Limbo (forever associated with cricket on the BBC), plus Parry’s Jerusalem and Bizet’s Carmen, and works by John Adams, Camille Pépin, Thomas Adès, and Mendelssohn.
Listeners can tune into the special live broadcasts via BBC Radio 5 Live or the BBC Sounds app.
Programme Producer, Tim Peach says: “Marking the 20th anniversary of the greatest series of all time presented a challenge – how do you tell a story that is so well known to our audience in a different way? Through this unique collaboration, we’ve been able to do that. The climax of the thrilling Edgbaston Test is accompanied by Shostakovich and Gary Pratt’s famous runout of Ricky Ponting at Trent Bridge is soundtracked by John Adams. I’m pretty sure that Felix Mendelssohn had Kevin Pietersen’s series-winning innings at the Oval in mind when he wrote his Scottish Symphony 180 years previously! The brilliance of the orchestral performances mean that music and cricket are intertwined more than ever – loud drum crashes have become Australian batters being hit at Lord’s, or crashing cymbals have become cover drives for four runs.
This is just part of BBC Cricket’s celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the series, which include podcasts and an iPlayer documentary; How To Win The Ashes: 2005.”
Director of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Adam Szabo says: “The 2005 Ashes: Settling the Score has been a hugely exciting collaboration for the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. For months, we’ve been working closely with teams from BBC Sport and Radio 5 Live to bring this iconic Ashes series to life through the power of music. Sport really is the ultimate non-scripted drama – full of epic highs and lows, triumphant wins and crushing defeats. Mapping the emotional journeys of these matches to the musical arc of works by John Adams, Camille Pépin, Igor Stravinsky, Felix Mendelssohn, and so many more has been both a challenge and a delight – and one that we know our musical and sporting audiences will love. Charles Dance plus an iconic cricket team meet the full power of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra – what more could you want!?.”