Richard Barton: General Practitioner!

Apr 21, 2025 6:12 AM

Author:Laurence Mason,Robert Bathurst,Moray Watson,Iain Cuthbertson,Julian Dutton,Sally Barton,Ann Beach,Kim Wall,Wayne Forester,Full Cast

Laurence 'Lol' Mason's spin-off homage to Dick Barton, following the adventures of the unretirable special agent and his doctor son

A thrilling saga of criminal masterminds, espionage and adventure, Edward J. Mason's Dick Barton: Special Agent was a huge hit on the BBC Light Programme between 1946 and 1951. Together with his mates Jock Anderson and Snowy White, ex-Commando Dick faced dastardly villains and deadly peril - but always triumphed ('With one bound, Dick was free!') Half a century later, Edward J's son Lol paid affectionate tribute to the much-loved radio hero with this sparkling pastiche, featuring the joint escapades of father-and-son duo Dick and Richard Barton.

Recuperating after an operation, the elderly crimefighter comes to stay with his GP son and daughter-in-law Sally in their sleepy rural village. Peace and quiet is what the doctor orders, so Dick settles down to get some rest and write his memoirs. But soon, mysterious parallels emerge between past and present, as Dick's old adventures start to echo events in Appledon...

Robert Bathurst stars as Richard Barton, with Sally Phillips and Matilda Ziegler as Sally, Moray Watson as Dick Barton, Julian Dutton as his younger self and Iain Cuthbertson as Jock.

Production credits

Written by Lol Mason

Produced by Jo Clegg

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18 October 1997 (Pilot), 17 April-15 May 1998 (Series 1)

Cast

Richard Barton - Robert Bathurst

Old Dick/Old Leslie - Moray Watson

Jock - Iain Cuthbertson

Young Dick/Young Leslie - Julian Dutton

Sally Barton - Sally Phillips/Matilda Ziegler

Mrs Cadwalladder - Ann Beach/Doreen Mantle

Fassbinder - Kim Wall

Colin Meadows - Wayne Forester/Julian Dutton

Kenwood-Gore/Gordini - David Daker

Dr Willoughby - Joss Ackland

Marge - Carolyn Jones

Dr Adebile - Adjoa Andoh

With Roger Blake, Tim Whitnall and Fiona Allen

Reviews

Creepy and compelling

—— The Times Crime Club

A mixture of black humour and psychological insight

—— Sunday Times, 'Best Historical Fiction Books of 2023'

Atmospheric and addictive

—— Crime Monthly

This sinister novel is a pulse-pounding read

—— Woman's Own

I was absolutely captivated by All the Blood We Share. The author brings the prairie so vividly to life that I felt I was there, living amongst brilliantly portrayed, scarily believable characters . . . Chilling, terrifying, utterly addictive, All the Blood We Share is a beautifully written, spellbinding read for 2023

—— Karen Coles, author of The Asylum

As disturbing as it is compelling, All The Blood We Share is a grisly triumph, and one that cements Bruce's reputation as a must-read author

—— Fantasy Hive

Praise for Camilla Bruce

—— -

Got me out of a reading slump! Dark glee, tragedy . . . fans of my story The Corset will gobble this up

—— Laura Purcell

Dark, twisted and dangerously addictive

—— Sam Lloyd

A brutal and compelling tale that starts as a revenge story but quickly becomes so much more. Clever, shocking and horrific in places, it's the sort of book for which the phrase 'page-turner' was invented

—— Lucie McKnight Hardy

Come for the fabulous premise, stay for the razor-sharp portrait of a marvelously complex (and often totally terrifying) mind. I was a big fan of You Let Me In, but Camilla Bruce has absolutely outdone herself with Bella Sorensen and Triflers Need Not Apply

—— Laird Hunt

Explosive . . . If you like true crime, you'll devour this chilling story

—— Woman's Weekly

Deliciously dark, wickedly observed with a protagonist who will haunt you in the best way. Utterly gripping, chillingly compelling - you won't read another story quite like Bella's

—— Miranda Dickinson

Loved this fascinating tale of how a woman's pain turns to rage and then murder. A dark, thrilling ride into a world of revenge. Oh so satisfying

—— Julie Owen Moylan

A perfect read for any crime fiction fan. A chilling immersion into the mind of a serial killer - dark, seductive and addictive. A truly gripping read

—— Lia Middleton

Based on a true story, with dark humour throughout, you will be hooked

—— Prima

Extraordinary. Bruce does a marvellous job of reimagining this real-life murderer, without excusing her crimes

—— The Times

This gory fictionalisation of her story is also a great character study

—— Best

Explosive . . . If you like true crime, you'll devour this chilling story of revenge

—— Woman

Chilling. Camilla Bruce's adept reimagining of this compelling historical figure is difficult to forget

—— Gazette and Herald

You'll veer between pity and loathing for the main character, with perhaps a touch of horrified admiration at times

—— The Hunsbury Handbook

If you like my stuff, you'll like this

—— Stephen King

Britain's female Stephen King

—— Daily Mail

Taut, tense and deliciously dark, C.J. Tudor's post-apocalyptic thrill ride is unmissable

—— TIM WEAVER

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