A BBC Radio Collection

The Dick Barton Casebook

A CD box-set of classic crime.  The adventures of special agent Dick Barton, set in an exciting world of criminal masterminds and espionage!

Edward J. Mason (Author) 
 The original idea for Dick Barton came from Norman Collins, Head of the Light Programme. In January 1946, he sent a memo to an assistant asking him to investigate the possibility of a daily 'cloak-and-dagger soap opera'. Matters quickly progressed and soon the fictional hero of the serial had a name - Bill Barton (later changed to Dick). Barton's history was very thoroughly researched. It was decided that he had been born on Tuesday 10 December 1912 at 5pm. The BBC went so far as to ascertain from the Town Clerk of High Wycombe and the Air Ministry exactly what the weather conditions were at the time of Barton's birth! At the time the series started, Barton was thirty-five years old. He had enjoyed a 'good' war and, in November 1945, was wondering whether he could face going back to the dutiful daily grind of the pre-war years. Having established their hero, the BBC needed to find an actor to play Barton. Noël Johnson fitted the bill perfectly: not only did he look exactly how the producers imagined Barton to be, but he was a good actor who learnt scripts accurately and quickly. However, the early days of Britain’s first daily serial were inauspicious. Within two weeks, the Daily Worker had condemned the programme as being ‘so bad as to be almost beyond criticism’. But the listeners proved the critics wrong and soon some fifteen million were tuning in to hear the adventures of Dick Barton and his pals Snowey and Jock. Although the series had been originally conceived as a fast moving cartoon strip aimed mainly at adults, the BBC soon realised that children were abandoning their homework in their thousands in order to tune in, and it was decided that all references to alcohol or girlfriends should be cut out of the script. It was still considered too exciting for some, however, as this headline from the time shows: ‘Dick Barton – Too Thrilling for Girls? Headmistress says “Yes”!’ The newly cleaned-up Barton went on to enjoy hundreds of adventures that enthralled listeners for six years. Noël Johnson left the series in 1949, largely due to money disputes, and was replaced by ex-boxer Duncan Carse. In the final year Gordon Davies played the hero. The series was written by Edward J. Mason and Geoffrey Webb. They later went on to write The Archers, which was to displace Dick Barton on the Light Programme, much to many people’s dismay – Terry Wogan has said he has never been able to enjoy the goings-on in Ambridge because they took Dick Barton away from him! 
 
B.D. Chapman (Author) 
 B. D. Chapman was an author and radio dramatist whose writing credits included Dick Barton and the sci-fi serial Orbiter X. 
 
Ronnie Colley, Arthur Colley (Author) 
 Ronnie Colley and Arthur Colley were writing partners who contributed scripts to the BBC serial Dick Barton - Special Agent.

Noel Johnson, Douglas Kelly, Duncan Carse and Gordon Davies star as Dick Barton in this exciting BBC Radio 4 collection set in the world of criminal masterminds, espionage and adventure! 
Dick Barton and The Secret Weapon 
 
In their very first adventure, Dick Barton and his army friend Snowey White join Colonel Gardiner of military intelligence to defeat the villainous Wilhelm Kramer. A new super-weapon has been stolen and Kramer plans to use it to hold the world to ransom. 
 
Dick Barton and the Paris Adventure 
In the second Dick Barton adventure, Barton and his friends join forces with the French police on the trail of an international smuggling operation. 
 
Dick Barton and the Cabatolin Diamonds 
The third adventure in the series sees Dick and Snowey’s holiday plans for a Mediterranean cruise curtailed, when they are asked to help Freddy Belfont from the Home Office break a gang of diamond smugglers. 
 
Dick Barton and the Smash and Grab Raiders 
Dick, Snowey and Jock assist Sir Alexander Morton to catch a group of audacious smash and grab raiders. 
 
Plus a bonus CD including three previously unreleased isolated episodes; the earliest surviving recording from the series and the final episode ever made. Also included is a documentary featuring interviews with the principle cast and an extract from the now lost Dick Barton and the Bonazio Gang.

The Complete BBC Radio Collection

Dick Barton: Special Agent

Set in an exciting world of criminal masterminds, espionage and adventure, the adventures of special agent Dick Barton and his friends Jock and Snowey were essential listening for an entire generation.

The original idea for Dick Barton came from Norman Collins, Head of the Light Programme. In January 1946, he sent a memo to an assistant asking him to investigate the possibility of a daily 'cloak-and-dagger soap opera'. Matters quickly progressed and soon the fictional hero of the serial had a name - Bill Barton (later changed to Dick). Barton's history was very thoroughly researched. It was decided that he had been born on Tuesday 10 December 1912 at 5pm. The BBC went so far as to ascertain from the Town Clerk of High Wycombe and the Air Ministry exactly what the weather conditions were at the time of Barton's birth! At the time the series started, Barton was thirty-five years old. He had enjoyed a 'good' war and, in November 1945, was wondering whether he could face going back to the dutiful daily grind of the pre-war years. Having established their hero, the BBC needed to find an actor to play Barton. Noël Johnson fitted the bill perfectly: not only did he look exactly how the producers imagined Barton to be, but he was a good actor who learnt scripts accurately and quickly. However, the early days of Britain’s first daily serial were inauspicious. Within two weeks, the Daily Worker had condemned the programme as being ‘so bad as to be almost beyond criticism’. But the listeners proved the critics wrong and soon some fifteen million were tuning in to hear the adventures of Dick Barton and his pals Snowey and Jock. Although the series had been originally conceived as a fast moving cartoon strip aimed mainly at adults, the BBC soon realised that children were abandoning their homework in their thousands in order to tune in, and it was decided that all references to alcohol or girlfriends should be cut out of the script. It was still considered too exciting for some, however, as this headline from the time shows: ‘Dick Barton – Too Thrilling for Girls? Headmistress says “Yes”!’ The newly cleaned-up Barton went on to enjoy hundreds of adventures that enthralled listeners for six years. Noël Johnson left the series in 1949, largely due to money disputes, and was replaced by ex-boxer Duncan Carse. In the final year Gordon Davies played the hero. The series was written by Edward J. Mason and Geoffrey Webb. They later went on to write The Archers, which was to displace Dick Barton on the Light Programme, much to many people’s dismay – Terry Wogan has said he has never been able to enjoy the goings-on in Ambridge because they took Dick Barton away from him!

Set in an exciting world of criminal masterminds, espionage and adventure, the adventures of special agent Dick Barton and his friends Jock and Snowey were essential listening for an entire generation. 
 
Originally running on the BBC Light Programme between 1946 and 1951, few of the BBC’s original recordings still survive. However, in 1949 a number of early Barton tales were re-recorded for transmission overseas starring Douglas Kelly. This collection contains 12 of the most recognisable dramas, as well as live performances, a profile of the character and interviews with the stars. 
 
Episodes include; The Affair of the Black Panther, The Cabotolin Diamonds, The Case of Conrad Ruda, The Firefly Adventure, The Lily Chang Adventure, The Paris Adventure, The Tibetan Adventure, The Vulture and The Smash and Grab Raiders. 
 
The collection also includes; 
 
Dick Barton Special Agent; The first episode broadcast in 1972, read by Noël Johnson, 
Dick Barton Live; A 2013, one-off show from Leicester’s Y Theatre using period equipment and scripts from 1951. The resulting adventure stars Tim Bentinck as Dick with Terry Molloy as his faithful companion Snowy White. 
Dick Barton Still a Special Agent; A profile of radio’s greatest hero, presented by John Hosken.

A full-cast radio archive drama serial

Dick Barton and the Firefly Adventure

A full-cast radio drama from the 1940s starring Douglas Kelly as Dick Barton.

Edward J. Mason (1912-1971) was a scriptwriter for radio, television and movies for both the BBC and its rival Radio Luxembourg. He had his first major success in 1947 when the BBC Home Service radio network began airing his British detective serial Dick Barton, which he created with co-writer Geoffrey Webb. This was the first serial to air on the BBC and it continued to be aired until 1951. The BBC replaced Dick Barton with The Archers. Originally another creation of the Mason-Webb team, today it remains as the world's longest-running soap opera on radio. In 1950 and prior to The Archers, Mason also created the radio serials The Lady Craved Excitement and What the Butler Saw, both of which were filmed in that year by Hammer Films. In 1955 Edward J. Mason created another mystery series called Shadow Man for the BBC's English language commercial rival Radio Luxembourg. Shadow Man was sponsored by Stork margarine and it ran on 208 at 8:30 pm on Tuesday evenings.

A full-cast radio drama from the 1940s starring Douglas Kelly as Dick Barton. Originally produced for Australian radio, Dick Barton and the Firefly Adventure tells of the arrival in Britain of the American master-criminal Ferraro. Operating a violent protection racket, Ferraro extorts money from property owners across the capital. Those who ignore Ferraro's threats see their homes and businesses destroyed. Ferraro's many arson attacks soon earn him a nickname: the Firefly. Can Dick Barton intervene? 
 
Special additional bonus features for this release include: 
 
'The Making of Dick Barton - Special Agent' 
An all new specially-produced 50 minute documentary covering the history of 'Dick Barton - Special Agent' - featuring a wealth of clips from the series and archive interviews with the original cast and crew. Other special archive material includes an extract from a recently discovered 1948 BBC radio episode; an out-take from an original 1949 studio recording session; a 1947 Australian radio promotional recording and a number of quotes taken from previously unpublished production paperwork. 
 
'Dick Barton - Special Agent': Episode 100 
On 21st February 1947, the BBC broadcast the 100th episode of 'Dick Barton - Special Agent'. It stars the original Barton cast of Noel Johnson, Alex McCrindle and John Mann. It is now the earliest surviving Barton recording in the BBC archives and is included here in full.

Dick Barton And The Case Of Conrad Ruda

Douglas Kelly stars in another thrilling adventure for radio's greatest hero.

Heralded by an instantly memorable signature tune, the adventures of Dick Barton and his friends Jock and Snowey originally ran on the BBC Light Programme between 1946 and 1951. Very few of the BBC's original recordings still survive, however, in 1949 some were re-recorded for transmission overseas. Starring Douglas Kelly, these re-stagings found new audiences in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Over 300 of these 'international' recordings were rediscovered in the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia in 2009 and allow listeners finally to relive the escapades of the great Dick Barton. In this thrilling story, Dick, Snowey and Jock are called in to help when a Hollywood film star starts receiving death threats. What does it mean? Can they thwart the sinister Conrad Ruda? Find out in this exciting instalment of Dick Barton - Special Agent!

Dick Barton Still A Special Agent

An affectionate profile of Dick Barton - Special Agent, presented by John Hosken, including interviews with Noel Johnson, star of the Dick Barton radio series.  Dick Barton is the radio character who refuses to lie down. Although it is over fifty years since the daily serial was dropped to make way for The Archers, fans still talk about their hero’s battles with the bad guys as if they were happening today.  John Hosken talks to the three actors who played the title role - Noel Johnson, Duncan Carse (the former Arctic explorer) and Gordon Davies - as well as chatting to Alex McCrindle, who played henchman Jock Anderson to all three.

Dick Barton And The Affair Of The Black Panther

Douglas Kelly stars as ‘Dick Barton – Special Agent’ in another thrilling adventure for radio’s greatest hero.

Heralded by an instantly memorable signature tune, the adventures of special agent Dick Barton and his friends Jock and Snowey, originally ran on the BBC Light Programme between 1946 and 1951. Set in an exciting world of criminal masterminds, espionage and adventure, the series was essential listening for an entire generation. Sadly very few of the BBC’s original recordings still survive. However, in 1949 a number of early Barton tales were re-recorded for transmission overseas. Starring Douglas Kelly, these re-stagings found new audiences in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Over 300 of these ‘international’ recordings were rediscovered in the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia in 2009 and allow listeners finally to relive the escapades of the great Dick Barton. Whilst diving for treasure in the Pacific Ocean, Dick discovers a secret Nazi organisation on the nearby Black Panther Island. Can he defeat the sinister Carl Von Reinitz? Find out in this next exciting instalment of Dick Barton – Special Agent!

Edward J. Mason

Ysanne Churchman

Anne Cullen

Arnold Peters

Bernard Rebel

Dudley Rolph

Gerik Schelderup

June Spencer

Peter  Wilde

Chris Gittins

Harry Stubbs

William Avenell

Michael Ford

Eddie Robinson

Full Cast

A BBC Radio 4 Vintage Thriller from the writer of Dick Barton

A vintage BBC suspense thriller from the creator of The Archers and Dick Barton 
 
When David Conway attends a birthday party for his beautiful fiancée Pat, he expects a few drinks and a good time, but what he discovers is that his beloved is in fact in terrible danger. Following the clues, and a tip off about her missing bracelet, David and Pat are led first to a steel works, then a circus, but instead of finding the bracelet, they uncover both a body and a realisation that they have enemies - enemies who will stop at nothing to get what they want... 
 
Edward J. Mason wrote for the BBC for decades, creating the radio serials The Lady Craved Excitement, What the Butler Saw, and the world's longest running series The Archers. He later wrote for television on series including The Days of Vengeance, Flower of Evil, and Outbreak of Murder, and this thrilling production is just the adventure for listeners of Dick Barton: Special Agent, Down Payment on Death and Hand in Glove: The Casebook of Dr Wallace. 
 
Cast and credits 
 
Anne Cullen 
 
Arnold Peters 
 
Bernard Rebel 
 
Chris Gittins 
 
Dudley Rolph 
 
Eddie Robinson 
 
Gerik Schelderup 
 
Harry Stubbs 
 
June Spencer 
 
Michael Ford 
 
Peter Wilde 
 
William Avenall 
 
Ysanne Churchman 
 
Written by Edward J. Mason 
Produced by Philip Garston-Jones 
 
Originally broadcast on BBC Radio Midland Home Service: 
26 October - 30 November 1954 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Edward J. Mason

Red for Danger

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