Charles Paris: A Doubtful Death

Bill Nighy returns as the loveably louche actor-cum-amateur detective Charles Paris

Charles Paris is in Oxford, appearing in a re-imagining of Hamlet by a high-concept drama company. No fan of immersive theatre, he’s unimpressed with the director’s vision and less than thrilled to be rehearsing alongside puppeteers and mime artists.

But he soon finds himself back on familiar territory when the actress playing Ophelia goes missing, only to turn up dead. Did she take her own life, or was there foul play? As he amasses a list of suspects who might have wished her harm, Charles takes on the mantle of detective once more to decide if this is to be or not to be a murder case…

Scripted for radio by Jeremy Front from a story by Simon Brett, A Doubtful Death stars Bill Nighy (Emma, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice.

Also included is an exclusive 18-minute afterword in which Jeremy Front discusses his experience of adapting an unproduced screenplay, reveals what it’s like to work with recurring characters and actors, and explains the mechanics of recording for radio.

Credits

Written by Jeremy Front

From a story by Simon Brett

Produced and directed by Sally Avens

Production Coordinator: Cynthia Fagan

Studio Managers: Anne Bunting, Keith Graham and Jenni Burnett

Afterword produced by Ania Duggan and Roshni Radia

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 22 May-12 June 2020

Cast

Charles Paris……………………Bill Nighy

Frances……………………Suzanne Burden

Maurice……………………Jon Glover

Vicky……………………Jessica Turner

Jenny……………………Scarlett Courtney

Tomasz……………………Ian Conningham

Tour Guide/Dan……………………Will Kirk

Waitress/Izzy……………………Lucy Reynolds

Zoe……………………Laura Christy

Siriol……………………Sinead MacInnes

Pete/Player King……………………Neil McCaul

Tim ……………………Greg Jones

Canon Park/Director……………………Clive Hayward

Passenger……………………Adam Courting

Waitress/Sat Nav. ……………………Amy Bentley-Klein

Cassie……………………Heather Craney

Checkout/Fortinbras……………………Ikky Elyas

Continuity R4/WS Announcer……………………Jeremy Front