The Red House Mystery & more

Synopsis

A dramatisation of A. A. Milne’s only detective novel, plus two of his sparkling comediesA.A. Milne achieved lasting fame as the creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, but he was much more than just a children’s writer. A prolific novelist, playwright and humorist, he penned numerous works for adults, and this collection showcases three of the best, imbued with his signature wit and charm.The Red House Mystery – When a house party in the quiet English countryside turns into a murder scene, amateur sleuth Antony Gillingham takes on the mantle of Sherlock Holmes, with his friend Bill Beverley as his willing Watson. As they investigate their host’s disappearance and the fatal shooting of his long-lost brother, the duo find themselves uncovering a secret passage, dealing with the resident ghost and diving into the lake to retrieve a vital underwater clue… Alex Jennings and Jonathan Firth star in this adaptation of A. A. Milne’s delightfully droll locked-room mystery.Mr Pim Passes By – Calling round to Marden House with a letter of introduction, the elderly, absent-minded Mr Carraway Pim is graciously received by magistrate George Marden and his charming wife Olivia. But in the course of his visit, he drops a bombshell, leading the couple to believe they may have unintentionally comitted bigamy… Starring James Thomason as Mr Pim, with Penelope Lee as Olivia and Clifford Norgate as George.The Dover Road – Waylaid and unavoidably detained by the mysterious Mr Latimer, two eloping couples discover that reality of co-existing with their prospective spouses does not live up to the romantic fantasy. Ronald Ward, Norman Claridge, Gudrun Ure, Michael Spice and Penelope Lee star in this 1962 production of Milne’s engaging three-act farce.Due to the age of the recordings, the sound quality may vary.Production creditsWritten by A. A. MilneThe Red House MysteryAntony Gillingham – Alex JenningsBill Beverley – Jonathan FirthPhilip Cayley – John TelferLady Sarah Redhead – Sarah LawsonMark/Robert Ablett – Christian RodskaRuth Norris – Jenny CoverackInspector Birch – David LloydElsie/Angela Norbury – Nicole ArumugamMrs Stevens/Mrs Norbury – Angela NewmarchDramatised by Sue RodwellDirected by Sara DaviesFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 September 2000Mr Pim Passes ByOlivia – Penelope LeeGeorge – Clifford NorgateMr Pim – James ThomasonDinah – Sandra FreemanBrian Strange – Peter CrazeLady Marden – Judith FellowsAdapted for radio by John RichmondDirected by John PitmanFirst broadcast BBC Light Programme, 1 November 1961The Dover RoadMr Latimer – Ronald WardLeonard – Michael SpiceAnne – Gudrun UreEustasia – Penelope LeeNicholas – John BaddeleyDominic – Norman ClaridgeAdapted for radio by Cynthia PugheProduced by Norman WrightFirst broadcast BBC Light Programme, 13 June 1962With thanks to Keith Wickham and The Radio Circle.© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd