T H E B B C P R E S E N T S : S H E R L O C K H O L M E S
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Bert Coules Produced Shows
Rees/Crawford Version
Merrison/Williams Full Canon
Merrison/Sachs Version
1988 - 2004
First Show: 27 May, 1988 Last Show: 15 Jun, 2004
Number Shows: 61 45-minute Audition Show: none
4 2-hour in 2 parts
Series Description:
On 20 October, 1930, Sherlock Holmes made his first appearance on radio. This first show aired in the US on NBC and starred William Gillette as the great detective. After that first show, many actors have played the part of Holmes and Watson and many shows dramatizing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and novels have been offered to the radio audience. However, it wasn't until 1998 that the complete canon of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and novels were dramatized by a single production company.
In 1987, Bert Coules, a freelance writer for radio drama, approached the BBC with the idea of producing a new version of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" for radio. On Friday, May 27, 1988, the first half of this show aired on Radio 4 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. Roger Rees played Holmes and Crawford Logan played Watson. The second half aired a week later on June 3. It was a success with the press and the listening audience. Two more novels were to follow, "A Study in Scarlet" and "The Sign of the Four", but Mr. Rees was unavailable. It was decided to go with a new cast and Clive Merrison became Holmes and Michael Williams became Watson. These two stories were presented in November and December of 1989. Again, both were successful and, once again, a plan was put forth to produce more shows, this time, a
series of six of the short stories. The BBC rejected this, instead suggesting the entire canon be dramatized.
At the end of 1990 and into early 1991, the 12 stories anthologized in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" aired. These were followed by 11 tales from "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes" in 1992, 13 tales from "The Return Of Sherlock Holmes" in 1993, the 8 stories from "Sherlock Holmes: His Last Bow" in early 1994, 6 stories from "The Casebook of
Sherlock Holmes" in late 1994 followed by another 6 stories from the same anthology in 1995, finishing all 56 short stories. The remaining two novels, "The Valley of Fear" and "The Hound of the Baskervilles" aired in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
These shows appeal to fans of both Sherlock Holmes and dramatic radio. Merrison and Williams made an excellent Holmes and Watson. The canon is followed closely. The excellent sound effects transport you back to Sherlock Holmes' time. The acting convinces you it's
real. Overall, the production values are excellent.
After the conclusion of the canon, the BBC again commissioned Bert Coules to continue producing Sherlock Holmes adventures. In a similar fashion to the Sherlock Holmes shows produced in the United States in the 1930's and 1940's, these cases would be drawn from
references to cases Doyle made throughout his written works. Five shows were produced, airing early in 2002 on the BBC's Radio 4, under the banner "The Furthur Adventures of Sherlock Holmes".
Initially, the shows were planned to star the original Merrison and Williams team. Due to Williams' untimely death, Andrew Sachs wass elected to play Dr. John H. Watson.
If you weren't lucky enough to catch these shows on the air, the BBC has made all Merrison/Williams shows available on cassette. To date, only the first four Merrison/Sachs shows are available. They are sold as 2-tape sets, either containing four of the short stories or
one complete novel.
In the US, they are marketed by Bantam Doubleday Audiobooks and are sold in bookstores. So far, Bantam Doubleday has released all four of the novels but only 44 of the short stories. Those missing are all stories from "His Last Bow", the last four stories from "The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes" and all of the Merrison/Sachs shows. It is not known when, or if, they will release the remainder of the shows (write them!).
Log Comments:
This list is possible thanks to Bill Boucher, who provided a full listing of dates and titles and to Bert Coules, writer for the shows, who maintains an Internet site dedicated to these shows. Visit it at: http://www.bertcoules.co.uk/sh-home.htm
I've included a "BBC ISBN" field, containing the number associated with the BBC's sets. Bantam Doubleday's ISBN's are different than the BBC's.
Chronological Log:
Date Day Ep# Title BBC ISBN
------ --- --- ----------------------------------- -------------
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
Roger Rees as Holmes,
Crawford Logan as Watson.
1988 Novel adaptation in 2 parts
27 May Fri 1 title not known not available
03 Jun Fri 2 title not known not available
A STUDY IN SCARLET
Clive Merrison as Holmes,
Michael Williams as Watson.
1989 Novel adaptation in 2 parts
05 Nov Sun 1 "Revenge" 0-563-55765-6
12 Nov Sun 2 "The Country of the Saints" 0-563-55765-6
THE SIGN OF THE FOUR
Stars Merrison and Williams
1989 Novel adaptation in 2 parts
10 Dec Sun 1 "Timbertoe" 0-563-55738-9
17 Dec Sun 2 "The Great Agra Treasure" 0-563-55738-9
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Stars Merrison and Williams
1990 Series 1
07 Nov Wed 1 "A Scandal in Bohemia" 0-563-40906-1
14 Nov Wed 2 "The Redheaded League" 0-563-40906-1
21 Nov Wed 3 "A Case of Identity" 0-563-40906-1
28 Nov Wed 4 "The Boscambe Valley Mystery" 0-563-40906-1
05 Dec Wed 5 "The Five Orange Pips" 0-563-40907-X
12 Dec Wed 6 "The Man with the Twisted Lip" 0-563-40907-X
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Stars Merrison and Williams
1991 Series 2
02 Jan Wed 1 "The Blue Carbuncle" 0-563-40907-X
09 Jan Wed 2 "The Speckled Band" 0-563-40907-X
16 Jan Wed 3 "The Engineer's Thumb" 0-563-40908-8
23 Jan Wed 4 "The Noble Bachelor" 0-563-40908-8
30 Jan Wed 5 "The Beryl Coronet" 0-563-40908-8
06 Feb Wed 6 "The Copper Beeches" 0-563-40908-8
THE MEMOIRS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Stars Merrison and Williams
1992 Series 1
08 Jan Wed 1 "Silver Blaze" 0-563-40635-6
15 Jan Wed 2 "The Yellow Face" 0-563-40635-6
22 Jan Wed 3 "The Stockbroker's Clerk" 0-563-40635-6
29 Jan Wed 4 "The 'Gloria Scott'" 0-563-40635-6
05 Feb Wed 5 "The Musgrave Ritual" 0-563-36583-8
12 Feb Wed 6 "The Reigate Squires" 0-563-36583-8
THE MEMOIRS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Stars Merrison and Williams
1992 Series 2
07 Oct Wed 1 "The Crooked Man" 0-563-36583-8
14 Oct Wed 2 "The Resident Patient" 0-563-36583-8
21 Oct Wed 3 "The Greek Interpreter" 0-563-36584-6
28 Oct Wed 4 "The Navel Treaty" 0-563-36584-6
04 Nov Wed 5 "The Final Problem" 0-563-36584-6
THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Stars Merrison and Williams
1993 Series 1
24 Feb Wed 1 "The Empty House" 0-563-40177-X
03 Mar Wed 2 "The Norwood Builder" 0-563-40177-X
10 Mar Wed 3 "The Dancing Men" 0-563-40177-X
17 Mar Wed 4 "The Solitary Cyclist" 0-563-40177-X
24 Mar Wed 5 "The Priory School" 0-563-40178-8
31 Mar Wed 6 "Black Peter" 0-563-40178-8
07 Apr Wed 7 "Charles Augustus Milverton" 0-563-40178-8
THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Stars Merrison and Williams
1993 Series 2
08 Sep Wed 1 "The Six Napoleons" 0-563-40178-8
15 Sep Wed 2 "The Three Students" 0-563-40180-X
22 Sep Wed 3 "The Golden Pince-Nez" 0-563-40180-X
29 Sep Wed 4 "The Missing Three-Quarter" 0-563-40180-X
06 Oct Wed 5 "The Abbey Grange" 0-563-40180-X
13 Oct Wed 6 "The Second Stain" 0-563-36584-6
SHERLOCK HOLMES: HIS LAST BOW
1994 Stars Merrison and Williams
05 Jan Wed 1 "Wisteria Lodge" 0-563-39479-X
12 Jan Wed 2 "The Cardboard Box" 0-563-39479-X
19 Jan Wed 3 "The Red Circle" 0-563-39479-X
26 Jan Wed 4 "The Bruce-Partington Plans" 0-563-39479-X
02 Feb Wed 5 "The Dying Detective" 0-563-40296-2
09 Feb Wed 6 "The Disappearance of Lady Frances 0-563-40296-2
Carfax"
16 Feb Wed 7 "The Devil's Foot" 0-563-40296-2
23 Feb Wed 8 "His Last Bow" 0-563-40296-2
THE CASE-BOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Stars Merrison and Williams
1994 Series 1
21 Sep Wed 1 "The Illustrious Client" 0-563-39083-2
28 Sep Wed 2 "The Blanched Soldier" 0-563-39083-2
05 Oct Wed 3 "The Mazarin Stone" 0-563-39083-2
12 Oct Wed 4 "The Three Gables" 0-563-39083-2
19 Oct Wed 5 "The Sussex Vampire" 0-563-39088-3
26 Oct Wed 6 "The Three Garridebs" 0-563-39088-3
THE CASE-BOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Stars Merrison and Williams
1995 Series 2
22 Feb Wed 1 "The Problem of Thor Bridge" 0-563-39088-3
01 Mar Wed 2 "The Creeping Man" 0-563-39088-3
08 Mar Wed 3 "The Lion's Mane" 0-563-39093-X
15 Mar Wed 4 "The Veiled Lodger" 0-563-39093-X
22 Mar Wed 5 "Shoscombe Old Place" 0-563-39093-X
29 Mar Wed 6 "The Retired Colourman" 0-563-39093-X
THE VALLEY OF FEAR
Stars Merrison and Williams
1997 Novel adaptation in 2 parts
23 Mar Sun 1 "The Scowrers" 0-563-38159-0
30 Mar Sun 2 "The Tragedy of Birlstone" 0-563-38159-0
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
Stars Merrison and Williams
1998 Novel adaptation in 2 parts
28 Jun Sun 1 "The Powers of Evil" 0-563-55733-8
05 Jul Sun 2 "Death on the Moor" 0-563-55733-8
THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK
HOLMES
Clive Merrison as Holmes,
Andrew Sachs as Watson.
2002 Series 1
30 Jan Wed 1 "The Madness of Colonel Warburton" 0-563-55872-6
06 Frb Wed 2 "The Star Of The Adelphi" 0-563-55872-6
13 Feb Wed 3 "The Peculiar Prosecution Of Mr. 0-563-55872-6
John Vincent Harden"
20 Feb Wed 4 "The Singular Inheritance Of Miss 0-563-55872-6
Gloria Wilson"
27 Feb Wed 5 "The Saviour Of Cripplegate Square" not available
THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK
HOLMES
Clive Merrison as Holmes,
Andrew Sachs as Watson.
2004 Series 2
18 May Tue 1 "The Abergavenny Murder" 0-563-53038-3
25 May Tue 2 "The Shameful Betrayal of Miss 0-563-53038-3
Emily Smith"
01 Jun Tue 3 "The Tragedy of Hanbury Street" 0-563-53038-3
08 Jun Tue 4 "The Case Ot The Determined Client" 0-563-53038-3
15 Jun Tue 5 "The Striking Success Of Miss not available
Franny Blossum"
Reader Feedback:
* Ian Beard provided information for Series 2 of The Further
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
Last Update: Sep 14, 2004
This log 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).