Bill Nighy returns as the actor and amateur sleuth, Charles Paris

Bored, broke and reduced to baring all as a life model, Charles Paris is relieved to land a role in a new sitcom – even if it is woefully unfunny. But no sooner has filming begun than things start to go wrong. First a charmless PA dies in a freak accident, then the young, cocksure director bites the dust. Once again, Charles finds himself on the case, hunting for clues from a host of showbiz suspects including an insecure, ego-ridden TV detective, a director suffering a midlife crisis, an ex-Bond girl and National Treasure, and her cognitively confused rock star husband.

As the pound shop Poirot investigates, Frances (his semi-detached wife), and Maurice (his worse-than-useless agent), are furious. Following a skiing accident, Maurice has moved in with them, and is proving to be the house guest from hell. As tensions rise at home and on set, can Charles work out who is killing off the cast and crew – and more importantly, stop Frances from murdering Maurice?

Jeremy Front’s witty drama stars Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice.

Credits
Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett
Directed by Sally Avens
Technical producers: Peter Ringrose & Alison Craig
Production Coordinator: Luke MacGregor

Cast
Charles – Bill Nighy
Frances – Suzanne Burden
Maurice – Jon Glover
Ash Amos – Phaldut Sharma
Judy Gilmore – Christine Kavanagh
Stevie Dean / Howard Langridge – Tony Turner
Scott / Argyll / Art Tutor - Joseph Ayre
Sadie – Maggie Service
Cheryl – Anna Spearpoint
Barmaid – Abbie Andrews

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 27 January – 17 February 2025