A Murder is Announced is the ninth of a series of radio plays starring June Whitfield as Miss Marple. It was first broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on 9 August 1999 and is an adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel of the same name.
This version omitted the characters of Mrs Swettenham and her son.
Synopsis[]
The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn, including Miss Jane Marple, are agog with curiosity over an ad in the local gazette which reads: 'A murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 29th at Little Paddocks at 6.30pm'.
As the time approaches, the crowds gather at Little Paddocks and then the lights go out. Surely it must be a hoax...?
Episodes[]
Episode information is taken from the BBC website.
Episode One[]
The residents of Chipping Cleghorn have been invited to a murder. Surely it must be a game?
Episode Two[]
The invitation was not a game after all, and the intruder has been shot dead - but the intended victim was clearly someone else.
Episode Three[]
Will a second attempt be made on Miss Blacklock's life?
Episode Four[]
Suspicion begins to fall on the members of the household.
Episode Five[]
A further murder has been committed, but just as Miss Marple is piecing her thoughts together - she disappears.
Cast[]
- June Whitfield as Miss Marple
- Ian Lavender as Inspector Craddock
- Graham Crowden as Sir Henry Clithering
- Sarah Lawson as Miss Blacklock
- Judy Cornwell as Miss Bunner
- Jamie Glover as Patrick Simmons
- Angela Sims as Julia Simmons
- Sarah Rice as Phillipa Haymes
- Jenny Funnell as Mitzi
- Jack Hedley as Colonel Easterbrook
- Joanna McCallum as Laura Easterbrook
- Elizabeth Bell as Miss Hinchcliffe
- Alice Arnold as Miss Murgatroyd
- Molly Gaisford as “Bunch” Harmon
Notes[]
Episodes of this story were broadcast on Monday mornings. Oddly, between episodes four and five, on 28 August 1999, After the Funeral was broadcast as part of the Saturday Play strand.