Alexander McCall Smith Radio Plays
01.01.08 *The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (4 x 30m)
24.06.05 Desert Island Discs with A.M.S.
10.09.04 *The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (4 x 30m)
15.02.02 Family Misfortunes, readings.
NOTES
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, by Alexander
McCall Smith (R4, 1415, 4 episodes, beginning 10
Sept 04) was in an unexpected style, slightly
reminiscent of "Ballylenon" by Christopher Fitzsimon.
A lovely serial, dramatised by the author from his
novel, set in Botswana. Precious Ramotswe, an
independent lady, has been left some money on
the demise of her father, and she sets up as a
detective. She has commonsense, an innate
understanding of human nature, but no clients.
In the first episode, there is some scene-setting;
she is joined by a clever girl from secretarial
college, and finally gets some work. Her first
job is to check the bona fides of a man who has
appeared from nowhere claiming to be a girl's
father. But a darker case is hinted at for episode
2; a man has lost his little boy, and there are
hints that a witch-doctor may be involved .
Claire Benedict plays the detective, and she is
helped by Happy (Gbemisola Ikumelo) and Mr.
Maketoni (Joseph Marcell). The director was Gaynor
MacFarlane. (ND, VRPCC newsletter, 17 Sep 04)
....and BBC publicity from the second series:
1 Jan 08 to 4 Jan 08: ......
continuing our dramatisations of Alexander McCall
Smith ’s enormously popular series of novels set in
Botswana. Newly married to long-term suitor Mr J L B
Matekoni, Precious Ramotswe finds herself investigating
several troublesome matters at once.
Alexander McCall Smith has dramatised his
own bestselling novels to make a new four part must-
listen on Friday afternoons …Beautifully cast,precisely
timed,simply wonderful.” (Gillian Reynolds, Daily
Telegraph).
Family Misfortunes ....2002
Five interlinked short stories about an eccentric
Scottish family, by five different writers.
5: `The Reading of the Will' by Alexander McCall
Smith. Read by Finlay Welsh.
Nigel Deacon / Diversity website
Asterisked plays known to exist in VRPCC collections
