Colvil & Soames: The Complete Series 1-2

by Christopher Lee

Christopher Benjamin and Amanda Redman star in two six-part BBC radio crime dramas, created by Christopher Lee

In these two compelling murder mysteries, MI6 officers Henry Colvil and Alex Soames become involved in a pair of complex cases which take them to the very top of the political and religious spheres.

In Series 1, the duo attend the funeral of an elderly Irish priest, and receive a tip-off that his death has controversial links. Probing further, they discover a shocking secret in Father Dominic’s past – and Henry’s faith is dealt a mortal blow. Can it withstand the whole truth?

Series 2 opens with a disturbing murder on a Brighton beach. What seemed like a simple drug-related killing turns out to have unexpected complications – and as Colvil and Soames investigate, they uncover nefarious connections between the victim and a prominent politician, and a case that threatens to send shockwaves through government...

Written by acclaimed historian, broadcaster and author Christopher Lee, these gripping spy thrillers star Christopher Benjamin (Pride and Prejudice, Doctor Who) as Henry Colvil and Amanda Redman (The Good Karma Hospital, New Tricks) as Alex Soames.


Written by Christopher Lee
Produced by Pete Atkin
Starring Christopher Benjamin as Henry Colvil and Amanda Redman as Alex Soames

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16 October-20 November 1996 (Series 1), 29 October-3 December 1998 (Series 2)

Series 1 cast

Arthur Guscott……………………Dudley Sutton
Joseph Kutner……………………Stephen Thorne
Mrs Wedlock……………………Colette O’Neil
Monsignor……………………Peter Yapp
Father Dominic Byrne……………………Joseph O’Conor
Roger Brown……………………Neil McCaul
Father Williamson……………………Christian Rodska
Donna Hanley……………………Beth Porter
Theresa……………………Elaine Claxton
Porter……………………Denys Hawthorne

Series 2 cast

DCI Guscott……………………Dudley Sutton
DS Gwen Jenkins……………………Sue Jones Davies
Miranda Peel……………………Sheila Reid
DCS Evans……………………John Hartley
Sidney Carpenter……………………Neil Conrich
Doctor……………………Stuart Organ
Tom Margeson……………………Tom Cotcher
Charlie Lofthouse……………………Alistair McGowan
Maggie Lindley……………………Alphonsia Emmanuel
Police Constable/Norman Tate……………………Brian Bowles

Genres: Crime, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Christopher Lee was a British writer, historian, and broadcaster, best known for creating and writing the acclaimed BBC Radio 4 documentary series This Sceptred Isle. His career spanned journalism, academia, military service, and historical writing.
After an early life at sea, he studied history at London University before joining the BBC as a defence and foreign affairs correspondent, with postings in Moscow and the Middle East. He later transitioned into academia, becoming the first Quatercentenary Fellow in Contemporary History at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and conducting research at Birkbeck College. He also served in the Royal Navy's Joint Intelligence Reserve Branch, reaching the rank of captain.
Lee’s This Sceptred Isle, originally broadcast in 1995, chronicled British history from Roman times to the 20th century and was expanded with additional series covering the 20th century and the British Empire. His historical works include 1603, Nelson and Napoleon, and Monarchy, Past, Present… and Future?, as well as an abridgment of Winston Churchill's A History of the English-Speaking Peoples. He was also a prolific radio playwright, penning over 100 plays and series for BBC Radio 4.
Beyond writing, he served as a defence and foreign affairs adviser to the British Forces Broadcasting Service for 30 years and was involved in policy analysis.
He divided his time between Sussex and Florence, Italy, and was married to portrait painter Fiona Graham-Mackay. Lee passed away in 2021 at the age of 79.