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Charles Paris: BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisations
A Decent Interval
A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatization of Simon Brett's entertaining crime novel, starring Bill Nighy. Charles Paris has been "resting" for quite a while, so he's relieved when he is cast as the Ghost of Hamlet’s Father and First Gravedigger in a touring production of Hamlet. But rehearsals are a little tense—the lead roles of Hamlet and Ophelia are played by a reality TV contestant and TV talent show winner respectively, and their opinions on celebrity and the theater differ somewhat from those of the more experienced members of the cast. The show is barely on the road before tragedy strikes—just before opening night, part of the set collapses, seriously injuring one of the actors. Then another member of the cast is found dead. It's up to Charles Paris to turn detective and investigate the mystery: but with almost everyone having a motive for murder, will he ever track down the real killer?
Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances, in this dramatization by Jeremy Front. It was first broadcast between 19 February and 11 March 2016.
Duration: 2 hours.
Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances, in this dramatization by Jeremy Front. It was first broadcast between 19 February and 11 March 2016.
Duration: 2 hours.
2 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2016
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 24, 2024
Why do Hamlet plays always end up in some kinda disaster?
October 21, 2018
Bill Nighy and Suzanne Burden star with John Glover in the BBC radio drama production.
Charles has a high end supercar commercial… drive to the cliff, let the wind blow through his tousled platinum hair… remember to put the handbrake on… oops. Oh, Charles.
So when he’s offered a job as the ghost of Hamlet’s father he takes it before his wife Frances throws him out again.
It’s a new production with a giant skull in the centre of the set (to represent Hamlet’s brain) and the main roles are played by two reality TV stars; Hamlet refuses to learn his long speeches (you mean the soliloquies? ) without his coach, and Ophelia thinks the songs should be replaced with her new single.
Hamlet is taken out by falling set equipment, and someone puts bleach in Ophelia’s mascara, she falls, hits her head, and dies.
Geraldine, Hamlet’s mother, moves in with them and Charles catches a glimpse of her literary tattoos in the shower.
Bwahaha.
Morris, Charles’ agent, is madly trying to sign up all the new talent whilst avoiding a visiting US star who wants to go on benders with him. Indie actors Sam and Milly take the lead roles from Will the understudy who is returned to stage manager.
*snorts*
***
These are so much fun and somehow Charles manages to put it all together - usually in an absurdly comic way.
4 stars
Charles has a high end supercar commercial… drive to the cliff, let the wind blow through his tousled platinum hair… remember to put the handbrake on… oops. Oh, Charles.
So when he’s offered a job as the ghost of Hamlet’s father he takes it before his wife Frances throws him out again.
It’s a new production with a giant skull in the centre of the set (to represent Hamlet’s brain) and the main roles are played by two reality TV stars; Hamlet refuses to learn his long speeches (you mean the soliloquies? ) without his coach, and Ophelia thinks the songs should be replaced with her new single.
Hamlet is taken out by falling set equipment, and someone puts bleach in Ophelia’s mascara, she falls, hits her head, and dies.
Geraldine, Hamlet’s mother, moves in with them and Charles catches a glimpse of her literary tattoos in the shower.
“I’ve got Keats on my left high.”
“It’s what he would have wanted.”
Bwahaha.
Morris, Charles’ agent, is madly trying to sign up all the new talent whilst avoiding a visiting US star who wants to go on benders with him. Indie actors Sam and Milly take the lead roles from Will the understudy who is returned to stage manager.
Charles: “My first job was Oedipus Rex.”
Milly: “At the National?”
“The original. I got Sophocles to sign the script.”
*snorts*
***
These are so much fun and somehow Charles manages to put it all together - usually in an absurdly comic way.
4 stars
January 3, 2025
( Format : Audiobook )
"Not in the mood for clever."
What to say?
It's Bill Nighy with a full cast in a BBC radio production of one of Simon Brett's funny tales of Charles Paris, aging and often unemployed actor. Always superb, this adaptation is no exception, from the glorious performance of Bill Nighy himself, the deliciously funny situations, the self satisfied agent with the death March ring tone on Charles' monile, bursts of nostalgic mix 20th century music and, of course, a murder mystery.
Too short but very sweet.
Love this series.
Second reading having just read the original Simon Brett book. And this adaptation is just so much more enjoyable. After all, Bill Nighy is so perfect as Charles and all the other characters sparkle. As before, I loved it.
"Not in the mood for clever."
What to say?
It's Bill Nighy with a full cast in a BBC radio production of one of Simon Brett's funny tales of Charles Paris, aging and often unemployed actor. Always superb, this adaptation is no exception, from the glorious performance of Bill Nighy himself, the deliciously funny situations, the self satisfied agent with the death March ring tone on Charles' monile, bursts of nostalgic mix 20th century music and, of course, a murder mystery.
Too short but very sweet.
Love this series.
Second reading having just read the original Simon Brett book. And this adaptation is just so much more enjoyable. After all, Bill Nighy is so perfect as Charles and all the other characters sparkle. As before, I loved it.
Read
July 10, 2019Audiobook. I love this series.
July 14, 2021
I have taken to listening to an audio book or radio play adaptation whilst working from home and today it's back to the BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of the Simon Brett Charles Paris novels. They are wonderfully fun and Bill Nighy plays the aging actor, with a penchant for women and drink, so very well.
This is the first one I ever listened to and when it started auto-playing, after my earlier installment, I decided to listen to it again.
In this story, Charles finds himself cast in Hamlet. The show has the potential to go global and hit Broadway due to popstars playing Hamlet and Ophelia. However when Hamlet is injured in an apparent accident Charles becomes suspicious. Later, when Ophelia has a fatal accident, it's left to Charles to piece together the clues which the police seem happy to ignore.
I have been listening to these radio plays out of order compared to the original books. However, it doesn't impact the story or the enjoyment at all and there are no spoilers to previous books/adaptations. 4 stars.
This is the first one I ever listened to and when it started auto-playing, after my earlier installment, I decided to listen to it again.
In this story, Charles finds himself cast in Hamlet. The show has the potential to go global and hit Broadway due to popstars playing Hamlet and Ophelia. However when Hamlet is injured in an apparent accident Charles becomes suspicious. Later, when Ophelia has a fatal accident, it's left to Charles to piece together the clues which the police seem happy to ignore.
I have been listening to these radio plays out of order compared to the original books. However, it doesn't impact the story or the enjoyment at all and there are no spoilers to previous books/adaptations. 4 stars.
April 20, 2017
Actor Charles Paris is played by Bill Nighy. Bill really brings Charles to life. Middle-aged bounder Charles is a rather sad character, but Nighy makes him humorous, even lovable.
Charles has got the part of a grave digger in a theatre production of Hamlet. Charles and the rest of the production are bemused by the casting of reality stars Jared Root as Hamlet and Katrina as Ophelia.
Jared and Katrina are not used to the theatre world. Jared will not practice his long speeches without his voice coach. Katrina thinks she is the bigger star, and wants to drop one of Ophelia's songs from the show for a song from her latest album.
Jared is rehearsing in a giant skull which collapses on him, breaking his ribs and legs. Jared can no longer continue and a understudy takes over. When Katrina steals Jared's old dressing room she is found murdered. Where Charles goes corpses seem to follow, is someone trying to stop the show?
Charles has got the part of a grave digger in a theatre production of Hamlet. Charles and the rest of the production are bemused by the casting of reality stars Jared Root as Hamlet and Katrina as Ophelia.
Jared and Katrina are not used to the theatre world. Jared will not practice his long speeches without his voice coach. Katrina thinks she is the bigger star, and wants to drop one of Ophelia's songs from the show for a song from her latest album.
Jared is rehearsing in a giant skull which collapses on him, breaking his ribs and legs. Jared can no longer continue and a understudy takes over. When Katrina steals Jared's old dressing room she is found murdered. Where Charles goes corpses seem to follow, is someone trying to stop the show?
April 21, 2023
Degelijk luisterspel uit de reeks, deze keer ronden productie van Hamlet. Met weer veel spot (op theatertypes en -rages) en zelfspot, al zijn de ontknopingen niet spectaculair.
Charles Paris en Bill Nighy raak je nooit beu.
Charles Paris en Bill Nighy raak je nooit beu.
November 26, 2021
Een klassieke Charles Paris, Bill Nighy en zijn kompanen maken van deze spitse dialogen een waar luisterfestijn.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews