Charles Paris Dramatisations
4 total works
A brand new full-cast BBC radio dramatisation, starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris
'Charles Paris is Bill Nighy... It's the role he was born to play.' The Telegraph
August in Edinburgh, and thousands of performers of all stripes have flocked to the Fringe Festival. Among them is Charles Paris filling in at the last minute after a student actress breaks a leg and has to drop out. Showcasing an earnest one-man show in a sea of stand-up comics is a bit of a gamble, but at least he's acting, and with a Charles Paris production, what could possibly go wrong?
Charles is sharing a venue with a group of student actors, but when one of the performers dies in a freak stabbing, the actor-cum-amateur sleuth smells a murderous rat and decides to investigate. When the killer sets his sights on him, Charles realises that he must be getting close to the truth - despite not having a clue what's going on...
Help arrives in the form of his agent, Maurice, in town scouting for talent, and Charles' 'semi-detached' wife, Frances, who inadvertently finds herself directing Charles' show. The three become drawn into the mystery, and find themselves playing detectives. This unlikely trio are way out of their depth, but when has that ever stopped Charles Paris?
Jeremy Front's witty drama stars Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice.
Written by Jeremy Front
Based on the novel by Simon Brett
Produced and directed by Sally Avens
Cast
Charles Paris - Bill Nighy
Frances - Suzanne Burden
Maurice - Jon Glover
James - Roger Ringrose
Anna - Natasha K Stone
Martin - Connor Curren
Laura - Chloe Sommer
Angus/Sam - Tom Kiteley
Tessa - Joanna Monro
Eilish - Catriona Stirling
Sophie - Fiona Skinner
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9th-30th June 2023
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
Five full-cast BBC radio dramatisations, starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris
Thespian sleuth Charles Paris is his own worst enemy, a louche lush who can resist anything except temptation - especially in the form of women and alcohol. Estranged from his long-suffering wife, Frances, his personal life is shambolic, and as an actor, he's C-list at best. But he does have a talent for solving murders - which is just as well, because wherever he goes, someone seems to drop dead...
A Series of Murders - Charles has landed a juicy part playing Sergeant Collins in the TV detective series, 'The Stanislaus Braid Mysteries'. But will all the deadly doings be restricted to on-screen?
Sicken and So Die - A suspected poisoner is on the loose in a production of Twelfth Night - can Charles track down the culprit before this comedy turns into a tragedy?
Murder Unprompted - There's drama backstage when a murder is discovered in a West End theatre production. Has Charles time to find the killer before the curtain goes up?
The Dead Side of the Mic - A job with the BBC radio rep coincides with the mysterious death of a studio manager in Broadcasting House. Once again, Charles steps in to investigate...
Cast in Order of Disappearance - Playing a middle-management vampire in 'The Wreathing', Charles finds himself dealing with a blackmailer, a maiden in distress - and a murderer. Has he bitten off more than he can chew?
Written by Jeremy Front
Based on the novels by Simon Brett
Produced and directed by Sally Avens
Starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice
Text copyright © Simon Brett 1975 (Cast in Order of Disappearance), 1980 (The Dead Side of the Mic), 1982 (Murder Unprompted), 1989 (A Series of Murders), 1995 (Sicken and So Die)
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
Charles Paris: A Third BBC Radio Collection
by Jeremy Front and Simon Brett
Bill Nighy stars as the irrepressible Charles Paris in these five BBC Radio dramatisations
Actor, alcoholic and amateur sleuth Charles Paris returns in another quintet of humorous theatrical thrillers. All Charles asks for is a nice juicy part in a successful play - but wherever he appears on the bill, murder and mystery always play a starring role...
The Cinderella Killer - Panto seems the perfect way to spend the Christmas season for Charles, but when the show's star is found dead, the slapstick must make way for a murder investigation.
Dead Room Farce - Charles is appearing in a revival of a 1970s farce. But when two cast members die in suspicious circumstances, he suspects foul play is afoot.
Star Trap - When a series of accidents befalls the cast of a West End musical, Charles steps in to investigate. Who is trying to sabotage the show - and why?
A Doubtful Death - Charles has landed a role in an immersive theatre production of Hamlet. But when an actress goes missing, he must decide if it is to be or not to be a murder case... Also included with this story is an exclusive afterword with scriptwriter Jeremy Front, who adapted it from an unproduced screenplay by Simon Brett. He reveals what it's like behind the scenes of Charles Paris, and explains the mechanics of recording for radio.
A Deadly Habit - Offered a job in a verbatim theatre piece set in a monastery, Charles has reservations. Then disaster strikes the production - and he smells criminality...
Written by Jeremy Front
Based on the novels and screenplay by Simon Brett
Produced and directed by Sally Avens
Starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice
Text copyright © Simon Brett 1977 (Star Trap), 1998 (Dead Room Farce), 2014 (The Cinderella Killer), 2018 (A Deadly Habit), 2020 (A Doubtful Death)
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
Charles Paris: A Second BBC Radio Collection
by Jeremy Front and Simon Brett
Bill Nighy stars as the lovably louche Charles Paris in these five BBC Radio dramatisations
Charles Paris - unsuccessful actor, bad husband, and dipsomaniac - is back, and getting into trouble once more. As he tries to woo back his semi-detached wife, Frances, and land a few half-decent roles, he finds himself embroiled in murder and mayhem and forced to turn detective. Luckily, his sleuthing is much better than his acting...
Murder in the Title - The thespian sleuth gets a part in a terrible play - but someone wants to kill off the cast. First a series of nasty accidents occur, then Charles is the victim of an attempted stabbing. Can he find the killer, or will he be fired first?
A Reconstructed Corpse - Charles is playing a missing businessman in a crime reconstruction programme. But when severed body parts begin to appear, he must piece together a macabre jigsaw puzzle of murder.
An Amateur Corpse - What starts as a simple voiceover job leads Charles to the discovery of a dead body. Could his old friend Hugo really be a murderer? All the signs are pointing that way...
Corporate Bodies - A corporate video turns into a horror movie when a secretary is killed. As he investigates, Charles uncovers blackmail, sexual intrigue and multiple motives for murder amongst the workforce.
A Decent Interval - Cast as The Ghost and First Gravedigger in Hamlet, Charles is finding rehearsals tense as both the lead roles are being played by reality TV stars. But soon it's not just Shakespeare's lines being murdered...
Written by Jeremy Front
Based on the novels by Simon Brett
Produced and directed by Sally Avens
Starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice
Text copyright © Simon Brett 1978 (An Amateur Corpse), 1983 (Murder in the Title), 1991 (Corporate Bodies), 1993 (A Reconstructed Corpse), 2013 (A Decent Interval)
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd