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

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