Author:Olivia Manning,Joanna Lumley,Honeysuckle Weeks,James Fleet,Khalid Abdalla,Alex Wyndham,John Rowe,Full Cast
A sweeping adaptation of Olivia Manning's classic war novels, starring Joanna Lumley and Honeysuckle Weeks
'A rare and many-layered pleasure' Gillian Reynolds, The Telegraph
1939, and naive young newlywed Harriet Pringle arrives in Bucharest with her husband, Guy - just as Europe is about to rip itself apart. She believes she knows everything about the man she has married, but soon realises she knows nothing.
Guy is oblivious to her needs and desires, seeming only to care about his job as a university lecturer, his friends, and the beautiful, voluptuous Sophie. Struggling to build a life in a strange city, in the face of imminent invasion, Harriet feels bereft - and increasingly isolated.
As the Nazis come ever closer, an act of treachery puts the couple in terrible danger, and with Romania in enemy hands, they are forced to leave the country. Fleeing to Athens, and then Egypt, their marriage comes under increasing strain amidst the chaos and upheaval of war. With the future uncertain, can they find the strength and resilience to face it together?
Joanna Lumley stars as the older Harriet, looking back on events many years later, with Honeysuckle Weeks as her younger self. Among the stellar cast are Khalid Abdalla, Alex Wyndham and James Fleet.
Production credits
Written by Olivia Manning
Dramatised by Lin Coghlan and Jonathan Holloway
Produced and directed by Marc Beeby and Colin Guthrie
Cast
Old Harriet - Joanna Lumley
Harriet - Honeysuckle Weeks
Guy - Khalid Abdalla
Clarence - Alex Wyndham
Yakimov - James Fleet
Inchcape - John Rowe
Sophie/Edwina - Joannah Tincey
Galpin/Clifford/Newsreader - John Dougall
Bella/Mona - Carolyn Pickles
Drucker/Desmond - Peter Marinker
Sasha - Joseph Arkley
Nikko/Toby Lush/Peter - Simon Treves
Despina/Phillips - Laura Molyneux
Dr Hassolel/Mortimer - Katy Cavanagh
Manager/Jackman - Ben Onwukwe
Dobson - Sam Dale
Dubedat/Aidan/Cpt Hardy - Ben Crowe
Professor Pinkrose - Nigel Anthony
Charles Warden/Mr Buschman - Alex Lanipekun
Angela -Alison Pettitt
Bill - Philip Jackson
Simon - Sam Pamphilon
Arnold/Young Arab - Lloyd Thomas
Dr Shafik/Helal - Bijan Daneshmand
Marion - Emily Wachter
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 January-2 March 2008
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
An unputdownable, utterly delightful stroll through British amateur theatre and why it has a vital place for us all
—— Shappi KhorsandiLandreth's charming book is both a cultural history of amateur theatre and a loving look at am-dram and its role in British life
—— Sarah Hughes , iThis funny and interesting book makes you yearn for a long-lost sense of community, and then realise it’s been there all along. Jenny Landreth, take an Am Dram style bow
—— John O’FarrellAmateur is not a dirty word, but implies disinterested love, dedication and a clubbable, community feeling . . . Landreth reminds us, importantly, that the word amateur includes student and community theatre, vital seed corn and support to the professional world
—— Libby Purvis , The TimesWith spot-on injections of humour and a frequently raised sardonic eyebrow, joy and warmth shine from this fascinating and funny book
—— Jo Brand[An] honest account of the modest ambitions of most amateur theatre... entertaining... [and] her narrative feels completely authentic
—— Martin Vander Weyer , Spectator[Landreth] affirms, overall, that we are a theatre-loving people. For that sentiment alone right now, it's worth shoving a copy of this under the Chancellor's door.
—— Dominic Cavendish , The TelegraphAn honest, educational and downright hilarious memoir. It’s a deeply affectionate look at a much-maligned bit of Britishness that we simply couldn't live without
—— Angela BarnesA gorgeously funny, deeply affectionate and fully costumed swallow-dive into the great – and historic – amateur theatrical tradition. I loved it
—— Alistair PetrieA hilarious, informative amdramoir – a love-letter to her father and a fascinating insight into the much maligned minority: the amateur
—— Doon MackichanHighly entertaining... [Landreth] has cleverly - and wittily - conflated memoir with the history of am-dram, its practical application and a close look at some of our most venerable companies."
—— Nick Smurthwaite , Sardines MagazineI thoroughly enjoyed this beguiling ensemble of memoir, social history, interviews and manifesto, which tells the story of am-dram in Britain
—— Caroline Sanderson , BooksellerPhillip Schofield has spoken candidly about his coming out process and his current mental health struggles in his autobiography
—— Pink NewsTakes readers on the journey Phillip has taken to get to where he is today. Fans will delight at a nostalgic look back at Phillip's life, relish the behind the scenes stories, and feel touched by the emotional honesty in his writing
—— Northern Life MagazineDazzling
—— Evening StandardFull of anecdotes about onscreen mishaps and meeting the famous
—— Daily MailThe silver-haired overlord of daytime TV . . . Schofe's candour is admirable
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—— Financial TimesIncendiary
—— iAstonishingly good, wise and hilarious
—— Louise NealonCandid, open-hearted . . . a lot of self-deprecation, a lot of laughs, and a measure of honesty that would put most of us to shame
—— Anglo-CeltGenuinely incredible . . . [Rememberings is] suffused with humour and forgiveness
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—— IndependentHer complicated life makes for riveting reading. From ripping up photographs of the Pope on prime time US television and her mental health struggles to a rollercoaster spiritual quest, she has never been afraid to be fearless
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—— The TimesI absolutely loved her book.... It's an absolute blast to read
—— Alice- Azania JarvisJACKIE COLLINS, BUT BETTER Sacrilege to say "better", I know, but there we are. Set in the 1980s, Taylor Jenkins Reid's Malibu Rising is wonderfully written, intensely evocative and concerns the model/ surfer children of a rock star. Tons of glamour, tons of sharply observed insights about sibling relationships, plus a massive party. Beach read par excellence. See also her brilliant Daisy Jones & the Six, which is heaven (more rock stars).
—— AnonymousWhen we picked up Malibu Rising, the new novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, we could barely put it down
—— That's LifeYou'll never want this book to end, it will suck you in and spit you out!
—— Muddy Stilettos