David Ashton Radio Plays
David Ashton: Actor and writer; well-known for his "McLevy" series based on the adventures of a Victorian police inspector; less well-known for some good radio plays....
BBC Radio Plays
Old Ladies at the Zoo....1986
9 Sep 86, R4...Two grumpy old ladies meet at the zoo to discuss the
animals, only occasionally letting a truth or two slip
out. Repeated recently on BBC7.
The Wind Bear*....1986, rpt. 1988
R4, 30 Apr 1986, SNT. A wonderful comic detective story, with an absent-minded taxidermist
as the main character. Has he murdered his wife, or hasn't he?
And is he really as dozy as he appears to be? An experienced police
inspector and his assistant (not over-endowed with brains) try to
prove him guilty - they don't have any other suspects- but as the
plot twists and turns, and the police excavate a bowl of five-year-old
buried tripe from the garden, the plot is gradually revealed.
Excellent writing and casting throughout. With Bernard Hepton and
Norman Jones.
Death of a Fly*....1989
R4, 16 Dec 1989, SNT. Rather odd title of a well-written thriller.
With Alexander Morton, Siobhan Redmond, Tom Fleming, Russell Hunter.
McLevy* , by David Ashton (R4, 1415, Thursdays, ending 11 Jan 01) chronicled some cases of a Victorian police inspector from Edinburgh, and is based on a policeman's diary from that time. There is a nice sub-plot running through the plays: his affection for a lady who runs the local brothel. This is a highly entertaining series....... ND, VRPCC newsletter, Apr 01.
David Ashton has found a winning formula with his entertaining tales of McLevy*, Inspector of Crime. Another series began with A Good Walk Spoilt (R4, 1415, 18 Jun 02), where a body is found on Leith golf links on the eve of a major golf championship. The casting here is excellent; Brian Cox is the indomitable McLevy, Michael Perceval- Maxwell his sidekick Mulholland, and Siobhan Redmond the brothel- keeper Jean Brash. The series is purportedly based on the memoirs of a Victorian Inspector, but one sometimes wonders if his journal was quite so full of entertaining tales.........ND, VRPCC newsletter, Sep 02
Asterisked items known to exist in VRPCC collections.
SNT
denotes Saturday Night Theatre.
McLEVY EPISODES
26-07-99 title nk
28-11-00 The trophy club
07-12-00 title nk
14-12-00 title nk
21-12-00 For unto us
28-12-01 title nk
04-01-01 title nk
11-01-01 title nk
24-05-02 For unto us
31-05-02 The trophy club
07-06-02 The second shadow
14-06-02 The burning question
19-06-02 A good walk spoilt
26-06-02 Wild justice
03-07-02 The wild spark
10-07-02 Stab in the back
27-08-03 A good walk spoilt
03-09-03 Wild justice
10-09-03 The wild spark
17-09-03 Stab in the back
01-12.03 Behind the curtain
08-12-03 A voice from the grave
15-12-03 The dark shadow
22-12-03 Servant of the Crown
EPISODE NOTES
Behind the Curtain....2003
A death threat written in blood is found pinned to the wall
of a dressing room at the Parade Theatre. With Brian Cox,
Siobhan Redmond, David Ashton, Michael Perceval-Maxwell, Gabriel Quigley,
Alan Cox, Struan Rodger, Colette O'Neill, Simon Donaldson,
Clare McCarron. Director Patrick Rayner.
A Voice from the Grave....2003
Jean Brash has a mystery lover. Does he know anything of
the brutal murder which has been committed nearby?
With Brian Cox,
Siobhan Redmond, David Ashton, Michael Perceval-Maxwell,
Forbes Masson, Sean Scanlon, Colette O'Neill,
Tom Smith, Sandra Clark, Rovert McIntosh. Director Patrick Rayner.
The dark shadow....2003
A jewel theft brings an infamous
criminal within range of McLevy. With Brian Cox, Siobhan Redmond,
Stella Gonet, Jimmy Yuill, Tom Smith, Michael Perceval-Maxwell, David
Aston, Colette O'Neill, Kananu Kirimi, Robin Laing, Frances Thorburn.
Director Patrick Rayner.
Behind the curtain....2003
The Queen is visiting Edinburgh. But the recent
Crimean War has stirred up the political extremists. A protection
squad is needed. With Brian Cox, Siobhan Redmond, Patrick Malahide, Tom
Goodman-Hill, Michael Perceval-Maxwell, David Ashton, Colette O'Neill,
Tom Smith, Tom Cotcher; director Patrick Rayner.
Nigel Deacon / Diversity Website
