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BBC Radio 4 Poirot
Five Little Pigs
Carla Lemarchant was a child of five when her mother was accused and convicted of poisoning her father, the famous painter Amyas Crale. After Caroline Crale dies in prison, Carla is sent to live with her uncle and aunt in Canada. Only on her 21st birthday does Carla learn of her family history when she reads a letter written by Caroline before her death, in which she denies murdering her husband. But if her mother didn't kill Amyas Crale, who did? Carla needs to know, because she is planning to get married and wishes to start her new life without this terrible shadow hanging over her. Desperate to find out the truth, she consults the best detective money can buy. With nothing to go on except five suspects who fit strangely into the pattern of a child's nursery rhyme, Hercule Poirot is faced with a formidable challenge to find the real killer.
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell for BBC Radio 4 with a cast including John Moffatt, Graham Crowden, Derek Waring and Suzy Aitchison.
First Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 - 18 June 1994.
2 CDs. 1 hr 30 mins.
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell for BBC Radio 4 with a cast including John Moffatt, Graham Crowden, Derek Waring and Suzy Aitchison.
First Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 - 18 June 1994.
2 CDs. 1 hr 30 mins.
2 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Michael Bakewell
72 books6 followersMichael Bakewell (7 June 1931 – 11 July 2023) was a British radio and television producer and radio playwright.
His work included adapting The Lord of the Rings (with Brian Sibley) into a 1981 radio series for the BBC and a series of 27 adaptations of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot stories broadcast between 1985 and 2007 by BBC Radio 4.
He was born in Birmingham, England. After graduating from Cambridge in 1954, he was recruited by the BBC's Third Programme. He became the first Head of Plays at the BBC in the 1960s.
His work included adapting The Lord of the Rings (with Brian Sibley) into a 1981 radio series for the BBC and a series of 27 adaptations of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot stories broadcast between 1985 and 2007 by BBC Radio 4.
He was born in Birmingham, England. After graduating from Cambridge in 1954, he was recruited by the BBC's Third Programme. He became the first Head of Plays at the BBC in the 1960s.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 9, 2022
Probably my least favourite of the series so far. I found it difficult to maintain my attention. Looking forward to finding another Poirot story, as I do enjoy these BBC full-cast dramas.
May 29, 2024
What an excellent dramatization. So fun!
August 25, 2024
A short Agatha Christie piece. BBC full cast dramatisation, rather than a traditional audiobook. Made it a bit hard to follow at some points (like when I listened to Good Omens), but pretty exciting.
August 29, 2025
I’ve read the book, I’ve listened to the audiobook and now the radio drama version. I love this story so much!
December 4, 2025
One of Poirot's most interesting cases, which fully reveals his keen understanding of psychology, as well as his compassion.
January 5, 2018
Sixteen years ago Carolyn Crale was convicted of the murder of her artist husband Amyas. Their only child learns the truth when she is twenty-one and asks Poirot to investigate (and prove her long dead mother’s innocence) before she can be married.
There are five living witnesses - the ‘pigs’ and each matches a line of the nursery rhyme. Well, almost.
The market - his best friend, Phillip Blake, the stockbroker, who didn’t go near them for a year after they were married;
Stayed at home - Meredith Blake, the best friend’s brother and maker of exotic poisons;
Roast beef - Elisa Greer the lover and portrait subject, who later married a Lord;
Had none - Miss Williams the governess who lost her job ( “thank god the child is not artistic,” she says);
Cried all the way home? - Angela Warren, the disfigured half sister of the alleged murderess.
Poirot always says you don’t need to see the scene of the crime to solve a mystery, and this is Christie’s attempt to demonstrate that. It’s been sixteen years; everyone thinks back differently. But some of them have also received influential letters after the crime; the daughter and the half sister. Both letters speak for Carolyn and the portrait itself speaks for Amyas.
Meredith Blake bought the death painting rather than have it subject to auctioneers and the vagaries of the market. Poirot reads a lot into the portrait.
Listened to it twice in a row.
5 stars
There are five living witnesses - the ‘pigs’ and each matches a line of the nursery rhyme. Well, almost.
The market - his best friend, Phillip Blake, the stockbroker, who didn’t go near them for a year after they were married;
Stayed at home - Meredith Blake, the best friend’s brother and maker of exotic poisons;
Roast beef - Elisa Greer the lover and portrait subject, who later married a Lord;
Had none - Miss Williams the governess who lost her job ( “thank god the child is not artistic,” she says);
Cried all the way home? - Angela Warren, the disfigured half sister of the alleged murderess.
Poirot always says you don’t need to see the scene of the crime to solve a mystery, and this is Christie’s attempt to demonstrate that. It’s been sixteen years; everyone thinks back differently. But some of them have also received influential letters after the crime; the daughter and the half sister. Both letters speak for Carolyn and the portrait itself speaks for Amyas.
Meredith Blake bought the death painting rather than have it subject to auctioneers and the vagaries of the market. Poirot reads a lot into the portrait.
Listened to it twice in a row.
5 stars
October 22, 2021
The mystery was interesting, and the dramatization was excellent. Thoroughly enjoyable listen.
On second reading, after about five years and having forgotten that I even read it before, I have to knock off a star. Actually, my original review was 4 stars and this re-reading merited only 2 stars.
It was strange to use an English nursery rhyme when Poirot is Belgian and the story states that he didn't have an English nanny growing up. It is unlikely that Poirot would have been familiar with another language/culture nursery rhyme.
On second reading, after about five years and having forgotten that I even read it before, I have to knock off a star. Actually, my original review was 4 stars and this re-reading merited only 2 stars.
It was strange to use an English nursery rhyme when Poirot is Belgian and the story states that he didn't have an English nanny growing up. It is unlikely that Poirot would have been familiar with another language/culture nursery rhyme.
June 26, 2016
I had read the book many years ago. Since I had some extra driving to do, I decided to check out this radio dramatization of it to listen to it on my journey. I liked it more listening to it than reading it.
October 4, 2019
The September 2019 Official Agatha Christie Facebook Page Book of the Month.
Forgot that our works library has a copy of this, but popped in to borrow an audiobook and found this one so deceided to relisten.
Forgot that our works library has a copy of this, but popped in to borrow an audiobook and found this one so deceided to relisten.
November 17, 2016
Five Little Pigs is an interesting and intriguing twist to the nursery rhyme. Enjoyable, but short read.
October 21, 2017
I am loving the BBC radio dramatization of these Hercule Poirot mysteries. Great company for my commute.
January 30, 2018
Another good full-cast audiobook. If only they weren't so short!
May 20, 2018
Gagh, these are such good fun. Whoever at the BBC had the idea to make these into a series was brilliant.
October 28, 2023
I love listening to Agatha Christie's Full Cast Dramatisations when traveling. Great stories that help make a long, boring trip go by faster.
December 26, 2020
⭐️3.5⭐️
June 8, 2021
Short and sweet, lovely little radio dramatization
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews