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Private Eye Billy Rucker: Shut Eye & Hold Back the Night

Private Eye Billy Rucker: Shut Eye & Hold Back the Night

Two Full-Cast BBC Radio 4 Crime Dramas

Summary

David Morrissey stars as Billy Rucker in these two gritty urban noir thrillers

Ex-copper turned private investigator Billy Rucker scours the seamy underbelly of London, hunting for runaways - and murderers. Tough, worldly-wise and street-savvy, he can go where the police can't: and once he's on the trail, he won't stop until he finds the truth...

Shut Eye - When an airline pilot is found brutally murdered with a champagne bottle, his brother, Tory MP Sir Peter Morant, asks Billy Rucker to investigate. Although he's already working one assignment - tracking down teenager Dominic Lewis - Rucker agrees to take the case. Delving into Teddy's private life in search of a serial killer, he identifies a high-profile suspect. But when another body is discovered, Billy finds the finger of suspicion pointing at him...

Hold Back the Night - High summer, and the city is sweltering. Despite the heat, PI Billy Rucker is out pounding the streets, looking for a missing girl named Lucy Bonham. He suspects that Lucy and her friend Donna were mixed up in something nasty - but he has no idea of the full horrors he is about to uncover.

Adapted from Adam Baron's highly acclaimed crime novels, these dark, suspenseful detective dramas star David Morrissey, Danny Webb, Adjoa Andoh, Li Leng Au and Ioan Meredith.

Production credits
Written by Adam Baron
Dramatised by Doug Lucie
Produced and directed by Janet Whitaker

Starring David Morrissey as Billy Rucker, Danny Webb as DI Gold, Adjoa Andoh/Li Leng Au as Sharon and Ioan Meredith as Inspector Clay

Shut Eye
Sir Peter - Edward de Souza
Alex - Matt Day
Rollo - Declan Wilson
Mrs Lewes - Rachel Atkins
Secretary/Waitress - Gbemisola Ikumelo
Charlotte - Caroline Langrishe
Graham - Nicholas Woodeson
Sal - Frances Jeater
Dominic/Boy - Chris Moran
Archie/PC - Damian Lynch
Man - Harry Myers
WPC/Kristen - Cherie Taylor-Battlste

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9-30 March 2004

Hold Back the Night
Mrs Bonham - Cheryl Campbell
Emma - Rachael Stirling
Olly - Harry Myers
Sal - Elizabeth Bell
Nicky - Nicholas Boulton
Sharon - Adjoa Andoh
Juliet - Alison Pettitt
George - Vincenzo Nicoli
Albanian prostitute - Alex Tregear
Steve - Martin Hyder
Janet/Iris - Susan Jameson
Mr Bonham - Hugh Dickson
Dr Fursten - Stephen Hogan
Lee - Peter Darney

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 November-13 December 2005

© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

About the author

Adam Baron

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