Episode Overview

Podcast: 1001 Radio Crime Solvers
Episode Title: THE BLUE CROSS and THE QUEER FEET – FATHER BROWN STORIES
Air Date: December 21, 2025
Host: Jon Hagadorn

In this episode, listeners are treated to a dramatized radio adaptation of G.K. Chesterton's classic detective tales featuring Father Brown. The first half of the episode centers on "The Blue Cross," a story of international pursuit, double identities, and the subtle brilliance of an unassuming priest. Scotland Yard teams up with French police in pursuit of the infamous master criminal Flambeau, only for Father Brown to steal the spotlight with his quiet intuition and unconventional sleuthing style.

Key Discussion Points and Story Highlights

Setting the Scene: The Ferry Dock and Introduction of the Case

• [01:36] The story opens at Harwich dock, where Inspector Bagshaw and his team arrive in pursuit of the notorious Flambeau.

  • French Prefect Valentin, leading the chase, is joined by local English police.
  • They're looking for Flambeau, described as a "colossus of crime" and famous master of disguise, last seen possibly disguised as a priest.

  Quote:

  "He is a colossus of crime. Indeed, in the Paris underworld, he is all powerful."
  — Valentin, describing Flambeau [03:15]

The Misdirection: Tall Priest or Athletic Sailor?

• [04:35] Focus shifts as the police interview a seemingly unimportant Catholic priest with an umbrella and a parcel (Father Brown).

  • The item in question: a valuable "Blue Cross" once belonging to St. Thomas Becket.
  • Valentin admires the artifact, recognizes its value, and urges caution.

  Quote:

  "Is it uncut North French work?...oh yes, yes, you see it was supposed to have belonged to the Blessed St. Thomas Aquinas—no, no, Beckett. English martyr, you know."
  — Father Brown [05:55]

• [07:00] Attention diverts to rumors of a tall sailor (possibly Flambeau in disguise) who might have passed through disguised among the crew. The urgency ramps up as the authorities attempt to relay a message to London for his apprehension.

At Liverpool Street: Confusion and Missed Opportunities

• [09:51] The police, upon arrival and communication with the London side, realize the trail is muddied.

  • A tall priest and a short, bumbling priest traveling together draw suspicion; the police assume the tall priest could be Flambeau.
  • The description matches none of the sailors.

  Quote:

  "I mean, none of them exactly fit your description. I mean, they're none of them what you call tall, are they? No, sir...There was one very tall gentleman, but he was...a Roman Catholic priest."
  — Constable at Liverpool Street [09:52]

The Coffee Break: Humanizing the Investigators, Father Brown as Outlier

• [11:36] Valentin and Bagshaw pause for a drink. Valentin laments the state of English coffee rather than Flambeau's escape, prompting humor and camaraderie among the police.

  Quote:

  "No, no, I was complaining it was the coffee in France. They warned me about English coffee, but this is unbelievable. I put sugar in it. Still tastes awful."
  — Valentin [12:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Valentin on Flambeau's Disguises:
  "Once he disguised himself as a postbox. Well, to be exact, he set up a false post box and hid behind it to await a particular letter. Mostly, though, he's a priest."
  [04:00]

• Father Brown’s Self-Effacing Humility:
  "I'm very sorry, your reverence."
  — Police, apologizing after suspecting Father Brown is Flambeau. It's a moment that underscores Father Brown's unassuming nature and the theme that appearances can be deceiving. [06:43]

• Constable's Comic Touch:
  "Frankly, sir, I think the short one was a bit, you know, simple. Yeah, he got into a terrible mud with this brown paper parcel and his big umbrella. He dropped one part, so looking for his ticket worried him. He burst open and this blue cross in it."
  — Description of Father Brown's bumbling conduct, which is actually artful misdirection. [10:20]

Structure of the Story: Key Timestamps

• [01:36] Opening at the ferry dock, British and French police confer.
• [03:15] Valentin describes Flambeau and gives a rundown of the case.
• [04:35] Father Brown enters with the Blue Cross; mistaken identity scene.
• [07:00] Police realize Flambeau may have disguised himself as a sailor.
• [09:51] Liverpool Street: police interview reveals confusion over the suspects.
• [11:36] Coffee break, human moment with Valentin and Bagshaw.

Tone and Language of the Episode

The dialogue maintains a classic British detective humor, formal yet whimsical, with a light touch that belies the underlying tension. Father Brown's humility and confusion are contrasted with the bluster and certainty of the seasoned police—yet everyone underestimates the cunning at play, both in Flambeau and in Father Brown himself.

Concluding Observations

This adaptation of "The Blue Cross" highlights the enduring appeal of the Father Brown mysteries: cerebral, conversational, and peppered with understated yet razor-sharp wit. The story immerses the audience in a richly drawn world of mistaken identities, subtle clues, and the triumph of reasoned goodness over criminal cunning. It stands as a testament to the golden age of radio storytelling that prioritized narrative intrigue and character over pyrotechnics and easy reveals.

Note: This summary covers the portion up to the end of the "Blue Cross" dramatization, as far as provided by the transcript. Further plot or adaptation coverage (such as "The Queer Feet") would be included as additional content becomes available.