As part of the BBC Radio 4 comedy drama series: 'Turf Wars', in this short 3rd play of 4, 'How's Your Mother?' by Simon Brett, Michael Maloney stars as mysterious villager Humphrey Partridge.

In a gossipy village Humphrey is reckoned to be anti-social, indeed stand-offish. But he always has an excuse - namely that he has to look after his ailing elderly mother. It raises eyebrows at work.

For example when Humphrey's boss needs him to stand in for a colleague at a conference abroad, Humphrey point blank refuses to go. The boss ends up going himself. No-one has ever met the legendary matriarch. Not even nosy Raj the local postman.

But then one morning when Humphrey is at work, Raj notices a fire in Humphrey's house, breaks in to put it out and makes an extraordinary discovery. Soon police are digging in Humphrey's garden. But just what is Humphrey's dark secret?

Starring Michael Maloney as Humphrey Partridge, Adeel Akhtar as Raj / Sgt. Wallis, Sam Dale as Mr Denton / Trevor, Sally Orrock as Mrs Denton and Christine Kavanagh as Mrs Jones.

First broadcast March 23 2011.

Directed by Peter Kavanagh.