The Agatha Christie Hour

Did You Know?

• The episode 'The Girl in the Train' was broadcast 21 September 1982, adapted by William Corlett from The Listerdale Mystery and directed by Brian Farnham.
• In 'The Girl in the Train', George Rowland is fired from his uncle William Rowland's firm of investment brokers and soon finds adventure.
• The cast of 'The Girl in the Train' includes Osmund Bullock as George Rowland, Sarah Berger as Elizabeth, and Roy Kinnear as Cabbie.

The Fourth Man

Broadcast 28 September 1982, this episode was directed by Michael Simpson and adapted by William Corlett from The Hound of Death. A doctor, a priest, and a lawyer discuss the reported suicide of a young woman, Annette Ravel, in a railway compartment. They are joined by Raoul Letardau, who knows more about it and talks about Annette's love-hate relationship with the backward Felicie Bault. The cast includes Prue Clarke as Annette Ravel, Fiona Mathieson as Felicie Bault, John Nettles as Raoul Letardau, Michael Gough as Sir George Durand, Alan MacNaughtan as Sir Campbell Clark, Geoffrey Chater as Canon Parfitt, Frederick Jaeger as the Count, Cy Town as Porter, Stuart Fell as Juggler, Eric Richard as Stage Manager, and Christopher Wren as Annette's Attendant.

Magnolia Blossom

Broadcast 12 October 1982, this episode features Theo, who has a rich uncaring husband and is about to run away to South Africa with a lover, Vincent. They get as far as Paris, but after hearing that her husband's financial empire is collapsing and he may be arrested for fraud, Theo decides to stick by Richard. The cast includes Ciaran Madden as Theo Darrell, Jeremy Clyde as Richard Darrell, Ralph Bates as Vincent Easton, Brian Oulton as Bates, Alexandra Bastedo as Clare Hamilton, Jack May as Colonel Jaggers, Charles Hodgson as Cabinet Minister, Phillip Cade as Bobby Dorkins, Sarah-Jane Varley as Vanessa, Graham Seed as Charles Willerby, Jane Laurie as Imogen, Jennifer Croxton as Marlita, Keith Marsh as Ticket Inspector, and Derek Fuke as Taxi Driver.

The Mystery of the Blue Jar

Broadcast 19 October 1982, this episode was adapted from The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories. Jack Hartington, a solicitor's clerk staying at a hotel to play golf, hears a woman's voice crying "Murder, help, murder!" from a cottage. He finds Felise Marchaud, a young Frenchwoman living there, but she says she heard nothing. Hartington tells his story to Lavington, a fellow guest, who investigates and finds a story of the supernatural centring on a blue Chinese jar belonging to his Uncle George. At the end a more down-to-earth explanation emerges. The cast includes Robin Kermode as Jack Hartington, Isabelle Spade as Felise Marchaud, Michael Aldridge as Dr Lavington, Derek Francis as Uncle George, Hugh Walters as Dodds, Ivor Roberts as Hubble, Robert Austin as Police Sergeant, Glynis Brooks as Agnes, Philip Bird as Marchaud, and Tara Ward as Portia.

The Red Signal

Broadcast on 2 November 1982, this television adaptation was written by William Corlett from the story The Hound of Death, with John Frankau directing. The plot follows Dermot West, who has fallen for Claire Trent, the wife of his close friend Jack. While visiting them, Dermot experiences a premonition he calls a "red signal," sensing death nearby. His uncle, a psychiatrist, later informs him that Claire suffers from homicidal mania, and is soon killed. The cast features Richard Morant as Dermot West, Alan Badel as Sir Alington West, Michael Denison as Johnson, Christopher Cazenove as Jack Trent, Joanna David as Claire Trent, Ewan Roberts as McKern, Rosalie Crutchley as Mrs Thompson, Carol Drinkwater as Violet Eversleigh, Michael Mellinger as Guido, Bob Keegan as Inspector Verrall, Hugh Sullivan as Milson, David Rolfe as Charlson, Andrew McCulloch as Constable Cawley, and Christopher Wren as Garry Benson.