In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1922 short story, The Problem of Thor Bridge, Dr Watson listed a number of cases from Sherlock Holmes’ career that the great detective had never found a satisfying conclusion to. One such mystery was that of “Mr. James Phillimore, who, stepping back into his own house to get his umbrella, was never more seen in this world”. 

We’ll find out more about Holmes (Nicholas Briggs) and Watson’s (Richard Earl) investigation into this most bizarre event in today’s fifth episode of serialised audio drama Sherlock Holmes Untold. 

When Gabrielle Phillimore (Aurora Dawson-Hunte) visits Holmes and Watson at Baker Street, Holmes is intrigued and senses danger. Their investigation into the scene of the crime reveals some surprising truths, but what really happened to James Phillimore may be part of a larger conspiracy yet to be unravelled… 

Sherlock Holmes Untold is now available to purchase for just £24.99, exclusively here. This purchase will grant you access to all eight weekly episode downloads, as well as the complete serial as a box set download to own once all episodes have been released. 

The Strange Disappearance of James Phillimore

London, 1896 is the scene for an impossible vanishing. A man named Phillimore returns indoors to fetch his umbrella, only to disappear, seemingly forever. 

For Sherlock Holmes, the solution to the case remains maddeningly elusive – as does that larger mystery which looms, more and more troublingly, behind it. 

Sherlock Holmes Untold: The Strange Disappearance of James Phillimore guest stars Robert Whitelock as James Phillimore, Sarah Lambie as Marie-Louise, John Banks as Inspector Lestrade, Christopher Naylor as Jasper Cranfield, and Luke Barton as Rosborough. 

Actor Richard Earl said: “This is one of those stories where Holmes asks Watson to actually help with the investigation by using the skills that he has, but which Holmes lacks, when it comes to finding a connection with attractive younger ladies. 

“Watson, with his slightly bumbly nature, can discover things which Holmes might not be able to, because he can encourage people to be more relaxed and feel less threatened in his company. However, the flip side of that means that Watson can be absolute mincemeat to clever people, particularly clever women!” 

Writer Jonathan Barnes added: “This is from another tantalising reference in Doyle’s writing, to this man, Phillimore, who went back into his house one afternoon to fetch an umbrella and was never seen again. That’s the story as Watson puts it. And here we have a dramatised version of that. 

“We’re also starting to pick up some of the ways in which the story loops back on itself and some of the characters start to emerge. I always like the idea of there being a grander narrative in the background, and we’re not always sure when it’s going to re-emerge.” 

There will be an ‘after show’ discussion for this episode in this week’s edition of the Big Finish Podcast, due to be released on Friday, with producer and presenter Iain Meadows joined by special guests Nicholas Briggs, Robert Whitelock, and Aurora Dawson-Hunte, as well as Laura Sparks and Mark Jones from the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. 

Next week on Sherlock Holmes Untold, Holmes and Watson take a holiday to the Norfolk coast, only to become entangled in another mystery, in The Adventure of the Body in the Barrow. 

Sherlock Holmes Untold is now available to purchase for just £24.99 as a series of digital downloads to own, released weekly exclusively from www.bigfinish.com.

All the above prices (including pre-order and multibuy bundle discounts) are fixed for a limited time only and guaranteed no later than 31 January 2026.