The Scoop and Behind The Screen
Encyclopedia
The Scoop & Behind The Screen are both collaborative detective serials written by members of the Detection Club
which were broadcast weekly by their authors on the BBC National Programme
in 1930 and 1931 with the scripts then being published in The Listener within a week after broadcast. The two serials were first published in book form in the UK by Victor Gollancz Ltd
in 1983
and in the US by Harper & Row in 1984
. The UK edition retailed at £6.95.
Julian Symons, then President of the club [1983], explains in his introduction: "...The present volume... was written to provide funds so that club premises might be acquired. Other books with the same purpose, also the product of several hands, were The Floating Admiral
(1931), ... Ask A Policeman (1933), ... and ... Verdict of Thirteen. ..."
In The Listener (and subsequently in the book version), four of the episodes were untitled, the exceptions being the fourth and sixth, which were given the titles In the Aspidistra and Mr Parsons on the Case respectively.
on December 2, 1930, Behind the Screen proved popular enough for the BBC to commission a second serial, this time in twelve instalments.
The episodes, contributors, transmission and magazine publication details of this serial are as follows (all episodes were transmitted from 9.25pm to 9.40pm except for episode 7):
In The Listener the first two instalments were entitled Over the Wire and At the Inquest. The book version of the serial (1983) replicates these chapter titles.
Detection Club
The Detection Club was formed in 1930 by a group of British mystery writers, including Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Freeman Wills Crofts, Arthur Morrison, John Rhode, Jessie Rickard, Baroness Emma Orczy, R. Austin Freeman, G.D.H. Cole, Margaret Cole, E.C. Bentley, and H.C. Bailey. Anthony...
which were broadcast weekly by their authors on the BBC National Programme
BBC National Programme
The BBC National Programme was a BBC radio station from the 1920s until the outbreak of World War II.-Foundation:When the BBC first began transmissions on 14 November 1922, the technology for both national coverage and joint programming between transmitters did not exist – transmitter powers were...
in 1930 and 1931 with the scripts then being published in The Listener within a week after broadcast. The two serials were first published in book form in the UK by Victor Gollancz Ltd
Victor Gollancz Ltd
Victor Gollancz Ltd was a major British book publishing house of the twentieth century. It was founded in 1927 by Victor Gollancz and specialised in the publication of high quality literature, nonfiction and popular fiction, including science fiction. Upon Gollancz's death in 1967, ownership...
in 1983
1983 in literature
The year 1983 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Ironweed by William Kennedy is published.*Salvage for the Saint by Peter Bloxsom and John Kruse is published. This is the final book in a series of novels, novellas and short stories featuring the Leslie Charteris...
and in the US by Harper & Row in 1984
1984 in literature
The year 1984 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*The book Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is widely read....
. The UK edition retailed at £6.95.
Julian Symons, then President of the club [1983], explains in his introduction: "...The present volume... was written to provide funds so that club premises might be acquired. Other books with the same purpose, also the product of several hands, were The Floating Admiral
The Floating Admiral
The Floating Admiral is a collaborative detective novel written by fourteen members of the Detection Club in 1931. The twelve chapters of the story were each written by a different author, in the following sequence: Canon Victor Whitechurch, G. D. H. Cole and Margaret Cole, Henry Wade, Agatha...
(1931), ... Ask A Policeman (1933), ... and ... Verdict of Thirteen. ..."
Behind the Screen
The episodes, contributors, transmission and magazine publication details of this serial are as follows (all episodes were transmitted from 9.25pm to 9.40pm):- (1): (Episode un-named), written and broadcast by Hugh WalpoleHugh WalpoleSir Hugh Seymour Walpole, CBE was an English novelist. A prolific writer, he published thirty-six novels, five volumes of short stories, two plays and three volumes of memoirs. His skill at scene-setting, his vivid plots, his high profile as a lecturer and his driving ambition brought him a large...
. Transmitted on Saturday, June 14, 1930. First published in issue 75 of The Listener on June 18, 1930. - (2): Something is Missing, written and broadcast by Agatha ChristieAgatha ChristieDame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
. Transmitted on Saturday, June 21, 1930. First published in issue 76 of The Listener on June 25, 1930. - (3): Man at the Gate, written and broadcast by Dorothy L. SayersDorothy L. SayersDorothy Leigh Sayers was a renowned English crime writer, poet, playwright, essayist, translator and Christian humanist. She was also a student of classical and modern languages...
. Transmitted on Saturday, June 28, 1930. First published in issue 77 of The Listener on July 2, 1930. - (4): I Killed Mr Dudden, written and broadcast by Anthony Berkeley. Transmitted on Saturday, July 5, 1930. First published in issue 78 of The Listener on July 9, 1930.
- (5): Amy Intervenes, written and broadcast by E.C. Bentley. Transmitted on Saturday, July 12, 1930. First published in issue 79 of The Listener on July 16, 1930.
- (6): How Dudden Died, written and broadcast by Ronald KnoxRonald KnoxRonald Arbuthnott Knox was an English priest, theologian and writer.-Life:Ronald Knox was born in Kibworth, Leicestershire, England into an Anglican family and was educated at Eton College, where he took the first scholarship in 1900 and Balliol College, Oxford, where again...
. Transmitted on Saturday, July 19, 1930. First published in issue 80 of The Listener on July 23, 1930.
In The Listener (and subsequently in the book version), four of the episodes were untitled, the exceptions being the fourth and sixth, which were given the titles In the Aspidistra and Mr Parsons on the Case respectively.
The Scoop
As announced in The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
on December 2, 1930, Behind the Screen proved popular enough for the BBC to commission a second serial, this time in twelve instalments.
The episodes, contributors, transmission and magazine publication details of this serial are as follows (all episodes were transmitted from 9.25pm to 9.40pm except for episode 7):
- (1): (Episode un-named), written and broadcast by Dorothy L. Sayers. Transmitted on Saturday, January 10, 1931. First published in issue 105 of The Listener on January 14, 1931.
- (2): (Episode un-named), written and broadcast by Agatha Christie. Transmitted on Saturday, January 17, 1931. First published in issue 106 of The Listener on January 21, 1931.
- (3): Fisher's Alibi, written and broadcast by E.C. Bentley. Transmitted on Saturday, January 24, 1931. First published in issue 107 of The Listener on January 28, 1931.
- (4): The Strange Behaviour of Mr. Potts, written and broadcast by Agatha Christie. Transmitted on Saturday, January 31, 1931. First published in issue 108 of The Listener on February 4, 1931 under the alternative title of The Weapon.
- (5): Tracing Tracey, written and broadcast by Anthony Berkeley. Transmitted on Saturday, February 14, 1931. First published in issue 110 of The Listener on February 18, 1931.
- (6): Scotland Yard on the Job, written and broadcast by Freeman Wills CroftsFreeman Wills CroftsFreeman Wills Crofts was an Irish mystery author, one of the 'Big Four' of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction.-Birth and education:Crofts was born at 26 Waterloo Road, Dublin, Ireland...
. Transmitted on Saturday, February 21, 1931. First published in issue 111 of The Listener on February 25, 1931. - (7): Beryl in Broad Street, written and broadcast by Clemence DaneClemence DaneClemence Dane was the pseudonym of Winifred Ashton , an English novelist and playwright.-Life and career:...
. Transmitted on Saturday, February 28, 1931 from 8.30pm to 8.55pm. First published in issue 112 of The Listener on March 4, 1931. - (8): The Sad Truth About Potts, written and broadcast by E.C. Bentley. Transmitted on Saturday, March 7, 1931. First published in issue 113 of The Listener on March 11, 1931.
- (9): Bond Street and Broad Street, written and broadcast by Anthony Berkeley. Transmitted on Saturday, March 14, 1931. First published in issue 114 of The Listener on March 18, 1931 under the slightly different title of Bond Street or Broad Street?.
- (10): Beryl Takes the Consequences, written and broadcast by Clemence Dane. Transmitted on Saturday, March 21, 1931. First published in issue 115 of The Listener on March 25, 1931.
- (11): Inspector Smart gets a Nasty Jar, written and broadcast by Freeman Wills Crofts. Transmitted on Saturday, March 28, 1931. First published in issue 116 of The Listener on April 1, 1931 under the slightly different title of Inspector Smart's Nasty Jar.
- (12): The Final Scoop, written and broadcast by Dorothy L. Sayers. Transmitted on Saturday, April 4, 1931. First published in issue 117 of The Listener on April 8, 1931.
In The Listener the first two instalments were entitled Over the Wire and At the Inquest. The book version of the serial (1983) replicates these chapter titles.
Publication history
- 1983, Victor Gollancz (London), 1983, Hardback, 184 pp
- 1984, Methuen (London), 1984, Hardback, 182 pp
- 1984, Harper and Row (New York), 1984, 208 pp