The Penny Dreadfuls Present.... Image shows from L to R: Humphrey Ker, Thom Tuck, David Reed
The Penny Dreadfuls Present...

The Penny Dreadfuls Present...

  • Radio comedy drama
  • BBC Radio 4 / BBC Radio 7
  • 2008 - 2020
  • 18 episodes (2 series)

Radio comedies in which sketch group The Penny Dreadfuls - aka Humphrey Ker, David Reed and Thom Tuck - present plays around historical subjects. Also features Ingrid Oliver and Miles Jupp.

Episode menu

Le Carré On Spying - The Penny Dreadfuls Present: Le Carré On Spying

Uncover the truth about John Le Carré's secret past in the murky world of 1960s espionage and be transported back to the paranoid height of The Cold War.

Further details

David Cornwell (the real name of the spy and thriller writer John Le Carré) is the star of this comedy drama as we follow his desperate efforts to uncover the latest mole in the secret service. John F Kennedy's official visit to Berlin looms and the pressure is on to get to the truth. Dramatic tension and big laughs abound in this seventh comedy play by acclaimed sketch group The Penny Dreadfuls.

Broadcast details

Date
Saturday 8th July 2017
Time
2:30pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
60 minutes
Recorded
  • Friday 19th May 2017, 19:15 at BBC Radio Theatre

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Saturday 1st December 2018 2:30pm Radio 4
Thursday 16th December 2021 10:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 18th December 2021 2:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 19th December 2021 2:00am Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
Humphrey Ker Various
David Reed Various
Thom Tuck Various
Guest cast
Miles Jupp David Cornwell
Margaret Cabourn-Smith Lizbeth
Margaret Cabourn-Smith Mrs M
Mark Heap Narrator
Writing team
David Reed Writer
Production team
Julia McKenzie Producer

Press

The Penny Dreadfuls: Le Carré On Spying preview

Take out the radio receiver concealed in your shoe and tune in.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 8th July 2017

Share this page