Paul Temple and the Vandyke Affair (Dramatised)

Love to listen to these stories and reminds me of the old days when I used to listen on the radio.

The magic power of the voice is mentioned in the BBC radio documentary included in this set. There are certainly several magical qualities in these vintage BBC radio serials of which the "Vandyke Affair" is the latest to be reissued. Creator Francis Durbridge provides tightly-written scripts, mixing the affectionate badinage between Paul Temple and his wife Steve with an ongoing investigation into a series of connected crimes. Settings are cleverly evoked, they change frequently, and all the suspects participate in the dialogue. There is enough to keep undertakers busy and enough to make Paul and Steve seem a high risk for life insurance. Martyn C Webster produced all episodes and attended all rehearsals in a series that lasted thirty years. For almost all the time the part of Steve was played by Marjorie Westbury. This diminutive lady, almost as broad as she was tall, and well past middle age in 1959, exemplified the magic power of the voice that never ceases to amaze me. "Listeners pictured Steve as a tall, glamorous blonde," we are told in the documentary," and Marjorie Westbury sounds exactly that. We hear how one listener, so enchanted by her work, resolved to leave her all her money. Although Miss Westbury visited her, showed her that she in no way resembled Steve, and urged her to make more sensible bequests, the lady was not deterred.This 2005 set provides slightly better sound than some of the earlier reissues in this series and, as already mentioned, a 5th CD is devoted to a 1998 Paul Temple documentary containing commentary, many interviews, and an extract from one of the earliest of all the Paul Temple radio serials.

Excellent Paul Temple as always. 100% nostalgia

Perfect gift for sister and brother-in-law they love listening in the car.

All ok.

Great series

A good story lots of red herrings

Excellent to listen to, brilliant and exciting, the cast is so easy to listen to I can not get enough of Paul Temple