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We Happened to Be Passing
We Happened to Be Passing
Oct 10, 2024 6:20 AM

Author:David Nobbs,Kerry Shale,Malcolm Raeburn,Maggie Fox,Melissa Jane Sinden,Szilvi Naray Davey,Hugo Chandor,James Nickerson,Olwen May

We Happened to Be Passing

A wonderfully perceptive BBC Radio 4 comedy of manners and international relations written by David Nobbs (writer of 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin' and 'A Bit of a Do'). Originally broadcast as the ‘Afternoon Play’ on 24 September 2010. It is a quiet Saturday morning in the Hinchcliffe home. Tony and Sal, tired after a week of work, have time on their hands. But not for each other. Middle-aged and middle class, they haven't had kids and they still feel that emotional vacuum. The doorbell rings. It is an American couple - Monty and Janey - a rather loud duo they stayed with in Delaware years ago. They said, ‘If ever you happened to be passing...’ Well, the Americans are passing and they have no hotel booked. To Tony's horror Sal invites them to stay. Well, it's only polite isn't it? Once Monty and Janey are settled the doorbell goes again. It is Jan and Hilda, the Flemish Belgian couple from Bruges. They kindly helped when Janey had a migraine in Bruges. Even fed them some waterzooi (Flemish stew). In gratitude Sal and Tony said, ‘If ever you happened to be passing...’ Then the doorbell goes again - it is Pierre and Colette, French Belgians who helped them in Namur when Sal was sick over a Saab because she had eaten some cloying Flemish stew. In gratitude they said, ‘If ever you happened to be passing...’ So polite Tony and Sal have a house full. The Americans are loud and pompous and the Belgians loathe each other. But when Colette and Jan find themselves drawn to one another, the ensuing, messy crisis precipitates a reassessment of all the couples' patterns of behaviour. With James Nickerson as Tony and Olwen May as Sal. Also starring in the cast are Kerry Shale, Malcolm Raeburn, Maggie Fox, Melissa Jane Sinden, Szilvi Naray-Davey and Hugo Chandor. Directed by Gary Brown.

Reviews

If you only read one book about the life of Elizabeth Taylor, make it this one (*****)

—— News of the World

The woman who shared his final days reveals the tragic truth about Dudley Moore

—— Daily Mail

An essential read for anyone who had fallen beneath the charm of Moore ... a unique glimpse into the torments and pleasure of a man whose talents would slowly be taken away by the hand of illness.

—— Manchester Eveing News

Rena and her family supported and cared for Dudley until his death ... a moving account of the friendship

—— Choice Magazine

Revealing biography of a multi-talented funnyman by a close friend who helped him in his final years

—— Uncut

An honest and moving account

—— Glasgow Herald

What happened to Moore is all here in harrowing detail

—— Mail on Sunday

There are moments of laugh-out-loud humour

—— Scotland on Sunday

Rena Fruchter reveals the untold story in a loving but unflinching portrait

—— Evening Herald

The generosity of the family, especially Rena's long-suffering husband Brian, is deeply moving

—— Sunday Express

An unabashed eulogy to a man she was evidently devoted to

—— Telegraph

Clearly Fruchter had a huge affection for Moore but she knew his shortcomings

—— Scottish Sunday Herald

An intelligent, honest and moving portrait

—— Songs of Praise Magazine

The answers are all here, neatly scattered through this mercifully mid-sized biog. Rena Fruchter, herself blessed with comedic skills, delivers you the Dud she knew

—— Manchester Evening News

An honest and moving account of his later years

—— Glasgow Herald
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