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Ladies of Letters

January 01, 1970

Ladies of Letters is a comedy series that ran for 13 years on BBC Radio 4; based on the series of books of the same name written by Carole Hayman and Lou Wakefield, and starring Patricia Routledge and Prunella Scales. Routledge stars as Vera Small and Scales as Irene Spencer, two elderly ladies who share a sometimes rocky relationship conducted by correspondence.

The success of the first series of Ladies of Letters (broadcast in 1997) spawned adaptations of several sequels: Ladies of More Letters (1999); Ladies of Letters.Com (2000); Ladies of Letters Log On (2001); Ladies of Letters Make Mincemeat (2001 Christmas Special); Ladies of Letters Spring Clean (2004); Ladies of Letters Go Global (2006); Ladies of Letters Say No (2007); Ladies of Letters Go Green (2008); Ladies of Letters Crunch Credit (2009) and Ladies of Letters Go Crackers (2010 - this series features Anne Reid instead of Patricia Routledge as Vera Small, see below).

Each of the 15-minute episodes come as part of BBC Radio 4's long running magazine programme Woman's Hour. A ten-part television adaptation of the first radio series was made for ITV3, which began on 3 February 2009.

Plot and principals edit

Vera and Irene reveal their exploits and adventures to each other in their letters and e-mails, but sometimes their correspondence becomes fractious when one accuses the other of being an alcoholic or engages in too much one-upmanship. Nevertheless, when the chips are down and the going gets tough, each is instantly there for the other, like a charge of the cavalry but with a more sarcastic bugle call.

Other recurring characters include people we occasionally hear, as well as some we only hear about:

  • Howard Small ("Howie"), Vera's gay son, who runs a sheep farm near the village of Great Shagthorn with his business and personal partner, Anthony Flowers ("Ants"). Howie and Ants have a daughter, "Small-Flowers" currently known as "Flo";
  • Karen, Vera's daughter, with whom she has a difficult relationship. Karen's second husband, St. John (pronounced "sinjun"), is a veterinarian with whom Vera has an excellent relationship. St. John is also revealed to be the biological father of Baby Small-Flowers. Karen and St. John have two children together: the long-legged Nelson and Millie (so-named after her premature arrival around the time of the new "Minnellium" [sic]);
  • Sabrina Small, Karen's daughter whose father is never mentioned. Karen was married and divorced prior to Sabrina's birth.
  • Lesley, Irene's daughter, who lives in Australia with her second husband Brian and their two children, Cheryl-Marie (from Lesley's first marriage ('Cheryl' pronounced 'CHAIR-ull') and Bubbles (real name: Sarah-Jane). Brian has a squint Lesley finds embarrassing, and a too-obvious hair-transplant;
  • Christopher Thoroughgood, Irene's long-lost son, Lesley's elder half-brother. Christopher is the result of an "illicit and unwanted infringement" of Irene's maidenhood and was put up for adoption. Christopher's first wife was Margaret and they had two sons, "Little Christopher" and Tommy. Christopher's second wife is Michaela, who appears, with their baby daughter Sophie-Irene, out of the blue in Ladies of Letters Crunch Credit;
  • Youssou, Vera's "adoptive grandson", a former child soldier in Panglawangla, whom she brought back with her from her 'Global' adventure;
  • Beryl "next door", who was Irene's neighbour and has recurrent medical problems with her bottom;
  • Nellie Thoroughgood, Christopher's adoptive mother. She is played by Susan Jameson for her sole appearance in Ladies of Letters Go Global, in which she calls herself Nellie Havergood. No reason is given for the difference in surname.

Vera and Irene always strive to outdo each other, whether with their recipes, holiday destinations or who has the best grandchildren. The humour is mostly derived from the lack of insight of the two main protagonists, but there is also a somewhat melancholic theme that lurks just beneath the surface at the way these two women are taken for granted by their respective families. By the end of 2004's Ladies of Letters Spring Clean it is implied that there has been something of a parting of the ways between the women and their kinfolk. Later series tend to heavily use malapropisms for comic effect.

Ladies of Letters Go Global (broadcast 2 to 6 January 2006) featured a somewhat bizarre and unlikely world tour undertaken by the two women, in contrast to the more naturalistic tone of previous stories. The BBC issued a CD collection of the first seven series as a special 'biscuit tin' release in October 2006.[1] A short, newly written, episode was featured as part of the Woman's Hour 60th Anniversary concert in October 2006.

Ladies of Letters Say No was broadcast from 27 to 31 August 2007 and featured a broadly satirical take on the involvement of the private sector in the NHS, concentrating on the underhand dealings of the tycoon Alan Trumper. Ladies of Letters Go Green – the ninth series – was broadcast from 10 to 14 March 2008. Series 10 – Ladies of Letters Crunch Credit – was broadcast from 4 to 8 May 2009.[2]

An eleventh radio series Ladies of Letters Go Crackers was broadcast at Christmas 2010 (27–31 December). Patricia Routledge was not available at the time of recording so Anne Reid, who plays Vera on television, stepped into the role.[3]

Television series edit

A ten-part television adaptation of the first radio series was made by Tiger Aspect for ITV3, which ran from on 3 February 2009. It stars Maureen Lipman as Irene and Anne Reid as Vera. A second series was aired in two parts, the first airing in April 2010 and the second in October 2010.

Home media edit

Series one was released on DVD Region 2 in 2009 followed by series two in 2010.

Book details edit

  • Ladies of Letters (ISBN 978-1853757303)
  • More "Ladies of Letters" (ISBN 0-233-99926-4)
  • Ladies of Letters.com (ISBN 0-7515-3189-8)
  • Ladies of Letters Log On (ISBN 0-7515-3219-3)
  • Ladies of Letters Make Mincemeat (ISBN 0-563-49495-6)
  • Ladies of Letters Spring Clean (ISBN 0-563-52300-X)
  • Ladies of Letters Go Global (ISBN 0-563-50440-4)
  • Ladies of Letters Say No (ISBN 1405-67726-0)
  • Ladies of Letters Go Green (ISBN 1405-68746-0)
  • Ladies of Letters Crunch Credit (ISBN 1408-40961-5)
  • Ladies of Letters Go Crackers (ISBN 1408-46714-3)

References edit

  1. ^ BBCShop
  2. ^ Ladies Of Letters
  3. ^ Ladies Of Letters

External links edit

  • Ladies of Letters official website

January 01, 1970
ladies, letters, comedy, series, that, years, radio, based, series, books, same, name, written, carole, hayman, wakefield, starring, patricia, routledge, prunella, scales, routledge, stars, vera, small, scales, irene, spencer, elderly, ladies, share, sometimes. Ladies of Letters is a comedy series that ran for 13 years on BBC Radio 4 based on the series of books of the same name written by Carole Hayman and Lou Wakefield and starring Patricia Routledge and Prunella Scales Routledge stars as Vera Small and Scales as Irene Spencer two elderly ladies who share a sometimes rocky relationship conducted by correspondence The success of the first series of Ladies of Letters broadcast in 1997 spawned adaptations of several sequels Ladies of More Letters 1999 Ladies of Letters Com 2000 Ladies of Letters Log On 2001 Ladies of Letters Make Mincemeat 2001 Christmas Special Ladies of Letters Spring Clean 2004 Ladies of Letters Go Global 2006 Ladies of Letters Say No 2007 Ladies of Letters Go Green 2008 Ladies of Letters Crunch Credit 2009 and Ladies of Letters Go Crackers 2010 this series features Anne Reid instead of Patricia Routledge as Vera Small see below Each of the 15 minute episodes come as part of BBC Radio 4 s long running magazine programme Woman s Hour A ten part television adaptation of the first radio series was made for ITV3 which began on 3 February 2009 Contents 1 Plot and principals 2 Television series 3 Home media 4 Book details 5 References 6 External linksPlot and principals editVera and Irene reveal their exploits and adventures to each other in their letters and e mails but sometimes their correspondence becomes fractious when one accuses the other of being an alcoholic or engages in too much one upmanship Nevertheless when the chips are down and the going gets tough each is instantly there for the other like a charge of the cavalry but with a more sarcastic bugle call Other recurring characters include people we occasionally hear as well as some we only hear about Howard Small Howie Vera s gay son who runs a sheep farm near the village of Great Shagthorn with his business and personal partner Anthony Flowers Ants Howie and Ants have a daughter Small Flowers currently known as Flo Karen Vera s daughter with whom she has a difficult relationship Karen s second husband St John pronounced sinjun is a veterinarian with whom Vera has an excellent relationship St John is also revealed to be the biological father of Baby Small Flowers Karen and St John have two children together the long legged Nelson and Millie so named after her premature arrival around the time of the new Minnellium sic Sabrina Small Karen s daughter whose father is never mentioned Karen was married and divorced prior to Sabrina s birth Lesley Irene s daughter who lives in Australia with her second husband Brian and their two children Cheryl Marie from Lesley s first marriage Cheryl pronounced CHAIR ull and Bubbles real name Sarah Jane Brian has a squint Lesley finds embarrassing and a too obvious hair transplant Christopher Thoroughgood Irene s long lost son Lesley s elder half brother Christopher is the result of an illicit and unwanted infringement of Irene s maidenhood and was put up for adoption Christopher s first wife was Margaret and they had two sons Little Christopher and Tommy Christopher s second wife is Michaela who appears with their baby daughter Sophie Irene out of the blue in Ladies of Letters Crunch Credit Youssou Vera s adoptive grandson a former child soldier in Panglawangla whom she brought back with her from her Global adventure Beryl next door who was Irene s neighbour and has recurrent medical problems with her bottom Nellie Thoroughgood Christopher s adoptive mother She is played by Susan Jameson for her sole appearance in Ladies of Letters Go Global in which she calls herself Nellie Havergood No reason is given for the difference in surname Vera and Irene always strive to outdo each other whether with their recipes holiday destinations or who has the best grandchildren The humour is mostly derived from the lack of insight of the two main protagonists but there is also a somewhat melancholic theme that lurks just beneath the surface at the way these two women are taken for granted by their respective families By the end of 2004 s Ladies of Letters Spring Clean it is implied that there has been something of a parting of the ways between the women and their kinfolk Later series tend to heavily use malapropisms for comic effect Ladies of Letters Go Global broadcast 2 to 6 January 2006 featured a somewhat bizarre and unlikely world tour undertaken by the two women in contrast to the more naturalistic tone of previous stories The BBC issued a CD collection of the first seven series as a special biscuit tin release in October 2006 1 A short newly written episode was featured as part of the Woman s Hour 60th Anniversary concert in October 2006 Ladies of Letters Say No was broadcast from 27 to 31 August 2007 and featured a broadly satirical take on the involvement of the private sector in the NHS concentrating on the underhand dealings of the tycoon Alan Trumper Ladies of Letters Go Green the ninth series was broadcast from 10 to 14 March 2008 Series 10 Ladies of Letters Crunch Credit was broadcast from 4 to 8 May 2009 2 An eleventh radio series Ladies of Letters Go Crackers was broadcast at Christmas 2010 27 31 December Patricia Routledge was not available at the time of recording so Anne Reid who plays Vera on television stepped into the role 3 Television series editA ten part television adaptation of the first radio series was made by Tiger Aspect for ITV3 which ran from on 3 February 2009 It stars Maureen Lipman as Irene and Anne Reid as Vera A second series was aired in two parts the first airing in April 2010 and the second in October 2010 Home media editSeries one was released on DVD Region 2 in 2009 followed by series two in 2010 Book details editLadies of Letters ISBN 978 1853757303 More Ladies of Letters ISBN 0 233 99926 4 Ladies of Letters com ISBN 0 7515 3189 8 Ladies of Letters Log On ISBN 0 7515 3219 3 Ladies of Letters Make Mincemeat ISBN 0 563 49495 6 Ladies of Letters Spring Clean ISBN 0 563 52300 X Ladies of Letters Go Global ISBN 0 563 50440 4 Ladies of Letters Say No ISBN 1405 67726 0 Ladies of Letters Go Green ISBN 1405 68746 0 Ladies of Letters Crunch Credit ISBN 1408 40961 5 Ladies of Letters Go Crackers ISBN 1408 46714 3 References edit BBCShop Ladies Of Letters Ladies Of LettersExternal links editLadies of Letters official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ladies of Letters amp oldid 1039294883, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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