First Upload April 2002

Created by E. W. Hornung

The Raffles stories of E.W. Hornung concerning gentleman burglar A. J. Raffles and his accomplice Bunny Manders have translated to stage, screen and television. Perhaps most notable as the gentleman thief - Ronald Coleman in a film titled Raffles of 1930 & David Niven in a remake of this in 1940. On television, Anthony Valentine and Christopher Strauli teamed as Raffles and Bunny respectively for series in 1975 & 1977. Jeremy Clyde and Michael Cochrane first seem to have performed the roles on television in dramatised extracts in the BBC documentary series The Crime Writers, as witnessed by the photo below from "Crime Writers" edited by HRF Keating published by the BBC in 1978, to tie in with the series. So perhaps it is not surprising that they were selected to bring the characters to radio.

1/ The Ides of March:  Bunny is desperately in need of some ready cash to repay a gambling debt. His old schoolfellow, the celebrated English cricketer A. J. Raffles, knows just the person to help a fellow out. He's a jeweller in Bond Street - and funnily enough, Raffles had planned to pay him a surprise visit that very night.... 20 October 1985 2/ Gentlemen and Players: When Raffles and Bunny are engaged for cricketing weeks at country estates, the playing of cricket can hardly be said to be their chief preoccupation. Bunny is an incorrigible ladies man, while Raffles takes an understandable professional interest in his fellow guests portable property. Insp. MacKenzie, played by Henry Stamper; Crawshay played by Ron Pember. 27 October 1985 3/ A Costume Piece:  Reuben Rosenthall has made his millions in the diamond fields of South Africa, and it seems only right and proper to Raffles that some of this wealth should be redistributed. But Raffles's attempts to seize the Rosenthall diamonds do not you might say - quite go according to plan. Reuben Rosenthall played by Geoffrey Matthews. 3 November 1985 4/ Nine Points of Law: An advertisement in a daily paper offers £2,000 reward for anyone qualified to undertake a `delicate mission' and prepared to run a certain risk. This proves more than sufficient bait for those intrepid risk-takers Raffles and Bunny - even though the mission turns out to be not entirely legal... Craggs played by David Graham; Addenbrooke played by David Buck. 10 November 1985 5/ Wilful Murder or The Return Match:  Such is the nature of Raffles professional life that he is often required to work at night. So it is no surprise to Bunny when Raffles announces he has plans for the evening ahead. The surprise - and the horror - comes when Raffles calmly declares he is planning to commit murder...  (Note - this production is adapted from Wilful Murder and The Return Match) Insp. MacKenzie played by Henry Stamper; Crawshay played by Ron Pember. 17 November 1985 6/ The Chest of Silver:  With Inspector MacKenzie's suspicions about Raffles professional life growing, A. J. decides the time has now come to visit Scotland. But Bunny is not to go with him: he has the responsibility of guarding Raffles illegally acquired silver plate. Insp. MacKenzie played by Henry Stamper. 24 November 1985

1/ The Rest Cure:  Bunny is surprised and pleased to be invited by Raffles to share the latter's self imposed `rest cure' in a large house in Kensington. But Raffles, needless to say, has his own somewhat nefarious reasons for wanting to take a holiday... Colonel Crutchley played by Christopher Benjamin. 1 June 1988 2/ The Criminologists Club:  Bunny is appalled to learn that the Criminologists Club has invited Raffles and Bunny to dinner. But Raffles see the opportunity to have a little fun... Insp. MacKenzie played by Henry Stamper; Lord Thornaby played by David March; Kingsmill played by Michael Tudor Barnes; Parrington played by Blain Fairman; Ernest played by Simon Hewitt; Leggett played by Norman Bird. 8 June 1988 3/ The Field of Philippi:  When Raffles and Bunny make a nostalgic return to their school they run across an old enemy, `Soapy' Sudborough, who, with his father owns the local bank. Raffles, like Caesar at the field of Philippi, is not one to leave old scores unsettled. Sudborough played by Bernard Brown. 15 June 1988 4/ A Bad Night:  Raffles's plans to avenge a friend by robbing a private house at Hampton Court are thwarted by a prior engagement at Old Trafford, to play in the second test match against Australia. Bunny, however, nobly steps into the breach.... Medlicott played by Anton Lesser. 22 June 1988 5/ A Trap to Catch a Cracksman:  When an American pugilist boasts that he has invented a trap to catch the cleverest cracksman alive, he is issuing a challenge that Raffles, for one is unable to resist.... with disastrous consequences. Insp. MacKenzie played by Henry Stamper; Maguire played by Alan Tilvern. 29 June 1988 6/ The Gift of the Emperor:  Raffles plans the most daring enterprise of his career - the theft of a jewel worth £100,000. But Inspector MacKenzie is hot on Raffles's trail, and our intrepid cracksman's luck finally runs out. Insp. MacKenzie played by Henry Stamper; Von Heumann played by Frederick Jaeger. Miss Werner played by Zelah Clarke. 6 July 1988

1/ No Sinecure:  Believing Raffles dead, Bunny prepares to face the world alone. Then comes an invitation from an unloved cousin to read and answer an advertisement in that days Daily Mail. Dr Theobald - Gordon Reid; Mr Maturin - John Hartley. 30 July 1992 2/ To Catch A Thief:  A series of audacious jewel robberies has been carried in London high society. But, for once the cracksman is not A J Raffles. Inspector McKenzie - Henry Stamper; Dr Theobald - Gordon Reid; Mr Maturin - John Hartley; Lord Ernest Belville - Terence Edmond. 6 August 1992 3/ An Old Flame:  Raffles has had many worthy combatants but none prove so formidable as his old flame Jacques Salliard, played by Eleanor Bron.  Dr Theobald - Gordon Reid; Mr Maturin - John Hartley; Mrs Fisher - Gudrun Ure. 13 August 1992 4/ The Raffles Relics:  Bunny is appalled to hear Raffles announce that he intends to visit Scotland Yard to view an exhibition of his own craftsman's tools. (Note - this production is adapted from The Raffles Relics and The Wrong House) Mrs Fisher - Gudrun Ure; Druce - Peter Forbes; Colonel - Terence Edmond; Beefy - Matthew Morgan. 20 August 1992 5/ The Knees of the Gods:  Raffles and Bunny leave England to fight for Queen and Country in the South African War. For One of them there will be no return. 27 August 1992 6/ The Last Word:  A chance meeting with an old and very dear friend changes the whole course of Bunny's life. Sophie - Emily Richard. 3 September 1992

Raffles and His faithful henchman Bunny, whose exploits World Service listeners have had the chance to follow for the past six weeks, take a final bow in this new radio adaptation of Graham Greene's stageplay, featuring the characters originally created by E.W Hornung.

Bunny has been in prison, mourning the loss of his friend Raffles, apparently killed in the South African war. But a surprise visit from their old adversary Inspector MacKenzie (whose accent appears to have thickened considerably in the space of a few months) proves to Bunny that life, as in the best detective stories, is full of the most unexpected twists and turns.