Lord Peter Wimsey on Television with Ian Carmichael

Lord Peter Wimsey on Television
Ian Carmichael

First Upload June 2000 Last update 18 September 2002

Created by Dorothy L. Sayers.

title sequence selected images
During the 1970's and 80's, the BBC produced two series for television.
The well remembered Seventies series has now had a full VHS release, and the stories are now being released on DVD, consult Acorn Media's website for the most up to date information on what is available in your region.

This page is for anyone who enjoyed the radio series or some of the audiobooks and is looking for details of Ian Carmichael and Edward Petherbridge's (link above) television connection to the role. The Nine Tailors
Ian Carmichael - the star on both Television and radio.

Clouds of Witness

Broadcast from April 5 1972
5 X 45 minutes
adapted by Anthony Steven
directed by Hugh David
produced by Richard Beynon
Cast

Anthony Ainley	Mark Eden	Noel Coleman
Petronella Ford	Rachel Herbert	Glyn Houston
David Langton	Charles Hodgson	Kate O'Mara

Lord Peter and Bunter (Glyn Houston)

Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club

Broadcast from February 1 1973
4 X 45 minutes
adapted by John Bowen
directed by Ronald Wilson
produced by Richard Beynon
Cast

Terence Alexander	Mark Eden	Phyllida Law
Anna Cropper	John Welsh	Clifford Rose
Derek Newark	John Quentin	Vivien Heilbron

Investigations at the autopsy of General Fentiman
Murbles and Pritchard, played by John Welsh and Clifford Rose. below left
Dr. Penberthy (Donald Pickering) and Lord Peter below right

<=German book cover for "Busman's Honeymoon" using a photo from the series.

Mervyn Bunter (Derek Newark).=>

Murder Must Advertise

Broadcast from November 30 1973
4 X 50 minutes
adapted by Bill Craig
directed by Rodney Bennett
produced by Richard Beynon
Cast

Robin Bailey	Mark Eden	Peter Bowles
Paul Darrow	Rachel Herbert	Bridget Armstrong
Fiona Walker	John Hallam	Christopher Timothy

<=Parker (Mark Eden) and Lord Peter check through the mountains of phone books looking for a clue.

Above L to R - Mr. Armstrong (Robin Bailey); Miss Parton (Caroline Dowdeswell) and Miss Rossiter (Shirley Cain) enjoy tea with Mr. Bredon. <=Dian de Momerie (Bridget Armstrong) and Major Milligan (Peter Bowles) enjoy a party.

The Nine Tailors

Broadcast from April 22 1974
4 X 50 minutes
adapted by Anthony Steven
directed by Raymond Menmuir
produced by Richard Beynon
Cast

Glyn Houston	Mark Eden	Donald Eccles
Keith Drinkel	Neil McCarthy	David Jackson
Elizabeth Bradley	Gail Harrison	Robin Wentworth

<= A cipher based on the patterns of the bellringers changes is cracked by Lord Peter and the Reverend Venables (Donald Eccles).

Below - Lord Peter< talks to Mrs Venables at the Bell ringing. Lord Peter contemplates a narrow escape from the "power" of the Nine Tailors.

Blundell, the Venables and Hilary Thorpe look on

The Five Red Herrings

Broadcast from July 23 1975
4 X 50 minutes
adapted by Anthony Steven
directed by Robert Tronson
produced by Bill Sellars
Cast

Russell Hunter	Glyn Houston	John Junkin
David McKail	Ian Ireland	Donald Douglas
Michael Elder	Robert James	David Rintoul

<=Lord Peter contemplates one of Ferguson's (David McKail) paintings. Glyn Houston as Bunter

Ian Carmichael - still a popular image of Lord Peter Wimsey - as these German book covers, using stillls from the series attest. L to R
Murder Must Advertise, Gaudy Night, Lord Peter Views the Body, Whose Body

'British Television - An Illustrated Guide" compiled for the BFI by Tise Vahimagi published by the Oxford University Press 1994.
"Crime Writers" edited by HFR Keating published by the BBC 1978.
"Serials on British Television - 1950 - 1994" by Ellen Baskin published by Scolar Press 1995.
"Masterpieces : a decade of Masterpiece Theatre" by Alistair Cooke published by Knopf 1981.
"Whodunit? : a guide to crime, suspense, and spy fiction" / edited by H.R.F. Keating Van Nostrand Reinhold Co 1982.