A series of detective dramas set in late 1940s England, adapted from the Golden Age novels of Ngaio Marsh.
Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn (Patrick Malahide) is an erudite Scotland Yard detective of aristocratic birth. Assisted by his trusted, down-to-earth subordinate, Inspector Fox (William Simons), Alleyn applies his sharp intellect and quiet observational skills to solve murders in a variety of settings, from the London art world to rural country estates. His investigations frequently cross paths with those of the acclaimed portrait artist, Agatha Troy (Belinda Lang), leading to a slow-burning romance that develops across the serial. Each feature-length episode presents a self-contained case, testing Alleyn’s methodical approach to detection against the passions and secrets of the English upper classes.
This series was the BBC’s direct response to the enormous success of ITV’s period detective dramas. Adapting the works of Ngaio Marsh, one of the four ‘Queens of Crime,’ the production began with a 1990 pilot, “Artists in Crime,” which starred Simon Williams in the lead role.
For the full series, Patrick Malahide was cast as Alleyn, a decision that fundamentally shaped the programme’s identity. Malahide’s interpretation was one of thoughtful introspection and reserved authority, a notable contrast to the more flamboyant characterisations of his television contemporaries. While meticulously produced, with a strong grasp of its late 1940s setting, the series never quite achieved the iconic status of its rivals. It remains, however, a handsome and intelligent example of the heritage crime genre.
Broadcast: BBC One, 9 Episodes, 23 December 1990; 18 March 1993 – 10 February 1994
Based on the novels by: Ngaio Marsh
Writers include: T.R. Bowen, Hugh Leonard
Directors include: Silvio Narizzano, John Woods, Martyn Friend
Producer: George Gallaccio
Main Cast: Patrick Malahide (Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn), William Simons (Inspector Fox), Belinda Lang (Agatha Troy), Simon Williams (Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn, Pilot only)
