BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Friday Drama

Drama

The home of thrillers, mysteries, romance and detective stories

The home of thrillers, mysteries, romance and detective stories. A real treat for lovers of a good story well told

Friday Play

Friday Drama: Deep Cut

Drama: Biographical

Drama: Legal & Courtroom

Deep Cut

15/01/2010

BBC Radio 4 - Friday Drama, Deep Cut

The powerful story of 18-year-old Cheryl James, found shot dead at Deepcut barracks.

The powerful story of the search for an answer by the parents of 18-year-old Cheryl James, found shot dead at Deepcut barracks in November 1995.

Written by Philip Ralph. Adapted from his original stage play of the same name.

Deep Cut is a radio adaptation of the award-winning production which has been performed at the Edinburgh Festival, in London and on tour in the UK. The central characters are Des and Doreen James, and the play follows their search for an answer as to why their 18 year old daughter Private Cheryl James was found shot dead at Deepcut training barracks on November 27th 1995. 

The play was drawn together by writer Philip Ralph from verbatim transcripts of interviews, alongside publicly available documents. It traces the events surrounding Cheryl's death from the points of view of her parents and her female Army friend Jonesy, weaving in the statements by Nicholas Blake QC, who was commissioned to carry out the judicial review, as well as, among others, comments from the independent forensics expert Frank Swann, and the journalist Brian Cathcart. 

Des and Doreen are at the heart of the play and their poignant memories of their daughter alternate with bewilderment at her sudden and unexpected death. Cheryl was one of four recruits, each of whom was found shot dead between 1995 and 2002. The result of the review by Nicholas Blake in 2006 affirmed that the most likely explanation was suicide, and that there would not be a further public enquiry. Des and Doreen feel passionately that there are questions still to be answered.


Cast:
Des James ..... Pip Donaghy
Doreen James ..... Janice Cramer
Nicholas Blake QC ...... Simon Molloy
Jonesy ...... Amy Morgan 
Frank Swann ....... Robert Willox 
Brian Cathcart ...... Derek Hutchinson 
Colonel Nigel Josling ....... Adam James 
Bruce George ...... Rhydian Jones 

Music & Sound Design: Mike Furness 
Recorded & Edited by Richard Bignell 


Director: Mick Gordon 
Producer: Richard Bannerman
A Ladbroke production for BBC Radio 4.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Friday Drama

Deep Cut

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4