BBC RADIO DRAMA: THE ABSENT GUEST by Peter Whalley

The Absent Guest was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 6 August 2005.
[Music at end removed for copyright reasons]
Story:
A sharp and tense whodunnit. When the absent guest from a dinner party is discovered murdered, the remaining guests, one by one, become suspects.
Cast:
Ian: Robert Plckavance
Lynn: Deborah Findlay
Mike: John Thomson
Julie: Katy Cavanagh
Claire: Denlse Welch
Alan: John Kazek
Director: Pauline Harris

[@Donnie-u9f]

As an American from the great state of Alabama, one wouldn’t think I would have a great love of British programming, however, my many years of military service brought me to really enjoy them. The programs, unlike our American programming, actually tells a story. It is not just grit and grime . From Doctor Who to Last of the Summer Wine and everything in between, it is all great. Thanks from a good ole country boy from The Great State of Alabama, USA!

[@archphoenixstanton6998]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@gap670]

As a Yorkshireman from the Weat Riding and ex soldier, I love our home grown thrillers, but I would like to say that the US make some quality series also

[@brucemarshall3446]

​​​@@gap670American radio plays suffer in comparison. Too much narration and exposition. Brits know how to tell a story without having characters telling you everything that's happening!

[@expressoevangelism80]

We’ve always had some great TV and radio stories until recent years. Funny how you like Dr. Who and Last of the Summer Wine. I can’t stand them. Obviously many people have done over the years. The one really good programme we have bought from the US is The Big Bang Theory. The only trouble is, it’s shown ad infinitum.

[@SherryS-e9g]

Thanks from Russell County, Kentucky! I only watch British tv and only listen to British radio…

[@Happyheart146]

Two bits of advice I've always stuck by, tell nobody nowt and never argue in the kitchen... Loved every minute of this - thank you

[@LadyBug1967]

Too many 🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪🤪

[@stellayates4227]

I wish the BBC still produced drama of this calibre. Thank you for uploading.

[@pinkgirl281982]

Right. Did we just become drama radio beat friends?

[@stellayates4227]

@@pinkgirl281982 Yes probably!

[@stellayates4227]

@@pinkgirl281982 Yes, why not!

[@johnturner1073]

Could not agree more. Now everything they do has to include THE MESSAGE...

[@Kitcat363]

The dramas are not so good now.x

[@LondonEE16]

In case anyone is wondering, the classical music that starts around the five-minute mark is Bach's Violin Concerto in A Minor.

[@Loobylooto2]

Thank u 🙏🏼

[@nonayoung8177]

thanks for that information. very kind of you !

[@jellyfishattack]

Thank you. It's beautiful.

[@heatherrichmond2984]

Thanks

[@thomasceneri867]

Also Brian Eno.

[@barefootcontessa3112]

I’ve only recently come across Peter Whalley, but I’ve quickly become a fan of his radio plays. Thank you for posting.

[@donwardell4605]

Great production values, breath, feet noises, intimacy of microphone work. Radio is such a fine medium in the hands of professionals. Simply story a dinnner party and a ,missing guest. Thank you to all concerned.

[@feralbluee]

jeez! they didn’t even leave a split second before starting the cast! what is wrong with them? incredible!! the story has just ended and your emotions are peaked and need settling - but Whap! but to the play - so very well done. the plot is a very intricate weave. kinda out there for reality, but it works because of the writing skill, direction, the actors, and the production values. thanks much 🌷🎭

[@stukawarner4051]

And murder

[@gladysochoa4415]

Thank you, I enjoyed it so much! Greetings from Guatemala, Central America.

[@darrenmiller6927]

Great play. Couldn't stop listening. Couldn't have guessed. Terrific acting. Thanks so much for posting.

[@missbingley6048]

Really enjoyed this one as I always do when it's Peter Whalley. I've just looked him up and found out he used to write the best storylines for Coronation St in the days when it was good.

[@donnaharris4420]

Boy .....and do we miss those days!

[@helenferullo5706]

Brilliant writing along with top notch actors gave this play four plus stars!! Thank you for presenting this wonderful play.

[@Loobylooto2]

Thank you for these Peter Whaley dramas Excellent storytelling

[@elizabethmoini2902]

Really enjoyed this. Thank you👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@Clarice-e6g]

I remember 'if you can't keep a secret don't expect the person you tell it to to keep it', Whalley was a good writer.

[@ChrisDanes-tt4ob]

What an excellent play! Good old Beeb...excellent writing and producing!

[@lorrainevanlelyveld8065]

excellent excellent!! Thank you for downloading this. So well written. love from South Africa 🇿🇦🇿🇦❤❤Happy 2024 to everybody

[@lesleyannthompson3053]

Hazit! used to live in durban. Glad we have cultured people from South africa.❤❤❤❤

[@jacquiadams863]

I grew up with Radio Drama and I love it. Sadly BBC Radio 4 have slashed their Radio budget and an hour long play is a thing of the past.

[@margarethughes3763]

Yes I miss the Book at Bedtime. I used to listen to it all the time.

[@isabellem7393]

Absolutely amazing writing, wonderful cast, enjoyed it immensely.

[@jm162]

I'm so glad to have found this channel...used to listen to plays and book readings years ago 😍

[@TheSuperHarrygeorge]

A brilliant production with great dialogue . Thanks for uploading.

[@1957bluebird]

Spreading the word about these entertaining plays. Thank you for this one!

[@marybarratt2649]

Excellent. Love these dramas, very compulsive listening. Tfs

[@rhondawattley]

A perfect genre for the winter months 🎉

[@elainepayne7047]

Listening again to this well written drama. Thank you Arch.

[@JanineMurray-s3q]

What a fantastic story. Who would have guessed. Really enjoyed it. Thank you

[@shilohbrutalis582]

Worthy of a movie truly. Best stand alone episode I've EVER HEARD from the BBC. SALUTE! #BRIL

[@kennydurkin]

Fabulous script, acting and plot. Thank you for posting

[@archphoenixstanton6998]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@rosemundyee6863]

Beautiful drama. I thoroughly enjoyed enjoyed. Thank you!!🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@jerryjoe2461]

Your productions make me fall in love with Radio dramas 👍

[@lydiamarks8577]

Great listening! Thank you for uploading 👍

[@nellietv1968]

Great story, well acted. Enjoyable drama.

[@pahos9765]

Brilliant production and not long winded. Great acting and suspense.

[@dominicankandie5957]

I enjoyed this so so much. Thank you! 🥰

[@susieketko1038]

Thank you and merci beaucoup!! What an amazing plot and the actors are fantastic. I felt like I was right there with all of them! Please give us more of these awesome mysteries!!

[@christrinder1255]

Really enjoyed listening to again! Thanks Arch👏👏👏👏👏👍😊

[@totoro9590]

This is one of the very best audiobooks I've listened to. So exciting all the way to the end. Many thanks, much appreciated 👍👍👍

[@deborahcamden2691]

Great story, very well done!

[@sharimeyers292]

Great story. Thank you.

[@assiamouhoub7393]

Thank you so much! Great plays !❤I’m glad I subscribed!

[@helenswan705]

Gosh, these old dramas are good. Thank you.

[@madhurtrivedi8440]

Superb story and performances. Thank you!

[@maryannrisser1967]

Arch, please feel free to upload as many Peter Whalley's and Nicolas Freeling's … to your heart's desire!

[@carolokbrblol]

Fabulous! Was listening cleaning up as I have no time to sit and watch anything. Loved this!

[@michelstrogoff99]

Great drama. Admire the scriptwriters who can tell a story like this. Not to mention actors who perform.

[@CinzanoBianco-j7u]

Excellent drama. Wonderful script and great acting 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@shereewilson6827]

That was really good!!! Thank you!

[@Ldifferent]

Such a lovely group of friends

[@stukawarner4051]

Great story well done production, Peter Whaleys stories are ace wish I could find more there’s 5 of his stories on KZbin have listened to them

[@elizabethman7313]

What are they called?

[@stukawarner4051]

@@elizabethman7313 missing wife, the test

[@stukawarner4051]

Longest journey the.missing guest

[@stukawarner4051]

when last I saw you

[@andreatainui5601]

Nice to have you back ArchBStanton

[@charlesachurch7265]

I agree with everyone who posted a comment. This is a treasure.

[@CarolLoch-ww7po]

Fabulous writing brilliant acting thanks xxx

[@MsDormy]

Peter Whalley - what a brilliant playwrite!

[@Beauloqs]

​@@crispindry2815 *Pendant.

[@janebrown7231]

He's a favourite playwright of mine - writes some of the best radio and TV material ever.

[@totoro9590]

Very good 👏👏👏👏👏👏 right to the end 👍👍👍

[@LadyBug1967]

When I first saw the photo of everyone seated with double plates and food and wine being poured I thought-- Oh if only. I would love to go to such dinner parties but I've never been in a city where people actually do that.🥴 AND then I got to the end and I thought --thank God 🤪lol

[@dianapeek6936]

Dinner parties do still occur. You just have to make the effort and have like minded friends.

[@mefor5199]

Claire was a wonderful friend wasn't she?!😂

[@wendyharris8026]

Charming gal.

[@bruji2001]

@@wendyharris8026The Best😳🤣

[@rodpettet2819]

Enjoyable listening for the second time. Ignore the negative literary critics.

[@cherbrowne1637]

That was excellent. Thank you so very much. I was spellbound. 🙋

[@DaveBob1983]

Love these, thankyou.

[@malabhargava]

Wonderful. Loved it

[@pad5152]

Thank you for another fine BBC radio drama by Peter Whalley. Well scripted & acted

[@tessellatiaartilery8197]

Thoughtless, unkind words lead to horrible actions. Great story but sad and heavy too.

[@wyominghome4857]

What a dreadful and shallow group of people. Everybody meddling in each other’s business. One of the comments below had it right: never tell anyone anything and never argue in the kitchen.

[@LadyBug1967]

Yes too many 🔪🔪🔪🔪about

[@markrossow6303]

Very Well Done !

[@kayvassiliou5746]

Excellent drama - from South Africa

[@charlesachurch7265]

Great drama from a master of the radio. Who needs television?

[@smariegalski3641]

Thank you!!!!

[@jeremypearson6852]

With friends like this who needs enemies.

[@thebrainpimp6779]

Probably the best dining room drama on here. SALUTE!!!

[@AmandaLee-in2yl]

Wonderful stuff thanks

[@eldon7530]

11/10 superb Thanks again

[@Prizm44]

It was starting to get almost comical with the last minute 'confession' by every person 😆

[@cajsheen2594]

Ooh! This is a good one! ❤ XXX

[@Chele212]

Fabtastic What a whirlwind love it ❤️

[@aussieagle]

Great little interwoven story.

[@streaming5332]

I would develop a pommy accent if I listened to too many of these.

[@dorielle62]

Well, whatever her ex husband said about the victim, was perfectly true.

[@dorielle62]

And deserved what she got !

[@chicagogyrl4846]

@@dorielle62 Yep! She should have kept her big mouth shut!!!

[@elliottcanuel2196]

I don't feel so bad for Claire anymore. She kinda...deserved what she got.

[@dismith73]

thank you arch

[@greall]

With friends like these though...

[@brucemarshall3446]

American radio plays suffered from using the same small ensemble of actors in every program. BBC casts are much more varied.

[@gitarispikun]

I love this accent ❤

[@srinagesht]

Nice one and good action. Only that it seems to say all the couples have no business in the world except cheating on their spouses. 😁

[@patriciallamas2050]

@archphoenixstanton6998 Cheers, Arch!! I remember listen to to this one a few years ago, but I'd forgotten all about it! I hope you are doing very well! 🥰 We miss you! xxx

[@archphoenixstanton6998]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@anniebodyhome1000]

Excellent drama.

[@elizabethbrown3447]

Excellent

[@MrBazzabee]

Jasper the Dog was wonderful.

[@michealburnett6]

So good, my 3rd listen 😝

[@ropeburnsrussell]

Its a very good story, lots of secrets around that dinner table.

[@juliam7056]

excellent

[@davidmunday4367]

Looks like i will be busy doing nothing today Arch ! 👍

[@thebrainpimp6779]

Anybody got a list EXCLUSIVELY of the whodunnit / howcatchem mysteries?

[@sherronnelson9110]

Great story. Claire was a witch 🧙‍♀️.

[@avisriedy1559]

Very good

[@jackiewacky346]

Oh very good thankyou

[@wherami]

When did these play on the radio?

[@dianepeck7500]

Brilliant great ending.

[@Fee212]

As soon as you said, "Denise Welsh," I went to the comments, wrote this, and shut this off. Can't abide her. 👎

[@lesleyannthompson3053]

Shame ! She's the absent guest. Not to give the plot away.A fruit knife and Denise Welsh character Claire on the kitchen floor. That's why many listen oops!!.😅

[@robbiebunge859]

Why would he stand by her??!

[@iamreallyright]

Oh, Peter Whalley!

[@Swimkid1]

Thanks x

[@Angela-kc5ui]

Won’t spoil the outcome but if you think about it - it makes no sense.

[@romina6563]

😵😵😵😵I knew it!! wow.

[@dianaantu8227]

thank you

[@rozdoyle8872]

Claire's gob was too big , a closed mouth catches no flies or fruit knives.