It Smells of Books (17 Sep. 2010)

In 2007 lecturer Richard Symes fell off a roof at the university where he taught and died. An open verdict was recorded but Brian feels that suicide was unlikely as Symes had just taken a ... See full summary »

Director:

Martyn Friend

Writers:

J.C. Wilsher, Roy Mitchell (creator),

Stars:

Alun Armstrong, James Bolam, Amanda Redman

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Alun Armstrong	...	Brian Lane
James Bolam	...	Jack Halford
Amanda Redman	...	Det.Supt.Sandra Pullman
Dennis Waterman	...	Gerry Standing
Susan Jameson	...	Esther Lane
Joshua Osei	...	Oaf in Library
Goran Kostic	...	Pavel Illich
Sasha Behar	...	Emma Woodford
David Ryall	...	Jasper Urquhart
Anne Reid	...	Sophie Urquhart
Jonathan Cullen	...	Jeremy Ventham
Beth Goddard	...	Paula Symes
Tom Mison	...	Tim Mortimer
Rick Bacon	...	Auctioneer
Scott Hazell	...	Student

Storyline

In 2007 lecturer Richard Symes fell off a roof at the university where he taught and died. An open verdict was recorded but Brian feels that suicide was unlikely as Symes had just taken a whole load of books out of the London Library. Brian loves going undercover at the library ("It smells of books") where he is befriended by the Urquharts, a couple of elderly lecturers who knew the dead man. Symes' widow Paula tells Sandra her husband was regarded as a dinosaur and sacked by vice-chancellor Ventham,but he claims that Symes was stealing books from the university library to sell in Paula's shop,which Paula admits. Her young lover Tim was also part of the racket. Brian works out that the Urquharts are trying to locate one of the books Symes stole,a priceless first edition which he hid somewhere in the London Library. But several other interested parties are also after it - including the murderer.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 September 2010 (UK)

Filming Locations:

The Kings Arms, High Street, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wall to Wall, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

[last lines]
Gerry Standing: Well, I'm going for a pint. You going to the library?
Brian Lane: I've had it with libraries.
Gerry Standing: Eh?
Brian Lane: They're full of weirdos.
Gerry Standing: I thought that's why you felt so at home.
Jack Halford: Anyway, they're a thing of the past.
Det. Supt. Sandra Pullman: Mm, really?
Brian Lane: [holding up ereader] This is the way forward. Linked to the Internet it allows me to access the world's literary culture from the comfort of my own armchair.
Gerry Standing: Cor, let's have a go. Can you play football manager on it?
[...]

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