Behind The Screen

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Also Described As

To reflect the changes of storyteller, we have a different reader for each part of this new version:
When first broadcast, some listeners were puzzled by the method employed in planning a collaborative detective story. If the whole thing were indeed to be written like a game of consequences, with each new writer picking up where the last one left off, how could any consistency be achieved, and how could a satisfactory plot be managed and concluded?
Lord Peter Wimsey creator, Dorothy L Sayers, who co-ordinated the different contributions, explained the process: 'The first three authors carried the story along according to their own several fancies; while the last three used their wits, in consultation, to unravel the clues presented to them by the first three.
Abridged by John Peacock
Producer David Blount
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions.
Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers contribute to the 1930s whodunit

Duration

15 minutes

Genre

Crime
Drama

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	The Guest In The House, By Hugh Walpole	20150831	20180109 (BBC7)	Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers in a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. Something strange has befallen the Ellis household. Things have never been the same since City worker, Paul Dudden, came to lodge with them. When Amy Ellis's fiancé, medical student Wilfred Hope, visits them one wet and stormy evening, the atmosphere in the house seems more peculiar than ever. Wilfred has no idea what can be going on - until he takes a look behind the screen in the parlour.... Read by Michael Jayston First broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each author: Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox reading their own part of the story. Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers contribute to a 1930s whodunit.
02	Something Is Missing, By Agatha Christie	20150901	20180110 (BBC7)	Penelope Keith reads the next instalment of the 1930s 'whodunit' continued by Agatha Christie. ~Behind The Screen is a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. It was first broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each contributor reading his or her own part of the story. The six authors were Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox. Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie contribute to the 1930s whodunit.
03	Out Damned Spot, By Dorothy L Sayers	20150902	20180111 (BBC7)	Sarah Badel reads the next instalment of the 1930s 'whodunit' continued by Dorothy L Sayers. ~Behind The Screen is a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. It was first broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each contributor reading his or her own part of the story. The six authors were Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox. Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie contribute to the 1930s whodunit.
04	In The Aspidistra, By Anthony Berkeley	20150903	20180112 (BBC7)	Inspector Rice probes Paul Dudden's death. Julian Rhind-Tutt reads the next instalment of the 1930s 'whodunit' continued by Anthony Berkeley. ~Behind The Screen is a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. It was first broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each contributor reading his or her own part of the story. The six authors were Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox. Inspector Rice probes Paul Dudden's death in the 1930s whodunit.
05	Amy Intervenes, By Ec Bentley	20150904	20180115 (BBC7)	Inspector Rice probes Paul Dudden's death. Gunnar Cauthery reads the next instalment of the 1930s 'whodunit' continued by EC Bentley. ~Behind The Screen is a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. It was first broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each contributor reading his or her own part of the story. The six authors were Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox. Inspector Rice investigates Paul Dudden's death in the 1930s whodunit.
06	How Dudden Died, By Fr Ronald Knox	20150907	20180116 (BBC7)	Mr Parsons and Wilfred Hope try to solve the mystery of Dudden's death themselves. 1930s 'whodunit' concluded by Nigel Anthony. ~Behind The Screen is a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. It was first broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each contributor reading his or her own part of the story. The six authors were Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox. Mr Parsons and Wilfred Hope try to solve the mystery of Dudden's death.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	The Guest In The House, By Hugh Walpole	20150831	20180109 (BBC7)	Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers in a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. Something strange has befallen the Ellis household. Things have never been the same since City worker, Paul Dudden, came to lodge with them. When Amy Ellis's fiancé, medical student Wilfred Hope, visits them one wet and stormy evening, the atmosphere in the house seems more peculiar than ever. Wilfred has no idea what can be going on - until he takes a look behind the screen in the parlour.... Read by Michael Jayston First broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each author: Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox reading their own part of the story. Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers contribute to a 1930s whodunit.
02	Something Is Missing, By Agatha Christie	20150901	20180110 (BBC7)	Penelope Keith reads the next instalment of the 1930s 'whodunit' continued by Agatha Christie. ~Behind The Screen is a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. It was first broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each contributor reading his or her own part of the story. The six authors were Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox. Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie contribute to the 1930s whodunit.
03	Out Damned Spot, By Dorothy L Sayers	20150902	20180111 (BBC7)	Sarah Badel reads the next instalment of the 1930s 'whodunit' continued by Dorothy L Sayers. ~Behind The Screen is a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. It was first broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each contributor reading his or her own part of the story. The six authors were Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox. Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie contribute to the 1930s whodunit.
04	In The Aspidistra, By Anthony Berkeley	20150903	20180112 (BBC7)	Inspector Rice probes Paul Dudden's death. Julian Rhind-Tutt reads the next instalment of the 1930s 'whodunit' continued by Anthony Berkeley. ~Behind The Screen is a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. It was first broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each contributor reading his or her own part of the story. The six authors were Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox. Inspector Rice probes Paul Dudden's death in the 1930s whodunit.
05	Amy Intervenes, By Ec Bentley	20150904	20180115 (BBC7)	Inspector Rice probes Paul Dudden's death. Gunnar Cauthery reads the next instalment of the 1930s 'whodunit' continued by EC Bentley. ~Behind The Screen is a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. It was first broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each contributor reading his or her own part of the story. The six authors were Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox. Inspector Rice investigates Paul Dudden's death in the 1930s whodunit.
06	How Dudden Died, By Fr Ronald Knox	20150907	20180116 (BBC7)	Mr Parsons and Wilfred Hope try to solve the mystery of Dudden's death themselves. 1930s 'whodunit' concluded by Nigel Anthony. ~Behind The Screen is a collaborative detective serial written by six members of the Detection Club. It was first broadcast weekly on the BBC National Programme in 1930, with each contributor reading his or her own part of the story. The six authors were Hugh Walpole, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, EC Bentley and Father Ronald Knox. Mr Parsons and Wilfred Hope try to solve the mystery of Dudden's death.