Inspector West: A Classic BBC Radio Crime Collection

Three Action-Packed Vintage Adventures

By: John Creasey

Narrated by: full cast, Patrick Allen, Sarah Lawson

Three vintage crime serials, adapted from John Creasey's hugely popular thrillers.

Roger West is a home-loving, hard-hitting and very human policeman. Nicknamed 'Handsome' West, he's more than just a pretty face—he's also Scotland Yard's youngest, smartest detective and a crime-solving supremo. Six of his adventures were dramatised for radio between 1967 and 1971, but only three survived, all of which are included in this box set.

'Battle for Inspector West' - Idle curiosity takes the Chief Inspector to a high-society wedding—and leads him into a case involving a notorious blackmailer and a missing bride. Drawn into a web of terror, West comes face-to-face with an old adversary—a dangerous criminal mastermind named Carosian....

'Inspector West at Home' - When Roger West finds the dead body of a small-time crook, he faces opposition from the formidable Superintendent Abbott, his superior at the Yard. Suspended from duty, he sets out on a trail of conspiracy, corruption and murder....

'Inspector West at Bay' - First West is targeted by a vicious attacker, then his wife, Janet, receives an anonymous, threatening message. Caught up in a deadly game of blind man's buff, can he save himself and his family from an enemy who seems determined to destroy them?

Starring real-life husband and wife Patrick Allen and Sarah Lawson as Roger and Janet West, these three full-cast dramas are full of excitement and suspense. Also featured is a 30-minute episode from The Radio Detectives, 'Stand by for West', in which Professor Jeffrey Richards investigates the 'master craftsman of mystery' John Creasey and his greatest creation, Inspector West.

Written by John Creasey.

Adapted by Maurice Travers.

Starring Patrick Allen as Chief Inspector Roger West and Sarah Lawson as Janet West.

'Battle for Inspector West'

Michael Grant - Philip Bond

Christine Grant - Denise Buckley

Sir Guy Chatworth - Hamilton Dyce

Prendergast - John Cazabon

Vic - Charles Haggith

Carosian - Francis de Wolff

Arthur Morley - Preston Lockwood

Julieta - Eva Stuart

Sir Mortimer Grant - Humphrey Morton

Detective Sergeant Hubert Gill - Trevor Bannister

Pearly Willis - Henry Stamper

Superintendent Mulloon - Harry Webster

Produced by John Fawcett Wilson.

First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 4th May - 15th June 1967.

'Inspector West at Home'

Detective Inspector Bob Cornish - Frederick Treves

Mark Lessing - Edward de Souza

Superintendent Abbott - Grant Taylor

Pep Morgan - Harry Landis

Pickerell - Robert James

Sir Guy Chatworth - Maurice Hedley

Mrs Fleming - Margaret Robertson

Lois Randall - Carol Marsh

Bill Tennant - Anthony Jackson

'Whistler' Malone - Rio Fanning

Raymond Fleming - Frederick Jaeger

Produced by John Fawcett Wilson.

Pianist: Max Harris.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 25th March - 15th April 1968.

'Inspector West at Bay'

Sir Guy Chatworth - Maurice Hedley

Detective Inspector Bill Sloan - Derek Newark

Mark Lessing - James Kerry

Eve Wedlake - Anna Gilchrist

With Leonard Fenton, John Baddely, Elizabeth Proud, Judy Bennett, Margaret Wolfit, Peter Williams, John Pullen, Ian Frost and Peter Thompson.

Produced by John Browell.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 27th May - 19th June 1969.

The Radio Detectives, Series 3 Episode 5: 'Stand by for West'

Presented by Professor Jeffrey Richards.

With Richard Creasey, Patrick Allen and Sarah Lawson.

Produced by Liz Anstee.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 28th March 2000.

©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

One of the best BBC Legacies

In the heroic style of the Paul Temple series. Good guys and gals thrive with plenty of action

Late 1960s BBC radio detective

I love the old BBC radio detectives and I will definitely listen to the Inspector West performances again. They’re like watching television while running errands, doing chores, and even exercising. Sometimes the “little lady” treatment of the wife (Janet) got a little old but I just remind myself that this was considered the norm 50 years ago. I wish the other three productions had survived!

Interesting fact: the actor and actress playing West and his wife were married in real life.