Kenneth Kendall, Reginald Marsh and Michael Sheard.
Whilst searching 'MJ Trow' for a recent book release of the author I came across this on Youtube.
It's on a few other sites. After a bit of detective work and I found the source - a podcast (actually
3 episodes of a podcast) titled StarShipSofa from January this year.
In case you don't know, MJ Trow has a series of books with Lestrade as the main character. The series started in the 1980s.
This radio show appears on Youtube etc as one complete file/video. But originally it was split into
three episodes and that's how the podcast featured it along with a 20 minute MJ Trow interview. I have
extracted the three episodes and the interview from the podcasts and uploaded it to SkyDrive
as four mp3 files.
On the Youtube page it's said that this was a BBC pilot. However there's nothing in the podcast and MJ Trow interview to support that so I'm not so sure although I can imagine they received a copy and asked to consider making a series out of the material. Some well known actors appear in this 'pilot' as well.
A couple of links:
SkyDrive MJ Trow Exit Centre Stage folder
MJ Trow's Exit Centre Stage - A Yarn of the Yard
presnted by The Seaton Clark Organisation, MJ Trow and Michael Sheard.
Episode 1 of 3 - 14:25 - taken from StarShipSofa podcast number 220 - 11 January 2012
Episode 2 of 3 - 12:00 - taken from StarShipSofa podcast number 221 - 18 January 2012
Episode 3 of 3 - 10:48 - taken from StarShipSofa podcast number 222 - 25 January 2012
Peter Seaton Clark talks to MJ Trow - 19:13 - taken from StarShipSofa podcast number 222 - 25 January 2012
--- the interview was recorded recently for the podcast of 25 Jan 2012 (i.e. not back in 1995)
Recorded in 1995 in Newport, Isle of Wight.
c. 1995 Workhouse Studios Isle of Wight
c. IOW Hospital Recording
Cast includes:
Kenneth Kendall ..... Narrator
Reginald Marsh ..... Inspector Lestrade
Michael Sheard ..... William Gilbert
MJ Trow ..... James Dysart
Series produced by Michael Sheard
Studio direction by Denis Chub and Samantha Seaton Clark
Technical Production and Post Production by Neil Friday (Ex Isle of Wight Radio)
Sholto Lestrade and his good friend Doctor John Watson (of Baker Street, London) have accepted the
invitation of a former collegue, Harry Bandicoot and his new wife Letitia, to see them at the performance.Sholto and Watson are seated in row 2 in the middle of the theatre.
The M.C. introduces the performers to individual applause. They take their final bows, with enthusiastic 1894 audience applause.
The Leading Man suddenly clasps at his neck and collapses at the centre of the stage. The M.C. rushes across and briefly examines the body. Whilst looking at Gilbert, he shakes his head, indicating that the performer is dead. There is a loud female scream and then the M.C. realises that the curtains are still open. He orders them to be closed and they are roughly closed. From the audience Lestrade springs to his feet and wants to get out of his seat, but Watson is still seated. They both gather their raincoats and head off to the stage. Lestrade cannot get through the curtains and orders them to be opened. We see most cast members gathered around the body. Lestrade instructs the theatre manager, James Dysart, to seek out a Police Constable and tells the assembled cast to all move to the Manager's Office. Watson and Lestrade closely examine the body and confirm that the body is indeed dead. They also discover an array of strange smells.
Lestrade confides in Watson that this is the fourth death of a theatrical leading man in as many weeks. He was at a loss to understand the reasoning behind the killings. Furthermore, the Commissioner was not satisfied with the progress at bringing the villain to task. Worse still was the knowledge where the villain would next strike. He feared that the death was another in a string of celebrity deaths.
Replies
Very nice find!
Now ... a quandary ... do I classify this along with my "Inspectors" folder or in the Holmes folder? Hmmmm .... :?)
Bob
I believe five Lestrade books were posted here and I enjoyed them very much. Thanks for posting this, Jake!