Bill Nighy returns as the loveably louche actor cum amateur sleuth, Charles Paris. In this new drama, Charles Paris is appearing in Hamlet when the actress playing Ophelia apparently commits suicide.

Bill Nighy returns as the loveably louche actor-cum-amateur detective Charles Paris

Charles Paris is in Oxford, appearing in a re-imagining of Hamlet by a high-concept drama company. No fan of immersive theatre, he’s unimpressed with the director’s vision and less than thrilled to be rehearsing alongside puppeteers and mime artists.

But he soon finds himself back on familiar territory when the actress playing Ophelia goes missing, only to turn up dead. Did she take her own life, or was there foul play? As he amasses a list of suspects who might have wished her harm, Charles takes on the mantle of detective once more to decide if this is to be or not to be a murder case…

Scripted for radio by Jeremy Front from a story by Simon Brett, A Doubtful Death stars Bill Nighy (Emma, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice.

Also included is an exclusive 18-minute afterword in which Jeremy Front discusses his experience of adapting an unproduced screenplay, reveals what it’s like to work with recurring characters and actors, and explains the mechanics of recording for radio.

Credits Written by Jeremy Front From a story by Simon Brett Produced and directed by Sally Avens Production Coordinator- Cynthia Fagan Studio Managers- Anne Bunting, Keith Graham and Jenni Burnett Afterword produced by Ania Duggan and Roshni Radia First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 22 May-12 June 2020

Cast Charles Paris……………………Bill Nighy Frances……………………Suzanne Burden Maurice……………………Jon Glover Vicky……………………Jessica Turner Jenny……………………Scarlett Courtney Tomasz……………………Ian Conningham Tour Guide/Dan……………………Will Kirk Waitress/Izzy……………………Lucy Reynolds Zoe……………………Laura Christy Siriol……………………Sinead MacInnes Pete/Player King……………………Neil McCaul Tim ……………………Greg Jones Canon Park/Director……………………Clive Hayward Passenger……………………Adam Courting Waitress/Sat Nav. ……………………Amy Bentley-Klein Cassie……………………Heather Craney Checkout/Fortinbras……………………Ikky Elyas

Continuity R4/WS Announcer……………………Jeremy Front