Thief Encounter

Peter and Julian are determined to retrieve a valuable pudding artefact and they've enlisted the help of a crooked connection to do so.

Emma and Tom try to keep everyone on the straight and narrow - but Maureen finds herself mysteriously drawn to the shady visitor.

Starring Simon Callow, Miles Jupp and Jane Horrocks.

Comedy about the inept staff at a historic house.

Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the Lake District. But one place they never go to is Plum House - the former country home of terrible poet George Pudding (1779-1848). Now a crumbling museum, losing money hand over fist, it struggles to stay open under its eccentric curator Peter Knight.

Tom Collyer tries and fails to get the museum back on track, alongside the hopelessly out of touch deputy Julian, corner-cutting gift shop manager Maureen, put-upon education officer Emma, and enthusiastic but dim-witted caretaker Alan.

Written by Ben Cottam and Paul McKenna.

Peter ...... Simon Callow
Julian ...... Miles Jupp
Maureen ...... Jane Horrocks
Tom ...... Tom Bell
Alan ...... Pearce Quigley
Emma ...... Louise Ford
Gerry ...... Danny Webb
Ralph ...... Ed Easton

Producer: Sarah Cartwright
Director: Paul Schlesinger

A Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2018.