Hetty Wainthropp Investigates: Poison Pen
8:45 pm - 9:35 pm, Saturday, February 14 on BBC Four HD (106)
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About this Broadcast
Poison Pen
Season 2, Episode 1
The detectives find themselves swamped with work after their recent success. Hetty turns her attention to a troubled village, while Robert and Geoffrey embark on a case of their own. Private eye drama based on the novel by David Cook, starring Patricia Routledge and Derek Benfield
subtitles
Movie/Drama
Mystery
Cast & Crew
Patricia Routledge
(Actor)
.. Hetty Wainthropp
Derek Benfield
(Actor)
.. Robert Wainthropp
Dominic Monaghan
(Actor)
.. Geoffrey Shawcross
John Graham Davies
(Actor)
.. DCI Adams
Sue Johnston
(Actor)
.. Helga Allowby
Ronnie Stevens
(Actor)
.. Mr Cullimore
Linda Broughton
(Actor)
.. Mrs Garbet
Barbara Keogh
(Actor)
.. Beryl Pacey
John Pickles
(Actor)
.. Jim Pacey
Stephen Tomlin
(Actor)
.. John Winterton
Kate Rutter
(Actor)
.. Janet Bransby
Nick Bayly
(Actor)
.. Ben Harrow
Nicola Barnfield
(Actor)
.. Geraldine Harrow
Alison Swann
(Actor)
.. Mandy Salthouse
Susan Porrett
(Actor)
.. Joyce Parmby
Olivia Jardith
(Actor)
.. Mrs Fairbrother
Colin Meredith
(Actor)
.. Harold Skimmer
Ian Kershaw
(Actor)
.. Kev Haycroft
Jennifer Hennessy
(Actor)
.. Cheryl Wright
Roger Bamford
(Director)
Carol Parks
(Producer)
John Bowen
(Writer)
David Cook
(Writer)
More Information
Did You Know..
Patricia Routledge
(Actor)
.. Hetty Wainthropp
Born:
February 17, 1929
in
Tranmere
Best Known For:
Her extensive stage career and playing Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances.
Early-life:
Katherine Patricia Routledge was born in Tranmere on February 17, 1929 to Catherine and Isaac. During the Second World War, her family lived weeks at a time in the basement of her father's haberdashery shop. Patricia went on to study English Language and Literature at the University of Liverpool. After becoming involved with the university's dramatic society, she was encouraged to pursue an acting career. After graduating, she trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and launched her acting career at the Liverpool Playhouse.
Career:
Routledge's extensive stage credits include roles in a number of Royal Shakespeare Company productions, How's the World Treating You in London and on Broadway, The Pirates of Penzance in New York's Central Park, and Facade at Carnegie Recital Hall. She won a Tony Award in 1968 for Darling of the Day and an Olivier Award in 1988 for Leonard Bernstein's Candide. Other theatre credits include Noises Off, Talking Heads, The Importance of Being Earnest, and An Ideal Husband. Even well into her ninth decade, she continues to perform on the stage. She is better known to TV audiences as Hyacinth Bucket in the hugely popular comedy series Keeping Up Appearances. She went on to play the title role in the mystery drama Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.
Quote:
'When I approach the pearly gates, I'd like to hear a champagne cork popping, an orchestra tuning up, and the sound of my mother laughing.'
Trivia:
Routledge is a classically trained singer and she has appeared in a number of operas. She was awarded an OBE in 1993 and a CBE in 2004.
Derek Benfield
(Actor)
.. Robert Wainthropp
Dominic Monaghan
(Actor)
.. Geoffrey Shawcross
Born:
December 08, 1976
in
Berlin
Best Known For:
The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Early-life:
Dominic Bernard Patrick Luke Monaghan was born in Berlin, Germany, on December 8, 1976, but moved with his family to Manchester when he was 12. His father, Austin, is a teacher, and his mother, Maureen, is a nurse. He has an older brother and speaks fluent German. He studied drama at sixth form college, during which time he began auditioning for professional acting jobs.
Career:
Monaghan made a name for himself alongside Patricia Routledge in the 1996 TV series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, closely followed by appearances in the miniseries This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, alongside Alun Armstrong, and Monsignor Renard, with John Thaw. However, he shot to worldwide attention in 2001 as cheeky but kind-hearted hobbit Merry in the first instalment of Peter Jackson's epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy - he featured in its two sequels too. Since then, he's starred in Lost, FlashForward and 100 Code. On the big screen, he has starred in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and Soldiers of Fortune (2010). He also presents a wildlife documentary series called Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan.
Quote:
'I would like to be remembered as someone who could make people laugh. I would just like to be remembered really.'
Trivia:
A photographic exhibition in Los Angeles in 2008 featured prints of his own work.
John Graham Davies
(Actor)
.. DCI Adams
Sue Johnston
(Actor)
.. Helga Allowby
Born:
December 07, 1943
in
Warrington, Cheshire
Best Known For:
The Royle Family and Brookside.
Early-life:
Born Susan Johnston on December 7, 1943, in Warrington, Cheshire. Her mother was a housewife, and her father was a plumber who worked his way up to become a clerk of works. While employed at a tax office, Johnston would visit the Cavern in Liverpool during her lunch break. She used to hang around with Paul McCartney, and went to his 21st birthday party. They lost touch until a few years ago when they met during a visit by the Queen to Liverpool. She eventually quit her job and studied at London's Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Career:
On leaving drama school, Johnston began landing roles in fringe theatre, school workshops and occasional TV appearances in shows such as Coronation Street. She didn't become a famous face until her eight-year stint in Brookside as long-suffering Sheila Grant. She went on to star in Medics, hit comedy The Royle Family (alongside Brookie co-star Ricky Tomlinson), and The Things You Do for Love, in which the actress played former Corrie actress Pat Phoenix. Among her film credits are the award-winning Brassed Off, and crime drama Face, starring Robert Carlyle. Other projects include Sex, Chips and Rock 'n' Roll, Score, My Uncle Silas, Jam & Jerusalem, Waking the Dead and Being Eileen.
Quote:
'I'm a character actress, not a glamour one. I like playing a dried-up old stick.'
Trivia:
Her memoir, Things I Couldn't Tell My Mother, was published in 2011.
Ronnie Stevens
(Actor)
.. Mr Cullimore
Linda Broughton
(Actor)
.. Mrs Garbet
Barbara Keogh
(Actor)
.. Beryl Pacey
John Pickles
(Actor)
.. Jim Pacey
Stephen Tomlin
(Actor)
.. John Winterton
Kate Rutter
(Actor)
.. Janet Bransby
Nick Bayly
(Actor)
.. Ben Harrow
Nicola Barnfield
(Actor)
.. Geraldine Harrow
Alison Swann
(Actor)
.. Mandy Salthouse
Susan Porrett
(Actor)
.. Joyce Parmby
Olivia Jardith
(Actor)
.. Mrs Fairbrother
Colin Meredith
(Actor)
.. Harold Skimmer
Ian Kershaw
(Actor)
.. Kev Haycroft
Jennifer Hennessy
(Actor)
.. Cheryl Wright
Roger Bamford
(Director)
Carol Parks
(Producer)
John Bowen
(Writer)
David Cook
(Writer)
