Opening Lines - Brat Farrar
Patrick Ashby died nine years ago. Now, out of the blue, he returns home to claim his inheritance. Except, of course, it’s not Patrick but an imposter, Brat Farrar.
In this episode of Opening Lines John Yorke examines Josephine Tey’s classic 1949 novel that set the standard for so many crime writers to come. He examines the themes of the book and Tey’s life, itself a story of multiple identities and hidden lives. The programme features writer Nicola Upson, a member of the prestigious elite Detection Club, whose own crime novels feature Josephine Tey as detective.
John Yorke has worked in television and radio for 30 years and shares his experience as he unpacks the themes and impact of the books, plays and stories that are being dramatised in BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Drama series. As former Head of Channel Four Drama and Controller of BBC Drama Production he has worked on some of the most popular shows in Britain - from EastEnders to The Archers, Life on Mars to Shameless. As creator of the BBC Writers Academy, he's trained a generation of screenwriters - now with over 70 green lights and thousands of hours of television to their names. He is the author of Into the Woods, the bestselling book on narrative, and he writes, teaches and consults on all forms of narrative - including many podcasts for R4.
Interview with Val McDermid, BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, 20th August 2015
Producer: Caroline Raphael
Reader: Janet Ellis
Executive Producer: Sara Davies
Production Hub Coordinator: Nina Semple
Sound: Sean Kerwin
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4
Published on Sunday, 9th March 2025.
Available Podcasts from Opening Lines
We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Opening Lines webpage.