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William Keenan was an English journalist, playwright and novelist.

He wrote a regular column for the Catholic Herald and was the author of three mystery novels and numerous plays for BBC Radio. Collected here are seven full-cast BBC Radio plays written by Keenan over three decades.


Late Into the Night
A modern spy-thriller, set mainly in Germany.
Doris is getting strange telephone calls from someone in Germany trying to reach her boss, Michael Hayward, who is out of the office. When the stranger finally gets hold of Hayward, it's an old army mate, Dave Owen Thomas, who he hasn't seen in 15 years. Dave sounds very agitated saying that he's in trouble and asks Mike to fly over and help him out. Mike arrives in Germany, but the hotel room David is supposed to be in is occupied by an elderly English gentleman. Early the next morning Michael is awoken by the hotel manager advising that the elderly English gentleman has fallen from an upper floor window - he is still barely alive and is asking for Michael. When Michael arrives, the old man asks him if he reads poetry. When Michael says yes the old man whispers in his ear so that no-one else can hear: "Late into the night..." before dying. Now, the German police are wondering what Michael has to do with his death?
Doris Wickham ...... Anna Cropper
Michael Heywood ...... John Bennett
Dave Thomas ...... Peter Ellis
Mrs Clare O'Connell ...... Elizabeth Kelly
Boris Balakeff ...... David Mahlowe
Inspector Meyer of the Essen police ...... Ronald Herdman
Charles Crawley of the British Consulate staff ...... Graham Tennant
Robson, a British Intelligence agent ...... John Linstrum
Helga ...... Janet Dale
Frau Langermann ...... Juliet Cooke
The Stranger, 'Jim' ...... Geoffrey Tanks
The Occupant of Room 409 ...... Paul Webster
Written by William Keenan
Adapted by David Bramley
Directed by Alan Ayckbourn
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1974


The Night of Caesar's Knives
A modern spy-thriller, set mainly in Italy. A sequel to Late Into the Night.
'It's them right enough, Doris. They just want to say "thank you" by sending us on a second honeymoon!' ' They're trying to involve you again, Michael '
Doris ...... Anna Cropper
Michael ...... John Bennett
Mrs Clare O'Connell ...... Elizabeth Kelly
Renshawe ...... Geoffrey Matthews
Gerald Picton ...... Ronald Herdman
Captain Averno of the Rome Police ...... Peter Bell
Colonel Boris Balakeff of the KGB ...... David Mahlowe
Robson of British Intelligence ...... Geoffrey Banks
Count Galateo/Sven Baste ...... Geoffrey Wheeler
Jean Tyler ...... Marah Stohl
Harry Carson ...... Graham Tennant
Written by William Keenan
Directed by Trevor Hill
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1976


The Vienna Connection
A modern spy-thriller, set mainly in Austria. A sequel to The Night of Caesar's Knives.
'Vienna is marvellous at this time of the year. Heywood! We've plane tickets for you, Doris and her Aunt Clare!'
'Isn't that taking a little too much for granted, Robson?' ' You're offended?'
'Not offended, suspicious!'
Mrs Clare O'Connell ...... Elizabeth Kelly
Robson ...... Graham Roberts
Slingsby ...... Alan Meadows
Hotel Charlemagne Receptionist ...... Peter Bell
Captain Werner Frickner of the Austrian police ...... Enn Reitel
Roberts of the CIA ...... Blain Fairman
Colonel Boris Balakeff of the KGB ...... David Marlowe
Written by William Keenan
Directed by Trevor Hill
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1978


The Dark Windows of a Room
Manchester in 1975.'I'm John Rouke, and for the record, the jury gave me the benefit of the doubt. Inspector Rouke is not a crook, and he's going to prove it.'
With Brian Trueman as John Rouke, Geoffrey Banks as Chief Inspector Norris, and Jane Knowles as Anna.
Guest appearances by: Violet Carson, Judith Chalmers, Sandra Chalmers, Nigel Davenport, Bryan Forbes, Philip Jenkinson, Bryan Martin, Peter Massey, Wilfred Pickles, Alan Rothwell, Herbert Smith, Madeleine Vacher, Paul Webster, Geoffrey Wheeler, Peter Wheeler, and Billie Whitelaw.
Written by William Keenan
Directed by Trevor Hill
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1975


Lonely Beat
'To succeed where 200 of the best detectives in the country have failed? Of course it's a tall order. But you have two things on your side. You are new to the case, and you bring a fresh outlook to it.'
Chief Inspector Brien ...... James Beck
Chief Superintendent Miller ...... John Hollis
Detective Constable Marne ...... Brian Peck
Manny Thompson ...... David Mahlowe
Mrs Livers ...... Heather Stoney
Ron Kay ...... Brian Miller
Mrs Astbury ...... Ruth Holden
Mechanic ...... Robert Peck
Landlord ...... Ronald Harvi
Ann ...... Stephanie Turner
Frank Rainton ...... Colin Edwynn
Written by William Keenan
Adapted by David Bramley
Directed by Alan Ayckbourn
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1969


Fatima
Three shepherd children reported six times in 1917 that they had seen a lady made wholly of light standing on a small tree, speaking to them then vanishing. Two of the children died in childhood, as the lady had foretold. Time has verified her other prophecies: The Russian Revolution which began soon after; the horrors of World War II and the spread of terrorism and violence. She also had a secret for the Pope: a secret that is yet to be revealed.
Sister Lucia ...... Mary Wimbush
Our Lady ...... Deborah Makepeace
Lucia a girl ...... Sarah O'Keefe
Francisco ...... Barnaby Jenkins
Jacinta ...... Mary MacLoughlin
Angel ...... Stephen Rashbrook
Marto ...... Christian Rodska
Olimpia ...... Polly James
Antonio ...... Anthony Jackson
Maria ...... Zelah Clarke
Neighbour ...... Eva Stuart
Fr da Silva ...... William Eedle
Fr Ferreira ...... John Baddeley
Doctor ...... John Samson
Nurse ...... Caroline Gruber
Santos ...... Steve Hodson
Jose ...... Peter Craze
Minister ...... Alan Dudley
Written by William Keenan
Directed by Shaun McLoughlin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1988


Margaret Clitherow
'Margaret Clitherow , you have been brought from the Castle of York on this the 14th day of March in the Year of Grace 1586 and indicted of felony, for that you have harboured Jesuit priests, traitors to the Queen's Majesty and that you have had Mass said ...
Margaret ...... Elizabeth Proud
Henry May ...... Stephen Thorne
John Clitherow ...... Steve Hodson
Thomas Clitherow ...... Jack Watson
Jane ...... Miranda Forbes
Earl of Northumberland ...... Geoffrey Bateman
Earl of Huntingdon ...... Bill Wallis
Sheriff ...... Geoffrey Matthews
Father Mush ...... Patrick Malahide
Agnes Teshe ...... Angela Phillips
Mrs Yoward ...... Daphne Heard
Judge ...... Peter Copley
Jailer ...... James Cairncross
Father Wreakes ...... John Abineri
Henry Clitherow ...... Rupert Graves
Anne Clitherow ...... Gillie Gratham
Jan ...... Petra Leah
Woman ...... Jo Anderson
Written by William Keenan
Directed by Shaun McLoughlin
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 1986

1. Late Into the Night (40.5Mb)
2. The Night of Caesar's Knives (40.5Mb)
3. The Vienna Connection (38.8Mb)
4. The Dark Windows of a Room (39.6Mb)
5. Lonely Beat (41Mb)
6. Fatima (40.8Mb)
7. Margaret Clitherow (40.1Mb)

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