Charles Paris: A BBC Radio Collection

A Series of Murders, Sicken and So Die, Murder Unprompted, The Dead Side of the Mic & Cast in Order of Disappearance

De: Jeremy Front, Simon Brett

Narrado por: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, Jon Glover, full cast

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

Quite entertaining!

Witty, with flawless delivery by all, especially Bill Nighy. Production at its best, highly recommend.

The best listen in years!

Funny, engaging, well acted, made me search for Charles Paris everywhere. It turns out the three compilations contain all the short stories available. Am in the midst of reading the original that the BBC is based on.

The Detective Actor

This radio program had everything I like in a detective show. A funny amateur detective. Great characters and great plots. Bill Nighy was great as Charles Paris. A good show

Charles Paris

I started listening to the Charles Paris mysteries several years ago on BBC's Radio Drama station, and became a fan instantly! The stories are intriguing, the humor is wonderful (and the stories are always laugh out loud witty!), and a listener cannot wait until the next offering of Charles Paris dramas.

Funnier than they are mysterious

While fun and laugh-out-loud funny at times, I found the mysteries/crimes themselves to be pretty shallow and uninvolving. The characters and situations (all ridiculous and involve a lot of falling and/or fire) are more the focus than is figuring out who done it. It wasn't a total bust, but I'm not going to get the second collection right away. Oh and Nighy does a brilliant drunk.