The Doomed Oasis

A fight to save an oasis and find a missing man: Hammond Innes’ classic adventure novel dramatized with a full-cast

When a newspaper article and an almost-forgotten client propels young English lawyer George Grant to delve into the affairs of an elusive oilman he embarks on a mystery trip to the Arabian peninsula. But what begins as an innocent search, leads Grant into a maze of political intrigue and family secrets in the deserts of Arabia. Accompanying Grant is the illegitimate son of the missing man, and from Bahrain to Dubai to the mountains of Jebel Al-Akhbar, the great desert of the Empty Quarter provides a backdrop to the friction, drama and tragedy that develops between Grant and his companion. Can the pair save the oasis from the encroaching sands? Will missing David Whittaker be found alive? And will the men be able to battle the politics and practicalities in a final confrontation with the Emir as new oil is discovered?

The Doomed Oasis is the story of how two ordinary men find themselves in extraordinary circumstances and must use all their ingenuity to not only save an oasis and find a missing man, but also keep themselves alive. This is an absolute archive gem, a full-cast adaptation of a great novel packed with intrigue, suspense, thrills and revelations, starring Tim Munro.

Cast and credits

Written by Hammond Innes

Dramatised by Rene Basilico

Produced by John Fawcett Wilson

George Grant - Tim Munro
Henry Grant - Robert James
Alexander Erkhard - John Malcolm
Ruffini - Robert Rietty
Betty - Jill Lidstone
Tessa - Nadia Hammam
Taxi Driver/Waiter - Nadim Sawalha
Hotel receptionist - Neville Rofaila
Akhmed/Sheikh’s Messenger/Yousif/Ali - Ali Refaie

Otto Smith - George Roubicek

Captain Chuck Berry - David McAlister

Sir Philip Gorde - Garard Green

Susan Whittaker - Helena Breck

Driver/Palace Guard/Trucial Oman Scout - Mohammad Sultan

Colonel Whittaker - Bernard Horsfall

Sheikh Makhmud - Farouk El-Demerdash

Prince Khalid - Raad Rawi

Jack Entwistle - Geoffrey Hinsliff

Sheikh Abdullah - Adam Hussein

Salim - George Masri

David Whittaker- Christopher Guard

Hamid - Mamdouh Ashour

Boy - Yasmin Abdul Rahman

Colonel Goodge - Nicholas Courtney

Captain Chuck Berry - David McAlister

Sergeant Rashid - Adam Hussein

Abdul Zaid Emir of Hadd - Renu Setna

First Broadcast BBC Radio 2, 22nd Aug - 26th Sep 1984

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