Vincent McInerney

James Ellis

Eric Allan

Melinda Walker

Bill Monks

Ken Cumberlidge

Full Cast

June Barrie

Richard Pearce

Three Full-Cast BBC Radio Crime Dramas

A trilogy of thrillers set in Liverpool, featuring the formidable Detective Inspector Crust 
 
Veteran scriptwriter Vincent McInerney draws on his lifelong knowledge of Liverpool and his background in the Merchant Marine in these engaging thrillers, in which the gruff, indomitable John Crust and his sidekick Minty probe the circumstances surrounding a missing husband, a stolen sculpture and a hidden treasure. 
 
O’Rourke’s First Case – Made redundant at 40, John O’Rourke gets a grant from the Enterprise Allowance Board and sets up as a private detective. Hired by Mrs Rate to trace her absent spouse, he’s soon caught up in a dangerous scheme involving modern art, drug money and shoot-outs on container ships. Fortunately, Inspector Crust is also investigating, and monitoring the rookie PI’s progress. Can the redoubtable copper ensure that O’Rourke’s first case isn’t also his last? 
 
The Finger of Suspicion – With the university rag day parade in full swing, Inspector Crust is keeping his beady eye on the floats making their way through the city centre. So when a helicopter suddenly appears, and hoists the Epstein statue off Lewis’s department store, Crust assumes it’s an elaborate student prank. But when the police receive a ransom note, together with one of the statue’s fingers, he starts to have second thoughts. 
 
The Bell – Following the death of shipowner Oliver Bright, his granddaughter Elizabeth prepares to sell his house and possessions at auction. Rumour has it that among his worldly goods is a rare artefact saved during the sinking of the Titanic – and psychotic criminal Tarrant will stop at nothing to lay his hands on it. But Inspector Crust is also on the trail of the missing relic, and is determined to find it first... 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Vincent McInerny 
Directed by Shaun MacLoughlin 
 
Starring James Ellis as Inspector Crust and Bill Monks as Minty 
 
O’Rourke’s First Case 
John O'Rourke – Ken Cumberlidge 
Mr O'Rourke – Richard Tate 
Chris – Maureen O’Brien 
Curly – Dominic Rickhards 
Mrs Rate – June Barrie 
Ronnie Rate – Eric Allan 
Bogger – David Goudge 
Captain/Adrian Mince – Christian Rodska 
Charlie – Jonathan Nibbs 
Barman/Compere – Ian Targett 
Scratcher – David Learner 
Operator – Maryon Ellor 
‘Just Another Night’ written and sung by Vincent McInerney 
Musicians: Steve Wright (guitar), Dave Dover (bass) and Steve Bartley (percussion) 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 January 1990 
 
The Finger of Suspicion 
Guy – Richard Pearce 
Colonel Rivers – David Bannerman 
Malcolm – Kim Wall 
James – Brendan Charleson 
Mr Patch – Peter Copley 
Julia – Carolyn Backhouse 
Billy/Eddie – Christian Rodska 
Mrs Rivers – Peggy Ann Wood 
Arthur Frank – Richard Tate 
Mandy – Cheryl Maiker 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 February 1992 
 
The Bell 
Elizabeth – Teresa Gallagher 
Tarrant – Eric Allan 
Father Kennedy – Peter Caffrey 
Mrs Moran – June Barrie 
Dicky Bird – William Eedle 
Eileen – Sue Jenkins 
Alf Gringod – Gerry Hinks 
Mitzi Müller – Melinda Walker 
Gottfried Müller – William Eedle 
Jim Rawson – Sion Probert 
George – Derek Hicks 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 August 1993 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Vincent McInerney

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