BBC RADIO DRAMA: THE SECOND SON by Peter Whalley

Second Son by Peter Whalley was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2013.
[Please note music has been removed for copyright reasons]
Story:
A son tracks down his estranged father only to discover that someone has beaten him to it. A stranger has taken his identity and claims to be his Father's only son.

[@ericfry5759]

Thanks for another excellent Peter Whaley story. And a very big THANKS to you for presenting this to your long list of listeners all around the world. Eric in Australia.

[@mikamee5459]

This was so well written. Couldn't stop listening.

[@TedaR]

Had to return for old times sake. Miss you & truly hope you’re well! Your extended absence has us all concerned for your welfare handsome Arch. Blessings ole mate! Cheers fr Nashville once again. 🥰🙏🏼✝️✌️

[@kmilliken7208]

Around 28:40 Robert goes to the hotel to meet Henry. Then tells her “James is dead “ instead of Henry is dead.

[@MarleneCurrie-j5e]

Yes that confused me too

[@Alan-ss3xp]

Well spotted. I do that on Tv re continuity glitches.

[@daftirishmarej1827]

Welcome to Peter Whalley

[@seanscanlon9067]

I wonder if the actor playing Henry is called James and the other actor inadvertently used his real name?

[@paulajeffrey6706]

I think he got his vacuum cleaners mixed up. James ,Henry. 😊

[@ronostick9718]

I agree with the previous comments. I put it on in the hope I would nod off, and then rerun it again later. It held my attention so much that it kept me wide awake. Thanks "Arch".

[@tzaph67]

Excellent and intriguing to the very last syllable! I love Peter Whalley, thanks so much. Am now a subscriber to your channel 💚

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

Thoroughly recommended, but not as a sleep aid! Thanks heaps, Arch. Peter Whalley is an excellent writer, and you’ve given me two great ones in a row. The acting is good, the premise is original, there’s twists and a false alarm.

[@Alan-ss3xp]

It is plays with sirens and phones ringing I struggle with.

[@NoosaHeads]

Peter Whalley is absolutely brilliant. I have no idea why they haven't made movies of these superb crime dramas. As someone else has said "he's the best crime playwright by a country mile". Totally agree.

[@misscharlotte160]

I couldn’t agree more with you about him. A great drama writer

[@lalafl200]

I'm upset I just learned of him. Every story I've heard from him was absolutely amazing. What a mind this man had

[@guerralg63]

I agree as well, but I do know why they haven't made movies from these stories, and it's because they aren't full of wokeness.

[@NoosaHeads]

@@guerralg63 A very good point...

[@Baskerville22]

R.D. Wingfield is better

[@jillylloyd5069]

Arch you are a star! So grateful for your hard work

[@michaelatlas5745]

I turned this on to fall asleep to. But it's to good

[@Loobylooto2]

This is just grand! Second listen as I potter..Thank you 😃

[@patriciakeen6687]

What I don’t understand is why the Aunty the mums sister wasn’t contacted

[@johnturner1073]

Yes, indeed. I find a number of these dramas produce questions like that. Sometimes the obvious is overlooked...

[@lindasands1433]

Listening during lockdown in NZ. Thanks for all your uploads

[@archphoenixstanton6998]

Thanks for listening

[@최일웅-c7w]

Gave me alot to think about. Thanks arch

[@nonielee5133]

Wow!

[@cathsheffield2730]

Great story thanks so much for your download.

[@swizzle1961]

Excellent

[@davidanderson3586]

Another great story from Peter Whalley

[@Ldifferent]

Excellent. Thk u for sharing

[@anne-marieriamitchell1140]

I had given up looking for plays when you went

[@whousay4672]

Good stuff👏👏

[@LadyCaroline123]

Why does Robert call Henry James at 28:31?

[@johnturner1073]

Haha! Thought it was just me and my hearing!

[@juzores1]

Great channel

[@anthonycullen9492]

Great story liked the ending

[@olivtrees8749]

How can I listen to these when they come on the radio? I'm in the US.

[@danjsy]

BBC Sounds has them for a period of time. Old ones are on archive.org.

[@anne-marieriamitchell1140]

This is an excellent source though

[@adamarlem9863]

Yes,when you leave--gone,for health.

[@kimberlykasimoff1447]

This was really good. I thought there could be other endings.

[@ellie698]

Great story but the ending gets wrapped up far too quickly

[@elizabethroberts8829]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@anne-marieriamitchell1140]

Archie thank heavens more good stuff you vanished

[@anaderol5408]

Ahh yes... a perfect example of let sleeping dogs lay....😂

[@fhills76]

My favourite playwright by a country mile,,love all his plays,,,thank you

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

@20:30 *who* *the* *fudge* *is* *James* ?What a weird mistake to slip through! Going to drive me nuts!( *at* *least* *it* *will* *be* *a* *short* *trip* ) What an error to think I could fall asleep listening. I was already wide awake because it was such an engrossing plot device, then Henry is suddenly James. When you consider all the times someone must have missed the error, or just decided, what? It didn’t matter? No one would notice?

[@LondonEE16]

Please be careful not to include spoilers. Thx.

[@barbarapalmer8224]

Actors are told just to carry on with the dialogue after making a mistake.

[@elizabethyoung4900]

This was just brilliant, great play, great drama. Loved every minute 😊

[@janebrown7231]

Well, I didn't think there was a single Peter Whalley play that I hadn't heard - but this was it. He was a superb author, and this one was absolutely gripping. I could see several possible outcomes! Thanks for the upload.

[@christinejohnson3238]

Arch, you’re back! You and your brilliant uploads have been sorely missed. Can now look forward to many entertaining hours of listening. Welcome home!xx

[@archphoenixstanton6998]

Thank you. regards Arch

[@dragonkitty101]

Christine Johnson If it wasn’t for your comment, I would not have found Αrch again! So glad to subscribe again!

[@ОльгаК-ю4г]

Very intriguing! I couldn't stop listening until the story was over

[@AliceJones-yc1kh]

This radio mystery is one of the best I have ever heard! It really should be made into a movie.

[@mmetruffle100]

Really enjoyable story but the writing had glaring plot holes. did anyone else feel like the mother was a major (and almost entirely unmentioned) plothole in the story? Her alleged son didn't know that she died or attend her funeral? They really had to ignore the mother and the aunt for the story to progress.

[@waypay1]

And who was the woman at their house that kept butting in?

[@moirahill6397]

Wow! This had me guessing until its conclusion. Fantastic story 🎉

[@helenferullo5706]

Wonderful actors. Peter Whaley is a grater writer. Would highly recommend.

[@catherinedavies3727]

Loved this one - thank you!

[@Nancy-nb1ze]

Why wouldn't Robert Sullivan just have a DNA test done as well to prove whether Henry was his father?? Kind of obvious plot hole...

[@johnturner1073]

I find a lot of these dramas, enjoyable as they are, are riddled with inconsistencies like this...

[@kimcornelissen1529]

well you do need to have the DNA from the father to compare and as the other son has had a DNA test proving he was the son it was a moot point. @@johnturner1073

[@ss-iq5zy]

I enjoyed listening to this one. Loved Laura. Thanks.

[@mariebotha4478]

Listening to this during extended lockdown in South Africa. Thank you for uploading and keeping me entertained. ☺

[@royhadley686]

Thank you

[@katieclarke1352]

That was really good. Thank you 😊

[@timothypullen8983]

These radio dramas keep me sane as I live in USA. Toxic TV and relentless adverts for pharmaceuticals - yes, I’m an Englishman. Pot of English tea, slice of almond cherry cake and enjoy the story as I sit back in my arm chair. Well done to all the radio actors.

[@doreekaplan2589]

As an American when tv was black n white scripts were all great. Now is such that I have not owned a TV for 30 years an don't miss it. Meat back in the day tasted yummy while it's tasteless today. Commercial flowers smelled sweet but today have no scent. Much was 'made in America ' while the really cheap goods were meant to fall apart quickly being "made in China", gasoline was 35 cents a gallon, moms stayed home being 'housewives' and morhers as 1 income was sufficient, schools taught art, home economics, music, second language, shop, p.e. was DAILY, no 1 was obesse, society lived by the Golden Rule with everyone being KIND, the world agreed the Creator knows what she's doing making 2 genders, we traveled, no President had been impeached or committed crimes, there was NO INFLATION , no one committed mass murder with guns of ANY kind, I could put myself through college working part time, kids had living heroes/heroines, workers all made a LIVING wage, etc all for the good.

[@nonayoung8177]

@@doreekaplan2589. i don’t watch tv but i do enjoy the streaming services . there are some wonderful stories you just have to pay for the service 🦋

[@georgirosehempson1454]

Peter whalley is superb, original and complex stories;a real gift

[@Pluscelamemechose]

Acting well enough to disturb me. Well done, but my stomach feels upside-down.

[@jauneetbrun]

Bob is the Cuckoo 😮

[@jordsupp]

Very good

[@danjsy]

Good for drama, but could everyone please stop refusing legal assistance ?!?!?

[@blighty3248]

Many Thanks...Mr Arch....Nice story well told ...sad ending though...

[@jefadan]

Brilliant .... 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@christinethornhill]

Just mind you don't fall off the edge of your seat when listening !

[@louisemcelhill5748]

That was good! Thank you.

[@jackiewacky346]

Thankyoux

[@AbiDashery]

Another great one!

[@relodinge]

How interesting!! Thanks from the DR

[@emf49]

That was very good. Most intriguing but happy to say ‘I guessed it’!! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@Catsmeow90]

Went around the houses a bit. This could have been sorted out with in ten minutes.

[@dee4174]

My favourite author. Thank you ❤

[@patriciakennedy1631]

Its brilliant. But did I hear a mistake? Does he James is dead?

[@danjsy]

He did say that. I was expecting another twist !

[@liscatcat8756]

Erm... hope that isn't a *SPOILER" just about to listen

[@anne-marieriamitchell1140]

It definitely was a spoiler!!!!! Still better than covid x

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

Well, thank goodness someone else noticed! I replayed about 6times, then thought I’d see what others said, and it was radio silence. (Pun intended)

[@sheilahay3370]

Loved this story totally not what I expected listening to the start of it.

[@archphoenixstanton6998]

Pleased you liked it. Peter Whalley was a great playwright

[@martinadarcy781]

❤️

[@wisdomtrue2008]

Apalling plot. Amazed it was ever produced. Spoler alert. Bringing the aunt in the first instance!

[@curlyanneb1973]

Another movie with a pushy young woman and a wimpy man. PLEASE. Can we get out of this genre.

[@liscatcat8756]

Movie ? That's incredible the man has been standing looking at the sea on my phone for the past 45 mins lol

[@MsDormy]

So a woman who is assertive is ‘pushy’ and a man who is less forward is ‘wimpy’. Talk about stereotypes!

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

@@liscatcat8756 it’s obviously not fast paced, then.

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

That might be fair comment, but consider Robert has just has his mother die, then had all those shocks. ETA then Bob went and got cowardly so maybe you’re right!

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

ETA then Bob went and got cowardly, so maybe you’re right