Paul Temple: The Complete Radio Collection: Volume Two

The Fifties

By: Francis Durbridge

Narrated by: Marjorie Westbury, Peter Coke

Length: 18 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Five complete radio dramas featuring writer-cum-amateur-detective Paul Temple, plus bonus archive material.

When it comes to classic crime partnerships, Paul Temple (Peter Coke) and his wife, Steve (Marjorie Westbury), are the crème de la crème.

Between 1938 and 1968, their glamorous exploits enthralled generations of radio listeners around the world. Here, presented in chronological order, are some of the amateur detective's adventures from the 1950s: 'The Gilbert Case' (1954); 'The Lawrence Affair' (1956); 'The Spencer Affair' (1957); 'The Vandyke Affair' (the 1959 remake) and 'The Conrad Case' (1959). This set also includes a number of bonus items.

Duration: 19 hours approx.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Absolutely Fabulous!

I love, love, love Paul Temple mysteries, and this collection includes my favorite cast. I have listened to it over and over again, and I will doubtless listen to it many times more. I feel like it's as good every single time as it was the first time.

Crikey!

By Timothy, a jolly good experience throughout. Highly recommended for nostalgic listeners - that are PC tolerant ;o)

I just binged on Temple

wish there were more. I love Paul and Steve and always a great story line

Great stories, great performances, really enjoyed!

These old radio shows are fabulous and I've really enjoyed listening to them. The performances are great and I really enjoyed the mysteries. At the end of this "book", there is a discussion about the show itself and the performers, which was very informative and interesting. Wish there were more, I didn't want it to end!

Paul Temple

There's a lot of action 😀 those actors were amazing. I'm guessing they used a sound board or something as well as out doors.
characters are fantastic 😊

Great period drama

If you enjoy wallowing in nostalgia for the days when men were addressed by their surname and police officers drank copious whisky and soda while investigating crimes, this is for you. The plots have a recurring theme, but are sufficiently complex that it is very hard to guess the villains. The accents and special effects belong to another age when life was simpler and elocution was a virtue. But the suspense still works and the characters are convincingly voiced.

A really good listen

Would you listen to Paul Temple: The Complete Radio Collection: Volume Two again? Why?

Yes, It's like a really good film. Listen to it again and you listen for more things

What was one of the most memorable moments of Paul Temple: The Complete Radio Collection: Volume Two?

No one item leapt out, it was all so good.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Goodness yes, I put my headphones on and it was fantastic.

Any additional comments?

This volume is certainly far better than volume 1, or at least going by the comments left. The chapters in Vol 2 flow through really well. You even get a slight role over from the last chapter so you keep up. The sound quality is also really good. If anyone has been put off buying this volume due to the comments of Vol 1, then be assured this copy is worth it.

Nostalgic Radio Play

I really enjoyed the Paul Temple series. They reminded me of my childhood before television came to South Africa in 1975. The plays are fast moving, well acted out and good fun. The stories all follow a formula, but it's a formula that works.

Paul Temple stories are always a pleasure

The incredible feeling of nostalgia created by the full cast dramatisations is wonderful! These stories give us a glimpse into a past time when life was much more simple, and folk were well spoken and polite. The stories are typically over the top, action, gripping tales of adventure, mystery and intrigue: and the personal touches if the intimate relationships just adds to the feeling. Wonderful listening.

Great stories and interesting additional features

The stories are good and the audio quality is ok especially for the age of the material. There are several additional features but unfortunately there is a fair bit of repetition in these.

Great Comfort Listening

Paul Temple was the longest running radio detective, and probably the last of the gentlemen detectives, and these series will take you back to another era. Many of the actors had worked together for years, and they have a great rapport, this,gives a sense of reality to the performances.

The stories are good, although if you listen to many series, you will notice a bit of a formula, but they are very enjoyable nonetheless!

Not really for those people who like to look for clues, and guess whodunnit, , your never really sure until the denouement, which is usually at a cocktail party, where all the principals are brought together!
Great fun!

splendid!

good old fashioned drama,with lots of action and .........no bad language or political correctness! bliss!

Superb piece of radio theatre. Marjorie Westbury & Peter Coke as husband & wife detective team

A fantastic piece of radio theatre from the 1950s. Surprisingly it has not dated. Hail BBC!!!!

Same elements repeated

I had never listened to these stories back to back as it were only as separate series on radio four extra - so I hadn't realised just how the elements of the story were repeated in the different cases - you are almost waiting for the windscreen to be shot at or the parcel bomb to explode or them to walk into the trap at a deserted house - you find yourself shouting at them - it's a trap don't go to a cottage you don't know in a lonely part of the country at midnight!
Shame as the performances are good - a glimpse back into the days when a woman could claim to be exhausted because she had packed a suitcase for a trip to Monte Carlo and appears to exist on dry Martinis.
Why do they never send for an ambulance always a doctor?
Worth a credit for the pleasure of guessing the baddie.

Nostalgia

I remember and love all these​ crime/thriller radio stories and aim to collect more of them.