Test Room Eight

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Assault Course

19581222

20240226 (BBC7)
20240227 (BBC7)

Philip Odell and his assistant Heather McMara investigate suspected sabotage at a pharmaceutical plant.

Starring Robert Beatty.

Lester Powell's cool Irish investigator Philip Odell features in ten BBC radio dramas broadcast between 1947 and 1961.

His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara is always on hand with her 'female intuition'.

Herbert Truscott - Hamilton Dyce

Hugh Chalk - David Spenser

David Karswood - Frederick Treves

Ken Armstrong - Duncan McIntyre

Wynn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal

Martin Dersen - Rolf Lefebvre

Colonel Guestling - Richard Williams

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1958

Philip Odell and his assistant investigate suspected sabotage at a pharmaceutical plant.

Philip Odell and his assistant Heather investigate suspected sabotage at a pharmaceutical plant. Stars Robert Beatty. From 1958.

The Broken Ampoule

19581229

20240227 (BBC7)
20240228 (BBC7)

Philip Odell and his assistant Heather McMara now have a death to investigate at the troubled pharmaceutical plant.

Starring Robert Beatty.

Lester Powell's cool Irish investigator Philip Odell features in ten BBC radio dramas broadcast between 1947 and 1961.

His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara is always on hand with her 'female intuition'.

Hugh Chalk - David Spenser

Wyn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal

Ken Armstrong - Duncan McIntyre

Herbert Truscott - Hamilton Dyce

Colonel Guestling - Richard Williams

Jill Guestling - Hilda Schroder

Policeman - Will Leighton

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1958

Odell and Heather now have a death to investigate at the troubled pharmaceutical plant.

Odell and Heather now have a death to investigate at the troubled pharmaceutical plant. Stars Robert Beatty and Sheila Manahan.

The Man In The Grey Hat

19590105

20240228 (BBC7)
20240229 (BBC7)

Philip Odell investigates another suspicious death at the beleaguered pharmaceutical plant.

Writer Lester Powell's cool Irish investigator Philip Odell – played by Canadian actor Robert Beatty – featured in ten BBC radio dramas between 1947 and 1961. His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara – variously played by Brenda Bruce, Joy Shelton, Joyce Heron, Diana Olsson but in this instance Sheila Manahan – was always on hand with her female intuition.

Coroner - John Cazabon

Superintendent Manley - Edward Jewesbury

Wynn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal

Martin Dersen - Rolf Lefebvre

Mr Twist - Frank Windsor

Hugh Chalk - David Spenser

Herbert Truscott - Hamilton Dyce

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1959.

A second suspicious death hits the beleaguered pharmaceutical plant.

Philip Odell probes another suspicious death at the beleaguered pharmaceutical plant. Stars Robert Beatty and Sheila Manahan.

Interlude In Manchester

19590112

20240229 (BBC7)
20240301 (BBC7)

Philip Odell goes in pursuit of the elusive Mrs Truscott and is shocked when he discovers her identity.

Fred Fazackerly - David March

Wynn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal

Hugh Chalk - David Spenser

Mr Russell - James Thomason

Paula - Beryl Calder

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1959.

Odell goes in pursuit of the elusive Mrs Truscott and gets a shock.

Odell goes in pursuit of the elusive Mrs Truscott and is shocked to learn her identity. Stars Robert Beatty and Sheila Manahan.

A State Of Tension

19590119

20240301 (BBC7)
20240302 (BBC7)

Barbara is arrested and charged. Then another body is discovered.

Herbert Truscott - Hamilton Dyce

Wynn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal

Superintendent Manley - Edward Jewesbury

Colonel Guestling - Richard Williams

Jill Guestling - Hilda Schroder

Hugh Chalk - David Spenser

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1959.

Barbara is arrested and charged. Then another body is found.

Barbara is arrested and charged. Then yet another body is discovered. Stars Robert Beatty and Sheila Manahan. From 1958.

06 LAST

The Final Experiment

19590126

20240304 (BBC7)
20240305 (BBC7)

Odell puts his life on the line to set a trap for the murderer.

Superintendent Manley - Edward Jewesbury

Wynn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal

Herbert Truscott - Hamilton Dyce

Martin Dersen - Rolf Lefebvre

Dent - John Hollis

Fred Fazackerly - David March

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1959.

Odell puts his life on the line to set a trap for the murderer. Stars Robert Beatty and Sheila Manahan. From 1958.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Assault Course	19581222	20240226 (BBC7) 20240227 (BBC7)	Philip Odell and his assistant Heather McMara investigate suspected sabotage at a pharmaceutical plant. Starring Robert Beatty. Lester Powell's cool Irish investigator Philip Odell features in ten BBC radio dramas broadcast between 1947 and 1961. His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara is always on hand with her 'female intuition'. Herbert Truscott - Hamilton Dyce Hugh Chalk - David Spenser David Karswood - Frederick Treves Ken Armstrong - Duncan McIntyre Wynn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal Martin Dersen - Rolf Lefebvre Colonel Guestling - Richard Williams First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1958 Philip Odell and his assistant investigate suspected sabotage at a pharmaceutical plant. Philip Odell and his assistant Heather investigate suspected sabotage at a pharmaceutical plant. Stars Robert Beatty. From 1958.
02	The Broken Ampoule	19581229	20240227 (BBC7) 20240228 (BBC7)	Philip Odell and his assistant Heather McMara now have a death to investigate at the troubled pharmaceutical plant. Starring Robert Beatty. Lester Powell's cool Irish investigator Philip Odell features in ten BBC radio dramas broadcast between 1947 and 1961. His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara is always on hand with her 'female intuition'. Hugh Chalk - David Spenser Wyn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal Ken Armstrong - Duncan McIntyre Herbert Truscott - Hamilton Dyce Colonel Guestling - Richard Williams Jill Guestling - Hilda Schroder Policeman - Will Leighton First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in December 1958 Odell and Heather now have a death to investigate at the troubled pharmaceutical plant. Odell and Heather now have a death to investigate at the troubled pharmaceutical plant. Stars Robert Beatty and Sheila Manahan.
03	The Man In The Grey Hat	19590105	20240228 (BBC7) 20240229 (BBC7)	Philip Odell investigates another suspicious death at the beleaguered pharmaceutical plant. Writer Lester Powell's cool Irish investigator Philip Odell – played by Canadian actor Robert Beatty – featured in ten BBC radio dramas between 1947 and 1961. His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara – variously played by Brenda Bruce, Joy Shelton, Joyce Heron, Diana Olsson but in this instance Sheila Manahan – was always on hand with her female intuition. Coroner - John Cazabon Superintendent Manley - Edward Jewesbury Wynn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal Martin Dersen - Rolf Lefebvre Mr Twist - Frank Windsor Hugh Chalk - David Spenser Herbert Truscott - Hamilton Dyce First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1959. A second suspicious death hits the beleaguered pharmaceutical plant. Philip Odell probes another suspicious death at the beleaguered pharmaceutical plant. Stars Robert Beatty and Sheila Manahan.
04	Interlude In Manchester	19590112	20240229 (BBC7) 20240301 (BBC7)	Philip Odell goes in pursuit of the elusive Mrs Truscott and is shocked when he discovers her identity. Writer Lester Powell's cool Irish investigator Philip Odell – played by Canadian actor Robert Beatty – featured in ten BBC radio dramas between 1947 and 1961. His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara – variously played by Brenda Bruce, Joy Shelton, Joyce Heron, Diana Olsson but in this instance Sheila Manahan – was always on hand with her female intuition. Fred Fazackerly - David March Wynn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal Hugh Chalk - David Spenser Mr Russell - James Thomason Paula - Beryl Calder First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1959. Odell goes in pursuit of the elusive Mrs Truscott and gets a shock. Odell goes in pursuit of the elusive Mrs Truscott and is shocked to learn her identity. Stars Robert Beatty and Sheila Manahan.
05	A State Of Tension	19590119	20240301 (BBC7) 20240302 (BBC7)	Barbara is arrested and charged. Then another body is discovered. Writer Lester Powell's cool Irish investigator Philip Odell – played by Canadian actor Robert Beatty – featured in ten BBC radio dramas between 1947 and 1961. His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara – variously played by Brenda Bruce, Joy Shelton, Joyce Heron, Diana Olsson but in this instance Sheila Manahan – was always on hand with her female intuition. Herbert Truscott - Hamilton Dyce Wynn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal Superintendent Manley - Edward Jewesbury Colonel Guestling - Richard Williams Jill Guestling - Hilda Schroder Hugh Chalk - David Spenser First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1959. Barbara is arrested and charged. Then another body is found. Barbara is arrested and charged. Then yet another body is discovered. Stars Robert Beatty and Sheila Manahan. From 1958.
06 LAST	The Final Experiment	19590126	20240304 (BBC7) 20240305 (BBC7)	Odell puts his life on the line to set a trap for the murderer. Writer Lester Powell's cool Irish investigator Philip Odell – played by Canadian actor Robert Beatty – featured in ten BBC radio dramas between 1947 and 1961. His feisty, long-suffering assistant, Heather McMara – variously played by Brenda Bruce, Joy Shelton, Joyce Heron, Diana Olsson but in this instance Sheila Manahan – was always on hand with her female intuition. Superintendent Manley - Edward Jewesbury Wynn Craxton - Jeffrey Segal Herbert Truscott - Hamilton Dyce Martin Dersen - Rolf Lefebvre Dent - John Hollis Fred Fazackerly - David March First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1959. Odell puts his life on the line to set a trap for the murderer. Stars Robert Beatty and Sheila Manahan. From 1958.