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Charles Paris: A BBC Radio Collection

By: Jeremy Front, Simon Brett
Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, Jon Glover, full cast
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Summary

Five full-cast BBC radio dramatisations, starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris

Thespian sleuth Charles Paris is his own worst enemy, a louche lush who can resist anything except temptation - especially in the form of women and alcohol. Estranged from his long-suffering wife, Frances, his personal life is shambolic, and as an actor, he's C-list at best. But he does have a talent for solving murders - which is just as well, because wherever he goes, someone seems to drop dead...

A Series of Murders - Charles has landed a juicy part playing Sergeant Collins in the TV detective series, 'The Stanislaus Braid Mysteries'. But will all the deadly doings be restricted to on-screen?

Sicken and So Die - A suspected poisoner is on the loose in a production of Twelfth Night - can Charles track down the culprit before this comedy turns into a tragedy?

Murder Unprompted - There's drama backstage when a murder is discovered in a West End theatre production. Has Charles time to find the killer before the curtain goes up?

The Dead Side of the Mic - A job with the BBC radio rep coincides with the mysterious death of a studio manager in Broadcasting House. Once again, Charles steps in to investigate...

Cast in Order of Disappearance - Playing a middle-management vampire in 'The Wreathing', Charles finds himself dealing with a blackmailer, a maiden in distress - and a murderer. Has he bitten off more than he can chew?

Written by Jeremy Front

Based on the novels by Simon Brett

Produced and directed by Sally Avens

Starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice

Text copyright © Simon Brett 1975 (Cast in Order of Disappearance), 1980 (The Dead Side of the Mic), 1982 (Murder Unprompted), 1989 (A Series of Murders), 1995 (Sicken and So Die)

©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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What listeners say about Charles Paris: A BBC Radio Collection

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Marvellous

Bill Nighy and cast are a delight, and the Jeremy Front adaptations of Brett’s books are really excellent.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Couldn’t stop listening

Bill Nighy was very natural & witty and his fellow actors complimented the different stories especially Suzanne Burden who plays his long suffering wife Frances.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

Bill Nighy is awesome as Charles Paris, such fun, hours of pleasure. Giggles galore.A must listen.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable but…

I have loved these over the years and enjoyed the audio books too, which is where the but arises…

The relationship with the semi-detached wife doesn’t match the time line in the books, so was a bit confusing initially and some of the stories were cut a bit too much (in my view). None of this makes the stories any less enjoyable though.

The reason for reducing a star is that the drinking theme is way overplayed and frankly ludicrous.

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4 people found this helpful

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A treasure of a series, go for this boxset

everything about this is perfect, I recommend buying the collection rather than the individual episodes on here because you get an absolute bargain for a credit and trust me you will want to listen to all the funny mysteries on offer.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic and funny.. Brilliant dramatisations.

Bill Nighy is brilliant at playing the middle aged lothario Charles Paris. I've never read the novels, so these dramatisations were perfect. Of course, the stories are fictional, nevertheless they entertain, and are very funny. A great way to spend the afternoon...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

What can I say! Brilliant stories, excellent acting. Can’t wait to start the next collection!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Pure Dead Brilliant 1

These are pure dead brilliant. And the good news is that there’s two more to follow this first one up with. They’re so worth a listen, so go on…

Pure Dead Brilliant

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Performed beautifully

The plots are preposterous but the lines are wonderful and nobody could perform better than this cast

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The perfect late night listen

Wonderful whodunits, great acting, wickedly acerbic scripts and the music is superb.
If you love mysteries, Bill Nighty, clever witty humour and/or The Kinks...tune in.

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