After six years in the taverns, Roll Britannia is trading swords for starships. The Rusty Quill Network's British D&D 5e actual-play podcast, which has pulled more than 800,000 downloads across its run, has closed the book on its long-running Patreum fantasy campaign and is launching two science fiction follow-ups, with a live audience-led improv show at UK Games Expo 2026 on Saturday 30 May at the NEC's Meeple Theatre.
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Set up your group for freeThe new campaigns, Age of Astra and Sparrow, share a universe but approach it from different angles. Astra is a mystery set on the world of Valtbury, while Sparrow looks at the same backdrop from a different perspective, giving listeners two parallel entry points. Long-time player Sophie Horton takes over the Dungeon Master's chair on Astra, stepping in for series founder and long-time DM James Gregory, which is a significant handover for a show whose identity has been built around the same core cast.
Original art for the new arcs comes from illustrator Nick Ashton of Chicken Monster, whose portfolio includes work for Disney and Netflix. The live slot at UKGE's Meeple Theatre is a chance to see the cast perform improv with that production polish backing them.
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Start organising for freeUK Games Expo itself runs 29 to 31 May 2026 at the NEC Birmingham, and this is the 20th anniversary edition, with a packed programme of panels, live demos, organised play and hundreds of exhibitors across the weekend. If you're already going, the Meeple Theatre slot is a good excuse to add Saturday evening to your plans. See who else is heading to UKGE or find a UK community running actual-play nights closer to home.
Sources: Geek Native | UK Games Expo | Roll Britannia
