Five tales of murder, mayhem and political intrigue from the casebook of Norman Birkett

Norman Birkett KC (1883-1962) was a real-life Rumpole - a distinguished and highly skilled lawyer who had numerous successes in the courtroom during his long career. This collection covers some of his most famous cases of the inter-war years, including the dramatic trial of Buck Ruxton; the notorious Dennistoun affair; and the peculiar events surrounding the mysterious cyclist Ronald Light.

Norman Birkett and the Case of the Coleford Poisoner - the celebrated advocate defends a woman accused of murdering her husband with arsenic.

Birkett and the Blind Soldier - when a blind First World War veteran is charged with killing his wife, Birkett takes on his defence.

Birkett and the Green Bicycle - appearing for the prosecution, the brilliant barrister deals with a case involving death by gunshot, pacifism and chocolate....

Birkett and the Red Stains on the Carpet - the renowned KC defends a doctor accused of murdering and dismembering his wife and maid.

Birkett and the Naked Toreador - Norman Birkett takes on the case that made his name in this extraordinary saga of blackmail, snobbery, society scandal and bullfighting....

David Haig and Neil Dudgeon star as Birkett, with Alison Pettitt and Bonnie Engstrom as his wife, Billie, and Alun Raglan as his clerk, Edgar.

Written by Caroline and David Stafford

Directed by Marc Beeby

Norman Birkett and the Case of the Coleford Poisoner

Birkett - David Haig

Edgar Bowker - Trystan Gravelle

Billie - Alison Pettitt

Elton Pace - Michael Shelford

Annie Pace/Leslie Pace - Clare Corbett

Dr du Pre - Sam Dale

Judge Horridge/Vicar - Bruce Alexander

Mrs Elizabeth Porter - Joanna Monro

Other parts were played by John Biggins and Nigel Hastings

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1st June 2010

Birkett and the Blind Soldier

Norman Birkett - Neil Dudgeon

Billie - Bonnie Engstrom

Edgar - Alun Raglan

Lady Pearson - Adjoa Andoh

Arthur - Carl Prekopp

MacCormac - Paul Moriarty

Frazer/Warder - Adam Billington

Humphreys - James Lailey

Sgt Waller - Gerard McDermott

Randall/Clerk - Rikki Lawton

Grace/Margaret - Alex Rivers

Woman - Victoria Inez Hardy

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3rd January 2012

Birkett and the Green Bicycle

Norman Birkett - Neil Dudgeon

Billie - Bonnie Engstrom

Edgar - Alun Raglan

Sir Edward - Nicholas Jones

Cadbury - James Lailey

Cox/Enoch - Adam Billington

Judge - Gerard McDermott

Lily/Muriel - Francine Chamberlain

Ronald - Christopher Webster

Graham - Simon Bubb

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 10th January 2012

Birkett and the Red Stains on the Carpet

Norman Birkett - Neil Dudgeon

Billie - Bonnie Engstrom

Edgar - Alun Raglan

Jackson - Adam Billington

Buck Ruxton - Sagar Arya

Shaw - Gerard McDermott

Glaister - James Lailey

Bennett - Rikki Lawton

Alfred - Christopher Webster

Susan/Gracie - Victoria Inez Hardy

Mary - Alex Rivers

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17th January 2012

Birkett and the Naked Toreador

Norman Birkett - Neil Dudgeon

Billie - Bonnie Engstrom

Edgar - Alun Raglan

Lady Caernarvon - Joanna Monro

Sir Edward - Nicholas Jones

Dennistoun - Carl Prekopp

Mlle Cina - Victoria Inez Hardy

Dorothy - Adjoa Andoh

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24th January 2012