Dick Barton: Special Agent: The Complete BBC Radio Collection

Edward J. Mason

Jul 2017 · BBC Digital Audio · Kimesimuliwa na Douglas Kelly, Noël Johnson, John Mann, Terry Molloy, Tim Bentick, Alex McCrindle na Full Cast

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All surviving episodes of Dick Barton: Special Agent, plus bonus documentary material

BBC Audio is proud to present this collection containing all surviving Dick Barton pieces: ten exciting full adventures, the 100th episode ever recorded of Dick Barton as well as a 2013 live performance of Dick Barton’s final story. This is accompanied by bonus documentaries and interviews with the stars.

Set in an exciting world of criminal masterminds and espionage, the adventures of special agent Dick Barton and his friends Jock and Snowey were essential listening for an entire generation. Originally running on the BBC Light Programme between 1946 and 1951, few of the BBC's original recordings still survive. In this stellar line-up you’ll hear Noel Johnson and Douglas Kelly as Dick Barton, with John Mann as Snowey White, and Alex McCrindle as Jock Anderson. And in a 2013 live performance Tim Bentick and Terry Molloy revisit these iconic roles.

This collection includes:

• Dick Barton and the Secret Weapon (tracks 2-11)
• Dick Barton and the Paris Adventure (tracks 12-31)
• Dick Barton and the Cabatolin Diamonds (tracks 32-51)
• Dick Barton and the Smash and Grab Raiders (tracks 52-71)
• Dick Barton and the Tibetan Adventure (tracks 72-91)
• Dick Barton and the Affair of the Black Panther (tracks 92-110)
• Dick Barton and the Vulture (tracks 111-130)
• Dick Barton and the Li-Chang Adventure (tracks 131-149)
• Dick Barton and the Case of Conrad Ruda (tracks 150-169)
• Dick Barton and the Firefly Adventure (tracks 170-185)
• Dick Barton and the Smugglers: Episode Twenty – featuring 100th episode of Dick Barton ever recorded, and sadly the only surviving section of this adventure (track 186)
• Dick Barton, Live! The Trail of the Rocket – a live performance of the final Dick Barton storyline, re-recorded in 2013 and accompanied by cast interviews and recording outtakes (tracks 187-190)
• The Making of Dick Barton – a profile of radio's greatest hero (track 191)

NB: Updated May 2024 with Dick Barton Live and detailed track listings.

©2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Kuhusu mwandishi

The original idea for Dick Barton came from Norman Collins, Head of the Light Programme. In January 1946, he sent a memo to an assistant asking him to investigate the possibility of a daily 'cloak-and-dagger soap opera'. Matters quickly progressed and soon the fictional hero of the serial had a name - Bill Barton (later changed to Dick). Barton's history was very thoroughly researched. It was decided that he had been born on Tuesday 10 December 1912 at 5pm. The BBC went so far as to ascertain from the Town Clerk of High Wycombe and the Air Ministry exactly what the weather conditions were at the time of Barton's birth! At the time the series started, Barton was thirty-five years old. He had enjoyed a 'good' war and, in November 1945, was wondering whether he could face going back to the dutiful daily grind of the pre-war years. Having established their hero, the BBC needed to find an actor to play Barton. Noël Johnson fitted the bill perfectly: not only did he look exactly how the producers imagined Barton to be, but he was a good actor who learnt scripts accurately and quickly. However, the early days of Britain’s first daily serial were inauspicious. Within two weeks, the Daily Worker had condemned the programme as being ‘so bad as to be almost beyond criticism’. But the listeners proved the critics wrong and soon some fifteen million were tuning in to hear the adventures of Dick Barton and his pals Snowey and Jock. Although the series had been originally conceived as a fast moving cartoon strip aimed mainly at adults, the BBC soon realised that children were abandoning their homework in their thousands in order to tune in, and it was decided that all references to alcohol or girlfriends should be cut out of the script. It was still considered too exciting for some, however, as this headline from the time shows: ‘Dick Barton – Too Thrilling for Girls? Headmistress says “Yes”!’ The newly cleaned-up Barton went on to enjoy hundreds of adventures that enthralled listeners for six years. Noël Johnson left the series in 1949, largely due to money disputes, and was replaced by ex-boxer Duncan Carse. In the final year Gordon Davies played the hero. The series was written by Edward J. Mason and Geoffrey Webb. They later went on to write The Archers, which was to displace Dick Barton on the Light Programme, much to many people’s dismay – Terry Wogan has said he has never been able to enjoy the goings-on in Ambridge because they took Dick Barton away from him!