The BBC’s 2025 radio production of King Lear is the latest in an extensive history of audio productions of the play. However, unlike other recent radio versions of Shakespeare’s texts, it is not set within a contemporary or near contemporary moment through the use of sound and music. Instead it appears to be more in keeping with a much earlier era of audio drama production, with few sound effects, little music and perhaps an attempt at a sense of timelessness that might make it more repeatable. There are also inconsistencies in the performances of its cast and a central performance from Richard Wilson as Lear which could have more effectively conveyed the character’s emotional journey. Overall the production would have benefited with more attention being paid to performance and sound.