Two Pipe Problems
- Radio comedy drama
- BBC Radio 4
- 2007 - 2013
- 13 episodes (7 series)
Radio 4 comedy drama focusing on two resident sleuths living in a retirement home. Stars Stanley Baxter, Richard Briers, Geoffrey Palmer, Jillie Meers and Tracy Wiles
Episode menu
Series 5, Episode 2 - The Case of the Missing Meerschaum
Further details
Sandy isn't keen to attend the Sherlock Holmes Convention but succumbs to William's desperate need to be in the spotlight once more. Sandy finds the display of 'fandom' absurd - the packed memorabilia stalls and one fan's observation that he thought he'd died years before. He also finds the political infighting threatening to tear the Society apart faintly ridiculous. But William is in his bombastic element, to such an extent that he has a very public and painful row with Sandy, who quits the convention and catches the Metropolitan Line back to the Old Beeches.
William occupies centre-stage at that night's dinner, flourishing the Society's prized meerschaum used by Basil Rathbone in the Holmes films. After a bibulous evening, William rolls into bed still with the precious pipe in his possession.
He wakes up the following morning and discovers that it's gone. He travels to the Old Beeches in a panic, begging Sandy to return to the Convention to help him solve the mystery - which he does using Holmesian precepts, and restoring their friendship in the process.
Notes
Broadcast in tribute to Richard Briers.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Friday 12th August 2011
- Time
- 2:15pm
- Channel
- BBC Radio 4
- Length
- 45 minutes
Cast & crew
Stanley Baxter | Sandy Boyle |
Richard Briers | William Parnes |
Geoffrey Palmer | Mortimer Tregennis |
James Fleet | Roger Butterworth |
Joanna David | Beryl Butterworth |
Matt Simandl | Underground Worker |
Matt Simandl | Hotel Receptionist |
James McGregor | Autograph Hunter |
James McGregor | Souvenir Stallholder |
Michael Chaplin | Writer |
Marilyn Imrie | Director |
Catherine Bailey | Producer |