The Art of Deception

All 10 episodes of the compelling BBC radio thriller about art forger Daniel Ballantyne and his biographer and nemesis, Jessica Brown.

Daniel Ballantyne: monster and angel, thief and conman, genius – and murderer?

Newly released from Wormwood Scrubs, and dying of cancer, notorious art forger Daniel Ballantyne agrees to help art critic Jessica Brown write his biography. But as Jessica digs deeper into his life, she realises that nearly everything he’s told her is a lie, and behind his charming persona is a man capable of almost anything.

Trapped in a cat-and-mouse game with a master manipulator, Jessica finds herself putting her reputation – and her life – on the line….

Written by Philip Palmer (Red and Blue, Keeping the Wolf Out), this wickedly enjoyable crime drama stars David Schofield as Daniel Ballantyne, with Indira Varma and Hattie Morahan as Jessica Brown.

NB: Contains strong language and scenes which some listeners may find disturbing

Production credits

Written by Philip Palmer

Produced and directed by Toby Swift

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22-26 June 2009 (Series 1), 20-24 December 2010 (Series 2)

Cast

Daniel Ballantyne – David Schofield

Jessica Brown – Indira Varma/Hattie Morahan

Ben – Matt Addis

Andrew Jarrold – Jonathan Keeble/Harry Myers

Claire de Vere – Belinda Lang

DI Grimwood/Art dealer – John Biggins

Stavros Persakis – Malcolm Tierney

Museum curator – Philip Fox

DS Ruckley/Taxi driver – Benjamin Askew

Moisha Perez/Stefan Hunt – Stephen Greif

Lisa – Pandora Colin

DC Morgan – Sally Orrock

Gondolier/Waiter – Iain Batchelor

Other parts played by Kenneth Collard and Jude Akuwudike