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Charles Paris: BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisations
Cast in Order of Disappearance
Charles finds himself uncharacteristically employed in a film, having landed the part of Szabec, a middle management vampire in The Wreathing. His co-star is swimwear model turned actress Jodie Ricks and before long, Jodie is using Charles as a confidant. Poor Jodie is in terrible trouble - not only is she being blackmailed over some compromising photos, but she is also carrying the baby of the film's producer, Elliot Roth, who now wants nothing to do with her. Then things take an even nastier turn when it appears that someone is trying to kill Jodie. Always keen to help a damsel in distress, Charles sets about trying to solve the mystery...
Starring Bill Nighy and Martine McCutcheon and dramatised by Jeremy Front, this adaptation was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 - 29 January 2010.
2 CDs. 1 hr 52 mins.
Starring Bill Nighy and Martine McCutcheon and dramatised by Jeremy Front, this adaptation was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 - 29 January 2010.
2 CDs. 1 hr 52 mins.
2 pages, Audio CD
Published May 5, 2011
1 person is currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 12, 2012
Bill Nighy plays Charles Paris and narrates this BBC production. It is delightful to listen to.
Charles Paris, happy to be working again, is playing the part of Szabec the vampire in the budget film, The Wreathing. His co-star, swimwear model Jodie, was dating the producer until he dumped her by email. Tears follow, and Charles promises to look into the matter. Two dead bodies, and a painful day spent with his potential son-in-law later, he solves it.
This version is significantly shorter than the book, and I believe in the book that Jodie is named Jacquie. The play has everything needed to keep the story going, and how can you not love having Bill Nighy's voice in your ear for several hours?
Charles Paris, happy to be working again, is playing the part of Szabec the vampire in the budget film, The Wreathing. His co-star, swimwear model Jodie, was dating the producer until he dumped her by email. Tears follow, and Charles promises to look into the matter. Two dead bodies, and a painful day spent with his potential son-in-law later, he solves it.
This version is significantly shorter than the book, and I believe in the book that Jodie is named Jacquie. The play has everything needed to keep the story going, and how can you not love having Bill Nighy's voice in your ear for several hours?
December 16, 2024
Well, things got serious in this one, Charles isn't young for this kinda adventure anymore 😂
March 30, 2023
Ik geniet mateloos van het acteren van Bill Nighy en zijn kompanen. Scherpe en geestige verbale steekspelen en droge spot en satire.
Enkel de slotverrassing ontbreekt in de plot, maar het draait hier niet om de whodunit, dat is maar een voorwendsel voor humor.
Enkel de slotverrassing ontbreekt in de plot, maar het draait hier niet om de whodunit, dat is maar een voorwendsel voor humor.
August 23, 2020
I listened to the audiobook dramatization with Bill Nighy. 5 stars for his performance (and he's done many of the Charles Paris series). But the mystery itself, as condensed down to this 2hr performance is woefully weak. Great background noise while you are doing chores.
Perhaps the book on which this is based has a meatier plot and story.
Perhaps the book on which this is based has a meatier plot and story.
June 26, 2012
I listened to this in the car back in May. Loved how it was done with a full cast like a radio mystery. Sound effects and everything. Bill Nighy is great!
December 11, 2018
Fun and funny.
October 4, 2020
One of several BBC Radio full cast audio productions featuring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris. They are quite amusing. Bill Nighy can make reading the phone book sound witty!
December 20, 2022
Really enjoy the Charles Paris Mysteries especially the dramatized one
January 14, 2023
Pretty entertaining, reminds me of Guy Noir, Private Eye. Loved the dramatization actors. Fast, fast, fast.
August 3, 2020
I do love Bill Nighy and he plays the role of Charles Paris perfectly in this BBC Radio dramatisation of Simon Brett's humorous crime novel of the same name.
I hadn't heard of this series before finding it on the BBC Sounds App recently and I decided I'd prefer to listen to the Audible versions as there is often additional material and added bonus content.
I'm not sure if this is the first dramatisation by the BBC but it is certainly the first book in the series and I felt that was a good place to start listening to them in a vaguely correct order having listened to Charles Paris: A Decent Interval: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation and Charles Paris: A Doubtful Death: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation previously. I shall be looking out for So Much Blood, the second book in the series, next.
I hadn't heard of this series before finding it on the BBC Sounds App recently and I decided I'd prefer to listen to the Audible versions as there is often additional material and added bonus content.
I'm not sure if this is the first dramatisation by the BBC but it is certainly the first book in the series and I felt that was a good place to start listening to them in a vaguely correct order having listened to Charles Paris: A Decent Interval: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation and Charles Paris: A Doubtful Death: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation previously. I shall be looking out for So Much Blood, the second book in the series, next.
June 29, 2017
Listened to in audio format.
Cast in Order of Disappearance was the first book in the Charles Paris series originally written in 1975. The version I have listened to is a BBC radio 4 dramatization. The story is set in the modern day and stars Bill Nighy and Martine McClutcheon. Charles has a part in a film called The Wreathing. His co star Jodie Hicks is in a relationship with the film's producer Elliot Roth. When Jodie and Elliot are snapped by the paparazzi Elliot wants nothing to do with her.
Jodie is pregnant and asks Charles to see Elliot and change his mind. When Charles visits he finds Elliot is dead. When someone tries to kill Jodie and her baby, soft hearted Charles invites her to stay at his house with himself and Frances.
I have listened to all the BBC adaptations of the Charles Paris series. I have mentioned before I do not like the Charles Paris in the original books. In the books he is a divorced, alcoholic, seedy womanizer. In the modern day version he is semi detached from his wife Frances although they still live together. His often sees daughter Juliet, husband Miles and baby Olive.
The Charles Paris series is light hearted fun, perfect for a Sunday afternoon.
Cast in Order of Disappearance was the first book in the Charles Paris series originally written in 1975. The version I have listened to is a BBC radio 4 dramatization. The story is set in the modern day and stars Bill Nighy and Martine McClutcheon. Charles has a part in a film called The Wreathing. His co star Jodie Hicks is in a relationship with the film's producer Elliot Roth. When Jodie and Elliot are snapped by the paparazzi Elliot wants nothing to do with her.
Jodie is pregnant and asks Charles to see Elliot and change his mind. When Charles visits he finds Elliot is dead. When someone tries to kill Jodie and her baby, soft hearted Charles invites her to stay at his house with himself and Frances.
I have listened to all the BBC adaptations of the Charles Paris series. I have mentioned before I do not like the Charles Paris in the original books. In the books he is a divorced, alcoholic, seedy womanizer. In the modern day version he is semi detached from his wife Frances although they still live together. His often sees daughter Juliet, husband Miles and baby Olive.
The Charles Paris series is light hearted fun, perfect for a Sunday afternoon.
November 11, 2017
Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris with Martine McCutcheon as Jodie Ricks in this BBC Radio 4 comedy detective drama up dated from the 1970’s novel. Now there are mobile phones, Potter movies, emails and Top Gear… but the basic story is the same.
Jon Glover is Charles's agent Maurice, and Suzanne Burden his estranged wife Frances
Nighy is just great and I was guffawing and listening intently when I was supposed to be shopping. Blockage in aisle three…
***
Charles is cast as a vampire to Jodie’s slayer in a B grade movie produced by her lover Elliot Roth. But she hasn’t heard from him for more than a week. Charles is a sucker for a woman in tears, so he offers to talk to Roth. The guy who was blackmailing Jodie is found dead, and then odd things happen to Jodie and she takes refuge at the home of Charle’s ex wife. It’s getting kind of crowded, as both Charles and their adult daughter has taken refuge there too.
Any theories Charles has get shot down by Frances, but he eventually stumbles onto Roth’s body.
After way too many alcoholic drinks, he even manages to solve the murder.
5 stars
Jon Glover is Charles's agent Maurice, and Suzanne Burden his estranged wife Frances
Nighy is just great and I was guffawing and listening intently when I was supposed to be shopping. Blockage in aisle three…
***
Charles is cast as a vampire to Jodie’s slayer in a B grade movie produced by her lover Elliot Roth. But she hasn’t heard from him for more than a week. Charles is a sucker for a woman in tears, so he offers to talk to Roth. The guy who was blackmailing Jodie is found dead, and then odd things happen to Jodie and she takes refuge at the home of Charle’s ex wife. It’s getting kind of crowded, as both Charles and their adult daughter has taken refuge there too.
Any theories Charles has get shot down by Frances, but he eventually stumbles onto Roth’s body.
After way too many alcoholic drinks, he even manages to solve the murder.
5 stars
October 8, 2020
( Format : Audiobook )
"Get the glasses, Frances."
Deliciously amusing drama by Jeremy Front, in his adaptation of the novel by Simon Brett, with a full cast headed by Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, the aging acgor. There are several Charles Paris stories in this series and all are excellent fun, superbly acted and completely enjoyable: from the wonderfully sarcastic, semi alcoholic but charming lead character, through supercilious, imposed upon agent, Maurice, to long suffering separated from wife who still lets Charles stay at her house - and all this before the main plot begins. It might not be a deeply enthralling mystery but this is fairly inconsequential when .measured against the personality involvements.
This is my second time of listening to this glorious confection of characters, actors and musical snippets included at scene breaks and as pleasurable as at first hearing. I have also previously read the original Simon Brett, Cast in Order of Disappearance, upon which this was based and it pales into insignificance beside this glorious two hours of pleasure.
Love this series. Bill Nighy at his best. Recommended.
"Get the glasses, Frances."
Deliciously amusing drama by Jeremy Front, in his adaptation of the novel by Simon Brett, with a full cast headed by Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, the aging acgor. There are several Charles Paris stories in this series and all are excellent fun, superbly acted and completely enjoyable: from the wonderfully sarcastic, semi alcoholic but charming lead character, through supercilious, imposed upon agent, Maurice, to long suffering separated from wife who still lets Charles stay at her house - and all this before the main plot begins. It might not be a deeply enthralling mystery but this is fairly inconsequential when .measured against the personality involvements.
This is my second time of listening to this glorious confection of characters, actors and musical snippets included at scene breaks and as pleasurable as at first hearing. I have also previously read the original Simon Brett, Cast in Order of Disappearance, upon which this was based and it pales into insignificance beside this glorious two hours of pleasure.
Love this series. Bill Nighy at his best. Recommended.
May 31, 2022
Cast in Order of Disappearance by Jeremy Front is a very well-performed dramatization. In the audiobook format, I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. The place where I felt like this story lacked was in the story itself. The short story provided little background information and an uninteresting progression of the mystery. I think that reading the real book would have been much more entertaining and hopefully would provide more information about the story. While I didn't love this story, it did have some well-written quotes. For example, "So I decided to lift the stone to see what crawled out" (23:40). This quote shows an example of some of the creative metaphors. This was while the main character, Charles Paris was searching for clues to help solve the mystery of the dead Elliot and the attacks on his co-worker Jodie.
October 2, 2019
I've read and mostly enjoyed all the Charles Paris novels, and gave this BBC dramatisation a try as I needed something relatively short to listen to. Bill Nighy plays Charles, a not very successful actor, brilliantly, and the scene has been updated by 40 years - the novel was first published in 1975, so Charles, who tended to be technologically challenged in the books, is now sporting a cell phone. It's quite funny, but I missed all the one-liners from Charles's reviews - usually hilarious, but absent from this, even though much of it is Charles narrating or reflecting on events.
October 6, 2021
I discovered these books a couple of months ago. I absolutely love them. The stories are relatively uncomplicated as whodunnits but the dialogue is fantastic. I have to admit a very big part of what makes me love them SO much is Bill Nighy's performance as Paris. He delivers the character with absolute perfection.
June 6, 2011
I like the radio play, but I wish they hadn't made it so slapsticky in places...
June 3, 2018
An enjoyable little dramatization.
December 12, 2018
Hated this BBC adaptation. Hard to follow. The actual book was way better.
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April 16, 2019Audiobook.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews