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Charles Paris: Dead Room Farce
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, full cast, Suzanne Burden
- Series: Charles Paris Dramatisations
- Length: 1 hr and 51 mins
- Radio/TV Programme
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
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Summary
Bill Nighy stars as actor and amateur sleuth Charles Paris in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Simon Brett's novel.
Charles' career is on the up. He's starring in a revival of a popular (though hackneyed) 70s farce – and while his fellow actors aren't exactly who you'd want to find yourself in bed with, he's happy to be in work.
But while there may be comedy on stage, offstage it's rapidly turning into a whodunnit. First the director drops dead, then another premature death follows soon after when an audio producer doing a promo for the show dies in suspicious circumstances.
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This witty, stylish dramatisation by Jeremy Front stars Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Skylight, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as his long-suffering wife Frances.
Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett.
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What listeners say about Charles Paris: Dead Room Farce
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- StevieBee
- 27-05-18
Bill Nighy well what can you say..
I have had all of the Charles Paris books and have not found one that I disliked. Written brilliantly by Simon Brett and co, in a way that is funny but also infectious and enjoyable to follow the plot till the end.
3 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 17-03-21
Enjoyable and witty
I do enjoy this series for the sarky, snappy dialogue, more than for the murder mysteries although those are also good fun. Great quality production and excellent cast. A nice way to spend a couple of hours.
1 person found this helpful
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- Nina Burgess
- 31-05-20
Gotta love Charles Paris
It's another fun story from the series, once you start it's hard to stop, bit like a good bottle of whiskey!
1 person found this helpful
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- Anne Wake
- 08-02-20
Such fun.
Hilarious, great acting, fun and silly story. The sound effects were excellent. I loved, loved, loved it.
1 person found this helpful
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- ChrisH
- 09-01-20
another good play from the bbc
yet again the bbc show what they are good at fr.
as with all the Charles church
1 person found this helpful
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- albatross
- 30-12-19
Must love Bill Nighy
"I have the best words." That got me laughing so hard while trying to catch some nap.
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 28-12-19
bill Nighy excellent
as Charles Paris Bill Nighy was excellent as always.. The plot a bit thin no real back story. but entertaining.. It was over before you could get into the murder.
1 person found this helpful
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- Deb
- 14-12-19
very good
enjoyed it immensely. great performances. love the characters. will buy another as worth it. terrific.
1 person found this helpful
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- theweeg
- 11-12-19
Great actors but bit slow
Loved the performances but took a while to get into and always felt a little strange. Did enjoy it though
1 person found this helpful
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- Mrs. Sue Bembridge
- 11-12-19
entertaining but...
I enjoy the charles paris dramas. They are lighthearted and the main actors are wonderful. They could be excellent if the stories were not so formulaic. That is the disappointing thing. The same situations and elements come up again and again.
1 person found this helpful
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- Lazlo Shaw
- 20-12-21
A great listen.
Loved the reading, the performance was great.
always looking forward to the next broadcast.
Simon Bret and Bill nighy are a great team.
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- Susan Herr
- 21-12-20
Bill Nighy is always great
Entertaining, but too short. I wish there were more to listen to on these recordings.
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- M. Giorgi
- 17-08-20
Great One
Just lay back and listen to a really great story. Excellent actors. Close your eyes and Enjoy!!!!!!!!
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- DrK
- 01-05-19
irresistible as usual
Charles attempts rehabbing! I love it. Keeps the character interesting while catching him up to Nighy’s real-life sobriety.
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- Simon Wood
- 13-04-18
Slapstick overwhelms the story
What did you like best about Charles Paris: Dead Room Farce? What did you like least?
I really like the books and Charles Paris. The Radio dramas do the books a certain injustice. They focus more on Charles being a screw-up and his pratfalls than the mystery.
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- Anniej
- 08-04-18
It’s a waste
When I read the reviews it sounded interesting.....it’s a waste of time, don’t bother!
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- VMW
- 05-04-18
For this, I waited?
this was not my favorite production. it was very much like a farce itself 😐