Orphans in Waiting & The Children of Witchwood

Synopsis

A pair of thriller series from prolific radio writer Wally K. DalyAward-winning dramatist Wally K. Daly penned numerous plays for BBC Radio across a range of genres, including the beloved sci-fi ‘Scream Trilogy’ and the sitcoms Anything Legal and Give Or Take. Featured here are two of his gripping thriller series: the tense spy serial Orphans in Waiting and the eerie supernatural story The Children of Witchwood.Orphans in Waiting – Schoolboy Mike Jago wakes from one nightmare only to find he’s living in another. His parents have disappeared overnight, leaving him, his brother Pete and his sister Janey all alone. Reluctant to call the police, the children investigate – and soon notice strange things. Why are there helicopter marks in the garden? Who is the stranger keeping watch on the house through his binoculars? What is in their father’s briefcase? And who – or what – is The Hyena? As they attempt to unravel these mysteries, they find themselves in grave danger, and pursued by a deadly enemy... Starring Judy Bennett, Abigail Docherty and Simon Radford.The Children of Witchwood – When college student Jackie Lamont disappears from the haunted ‘Burning Field’, only to reappear, just as mysteriously, in possession of strange telepathic powers, it attracts the attention of the Ministry of Defence. Investigator B Q Brown believes there is a possible link between her newfound abilities and sinister events back in the 17th century, when six children were burned as witches. Meanwhile, the Cranford clan, who have carefully guarded a dark secret for hundreds of years, now regard Jackie as a threat. What lengths will they go to protect their birthright? Wendy Baxter and Michael Cochrane star in Wally K. Daly’s last ever radio drama series.NB: Due to the off-air nature of the recordings, the sound quality may vary.Production creditsWritten by Wally K. DalyAudio for Orphans in Waiting from Wally K. Daly's own collectionOrphans in WaitingMike – Judy BennettJaney – Abigail DochertyPeter – Simon RadfordHeadmaster – Peter JeffreyStore Manager – Danny SchillerWoman – Auriol SmithUncle Brian – Frank WindsorAuntie Vi – Jo Manning WilsonGrandfather – Edward KelseyOther parts played by Joanna Myers, Timothy Carlton, Andrew Wincott, Tariq Alibai, John Talbot, Elizabeth Mansfield, Tony Wredden, Bhasker, Fraser Kerr, Amerjit Deu and David BannermanProduced by Dan GarrettFirst broadcast BBC Radio 5, 27 Aug-1 Oct 1990The Children of WitchwoodJackie Lamont – Wendy BaxterMandy Lamont – Emily ChennerySion Lamont – Scott GrayJason Cranford – Laurence SaundersCheever Cranford – Jez ThomasBecky Cranford – Becky WrightDC Danny Sparks – Daniel SettatreeWPC Polly Bell – Lorraine CoadyMother/Minister – Jilly BondSergeant/B Q Brown – Michael CochraneIron Peter/Dentist – Robert ListerDirected by Jenny StephensFirst broadcast on BBC 7, 3-7 Jan 2005© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd