Dr Gideon Fell: The Complete BBC Radio Drama Collection

Eight full-cast crime dramas from the Golden Age of detective fiction

By: John Dickson Carr

Narrated by: Wendy Craig, Donald Sinden, John Hartley, Nigel Davenport, Full Cast, Patrick Allen, Andrew Wincott, James Fleet

Eight BBC Radio crime dramas featuring Golden Age detective Gideon Fell, starring Donald Sinden

With his cape, canes and shovel hat, portly amateur sleuth Dr Gideon Fell cuts an eccentric figure - but his odd appearance belies his sharp intellect and astonishing faculty for deduction. Created by crime novelist John Dickson Carr, and supposedly based on fellow author G. K. Chesterton, Dr Fell appeared in 23 novels between 1933 and 1967. This radio collection comprises all eight of the BBC adaptations based on Carr's bestselling books.

The Hollow Man - Dr Gideon Fell becomes embroiled in an intriguing locked room mystery when an illusionist threatens an eminent professor.

The House in Gallows Lane - 1936, and the peace of a small English village is disrupted by a mysterious death in this captivating drama adapted from the novel Till Death Do Us Part.

To Wake the Dead - On the eve of King George VI's coronation, a woman is murdered in a grand London hotel. But this death is not the first of its kind...

The Blind Barber - When a brutal killing takes place on an ocean liner, the engraving on the murder weapon provides a vital clue.

The Black Spectacles - Three people witness a murder, yet none of them can agree about what they have seen.

The Mad Hatter Mystery- A young journalist is found murdered at Traitors' Gate in fog-bound London, a crossbow through his heart and a top hat on his head.

He Who Whispers - Dr Fell becomes involved in a seemingly supernatural murder, in which the victim was found entirely alone at the top of an isolated medieval tower in France.

Below Suspicion - The stifling respectability of a South London suburb is rocked by a spate of ruthless poisonings - and as Fell investigates, he uncovers a sinister black magic cult...

Donald Sinden stars as Gideon Fell, with John Hartley as Superintendent Hadley. Among the supporting casts are Nigel Davenport, Wendy Craig, Patrick Allen, Andrew Wincott and James Fleet.

Written by John Dickson Carr
Dramatised by Peter Ling
Produced and directed by Enyd Williams

© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Old fashioned…

… and elementary but enjoyable despite the fact our super sleuth comes up with the answers based on the barest of clues.

Excellent

Great stories
Great characters
Dr Fell is a fantastic character
Excellent narration
Highly recommend
Very entertaining

Holds my interest

Great acting, ambient noises and the plot keeps my attention. Love the drama mixed with a little action. Have always enjoyed this style of story.

Several excellent episodes

Gideon Fell is a classic detective of the "British" style and I enjoyed most of these stories with clever plots and excellent BBC radio production.

excellent example old time radio

Enjoyed this a lot. The actors are good, esp the lead charactors, For the most part the voices match the characters.. There is occasionally a little confusion w plots. There is a lot of jumping from past to present in some storylines.