Eight Full-Cast Vintage BBC Radio Dramatisations

Alibi for a Judge & other plays

Eight thrilling tales from the writer of Brothers in Law, featuring courtroom cases, legal wranglings, conspiracy and blackmail 
 
Barrister and county court judge, Henry Cecil wrote numerous comic stories set in the legal world, most famously Brothers in Law. Collected here are eight vintage dramas based on his works, beginning with an adaptation of his debut novel, The Painswick Line, a tale of a judge and his somewhat unconventional family starring Cecil Parker and Monica Grey. 
 
The Disagreeable Man, starring Norman Shelley and David Spenser, finds a peaceful English village disrupted by the arrival of two newcomers, one of whom is most unpleasant. In Alibi for a Judge, an attractive young woman enlists the co-operation of the elderly judge who had convicted her husband of robbery to prove his innocence. It stars Andrew Cruickshank and Lesley Burford. 
 
Next are two very different family dramas. Daughters in Law, starring Cecil Parker and Naunton Wayne, is a lighthearted story about a lawyer-loathing squire who discovers his sons have fallen in love with a judge’s twin daughters, one a barrister and one a solicitor. Fathers in Law, meanwhile, deals with the thorny issue of adoption, as the rights of a childless couple wishing to adopt a baby boy are set against those of his natural father. Alan Barry, John Westbrook and Joan Matheson star in this heartrending drama leavened by touches of humour. 
 
Inspired by a real-life case, A Matter of Speculation depicts the 1814 trial of aristocratic naval officer Admiral Lord Cochrane, on a charge of conspiracy to defraud the London Stock Exchange. No Fear or Favour, Henry Cecil’s last radio play, concerns an imprudent judge threatened by an unscrupulous blackmailer, and stars Paul Daneman, Sarah Badel and Peter Sallis. Finally, in The Buttercup Spell, the pollen of the humble yellow flower is found to have unusual and beneficial effects, causing everyone to love their fellow man. Peter Williams stars in this delightful 1975 fantasy. 
 
 
With thanks to Keith Wickham and the Radio Circle 
 
NB: These are vintage radio productions and the audio quality reflects the age of the recording 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by Henry Cecil 
 
The Painswick Line 
Starring Kenneth Hyde, Cecil Parker, Monica Grey, Frederick Treves, Alan Haines, Gordon Faith, Ralph Truman, Timothy Harley, Denys Blakelock, Stephen Thorne, Michael Goldie, Beatrlce Kane, George Merritt, John Boxer, Hamlyn Benson. 
 
Produced by H. B. Fortuin 
 
The Disagreeable Man 
Starring Norman Shelley, David Spenser, Margaret Wolfit, James Thomason, Humphrey Morton, Ronald Herdman, Alan Dudley, Hilda Kriseman, Noel Hood, Anna North, Duncan McIntyre, Wilfred Babbage, Antony Viccars, Geoffrey Wincott. 
 
Adapted by C.E. Webber from an episode in the book Ways and Means by Henry Cecil 
Produced by Martyn C. Webster 
 
Alibi for a Judge 
Starring Andrew Cruickshank, Amanda Grinling, Aubrey Woods, Jonathan Scott, Trader Faulkner, Peter Howell, Michael Shannon, Clifford Norgate, Hector Ross, Carole Boyd, Michael Burlington, Anthony Smee. 
 
Adapted by Henry Cecil and Felicity Douglas 
Directed by John Tydeman 
 
Daughters in Law 
Starring Cecil Parker, Antony Viccars, John Pullen, Gudrun Ure, Diana Olsson, William Eedle, Will Leighton, Naunton Wayne, Peter Claughton, Malcolm Hayes, Rolf Lefebvre, Philip Leaver, Haydn Jones, Derek Birch. 
 
Produced by H. B. Fortuin 
 
Fathers in Law 
Starring Hector Ross, Alan Barry, John Westbrook, Joan Matheson, George Curzon, Gordon Faith, Patricia Leventon, Michael Gough, Allan McClelland, Nigel Graham, Philip Guard, Monica Grey, Michael McClain, Fraser Kerr, Molly Rankin, Betty Huntley-Wright, Denys Blakelock, Peter Marinker. 
 
Produced by H. B. Fortuin 
 
A Matter of Speculation 
Starring Cecil Parker, Noel Howlett, Garard Green, Basil Jones, John Boxer, William Fox, Alan Haines, Stephen Thorne, Hector Ross, Fraser Kerr, Nigel Graham, Eric Anderson, Mary Wimbush, Norman Shelley. 
 
Produced by Archie Campbell 
 
No Fear or Favour 
Starring Paul Daneman, Sarah Badel, Peter Sallis, Timothy Bateson, Hector Ross, Peter Williams, Manning Wilson, Michael Shannon, Peter Howell, Antony Higginson, Michael Burlington, Michael Cochrane. 
 
Adapted by Henry Cecil 
Produced by Harry Catlin 
 
The Buttercup Spell 
Starring Peter Williams, Gerald Cross, John Ruddock, Leslie Heritage, John Challis, John Samson, Malcolm Hayes, William Fox, Philip Leaver, Geoffrey Beevers, Edward Kelsey, Lewis Stringer, Peter Bartlett, Peter Marinker, Katherine Parr, Sheila Grant. 
 
Produced by Archie Campbell 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC Radio Comedy

Brothers in Law: The Complete Series 1-3

Richard Briers stars as Roger Thursby, a young barrister in his first year in chambers

All three BBC Radio series of the classic legal comedy starring Richard Briers 
 
Inspired by Henry Cecil's 1955 comic novel of the same name, Brothers in Law first appeared on BBC One in 1962, providing Richard Briers with his first starring role on television as idealistic young barrister Roger Thursby. Adapted by Richard Waring from TV scripts by Frank Muir and Denis Norden, it took to the airwaves in 1970, running for three years until 1972. 
 
As the series opens, the rookie lawyer is in his first year at chambers, and struggling to learn the ropes. He just wants to win a case - any case - but in these 39 episodes, he finds himself unwittingly aiding a habitual fraudster, confronting a fearsome judge, and annoying his girlfriend by defending a wife-beater. Whether he's getting into a jam parking his car, having a spot of bother with toggles and grommets, or facing double trouble in a bigamy case, the bungling barrister all too frequently finds himself courting disaster... 
 
Newly restored and collected together for the first time, these three radio series are the only way to enjoy Roger Thursby's hilarious misadventures, as only one episode of the TV series remains in the BBC archive. With guest stars including John Le Mesurier, Jon Pertwee, Roy Kinnear, David Jason, Barbara Windsor and Joan Sims, this sparkling series is a must for all fans of vintage comedy. 
 
Production credits 
Series 1 adapted from the TV scripts by Richard Waring. Scripts by Frank Muir and Denis Norden 
Series 2 and 3 written by Henry Cecil and Basil Dawson 
Produced by David Hatch (Series 1, Series 2 Episodes 1-10 and 13), Simon Brett (Series 2 Episodes 11 and 12) and Trafford Whitelock (Series 3) 
 
Cast 
Roger Thursby - Richard Briers 
Henry Blagrove - Richard Waring (Series 1)/Terence Alexander (Series 2) 
Sally Mannering - Ann Davies (Series 1)/Julia Lockwood (Series 2) 
Grimes - John Glyn-Jones 
Joy - Bridget Armstrong 
With Kenneth Connor, John Le Mesurier, Malcolm Hayes, Frederick Treves, John Bresslin, Robert Dorning, Richard Caldicot, Clifford Norgate, Jean Anderson, Ann Way, Aimi MacDonald, Richard Watts, John Junkin, Thorley Walters, Denise Coffey, Patricia Gallimore, Alan Barry, John Gabriel, Frances Bennett, Betty Cooper, Patrick Cargill, James Beck, Basil Dignam, Blake Butler, Liz Fraser, Frank Thornton, Peter Jones, Sam Kydd, Jo Kendall, Patsy Rowlands, Robert Dorning, Deryck Guyler, Nicholas Phipps, Sonia Fraser, John Bryning, Leslie Heritage, Jon Pertwee, Dennis Ramsden, James Hayter, Geoffrey Sumner, Ronald Forfar, Carol Marsh, Gerald Cross, Fenella Fielding, Terence Alexander, John Baker, Hector Ross, Andrew Cruickshank, Roy Kinnear, Ronald Adam, Arthur Mullard, Sean Arnold, Douglas Blackwell, Patrick Tull, Michael Kilgarriff, William Fox, David Jason, Bill Wallis, Nigel Pegram, Garard Green, Peter Tuddenham, Brian Oulton, John Barron, John Ruddock, Barbara Windsor, John Bluthal, Norman Bird, Francis de Wolff, Manning Wilson, Martin Friend, Alec Bregonzi, Olwen Griffiths, Nigel Anthony, Felix Felton, Simon Merrick, Joan Sims, Alan Curtis, Edward Kelsey, John Samson, John Rowe, Paul Whitsun-Jones, John Rutland, Noel Howlett, Harold Berens, Alexandra Dane, Eva Stuart, Michael Hordern, Amanda Reiss, Alfie Bass, Henry McGee, Robin Hunter, Arthur Mullard and Eva Haddon 
 
Episode guide: 
 
Series 1 (9 June-1 Sept 1970) 
1 The First Brief 
2 The Expert Witness 
3 Breach of Contract 
4 Judgement Summons 
5 Counsel's Opinion 
6 Special Damages 
7 Separation Order 
8 Reasonable Doubt 
9 With Use of Bath 
10 Without Due Care 
11 Solicitor's Instructions 
12 Special Examiner 
13 Counsel for the Prosecution 
 
Series 2 (15 July-7 Oct 1971) 
14 Look It Up 
15 Tell 'Em the Tale 
16 Statistics 
17 In and Out 
18 Polite Notice 
19 Circling the Square 
20 In Reverse 
21 But... 
22 Disqualified 
23 One Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy One 
24 A Jewel of a Husband 
25 Keeping it Warm 
26 Brief Offer 
 
Series 3 (24 Apr-17 July 1972) 
27 Deaf Aid 
28 One Double or Two Singles 
29 Menaces 
30 Obstruction 
31 Assault 
32 Manipulation 
33 And So On 
34 Good Husband and Father 
35 Faults on Both Sides 
36 What Do You Do? 
37 Crabtree Disease 
38 A Piece of Cake 
39 Alibi 
 
©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

All three BBC Radio series of the classic legal comedy starring Richard Briers 
 
Inspired by Henry Cecil's 1955 comic novel of the same name, Brothers in Law first appeared on BBC One in 1962, providing Richard Briers with his first starring role on television as idealistic young barrister Roger Thursby. Adapted by Richard Waring from TV scripts by Frank Muir and Denis Norden, it took to the airwaves in 1970, running for three years until 1972. 
 
As the series opens, the rookie lawyer is in his first year at chambers, and struggling to learn the ropes. He just wants to win a case - any case - but in these 39 episodes, he finds himself unwittingly aiding a habitual fraudster, confronting a fearsome judge, and annoying his girlfriend by defending a wife-beater. Whether he's getting into a jam parking his car, having a spot of bother with toggles and grommets, or facing double trouble in a bigamy case, the bungling barrister all too frequently finds himself courting disaster... 
 
Newly restored and collected together for the first time, these three radio series are the only way to enjoy Roger Thursby's hilarious misadventures, as only one episode of the TV series remains in the BBC archive. With guest stars including John Le Mesurier, Jon Pertwee, Roy Kinnear, David Jason, Barbara Windsor and Joan Sims, this sparkling series is a must for all fans of vintage comedy. 
 
Production credits 
Series 1 adapted from the TV scripts by Richard Waring. Scripts by Frank Muir and Denis Norden 
Series 2 and 3 written by Henry Cecil and Basil Dawson 
Produced by David Hatch (Series 1, Series 2 Episodes 1-10 and 13), Simon Brett (Series 2 Episodes 11 and 12) and Trafford Whitelock (Series 3) 
 
Cast 
Roger Thursby - Richard Briers 
Henry Blagrove - Richard Waring (Series 1)/Terence Alexander (Series 2) 
Sally Mannering - Ann Davies (Series 1)/Julia Lockwood (Series 2) 
Grimes - John Glyn-Jones 
Joy - Bridget Armstrong 
With Kenneth Connor, John Le Mesurier, Malcolm Hayes, Frederick Treves, John Bresslin, Robert Dorning, Richard Caldicot, Clifford Norgate, Jean Anderson, Ann Way, Aimi MacDonald, Richard Watts, John Junkin, Thorley Walters, Denise Coffey, Patricia Gallimore, Alan Barry, John Gabriel, Frances Bennett, Betty Cooper, Patrick Cargill, James Beck, Basil Dignam, Blake Butler, Liz Fraser, Frank Thornton, Peter Jones, Sam Kydd, Jo Kendall, Patsy Rowlands, Robert Dorning, Deryck Guyler, Nicholas Phipps, Sonia Fraser, John Bryning, Leslie Heritage, Jon Pertwee, Dennis Ramsden, James Hayter, Geoffrey Sumner, Ronald Forfar, Carol Marsh, Gerald Cross, Fenella Fielding, Terence Alexander, John Baker, Hector Ross, Andrew Cruickshank, Roy Kinnear, Ronald Adam, Arthur Mullard, Sean Arnold, Douglas Blackwell, Patrick Tull, Michael Kilgarriff, William Fox, David Jason, Bill Wallis, Nigel Pegram, Garard Green, Peter Tuddenham, Brian Oulton, John Barron, John Ruddock, Barbara Windsor, John Bluthal, Norman Bird, Francis de Wolff, Manning Wilson, Martin Friend, Alec Bregonzi, Olwen Griffiths, Nigel Anthony, Felix Felton, Simon Merrick, Joan Sims, Alan Curtis, Edward Kelsey, John Samson, John Rowe, Paul Whitsun-Jones, John Rutland, Noel Howlett, Harold Berens, Alexandra Dane, Eva Stuart, Michael Hordern, Amanda Reiss, Alfie Bass, Henry McGee, Robin Hunter, Arthur Mullard and Eva Haddon 
 
Episode guide: 
 
Series 1 (9 June-1 Sept 1970) 
1 The First Brief 
2 The Expert Witness 
3 Breach of Contract 
4 Judgement Summons 
5 Counsel's Opinion 
6 Special Damages 
7 Separation Order 
8 Reasonable Doubt 
9 With Use of Bath 
10 Without Due Care 
11 Solicitor's Instructions 
12 Special Examiner 
13 Counsel for the Prosecution 
 
Series 2 (15 July-7 Oct 1971) 
14 Look It Up 
15 Tell 'Em the Tale 
16 Statistics 
17 In and Out 
18 Polite Notice 
19 Circling the Square 
20 In Reverse 
21 But... 
22 Disqualified 
23 One Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy One 
24 A Jewel of a Husband 
25 Keeping it Warm 
26 Brief Offer 
 
Series 3 (24 Apr-17 July 1972) 
27 Deaf Aid 
28 One Double or Two Singles 
29 Menaces 
30 Obstruction 
31 Assault 
32 Manipulation 
33 And So On 
34 Good Husband and Father 
35 Faults on Both Sides 
36 What Do You Do? 
37 Crabtree Disease 
38 A Piece of Cake 
39 Alibi 
 
©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Henry Cecil

Andrew Cruickshank

Full Cast

13 Full-Cast Vintage BBC Radio Courtroom Dramas

Thirteen dramatised courtroom tales of conflicting evidence, exasperating witnesses and slippery counsel, from the writer of Brothers in Law 
 
What does it feel like to be a Judge? Listen to these self-contained dramas and you can almost feel you are looking at proceedings from the lofty position of the Bench. With a collection of eccentric and amusing characters, Henry Cecil brings to life the trials in a County Court and exposes the complex and often contradictory workings of the English legal system – but which stories are based on fact, and which are pure fiction? 
 
Inspired by his long career as a county court judge, Henry Cecil wrote a string of comic novels about the legal system, including Brothers in Law, which was adapted for TV and radio starring Richard Briers. In these dramas, he draws on his own experience and his powers of invention to tell a series of entertaining stories with a twist in the tale. 
 
Andrew Cruickshank stars as Judge Henry Cecil, presiding over a baker’s dozen of cases ranging from an argument between two motorists over a damaged watch, and an unwise remark from a judge that has unfortunate consequences, to the dispute between two betting partners over their joint winnings, and the rumours and suspicions surrounding the mysterious Mr Partridge. 
 
With guest stars including Tony Britton, Irene Handl, Raymond Huntley, Hattie Jacques and Denys Hawthorne, and a supporting cast featuring the likes of Lockwood West, Haydn Jones and Leonard Fenton, these sparkling vignettes are reminiscent of the Rumpole stories, and will appeal to fans of both courtroom dramas and vintage comedy. 
 
NB: This is a vintage radio production and the audio quality reflects the age of the recording 
 
Written by Henry Cecil 
Starring Andrew Cruickshank as Judge Henry Cecil, Mr Justice Broadbent and Mr Justice Blank 
Produced by HB Fortuin 
With thanks to Keith Wickham and the Radio Circle 
 
Episodes: 
Perjury 
The Truth 
Abuse of Power 
Something for Nothing 
The Limit 
The Hidden Money 
Contempt of Court 
Free for All 
Near Miss 
Chef’s Special 
The Wanted Man 
Made to Measure 
Retrial 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, December 1967- April 1969 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Henry Cecil

Books by Henry Cecil

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