Daunt & Dervish

The Complete BBC Radio Crime Series

By: Guy Meredith

Narrated by: Anna Massey, Bill Paterson, Frances Barber, Full Cast, Imelda Staunton, Sean Scanlan, Sylvestra Le Touzel

All four series of the jaunty crime drama featuring two ex-spies who set up a private detective agency

London,1953. Josephine Daunt and Susan Dervish both worked for the Ministry of Defence during the Second World War, doing top-secret, highly dangerous espionage work. But in peacetime, they find themselves without a job and feeling useless. Determined to put their talents to good use, they decide to set up a detective agency, with the help of former private eye Bill Mackie.

From their Covent Garden office, they handle a steady flow of business. But the ladies’ lives really become exciting when they rescue a woman from drowning – only to discover that she’s not what she seems. Soon, the daring duo are caught up in all manner of challenging cases, including a sporting assignment involving a priest and an Olympic boxing hopeful, a request to bid on a Monet that takes them on a trail across the Channel, a commission to investigate film actress Belinda Lane and a theft at a fashion designer’s workshop that leads them into a world of Teddy boys, political machinations and murder....

Guy Meredith's light-hearted crime series stars Anna Massey as Josephine Daunt, while Imelda Staunton, Frances Barber and Sylvestra Le Touzel play Susan Dervish. Bill Paterson and Sean Scanlan co-star as Bill Mackie.

Written by Guy Meredith.

Format by Imelda Staunton and Anna Massey.

Series 1 produced by Cherry Cookson and directed by Janet Whitaker.

Series 2-4 produced and directed by Colin Guthrie.

Clarinet played by Julian Stringle (Series 3, Episode 1).

©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Enjoyable mid-20th century detectives

Enjoyable series set in post WWII London. Not exactly gripping but a good way to pass the time while doing chores and errands.

Excellent teleplsy

Great performance and good writing. These are worth a credit. The stories are straightforward but engaging.

Fun delightful listening

This BBC audio drama is wonderful. I found it to be a great listen before bed cheerful escapism with great performances. The humor and pacing reminds me a little of films like Bringing up Baby or His Girl Friday. I love the 2 female protagonists.