Father Brown: The Absence of Mr. Glass
by G.K. Chesterton; dramatised by John Scotney; (BBC Radio 4, 1987)
A single-episode addendum to Scotney’s two series of radio adaptations. Where Chesterton playfully mocked the Holmesian method, Scotney and Bernard Archard (portraying Holmes) go a little too far in demeaning the man himself. The concluding explanation of ‘Mr. Glass’ proves sadly facetious.
Father Brown, Series 2
by G.K. Chesterton; dramatised by John Scotney (BBC Radio 4, 1986)
Series Two of Scotney’s radio adaptations sees a reduction in length to only five episodes but a greater fluency of script and assuredness of performance. Andrew Sachs’ cadences as Father Brown seem to have informed Mark Williams’ delivery in the TV series.
Father Brown, Series 1
by G.K. Chesterton; dramatised by John Scotney (BBC Radio 4, 1984-1985)
Straightforward radio adaptations of seven Father Brown short stories. Andrew Sachs is soft-spoken and preoccupied in the lead role—which works as characterisation, but then ill-considered fluctuations in the recording volume see him drowned out by louder voices, crosstalk and sound effects.