DI Gwen Danbury: An Odd Body: Series 1-3

A BBC Radio Crime Drama

By: Sue Rodwell

Narrated by: Annette Badland, full cast, Gudrun Ure

Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

All 12 episodes of the BBC radio detective drama, starring Annette Badland as DI Gwen Danbury.

Detective Inspector Gwen Danbury comes from a family of investigators. Her father was a policeman, and her mother Joan often discussed cases with him - on one occasion helping him to solve a tricky murder.

Gwen already has a capable, efficient sidekick in the form of DS Henry Jacobs - but nevertheless, her mum insists on helping Gwen with her inquiries. In these three series, her interfering assistance proves invaluable as DI Danbury investigates a skeleton found in the Sussex woods, tracks down the killer of a respectable elderly lady, probes the theft of a valuable painting and encounters more than she bargained for on a murder mystery weekend.

Miss Marple meets Midsomer Murders in this cosy crime series created by Sue Rodwell, whose writing credits include the radio version of Dixon of Dock Green. Annette Badland stars as DI Gwen Danbury, with Gudrun Ure, Stephanie Cole and Margaret Tyzack as Joan and John Duttine as Henry.

Written by Sue Rodwell.

Directed by Glyn Dearman (Series 1), Rosemary Watts (Series 2 and 3).

First broadcast between 1994 and 2004.

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

Cozy mysteries with lovable characters

If you’re looking for a set of cozy mysteries with light humor and lovable characters, you’ll enjoy this series. Each episode was less than an hour and a perfect escape at the end of another long, frustrating, and emotional day in the spring of 2020.

Enjoyable

Not really sure what some of the reviewers were on about with their negative reviews. The actors did a fine job. One negative nelly said one of their voices was grating--not so. It's not Vera, whom I also enjoy, but I believe that's the point. Yet somehow I do believe Vera & Gwen would definitely get along. In their own ways. Not every detective story has to be gritty and this one is not. It does lean more towards what people now call "cozy mysteries". So, perhaps DI Gwen Danbury isn't their cup of tea but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Hmmmm...tea. Must dash!

Annoying old biddy

I usually like the BBC radio dramas, but this one was just annoying. The "mother/daughter " crime fighting team just didn't do it for me, the mother was meant to be Miss Marple but was more like Mrs Brown. I couldn't finish this. I was too annoyed by the characters, the situations and the dialogue.
To be honest I'm not sure who this would appeal to.

Excellent light crime radio plays

Entertaining and quality writing and performance. A fun light weight listen. Definitely recommended for fans of Agatha Christie and Dorothy l Sayers.

Charming, funny, fun mystery

Great full cast dramatization, sound effects and gorgeous intro and outro music makes this a delightful BBC audio play.

Enjoy production

Good voices
Interesting stories good mystery




Would have loved it without the mother in the storyline

wonderful

I love this, only wish there were more episodes. I can listen over and over.

Wonderful

Very funny and enjoyable. The actors and performance were wonderful and the cases very interesting.

Funny, engaging, and utterly charming...

with just enough grit to make it not too saccharine. Good storylines, with great characters.

I struggled

the loud music annoyed me and it was too frequent. I could guess the story as I felt quite weak. actors were great. I listened to it so wasn't awful but not really what I had expected

very enjoyabe

a good listen.

a light hearted crime story with a few twists and turns.

a good way to spend a few hours listening

Thoroughly enjoyable

I never write reviews but I had to for this set of stories. Totally gripping, addictive and such a good listen. Really hope some more are made 🙂

Lovely

Very enjoyable, gentle police drama. Certainly of it's day and not very pc with regard to the constant references to Gwen's weight! Wouldn't be allowed today. Still, having said that, the cast were great and I really enjoyed the series.

The feel of a Miss Marple

Great stories if you want something gentle to listen to. The 4 stars rather than 5 is because the actor playing the mother kept changing which took a bit of adjusting to.

First heard these 25 years ago on R4. Very lighthearted and great fun !

Could do with something like this now.Or better still how about doing some new stories Sue Rodwell ?

Easy listening

A good cast and variety of storylines. A gentle police drama with humour which is easy to follow and just to be enjoyed rather than expecting hard hitting police investigations.