Light Programme, Drama, 1961
Drama on the BBC Light Programme in 1961
(The Light Programme ran from 1945 to 1967. )
Stephen writes...
The list below is somewhat loosely chosen to try to avoid series more in the sit-com line.
What a very unusual year 1961 was for the Light- hardly any drama as the year starts. One single episode of Thirty-Minute Theatre which was not repeated anywhere and possibly had a nil audience - hence lost, a pity as it had a teenage Jane Asher...
Then a rush of long serials.
And finally at year end we have the return of hour long drama.
This was a radio station with no purpose and no direction, coasting along in a very ad hoc manner; possibly there was no station management in place.
Meanwhile on 3: Back in the day the Light and R2 had regular broadcasts of brass bands, and then the BBC decided light music was old hat and goodbye to brass bands, theatre organs and so on..... I find that R3 is broadcasting (on Sunday at 8pm) ten "Brass Band" programs.
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1st January 1961
19.05-19.35
Paul Temple and the Margo Mystery by Francis Durbridge.
Part 1 of 8. The Coat.
Produced by Martyn C. Webster
Paul Temple: Peter Coke
Steve: Marjorie Westbury
Sir Graham Forbes: James Thomason
Charlie: James Beattie
Supenintendent Raine: Simon Lack
Mike Langdon: Tommy Duggan
Dr McCarthy: Duncan McIntyre
Tony Wyman: Jon Rollason
Linda Kelburn: June Tobin
Additional actors in later parts:
Armine Sandford, Beatrice Kane, Dorit Welles, Douglas Storm, Eva Stuart, Frank Partington, George Merritt, Haydn Jones, Hugh Manning, Janet Morrison, Joan Matheson, Julian Somers, Kathleen Helme, Kenneth Dight, Malcolm Hayes, Mary Wimbush, Nigel Anthony, Peter Pratt, Peter Watts, Peter Wilde, Tom Watson, William Eedle
Part 8 broadcast 19th February 1961
The series was repeated commencing 20th July 1961.
[Also broadcast on R7/R4X 2004-2022]
[There were 21 radio stories about Paul Temple, starting in 1938. Including revisions and new productions but not repeats, there were 27 radio stories, the last new story was 1965.
26th February 1961
19.05-19.35
The Bullet by D G Bridson (1910-1980)
Germany 1949/50.
Producer: D G Bridson
Oppenheim: Valentine Dyall
Klein: Anthony Jacobs
Lotte: Bettina Dickson
Heinrich: Martin Starkie
Storyteller: Roger Snowdon
[Broadcast in stereo 18th June 1960- R3 left channel, BBC TV right channel - no cast given, possibly this sound only version or a different production.]
[The play was previously produced for BBC TV by D G Bridson in 1958 with Charles Leno as Oppenheim.]
28th February 1961
21.00-21.31
Blackwater by H L Tredree (1958) adapted by Alan Hancock.
1918.
Producer: Alan Burgess
Captain of U S S Sherman: Peter Madden
Wireless Operator: Philip Morant
Lieutenant: Wilfred Babbage
First Lieutenant: Thomas Bowman
Doctor: David Bird
Tredree: Nigel Anthony
Murphy: Tommy Duggan
Ingleson: Peter Claughton
[H L Tredree was the 1918 wireless operator. The book was also published as "The Strange Ordeal of the Normandier"]
3rd April 1961
19.31-20.00:
Thirty-Minute Theatre: A Matter of Taste by F. Anstey (Sir Thomas Anstey Guthrie 1856 - 1934 ) adapted by Mollie Greenhalgh
Produced by Archie Campbell
Mrs Hylton: Lesley Deane
Flossie, her younger daughter: Jane Asher
Ella, her elder daughter: Gudrun Ure
George Chapman: Keith Anderson
Jessie Chapman: Barbara Mitchell
Carrie Chapman: Joyce Carpenter
Mrs Chapman: Janet Burnell
Mr Peagrum: Charles Lamb
A Fireman: Anthony Viccars
10th April 1961
19.31-20.00
The Avenue Goes to War (1958) by R F Delderfield (1912-1972).
Harmonica Player: Alan Kahn
1 of 10
Produced By: Norman Wright
Miss Baker: Dorothy Holmes-Gore
Jim: Malcolm Hayes
JimArchie: David March
JimBoxer: David Spenser
JimBerni: Henry Davies
Elaine: June Tobin
Esme: Simon Lack
Eunice: Joan Matheson
Harold: John Bryning
Margy Hartnell: Betty Baskcomb
Edith Clegg: Catherine Salkeld
Judy Ascham: Sheila Grant
Esther Frith: Ella Milne
Additional actors in parts 2-10:
Beryl Calder, Brian Smith, Cicely Hoye, Diana Olsson, Dorit Welles, Errol MacKinnon, Eva Stuart, Freda Dowie, Godfrey Kenton, Janet Burnell, Jon Rollason, Judith Furse, Judy Bailey, Kathleen Helme, Kenneth Dight, Michael Turner, Micky Greeve, Norman Claridge, Penelope Lee, Rita Staines, Trevor Martin
Part 10 broadcast 12th June 1961
[A sequel to "The Dreaming Suburb" which was broadcast in 12 parts on the Light programme in 1959 and repeated on the Home service in 1962]
6th June 1961:
21.00-21.31:
Meet Christopher Blaze: Thanks for the Memory by Edward J Mason (1912-1971)
Producer: Martyn C Webster
Christopher Blaze: Jack Hulbert
Smithy: Haydn Jones
Miss Jones: Sulwen Morgan
Mr Meek: James Thomason
Nobby: William Eedle
Mrs Goole: Kathleen Helme
Amy Goole: Beryl Calder
Remembro: Julian Somers
Carlio: Peter Wilde
Mrs Grimble: Dorothy Holmes-Gore
Mr Goole: Anthony Viccars
[This is the only story where Miss Jones was played by Sulwen Morgan, later played by Penelope Lee.]
[This series was first produced by Martyn C Webster in 1951, with Jack Hulbert as Blaze and Hamilton Dyce as Smith. Miss Jones was played by Fanny Carby.]
13th June 1961
20.00-20.31
Glacier Hut by G K Saunders (1910-2005)
The Place: New Zealand
1 of 6: The Roar of the Wind
Production By: Audrey Cameron
Bruno, a guide: Peter Noel Cook
Ted, the senior guide: Bruce Stewart
Jacky Rothwell, the junior guide: Nigel Anthony
Madge, Ted's wife: Beverley Dunn
Jennifer: Lesley Jackson
Prudence: Paddy Turner
Mary: Meg Wynn Owen
Jacqueline: Mairhi Russell
Joan: Kathleen Helme
Miss Barnes, teacher: Janet Burnell
Kingi, a Maori guide: Bruce Wightman
Shirley, the cook: Diana Olsson
Additional actors in parts 2-6:
Alan Paton, Bettina Dickson, Douglas Storm, Hugh Dickson, John Pullen, Julian Somers, June Tobin, Michael Turner, Peter Noel Cook, Philip Leaver, Robert Hewitt, Rolf Lefebvre, Roy Patrick, Thomas Bowman, Tom Watson
Part 6 broadcast 28th July 1961
13th June 1961:
21.00-21.31:
Meet Christopher Blaze: You, Too, Can Be A Film Star by Edward J Mason (1912-1971)
Producer: Martyn C Webster
Christopher Blaze: Jack Hulbert
Smithy: Haydn Jones
Miss Jones: Penelope Lee
Mr Meek: James Thomason
Claude Vernon: David March
Film Director: Malcolm Hayes
Margo Lamont: June Tobin
Mrs Gimble: Dorothy Holmes-Gore
Man: Nigel Anthony
[This series was first produced by Martyn C Webster in 1951, with Jack Hulbert as Blaze and Hamilton Dyce as Smith. Miss Jones was played by Fanny Carby.]
19th June 1961
19.31-20.00
Tea on the Island by Lester Powell
1 of 6: Border Incident
T.V. 'Commercial' sung by the Terry Sisters
Produced By: Archie Campbell
Odell: Robert Beatty
Heather McMara: Diana Olsson
Customs Officer: Tom Bowman
Henri Buselle: Gordon Sterne
Rowan Frazer: Eric Woodburn
Kay Elland Jane: Jordan Rogers
Phil Kinnamon: Tommy Duggan
Motel Manager: Douglas Storm
Additional actors in parts 2-6:
Errol McKinnon, Haydn Jones, Jane Jordan Rogers, John Bryning, John Glen, Jon Rollason, Keith Buckley, Marvin Kane, Mary Wimbush, Penelope Lee, Ralph Hallett, Ronald Wilson, Stuart Nichol, Valerie Hanson, William Eedle
Part six was broadcast on 24th July 1961.
[The radio series with the character of Philip Odell started in 1947. Prior to "Border Incident" was a new production of "Lady in the Fog" in 1958.]
20th June 1961:
21.00-21.31:
Meet Christopher Blaze: A Matter of Mental Adjustment by Edward J Mason (1912-1971)
Producer: Martyn C Webster
Christopher Blaze: Jack Hulbert
Smithy: Haydn Jones
The hawker: William Eedle
Mrs Gimble: Dorothy Holmes-Gore
Mr Meek: James Thomason
Queenie: Belle Chrystall
Zola: Barbara Mitchell
Professor X: Rolf Lefebvre
Inspector: Duncan McIntyre
Alibi Jackson: Frank Partington
[This series was first produced by Martyn C Webster in 1951, with Jack Hulbert as Blaze and Hamilton Dyce as Smithy. ]
27th June 1961:
21.00-21.31:
Meet Christopher Blaze: A Cure for Indigestion by Edward J Mason (1912-1971)
Producer: Martyn C Webster
Christopher Blaze: Jack Hulbert
Smithy: Haydn Jones
Mr Meek: James Thomason
Mrs Gimble: Dorothy Holmes-Gore
Inspector: Duncan McIntyre
Boris Yadek: David March
Mailaski: Malcolm Hayes
Miss Webb: Monica Kirton
Man: Kenneth Dight
[This series was first produced by Martyn C Webster in 1951, with Jack Hulbert as Blaze and Hamilton Dyce as Smithy. ]
4th July 1961:
21.00-21.31:
Meet Christopher Blaze: I Wrote a Letter to my Love by Edward J Mason (1912-1971)
Producer: Martyn C Webster
Christopher Blaze: Jack Hulbert
Smithy: Haydn Jones
Mr Meek: James Thomason
Ann Clayton: Dorit Welles
Charlie: Frank Partington
Mrs Gimble: Dorothy Holmes-Gore
Henry Bullett: Simon Lack
Ma Skillett: Vivienne Chatterton
Foreigner: William Eedle
Inspector: Geoffrey Wincott
[This series was first produced by Martyn C Webster in 1951, with Jack Hulbert as Blaze and Hamilton Dyce as Smithy. ]
11th July 1961: No drama, boxing replaced it.
18th July 1961:
21.00-21.31:
Meet Christopher Blaze: Sequel to a Dog Fight by Edward J Mason (1912-1971)
Producer: Martyn C Webster
Christopher Blaze: Jack Hulbert
Sally: Diana Olsson
Nicky: Frank Atkinson
Coggin: Frank Partington
Superintendent Graydon: Terence Brook
Mrs Gimble: Dorothy Holmes-Gore
Sunbeam: Hugh Dickson
Mr Meek: James Thomason
Foley: David Fallon
Carter: Nigel Anthony
[This series was first produced by Martyn C Webster in 1951, with Jack Hulbert as Blaze and Hamilton Dyce as Smithy. Gabrielle Blunt played Sally.]
19th July 1961
20.00-20.31
Paul Temple and the Margo Mystery by Francis Durbridge.
Part 1 of 8. The Coat. See 1st January 1961 above.
25th July 1961:
21.00-21.31:
Meet Christopher Blaze: The Sensational Memoirs of the Countess Magda by Edward J Mason (1912-1971)
Producer: Martyn C Webster
Christopher Blaze: Jack Hulbert
Mrs Gimble: Dorothy Holmes-Gore
Smithy: Haydn Jones
Mr Meek: James Thomason
Miss Jones: Pemelope Lee
Countess Magda: June Tobin
Gerlitz: Rolf Lefebvre
[This series was first produced by Martyn C Webster in 1951, with Jack Hulbert as Blaze and Hamilton Dyce as Smithy. Miss Jones was played by Fanny Carby. ]
31st July 1961
19.31-20.00:
The Sand Leopard by Berkely Mather ( John Evan Weston-Davies 1909 - 1996 )
1 of 8: The Charter
Produced By: Robin Midgley
Geth Straker: Neil McCallum
Casey: Jerold Wells
Karianides: Andreas Malandrinos
Landau: George Hagan
Sergei: Malcolm Hayes
Perry: Christine Finn
Additional actors in parts 2 to 8:
David Bauer, Geoffrey Matthews, Marne Maitland, Mohammed Talib, Tom Watson
Part 8 broadcast 18th September 1961
[Also broadcast on R4X 2023]
1st August 1961
21.00-21.31:
Meet Christopher Blaze: Skeleton In the Cupboard by Edward J Mason (1912-1971)
Producer: Martyn C Webster
Christopher Blaze: Jack Hulbert
Carol: Ann Murray
Spiv: Anthony Viccars
Mrs Gimble: Dorothy Holmes-Gore
Mr Meek: James Thomason
Smithy: Haydn Jones
Clara Meek: Beatrice Kane
Septimus Meek: Simon Lack
[This series was first produced by Martyn C Webster in 1951, with Jack Hulbert as Blaze and Hamilton Dyce as Smithy.]
4th August 1961
20.00-20.31
Portrait of Clare (1927) by Francis Brett Young (1884-1954), adapted by Lionel Brown.
Pianist: Arthur Dulay
1 of 9.
Produced By: David H. Godfrey
Clare: June Tobin
Ellen Biggs: Mary O'Farrell
Dr Bradley: Trevor Martin
Ralph Hingston: Ronald Wilson
Dudley Wilburn: Nigel Stock
Catherine Weir: Eithne Dunne
Vivien Hingston: Beverley Dunn
Lady Hingston: Olga Lindo
Additional actors in parts 2 to 9:
Andrew Irvine, Charles Simon, Gladys Spencer, Gudrun Ure, Hamilton Dyce, Hugh Manning, Jack May, John Bryning, Kathleen Helme, Kathleen Williams, Roger May, Tom Watson
Part 9 broadcast 29th September 1961
Series repeated on BBC Home commencing 25th September 1962.
8th August 1961
21.00-21.31
Children of the Archbishop (1951) by Norman Collins (1907-1982), dramatised by Howard Agg.
1 of 10: The New Warden
Produced By: Martyn C. Webster
Dame Eleanor: Gladys Young
Canon Mallow: James Thomason
Dr Trump: Hugh Manning
Margaret: Belle Chrystall
Sweetie: Beryl Calder
Mr Dawlish: Duncan McIntyre
Ginger Woods: Michael Crawford
Mrs Gurnett: Una Venning
Nurse Stedge: Elizabeth Maude
Sergeant Chiswick: Trevor Martin
Miss Wynne: Hilda Schroder
The Storyteller: Simon Lack
Additional actors in parts 2 to 10:
Alaric Cotter, Betty Baskcomb, David Spenser, Douglas Hankin, Edward Jewesbury, Frank Partington, Harold Reese, Ian Sadler, James Beattie, Joan Matheson, John Bennett, John Bryning, John Cazabon, John Ruddock, Kathleen Helme, Nigel Anthony, Peter Wilde, Richard Bellaers, Robert Corder, Rolf Lefebvre, Ronald Baddiley, Sara Gregory, Wilfrid Downing
(Total 35 actors)
Part 10 broadcast 10th October 1961
Serial first broadcast commencing 18th May 1958.
25th September 1961
19.31-20.00
The Girl in the Spotlight by J. MacLaren-Ross (1912-1964)
The verses attributed. to Rowland Swazey are from a ballad by Charles Causley
Music composed by Stanley Hume, Errol Barrow and Alan Paul
Produced by R. D. Smith
1 of 9: The Face of the Medusa
Roy Agar: John Sharp
Mr Hyde: Ralph Truman
Clary Johnstone: Charles Simon
Ralph Marriott: Malcolm Hayes
Basil Bayard: Bernard Rebel
Luna Morrell: Nicolette Bernard
Brownrigg: Derek Birch
Giuseppe: Philip Leaver
Tim Cavanagh: Tom Watson
Additional cast in parts 2 to 9:
Anne Bernard, Anthony Jacobs, Barbara Mitchell, Betty Linton, Brian O'Higgins, Denys Hawthorne, Derek Blomfleld, Diana Olsson, J MacLaren-Ross, Norman Wynne, Ralph Truman, Wilfred Babbage,
Part 9 broadcast 20th November 1961
[Signed scripts held at University of Texas in Austin, collection MS2624.]
6th October 1961
20.00-20.31
Shadow on the Sun by Gavin Blakeney
1 of 13: The Coming of the Meteorite
Music By: Edwin Braden
Produced By: John Hooper
John Brighton: William Lucas
Theo Neale: William Sylvester
Eleanor Brighton: Sarah Lawson
Bill Harris: Colin Gordon
Susan Harris: Helen Lindsay
Headmaster: Philip Morant
Cromar: David Lott
Blandford: Michael Hammond
Weekly, episode 13 broadcast 29th December 1961.
[Film rights were purchased by Stanley Kubrick in 1988, but not used. Kubrick had heard the serial while in London filming in 1961.]
25th October 1961
20.31-21.31
Mid-week Theatre: The Consolation Prize by Berkely Mather (John aka Jasper Weston-Davies 1909-1996)
Produced By: Robin Midgley
Faldon: Donald Sinden
Taxi driver: Blaise Wyndham
Butler: Arthur Gomez
Oliphant: Philip Morant
Sergeant: Will Leighton
Johnson: Charles Simon
Pereira: Basdeo Panday
Maureen: Barbara Assoon
Insp Fisher: John Bryning
Also with Nigel Anthony, Michael Spice, and Anthony Hall
Repeated on BBC Home 13th January 1962, and on R2 on 1st November 1967
8th November 1961
20.31-21.31:
Mid-Week Theatre: The Wages of Fear by Georges Arnaud (Henri Girard 1917-1987), translated by Norman Dale, adapted by Jon Manchip White (1924-2013).
How to extinguish an oil well fire.
Producer: John Gibson
The Manager: Tommy Duggan
The Supervisor: John Dearth
Gerard: John Gabriel
Johnny: Malcolm Hayes
Juan: Philip Leaver
Luigi: Derek Blomrield
[Original title: Le Salaire de la peur (1950) ]
15th November 1961
20.31-21.31:
Mid-Week Theatre: The Wedding by Willis Hall (1929-2005) and Keith Waterhouse (1929-2009)
Production by Alfred Bradley
Christine Lucas, the bride: Enid Wyn-Williams
Rhoda Lucas: Alison Bayley
Edgar Lucas: Ronald Baddiley
Jack Lucas: Brian Peck
Irene Howes: Sandra Gough
Lilian Howes: Rosalie Williams
Frank Broadbent: John Franklyn Robbins
Arthur Broadbent: Harry Markham
Stanley Dyson: David Alexander
Bernard Fuller, the groom: Ian Keill
Edna Fuller: Ella Atkinson
Alice Fuller: Valerie Skardon
Lionel Fuller: Ernest Hopner
Margo Fuller: Joyce Adcock
Repeated from BBC Home North of 23rd February 1961 [No production data, no data for BBC Home Basic for that week.]
[Also produced by Tony Cliff for R4 in 1976]
[Also produced for BBC TV August 1961]
22nd November 1961
20.31-21.31:
Mid-Week Theatre: Untimely End by Philip Levene (1926-1973)
Produced By: R. D. Smith
Riley: Denys Hawthorne
Archie Peters: Jon Rollason
Ben Milton: Ronald Baddiley
Connie Peters: Joan Newell
Customer: John Dearth
Bert: Joe Sterne
Joe: Malcolm Hayes
Len: Julian Somers
Police voice: Haydn Jones
Fireman: Tom Watson
Inspector Tribe: Peter Claughton
Sergeant Fawcett: John Hollis
Repeated on BBC Home on 27th January 1962
27th November 1961
19.31-20.00
The Empty House (1903) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) adapted by Michael Hardwick
Produced By: Robin Midgley
Dr Watson: Norman Shelley
Mycroft Holmes: Carleton Hobbs
Inspector Lestrade: Humphrey Morton
Constable: David Terence
Colonel Moran: Noel Johnson
Jessie: Eva Huszar
Mrs Hudson: Gudrun Ure
[Also broadcast on R4X 2018-2022]
[Also produced by Patrick Rayner in 1993 rptd 1994, for R4 with Michael Williams as Dr Watson - repeated R7 and R4X 2008-2014]]
29th November 1961
20.31-21.31
Mid-Week Theatre: The Wide Guy (1948) by Anthony Armstrong (1897-1976)
Produced by Martyn C. Webster
Spike: Alec McCowen
Mrs Lambert: Jean Taylor Smith
Sheila Farlaine: Beverley Dunn
Michael Farlaine: Hugh Manning
Madame Yves: Hilda Kriseman
The Barber: William Eedle
Honest Frank: Ronald Sidney
[Also produced by Frederick Bradnum in 1954 with Victor Maddern as Spike.]
4th December 1961
19.31-20.00
The Reigate Squires (1893) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) adapted by Michael Hardwick
Produced By: Robin Midgley
Dr Watson: Norman Shelley
Sherlock / Mycroft Holmes: Carleton Hobbs
Colonel Hayter: Ivan Samson
Butler: Philip Leaver
Inspector Forrester: Anthony Woodruff
Cunningham: Wilfred Babbage
Alec Cunningham: Malcolm Hayes
Acton: Martin Lewis
Repeated on BBC Home on 19th July 1962
[Also broadcast on R4X 2018-2022]
[Also produced by Peter Novis in 1978 for R4 with David Buck as Dr Watson]
[Also produced by Patrick Rayner in 1992, for R4 with Michael Williams as Dr Watson, rptd R7 and R4X 2008-2013]
6th December 1961
20.31-21.31:
Mid-Week Theatre: The Calendar (1929) by Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) adapted by Cynthia Pughe
Horse racing.
Produced By: Archie Campbell
Hillcott: Charles Leno
Henry Lascarne: Ralph Hallett
Gary Anson: Richard Hurndall
Molly Panniford: Penelope Lee
Lady Panniford (Wenda): June Tobin
Sir William Panniford: Denis Goacher
Mr Waye: Wilfred Babbage
Andy Lynn: Henry Kaye
John Dory: Philip Morant
Sir George Garth: Norman Claridge
Lord Innspond: Derek Birch
Lord Fallingham: Hugh Manning
Repeated from BBC Overseas Service of 26th February 1961.
Repeated 27th July 1966 on BBC Home.
[Also produced by Cleland Finn in 1951 with Charles Leno as Hillcott, Richard Hurndall as Garry, and Andrew Faulds as Henry]
[Also produced by Jane Graham for R4 in 1975 with John Hollis as Hillcot]
11th December 1961
19.31-20.00
The Resident Patient (1893) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) adapted by Michael Hardwick
Produced By: Robin Midgley
Dr Watson: Norman Shelley
Sherlock Holmes: Carleton Hobbs
Dr Trevelyan: Hamilton Dyce
Blessington: Anthony Viccars
Ivan: John Bryning
Count Egrovitch: Earle Grey
Inspector Lanner: Godfrey Kenton
Repeated on BBC Home on 19th July 1962
[Also broadcast on R4X 2018-2022]
[Also produced by Enyd Williams in 1992, rptd 1993, for R4 with Michael Williams as Dr Watson. Rptd R7 and R4X 2008-2011]
18th December 1961
19.31-20.00
Charles Augustus Milverton (1904) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) adapted by Michael Hardwick
Produced By: Robin Midgley
Dr Watson: Norman Shelley
Sherlock Holmes: Carleton Hobbs
Milverton: Tony Church
Susan: Dudy Nimmo
Inspector Lestrade: Humphrey Morton
Gardener: Humphrey Morton
Repeated on BBC Home on 19th July 1962
[Also broadcast on R4X 2018-2022]
[Also produced by Harry Towers in 1954 with John Gielgud as Holmes]
[Also produced by Peter Novis in 1978 for R4 with Barry Foster as Sherlock Holmes]
[Also produced by Enyd Williams in 1993 rptd 1995 for R4 with Clive Merrison as Holmes, rptd R7 and R4X 2008-2014]
20th December 1961
20.31-21.31:
Mid-Week Theatre: One Night in Styria (1953) by David Howarth (1912-1991) adapted by Giles Cooper
Pianist: Sydney Crooke
Produced by Cedric Messina
Colonel: Wilfred Babbage
Julian Winter: Harry Andrews
Corporal: Anthony Hall
Fini: Peggy Butt
Frau Berner: Gudrun Ure
Lisl: June Tobin
Anton Berner: Russell Napier
Bus driver: Arthur Gomez
Count: Norman Shelley
Smithy: Nigel Anthony
Johann: Keith Buckley
Priest: David March
Carl: Andrew Irvine
Repeated on BBC Home on 2nd July 1962.
[Also produced by Wilfrid Grantham in 1955 with Eric Anderson as Colonel]
[Styria (Steiermark) is a part of Austria]
25th December 1961
19.35-20.00
The Blue Carbuncle (1892) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) adapted by Michael Hardwick
Produced By: Robin Midgley
Dr Watson: Norman Shelley
Sherlock Holmes: Carleton Hobbs
Peterson: Will Leighton
Henry Baker: Kenneth Dight
Windigate: Derek Birch
Breckinridge: Wilfred Babbage
Bill: Keith Buckley
James Ryder: John Pullen
Maggie: Pauline Wynn
Repeated on BBC Home 20th December 1962 and on R4X 2018.
[Other productions- year/network/producer/actor playing Holmes:
1954/Light rptd R2 1996/Towers/Gielgud
1978/R4/Peter Novis/Barry Foster
1991/R4, rptd 1992, rptd R7 and 4X 2008-2016/Patrick Rayner/Clive Merrison]
[In this story Doyle's use of the word carbuncle does not have the medical meaning. The word can refer to a red gemstone (from the Latin for burning charcoal). Doyle has made his gems blue, hence not carbuncles. The blue garnet was fairly recently discovered, and is very rare. A small one- under one carat- may cost over three thousand pounds.]
27th December 1961
20.31-21.31
Mid-Week Theatre: Quiet Weekend (1941) by Esther McCracken (1902-1971), adapted by Cynthia Pughe
Production by Audrey Cameron
Mildred Royd: Fay Compton
Arthur Royd, her husband: Philip Morant
Bella: Barbara Mitchell
Marcia Brent, Mildred's daughter: Diana Olsson
Miranda Bute, Mildred's niece: Sheila Grant
Sally Spender: Angela Piper
Denys Royd, Mildred's son: Michael Spice
Sam Pecker, handyman: Julian Somers
Adrian Barasford, J P: Hamilton Dyce
Mary Jarrow, a neighbour: Janet Burnell
Jim Brent, Marcia's husband: John Pullen
Ella Spender, Sally's mother: Marjorie Westbury
Rowena Marriott: June Tobin
Repeated on BBC Home 25th December 1964
[Also produced by David H Godfrey in 1951 for BBC Home with Gladys Young as Mildred]
[The Royd family also feature in Quiet Wedding, written before Quiet Weekend, produced by David H Godfrey, broadcast on Light 26th January 1966 and repeated on R4 on 1st July 1968]
=========
Compiled by Stephen Shaw 2025
===end====
(....thanks again, Stephen ...-ND)
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