Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | Cold Call | 20060612 | 20070903 (R4) | By David Holt. Gordon wants a conservatory, but will his tyrannical cleaning lady agree? Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 01 | 02 | First Impressions | 20090619 | 20070910 (R4) | By Rona Munro. Charlie discovers things he never knew about his lifelong friend Sylvia. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 01 | 03 | Mortal Memories | 20060626 | 20070917 (R4) | By Liz Lochhead. Two people with differing lifestyles unite over an immortal memory. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 01 | 04 | Wheeling Them In | 20060703 | 20070924 (R4) | By Rona Munro. Veteran hospital porter Archie reaps the rewards of his years of kindness. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 02 | 01 | The King's Kilt | 20080107 | 20090916 (R4) | Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter. By Rona Munro. A recalcitrant Highland kilt maker is faced with the task of producing a garment for George IV to wear on his first visit to Edinburgh in 1822. Donald Nicholson - Stanley Baxter Walt Silver - John Guerrasio Miss/Mistress MacEvoy - Alison Peebles Sir Walter Scott - Gordon Kennedy Directed by Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4. By Rona Munro. A recalcitrant kilt maker is faced with the task of fitting out George IV. |
| 02 | 02 | Pasta Alfredo At Cafe Alessandro | 20080114 | 20090923 (R4) | Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter. By Rona Munro. An Italian cafe owner in Glasgow employs a little guile and cunning to defend the honour and the environment of his beloved native land. Sandy - Stanley Baxter Antonia - Luisa Pretolani Christina - Tracy Wiles Christopher - John Kazek Rockafella - John Guerrasio Radio Interviewer - Gordon Kennedy Directed by Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4. By Rona Munro. An Italian cafe owner in Glasgow defends the honour of his native land. |
| 02 | 03 | Flying Down To Greenock | 20080121 | 20091007 (R4) | By Michael Chaplin. A centenarian Glaswegian remembers life during the Blitz. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 03 | 01 | Astonishing Archie | 20090327 | 20090618 (R4) | Series of three comic plays starring Stanley Baxter. When two brothers get together to plan the funeral of an old friend, the choice of music is a bone of contention - will it be Sinatra or Presley? A generation and a whole philosophy of popular music separate the brothers, and the choice they finally make is a heartwarming musical compromise. By Bill Paterson. Ronnie Purgavey - Stanley Baxter Alan Purgavey - Bill Paterson Rev Margot Turnbull - Maureen Beattie Directed by Marilyn Imrie. By Bill Paterson. Two brothers argue over the choice of music for an old friend's funeral. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 03 | 02 | Fife Circle | 20090403 | 20090930 (R4) | Series of three comic plays starring Stanley Baxter. Two elderly brothers meet at Waverley station and set out on a journey of discovery involving lost mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, and learn just whom they really belong to. By Michael Chaplin. Sir Hugh Dundas/Alex Kelly - Stanley Baxter Directed by Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4. By Michael Chaplin. Elderly brothers Hugh and Alec embark on a journey of discovery. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 03 | 03 | The Man In The Garden | 20090410 | 20090625 (R4) | Series of three comic plays starring Stanley Baxter. A lonely lady on a holiday in the remote West Highlands of Scotland finds herself falling in love with two members of the same family, born 60 years apart. By Rona Munro. Duncan - Stanley Baxter Ellie - Penelope Wilton Receptionist - Bill Paterson Directed by Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4. By Rona Munro. A lonely lady on a holiday falls in love with two members of a family. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 04 | 01 | The Porter's Story | 20100917 | 20111116 (R4) | Written by Rona Munro. In this first play in Series 4 of The Stanley Baxter Playhouse fellow Scots leading actors Gordon Kennedy, Stuart McQuarrie and Siobhan Redmond join Stanley in a comedy based on Shakespeare's Scottish play, where the porter becomes the hero and invites us to hear his version of the events that led up to the murder of King Duncan; and what just might have happened after it. We will discover that it was all really Lady Macbeth's fault, for marrying Macbeth and spoiling the porter's long term plans to groom his coarse and unschooled master to be a suave, smooth operator with fine manners and a statesman like approach to politics. His plans are foiled in a series of mishaps which are hilarious and very cunning. Porter - Stanley Baxter Macbeth - Gordon Kennedy Lady Macbeth - Siobhan Redmond Duncan/Nobleman - Stuart McQuarrie Rona Munro is one of Scotland's most highly regarded playwrights, with award winning films [Ken Loach's Lady Bird Lady Bird] and television dramas [Rehab] and her Edinburgh International Festival success The Last Witch to her credit. She is passionate about history and comedy, and The Porter's Story celebrates both of these; a delightful tongue in cheek exposition of events from Scottish history which are still shrouded in mystery; Shakespeare certainly took liberties in his version. Siobhan Redmond starred in the RSC production of a new play Dunsinane by David Greig, where she played Lady Macbeth. Gordon Kennedy will be known to many for his role as Little John in the BBC TV series Robin Hood. Producer: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4. By Rona Munro. A comic retelling of events at Dunsinane, when Macbeth's porter took charge Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 04 | 02 | The German Pilot | 20100924 | 20111123 (R4) | Stanley Baxter and Rona Munro have been collaborating for some years now on the stories in The Stanley Baxter Playhouse; last year listeners were full of praise for Stanley's performance in Rona's Playhouse story -The Man In the Garden. This story is a wartime romance set in rural Scotland in the second world war. Friedrich is a German pilot whose plane is shot down over a remote rural area in the west of Scotland. He is a prisoner of war, and initially local feelings against him are vitriolic; but he, like everyone in the community in which he finds himself, is a cattle farmer, and as his English improves, he forms strong bonds with his captors, and forges an unlikely friendship which, many years later, brings him back to Scotland. Fred ... Stanley Baxter Friedrich ... Sam Peter Jackson Beth ... Vicki Liddelle George ... John Ramage Stanley, a past master in accents and impersonation, plays the older Friedrich, looking back over sixty years to tell the story. John Ramage and Vicki Liddelle play the other parts, with Sam Peter Jackson, [son of the composer Mick Jackson who wrote the disco hit 'Blame It On The Boogie'] who was brought up in Germany and is completely bi lingual, playing the young German pilot. Rona Munro is one of Scotland's most highly regarded playwrights, with award winning films [Ken Loach's Lady Bird Lady Bird] and television dramas [Rehab] and her Edinburgh International Festival success The Last Witch to her credit. Producer: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4. By Rona Munro. Friedrich and Beth met as wartime enemies and found love on a Scottish farm Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 04 | 03 | In The Name Of The Wee Man | 20101001 | 20111130 (R4) | Stanley Baxter, inspired in his own stellar career by the man's outstanding impersonations, stunning pantomime dame performances and brilliant comic timing; pays tribute to Tommy Lorne, one of Scotland's greatest early twentieth century comedians Stanley says: 'In the long and distinguished history of great Scottish comedians there is one name that stands out particularly in my mind, that of Tommy Lorne. His star burned brightly, but briefly, in the early years of the 20th century. My parents loved him, as did many Glaswegians, and in 1934 as an eight year old boy I was taken to the Theatre Royal to see him as Dame in Babes in the Wood. Although he died only a year later and I was to see him no more, his hilarious and extraordinary stage persona is still etched in my memory. He was, rightly, a huge star in Scotland, and although he may be long gone I'd hate for him to be forgotten. So this is my tribute to the great Tommy Lorne entitled, in the words of his own, famous catch phrase: 'In the Name of the Wee Man. Baxter recounts the triumphs and disappointments of Tommy's short life, where he brought laughter and happiness to many in his Pantomime Dame performances and musical hall routines, recreated in this production by Stanley himself, joined by John Sessions, himself an ace impersonator and life long fan of Stanley's , he says that Stanley has had exactly the same kind of lasting influence on his work as Tommy Lorne had on Stanley himself. Tommy Lorne - Stanley Baxter Willie Barbour - John Sessions Harry McKelvie - John Ramage Mary - Gabriel Quigley Danny - David Holt Producer: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4. A dramatised tribute to Tommy Lorne, one of Scotland's great early 20th-century comedians. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 05 | 01 | Hector's House Of Windsor | 20130113 | 20131227 (R4) | By Colin Hough A warm hearted comedic tribute to the Queen's jubilee year. The Queen's Scots gillie aids her in a cunning plan to put her unruly prime minister and deputy firmly in their place when they visit her at Windsor and she invites them to join her on a canter round the park. Her own superior wisdom, cunning and diplomatic skills are revealed while Her Majesty's wise and wily old Scots gillie looks on and enters into the fun. Stanley Baxter plays the gillie and Phyllida Law takes the imperial role in this affectionate fictional account of what just might have happened when the prime minister of the day and his deputy pay Her Majesty a visit. Written by Colin Hough Directed by Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4. The Queen's Scots gillie aids her in a plan to put her unruly prime minister in his place. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 05 | 02 | The Hat | 20130120 | 20141205 (R4) | By Colin MacDonald. Sheriff Finlay travels from Scotland to York for the funeral and cremation of his older brother William, with whom he didn't get on. When he gets there he is greeted with barely disguised hostility by William's widow. She tells him arrangements for the funeral are all made: it is going to be a Humanist service and the family heirloom fireman's hat, which was worn with pride by the brothers' grandfather, is in the coffin and is going to be incinerated along with William. Alistair decides to get the hat before the coffin makes its final journey into the flames. This will take him into dangerous territory, breaking into a funeral parlour at night and braving the criminal underworld to retrieve Grandad's hat and make a final peace with his brother. Coronation Street veteran Thelma Barlow stars as his sister-in-law Louise and Stanley Baxter is Sheriff Alistair Finlay in this black comedy with a warm heart about death, brotherly love and saying goodbye. Directed by Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4. A respected Scots sheriff tries to retrieve a family heirloom from his brother's coffin. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 05 | 03 | The Spider | 20130127 | 20140110 (R4) | By Rona Munro. At last, the true story can be told of Robert the Bruce and his encounter with that spider on the eve of battle with the English. Veteran comedian Stanley Baxter plays the role of Scotland's greatest monarch - portrayed in this sharply observed comedy by award winning writer Rona Munro as self-obsessed, selfish, demanding, rather spoilt, and with a pretty bad case of arachnaphobia. Hugh Ross plays the hermit who sorts the wayward monarch out and saves the day. Press reviews for past series: Brilliant.. with the veteran Baxter still hitting all the notes faultlessly. Perfect listening.' - Radio Times Writer Rona Munro turns tragedy inside out to brilliant comic effect.' - Daily Telegraph The seemingly indestructible Glasgow funny man triumphs again.' - The Times Directed by Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4. The story of Robert the Bruce's fateful encounter with a spider on the eve of battle. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 06 | 01 | A Dish Of Neapolitan | 20140704 | 20170822 (R4) | An Old Army colonel and his one time batman reunite after many years at the scene of their greatest glories on the Italian front in the Second World War. Many secrets are revealed and a new friendship is forged as they conspire to win back what they perceive as rightfully belonging to their old regiment. Archie - Stanley Baxter Charles - Geoffrey Palmer Luca (Waiter) - Alex Madia Arturo (Launch Driver - Alex Madia Museum Attendant - Lara Parmiani Written by Michael Chaplin Director: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2014. . Two Second World War veterans reunite 60 years on in Italy and behave disgracefully. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 06 | 02 | The Showman | 20140711 | 20170829 (R4) | In the year of our Lord 1561, Mary Queen Of Scots and the protestant reformer John Knox clash in Edinburgh's old town over a harmless entertainment involving a wayward troupe of Scots comedians and song and dance acts - led by none other than a 16th century thespian who could easily have been Stanley Baxter's ancestor. It's Murdo, the man with a fan club as big as the Royal Mile and leading light of a visiting troupe of players, Murdo and his Merry May Dancers. Murdo Fletcher - Stanley Baxter John Knox - Stuart McQuarrie Mary Queen of Scots - Tracy Wiles Chronicler - Hugh Ross Other parts played by the cast. Written by Rona Munro. Director: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2014. Murdo and his Merry May Dancers strive to please their Queen and keep in with John Knox. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 06 | 03 | Meg's Tale | 20140718 | 20170912 (R4) | How Robert Burns discovered the real story of Tam O'Shanter's big night out at Alloway Kirk. Revealed from the point of view of a young barmaid called Norah and her Aunty Meg, who finds herself the victim of a spell malfunction, becoming the horse whom Burns made famous in Tam O'Shanter. Murdo Fletcher - Stanley Baxter John Knox - Stuart McQuarrie Mary Queen of Scots - Tracy Wiles Chronicler - Hugh Ross Other parts played by the cast. Written by Rona Munro. Director: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2014. The real story of Tam O'Shanter's big night out from the viewpoint of Meg the horse. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 07 | 01 | The Leaving Of Barra | 20151209 | 20181010 (R4) | Back in 1949, a young assistant director on Whisky Galore, falls in love with a local girl on the Hebridean island of Barra where filming is taking place. Sixty six years later, his memories of that golden time come flooding back. Stanley Baxter plays the old man who abandoned a career in film to stay on the island with the woman he loved, and now faces a sad farewell. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter. John Anderson...............Stanley Baxter Peggy Anderson.............June Watson Young John......................Scott Hoatson Catriona ..................Samara Maclaren Mary...............................Tracy Wiles Other parts played by the cast. Written by Michael Chaplin Director: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2015. As he prepares to leave Barra for ever, an old man remembers the times of his life. |
| 07 | 02 | The Flying Scotsman | 20151216 | 20181017 (R4) | A whodunit set on the great Flying Scotsman in the days of steam. A rookie Detective Constable and a world weary Detective Inspector combine forces with a recalcitrant train guard to solve a murder and expose Soho gangland supremo Mickey Two Eyes and his side kick Legs Leona. Stanley Baxter is the guard who rules over the passengers and the timetable with a rod of iron. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter. Train Guard..................Stanley Baxter DI Ross.........................David Mara DC Sarah McLeod.........Beth Marshall Lil.................................Cathy Sara Written by Rona Munro Director: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2015. A whodunnit set on the great Flying Scotsman in the days of steam. |
| 07 | 03 | Two Desperate Men | 20151223 | 20181024 (R4) | Inspired by a story by O. Henry, we travel to Perthshire in the days when the streets had more horses than horsepower. We encounter two 1930s tricksters who get their just deserts when they attempt to kidnap and hold to ransom a young lad who's learned a thing or two from the Wild West. Stanley Baxter and Joe Caffrey are those two desperate men. Young member of the Royal Lyceum Youth Theatre Tom Borley is the lad who gets the better of them in this classic screwball comedy. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter. Hughie - Stanley Baxter Bill - Joe Caffrey Logan - Tom Borley Written by Colin MacDonald Director: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2015. A kidnap by two daft, 1930s' con men goes awry. |
| 07 | 04 | The Pool | 20160106 | 20181031 (R4) | Set on one of Scotland's most famous salmon fishing rivers, we meet two old men with a shared love of the art of fishing and a shared past which haunts them both. Geoffrey Palmer joins Stanley Baxter on the edge of a famous salmon pool in Scotland, on a cold wintry day. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter. Tam - Stanley Baxter Jolyon - Geoffrey Palmer Written by Michael Chaplin Director: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in January 2016. Two old men with a shared love of the art of fishing have a past which haunts them both. |
| 08 | 01 | The Boy Who Ran Away From The Circus | 20161214 | 20181107 (R4) | On a Glasgow rooftop, a former Circus trapeze artist and a sad and misunderstood young man become connected by circumstance and a shared experience of life, as each tells his story. TV sitcom star Scott Hoatson joins Stanley Baxter in another story written especially for him by award winning TV writer Michael Chaplin. Recorded on Stanley's 90th birthday in 2016 marking 77 years of his work in broadcasting. Tam - Stanley Baxter Robbie ... Scott Hoatson Director: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2016. On a Glasgow rooftop, a former high wire act and a sad young man are connected by chance. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |
| 08 | 02 | Melancholy Baby | 20161221 | 20181114 (R4) | A lonely old gentleman receives an unexpected visitor and hears a story which changes his life. Stanley Baxter is joined by Geoffrey Palmer, Penelope Wilton and Tracy Wiles to tell a heartwarming story of two babies from very different backgrounds whose lives become forever linked by events in Glasgow 90 years ago. Written especially for Stanley Baxter by award winning TV writer Michael Chaplin. Andrew - Stanley Baxter Charles - Geoffrey Palmer Mary - Tracy Wiles Rosalind - Penelope Wilton Director: Marilyn Imrie A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2016. A lonely old man receives an unexpected visitor with a story which changes his life. Series of comic plays starring Stanley Baxter |