Most Popular BBC Radio Dramas: Dick Francis

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Best BBC Radio Crime Dramas Dick Francis Books

This post details all of the BBC radio 4 full-cast dramatisations of the best-selling books by jockey and crime writer, Dick Francis.

Still some of the most popular and best-loved of the classic full-cast BBC radio crime dramas.

For more of the best BBC radio dramatisations adapted from popular and classic crime fiction, see my posts listed below.

Dick Francis BBC Radio Dramas

From 1972 to 1994, eight of Dick Francis’ internationally best-selling crime novels where adapted into BBC full-cast dramatisations for Radio 4. As a former jockey he used his unique insight to set many of his detective stories in and around the outwardly glamourous world of horse-racing.

You can get 6 of these dramas in one audiobook or audio CD collection, as detailed below.

1. Breaking Point

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4: June 1972 | Starring Michael Kitchen | Broadcast as 6 half-hour episodes.

Plot: Rob Finn’s winning streak made him one of the most sought-after steeplechase jockeys. So his subsequent collapse in form surprised no one more than himself. As word spreads that Finn has lost his nerve, he discovers a well-managed campaign to discredit certain jockeys; in his own case, a plan assisted by horse doping. [Source: Amazon]

2. Blood Sport

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4: May 1975 | Main cast: Lynnie Keeble – Cherie Lunghi, Gene Hawkins – Nigel Lambert, Dave Teller – John Carson, Joan Keeble – Carol March, Sim Keeble – James Thomason | Broadcast as 90 minute play.

Plot: Gene Hawkins is a fixer for his boss Mr Keeble: if Keeble has a problem, Gene goes and fixes it. It’s that simple. Sometimes it requires the Luger he carries – mostly it doesn’t. Now Keeble has summoned Gene back from a long-overdue holiday. It seems that a very expensive stallion has been taken in Kentucky. It’s the third high-value kidnapping in a few years. Keeble wants his horse back – and it’s Gene’s job to go out there and find it. [Source: Amazon]

3. Bonecrack

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4: February 1976 | Main cast: Neil Griffon – Francis Matthews, Maggie Lake – Caroline Blakiston, Alessandro Rivera – Mark Colleano, Etty Craig – Edwina Wray, Neville Griffon – Dennis Bowen | Broadcast as 2×45 minutes episodes.

Plot: Abducted by masked men, Neil Griffon is faced with a deadly ultimatum – obey the instructions of a ruthless crime czar, or risk the destruction of his father’s racing stables. [Source: Amazon]

4. Enquiry

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4: October 1979 | Main cast: Tony Osoba, Robert Lang and Bill Nighy | Broadcast as 90 minute episode.

Plot: After riding the favourite into second place, jockey Kelly Hughes loses his licence. But he didn’t throw the race and is determined to find out who framed him… [Source: Amazon]

5. Proof

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4: February 1987 | Main cast: Tony Beach – Nigel Havers, Gerard – George Parsons, Flora – Jennifer Piercey, Chief Sup. Wilson – Manning Wilson | Broadcast as 8 half-hour episodes.

Plot: When a party to celebrate the success of the racing season ends in tragedy, wine dealer and amateur sleuth Tony Beach investigates. [Source: Amazon]

6. Rat Race

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4: August 1991 | Main cast: Matt Shore – Hywel Bennett, Nancy – Helena Breck, Colin – Eric Deacon, Tyderman – Ian Lindsay, Annie Villars – Richenda Carey | Broadcast as 4 half-hour episodes.

Plot: A cushy job transporting passengers between racecourses turns dangerous for pilot Matt Shore when his plane explodes and he’s embroiled in a deadly plot. [Source: Amazon]

7. Whip Hand

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4: November 1991 | Main cast: Sid Halley – Mick Ford, George Caspar – Alan Devereux, Unwin – David Vann, Chico Barnes – Kim Durham, Rosemary Caspar – Patricia Gallimore | Broadcast as 5 half-hour episodes.

Plot: Disabled ex-jockey turned investigator Sid Halley is faced with a triple threat when he is asked to guard a horse, probe a suspicious syndicate and find a swindler. [Source: Amazon]

8. Bolt

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4: March 1994 | Main cast: Kit Fielding – Eric Allan, Princess Casilia – Sian Phillips, Danielle – Elizabeth MacGovern, Henri – John Bull, Roland – Simon Carter | Broadcast as 5 half-hour episodes.

Plot: Asked by a princess to fend off a dangerous cousin who is making threats, Kit Fielding agrees to help. But he also has problems of his own to deal with… [Source: Amazon]

The Dick Francis BBC Radio Drama Collection

The Dick Francis BBC radio drama collection includes 6 of the above full-cast dramatisations, plus a bonus documentary – available in audiobook or audio CD format.

BBC full-cast dramatisations for Radio 4 Dick Francis Collection
Full-cast dramas for BBC Radio 4 – Dick Francis Collection

The Dick Francis BBC Radio Drama Collection includes:

  • Enquiry.
  • Rat Race.
  • Bonecrack.
  • Whip Hand.
  • Proof.
  • Bolt.
  • Bonus episode: Radio 4 series Great Lives, presented by Matthew Parris, in which Dick Francis’s biographer Graham Lord, chairman of the British Horseracing Board Martin Broughton and racing correspondent Jonathan Powell explore the life and work of the champion thriller writer.

*The Dick Francis BBC Radio Drama Collection is available from UK Audible, US Audible and Apple Audiobooks.

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