Edward J Mason - Dick Barton - Special Agent

EDWARD J MASON - DICK BARTON - SPECIAL AGENT (320kbs-m4a/321mb/2hrs19mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 6th to 17th November 2023

Stars Noel Johnson, John Mann and Alex McCrindle.

Written by Edward J Mason.

From 1946 to 1951, Dick Barton - Special Agent thrilled millions of listeners to the BBC Light Programme. The daily serial followed the exciting adventures of ex-commando Captain Richard Barton and his wartime mates Snowey and Jock, who solve all manner of intriguing crimes and mysteries.

Heralded by an iconic signature tune - Devil's Galop by Charles Williams - each gripping episode left listeners with a torrid cliff-hanger.

Sadly many of Dick's adventures didn't survive in the BBC Archive. But in 1972, as part of celebrations for the BBC's Golden Jubilee, Dick's very first ten-part adventure by Edward J Mason was recreated, featuring many of the original performers.

Producer: Raymond Raikes

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in November 1972.

DICK BARTON - SPECIAL AGENT - 1. THE CAVE OF SECRETS (320kbs-m4a/31mb/13mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 6th November 2023

Ex-commando Dick Barton uncovers an enemy plot to capture a British secret weapon.

Dick Barton .... Noel Johnson
Snowey White .... John Mann
Jock .... Alex McCrindle
Colonel Gardiner .... William Fox
Jean Hunter .... Margaret Robertson
The Professor .... Heron Carvic
Jimmie Law .... Derek Birch
Sir Archie Wrangle .... Richard Hurndall
The Corporal .... Geoffrey Collins

DICK BARTON - SPECIAL AGENT - 2. FORMULA FOR DEATH (320kbs-m4a/33mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 7th November 2023

Dick Barton learns about the true nature of the secret weapon - and sets off to secure its vital instructions.

Dick Barton .... Noel Johnson
Jean Hunter .... Margaret Robertson
Sir Archie Wrangle .... Richard Hurndall
Colonel Gardiner .... William Fox
Andrews .... Nigel Graham
1st Policeman .... William Bedle
2nd Policeman .... Ronald Herdman

DICK BARTON - SPECIAL AGENT - 3. THE TREACHEROUS INVITATION (320kbs-m4a/32mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 8th November 2023

Trapped with chum Snowey, special agent Dick gets some unwelcome room-mates.

Dick Barton .... Noel Johnson
Snowey White .... John Mann
The Professor .... Heron Carvic
Colonel Gardiner .... William Fox
Andrews .... Nigel Graham
Wilhelm Kramer .... Francis de Wolff
James Thirgood .... Denis McCarthy
Sid the Taxi Driver .... Haydn Jones
1st Policeman .... William Bedle
2nd Policeman .... Ronald Herdman

DICK BARTON - SPECIAL AGENT - 4. THE NEST OF RATS (320kbs-m4a/34mb/15mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 9th November 2023

Special agent Dick and his chums get more ruthless in pursuit of the secret weapon. Can they persuade our hero to jump ship?

Dick Barton .... Noel Johnson
Snowey White .... John Mann
Wilhelm Kramer .... Francis de Wolff
Colonel Gardiner .... William Fox
Jean Hunter .... Margaret Robertson
Andrews .... Nigel Graham
Sid the Taxi Driver .... Haydn Jones
Hans .... Arthur Bush
Inspector .... Derek Birch

DICK BARTON - SPECIAL AGENT - 5. INTERROGATING ARCHIE (320kbs-m4a/32mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 10th November 2023

Kramer and his gang home in on the final clue about the secret weapon, turning their attention to its inventor.

Dick Barton .... Noel Johnson
Snowey White .... John Mann
Wilhelm Kramer .... Francis de Wolff
Colonel Gardiner .... William Fox
Jean Hunter .... Margaret Robertson
Andrews .... Nigel Graham
Sid the Taxi Driver .... Haydn Jones
Hans .... Arthur Bush
Inspector .... Derek Birch
Announcer/Policeman/Constable .... Geoffrey Collins

DICK BARTON - SPECIAL AGENT - 6. THE STAND-OFF (320kbs-m4a/33mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 13th November 2023

Kramer tries to persuade Sir Archie to give him the antidote formula. Can special agent, Dick Barton intervene in time?

Dick Barton .... Noel Johnson
Jock .... Alex McCrindle
Colonel Gardiner .... William Fox
Jean Hunter .... Margaret Robertson
Wilhelm Kramer .... Francis de Wolff
Sir Archie Wrangle .... Richard Hurndall
James Thirgood .... Denis McCarthy
Police Sergeant .... Geoffrey Collins
Hans .... Arthur Bush
Blom .... Michael Kilgarriff

DICK BARTON - SPECIAL AGENT - 7. THE FEMININE TOUCH (320kbs-m4a/32mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 14th November 2023

With Sir Archie still in peril, Jean calls on her feminine intuition to work out where he's being held.

Dick Barton .... Noel Johnson
Snowey White .... John Mann
Jock .... Alex McCrindle
Colonel Gardiner .... William Fox
Jean Hunter .... Margaret Robertson
Wilhelm Kramer .... Francis de Wolff
Sir Archie Wrangle .... Richard Hurndall
James Thirgood .... Denis McCarthy
The Professor .... Heron Carvic
Inspector .... Derek Birch

DICK BARTON - SPECIAL AGENT - 8. IN THE CROSS HAIRS (320kbs-m4a/33mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 15th November 2023

Henchman Blom is instructed how to use the ray gun - with our hero and Snowey lined-up as his guinea pigs.

Dick Barton .... Noel Johnson
Snowey White .... John Mann
Jock .... Alex McCrindle
Colonel Gardiner .... William Fox
Jean Hunter .... Margaret Robertson
Wilhelm Kramer .... Francis de Wolff
Sir Archie Wrangle .... Richard Hurndall
James Thirgood .... Denis McCarthy
Blom .... Michael Kilgarriff
Mane .... Arthur Bush

DICK BARTON - SPECIAL AGENT - 9. EVIL IN THE AIR (320kbs-m4a/31mb/13mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 16th November 2023

With Snowey and Sir Archie at the mercy of Kramer's gang, special agent Dick and his chum Jock set about trying to rescue them...

Dick Barton .... Noel Johnson
Snowey White .... John Mann
Jock .... Alex McCrindle
Wilhelm Kramer .... Francis de Wolff
Sir Archie Wrangle .... Richard Hurndall
James Thirgood .... Denis McCarthy
Blom .... Michael Kilgarriff
Hans .... Arthur Bush

DICK BARTON - SPECIAL AGENT - 10. THE FLAG OF DECEPTION (320kbs-m4a/31mb/13mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 17th November 2023

In an all-out siege at Kramer's hideaway, special agent Dick Barton and his chums battle to neutralise the ray gun.

Thrilling conclusion of Edward J Mason's ten-part adventure.

Dick Barton .... Noel Johnson
Snowey White .... John Mann
Jock .... Alex McCrindle
Jean Hunter .... Margaret Robertson
Wilhelm Kramer .... Francis de Wolff
Sir Archie Wrangle .... Richard Hurndall
Colonel Gardiner .... William Fox
James Thirgood .... Denis McCarthy
Blom/Jenks .... Michael Kilgarriff
Hans .... Arthur Bush
Announcer/Sergeant/Corporal .... Geoffrey Collins