Bill Nighy returns as the loveably louche actor-cum-amateur detective Charles Paris Charles Paris is in Oxford, appearing in a re-imagining of Hamlet by a high-concept drama company. No fan of immersive theatre, he's unimpressed with the director's vision and less than thrilled to be rehearsing alongside puppeteers and mime artists. But he soon finds himself back on familiar territory when the actress playing Ophelia goes missing, only to turn up dead. Did she take her own life, or was there foul play? As he amasses a list of suspects who might have wished her harm, Charles takes on the mantle of detective once more to decide if this is to be or not to be a murder case... Scripted for radio by Jeremy Front from a story by Simon Brett, A Doubtful Death stars Bill Nighy (Emma, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice. Also included is an exclusive 18-minute afterword in which Jeremy Front discusses his experience of adapting an unproduced screenplay, reveals what it's like to work with recurring characters and actors, and explains the mechanics of recording for radio. Credits Written by Jeremy Front From a story by Simon Brett Produced and directed by Sally Avens Production Coordinator: Cynthia Fagan Studio Managers: Anne Bunting, Keith Graham and Jenni Burnett Afterword produced by Ania Duggan and Roshni Radia First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 22 May-12 June 2020 Cast Charles Paris........................Bill Nighy Frances........................Suzanne Burden Maurice........................Jon Glover Vicky........................Jessica Turner Jenny........................Scarlett Courtney Tomasz........................Ian Conningham Tour Guide/Dan........................Will Kirk Waitress/Izzy........................Lucy Reynolds Zoe........................Laura Christy Siriol........................Sinead MacInnes Pete/Player King........................Neil McCaul Tim ........................Greg Jones Canon Park/Director........................Clive Hayward Passenger........................Adam Courting Waitress/Sat Nav. ........................Amy Bentley-Klein Cassie........................Heather Craney Checkout/Fortinbras........................Ikky Elyas Continuity R4/WS Announcer........................Jeremy Front

Bill Nighy stars as the suave thespian sleuth in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation Life is good for Charles Paris. He's moved back in with his estranged wife, and has landed a plum stage role as Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night. But it can't last. First his attempts to woo Frances fall flat, then the play's director is taken ill with gastric trouble. His replacement, Romanian wunderkind Alex Radelescu, is determined to take the play in a radical new direction - with or without Charles. When a second member of the company falls sick, Charles begins to suspect a poisoner is on the loose - and the next victim could be him. Can he unmask the culprit before this comedy turns into a tragedy? Adapted by Jeremy Front, this engaging dramatisation stars Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances, Jon Glover as Maurice and Julian Rhind-Tutt as Alex Radelescu. 'Always a treat' Gillian Reynolds, Sunday Times Production credits Written by Simon Brett Adapted by Jeremy Front Produced and directed by Sally Avens First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 30 August-20 September 2006 Cast Charles Paris - Bill Nighy Frances - Suzanne Burden Maurice - Jon Glover Ken Carter - Peter Wight Alex Radelescu - Julian Rhind-Tutt Vivienne Marlin - Elizabeth Bell Gavin Scholes - Thomas Wheatley Jack Bradley - John Cummins Sally Luther - Tracy Wiles Ben Ritson - Tom Lawrence Vasile Bogdan/Scott - Ryan McCluskey Talya Northcott - Alex Tregear Inspector Dewar - Kim Wall (c) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. ? 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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