L O R D P E T E R W I M S E Y ------- --------- ----------- 1973-1983 First Show: 30 Dec, 1973 Last Show: 07 Feb, 1983 Number Shows: 67 Audition Show: none Series Description: Lord Peter Wimsey, the creation of Dorothy L. Sayers, is, through her writings, brother to the Duke of Denver, war hero, and amateur sleuth. He has been described as the diametrical opposite of Sherlock Holmes. Both are brilliant but where Holmes is stern, cold, and implacable, Wimsey is more the well-educated upper-class type. At least that's what he shows us on the outside. Dorothy L. Sayers' first Lord Peter Wimsey novel, "Whose Body?", appeared in 1923. More short stories and novels appeared over the next twenty years, after which Sayers retired her sleuth. The popularity of her works lived on, and in the end of 1973, arrived on BBC Radio 4, with the adaptation of the first Winsey novel. This was the first of 10 serials, all adaptations of Sayers' novels. Ian Carmichael had already amassed a distinguished list of credits in British theatre, film and television when he appeared on radio as Wimsey. The character seemed made for him and eventually led to his taking the character to television, eventually appearing on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre in the US. Each of the radio serials aired on BBC Radio 4. Although the number of episodes in a series varied, the length of each sposide was approximetly 30 minutes. The radio serials later aired in the US on National Public Radio stations. Novels adapted for TV starring Ian Carmichael are: CLOUDS OF WITNESS (1972) THE UNPLEASANTNESS AT THE BELLONA CLUB (1973) MURDER MUST ADVERTISE (1973) THE NINE TAILORS (1974) THE FIVE RED HERRINGS (1975) Three more adaptations of Sayers' novels for TV, this time starring Edward Petherbridge, are: STRONG POISON (1987) HAVE HIS CARCASE (1987) GAUDY NIGHT (1987) Log Comments: This log is the result of an episode listing from Ian Beard in the UK and a number of internet sites. Many of the serials are available on cassette from the BBC in their BBC Radio Collection. Each serial is listed first with series title, followed by some general information and then by an episode list. Serial titles are in upper case, episode titles are in quotes. Two single-part broad- casts are also listed. Chronological Log: Date Day Num Title ------------ --- --- ---------------------------------------- WHOSE BODY? adapted by Chris Miller, produced by Simon Brett, broadcast at 7:00 PM 30 Dec, 1973 Sun 1 "The Body In The Bath" 06 Jan, 1974 Sun 2 "Disappearance Of A Financier" 13 Jan, 1974 Sun 3 "Lunch At Lady Swaffham's" 20 Jan, 1974 Sun 4 "Shellshock" 27 Jan, 1974 Sun 5 "Bunter Brings A Letter" CLOUDS OF WITNESS adapted by Peter Jones and Tania Lieven, produced by Simon Brett, broadcast at 7:00 PM 03 Feb, 1974 Sun 1 "The Riddlesdale Inquest" 10 Feb, 1974 Sun 2 "Mudstains And Bloodstains" 17 Feb, 1974 Sun 3 "The Diamond Cat" 24 Feb, 1974 Sun 4 "Mary Quite Contrary" 03 Mar, 1974 Sun 5 "The Morning After" 10 Mar, 1974 Sun 6 "In A Fog" 17 Mar, 1974 Sun 7 "The Barometer Falls" 24 Mar, 1974 Sun 8 "The Speech For The Defence" UNNATURAL DEATH adapted by Chris Miller, produced by Simon Brett, broadcast at 7:30 PM 05 May, 1975 Mon 1 "No Sign Of Foul Play" 12 May, 1975 Mon 2 "Death In Epping Forest" 19 May, 1975 Mon 3 "The Will" 26 May, 1975 Mon 4 "Hallelujah" 02 Jun, 1975 Mon 5 "The Property Act" 09 Jun, 1975 Mon 6 "Vera Findlater" 16 Jun, 1975 Mon 7 "Miss Climpson Investigates" THE UNPLEASANTNESS AT THE BELLOA CLUB adapted by Chris Miller, produced by Simon Brett, broadcast at 7.30pm 23 Jun, 1975 Mon 1 "Armistice Night" 30 Jun, 1975 Mon 2 "The General's Last Evening" 07 Jul, 1975 Mon 3 "Mr. Oliver" 14 Jul, 1975 Mon 4 "Exhumation" 21 Jul, 1975 Mon 5 "At Lady Dormer's" 28 Jul, 1975 Mon 6 "Ann Dorland" STRONG POISON adapted by Chris Miller, produced by Simon Brett, broadcast 7:30 PM 17 May, 1976 Mon 1 "Old Bailey" 24 May, 1976 Mon 2 "Ten Minutes In Bloomsberry" 31 May, 1976 Mon 3 "Norman Urquhart" 07 Jun, 1976 Mon 4 "Miss Murchison" 14 Jun, 1976 Mon 5 "Pongo" 21 Jun, 1976 Mon 6 "Turkish Delight" THE FIVE RED HERRINGS adapted by Chris Miller, produced by Simon Brett, broadcast at 8:00 PM 04 Jan, 1978 Wed 1 "The Body In The Burn" 11 Jan, 1978 Wed 2 "Disappearances" 18 Jan, 1978 Wed 3 "Bicycles" 25 Jan, 1978 Wed 4 "Bunter Investigates" 01 Feb, 1978 Wed 5 "Alibis" 08 Feb, 1978 Wed 6 "Evidence Of A Commercial Traveller" 15 Feb, 1978 Wed 7 "Council Of War" 22 Feb, 1978 Wed 8 "Reconstruction" MURDER MUST ADVERTISE adapted by Alastair Beaton, produced by Martin Fisher, broadcast at 8:30 PM 01 Jan, 1979 Mon 1 "Death Comes To Pym's Publicity" 08 Jan, 1979 Mon 2 "Singular Spotlessness Of A Lethal Weapon" 15 Jan, 1979 Mon 3 "Unsentimental Masquerade Of A Harlequin" 22 Jan, 1979 Mon 4 "Inexcusable Invasion Of A Ducal Entertainment" 29 Jan, 1979 Mon 5 "Sudden Decease Of A Man In Dress Clothes" 05 Feb, 1979 Mon 6 "Appropriate Exit Of An Unsilled Murderer" THE NINE TAILORS adapted by Alastair Beaton, produced by Martin Fisher, broadcast at 12:30 PM 20 Oct, 1980 Mon 1 "The Bells Are Rung Up" 27 Oct, 1980 Mon 2 "Lord Peter Is Called In" 03 Nov, 1980 Mon 3 "Bunter Breaks The Law" 10 Nov, 1980 Mon 4 "The Hunt Moves To France" 17 Nov, 1980 Mon 5 "A Question Of Identity" 24 Nov, 1980 Mon 6 "A Damnable Business" 01 Dec, 1980 Mon 7 "All Is Not Explained" 08 Dec, 1980 Mon 8 "Nine Tailors Make A Man" HAVE HIS CARCASE adapted by Alistair Beaton, produced by Martin Fisher, broadcast at 12:30 PM 20 Oct, 1981 Tue 1 "The Evidence Of The Corpse" 27 Oct, 1981 Tue 2 "Lord Peter Sets A Trap" 03 Nov, 1981 Tue 3 "A Dutiful Son" 10 Nov, 1981 Tue 4 "The Snake In The Grass" 17 Nov, 1981 Tue 5 "Too Perfect An Alibi" 24 Nov, 1981 Tue 6 "All A Question Of Time" BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON adapted by Alistair Beaton, produced by Martin Fisher, broadcast at 12:30 PM 03 Jan, 1983 Mon 1 "The Mysteries Of Married Life" 10 Jan, 1983 Mon 2 "Credit Where Credit's Due" 17 Jan, 1983 Mon 3 "A Policeman's Lot" 24 Jan, 1983 Mon 4 "Not Why, But How" 31 Jan, 1983 Mon 5 "Crossed In Love" 07 Feb, 1983 Mon 6 "A Chain Of Circumstance" SINGLE BROADCASTS 25 Dec, 1986 Thu "The Nine Tailors?" (120 minutes) Gary Bond plays Lord Peter Wimsey. From MURDER AT CHRISTMAS season special, on BBC Radio Four, 7:30 to 9:30 PM 26 Dec, 1987 Sat "Whose Body?" (90 minutes) Gary Bond plays Lord Peter Wimsey. From CRIME AT CHRISTMAS season special, on BBC Radio Four, 7:45 to 9:15 PM. Last Update: May 20, 2004 This log is informational only and does not imply that I have these shows for trade or sale. The shows are still protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from authorized dealers. The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis. Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M. Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).