Audiobooks by Ernest Dudley

The House of Unspeakable Secrets: A Vintage BBC Comedy Thriller

"Blurb Leslie Phillips stars in this eight-part radio comedy thriller Famous Mayfair hairdresser Hilaire knows all the secrets of feminine beauty. His VIP clients trust him implicitly and take him into their confidence, telling him things they wouldn’t dare tell their husbands or lovers. But unbeknownst to them, he leads a double life as a secret agent, working for London’s top man, Major Selby. Sent to Hamburg on a mysterious mission to steal an important tape recording from an opera singer’s dressing room, Hilaire soon finds himself in a dangerous predicament. In the course of one eventful evening, he is arrested, confronted by a knife-wielding maniac and beguiled by an attractive blonde. And when the lovely Caresse ends up half-strangled in his sleeping compartment on the Nord Express, he realises his straightforward assignment has just turned deadly. Who is the would-be killer on the train, and how is he connected to the mysterious ‘Josef’? What is the significance of the red carnation? And what part does Selby’s arch-rival, Lord Dulane, have to play in the affair? Hilaire must comb through the clues and tease out the truth – or it will be a case of hair today, gone tomorrow… Written by Ernest Dudley, the creator of the popular radio crime series A Case for Dr Morelle, this fast-paced tale of murder, blackmail and wigs stars Leslie Phillips as Hilaire, with Irene Sutcliffe as Caresse and Simon Lack as Selby. Cast and credits Written by Ernest Dudley Produced by Guy Vaesen Hilaire – Leslie Phillips Erich/Francois-Jules/Airport officer/Policeman/Newsreader/Detective Sergeant – Ian Thompson Second detektiv/First night porter/Hotel receptionist – David Brierley Selby – Simon Lack Weber/Waiter/Stranger – Leroy Lingwood Stage doorman/Taxi driver/Sleeping-car atttendant/Airport announcer/Judo instructor/Dining-car attendant/Second night porter – Michael Harbour Brigit – Hilda Schroder First detektiv/Barman – John Wyse Caresse – Irene Sutcliffe Nicolette – Ann Murray Agent – James Beattie Lady Dulane – Carol Marsh Lord Dulane – Henderson Tate First detective – Nigel Graham Second detective – Malcolm Young Hall porter – Graham Armitage Driver – Ronald Herdman Zoe Bellamy – Barbara Mitchell Hotel detective – Denis McCarthy Drunk – Ralph Truman Detective Inspector – Geoffrey Wincott First broadcast BBC Radio 2, 27 Nov – 21 Dec 1967 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution"

Ernest Dudley (Author), Full Cast, Ian Thompson, Leslie Philips (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Case for Dr Morelle: Thirteen full-cast vintage crime dramas

"Thirteen classic crime dramas featuring Dr Morelle - 'the man you love to hate!' Psychiatrist-detective Dr Morelle is arrogant, sarcastic and rude - but when it comes to catching criminals, he is unparalleled. Using deduction, psychological profiling and his keen, analytical mind, he solves cases ranging from blackmail to murder, aided by his devoted and long-suffering secretary Miss Frayle. Over the course of this series, he investigates the unexplained death of a wealthy French baroness, receives a visit from a man tormented by nightmares, probes the authenticity of a fabled gem and helps a young man in distress - and an old man in danger. Whether it's a terror campaign against a bride-to-be, death threats made to a temperamental film star, or a case of deadly experiments and thwarted love, no mystery is too baffling and no villain too cunning for the Harley Street sleuth. First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1957, these 13 detective dramas are collected together here for the first time. British film veteran Cecil Parker stars as Dr Morelle, with Sheila Sim as Miss Frayle. Also included is a bonus documentary programme, The Radio Detectives: A Case for Dr Morelle, in which Professor Jeffrey Richards delves into the casebook of the cantankerous criminal psychologist. These episodes have been restored from the original 1957 recordings. Due to the vintage nature of these recordings, the sound quality varies. Cast and credits Written by Ernest Dudley Produced and directed by Leslie Bridgmont Starring Cecil Parker as Dr Morelle and Sheila Sim as Miss Frayle Alarm Call Hotel waiter - Sydney Tafler Mam'selle Rolin - Tonia Bern Anthony Winter - Hugh Manning Hotel receptionist - Molly Rankin Miss Shawcroft - Kathleen Helm Audio recovered by BBC Radio 4 Extra listener, Steve Arnold First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 23 April 1957 Confession of Guilt Inspector Hood - Philip Ray Paula Webb - Mary Law Other parts played by Maurice Sweden, Norman Wynne, Hugh Manning, Betty Linton and Alan McClelland First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 30 April 1957 Threat to Kill Rosalind Knight - Helen Desmond Miss Curtis - Cecile Chevreau Ronnie Cavanagh - John Horsley Maid - Annette Kelly Mr Ashton - Norman Wynne Hal Digby - John Sharplin First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 7 May 1957 The Sleepwalker Helen Keen - Moira Lister Richard Wilson - Hugh Burden Inspector Hood - Philip Ray First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 14 May 1957 The Blackmailer Inspector Hood - Philip Ray Sir Clifford Forbes - Douglas Young Lady Forbes - Madeleine Christie Cynthia Forbes - Ruth Trouncer Hotel waiter - Haydn Jones Hotel manager - Humphrey Morton Lily the maid - Beryl Calder Matron - Molly Rankin Harry Fox - Ian Sadler First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 21 May 1957 Voice in the Night Miss Nicholson - Hester Paton Brown Billy Boy the dog - Percy Edwards Mr Nicholson - Alan McClelland Superintendent Denham - Fred Yule Station officer - Alan Keith Julian Smith/Taxi driver - John Baker First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 28 May 1957 The Will David Beaumont - David Spenser Henrietta Vickers - Nan Kenway Herbert Vickers - Douglas Young Darryl - Will Leighton First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 4 June 1957 Act of Violence Major Penfold - Ralph Truman Robert Benson - Trevor Martin Professor Stenberg - Martin Miller Girl - Louise Gainsborough Clerk of the Court - Will Leighton First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 11 June 1957 The Black Ruby Guy Hampton - Norman Woodland Sonia Hampton - Virginia Winter Helen Reynolds - Louise Gainsborough Bill Reynolds - Richard Bebb Aubrey Green - Desmond Carrington Airline captain/various - John Baker First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 18 June 1957 The Wedding Dress Audrey Templeton - Sulwen Morgan Evelyn Lambert - Mary Law Edna Lambert - Olwen Brookes Mrs Vezey - Peggy Thorpe-Bates Commercial Traveller/Ames - Trevor Martin First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 25 June 1957 The Gambler Mrs Ludlow - Harriet Johns Mr Ellis - Desmond Carrington Felix Grey - Jimmy Lavall Simmons - Arthur Young Man - Simon Lack Girl - Beryl Calder First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 2 July 1957 The Poisoned Air Kurt Emmanuel - David Hurst Bella Goodwyn - Maureen Riscoe Mrs Atkins - Elsa Palmer Hugo Russell - John Horsley Sgt Hammond - Haydn Jones First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 9 July 1957 Mr X Paula Maitland - Lana Morris Nurse - Maureen Riscoe Mr X - David Spenser Mr Maitland - Simon Lack Matron - Joan Sanderson Inspector Hood - Fred Yule First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 16 July 1957 A Case for Dr Morelle Written and presented by Jeffrey Richards Produced by Helen Williams Contributors: Ernest Dudley, Brian Doyle Reader: Owen Oakshott First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 June 1999 Copyright © 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Ernest Dudley (Author), Cecil Parker, Full Cast, Sheila Simms (Narrator)

Audiobook