LISA PARKER on SHARDLAKE

First broadcast on FAB RADIO INTERNATIONAL at 19:00 on July 21st 2024.

This week, our returning guest is the ever-popular LISA PARKER from the ROUND THE ARCHIVES team, and for this edition of VISION ON SOUND she’s returning to one of those subjects that she’s most fond of, namely the historical drama, only this time her observations come with a bit of a twist, as the drama might be historical, but she’s been watching one which is right up to date and almost as new as anything we’re ever likely to discuss on this show.

LISA got in touch because she’s been really enjoying the brand new four-part drama series SHARDLAKE, and wanted to talk about it on the show.

SHARDLAKE is based upon the novels by the late C J SANSOM, and stars ARTHUR HUGHES as the investigator who, in this instance at least, is employed by SEAN BEAN’S THOMAS CROMWELL in the Tudor era, to investigate a murder that occurred within the cloisters of an isolated monastery during the 16th century.

Because SHARDLAKE does manage to combine two of LISA’S greatest televisual joys in one programme, as it combines the historical drama with a form of traditional detective fiction, it’s one of those rare modern series that feels just right for her, and has almost become an instant classic that has left its fans desperate to see more of it.

And so, for once, we don’t have to dive deep into the archives for the programme we’re discussing, but, instead, we can journey into history for the subject matter of that programme instead, which is a little bit back-to-front in terms of what we normally do on VISION ON SOUND, but I hope that you won’t find this breaking of the format too traumatic.

This week, PAUL CHANDLER, THE SHY YETI himself returns and, in that way he has of watching new stuff to recommend so that I don’t have to, he’s been watching some shiny new TV shows that he’s going to talk about.

So, in today’s show, he’ll be introducing me to Andrew Scott as RIPLEY, some DEAD BOY DETECTIVES, those very French ESCORT BOYS, the highly topical and controversial BABY REINDEER, and finally taking part in several versions of A RACE ACROSS THE WORLD.

PLEASE NOTE - For Copyright reasons, musical content sometimes has to be removed for the podcast edition. All the spoken word content remains (mostly) as it was in the broadcast version. Hopefully this won't spoil your enjoyment of the show.