Simon Brett

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast adaptation of Simon Brett's comic murder mystery, starring Bill Nighy as the irrepressible Charles Paris. Charles Paris (unsuccessful actor, bad husband, dipsomaniac) is currently appearing as a fork lift operator in a corporate video. It's not prime-time television or a major film, but it seems like easy money - until the fork lift is used to commit a murder. When Charles himself comes under suspicion, he decides to find out for himself who the murderer is. Meanwhile, as ever with Charles, life on the domestic front is not plain sailing. After inflicting damage upon his ex-wife's house, he finds himself offering her a berth on the houseboat he's currently sitting for a friend. However, life on the water proves as tricky as life at work... Suzanne Burden, Tim McInnery and Jon Glover are also among the cast in this dramatisation by Jeremy Front.Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett.

Charles is out of work again, and to make matters worse his mother has come to stay and he's no way of escaping her. So when he's offered some voiceover work by old friend, Hugo, he's delighted to get out of the house. But Hugo's marriage is in trouble: his much younger wife, Ellie, spends all her time at her Amateur Dramatic Group, and Hugo is drinking too much. When Ellie is found drowned in their swimming pool, it seems Hugo is guilty of murder. It's up to Charles to prove his friend's innocence... Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden and Geraldine McEwan are among the star cast in this entertaining mystery, dramatised by Jeremy Front.Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett.

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Simon Brett's entertaining crime novel, starring Bill Nighy. Charles Paris has been 'resting' for quite a while, so he's relieved when he is cast as the Ghost of Hamlet's Father and First Gravedigger in a touring production of Hamlet. But rehearsals are a little tense - the lead roles of Hamlet and Ophelia are played by a reality TV contestant and TV talent show winner respectively, and their opinions on celebrity and the theatre differ somewhat from those of the more experienced members of the cast. The show is barely on the road before tragedy strikes - just before opening night, part of the set collapses, seriously injuring one of the actors. Then anothermember of the cast is found dead. It's up to Charles Paris to turn detective and investigate the mystery: but with almost everyone having a motive for murder, will he ever track down the real killer?Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances, in this dramatisation by Jeremy Front.Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett.

Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris in a BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Simon Brett's novel. Charles Paris is understudying in a West End production, whose star Michael Banks seems unable to master the script. Has Charles time to solve a murder, win Frances' heart and make it on stage by the time the curtain goes up?Also featuring; Suzanne Burden, Danny Webb, Jon Glover, Jemima Rooper, Liza Sadovy, Rachel Bavidge, Nitin Gonatra, Tilly Gaunt, Thomas Arnold, Jot Davies, Leslie Philips, Simon Treves, Jasmin Callan and Miranda Colchester.Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett.

All four series of the hugely popular BBC radio sitcom ? plus two Christmas specials

After the death of her GP husband, widow Sarah is battling to bring up her strong-willed 18-year-old daughter Clare, hindered by her meddling mother Eleanor. Living on the middle floor of the family home, with Clare downstairs and Eleanor upstairs, Sarah finds herself besieged from above and below as she tries to cope with the demands of both her mum and her daughter. Luckily, she finds solace at work, where her best friend and boss at Bygone Books, Russell, provides a sympathetic ear.

In these four series, Sarah dips a tentative toe into the dating scene, daughter Clare has boyfriend troubles, and Eleanor takes a keen interest in both their love lives ? sharing all the gossip with her pensioner friends, the ?geriatric Mafia?. Holidays, house tidiness and hospital visits all cause problems for Sarah, and there are disagreements over everything from hiring a builder to the correct way to prepare Sunday lunch...

Also included are two special seasonal episodes, in which the three women bicker over the festive planning and Eleanor?s strict Christmas Day timetable.

Created by award-winning detective novelist and sitcom writer Simon Brett, this much-loved generation gap comedy ran for four years on radio between 1985 and 1989. It was adapted for ITV by Thames Television and was extremely successful, attracting 14 million viewers. Prunella Scales stars as Sarah, with Joan Sanderson as Eleanor and Gerry Cowper as Clare.

Cast
Sarah ? Prunella Scales
Eleanor ? Joan Sanderson
Clare ? Gerry Cowper
Russell ? Benjamin Whitrow
Nick ? James Griffiths
Janie ? Marion Bailey
Terry ? Leo Dolan
Clifford ? Richard Davies
Gwen ? Ellen McIntosh
Vicar ? John Nettleton
David ? Nigel Williams
Chris ? Mark Kingston
Alison ? Mary Maddox
Miles ? David Quilter
Quizmaster ? Graham Blockey
Customer ? Alan Thompson
Aubrey ? Lockwood West
Delivery boy ? David Learner
Doctor ? Peter Howell
Sister ? Deborah Findlay
Policeman ? Michael Hadley
Percy Bradshaw/The television ? Simon Brett
James ? Edward de Souza
Valuer ? Nicholas Le Provost
Neville ? Ian Thompson
Julian ? Jasper Jacob
The doctor ? Julie Berry
Tom Wilkinson ? Peter
Rod ? Paul Sirr
Lady Newby ? Fabia Drake
Vernon ? Frederick Treves
Gary ? Ian Michie
Auntie Lilian ? Jean Anderson

Production credits
Written by Simon Brett
Produced by Pete Atkin

The first five series of the BBC Radio comedy drama about the lives and squabbles of three very different sisters

After years of looking her after elderly parents, Anna finds herself able, for the first time, to live her own life. She''s enjoying simply being herself, with no responsibilities and no obligations. But her two younger sisters, Victoria and Charlotte, are concerned about her. Surely poor, unfulfilled Anna can''t be happy without a partner or a family around?

Determined to make an effort, they decide to draw her into their lives - and Anna''s peaceful, commitment-free lifestyle soon disappears. Throughout these five series, she becomes embroiled in their various dramas and crises, as actress Charlotte suffers a series of career and romantic disappointments and housewife Victoria grows increasingly discontented with her husband Roger. And as Victoria''s daughter Emily grows from sulky teen to young woman, she, too, starts to confide in her aunt Anna.

With all her relatives involving her in their affairs, will Anna still be able to forge her own path - and maybe even find romance?

Created by award-winning author Simon Brett, whose radio sitcom credits include After Henry and Smelling of Roses, this classic comedy about sisterly dissension stars Rosemary Leach as Anna, with Nicola Pagett as Victoria and Celia Imrie and Josie Lawrence as Charlotte.



Produced by Paul Schlesinger (Series 1 & 2), Ann Jobson (Series 3 & 4) and Maria Esposito (Series 5)
Music composed by Elizabeth Parker, BBC Radiophonic Workshop

Cast
Anna - Rosemary Leach
Victoria - Nicola Pagett
Charlotte - Celia Imrie/Josie Lawrence
Delia - Maxine Audley
Roger - Stephen Moore/Roger Llloyd Pack/Jonathan Coy/Bill Nighy
Eddie - James Greene
Emily - Lisa Coleman/Natalie Walter
With Andrew Wincott, Benjamin Whitrow, Ronald Herdman, Mark Straker, Theresa Streatfeild, Robert Bathurst, Peter Penry-Jones, Nicholas Murchie, David Swift, Neil Roberts, Teresa Gallagher, Dominic Letts, Jillie Meers, William Osborne, Philip Anthony, Simon Treves, David Thorpe, John Baddeley, David Antrobus, Michael Tudor-Barnes, Rachel Atkins, Jonathan Keeble, Derek Waring, Ian Masters, Kim Wall, Kelda Holmes, Geoffrey Whitehead, Joshua Towb, Jon Glover, Edward de Souza

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 January-13 February 1992 (Series 1), 29 July-2 September 1993 (Series 2), 24 November-29 December 1994 (Series 3), 24 July-28 August 1996 (Series 4), 9 July-13 August 1998 (Series 5)

Bill Nighy stars as actor and amateur sleuth Charles Paris in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Simon Brett?s novel

Charles? career is on the up. He?s starring in a revival of a popular (though hackneyed) 70''s farce ? and while his fellow actors aren?t exactly who you?d want to find yourself in bed with, he?s happy to be in work.

But while there may be comedy on stage, offstage it?s rapidly turning into a whodunnit. First the director drops dead, then another premature death follows soon after when an audio producer doing a promo for the show dies in suspicious circumstances.

The cast are hiding some shady secrets, and have plenty of skeletons in their cupboards which they don?t want rattled, but would anyone go as far as murder to protect themselves? Charles is determined to find out, and turns detective in an attempt to find out if foul play is afoot...

This witty, stylish dramatisation by Jeremy Front stars Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Skylight, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as his long-suffering wife Frances.

Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett.

Charles Paris returns in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Simon Brett's humorous theatrical mystery, starring Bill Nighy. A job in pantomime seems the perfect way to spend the Christmas season for Charles, but the cast of Cinderella are a motley crew from reality TV and Charles finds himself having to explain the traditions of panto to their baffled American star whose career is on a downward trajectory. When the star is shot dead, and Charles finds the body, he finds himself under suspicion. As the slapstick makes way for a murder investigation, he decides to clear his name by doing some sleuthing of his own. With a host of suspects and the body count rising, the line 'they're behind you' soon begins to take on a very sinister meaning indeed... Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Skylight, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) stars as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as his wife Frances, in this funny and fast-paced dramatisation by Jeremy Front. Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett.

Bill Nighy stars as the suave thespian sleuth in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

Life is good for Charles Paris. He''s moved back in with his estranged wife, and has landed a plum stage role as Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night. But it can''t last. First his attempts to woo Frances fall flat, then the play''s director is taken ill with gastric trouble. His replacement, Romanian wunderkind Alex Radelescu, is determined to take the play in a radical new direction - with or without Charles.

When a second member of the company falls sick, Charles begins to suspect a poisoner is on the loose - and the next victim could be him. Can he unmask the culprit before this comedy turns into a tragedy?

Adapted by Jeremy Front, this engaging dramatisation stars Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances, Jon Glover as Maurice and Julian Rhind-Tutt as Alex Radelescu.

''Always a treat'' Gillian Reynolds, Sunday Times

Production credits
Written by Simon Brett
Adapted by Jeremy Front
Produced and directed by Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 30 August-20 September 2006

Cast
Charles Paris - Bill Nighy
Frances - Suzanne Burden
Maurice - Jon Glover
Ken Carter - Peter Wight
Alex Radelescu - Julian Rhind-Tutt
Vivienne Marlin - Elizabeth Bell
Gavin Scholes - Thomas Wheatley
Jack Bradley - John Cummins
Sally Luther - Tracy Wiles
Ben Ritson - Tom Lawrence
Vasile Bogdan/Scott - Ryan McCluskey
Talya Northcott - Alex Tregear
Inspector Dewar - Kim Wall

© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. ? 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Five full-cast BBC radio dramatisations, starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris

Thespian sleuth Charles Paris is his own worst enemy, a louche lush who can resist anything except temptation - especially in the form of women and alcohol. Estranged from his long-suffering wife, Frances, his personal life is shambolic, and as an actor, he''s C-list at best. But he does have a talent for solving murders - which is just as well, because wherever he goes, someone seems to drop dead...

A Series of Murders - Charles has landed a juicy part playing Sergeant Collins in the TV detective series, ''The Stanislaus Braid Mysteries''. But will all the deadly doings be restricted to on-screen?

Sicken and So Die - A suspected poisoner is on the loose in a production of Twelfth Night - can Charles track down the culprit before this comedy turns into a tragedy?

Murder Unprompted - There''s drama backstage when a murder is discovered in a West End theatre production. Has Charles time to find the killer before the curtain goes up?

The Dead Side of the Mic - A job with the BBC radio rep coincides with the mysterious death of a studio manager in Broadcasting House. Once again, Charles steps in to investigate...

Cast in Order of Disappearance - Playing a middle-management vampire in ''The Wreathing'', Charles finds himself dealing with a blackmailer, a maiden in distress - and a murderer. Has he bitten off more than he can chew?

Written by Jeremy Front
Based on the novels by Simon Brett
Produced and directed by Sally Avens

Starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice

Text copyright © Simon Brett 1975 (Cast in Order of Disappearance), 1980 (The Dead Side of the Mic), 1982 (Murder Unprompted), 1989 (A Series of Murders), 1995 (Sicken and So Die)

© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Prunella Scales stars in this BBC Radio comedy following the trials and tribulations of Rosie Burns and her Brighton-based events management companyEvents manager Rosie Burns is used to coping with the unexpected, at work and at home. When her daughter Kate accidentally became a teenage mum, Rosie stepped in, raising her granddaughter Jo so that Kate could pursue her career in international banking. Now Jo works in the family firm alongside accountant Bob (who's nursing an unrequited love for Rosie) and Tess (whose love life never ceases to amaze). Things are ticking along nicely, until Rosie gets a phone call out of the blue - after fifteen years working abroad, Kate's lost her job and is coming home...In these four series, Rosie's life is shaken up as her dysfunctional family and recalcitrant clients cause problems on both the personal and the professional front. Confusion reigns when the company tackles a fundraiser for the Afghans, organising a town twinning causes complications, and, attempting to organise a literary prize, Rosie finds that not everything goes by the book... Meanwhile, Kate's angling for a position at a major finance company, Jo's got man trouble - and there's a potential romantic interest on the cards for Rosie.Created by award-winning author Simon Brett, whose sitcom credits include After Henry and No Commitments, this hilarious cross-generational comedy stars Prunella Scales as Rosie, with Arabella Weir as Kate, Rebecca Callard as Jo, Duncan Preston as Bob and Annette Badland as Tess.Produced by Maria EspositoCastRosie - Prunella ScalesKate - Arabella WeirJo - Rebecca CallardBob - Duncan PrestonTess - Annette BadlandWith Michael Fenton Stevens, Stephen Thorne, Jon Glover, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Will Ing, Alison Skilbeck, Kerry Shale, Debbie Norman, Alan Cowan, Lee Simpson, Chris Pavlo, David Holt, Joanna Monro, Celia Imrie, Owen Brenman, Simon Greenall, Rachel Atkins, David Wood, James Vaughan, Jim North, Stefan Abingdon, Alice Connor, Edward de Souza, Gillian Hanna, Simon Trinder, Bill Wallis, Natalie Walter, Ben Aris, Felicity Goodson, Jeremy Clyde, Kenny Blyth, Lee Dolan, Timothy Alcock, Sheila Mitchell, Chris Emmett, Lorelei King, Gideon Turner, Rebecca Front, Colin Sell, Timothy West, Richenda Carey, Bruce Alexander, James Ellis, Victoria Donavan, Colin Stinton, Suzanne Jameson, George Leyton, Mary Wimbush, Benjamin Whitrow and Rowland DaviesFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 May-7 June 2000 (Series 1), 27 June-1 August 2001 (Series 2), 31 July-4 September 2002 (Series 3), 4 August-8 September 2003(c)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Inspiring lessons learned from a lifetime of honor, service, and leadership from Captain Brett Crozier, the former commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and renowned Navy officer.Amid one of the darkest times in American history, it was a moment that captured the attention of the nation. Brett Crozier, captain of the most powerful and prestigious aircraft carrier in the United States Navy, walked off his ship for the last time while thousands of his sailors saluted and chanted his name in admiration. This remarkable moment occurred after Crozier made the decision to try to protect his sailors by pleading with his superiors for help when COVID-19 swept through the vessel. Two days later, he was relieved of command. Now, Crozier reflects on his life, career, and commitment to doing the right thing in a book that celebrates the power of kindness, the importance of teamwork, and the value of standing up for what you believe in. Through a series of captivating stories set all around the world, Crozier takes us along on the grand adventures of his extraordinary career and introduces the incredible people he met along the way. From his days as fighter pilot facing near-death experiences to commandeering suspected pirate vessels in the Persian Gulf, and of course, seizing any opportunity to enjoy one of his favorite hobbiessurfingCrozier distills the lessons he has learned and the principles that have guided him, showing how you can apply them to your personal and professional life.

After a long period of 'resting', life is looking up for Charles Paris, who has been cast in a new production of Hamlet. But rehearsals are fraught. Ophelia is played by Katrina Selsey, who won the role through a television talent show. Hamlet himself is also played by a reality TV contestant, Jared Root. But when the company reaches the first staging post of their tour, matters get more serious, with one member of the company seriously injured in what appears to be an accident, and another dead. Once again, Charles Paris is forced to don the mantle of amateur detective to get to the bottom of the mystery.

As Michael Lewis's bestseller Moneyball captured baseball at a technological turning point, this ';highly entertaining, very smart book' (James Patterson) takes us inside golf's clash between its hallowed artistic tradition and its scientific future. The world of golf is at a crossroads. As technological innovations displace traditional philosophies, the golfing community has splintered into two deeply combative factions: the old-school teachers and players who believe in feel, artistry, and imagination, and the technical minded who want to remake the game around data. In Golf's Holy War, ';an obvious hole-in-one for golfers and their coaches' (Publishers Weekly, starred review), Brett Cyrgalis takes us inside the heated battle playing out from weekend hackers to PGA Tour pros. At the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, California, golfers clad in full-body sensors target weaknesses in their biomechanics, while others take part in mental exercises designed to test their brain's psychological resilience. Meanwhile, coaches like Michael Hebron purge golfers of all technical information, tapping into the power of intuitive physical learning by playing rudimentary games. From historic St. Andrews to manicured Augusta, experimental communes in California to corporatized conferences in Orlando, William James to Ben Hogan to theoretical physics, the factions of the spiritual and technical push to redefine the boundaries of the game. And yet what does it say that Tiger Woods has orchestrated one of the greatest comebacks in sports history without the aid of a formal coach? But Golf's Holy War is more than just a book about golfit's a story about modern life and how we are torn between resisting and embracing the changes brought about by the advancements of science and technology. It's also an exploration of historical legacies, the enriching bonds of education, and the many interpretations of reality.

Paula Wilcox and David Wood star in this BBC Radio sitcom about an upwardly mobile husband and wife climbing the social ladder in suburbiaHelen and Ben have recently moved into a lovely semi-detached house in an up-and-coming area, and are eager to restore their home to its original character (complete with open fireplace in the living room and milkmaid's yoke on the wall). They're also keen to host dinner parties and mix with the right sort of people - to the bafflement of their elderly neighbour, Mrs Kelly, who's lived in the neighbourhood all her life and preferred it before it filled up with middle-class incomers.In these twelve episodes, Ben and Helen join an action committee to oppose the opening of a new restaurant on their street, contemplate the attractions of the countryside and squabble over spending Christmas with Helen's mother in West Wittering. Plus, Helen flirts with feminism, Ben contemplates private education, and the couple unite to fight the forces of materialism...Written by Simon Brett, whose sitcom credits include After Henry, this improving story of life and improving times in an improving neighbourhood stars Paula Wilcox as Helen and David Wood as Ben.Produced by Pete AtkinFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 March-5 April 1982 (Series 1), 16 November-21 December 1982 (Series 2)CastHelen - Paula WilcoxBen - David WoodMrs Kelly - Pat HeywoodAlastair - Bruce Alexander/Tony MillanMr Juke - Arthur EnglishRoger - Ben ArisMo - Penelope NiceMr Mukerjee - Tariq YunisWilly - Robert LongdenBlythe - Bryan ColemanPerpetua - Patience TomlinsonLaura - Anita CareyNigel - James GriffithsLinda - Jill LidstoneKevin - Stuart OrganJulian - Mark Wing-DaveyMaureen - Miranda ForbesDoctor - Robert RiettyMr Cullingford - Michael BiltonDick - David GoodersonMarian - Jean TrendNeil - Nick WiltonBritt - Rosalind Adams

A collection of BBC readings and dramas celebrating the much-loved schoolboy terror

First featured in five books by Geoffrey Willans, with cartoon illustrations by Ronald Searle, Nigel Molesworth is one of the funniest comic creations in literature. A superbly satirical chronicler of 1950s England, he influenced a generation with his anarchic take on life.

These wonderfully entertaining recordings show the self-proclaimed ''curse of St Custard''s'' at his very best. In Down with Skool! & How to Be Topp, based on the first two Molesworth books and read by Griff Rhys Jones, he gives us the lowdown on the Head Beak, masters, bullies and lessons - and offers his inimitable advice for tiny pupils on how to survive the first term.

Simon Brett''s sequel, Molesworth, finds the onetime ''goriller of 3B'' now all grown up. Middle- aged and still surrounded by many of the characters from his youth, he''s as keen as ever to share his wisdom. Across four episodes, he presents a guide to the home, the office, the arts and leisure. Willie Rushton stars in this full-cast drama, with a cast including Clive Swift and Penelope Nice.

Topping off our collection is The Molesworth Report: How to Be Topp, a celebration and philosophical assessment - ahem! - of Nigel Molesworth by some of his fondest fans. ''I couldn''t live with someone who didn''t enjoy the Molesworth books'', says the poet Wendy Cope. John Walsh, Sir Tim Rice and Russell Davies also pay tribute to the world-weary, ink-spattered schoolboy, whose comic misspellings, mangling of English and Latin and detestation of swots, snekes and oiks gave the world a cache of unforgettable images and catchphrases.

Credits

Down with Skool! & How to Be Topp
Read by Griff Rhys Jones
Abridged by Wendy Cope
Based on the books by Geoffrey Willans
Produced by Susan Roberts
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13-21 August 1991

Molesworth
Molesworth - Willie Rushton
Grimes - Clive Swift
Louise - Penelope Nice
Gillibrand/Darryl - Robert Harley
Peason/Grabber - Bob Sinfield
Fotherington-Thomas - Phil Nice
Arabella/Carole/Lucinda/Lady Eiderdown - Chrissy Roberts
Written by Simon Brett and based on characters created by Geoffrey Willans and Ronald Searle
Music by Oonagh Bernon
Produced by Mark Robson
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 March-13 April 1987

The Molesworth Report: How to Be Topp
With Wendy Cope, John Walsh, Sir Tim Rice and Russell Davies
Produced by Penny Arnold
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 May 2004

Cover illustration by permission of the Ronald Searle Estate
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, G.K. Chesterton and nine other writers from the legendary Detection Club collaborate in this fiendishly clever but forgotten crime novel first published 80 years ago.Inspector Rudge does not encounter many cases of murder in the sleepy seaside town of Whynmouth. But when an old sailor lands a rowing boat containing a fresh corpse with a stab wound to the chest, the Inspector''s investigation immediately comes up against several obstacles. The vicar, whose boat the body was found in, is clearly withholding information, and the victim''s niece has disappeared. There is clearly more to this case than meets the eye ? even the identity of the victim is called into doubt. Inspector Rudge begins to wonder just how many people have contributed to this extraordinary crime and whether he will ever unravel it?In 1931, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and ten other crime writers from the newly-formed ?Detection Club? collaborated in publishing a unique crime novel. In a literary game of consequences, each author would write one chapter, leaving G.K. Chesterton to write a typically paradoxical prologue and Anthony Berkeley to tie up all the loose ends. In addition, each of the authors provided their own solution in a sealed envelope, all of which appeared at the end of the book, with Agatha Christie?s ingenious conclusion acknowledged at the time to be ?enough to make the book worth buying on its own?.The authors of this novel are: G. K. Chesterton, Canon Victor Whitechurch, G. D. H. Cole and Margaret Cole, Henry Wade, Agatha Christie, John Rhode, Milward Kennedy, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ronald Knox, Freeman Wills Crofts, Edgar Jepson, Clemence Dane and Anthony Berkeley.

Bill Nighy returns as the loveably louche Charles Paris in this BBC radio dramatisation of Simon Brett's novelWhen Charles Paris' agent rings with the news that he has a part for him in a new musical, Charles is delighted - and somewhat amazed, as he can neither sing nor dance.But Maurice has an ulterior motive: as one of the show's backers, he wants Charles to play detective and investigate a series of accidents that have dogged the production. The pianist has been shot in the hand and another cast member fell downstairs - or was he pushed? Anxious about their investment and their star, Chris Watt, the 'angels' are keen to ensure that nothing else goes wrong.Joining the company, Charles discovers that Chris, although amazingly talented, is a prima donna who has made enemies of almost everyone. When the accidents resume, it begins to look as if anyone who disagrees with him is being targeted. But would the star really sabotage his own show? Charles must find out - before things turn murderous...This thrilling adaptation by Jeremy Front stars Bill Nighy (Love Actually, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances.

Bill Nighy stars as the irrepressible Charles Paris in these five BBC Radio dramatisations

Actor, alcoholic and amateur sleuth Charles Paris returns in another quintet of humorous theatrical thrillers. All Charles asks for is a nice juicy part in a successful play - but wherever he appears on the bill, murder and mystery always play a starring role...

The Cinderella Killer - Panto seems the perfect way to spend the Christmas season for Charles, but when the show''s star is found dead, the slapstick must make way for a murder investigation.

Dead Room Farce - Charles is appearing in a revival of a 1970s farce. But when two cast members die in suspicious circumstances, he suspects foul play is afoot.

Star Trap - When a series of accidents befalls the cast of a West End musical, Charles steps in to investigate. Who is trying to sabotage the show - and why?

A Doubtful Death - Charles has landed a role in an immersive theatre production of Hamlet. But when an actress goes missing, he must decide if it is to be or not to be a murder case... Also included with this story is an exclusive afterword with scriptwriter Jeremy Front, who adapted it from an unproduced screenplay by Simon Brett. He reveals what it''s like behind the scenes of Charles Paris, and explains the mechanics of recording for radio.

A Deadly Habit - Offered a job in a verbatim theatre piece set in a monastery, Charles has reservations. Then disaster strikes the production - and he smells criminality...

Written by Jeremy Front
Based on the novels and screenplay by Simon Brett
Produced and directed by Sally Avens

Starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice

Text copyright © Simon Brett 1977 (Star Trap), 1998 (Dead Room Farce), 2014 (The Cinderella Killer), 2018 (A Deadly Habit), 2020 (A Doubtful Death)

© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

All four series of the murder mystery game played by people whose business is murderChaired by Simon Brett (author of the hugely popular 'Charles Paris' series), this intriguing, interactive panel show challenges professional crime novelists to put their experience and expertise to the test as they try to unravel various mind-bending mysteries.Each episode features a death and a denouement - with various red herrings and misdirections along the way. As the murder scenario is described and the clues laid out, our writer-detectives take turns cross-examining the suspects. After receiving the latest police updates, it's time to decide whodunit - but will the panellists pick the right perpetrator, or have they been cunningly led astray? We find out in the Foul Play 'Foul Playlet', in which the truth is revealed...All the victims, suspects, witnesses and police officers are played by actors Lee Simpson and Maria McErlane (who part-improvise their roles based on the information they've been given), while the guest investigators include Val McDermid, Lindsey Davis, HRF Keating, PD James, Reginald Hill, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Frances Fyfield, John Harvey, Stella Duffy, Robert Barnard and Ian Rankin. Among the baffling cases they tackle are a dead Dowager Duchess, a 1930s murder at sea, a pantomime crime, a monastery mystery and an Elizabethan court killing.Cast and creditsDevised, written and chaired by Simon BrettProduced by Ann Jobson and Liz AnsteeActors: Lee Simpson and Maria McErlaneSeries 1 panellists: Liza Cody, Susan Moody, John Harvey, Margaret Yorke, Lindsey Davis, Val McDermid, PD James, HRF Keating, Lady Antonia Fraser, Reginald Hill, Ruth Dudley Edwards and Simon ShawSeries 2 panellists: Tim Heald, Jessica Mann, Frances Fyfield, Minette Walters, Sarah Dunant, Keith Miles, Paula Gosling, Peter N Walker, Robert Barnard, Caroline Graham, Gavin Lyall and Anthony PriceSeries 3 panellists: Lady Antonia Fraser, Anthony Price, PD James, HRF Keating, Susan Moody, Simon Shaw, Liza Cody, Reginald Hill, John Harvey, Val McDermid, Frances Fyfield and Peter N WalkerSeries 4 panellists: Ruth Dudley Edwards, Robert Richardson, Jean McConnell, Keith Miles, Jessica Mann, James Melville, Tim Heald, Margaret Yorke, Robert Barnard, Lindsey Davis, Ian Rankin and Stella DuffyFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 7 November-12 December 1996 (Series 1), 27 February-3 April 1997 (Series 2), 18 December 1997-22 January 1998 (Series 3), 11 September -16 October 1998 (Series 4)