The Riddle of the Sphinx (Inside No. 9) was characterised by Pemberton as a thriller in the style of Anthony Shaffer's 1970 play "Sleuth", while Shearsmith identified the episode as particularly theatrical, in the style of "Sleuth" and Ira Levin's 1978 play "Deathtrap". BBC executives, according to Shearsmith, saw the episode as a cross between "Sleuth" and Willy Russell's 1980 play "Educating Rita" that read as if it had been authored by psychopaths. The executive producer Jon Plowman suggested that the first half of the episode plays out like a radio play. The word-play and tea-drinking in this part of the episode are, in the writers' opinion, very
Ryan Valentine Ryan Valentine Ryan David Valentine (born 19 August 1982) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a defender for Bala Town. Valentine signed for Wrexham on a free transfer after leaving Darlington in the summer of 2006. Despite a sending off against Bury on 9 March 2007, Valentine played well for Wrexham. He played a vital part their survival bid, scoring the penalty in Wrexham's must win game on 5 May 2007 against Boston United which levelled the score at 1–1. Wrexham won the game 3–1 and stayed in the Football League. It was announced on 18 January 2008 that