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Sherlock Holmes: The Carleton Hobbs Collection

By: Arthur Conan Doyle
Narrated by: Carleton Hobbs, Norman Shelley, full cast
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Summary

A comprehensive collection of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley - plus bonus documentary.

Legendary actor Carleton Hobbs played the great Baker Street detective for over 17 years between 1952 and 1969, alongside Norman Shelley as Holmes's friend and companion Dr Watson. Their superb incarnations of the crime-fighting duo were exceptionally popular and are now wonderfully nostalgic.

This unique collection contains the existing Sherlock Holmes dramas in chronological order of publication, each a faithful, standalone adaptation of the original tale. Of the 56 short stories in the canon, 51 are included here ('The Adventure of the Yellow Face', 'The Adventure of the Gloria Scott', 'The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger' and 'The Adventure of the Creeping Man' were never made, and 'The Adventure of the Three Students' is missing from the BBC archives). Also featured are dramatisations of the four novels: A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of the Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Valley of Fear. Among the star casts are Grizelda Hervey, Humphrey Morton, Gudrun Ure, Sylvia Coleridge and Rolf Lefebvre.

Concluding our collection is a fascinating 40-minute programme, Chosen Companions: Sherlock Holmes, in which Richard Usborne, one-time assistant editor of The Strand Magazine, selects his favourite extracts from the books (read by Carleton Hobbs) to weave together the story of Sherlock Holmes' development.

NB: Due to the age and nature of some of the recordings, the sound quality may vary.

Credits

Written by Arthur Conan Doyle

Dramatised by Michael Hardwick and Felix Felton

Produced by Norman Wright, Val Gielgud, Martyn C Webster, Graham Gauld, Frederick Bradnum and Robin Midgley

With thanks to Keith Wickham.

First broadcast on BBC Light Programme/BBC Radio 2 12 May 1959 - 10 July 1969

Contents

A Study in Scarlet

The Sign of the Four

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

A Scandal in Bohemia

The Red-Headed League

A Case of Identity

The Boscombe Valley Mystery

The Five Orange Pips

The Man with the Twisted Lip

The Blue Carbuncle

The Speckled Band

The Engineer's Thumb

The Noble Bachelor

The Beryl Coronet

The Copper Beeches

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

Silver Blaze

The Cardboard Box

The Stockbroker's Clerk

The Musgrave Ritual

The Reigate Squires

The Crooked Man

The Resident Patient

The Greek Interpreter

The Naval Treaty

The Final Problem

The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Return of Sherlock Holmes

The Empty House

The Norwood Builder

The Dancing Men

The Solitary Cyclist

The Priory School

Black Peter

Charles Augustus Milverton

The Six Napoleons

The Golden Pince-Nez

The Missing Three-Quarter

The Abbey Grange

The Second Stain

His Last Bow

Wisteria Lodge

The Red Circle

The Bruce-Partington Plans

The Dying Detective

The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

The Devil's Foot

His Last Bow

The Valley of Fear

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

The Illustrious Client

The Blanched Soldier

The Mazarin Stone

The Three Gables

The Sussex Vampire

The Three Garridebs

The Problem of Thor Bridge

The Lion's Mane

Shoscombe Old Place

The Retired Colourman

Chosen Companions: Sherlock Holmes

Presented by Richard Usborne

Reader: Carleton Hobbs

Produced by Richard Keen

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 August 1970

Audio files updated as of 13th February 2023

©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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What listeners say about Sherlock Holmes: The Carleton Hobbs Collection

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  • Overall
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A delightful collection

I listened to some of these stories on BBC radio 4 Extra during lockdown and had previously found a collection of a few of the episodes in Audible, so I was delighted to find this complete collection of Carleton Hobbs performances as Holmes.
These are vintage performances and as such the audio quality is somewhat variable. What isn't variable is the quality of the performances of Hobbs and Norman Shelley as Holmes and Watson which are excellent. Even though they did not quite record the whole of the canon of Sherlock Holmes' adventures to my mind they are the quintessential Holmes and Watson. A very enjoyable collection, if you are a fan of the great detective then these radio plays should be on your listening list.

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3 people found this helpful

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Very Enjoyable my Dear listener.

I've always enjoyed Sherlock Holmes and listening to this radio series was absolutely magically nostalgic.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

Bought for my husband and better than the Basil Rathbone films and that’s saying something! He is a real Sherlock Holmes fan so absolutely loved this kept him out of the way for ages….must be worth a credit…was for me :)

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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The world's by detdctivet

Best read of the year even after 70 years since the first w I read it

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Very good, however...

These interpretations show their age but can grow on you. There is a quite quaint and attractive tone to the stories. And they all rattle on in the same style becoming quite comfortable to listen to.

However, in my opinion, Bert Coules' adaptations with the excellent Clive Merrison as Sherlock and a superior Watson played by Michael Williams are the go to for radio dramatisations of Arthur Conan Doyle's ingenious detective stories.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Sherlock

Just good to hear a varied version, bless the voice, but you got to go a long way to beat Conan Doyle.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

Carleton Hobbs & Norman Shelley are a great pairing to play Holmes & Watson, they do a wonderful job in bringing the characters to life. I love listening to Sherlock Holmes stories & the versions with Hobbs & Shelley are up there with the best. These are adaptations of the stories from the books & you get close to 30 hours of enjoyment from this collection. Fantastic.

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4 people found this helpful

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Great Nostalgia

Love anything Sherlock Holmes and this didn't disappoint
purchased on release and really enjoyed listening
excellent value also

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Timeless brilliance

Thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
Loved the additional interviews & introductions from Watson.
Highly recommended & at almost 30 hours, an absolute bargain.

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Outstanding

A brilliant collection featuring Carleton Hobbs, my favourite Sherlock Holmes. Highly recommended!
(The missing story "The Engineer's Thumb", mentioned in an earlier review, has been restored.)

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7 people found this helpful