Thirteen classic crime dramas featuring Dr Morelle - 'the man you love to hate!'
Psychiatrist-detective Dr Morelle is arrogant, sarcastic and rude - but when it comes to catching criminals, he is unparalleled. Using deduction, psychological profiling and his keen, analytical mind, he solves cases ranging from blackmail to murder, aided by his devoted and long-suffering secretary Miss Frayle.
Over the course of this series, he investigates the unexplained death of a wealthy French baroness, receives a visit from a man tormented by nightmares, probes the authenticity of a fabled gem and helps a young man in distress - and an old man in danger. Whether it's a terror campaign against a bride-to-be, death threats made to a temperamental film star, or a case of deadly experiments and thwarted love, no mystery is too baffling and no villain too cunning for the Harley Street sleuth.
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1957, these 13 detective dramas are collected together here for the first time. British film veteran Cecil Parker stars as Dr Morelle, with Sheila Sim as Miss Frayle.
Also included is a bonus documentary programme, The Radio Detectives: A Case for Dr Morelle, in which Professor Jeffrey Richards delves into the casebook of the cantankerous criminal psychologist.
These episodes have been restored from the original 1957 recordings. Due to the vintage nature of these recordings, the sound quality varies.
Cast and credits
Written by Ernest Dudley
Produced and directed by Leslie Bridgmont
Starring Cecil Parker as Dr Morelle and Sheila Sim as Miss Frayle
Alarm Call
Hotel waiter - Sydney Tafler
Mam'selle Rolin - Tonia Bern
Anthony Winter - Hugh Manning
Hotel receptionist - Molly Rankin
Miss Shawcroft - Kathleen Helm
Audio recovered by BBC Radio 4 Extra listener, Steve Arnold
First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 23 April 1957
Confession of Guilt
Inspector Hood - Philip Ray
Paula Webb - Mary Law
Other parts played by Maurice Sweden, Norman Wynne, Hugh Manning, Betty Linton and Alan McClelland
First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 30 April 1957
Threat to Kill
Rosalind Knight - Helen Desmond
Miss Curtis - Cecile Chevreau
Ronnie Cavanagh - John Horsley
Maid - Annette Kelly
Mr Ashton - Norman Wynne
Hal Digby - John Sharplin
First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 7 May 1957
The Sleepwalker
Helen Keen - Moira Lister
Richard Wilson - Hugh Burden
Inspector Hood - Philip Ray
First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 14 May 1957
The Blackmailer
Inspector Hood - Philip Ray
Sir Clifford Forbes - Douglas Young
Lady Forbes - Madeleine Christie
Cynthia Forbes - Ruth Trouncer
Hotel waiter - Haydn Jones
Hotel manager - Humphrey Morton
Lily the maid - Beryl Calder
Matron - Molly Rankin
Harry Fox - Ian Sadler
First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 21 May 1957
Voice in the Night
Miss Nicholson - Hester Paton Brown
Billy Boy the dog - Percy Edwards
Mr Nicholson - Alan McClelland
Superintendent Denham - Fred Yule
Station officer - Alan Keith
Julian Smith/Taxi driver - John Baker
First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 28 May 1957
The Will
David Beaumont - David Spenser
Henrietta Vickers - Nan Kenway
Herbert Vickers - Douglas Young
Darryl - Will Leighton
First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 4 June 1957
Act of Violence
Major Penfold - Ralph Truman
