Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

The Hat

A Scots sheriff plots to retrieve his grandfather's fireman's helmet from his brother's coffin. With Thelma Barlow. From January 2013.

By Colin MacDonald.

Sheriff Finlay travels from Scotland to York for the funeral and cremation of his older brother William, with whom he didn't get on. When he gets there he is greeted with barely disguised hostility by William's widow.

She tells him arrangements for the funeral are all made: it is going to be a Humanist service and the family heirloom fireman's hat, which was worn with pride by the brothers' grandfather, is in the coffin and is going to be incinerated along with William.

Alistair decides to get the hat before the coffin makes its final journey into the flames. This will take him into dangerous territory, breaking into a funeral parlour at night and braving the criminal underworld to retrieve Grandad's hat and make a final peace with his brother.

Coronation Street veteran Thelma Barlow stars as his sister-in-law Louise and Stanley Baxter is Sheriff Alistair Finlay in this black comedy with a warm heart about death, brotherly love and saying goodbye.

Directed by Marilyn Imrie
A Catherine Bailey production for 麻豆社 Radio 4.

30 minutes

Last on

Tue 13 Dec 2016 09:30

Credits

Role Contributor
Sheriff Alistair Finlay Stanley Baxter
Louise Thelma Barlow
Joe David Holt
Darren David Holt
Director Marilyn Imrie
Writer Colin MacDonald

Broadcasts

  • Sun 20 Jan 2013 19:15
  • Fri 25 Jan 2013 07:30
  • Sat 26 Jan 2013 17:30
  • Sun 27 Jan 2013 05:30
  • Fri 5 Dec 2014 11:30
  • Tue 13 Dec 2016 09:30

Ten reasons we love Stanley Baxter

At 90 he is still as funny as ever - here's why.