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Dr
Finlay's Casebook became one of the most popular TV series of the
1960s. Running on BBC television from
August 1962 to January 1971, clocking up 191
episodes in the process. It's popularity helped to make household names
of stars Andrew Cruickshank, Barbara
Mullen and Bill Simpson. The characters
and settings were created by A.J. Cronin,
in a number of short stories based on his own experience as a doctor, and
his autobiography "Adventures in Two Worlds".
The
BBC
series was based around "Arden House" in the fictional town of Tannochbrae,
where the young, idealist Doctor Finlay (Simpson)
joins the crusty, older Doctor Cameron (Cruickshank)
in medical practice. The other vital member of the household was the housekeeper
Janet
(Barbara Mullen). The difference in attitudes
and "generation" were used as the basis for many stories, and the resolution
to such stories usually saw the residents of Arden House learning something
new from each other.
As
the series neared the end of it's run on television, it debuted on BBC
Radio 4 in March 1970. Many of the writers adapted there own 50
minute television scripts into 30 minute radio episodes, and experienced
series writers Pat Dunlop and Donald
Bull adapted many by other writers.
104 episodes were adapted over six series, up to the final television script "The Burgess Ticket" broadcast on Radio 4 in February 1975.
From "The Head of the Practice" (the first episode of Series Seven) in August 1976 till the final episode "Going Home" in December 1978 another 40 episodes were created, with Donald Bull writing 27 of them.
Many actors who had featured in the
television series also appeared on radio. Regular cast member Eric
Woodburn as Doctor Snoddie, and Anthony
Valentine, Hannah Gordon, John
Laurie, Patrick Troughton are just
a few.
The character's returned to television
in 1993 when Scottish Television Enterprises
revived the concept with Ian Bannen, Annette
Crosbie and David Rintoul playing the
parts of Cameron, Janet
& Finlay respectively.
NOTE: New page added 2 April 2003, on Dr Finlay: Adventures of a Black Bag, as broadcast on Radio 4 in 2001 and 2002.
NOTE: New page added 11 October 2003, covering the broadcast on BBC7 of the original Dr Finlay's Casebook.
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**Special
Thanks to Ian Beard**
**For
additional information on both the TV & radio series, and supplying
the episode listing.**
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:
'British
Television - An Illustrated Guide" compiled
for the BFI by Tise Vahimagi
published by the Oxford University Press 1994.
"On
Call With Doctor Finlay" by Peter
Haining published by ABC Books, 1994.