Baldi is a BBC Radio 4 murder mystery series whose central character is Paolo Baldi (played by David Threlfall

David Threlfall

David Threlfall is an English stage, film and television actor and director best known for playing Frank Gallagher in Channel 4's Manchester-based drama series Shameless. He has also directed several episodes of the show.-Early life:...

), a Franciscan

Franciscan

Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....

 priest on sabbatical, lecturing on semiotics

Semiotics

Semiotics, also called semiotic studies or semiology, is the study of signs and sign processes , indication, designation, likeness, analogy, metaphor, symbolism, signification, and communication...

 at a university in contemporary Dublin. After helping the police

Garda Síochána

, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...

 as a translator for an Italian witness, he turns sleuth. Created by Barry Devlin

Barry Devlin

Barry Devlin is an Irish musician, screen writer and director.-Early life:Devlin is from Ardboe, Moortown, County Tyrone...

, it is produced by BBC Northern Ireland

BBC Northern Ireland

BBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...

.

Summary

Father Paolo Baldi (David Threlfall

David Threlfall

David Threlfall is an English stage, film and television actor and director best known for playing Frank Gallagher in Channel 4's Manchester-based drama series Shameless. He has also directed several episodes of the show.-Early life:...

) is a priest torn between his interest in investigation and detective work, and the secluded life of a priest. On sabbatical from the Franciscan Order, he takes up amateur sleuth

Detective

A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...

ing and befriends DI Tina Mahon (Tina Kellegher

Tina Kellegher

Tina Kellegher is an Irish actress, born in Dublin in 1967. She is best known for her role as Niamh Quigley in BBC television series Ballykissangel. She is also a well-known voice on BBC Radio 4, having played policewoman Tina Mahon in the first four series of Baldi. She is married to Gordon...

 for the first four series, then Tara Flynn), a member of the Gardaí

Garda Síochána

, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...

. Both her superior, DS Rynne (Owen Roe), and Baldi's mentor, Father Troy (T. P. McKenna

T. P. McKenna

Thomas Patrick McKenna , known professionally as T. P. McKenna, was an Irish actor who worked on stage, in film and television in Ireland and the UK from the 1950s.- Film and television :...

), would prefer that he end his sabbatical and return to the Order. Father Baldi has an unfortunate knack of becoming involved in murder enquires, usually by his friendship with one of those involved. His gentle, reassuring behaviour and the Seal of the Confessional

Seal of the Confessional

In the Roman Catholic Church, the Seal of Confession is the absolute duty of priests not to disclose anything that they learn from penitents during the course of the Sacrament of Penance.-History:...

 encourages participants to open up to him.

Broadcasting Information

Five series have been broadcast, totalling twenty-eight episodes. These have all been first aired in the 45 minute Afternoon Play slot, with frequent repeats of the series on BBC 7

BBC 7

BBC Radio 4 Extra, formerly known as BBC 7 and BBC Radio 7, is a British digital radio station broadcasting comedy, drama, and children's programming nationally 24 hours a day. It is the principal broadcasting outlet for the BBC's archive of spoken-word entertainment...

. The regular cast includes David Threlfall

David Threlfall

David Threlfall is an English stage, film and television actor and director best known for playing Frank Gallagher in Channel 4's Manchester-based drama series Shameless. He has also directed several episodes of the show.-Early life:...

, Tina Kellegher

Tina Kellegher

Tina Kellegher is an Irish actress, born in Dublin in 1967. She is best known for her role as Niamh Quigley in BBC television series Ballykissangel. She is also a well-known voice on BBC Radio 4, having played policewoman Tina Mahon in the first four series of Baldi. She is married to Gordon...

, Owen Roe and T. P. McKenna

T. P. McKenna

Thomas Patrick McKenna , known professionally as T. P. McKenna, was an Irish actor who worked on stage, in film and television in Ireland and the UK from the 1950s.- Film and television :...

. Guest appearances have included some of Ireland and the UK 's leading actors, including Gerard McSorley

Gerard McSorley

Gerard McSorley is a theatre, television and an Irish film actor.-Early life:He was born in Omagh, County Tyrone, and after attending a Christian Brothers school in his hometown he attended St. Columb's College in Derry. He then attended Queen's University, Belfast, where he was taught by among...

, Martin Clunes

Martin Clunes

Alexander Martin Clunes is an English actor and comedian. Clunes is perhaps best known for his roles as Gary Strang in Men Behaving Badly, Doctor Martin Ellingham in Doc Martin and the title character in Reggie Perrin....

, Stephen Mangan

Stephen Mangan

Stephen Mangan is an English actor, best known for his roles as Guy Secretan in the television series Green Wing, Dan Moody in I'm Alan Partridge and as Holistic Detective Dirk Gently in the 2010 BBC adaptation of Douglas Adams' book Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, as well as Sean Lincoln...

, Margaret D'Arcy, Niall Buggy

Niall Buggy

Niall Buggy is an Irish actor who has worked extensively on the stage and screen in Ireland, the UK and the US. Some of his more well known roles include the lead in Brian Friel's, Uncle Vanya, for which he won an Irish Theatre Award and an Olivier Award for Dead Funny...

, Adrian Dunbar

Adrian Dunbar

Adrian Dunbar is an actor from Northern Ireland, best known for his television and theatre work. Dunbar co-wrote and starred in the 1991 film, Hear My Song, nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the BAFTA awards.-Personal life:...

, Michael Maloney

Michael Maloney

Michael Maloney is an English actor.Born in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, Maloney's first television appearance was as Peter Barkworth's teenage son in the 1979 drama series, Telford's Change....

, Bill Nighy

Bill Nighy

William Francis "Bill" Nighy is an English actor and comedian. He worked in theatre and television before his first cinema role in 1981, and made his name in television with The Men's Room in 1991, in which he played the womanizer Prof...

, Sorcha Cusack

Sorcha Cusack

Sorcha Cusack Born in Dublin on 9 April 1949, She has made many film and television appearances including The Bill, Casualty , the 1973 BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre and the worldwide hit movie Snatch as the traveller mother of Mickey played by Brad Pitt...

, Geraldine James

Geraldine James

Geraldine James, OBE is an English actress.-Early life and family:James was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, to a cardiologist father...

, Niall Toibin

Niall Toibin

Niall Tóibín is an Irish comedian and actor. Born in Cork into an Irish speaking family, Tóibín grew up on the north-side of the city in Bishop's Field. He has appeared in Ryan's Daughter, Bracken, The Irish R.M., Caught in a Free State, Ballykissangel, Far and Away, and Veronica Guerin, and has...

, Barry McGovern

Barry McGovern

Barry McGovern is an Irish stage, film and television actor. He was educated at Castleknock College, Dublin.-Background:McGovern is a former member of the RTÉ Players and the Abbey Theatre Company. He has worked in theatre, film, radio and television, as well as written music for many shows, and...

, Nick Dunning

Nick Dunning

Nick Dunning is an Anglo-Irish actor born in the county of Wexford in 1959.Dunning is a well known theatre actor who attended RADA where he won the Ronson Prize for Most Promising Young Actor. He has appeared on stage in the West End in London and at the Gate Theatre in Dublin. He has won two...

, David Kelly

David Kelly (actor)

David Kelly is an Irish actor, who has been in regular film and television work since the 1950s.-Acting career:Playing everything from Beckett to Shakespeare, he has appeared in Theatre, TV and film constantly since 1959...

, Stephen Moore

Stephen Moore (actor)

Stephen Moore is an English actor, known for his work on British television since the 1980s. He is known for his appearances in Rock Follies and other TV series such as The Last Place on Earth, the children's series The Queen's Nose and the drama Mersey Beat and the British TV comedy series Solo,...

, Pauline McLynn

Pauline McLynn

Pauline McLynn is an Irish actress, comedienne and author, best known for playing Mrs Doyle in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted, and Libby Croker in the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless.- Early life :...

, Sara Kestelman

Sara Kestelman

Sara Kestelman is an English actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Lady Frances Brandon, Lady Jane Grey's mother, in Lady Jane.-Biography:...

, John Kavanagh and Victoria Smurfit

Victoria Smurfit

-Early life:She is part of the Smurfit family, one of the richest in Ireland. The family, headed by Victoria's uncle Michael Smurfit, sponsor a number of sporting events including the Smurfit European Open and the Champion Hurdle. The family is also associated with Smurfit Business School in U.C.D....

.

The theme tune is by Sting, and is called "Saint Agnes and the Burning Train".

Episode list

Series	Episode	Title	Writer	Summary
1	1	The Prodigal Son	Barry Devlin	Paolo Baldi, Franciscan priest and philosophy lecturer, accidentally becomes involved in solving a murder at an Italian chip shop.
	2	Keepers of the Flame	Simon Brett	Baldi is caught up in solving the murder of a leading academic. He follows a trail leading into the past of one of Ireland's most cherished literary figures
	3	Miss Lonelyhearts	Barry Devlin	Paolo and Tina investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of a nurse at an old people's home and uncover an unlikely case of voyeurism.
	4	The Emerald Style	Simon Brett	Paolo's attempt to wine and dine his spiritual director Father Troy at a leading Dublin hotel is interrupted by a murder.
	5	Death Cap	Simon Brett	At a monastic retreat far out in County Cork, a sudden death among the Franciscan brothers causes Paolo to suspect foul play.
	6	Devil Take the Hindmost	Annie Caulfield	Paolo and Tina investigate the death of a student on campus, following the trail to an arrogant clique that dabbled in the occult. Is there a rational explanation, or was the Devil really involved?
2	7	Three in One	Simon Brett	A trip to the races for Baldi and Mrs Reid proves to have an unexpected link with a contract killing on the mean streets of Dublin's northside.
	8	Twilight of a God	Mark Holloway	Paolo and Tina investigate a murder at a celebrity wedding between a country girl and a world-famous opera conductor, in a remote castle off the Irish coast.
	9	Schecter's Knot	Martin Meenan	The death of a talented young maths professor leaves Paolo and Tina to ask whether it was the result of a bad case of professional jealousy.
	10	Not for Life	Simon Brett	When told that there is a question mark over the facts surrounding a girl's suicide, Paolo follows the trail into the contrasting worlds of romantic poetry and internet scams.
	11	Scratching the Surface	Martin Meenan	Paolo and Tina go pot-holing in County Clare and investigate a case of betrayal among a close-knit band of cavers.
	12	Early Retirement	Mark Holloway	The murder of a high-ranking officer in the Dublin police force causes Tina to reassess her relationship with a beloved father figure.
3	13	Tempus Fugit	Martin Meenan	Baldi finds time waits for no man as he investigates a murder. Mrs Reid leads Paolo and his broken watch to a house of clocks where love, revenge and jealousy make a mockery of time.
	14	The Book Case	Simon Brett	Paolo helps a librarian investigate the link between her young lover's death, a shifty Chicago cop, and an illegal trade in rare books.
	15	Sick Rose	Martin Meenan	Paolo and Tina discover that a priceless hybrid plant leads to little peace and serenity in the newly designed Garden of Contemplation.
	16	Settling Scores	Mark Holloway	Paolo invites Tina to her first classical music concert and finds a murder gets things off on a wrong note.
	17	The Dig	Martin Meenan	An archaeological dig becomes a battlefield involving monks, politicians and developers. Paolo makes some fascinating discoveries.
	18	Far Pavilions	Martin Meenan	Paolo discovers that Irish cricket and fair play are not synonymous when he uncovers foul play at an unfriendly charity match.
4	19	Cross Purposes	Simon Brett	Paolo solves crossword-related murders in Dublin literary circles, with Father Troy proving a surprisingly adept ally.
	20	The Devil's Eye	Bill Murphy	Paolo is confronted with old Gaelic, shipwrecks and a community's mysterious history on a remote island off the Atlantic coast.
	21	The Smoker	Andrew Martin	Paolo solves the murder of a politically incorrect, larger-than-life individual in the world of Dublin's pubs and publishing.
	22	No Sin	Martin Meenan	A death at the local gym leads Paolo to make a connection between the fanatical pursuit of health and mediaeval theology.
	23	The Empty Vessel	John Murphy	The suspicious death of the leader of the university debating society leads Paolo to investigate the dead youth's close-knit group of friends.
	24	Shelter	Francis Turnly	The murder of a homeless man leads Paolo to link a Dublin squat with the history of art.
5	25	The Million Dollar Question	Barry Devlin	Franciscan priest Paolo Baldi investigates the mysterious deaths of members of a rockabilly band, exploring patterns of squares and triangles to find the solution.
	26	A Very Neglected Fish	John Murphy	BaIdi investigates a murder set among the competitive world of celebrity chefs.
	27	A Green Murder	Andrew Martin	Baldi investigates a murder among a community of Dublin environmentalists.
	28	Food of the Blue	James McAleavey	When Baldi goes on retreat at Cranolly House, a series of unusual events plunges him into a world of ancient traditions struggling to survive in a modern world.

Technical Crew

• Executive Producer - Sarah Lawson
  Sarah Lawson (producer)
  Sarah Lawson was an English film producer.-Career:From 1982 to 1985, she was Vice President of Planning and Development for DL Taffner Ltd, Los Angeles, and from 1995 to 1996 she was Managing Director of Anglia Television Entertainment Ltd - a joint venture between HBO and the ITV Company.She is...
  
  
• Producer/Director - Lawrence Jackson
• Writers have included:
  • Simon Brett
    Simon Brett
    Simon Brett is a prolific writer of whodunnits. The son of a chartered surveyor, he was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he got a first-class honours degree in English...
    
    
  • Bill Murphy
  • Andrew Martin
  • Martin Meenan
  • John Murphy
  • Francis Turnly