Ernest Dudley
Encyclopedia
Ernest Dudley was an English actor, dramatist, novelist, journalist and screenwriter.
in the title role. In the fifties the role was given to Cecil Parker
, who co-starred with Sheila Sim
.
He was born Vivian Ernest Coltman-Allen, in Dudley
, Worcestershire and educated at Taplow School. He began his theatrical career acting in repertory in Ireland, later joining Charles Doran's Shakespeare company. He met and married the actress Jane Graham, while they were on tour in 1930.
Dudley created Dr Morelle for a BBC Radio anthology programme "Monday Night at Eight
" during the Second World War. He featured the character in many short stories and numerous novels as well as a stage play "Dr Morelle", which he co-wrote with Arthur Watkyn.
He appeared in the West End
in numerous small parts, before taking a job with "The Daily Mail" during the late 1930s as a society reporter. He also began writing plays and crime series for BBC Radio
. His popular radio series "The Armchair Detective" attracted more than ten million listeners a week. A TV series followed, as well as a film in 1952. In 1956 he bought a Jowett Jupiter
with an unusual special body by Harold Radford
. This had the merit (to Dudley) of being completely unlike any other car, and therefore unidentifiable.
He and his wife had a daughter together. He was widowed in 1981 and remained working on novels, stories and scripts until his death, aged 97.
Biography
The actor and scriptwriter Ernest Dudley was the creator of the hit BBC radio crime series Dr Morelle and also the television series The Armchair Detective. The Dr Morelle – "the man you love to hate!" – series which was hugely popular during the 1940s and 1950s and originally starred Dennis ArundellDennis Arundell
Dennis Drew Arundell was a British actor, librettist, opera scholar, translator, producer, director, conductor and composer of incidental music.-Selected filmography:...
in the title role. In the fifties the role was given to Cecil Parker
Cecil Parker
Cecil Parker was an English character and comedy actor with a distinctive husky voice, who usually played supporting roles in his 91 films made between 1928 and 1969....
, who co-starred with Sheila Sim
Sheila Sim
Sheila Beryl Grant Attenborough, Lady Attenborough , known professionally by her maiden name Sheila Sim, is an English film and theatre actress and the wife of actor and director Richard Attenborough.- Career :...
.
He was born Vivian Ernest Coltman-Allen, in Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
, Worcestershire and educated at Taplow School. He began his theatrical career acting in repertory in Ireland, later joining Charles Doran's Shakespeare company. He met and married the actress Jane Graham, while they were on tour in 1930.
Dudley created Dr Morelle for a BBC Radio anthology programme "Monday Night at Eight
Monday Night at Eight
Monday Night at Eight was a weekly BBC program that was on from 8 pm to 9 pm. It started in 1939, but was preceded by a similar program before the start of World War II called Monday Night at Seven. Because of the longer hours worked during the war, it had been pushed back an hour to enable more...
" during the Second World War. He featured the character in many short stories and numerous novels as well as a stage play "Dr Morelle", which he co-wrote with Arthur Watkyn.
He appeared in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
in numerous small parts, before taking a job with "The Daily Mail" during the late 1930s as a society reporter. He also began writing plays and crime series for BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
. His popular radio series "The Armchair Detective" attracted more than ten million listeners a week. A TV series followed, as well as a film in 1952. In 1956 he bought a Jowett Jupiter
Jowett Jupiter
The Jowett Jupiter was a British car made by Jowett Cars Ltd of Idle, near Bradford from 1950 to 1954. Following the launch of the all new Jowett Javelin and its successes in competition Jowett decided to use its power train in a sports car for export in the hope of increasing their inadequate...
with an unusual special body by Harold Radford
Harold Radford
Harold Radford & Co Limited of Melton Court, South Kensington, London SW7, were bespoke coachbuilders. The business began in the late 1940s making relatively minor changes to bodywork for owners of new Bentleys, amendments to suit the rural lifestyle of the landed gentry...
. This had the merit (to Dudley) of being completely unlike any other car, and therefore unidentifiable.
He and his wife had a daughter together. He was widowed in 1981 and remained working on novels, stories and scripts until his death, aged 97.
Radio Plays
- Crime Chasers Ltd
- SOS Sally
- Mr Walker Wants to Know
- Monday Night at EightMonday Night at EightMonday Night at Eight was a weekly BBC program that was on from 8 pm to 9 pm. It started in 1939, but was preceded by a similar program before the start of World War II called Monday Night at Seven. Because of the longer hours worked during the war, it had been pushed back an hour to enable more...
... Dr Morelle, with Dennis ArundellDennis ArundellDennis Drew Arundell was a British actor, librettist, opera scholar, translator, producer, director, conductor and composer of incidental music.-Selected filmography:... - The Armchair Detective (1942)
- The House of Unspeakable Secrets (1967), with Leslie PhillipsLeslie PhillipsLeslie Samuel Phillips, CBE is an English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.-Early life:...
Screenplays
- Concerning Mr Martin (1937)
- Lassie from Lancashire (1938)
- The Armchair Detective (1952)
- Schlitz Playhouse of StarsSchlitz Playhouse of StarsSchlitz Playhouse of Stars, is a weekly CBS anthology television series, was telecast on Friday nights from 1951 until 1959. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by Schlitz beer...
...Secrets of the Old Bailey (1958)...television episode (story)
External links
- The Radio Detectives – A Case for Dr Morelle BBC radio programme on famous detectives with Professor Jeffrey Richards – streaming audio