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Inspector West: A Classic BBC Radio Crime Collection

By: John Creasey
Narrated by: full cast, Patrick Allen, Sarah Lawson
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Summary

Three vintage crime serials, adapted from John Creasey's hugely popular thrillers.

Roger West is a home-loving, hard-hitting and very human policeman. Nicknamed 'Handsome' West, he's more than just a pretty face—he's also Scotland Yard's youngest, smartest detective and a crime-solving supremo. Six of his adventures were dramatised for radio between 1967 and 1971, but only three survived, all of which are included in this box set.

'Battle for Inspector West' - Idle curiosity takes the Chief Inspector to a high-society wedding—and leads him into a case involving a notorious blackmailer and a missing bride. Drawn into a web of terror, West comes face-to-face with an old adversary—a dangerous criminal mastermind named Carosian....

'Inspector West at Home' - When Roger West finds the dead body of a small-time crook, he faces opposition from the formidable Superintendent Abbott, his superior at the Yard. Suspended from duty, he sets out on a trail of conspiracy, corruption and murder....

'Inspector West at Bay' - First West is targeted by a vicious attacker, then his wife, Janet, receives an anonymous, threatening message. Caught up in a deadly game of blind man's buff, can he save himself and his family from an enemy who seems determined to destroy them?

Starring real-life husband and wife Patrick Allen and Sarah Lawson as Roger and Janet West, these three full-cast dramas are full of excitement and suspense. Also featured is a 30-minute episode from The Radio Detectives, 'Stand by for West', in which Professor Jeffrey Richards investigates the 'master craftsman of mystery' John Creasey and his greatest creation, Inspector West.

Written by John Creasey.

Adapted by Maurice Travers.

Starring Patrick Allen as Chief Inspector Roger West and Sarah Lawson as Janet West.

'Battle for Inspector West'

Michael Grant - Philip Bond

Christine Grant - Denise Buckley

Sir Guy Chatworth - Hamilton Dyce

Prendergast - John Cazabon

Vic - Charles Haggith

Carosian - Francis de Wolff

Arthur Morley - Preston Lockwood

Julieta - Eva Stuart

Sir Mortimer Grant - Humphrey Morton

Detective Sergeant Hubert Gill - Trevor Bannister

Pearly Willis - Henry Stamper

Superintendent Mulloon - Harry Webster

Produced by John Fawcett Wilson.

First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 4th May - 15th June 1967.

'Inspector West at Home'

Detective Inspector Bob Cornish - Frederick Treves

Mark Lessing - Edward de Souza

Superintendent Abbott - Grant Taylor

Pep Morgan - Harry Landis

Pickerell - Robert James

Sir Guy Chatworth - Maurice Hedley

Mrs Fleming - Margaret Robertson

Lois Randall - Carol Marsh

Bill Tennant - Anthony Jackson

'Whistler' Malone - Rio Fanning

Raymond Fleming - Frederick Jaeger

Produced by John Fawcett Wilson.

Pianist: Max Harris.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 25th March - 15th April 1968.

'Inspector West at Bay'

Sir Guy Chatworth - Maurice Hedley

Detective Inspector Bill Sloan - Derek Newark

Mark Lessing - James Kerry

Eve Wedlake - Anna Gilchrist

With Leonard Fenton, John Baddely, Elizabeth Proud, Judy Bennett, Margaret Wolfit, Peter Williams, John Pullen, Ian Frost and Peter Thompson.

Produced by John Browell.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 27th May - 19th June 1969.

The Radio Detectives, Series 3 Episode 5: 'Stand by for West'

Presented by Professor Jeffrey Richards.

With Richard Creasey, Patrick Allen and Sarah Lawson.

Produced by Liz Anstee.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 28th March 2000.

©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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What listeners say about Inspector West: A Classic BBC Radio Crime Collection

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

Thoroughly thrilling ripping yarns

Great fun! Sneeringly arrogant evil villains, taken down at the moment of hubristic gloating by the thoroughly decent detective, the wonderfully silken-voiced Patrick Allen, as though straight from his Barratt house helicopter. Car chases, coincidences, passive females under threat, phone calls asking for urgent meetings leading to a trap for the hero or death for the caller, every Francis Durbridge style cliche is used. The actors don't take it seriously, the stories would offend feminists with the passive, powerless females ("If my aunt had wanted to be my uncle, she'd have ridden a man's bicycle"), and racial stereo-types are unashamed - thoroughly fifties in attitude, but all that seems to matter is that the story hurtles along at a hundred miles an hour. Ripping!

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1 person found this helpful

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

nearly as good as Paul Temple

great stories of a bygone era
fast paced and very entertaining. wish there were more.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Classic period piece

The stories and performances reflect the era, but if you can put aside the mild outrage some of the attitudes evokes, the stories are well paced and delivered.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Old fashioned but wonderful

Brilliant old school British detective drama, radio at its best. Three ripping yarns. Great characters.

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2 people found this helpful

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

police drama well done

entertaining little series
good performance bounces along happily not to deep just light entertainment

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1 person found this helpful

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

Pure nostalgia

Yes it’s of it’s time and a bit silly but the Inspecrot West dramatisations are pure nostalgia and brilliant., I love them !

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

Disappointing

DNF.

I usually enjoy Golden Age crime, but I couldn’t get along with this series. The plots were too over the top and I didn’t really like any of the characters all that much.

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2 people found this helpful