Michael Crompton Radio Plays
BBC Radio 4:
1998.07.04 15:00 The Saturday Play: Murder on the Home Front By Michael Crompton, adapted from the book by Molly Lefebure. It is 1941, and a chance encounter in a dancehall leads Molly to romance, murder and a new career. With Emily Bruni, Bob Cryer and James Hazeldine. Director John Dove. repeated 1999.05.29 15:00
1999.06.05 15:00 The Saturday Play: Murder on the Home Front By Michael Crompton, adapted in two parts from the book by Molly Lefebure. 2: `The Case of a Lifetime'. 1941. Molly starts work with the famous Home Office pathologist, Hardcastle, and attempts to solve an extraordinary case. With Emily Bruni, Chrissie Cotterill and Jonathan Hackett. Director John Dove. Repeat.
2000.07.08 15:00 The Saturday Play: Murder on the Home Front By Michael Crompton, adapted from the book by Molly Lefebure. 3: `The Wigwam Murder'. Spring, 1942. Molly continues her work as assistant to the Home Office pathologist Hardcastle. The stresses of wartime life begin to affect them both, and the discovery of a body on an American army base brings new dilemmas for each of them. With Mary MacLeod, Emily Bruni, Kevin Whately and Joseph May. Director: John Dove.
2001.02.24 14:30 The Saturday Play: Murder on the Home Front By Michael Crompton, adapted from the book by Molly Lefebure. 4: `The Secret Agent'. In early 1940s London, forensics experts Molly and Hardcastle become involved with some apparently connected killings. With Kevin Whately, Emily Bruni, Mary MacLeod and Jonathan Hackett. Directed by John Dove.
2003.12.20 The Saturday Play: Murder On The Home Front By Michael Crompton. Adapted from the book by Molly Lefebure. 5. 'The Horsham Trunk Murder'. The fifth episode continues the story of a courageous young woman working as an assistant to the internationally renowned Home Office pathologist, Mr Hardcastle, during the dark days of 1942 in wartime London. Based on the true story of Molly Lefebure, as described in her book, Murder On The Home Front.
The final story in this series is set at Christmas, but there's no respite for Molly and Hardcastle in their quest to solve the next grisly murder. Hardcastle has been seriously injured in a bombing raid and is travelling to his brother's home to convalesce when he is asked to investigate the gruesome discovery of a body in a trunk at the left luggage office at Horsham train station. The murder has remarkable similarities to an infamous murder case, which ultimately destroyed the reputation of Hardcastle's predecessor, Wilkinson. Hardcastle is exhausted from the pressures of work and the emotional and physical strain of his bomb-blast injuries and Molly is furious that he is working when he should be resting but is someone deliberately taunting them?
Molly ..... Emily Bruni
Hardcastle ..... Kevin Whately
McNab ..... Jonathan Hackett
Mrs B ..... Mary McLeod
Chief Inspector Collins ..... Brian Protheroe
All of the above known to exist in VRPCC collections. They were broadcast in successive weeks at the end of 2003.
