The Case of the Missing Meerschaum

In tribute to Richard Briers, who co-starred in this series for six years.

Starring the late Richard Briers and Stanley Baxter.

William and Sandy are to appear at a Sherlock Holmes Convention, held at a hotel just around the corner from Baker Street. Sandy isn't keen but succumbs to William's desperate need to be in the spotlight once more. Sandy finds the display of 'fandom' absurd - the packed memorabilia stalls and one fan's observation that he thought he'd died years before. He also finds the political infighting threatening to tear the Society apart faintly ridiculous. But William is in his bombastic element, to such an extent that he has a very public and painful row with Sandy, who quits the convention and catches the Metropolitan Line back to the Old Beeches.

William occupies centre-stage at that night's dinner, flourishing the Society's prized meerschaum used by Basil Rathbone in the Holmes films. After a bibulous evening, William rolls into bed still with the precious pipe in his possession.

He wakes up the following morning and discovers that it's gone. He travels to the Old Beeches in a panic, begging Sandy to return to the Convention to help him solve the mystery - which he does using Holmesian precepts, and restoring their friendship in the process.

Written by Michael Chaplin
Directed by Marilyn Imrie
A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4.