Colvil & Soames: The Complete Series 1-2

The BBC Radio 4 Crime Drama

By: Christopher Lee

Narrated by: Amanda Redman, Christopher Benjamin, full cast

Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Christopher Benjamin and Amanda Redman star in two six-part BBC radio crime dramas, created by Christopher Lee.

In these two compelling murder mysteries, MI6 officers Henry Colvil and Alex Soames become involved in a pair of complex cases which take them to the very top of the political and religious spheres.

In Series 1, the duo attend the funeral of an elderly Irish priest, and receive a tip-off that his death has controversial links. Probing further, they discover a shocking secret in Father Dominic’s past - and Henry’s faith is dealt a mortal blow. Can it withstand the whole truth?

Series 2 opens with a disturbing murder on a Brighton beach. What seemed like a simple drug-related killing turns out to have unexpected complications - and as Colvil and Soames investigate, they uncover nefarious connections between the victim and a prominent politician, and a case that threatens to send shockwaves through government....

Written by acclaimed historian, broadcaster and author Christopher Lee, these gripping spy thrillers star Christopher Benjamin (Pride and Prejudice, Doctor Who) as Henry Colvil and Amanda Redman (The Good Karma Hospital, New Tricks) as Alex Soames.

Written by Christopher Lee

Produced by Pete Atkin

Starring Christopher Benjamin as Henry Colvil and Amanda Redman as Alex Soames

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16 October-20 November 1996 (Series 1), 29 October-3 December 1998 (Series 2)

Series 1 cast:

Arthur Guscott……………………Dudley Sutton
Joseph Kutner……………………Stephen Thorne
Mrs Wedlock……………………Colette O’Neil
Monsignor……………………Peter Yapp
Father Dominic Byrne……………………Joseph O’Conor
Roger Brown……………………Neil McCaul
Father Williamson……………………Christian Rodska
Donna Hanley……………………Beth Porter
Theresa……………………Elaine Claxton
Porter……………………Denys Hawthorne

Series 2 cast:

DCI Guscott……………………Dudley Sutton
DS Gwen Jenkins……………………Sue Jones Davies
Miranda Peel……………………Sheila Reid
DCS Evans……………………John Hartley
Sidney Carpenter……………………Neil Conrich
Doctor……………………Stuart Organ
Tom Margeson……………………Tom Cotcher
Charlie Lofthouse……………………Alistair McGowan
Maggie Lindley……………………Alphonsia Emmanuel
Police Constable/Norman Tate……………………Brian Bowles

©2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Spies and lies make for two good dramas

I really enjoyed these two dramatisations and would grade them as 5 out of 5 except they are possibly a little too drawn out? For my view, it played more like a Le Carre thriller than a typical police proceedural although a murder is what sets each story in motion. The characters were well cast and benefited from a colourful and authentic script. Kudos to the writer and the actors! As the protagonists work out the truth, some parts of the story are a little confusing... maybe too many 'convenient interruptions' just when a character is about to explain a hunch, or too many characters, I'm not certain... That said I'd be happy to recommend this title to radio drama fans and look forward to a second airing when some of my confusion will no doubt clear.

Okay but far too brief to be worth cost

Most of the performances are good although some of the recordings are a bit muddled. I enjoyed the second story best although the first one has a more satisfying resolution.

Modest Story

This was. pleasant listening but I found the plot rather thin. The dramatization was good and better than some BBC series.