Adrift at sea in a small boat, slave merchant Ibn's daughter depends on her slave captor for her survival. Madu, the nephew of the sultan, swaps palace life for the army.
In the third episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty, fourteen year old daughter (Olivia Popica) of slave merchant Ibn (Nabil Elouahabi) is adrift at sea in a small boat and captive to an escaped slave (Akin Gazi). Now she must depend on her slave captor for her survival. Madu (Danny Ashok), the spoilt nephew of the Sultan, also has to grow up quickly as he swaps palace life for hard graft in the army.
Tumanbay, the beating heart of a vast empire, is threatened by a rebellion in a far-off province and a mysterious force devouring the city from within. Gregor (Rufus Wright), Master of the Palace Guard, is charged by Sultan Al-Ghuri (Raad Rawi) with the task of rooting out this insurgence and crushing it.
Music - Sacha Puttnam
Sound Design - Steve Bond, Jon Ouin
Editors - Ania Przygoda, James Morgan
Producers - Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan, John Dryden
Written by Mike Walker
Directed by John Dryden
A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
![]()
Who were the Mamluks?
Chivalrous, ruthless and filthy rich. The Mamluks ruled Egypt for over 300 years.
![]()
Characters to watch out for
Slaves, warriors and spies. Get to know Tumanbay's key characters.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Gregor | Rufus Wright |
| Heaven | Olivia Popica |
| Slave | Akin Gazi |
| Cadali | Matthew Marsh |
| Al-Ghuri | Raad Rawi |
| Sarah | Nina Yndis |
| Ibn | Nabil Elouahabi |
| Shajar | Sarah Beck Mather |
| Madu | Danny Ashok |
| Daniel | Gareth Kennerley |
| Hameed Brother | Christian Hillborg |
| Hameed Brother | Alec Utgoff |
| Shamsi | Laure Stockley |
| General Qulan | Christopher Fulford |
| Sergeant | Nadir Khan |
| Maid | Laure Stockley |
| Writer | Mike Walker |
| Director | John Dryden |
| Producer | Emma Hearn |
| Producer | Nadir Khan |
| Producer | John Dryden |
Broadcast
- Wed 16 Dec 2015 14:15BBC Radio 4
In Our Time: The Mamluks
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Mamluks, medieval rulers of Egypt and Syria.
Ibn Battuta: History’s real life Indiana Jones
Ibn Battuta was one of the world’s great travelers and travel writers of premodern times.
How past civilisations searched for the soul
The fascinating ways our predecessors attempted to locate the soul within the body.
Podcast
-
![]()
Tumanbay
Epic saga by John Dryden and Mike Walker, inspired by the Mamluk slave dynasty of Egypt.
