Georges Simenon & Maigret:
Radio Plays
Simenon's stories adapt well for radio.
At the top of the page is a brief listing put together from the recordings, giving dramatist, date if known, main actors, and producer.
Lower down are more detailed notes on most of the plays, by 'Jim'. (.... many thanks - ND.)
1976
21 Aug 76 Maigret Goes Home ad. F. Bradnum28 Aug 76 Maigret In Montmartre ad. Aubrey Woods
04 Sep 76 Maigret Has Scruples ad. Edward Bruce
11 Sep 76 Maigret In Society ad. Edward Bruce
18 Sep 76 Maigret Sets A Trap ad. Aubrey Woods
25 Sep 76 Maigret And The Young Girl ad. F. Bradnum
Maurice Denham as Maigret; Michael Gough as Simenon. SMs for the series: Peter Novis, Carol McShane, Jan Reeder and Sue Templeman. Series produced by Glyn Dearman.
1977
29 May 77 Maigret And Monsieur Charles ad. & prod. by Betty Davies.05 Jun 77 Maigret And The Hundred Gibbets ad. Betty Davies
21 Jun 77 Maigret Goes To School ad. Edward Bruce
19 Jun 77 Maigret's Boyhood Friend ad. & prod. Betty Davies
26 Jun 77 Maigret At The Crossroads ad. Aubrey Woods, prod. nk
03 Jul 77 Maigret Has Doubts ad. Edward Bruce, prod. Christopher Venning
10 Jul 77 Maigret And The Madman of Bergerac ad. Aubrey Woods, prod. Betty Davies
17 Jul 77 Maigret And The Minister ad. F. Bradnum, prod. Betty Davies
24 Jul 77 Liberty Bar ad. Aubrey Woods, ad. Christopher Venning
31 Jul 77 Maigret And The Old Lady ad. Betty Davies, prod. Betty Davies.
07 Aug 77 Maigret Hesitates ad. Edward Bruce prod. Betty Davies
14 Aug 77 Maigret Takes The Waters ad. F. Bradnum, prod. Christopher Venning
21 Aug 77 The Patience Of Maigret dram. Frederick Bradnum, prod. Glyn Dearman.
The above all with Maurice Denham and Michael Gough.
1998
21 Dec 98 Maigret's Christmas (one-off special), ad. John Petherbridge; prod Andy Jordan. Barry Foster as Maigret.2002
3 Dec 02 A Man's Head, ad. David Cregan10 Dec 02 The Bar On The Seine, ad. Alison Joseph
17 Dec 02 My Friend Maigret, ad. David Cregan
24 Dec 02 Madame Maigret's Own Case, ad. Alison Joseph
2002 all with Nicholas le Prevost as Maigret, Julian Barnes as Simenon and produced by Ned Chaillet.
2004
19 Apr 04 Maigret And The Burglar's Wife, ad. Alison Joseph26 Apr 04 The Yellow Dog, ad. David Cregan
3 May 04 Inspector Cadaver, ad. David Cregan
10 May 04 Maigret's Little Joke, ad. Alison Joseph
With Nicholas le Prevost and Julian Barnes; all produced by Ned Chaillet.
CENTENARY
26 Nov 02. The Man Who Had 10000 Women.By Mark Lawson, to mark the anniversay of Simenon's death. A Parisian detective is asked to investigate the mysteries in Simenon's life.
ONE-OFF PLAYS
18 Apr 73 The Iron Staircase, no details of ad/prod. 60m.16 May 75 Monsieur la Souris, ad. Fred Partridge, prod. Betty Davies. (non-Maigret) 55m.
05 May 84 Maigret & The Millionnaires, ad. Malcolm Stewart, prod. Glyn Dearman. 75m.
22 Mar 86 Maigret's Special Murder, ad. Malcolm Stewart. With Bernard Hepton. Prod. Matthew Walters. 90m.
OTHER NON-MAIGRET STORIES - see Ronald Frame page.
NOTES: (courtesy of 'Jim')
The Paris police investigate crime "by the book" but Maigret is more of a "thinking detective". He uses his perception and psychological insight to solve the complex crimes that come his way. More often than not, he's more interested in the "why" of a crime than "who".
Georges Simenon (1903-1989), Belgian-born French novelist, is one of the most skilled and literate writers of detective fiction. Paris became the home to one of the greatest figures in detective fiction as over a forty-year period from 1931 through 1972, a new Inspector Maigret investigation appeared at the average rate about 2.5 per year: 75 novels and 28 short stories, 103 episodes of what has been called George Simenon's "Maigret Saga."
Thirty-one of these stories have been dramatised for radio by the BBC of which information on thirty appear below. The only other adaptation of a Maigret novel for radio not listed is "Maigret and the Lost Life" which aired on the BBC's Home Service in 1957.
Series 1
1) 'Maigret Goes Home' (Saturday 21st August 1976)
Maigret goes to Saint-Fiacre, his home town, after noticing a note that had been received by the Moulins police, and sent up to Paris, warning that a murder was going to be committed in the Church at Saint-Fiacre, during the first Mass on All Soul's Day. He finds that the chateau where his father was once steward is in disrepair, the estate is bankrupt, and an atmosphere of resentment and suspicion prevails.
But it seems he is too late to prevent the murder as before Maigret's very eyes, the old Comtesse de Saint-Fiacre dies during the mass... of heart failure. Maigret locates her missal, in which a fake newspaper story of her son's suicide had been planted. And it is this son, the always broke Maurice de Saint-Fiacre, who appears with his mistress to attempt to borrow more from his mother.
Maigret sorts through the resentment and suspicion to solve the crime.
First published in 1932 as "L'Affaire Saint-Fiacre". Translated in 1967 as "Maigret Goes Home" by Robert Baldick and adapted for radio by Frederick Bradnum
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Brian Haines [Inspector Lucas], Sean Barrett [Inspector Janvier], Michael Spice [Maurice de Saint-Fiacre], Cyril Shaps [Gautier], Anthony Danielle [Émile Gautier], Clifford Norgate [Jean Métayer], Hector Ross [Dr. Bouchardon], and Michael Deacon [The Priest].
Produced and directed by Glyn Dearman
45 minutes
2) 'Maigret in Montmartre' (Saturday 28th August 1976)
Arlette, a stripper at Picratt's in Montmartre, reports to her local police station that she heard two men at her club talking about planning to kill a countess. She's sent over to the Quai des Orfèvres at 3:00 a.m., where her report is taken, but since there's been no crime, not much is thought of it till a few hours later, when she is found in her room, strangled to death. As Maigret investigates, it turns out there hadn't been two such men in the club that night, but he does find out that Arlette's "boyfriend", a young man named Albert, turns out to be Inspector Lapointe.
The next day the Countess von Farnheim, a drug addict living not far from Picratt's, is found strangled.
First published in 1951 as "Maigret au 'Picratt's'". Translated in 1954 as "Maigret in Montmartre" by Daphne Woodward and adapted for radio by Aubrey Woods.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Brian Haines [Inspector Lucas], John Rye [Inspector Albert Lapointe], Sean Barrett [Inspector Janvier], Garard Green [Inspector Lognon], Madi Hedd [Rose Alfonsi], Haydn Jones [Fred Alfonsi], Nicolette McKenzie [Arlette], Kathleen Helme [Arlette's Aunt], Michael Burlington [Philippe Mortemart], Katherine Parr [Rosalie Moncoeur], and Peter Craze [Sergeant Simon].
Produced and directed by Glyn Dearman
45 minutes
3) 'Maigret Has Scruples' (Saturday 4th September 1976)
Xavier Marton, the head of the toy department at the Grands Magasins du Louvre, and a model train specialist, visits Maigret to say that he thinks his wife wants to poison him, but leaves while Maigret is out of the room. Later in the day the man's wife, Gisèle Marton, also visits Maigret, to tell her side of the story, which is that her husband is having delusions. Marton comes the next day, and agrees to have another examination with a psychiatrist. But he warns Maigret that if she poisons him, he'll shoot her before he dies.
Meanwhile, Maigret has had both of them investigated, and finds that Gisèle's sister, Jenny, is living with them, and that Marton is apparently enamoured of her. Gisèle, on the other hand, is apparently the lover of her employer, M. Harris. Maigret has the house watched during the night, and by morning Marton is dead.
First published in 1958 as "Les Scrupules de Maigret". Translated in 1959 as "Maigret Has Scruples" by Robert Eglesfield and adapted for radio by Edward Bruce.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Brian Haines [Inspector Lucas], John Rye [Inspector Albert Lapointe], Sean Barrett [Inspector Janvier], Irene Sutcliffe [Louise Maigret], Malcolm Reid [Xavier Marton], Pamela Lane [Gisèle Marton], Jill Shilling [Jenny, Gisèle Marton's sister], and Douglas Blackwell [Dr. Pardon].
Produced and directed by Glyn Dearman
45 minutes
4) 'Maigret in Society' (Saturday 11th September 1976)
Maigret is requested by the Director to handle the murder of a retired ex-Foreign Ministry official, Comte Armand de Saint-Hilaire, who was found shot in his study by his housekeeper of 42 years, Jaquette Larrieu. His death coincides with the funeral of Prince Hubert de Veret, of one of the great French familes. Prince Hubert's wife, Princess Isabelle de Veret, had been a lifelong friend of Saint-Hilaire's — they'd intended to marry, but circumstances weren't apt, and she'd married Prince Hubert. They'd maintained a life-long correspondence, and everyone had known the romantic story that they intended to marry at the death of Prince Hubert.
Saint-Hilaire had no enemies, and there was no sign of forced entry. All of the people connected were old and noteworthy. After reading Isabelle's letters to Saint-Hilaire, and interviewing everyone concerned, Maigret is at a loss.
First published in 1960 as "Maigret et les vieillards". Translated in 1962 as "Maigret in Society" by Robert Eglesfield and adapted for radio by Edward Bruce.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], John Rye [Inspector Albert Lapointe], Sean Barrett [Inspector Janvier], Joyce Carey [The Princess de Veret], Marjorie Westbury [Jaquette Larrieu], Michael Tudor Barnes [Prince Philippe de Veret], Steve Hodson [Julien de Veret], Leslie Heritage [Marcelle Mazeron], Patrick Barr [Moers], Paul Meier [Cromières], James Thomason [Maître Aubonnet], and Ralph Truman [The Abbe].
Produced and directed by Glyn Dearman
45 minutes
5) 'Maigret Sets a Trap' (Saturday 18th September 1976)
A serial killer had been stalking Montmartre, with five women stabbed to death, one a month. This is causing concern in the Quai d'Orsay but so far there are no clues, and the district is in a state of siege.
Maigret arranges an interview in his office that the journalists will take for the interrogation of a suspect, and by that means Maigret hopes to goad the killer into a new attack, as if to make him say "you've got the wrong man". In preparation Maigret has organised a massive and secret infiltration of Montmartre by police and women's auxiliary forces from all over Paris. Maigret's plan succeeds, for a young woman, Marthe Jusserand, one of his auxiliaries, was attacked, and knowing judo, almost captured the man. He escaped, but she'd seen him, and managed to grab one of his buttons and a piece of cloth from his jacket.
By luck, the cloth was unusual enough for Maigret to soon put his hands on the likely suspect, Marcel Moncin, an interior designer, who'd grown up in Montmartre. Jusserand identifies him, but he refuses to confess. And then, the day after his arrest, there is another cold-blooded murder of an innocent girl.
First published in 1955 as "Maigret tend un piège". Translated in 1965 as "Maigret Sets a Trap" by Daphne Woodward and adapted for radio by Aubrey Woods. With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Brian Haines [Inspector Lucas], John Rye [Inspector Albert Lapointe], Sean Barrett [Inspector Janvier], Malcolm Reid [Marcel Moncin], Margaret Robertson [Yvonne Moncin], Gladys Spencer [Marcel's Mother], Patrick Barr [Professor Tissot], Frances Jeater [Policewoman], and Christopher Bidmead [Jean Rougin].
Produced and directed by Glyn Dearman
45 minutes
6) 'Maigret and the Young Girl' (Saturday 25th September 1976)
The body of a young girl is found in the Place Vintimille, in Montmartre. Maigret goes over with Janvier, hoping that he won't meet Inspector Lognon, for it's his territory, and he'll feel he's being usurped, as usual. However, he's there and there's hardly a clue to the girl's identity except a label on her dress. Maigret arranges to have her picture published in the papers, and goes to the dress shop, Mlle. Irène's, with Lognon. She remembers the girl, but not her name. Eventually a call comes in from a young girl with an address, Mme Crêmieux in the Rue de Clichy. The girl, Louise Laboine, had been boarding there for two months. Lognon had found a taxi driver who'd seen her outside the club Roméo, and later walking towards the Étoile. At the Roméo that night had been the wedding of Marco Santoni and Jeanine Armenieu.
As Maigret slowly pieces together the information his team has gathered, he begins to close in on who murdered Louise Laboine and why.
First published in 1954 as "Maigret et la jeune morte". Translation in 1955 as "Maigret and the Young Girl" by Daphne Woodward and adapted for radio by Frederick Bradnum.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Sean Barrett [Inspector Janvier], Garard Green [Inspector Lognon], Nicolette McKenzie [Jeanine Armenieu], Michael Tudor Barnes [Albert Falconi], Gudrun Ure [Mme. Laboine], Noel Hood [Mme. Crêmieux], and Anne Rosenfeld [Rose].
Produced and directed by Glyn Dearman
45 minutes
Series 2
7) 'Maigret and Monsieur Charles' (Sunday 29th May 1977)
Mme Nathalie Sabin-Levesque appears in Maigret's office and reports that her husband, Gérard Sabin-Levesque, the well-known lawyer, has been missing for a month. He'd often gone off for up to a week at a time with his temporary girlfriends, but in those cases he'd always called his office. Maigret begins to investigate the nightclubs Sabin-Levesque had gone to and learns that he was well-known as M. Charles.
Nathalie Sabin-Levesque, who is an alcoholic, soon becomes uncooperative. The last time Gérard Sabin-Levesque had been seen was the 18th of February. But not too long afterwards his body is found in the Seine, where it had been for about a month.
First published in 1972 as "Maigret et Monsieur Charles". Translated in 1972 as "Maigret and Monsieur Charles" by Marianne Alexandra Sinclair and adapted for radio by Frederick Bradnum.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], John Rye [Inspector Albert Lapointe], Sean Barrett [Inspector Janvier], Sheila Grant [Mme. Nathalie Sabin-Levesque, nee Frassier], Cyril Shaps [Jean Lecureur], Pauline Letts [Blanche Bonnard], Nicolette McKenzie [Martine], Douglas Blackwell [Maurice Mocco], Michael Goldie [Vittorio Petrini], Jeffrey Segal [Dr. Paul], and Anne Rosenfeld [The Concierge].
Produced and directed by Betty Davies
45 minutes
8) 'Maigret and the Hundred Gibbets' (Sunday 5th June 1977)
Maigret has followed a seedy-looking man to to a low-class hotel in Bremen after he saw him in Brussels wrapping up a package of 30,000 francs and sending it as printed matter. The man had bought a cheap suitcase, and Maigret, on a whim, had bought a similar one, exchanging his with the man's when he had a chance. Watching through a keyhole Maigret sees the man open the suitcase and find it empty. He immediately pulls out a gun and kills himself. The suitcase had contained only an old suit, torn and bloodstained, too large for the man himself. His passport showed Louis Jeunet, but it was a forgery. At the mortuary a man came to view the body, Joseph Van Damme, who tells Maigret he'd just been curious, but then takes Maigret to lunch and talks too much.
Returning to Paris, Maigret stops for a moment to buy some tobacco and one of his suitcases is stolen, but not the one with the clothing. At his office, Louis Jeunet's wife appears — she'd recognised his photo in the papers. A call from Rheims — a café keeper had recognised the photo. Maigret goes to Rheims, where the man, Émile, says he'd seen Jeunet go off with Maurice Belloir, Vice-Chairman of a bank. Maigret goes to Belloir's house, where he is surprised to find Joseph Van Damme once more, and two other men, Gaston Janin and Jef Lombard, all originally from Liège. All deny knowledge of Louis Jeunet. Van Damme offers Maigret a ride back to Paris, and when they stop on the way, he tries to push Maigret into the river. Maigret takes him back to his office where Van Damme refuses to say anything and so Maigret lets him go.
Maigret digs deeper to try and find out why Louis Jeunet killed himself, a death that Maigret feels personally responsible for.
First published in 1931 as "Le Pendu de Saint-Pholien". Translated in 1963 as "Maigret and the Hundred Gibbets" by Tony White and adapted for radio by Betty Davies.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Andrew Sachs [Joseph Van Damme], John Pullen [Maurice Belloir], Geoffrey Beevers [Jef Lombard], Nicolette McKenzie [Jeanne Jeunet], Geoffrey Collins [Armand Lecocq d'Arneville], Michael Harbour [Émile Klein], and Paul Myer [Willy Mortier].
Other parts were played by Rod Beacham, Douglas Blackwell, Walter Hall, Bruce Beeby, Jonathan Scott, Michael Goldie, Irene Sutcliffe, and Anne Rosenfeld.
Produced and directed by Betty Davies
45 minutes
9) 'Maigret Goes to School' (Sunday 12th June 1977)
Joseph Gastin, a school-master from Saint-André-sur-Mer, near La Rochelle, has been waiting for Maigret. The ex-postmistress of his little town, Léonie Birard, had been killed, shot in the eye with a .22 from some distance, as she looked out the window of her house. Gastin, regarded as an outsider in the village, is sure that he is regarded as the prime suspect. Maigret calls Lieutenant Daniélou and tells him he'll bring Gastin back, and learns from him of new evidence: one of the boys in Gastin's class, Marcel Sellier, has testified that he'd seen the teacher coming from the tool shed at the time the murder took place, and there was a .22 in the shed, belonging to Jean-Paul Gastin, his son. Gastin denied having gone to the shed.
Gastin is brought to the jail in La Rochelle while Maigret gets the feel of the town, and starts his interviews to find the truth.
First published in 1954 as "Maigret à l'école". Translation in 1957 as "Maigret Goes to School" by Daphne Woodward and adapted for radio by Edward Bruce.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Michael Spice [Joseph Gastin], Madi Hedd [Madame Gastin], Denise Bryer [Jean-Paul Gastin], Geoffrey Collins [Inspector Danielou], Ronald Herdman [Dr. Bresselles], Jean England [Marcel Sellier], Michael Harbour [Marcellin Rateau], Rosemary Miller [Joseph Rateau], Michael Goldie [Louis Paumelle], Shirley Dixon [Maria Smelker], and Gavin Campbell [Ferdinand Cornu].
Produced and directed by Betty Davies
45 minutes
10) 'Maigret's Boyhood Friend' (Sunday 19th June 1977)
A schoolmate of Maigret's from the Lycée Banville, Léon Florentin, whom he hadn't seen for 20 years since he'd met him by chance one day on the street, appears in Maigret's office. He'd been the class clown, a habitual liar. He tells Maigret that the woman he'd been living with, Joséphine Papet has been murdered. She had had five lovers, and eventually Maigret learns who they were. Victor Lamotte, a winegrower from Bordeaux, Fernand Courcel, a businessman who lived in Rouen, François Paré, of Versailles, who worked in the Ministry of Public Works, Jean-Luc Bodard, a young insurance salesman, and Florentin. Except for Florentin and Bodard, they'd each thought they were the only one supporting her.
Florentin claims he was in the apartment and hid when he heard someone at the door, remaining hidden till the man had left 15 minutes later, and finding Papet, shot. All deny any connection. The concierge, Mme Blanc, a stubborn mountain of a woman, maintains that no one but Florentin had gone up, but Maigret isn't convinced. All had the opportunity. Maigret has them all meet in his office, including the concierge, for a confrontation, and waits to see if there are any results.
First published in 1968 as "L'Ami d'enfance de Maigret". Translation in 1970 as "Maigret's Boyhood Friend" by Eileen Ellenbogen and adapted for radio by Betty Davies.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], John Moffatt [Leon Florentin], Sean Barrett [Inspector Janvier], John Rye [Inspector Albert Lapointe], Godfrey Kenton [Francois Pare], Peter Tuddenham [Fernand Courcel], John Gabriel [Victor Lamotte], Geoffrey Collins [Jean-Luc Bodard], Cecile Chevreau [Madame Blanc], and Irene Sutcliffe [Madame Louise Maigret]
Produced and directed by Betty Davies
45 minutes
11) 'Maigret at the Crossroads' (Sunday 26th June 1977)
For a place so remote, the Three Widows' Crossroads has an unusual amount of night-time traffic. Investigating a murder with some curious characteristics, Maigret uncovers the secrets of a community where people are not what they seem. For 17 hours Maigret and Lucas have interrogated Carl Anderson, but he is unperturbed, and sticks to his story. He lives near Arpajon with his sister Else Anderson, at the Three Widows Crossroads. Émile Michonnet's (his neighbour) new car has been found in Anderson's garage with a dead man, Isaac Goldberg - a diamond merchant of Antwerp, at the wheel. Anderson's old car was found in Michonnet's garage.
Maigret goes to the crossroads with Lucas, and interviews Else, who also claims to know nothing. Mme Goldberg comes to Arpajon, but is shot to death before Maigret's eyes, as he goes towards the car. There are only three houses, Anderson's, Michonnet's, and the garage of M. Oscar, who regularly invites Maigret in for a drink, which Maigret as regularly refuses. Carl drives off to Paris in the morning to get his monthly pay, but never appears at his company, and his car is found abandoned near the Belgian border, as if he'd crossed over. Else refuses to believe he's run away, but suggests he may be mad...
First published in 1931 as "La Nuit du carrefour". Translated in 1963 as "Maigret at the Crossroads" by Robert Baldick and adapted for radio by Aubrey Woods.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Brian Haines [Inspector Lucas], Wolf Kahler [Carl Anderson], Laurence Harrington [Émile Michonnet], Nicolette McKenzie [Else Anderson], Martin Matthews [Oscar, proprieter of the garage at the Three Widows crossroads], David Cann [Guido Ferrari / Chauffeur], and Sheila Rayner [Mme. Michonnet].
Produced and directed by Christopher Venning
45 minutes
12) 'Maigret Has Doubts' (Sunday 3rd July 1977)
Dining at the Pardons', Maigret tells the story of a case from a few years back, in which Adrien Josset was found guilty and executed for the murder of his wife, Christine Josset. She had been much wealthier than he, and had set him up in business. Maigret had had but one chance to interview him before the Examining Magistrate, Judge Coméliau, having decided he was guilty, took over the case.
Josset claimed he found his wife in her room, stabbed many times, and panicked, feeling he would be accused, and left the house, taking with him a dagger he thought would implicate him, which he claimed he threw off a bridge. He wandered around, drank heavily, and finally changed his mind and reported the crime to the local police station. It became known that he had a mistress, his young secretary, Annette Duché, and that the night before there had been a confrontation with her father, Martin Duché. When the father returned to his town, he was confronted by a newspaper reporter, and committed suicide, further moving public opinion against Josset. It became even stronger when it came out that his Annette had had an abortion.
Circumstantial evidence, an impatient examining magistrate and a public outcry combine to override his reservations, but the case still haunts Maigret and poses a question which can never be answered.
First published in 1959 as "Une confidence de Maigret". Translated in 1968 as "Maigret Has Doubts" by Lyn Moir and adapted for radio by Edward Bruce.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Sean Barrett [Inspector Janvier], John Rye [Inspector Albert Lapointe], Robin Soans [The Newsboy], Alan Rowe [Adrien Josset], Richard Hampton [Coméliau, the Examining Magistrate], Malcolm Edwards [Pressman], David Strong [Dr. Pardon], Jeffrey Segal [Dr. Paul], Bruce Beeby [Dupont], and Nicolette McKenzie [Annette Duché].
Produced and directed by Christopher Venning
45 minutes
13) 'Maigret and the Madman of Bergerac' (Sunday 10th July 1977)
Maigret is taking a trip to Villefranche-en-Dordogne, to visit his old friend Leduc. At the same time he can go to Bordeaux, and take care of some business. Mme Maigret is in Alsace, where her sister is having her third baby. Maigret takes the bottom bed in a 2nd class sleeping car, but is kept awake but the man above. In the morning the man gets up to go, and Maigret notices he's about to jump off the train. Without thinking, Maigret follows, also jumping off the train. When he yells to the man, he shoots Maigret in the shoulder. Maigret makes his way to a farm, and wakes up in a hospital in Bergerac, where it's been assumed he's the Madman of Bergerac, who'd already strangled two women to death, and then stabbed them through the heart with a needle. Leduc comes to his rescue, but he'll have to spend two weeks recuperating. He gets moved to a hotel, the Hôtel d'Angleterre, and Mme Maigret comes to care for him. She finds a 2nd class train ticket, Paris-Bergerac under the mat of the door, and Maigret pursues the investigation from his bed, believing that one of his visitors is the killer.
First published in 1932 as "Le Fou de Bergerac". Translated in 1940 as "Madman of Bergerac" by Geoffrey Sainsbury and adapted for radio by Aubrey Woods.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Irene Sutcliffe [Madame Louise Maigret], Malcolm Hayes [Duhourceau, the Public Prosecutor], Timothy Bateson [Leduc], Gavin Campbell [Dr. Jacques Rivaud], Anne Rosenfeld [Germaine Rivaud, the doctor's wife], Jane Knowles [Françoise Beausoleil], Joyce Lathan [Joséphine Beausoleil], Nicolette McKenzie [Rosalie], and Jeffrey Segal [Hotel Propietor].
Produced and directed by Betty Davies
45 minutes
14) 'Maigret and the Minister' (Sunday 17th July 1977)
Auguste Point, the Minister of Public Works, calls Maigret at home, to ask that he come visit him personally — unofficially — on an extremely sensitive manner. Maigret learns that he had recently received a copy of the Calame report, the contents of which, if revealed, would no doubt cause a major scandal and shakeup of the government. But within a day of receiving it, it is stolen. The press soon learns, somehow, that he has received it, so if it doesn't appear, he will seem to be guilty of hiding it to protect himself or members of his government. Shortly afterwards, Jules Piquemal, who gave him the report, disappears, last seen with a mysterious unknown man, who eventually seems to be the same man who burgled Point's apartment for the report.
First published in 1955 as "Maigret chez le ministre". Translated in 1969 as "Maigret and the Minister" by Moura Budberg and adapted for radio by Frederick Bradnum.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Peter Pratt [Auguste Point], Sean Barrett [Inspector Janvier], John Rye [Inspector Albert Lapointe], Brian Haines [Inspector Lucas], Irene Sutcliffe [Madame Maigret], Shirley Dixon [Jacqueline Page], Rod Beacham [Jacques Fleury], Timothy Bateson [Joseph Mascoulin], Bruce Beeby [Eugène Benoît], and Walter Hall [Jules Piquemal].
Produced and directed by Betty Davies
45 minutes
15) 'Liberty Bar' (Sunday 24th July 1977)
Maigret is sent to Antibes, on the Riviera, to investigate and "handle tactfully" the case of the murder of William Brown, an Australian who'd been with French intelligence. He discovers that Brown had lived in a run-down villa with his mistress, Gina Martini, and her mother. Once a month he'd gone off to Cannes, where he parked his car and disappeared for three days, returning drunk and disheveled with his monthly funds. Maigret discovers that he'd stayed there in the Liberty Bar, with Fat Jaja and a young girl of the streets, Sylvie. It had been his refuge. From his son, Harry Brown, Maurice learns that Brown had left Australia to handle a lawsuit, fell in love with the Riviera, bought a yacht and never returned. Eventually his family had cut him off, limiting him to a monthly allowance of 5,000 francs.
Maigret begins working his way through the hotels of Cannes to find who murder William Brown.
First published in 1932 as "Liberty Bar". Translated in 1940 by Geoffrey Sainsbury and adapted for radio by Aubrey Woods.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Kenneth Shanley [Boutigues], Shirley Dixon [Mme Martini], Diana Eden [Gina Martini / Voice], Margot van der Burgh [Jaja, the owner of Liberty Bar], Eva Haddon [Sylvie], Kevin Brennan [Harry Brown], Rod Beacham [James / Doctor / Hotelier / Garagiste].
Produced and directed by Christopher Venning
45 minutes
16) 'Maigret and the Old Lady' (Sunday 31st July 1977)
Maigret is visited in his office by Valentine Besson, a lively old widow from Étretat, whose maid, Rose Trochu, has been poisoned — or at least she'd drunk poison that apparently was intended for Valentine. Ever night Rose brings Valentine a sleeping draft which she takes for her insomnia. But that night it tasted very bitter. She thought she made a mistake mixing it so she told her to take it away. Valentine feels that Rose must have drunk it as the empty glass was found in her room. But why?
Valentine's step-son, Charles Besson has recently become a Deputy, so the Minister has asked the Chief of Police to send Maigret to help in the investigation of the death of Rose Trochu.
At Étretat, Maigret is met by Inspector Castaing, of Le Havre, who is in charge of the case. They find that on the evening of the murder, Valentine's daughter, Arlette Sudre, and her two step-sons, Charles and Théo Besson, had been over for dinner. Valentine was surprised since both Arlette and Théo disliked her. While Charles and Théo left that evening, Arlette decided to stay the night with her mother and the maid, Rose Trochu. But at 2:00 a.m. that morning, Rose begins to groan as the poison takes hold of her, roughly around the same time a stranger leaves the bedroom of Arlette.
First published in 1950 as "Maigret et la vieille dame". Translated in 1958 as "Maigret and the Old Lady" by Robert Brain and adapted for radio by Betty Davies.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Amy Delamain [Valentine Besson], Dinah Olsson [Arlette Sudre], Douglas Blackwell [Charles Besson], Aubrey Woods [Théo Besson], Michael Harbour [Inspector Castaing], Bruce Beeby [Trochu], Shirley Dixon [Mme. Trochu], Peter Craze [Henri Trochu], William Eedle [Police Chief], and Walter Hall [Dr. Jolly].
Other parts were played by William Eedle, Walter Hall, Bruce Beeby, and Peter Craze.
Produced and directed by Betty Davies
45 minutes
17) 'Maigret Hesitates' (Sunday 7th August 1977)
An anonymous letter written on unique paper and warning that a murder will be committed, leads Maigret quickly to the home of a famous maritime lawyer, Emile Parendon. But who wrote the letter and who will be the victim remain a mystery. Another letter arrives, chiding Maigret for acting so quickly, and warning that Maigret's actions will precipitate the murder. Maigret interviews Parendon, Mme Parendon, his wife, and his secretary, Antoinette Vague, and stations a man at the house when a third and more urgent letter is received. The following morning, the secretary is found at her desk with her throat cut.
First published in 1968 as "Maigret hésite". Translated in 1969 as "Maigret Hesitates" by Lyn Loir and adapted for radio by Edward Bruce.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Brian Haines [Inspector Lucas], John Rye [Inspector Albert Lapointe], Anthony Hall [Émile Parendon], Madi Hedd [Mme. Parendon], Shirly Dixon [Mlle. Antoinette Vague], Anthony Vickers [René Tortu], Brian Hewlett [Jacques aka Gus Parendon], and Jane Knowles [Lise, Mme. Parendon's maid].
Produced and directed by Betty Davies
45 minutes
18) 'Maigret Takes the Waters' (Sunday 14th August 1977)
Dr. Pardon has suggested a vacation in Vichy, where Maigret can take the waters. At 53 he's in good shape, but in need of a break. Maigret and Mme Maigret quickly adjust to the Vichy routine, and start to recognise some of the others on their daily walks. Then the news breaks that one of the women they'd often noticed, Hélène Lange, has been strangled, not far from their hotel.
Inspector Désiré Lecoeur, of Clermont-Ferrand, who had once been one of Maigret's men, is in charge of the case, but Maigret begins to "consult".
First published in 1968 as "Maigret à Vichy". Translated in 1969 as "Maigret Takes the Waters" by Eileen Ellenbogen and adapted for radio by Frederick Bradnum.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], Irene Sutcliffe [Louise Maigret], Rod Beacham [Désiré Lecoeur, The chief C.I.D. officer at Clermont-Ferrand], Malcolm Edwards [Sergeant Dicelle], Richard Caldicott [Louis Pélardeau], Diana Eden [Francine Lange], and Shirley Dixon [Madeleine Dubois].
Produced and directed by Christopher Venning
45 minutes
19) 'The Patience of Maigret' (Sunday 21st August 1977)
Only 10 days after the arrest of the dentist in the Rue des Acacias, Maigret finds himself there again, this time investigating the murder of Manuel Palmari, a criminal Maigret had known for 20 years, and who he suspected to be behind the string of jewel robberies over that period. It could not have been Palmari's mistress, Aline, was out shopping at the time, with a police tail.
Maigret interviews almost all the tenants of the building and the finger begins to point to Aline's involvement in the crime.
First published in 1965 as "La Patience de Maigret". Translated in 1966 as "The Patience of Maigret" by Alastair Hamilton and adapted for radio by Frederick Bradnum.
With Maurice Denham [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Michael Gough [Georges Simenon], John Rye [Inspector Albert Lapointe], Sean Barrett [Inspector Janvier], William Eedle [Police Superintendent Clerdent], Malcolm Gerard [Janin], Julian Glover [Fernand Barillard], Emily Richard [Mina Barillard], Julia Foster [Aline Bauche], Alan Dudley [M. Bérenstein], Malcolm Hayes [Jean-Loup Pernelle], Eric Cotter [The Hotel Porter], and Anita Sharp Bolster [The Concierge]
Produced and directed by Glyn Dearman
45 minutes
Specials
20) 'Maigret and the Millionaires' (Saturday 5th May 1984 @ 8:30 p.m.)
Maigret is called to the Hôtel George-V where the English multimillionaire and world-famous financier, Colonel David Ward, had been found drowned in his bathtub, the marks on his shoulders indicating a murder. The night before, the Countess Louise Paverini, a few doors down, had attempted suicide, and been taken to the American Hospital in Neuilly. The two had spent the evening together, and planned to get married once his divorce was finalised. His friend and associate, John Arnold insists that the utmost discretion must be given to the case, for he was an extremely important man. Meanwhile, after calling her ex-husband, the millionaire Joseph Van Meulens, the Countess leaves the hospital, and Neuilly.
Maigret finds himself in the total alien world of the international jetset as he tries to track the Countess down so he can piece together who murdered Colonel David Ward.
First published in 1958 as "Maigret voyage". Translated in 1974 as "Maigret and the Millionaires" by Jean Stewart and adapted for radio by Malcolm Stewart.
With Maurice Denham [Superintendent Jules Maigret], Brian Haines [Inspector Lucas], John Rye [Inspector Albert Lapointe], Andrew Sachs [John Arnold], Jane Wenham [The Countess Louise Paverini], David March [Jef Van Meulen], Michael Bilton [Jules], Moir Leslie [The Maid], Carole Boyd [The Nurse], William Eedle [Director], Geoffrey Collins [The Manager of the Hôtel George-V], Timothy Bateson [The Hotel Doctor], Arnold Diamond [The Prosecutor], Clive Panto [The Magistrate], Michael Tudor Barnes [Dr. Paul], Ian Oliver [Inspector Benoît], Sean Barrett [Jean], Mark Straker [The Masseur], and Bernard Brown [The Manager of the Lausanne-Palace].
Directed by Glyn Dearman
75 minutes
21) 'Maigret's Special Murder' (Saturday 22nd March 1986 @ 8:30 p.m.)
A man calls and asks for Maigret, from a café and says he's being followed by someone trying to kill him. He says that Maigret knows his wife, Nine. Before he can finish he hangs up, then calls back from another phonewith the same results. He tries again from various cafés, till finally the calls stop. That night, his body is found in the Place de la Concorde, his face badly beaten, stabbed to death. Someone had seen it pushed out of a car.
Although his picture is published, it takes a while before they find that the dead man's name is Albert Rochain, owner of the café, 'Au Petit Albert'. With the absence of clues, Maigret decides to reopen Albert's café, using an inspector, Émile Chevrier and his wife. The ruse works as Maigret finds that his murder investigation is tied into another case concerning gang members.
First published in 1948 as "Maigret et son mort". Translated in 1964 as "Maigret's Special Murder" by Jean Stewart and adapted for radio by Malcolm Stewart.
With Bernard Hepton [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Edward de Souza [Inspector Lucas], Jamie Roberts [Inspector Janvier], Peter Howell [Judge Coméliau], Garard Green [Chief of Police], Caroline John [Mme Louise Maigret], Adrian Egan [Albert Rochain / Detective Sergeant Lequeux], Richard Durden [Inspector Colombani], Trevor Nichols [Boxer Jo / Police Sergeant], Ronald Herdman [Ferdy / Marchand, the General Secretary of the Folies-Bergère], John Church [The Lodging-House Keeper], Anne Jameson [The Madwoman / The Concierge], Gordon Reid [The Café Proprietor / Taxi Driver], Eric Stovell [Dr. Paul / Émile Chevrier], Elaine Claxton [Irma Chevrier / Maria], and Avril Clark [The Clairvoyant / Nine Rochain].
Directed by Matthew Walters
90 minutes
22) 'Maigret's Christmas' (Monday 21st December 1998 @ 2:15 p.m.)
It's Christmas morning in Paris, a few years before the outbreak of the Second World War. Maigret is visited by two women from across the street, Mme Doncoeur and Loraine Martin. Mme Martin's 7-year-old niece, Colette Martin had told Mme Doncoeur she'd had a visit the night before from Father Christmas, who'd been in her room with a flashlight, and been making a hole in the floor, presumably to bring presents to the young child below. He'd given Colette a lovely doll, and had had a white beard and red clothes. Martin's husband, Jean Martin is away on a business trip, and the girl's father, Paul Martin, has taken to drink since the death of his wife in a traffic accident when he was driving.
Maigret's suspicion's are aroused by the fact that Mme Martin herself had had to be prodded into coming to see him, and that as soon as she returned home, she went out "shopping", though there was adequate food.
This short story was first published in 1951 as "Un Noël de Maigret". Translated in 1959 as "Maigret's Christmas" by Lawrence G. Blochman and adapted for radio by John Petherbridge.
With Barry Foster [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Pauline Yates [Madame Louise Maigret], Jane Slaven [Loraine Martin], Joseph Bennett [Sergeant Lucas], Maria Charles [Mme. Doncoeur], Kiera Johnson [Colette Martin], Christopher Wright [Paul Martin], and Malcolm Ward [The Cabbie].
Directed by Andy Jordan.
45 minutes
Series 3
In this new series, Nicholas Le Provost's Maigret sounds like he lives in Plymouth rather than Paris. But please don't let this put you off - for Provost imbibes the detective with a perfect balance of extraordinary mind and generous humanity, even if it doesn't come with a cod-French accent.
23) 'A Man's Head' (Tuesday 3rd December 2002 @ 2:15 p.m.)
Maigret takes on one of his most famous cases. He has requested permission to let a prisoner on death row, in maximum security "escape." He is Joseph Heurtin, convicted of having killed a rich American, Mrs. Henderson, and her French maid, Élise Chatrier, at Saint-Cloud. His fingerprints and footprints were found everywhere, and he'd been seen in the neighbourhood at the time, and had dropped a Paris-Saint-Cloud ticket. But he had no motive and nothing was stolen. He refused to say anything except that he didn't kill them. Maigret is convinced that "he's either mad or innocent", and that someone else is involved.
Sure enough, Heurtin doesn't seem surprised to find the note telling of his escape plan, and the day after his escape a newspaper receives a note saying it was a police setup — obviously from someone who knew something. The paper of the note was from the American bar at the Coupole, where Maigret goes and sees Johann Radek, a Czech medical student. Heurtin, who had managed to elude his police followers, seems to be waiting outside for Radek, who has himself arrested for failing to pay his bill.
From then on Radek is virtually outright about his challenge to Maigret to find some connection of himself to the murders. He taunts Maigret, who continues to silently follow him everywhere, waiting for him to make a mistake.
First published in 1931 as "La Tête d'un homme". Translated in 1939 by Geoffrey Sainsbury as "A Battle of Nerves". Also known as "Maigret's War of Nerves", "The Patience of Maigret", and "A Man's Head". Dramatised by David Cregan.
With Nicholas Le Provost [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Julian Barnes [Georges Simenon], Ron Cook [Sergeant Lucas], Ioan Meredith [Johann Radek], Paul Birchard [William Kirby], Philip Fox [Coméliau, the Examining Magistrate / Bob, the head barman], Tom George [Janvier], Jane Whittenshaw [Edna Reichberg / The Mother], Beth Chalmers [Mrs. Kirby], and Ben Crowe [Inspector Dufour / Évariste Heurtin / The Clerk].
Music by Lucinda Mason Brown and performed by Alex Kean, Patrick Naylor and Tim Robinson.
Produced and directed by Ned Chaillet
45 minutes
24) 'The Bar on the Seine' (Tuesday 10th December 2002 @ 2:15 p.m.)
Maigret visits Jean Lenoir in his cell to tell him his reprieve wasn't granted. Lenoir starts to talk about someone who'd dumped a body in the Canal Saint-Martin, and how he and his friend Victor had seen him and blackmailed him. He'd lost track of him, but ran into him once at the inn, the Guinguette à Deux Sous. Some time later, when Maigret is buying a hat, he overhears a man planning to go to the inn, and follows him there. It was Marcel Basso, who a few days later shoots a man named Feinstein there. Feinstein's wife, Mado Feinstein, had been Basso's mistress, and when Feinstein had tried to get money from Basso, and threatened to kill himself if he couldn't, they'd struggled for the gun. Basso is arrested, but escapes.
Maigret returns to the inn, the Guinguette à Deux Sous, for a weekend, though he'd promised Mme Maigret to come to Alsace for a holiday. There he runs into Victor Gaillard, who he realises had been Jean Lenoir's partner. But Gaillard won't tell who the man was. It is through an unlikely source, Maigret's regular afternoon drinking partner from the Taverne Royale, that Maigret is able to find to the truth to the murder 6 years earlier that Jean Lenoir spoke about.
First published in 1931 as "La Guinguette à Deux Sous". Translated in 1940 as "Guinguette by the Seine" by Geoffrey Sainsbury. It is also known as "The Bar on the Seine" and dramatised for radio by Alison Joseph.
With Nicholas Le Provost [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Julian Barnes [Georges Simenon], Ron Cook [Sergeant Lucas], Timothy Watson [James], Scott Brooksbank [Jean Lenoir / Victor Gaillard], Sylvester Morand [Marcel Basso], Jonathan Tafler [Feinstein], Tracy Wiles [Mado Feinstein / Mère Mathilde], Rebecca Egan [Mme Basso], Carla Simpson [The Postmistress], Martin Hyder [Police Officer], Richard Firth [Taxi driver], Emma Woolliams [Woman 1], and Laura Doddington [Woman 2].
Music by Lucinda Mason Brown and performed by Alex Kean, Patrick Naylor and Tim Robinson.
Produced and directed by Ned Chaillet
45 minutes
25) 'My Friend Maigret' (Tuesday 17th December 2002 @ 2:15 p.m.)
Maigret is going about his work in rainy Paris, followed around by Inspector Pyke who has come from Scotland Yard to study the famous French detective's methods. Routine is disturbed when Maigret receives a telephone call from the island of Porquerolles off the Mediterranean coast. Marcellin, a small-time crook has been murdered, the night after he had fervently declared his friendship with Maigret in front of a large group of the island's inhabitants. Actually, Marcellin was a criminal whose girlfriend, Ginette, a prostitute, Maigret had helped to find a sanatarium for her TB years ago.
Maigret and Inspector Pyke leave the greyness of Paris for the sunshine of Porquerolles. There they meet Jojo, a maid at the hotel, who mentions to Maigret that Marcellin had boasted that he could get money any time he wanted. Maigret checks with the local telephone operator, and finds that Marcellin had called Ginette to find out "what year Van Gogh had died". It is there that Maigret makes the connection to why Marcellin was killed.
First published in 1949 as "Mon ami Maigret". Translated in 1956 as "My Friend Maigret" by Nigel Ryan and dramatised for radio by David Cregan.
With Nicholas Le Provost [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Julian Barnes [Georges Simenon], Neil Dudgeon [Inspector Pyke, Scotland Yard], Jonathan Keeble [Maître Lechat], Jilly Bond [Mrs. Ellen Wilcox], Maggie McCarthy [Ginette], Richard Firth [Jef de Greef], Simon Donaldson [Philippe de Moricourt], Carla Simpson [The Postmistress], Ewan Bailey [Marcellin / M Emile], Emma Wooliams [Jojo Bourcier / Anna], Martin Hyder [Charlot], and Bunny Reed [The Major].
Music by Lucinda Mason Brown and performed by Alex Kean, Patrick Naylor and Tim Robinson.
Produced and directed by Ned Chaillet
45 minutes
26) 'Madame Maigret's Own Case' (Tuesday 24th December 2002 @ 2:15 p.m.)
An anonymous note to the police reports that a body has been burnt in the furnace of the bookbinder, Frans Steuvels, on the Rue de Turenne. Frans is held in custody as preliminary investigations turn up suspicious details: two human teeth are found in the furnace; blood stains are discovered on a suit in the suspect's closet, but he denies ownership; then, a strangely heavy suitcase found in his workshop disappears.
Meanwhile Mme Maigret has had a strange experience while waiting for her dentist appointment. A woman she had often met on the bench while waiting, with a young child, suddenly leaves the child in Mme Maigret's care and disappears for over an hour, returning to take the child and disappearing without explanation.
By coincidence, it seems the two cases are related as Madame Maigret finds herself entangled in a tale of murder and unscrupulous ambition as she offers her help.
First published in 1949 as "L'Amie de Mme Maigret". Translated in 1959 as "Madame Maigret's Own Case" by Helen Sebba and dramatised by Alison Joseph.
With Nicholas Le Provost [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Julian Barnes [Georges Simenon], Julie Legrand [Madame Louise Maigret], Ron Cook [Sergeant Lucas], Paul Sirr [Frans Steuvels], Victoria Carling [Mme Fernande Steuvels], Nicholas Boulton [Philippe Liotard], Carl Prekopp [Inspector Albert Lapointe], and Martin Hyder [Alfonsi / Judge Gabriel Dossin].
Music by Lucinda Mason Brown and performed by Alex Kean, Patrick Naylor and Tim Robinson.
Produced and directed by Ned Chaillet
45 minutes
Series 4
27) 'Maigret and the Burglar's Wife' (Monday 19th April 2004 @ 2:15 p.m.)
One of Maigret's old "customers", Ernestine Micou, who he'd arrested 17 years earlier, comes to Maigret to tell of her's husband's misadventure. She'd married Alfred Jussiaume, "Sad Freddie", a safecracker, and while he'd been doing a job in Neuilly, with his usual bad luck, he'd discovered the body of a dead woman and fled. When Maigret goes to the house, where a dentist, Guillaume Serre and his mother live, they claim there's been no burglarly, and of course, no murder. However Serre's Dutch wife, the former Maria Van Aerts, supposedly left on the day Alfred saw the body, returning indefinitely to Holland. The doctor explaines that the newly replaced window pane, which Alfred had presumably removed to break in, was broken in the recent storm.
Maigret must choose to believe Ernestine's story about a murdered woman discovered by her burglar husband, or believe the respectable dentist who denies there ever was a burglary. He is ready to drop the case, when he stops in at the hardware store, and learns that Serre had bought another pane, two days later, the day after the break in.
First published in 1951 as "Maigret et la Grande Perche". First translated in 1955 as "Maigret and the Burglar's Wife" by J. Maclaren-Ross and later by Alice Hart from which this programme was dramatised for radio by Alison Joseph.
With Nicholas Le Provost [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Julian Barnes [Georges Simenon], Julie Legrand [Madame Louise Maigret], Jill Johnson [Mme Serre], Philip Franks [Guillaume Serre], Rachel Atkins [Ernestine Micou], Tom George [Inspector Janvier], Scott Brooksbank [The Ironmonger's Lad], Jennie Stoller [Mme Gertrude Oosting], and Philip Fox [Moers].
Music by Lucinda Mason Brown, performed by the Viper's Dream Quartet.
Produced and directed by Ned Chaillet
45 minutes
28) 'The Yellow Dog' (Monday 26th April 2004 @ 2:15 p.m.)
Maigret, assigned for the past month to Rennes to reorganise the Flying Squad [Brigade Mobile], is called to Concarneau, where M. Mostaguen, Concarneau's biggest wine dealer, was shot after leaving the Admiral Café. Circumstances make it appear that it was only chance that made him the victim. When Maigret arrives at the Admiral Hotel, and is drinking with the other members of Mostaguen's group, Ernest Michoux, a non-practicing doctor and real estate dealer, notices powder in the drinks which turns out to be strychnine. The next day, Jean Servières, another member, disappears, his blood-stained car found abandoned. Journalists descend on Concarneau, and a vagrant is arrested, a giant bear of a man, but he breaks free. Apparently it is his yellow dog which has been noticed around since the first shooting.
While his assistant Leroy uses "science" and "deductions" to trace the murderer, Maigret's instincts unerringly guide him to the real killer past a labyrinth of fascinating characters: a paranoid failed medical doctor turned real-estate shark; a passive, working class waitress whose heart secretly burns a torch of passion; an aristocratic politician who pressures Maigret to "make some arrests"; and a snarling stray dog that knows the murderer's real identity.
First published in 1931 as "Le Chien jaune". Translated in 1939 as "A Face for a Clue" by Geoffrey Sainsbury. It is also known as "The Yellow Dog" and dramatised for radio by David Cregan.
With Nicholas Le Provost [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Julian Barnes [Georges Simenon], Chris Moran [Inspector Leroy], Cherie Taylor Battiste [Emma], Ioan Meredith [Dr. Ernest Michoux], Philip Fox [M. Jean Servières], Michael Fenton Stevens [M. Yves Le Pommeret], Phillip Joseph [M. Mostaguen], Joe Dunlop [The Mayor], Steven Diggory [Leon], Francis Jeater [Mme Servières], Rachel Atkins [Landlady], and Damian Lynch [Customs Officer].
Music by Lucinda Mason Brown, performed by the Viper's Dream Quartet.
Produced and directed by Ned Chaillet
45 minutes
29) 'Inspector Cadaver' (Monday 3rd May 2004 @ 2:15 p.m.)
Maigret travels to the tiny town of Saint-Aubin-les-Marais, near Niort, in the Vendée, at the request of the Examining Magistrate Victor Bréjon. Victor's brother-in-law, Étienne Naud, had asked him for help since after the death of a young man, Albert Retailleau, caused rumours that Naud was involved. But when Maigret arrives he finds his investigation undermined by an old adversary, the disgraced Inspector 'Cadaver', who'd been on the force with Maigret for 20 years till forced to resign due to problems caused by his wife.
Maigret quickly learns that no one in town wants to help, except one young man, Louis Fillou, who'd been Albert's friend. He learns that Albert had been the lover of Geneviève Naud, and had gone to see her the night he was killed. But that night he'd been angry, and told Louis it was all over. But as Maigret delves further, he soon finds himself tangled up in a case that may ruin the very people whom he has come to help.
First published in 1943 as "L'Inspecteur Cadavre". Translated in 1979 as "Maigret's Rival" by Helen Thomson. It is also known as "Inspector Cadaver" and is dramatised for radio by David Cregan.
With Nicholas Le Provost [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Julian Barnes [Georges Simenon], Michael N. Harbour [Jules Naud], Karen Archer [Madame Naud], Alice Hart [Geneviève Naud], John Rowe [Alban Groult-Cotelle], Scott Brooksbank [Louis Fillou], Philip Fox [Magistrate Victor Brejon / Mayor's Sec / Voice], Joanna McCallum [Madame Retailleau / Post Mistress / Landlady], and David Bannerman [Inspector Justin Cavre / Inspector Cadaver / Another Voice].
Music by Lucinda Mason Brown, performed by the Viper's Dream Quartet.
Produced and directed by Ned Chaillet
45 minutes
30) 'Maigret's Little Joke' (Monday 10th May 2004 @ 2:15 p.m.)
Dr. Pardon has convinced Maigret he needs a vacation, but when their plans go awry Maigret decided to spend his two weeks off in Paris, enjoying himself with Mme Maigret and totally avoiding the Quai des Orfèvres, where he had left Les Sables-d'Olonne as his forwarding address. An interesting case has come up, with Janvier in charge, and Maigret follows it through the newspapers.
The nude body of a doctor's wife, Éveline Jave, was found in a cupboard in his office. Both were supposed to have been on the Côte d'Azur, the practice cared for by young Dr. Gilbert Négrel. But Philippe Jave had secretly come to Paris that day, and in fact he had a girlfriend, Antoinette Chauvet, the young daughter of one of his maids, Josépha Chauvet. Then it is revealed that Gilbert Négrel had apparently been having an affair with Jave's wife, although he had a fiancée, Martine Chapuis, whose father, Noël Chapuis, the barrister, now took over Négrel's defense.
How can Maigret keep his promise to his wife and let Inspector Janvier get on with solving the crime when he is haunted by the question: why the devil was the murdered woman naked? He keeps his promise of avoiding the Quai by ccasionally sending anonymous notes to Janvier and making anonymous calls to a reporter, thus helping Janvier solve the crime.
First published in 1956 as "Maigret s'amuse". Translated in 1957 as "Maigret's Little Joke" by Richard Brain and dramatised by Alison Joseph,
With Nicholas Le Provost [Chief Inspector Jules Maigret], Julian Barnes [Georges Simenon], Julie Legrand [Madame Louise Maigret], Phillip Joseph [Dr. Pardon], Jaimi Barbakoff [Martine Chapuis], Harry Myers [Lassagne, a reporter], Philip Fox [The Waiter], Ioan Meredith [Victor], Cherie Taylor-Battiste [Young Woman at Next Table], Chris Moran [Young Man at Next Table], and Rachel Atkins [Mademoiselle Claire Jusserand].
Music by Lucinda Mason Brown, performed by the Viper's Dream Quartet.
Produced and directed by Ned Chaillet
45 minutes
.....Jim
