Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20110123 | 20130312/13 (BBC7) 20140805 (BBC7) 20140806 (BBC7) | Stolen from an Indian deity, a huge diamond is given to Rachel Verinder as she turns 18. 19th-century detective mystery concerning the disappearance of a seemingly cursed diamond | |
| 01 | A Cursed Diamond | 19791014 | 20231030/31 (BBC7) | A large diamond given to Rachel Verinder on her 18th birthday vanishes. Often described as the first and best English detective novel. 'The Moonstone' takes its title from the name given to a mysterious diamond, stolen from the Hindus and turning up at the Verinder house on the wild Yorkshire coast in 1848. In its new life, the moonstone is a present for Rachel on her 18th birthday, but is it destined to remain hers? Some trouble seems to accompany the Moonstone wherever it goes. When Mr Franklin brought it to Rachel in Yorkshire he was followed by three Brahmin priests dedicated to getting the diamond back - by any means. Novel written by Wilkie Collins and first published in 1868. Dramatised in six parts by Brian Gear Gabriel Betteredge - John Sharp Franklin Blake - John Telfer Rachel Verinder - Sally Baxter Godfrey Ablewhite - Geoffrey Beevers Lady Verinder - Petra Davies Rosanna Spearman - Tammy Ustinov Penelope - Josie Kidd Mr Murthwaite - Gordon Dulieu Mr Candy - Danny Schiller The Indian - Geoffrey Serle The Boy - Crispian Balmer Felicity Ablewhite - Lisa Penny Georgia Ablewhite - Deborah Jane Sharpe Music composed and conducted by Sidney Sager. Directed at BBC Bristol by Brian Miller. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1979. 19th century detective mystery concerning the disappearance of a seemingly cursed diamond |
| 02 | 20110130 | 20130313/14 (BBC7) 20140806 (BBC7) 20140807 (BBC7) | Is Rosanna hiding something? Why is Rachel Verinder refusing to speak to Sergeant Cuff? 19th-century detective mystery concerning the disappearance of a seemingly cursed diamond | |
| 02 | The Police Take Action | 19791021 | 20231031 (BBC7) 20231101 (BBC7) | Rachel is presented with a precious moonstone when she turns 18, but by the end of her birthday, it has gone missing. Superintendent Seegrave suspects that an insider is responsible... Novel written by Wilkie Collins and first published in 1868. Dramatised by Brian Gear. Gabriel Betteredge - John Sharp Godfrey Ablewhite - Geoffrey Beevers Franklin Blake - John Telfer Rachel Verrinder - Sally Baxter Penelope Betteredge - Josie Kidd Lady Verinder - Petra Davies Superintendent Seegrave - Rex Holdsworth Nancy - Jo Scott Matthews Rosanna Spearman - Tammy Ustinov Duffy - Debby Cumming Yolland - Tom Eastwood Sergeant Cuff - John Franklyn-Robbins Samuel - Matthew Adams Music composed and conducted by Sidney Sager. Directed at BBC Bristol by Brian Miller. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1979. Police investigate a missing diamond. 19th Century detective mystery with John Sharp. 19th century detective mystery concerning the disappearance of a seemingly cursed diamond |
| 03 | 20110206 | 20130314/15 (BBC7) 20140807 (BBC7) 20140808 (BBC7) | There are no clues for Sergeant Cuff to work on. 19th-century detective mystery concerning the disappearance of a seemingly cursed diamond | |
| 03 | Surprise Suspect | 19791028 | 20231101/02 (BBC7) | The Moonstone has been stolen, and all suspicion points to Rachel. The great Sergeant Cuff of the London Detective Police prepares to make his report to her mother, Lady Verinder. Novel written by Wilkie Collins and first published in 1868. Dramatised by Brian Gear. Sergeant Cuff - John Franklyn-Robbins Gabriel Betteredge - John Sharp Franklin Blake - John Telfer Rachel Verrinder - Sally Baxter Godfrey Ablewhite - Geoffrey Beevers Mr Bruff - Nat Brenner Miss Clack - June Barrie Lucy Yolland - Liza Flanacan Rosanna Spearman - Tammy Ustinov Samuel - Matthew Adams Director: Brian Miller First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1979. 19th Century detective mystery. The search for the diamond continues. With John Sharp. 19th century detective mystery concerning the disappearance of a seemingly cursed diamond |
| 04 | 20110213 | 20130315/16 (BBC7) 20140808 (BBC7) 20140809 (BBC7) | Determined to solve the mystery of the diamond, Blake sets up a re-enactment. 19th-century detective mystery concerning the disappearance of a seemingly cursed diamond | |
| 04 | A Marriage Proposal | 19791104 | 20231102/03 (BBC7) | Still under suspicion by public opinion for having stolen her own jewel, the Moonstone, Rachel turns for consolation to the arms of Godfrey Ablewhite, and has just accepted a proposal of marriage from him. Victorian drama by Wilkie Collins. Cast: Gabriel Betteredge........John Sharp Sergeant Cuff..................John Franklyn-Robbins Godfrey Ablewhite..........Geoffrey Beevers Franklin Blake....................John Telfer Rachel Verrinder...............Sally Baxter Rosanna Spearman..........Tammy Ustinov Mr Bruff................................Nat Brenner Lady Verinder.....................Petra Davies Miss Clack............................June Barrie Samuel..................................Matthew Adams Aunt Ablewhite.................Margot Boyd Ablewhite............................Godfrey Kenton Indian....................................Geoffrey Serle Luker....................................Adrian Egan Murthwaite........................Gordon Dulieu Lucy......................................Liza Flanagan Duffy....................................Debby Cumming Written by Wilkie Collins Dramatised by Brian Gear Music composed by Sidney Sager Directed by Brian Miller First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1979. 19th Century detective mystery. The gem is still missing and Rachel is the main suspect. 19th century detective mystery concerning the disappearance of a seemingly cursed diamond |
| 05 | An Appalling Discovery | 19791111 | 20231103/04 (BBC7) | Franklin Blake makes an appalling discovery at Shivering Sands - and questions who has been responsible for the theft of the Moonstone. Victorian drama by Wilkie Collins. Cast: Gabriel Betteredge........John Sharp Sergeant Cuff..................John Franklyn-Robbins Godfrey Ablewhite..........Geoffrey Beevers Franklin Blake....................John Telfer Rachel Verrinder...............Sally Baxter Rosanna Spearman..........Tammy Ustinov Mr Bruff................................Nat Brenner Penelope..............................Josie Kido Rosanna Spearman...........Tammy Ustinov Jennings...............................Philip Sully Mr Bruff...............................Nat Brenner Candy...................................Danny Schiller Written by Wilkie Collins Dramatised by Brian Gear Music composed by Sidney Sager Directed by Brian Miller First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1979. 19th Century detective mystery. Franklin Blake makes an appalling discovery. 19th century detective mystery concerning the disappearance of a seemingly cursed diamond |
| 06 | Extreme Action | 19791118 | 20231106/07 (BBC7) | Franklin Blake is to put himself into the frame of mind he was in the night a year ago when the Moonstone was stolen. Victorian drama by Wilkie Collins. Cast: Gabriel Betteredge........John Sharp Sergeant Cuff..................John Franklyn-Robbins Godfrey Ablewhite..........Geoffrey Beevers Franklin Blake....................John Telfer Rachel Verinder...............Sally Baxter Rosanna Spearman..........Tammy Ustinov Mr Bruff................................Nat Brenner Gooseberry.........................Debby Cumming Hopkins/Landlord.............Barkley Johnson Woods...................................Emlyn Harris Luker......................................Adrian Egan Murthwaite..........................Gordon Dulleu Music composed by Sidney Sager Written by Wilkie Collins Dramatised by Brian Gear Directed by Brian Miller First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1979. 19th Century detective mystery. Franklin Blake takes extreme action. With John Sharp. 19th century detective mystery concerning the disappearance of a seemingly cursed diamond |