A Reconstructed Corpse - A Charles Paris Mystery
Adapted from Simon Brett's 15th Charles Paris novel by Jeremy Front
Directed by Sally Avens
BBC Radio 4
2, 9, 16 and 23 March 2012 @ 11:30am
approx. 30 minutes each episode
Bill Nighy returns as the irrepressible Charles Paris: unsuccessful actor, bad husband and dypsomaniac. Charles is once again in need of work and to make things worse he's been kicked out by Frances after inadvertently starting a riot outside her house. Any job will do so when he is offered work in a crime reconstruction programme playing a missing property developer he leaps at the chance. But a missing person case soon turns to murder when severed body parts begin to appear. Television ratings soar as the public tune in to discover every gory detail of the case. The raging egos and jealous manoeuvrings of the producers, presenters and the police soon provide a long list of suspects for Charles to investigate as he pieces together a macabre jigsaw puzzle of murder.
Simon Brett has written numerous Charles Paris novels, which have been used as the basis for the Radio 4 series by Jeremy Front.
A Reconstructed Corpse - Episode 1 of 4
Charles takes on the role of a lookalike in a crime reconstruction programme.
But a missing person case soon turns to murder.
Charles ..... Bill Nighy
Frances ..... Suzanne Burden
Maurice ..... Jon Glover
Angie ..... Alex Rivers
Rob Garston ..... Adam Billington
Chloe Earnshaw ..... Francine Chamberlain
Greg Marchmont ..... Carl Prekopp
Superintendent Sorsby ..... Gerard McDermott
Zoe/Receptionist ..... Jane Whittenshaw
Actor/PC/Steward ..... Rikki Lawton
Music tracks in this episode:
Magic Bus by The Who performed by Bill Nighy;
Funeral March composed by Chopin;
Crossroads performed by Cream;
Je T'aime performed by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin;
Starstruck performed by The Kinks;
Won't Get Fooled Again performed by The Who;
Misty Mountain Hop performed by Led Zeppelin;
Funeral March composed by Chopin;
Once Bitten Twice Shy performed by Ian Hunter;
Working Man's Café performed by Ray Davies;
Tangled Up In Blue by Bob Dylan;
Magic Bus by The Who performed by Bill Nighy.
A Reconstructed Corpse - Episode 2 of 4
Charles discovers bitter rivalries amongst the police investigating the murder of a property developer.
And an unwelcome surprise awaits when he attempts to celebrate his wedding anniversary with Frances.
Charles ..... Bill Nighy
Frances ..... Suzanne Burden
Maurice ..... Jon Glover
Juliet ..... Tilly Gaunt
Miles ..... Thomas Arnold
Angie ..... Alex Rivers
Rob Garston ..... Adam Billington
Chloe Earnshaw ..... Francine Chamberlain
Greg Marchmont ..... Carl Prekopp
Superintendent Sorsby ..... Gerard McDermott
Police Constable ..... Christopher Webster
Barmaid ..... Victoria Inez Hardy
Music Tracks in Episode 2:
Set Me Free - The Kinks
Muswell Hillbillies - The Kinks, performed by Bill Nighy
Subsitutes - The Who
Primal Fear - Dave James
Wives and Lovers - Burt Bacharach
Rain Drops Keep Falling on my Head - David Bacharach, performed by Jon Glover
California Girls - The Beach Boys
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Changes - David Bowie
Lola - The Kinks, performed by Bill Nighy
Left Bank Two - by Wayne Hill, performed by Left Bank Two
Rock and Roll- Led Zeppelin
A Reconstructed Corpse - Episode 3 of 4
Another severed limb turns up and Charles enlists Frances' help to solve the mystery of who it belongs to.
Charles ..... Bill Nighy
Frances ..... Suzanne Burden
Maurice ..... Jon Glover
Rob Garston ..... Adam Billington
Superintendent Sorsby ..... Gerard McDermott
Sergeant ..... Simon Bubb
Sam Noakes ..... Adjoa Andoh
Music used in this episode:
She's Not There performed by Santana;
Funeral March composed by Chopin;
Can't Get No Grindin performed by Muddy Waters;
Magic Busy performed by The Who;
Primal Fear performed by Dave James;
Let's Stick Together performed by Bryan Ferry;
Funeral March composed by Chopin;
20th Century Boy performed by T Rex;
I Feel The Earth Move performed by Carole King;
Je T'aime performed by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin;
The Great Gig in the Sky performed by Pink Floyd.
A Reconstructed Corpse - Episode 4 of 4
Charles finds the final piece in the macabre jigsaw puzzle of murder but not before his own life comes under attack.
Charles ..... Bill Nighy
Frances ..... Suzanne Burden
Maurice ..... Jon Glover
Chloe Earnshaw ..... Francine Chamberlain
Superintendent Sorsby ..... Gerard McDermott
Sam Noakes ..... Adjoa Andoh
Martin Earnshaw ..... James Lailey
The BBC provided a list of music used for all but the final episode. I started to make my own list:
You Really Got Me performed by The Kinks;
Walk On The Wild Side performed by Lou Reed;
Je T'aime performed by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin;
Funeral March composed by Chopin.
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Replies
Just listened to my first Charles Paris mystery 'Murder in the Title' and I am hooked. Thanks for this offering!
Bob
What a combination-- Simon Brett, Jeremy Front, and Bill Nighy. Thank you, Rick.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the program. I love these Charles Paris productions.