Two vintage thrillers, written by award-winning writer Roy Clarke and directed by Alan Ayckbourn.

Acclaimed radio and TV dramatist Roy Clarke is well known for his hit sitcoms Last of the Summer Wine, Open All Hours and Keeping Up Appearances. But before he came to fame, he penned two hugely entertaining six-part thriller serials—both directed by a struggling radio producer who would become one of the most renowned playwrights in the world: Alan Ayckbourn.

The Events at Black Tor - When young policeman Jamie is posted to a small village in the Yorkshire Moors, he and his wife Pam are anticipating a nice, quiet life. But the arrival of a curious letter sparks a terrifying chain of events. Aided by Fr Probert, a Dominican friar, the duo come face-to face with the forces of darkness, as they investigate a sinister cult of murderous devil-worshippers.... Brian Peck, Juliet Cooke and On the Buses star Bob Grant are among the cast of this spine-chilling thriller with supernatural undercurrents.

The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb - History teacher Johnny Shields is hoping for a romantic evening, but when his date is scuppered by a mysterious man in a raincoat, he finds himself unexpectedly recruited for a dangerous Continental mission. Tasked with infiltrating a highly-organised smuggling gang, will he survive long enough to expose them?

This diverting comedy-thriller was Roy Clarke's first radio play, and features Paul Temple star Peter Coke, Bob Grant, Robert Powell and Ben Kingsley.

Cast and credits:

Written by Roy Clarke

Theme music composed and played by Trevor Holroyd

Produced and directed by Alan Ayckbourn

The language and attitudes in these programmes reflect the era in which they were first broadcast and may not reflect current attitudes.

The Events at Black Tor

Pam - Juliet Cooke

Jamie - Brian Peck

Sergeant - James Beck

Probert - Bob Grant

Radio Voice - Heather Stoney

Vicar - Robert Wallace

Maggie - Ella Atkinson

Coroner - Laurence Bould

Brown - Colin Edwynn

Man - Chris Canavan

Woman - Mavis Rogerson

Tramp - Harry Markham

Superintendent - David Mahlowe

Chief Inspector - Ronald Harvi

Spider One - Douglas Fielding

Spider Two/Palmer - John Nettles

Spider Three - Colin Bell

Dog handler - Robert Powell

First broadcast BBC Radio 2, 18 April-6 May 1968

The 17-Jewelled Shockproof Swiss-Made Bomb

Shields - Peter Coke

Major/Leppi/Vittorio - Bob Grant

Greta - Veronica Doran

Doreen - Sylvia Brayshay

Tadpole - Derrick Gilbert

Muff/Daniels/Marco - Robert Powell

Jean Hogg - Heather Stoney

Alfie - Peter Stephens

Vera - Elizabeth Ashton

Mrs Beckett - Barbara Greenhalgh

Julie - Anne Stallybrass

Bruno - David Mahlowe

Karl/Walter/Sergeant/Pete - Ben Kingsley

Karen - Cynthia Grenville

Gino - Ronald Harvi

Foster - Michael Stirrup

Slip - Colin Edwynn

First broadcast BBC Radio 2, 18 January-5 February 1968