Given how much we eat, it’s amazing that no book has ever been devoted to toast. Here Heidi Nathan provides a true first. An essential guide to tastier toast toppings featuring delicious recipes sprinkled with anecdotes and facts on the history of toast. With contributions from Dame Maureen Lipman and Joanna Lumley.
A collection of personal stories of British Jews that uncovers a religious revolution and re-defines the meaning of Judaism in the 21st century. It presents a marriage of tradition and modernity and depicts how a community that has been part of the British religious landscape for centuries is changing.
Joyce Grenfell in her own words and through the eyes of Maureen Lipman
Joyce Grenfell was one of the last century’s greatest entertainers, renowned worldwide for her monologues, songs, and comic writing. Her career spanned over 30 years, ranging from wartime tours to solo stage shows, films such as the St Trinian’s series, appearances on BBC TV and numerous radio broadcasts. Contained here are five sparkling productions of her work, performed by acting legend Maureen Lipman – who is celebrated for portraying Joyce in the 1991 TV film Re-Joyce – alongside a delightful reading by Joyce Grenfell herself of her autobiography.
Hats Off – Before she became a star, Joyce Grenfell was a poet, and she continued to write verse all her life. Hats Off features over 40 of her witty, perceptive poems, read by Maureen Lipman and with an introduction by Grenfell’s close friend and biographer Janie Hampton.
Choice Grenfell – In this poignantly funny retrospective, Maureen Lipman perfectly recreates the much-loved material of the late, great comedian. Featuring monologues, sketches, songs and letters, it showcases Joyce Grenfell at her finest and funniest.
Dear Joyce…. Dear Ginnie – Joyce Grenfell and fellow poet Virginia Graham were best friends for 62 years, and wrote to each other frequently. Maureen Lipman and Janie Hampton read a selection of their affectionate correspondence from 1929 to 1979, providing fascinating insight into both their lives.
Two Light Up the Third – A fictionalised dramatisation of how one of the inaugural programmes to be broadcast by the Third Programme, How to Listen, made it onto the airwaves, written by Russell Davies and starring Maureen Lipman as Joyce Grenfell. This is accompanied by the fascinating original airing of How to Listen with Joyce Grenfell and Stephen Potter.
Joyce Grenfell Requests the Pleasure – Telling her life story with verve and brio, Joyce Grenfell recounts the highs and lows of her varied career, sketching wonderful comic descriptions of the many people she encountered along the way. Her glamorous, madcap American mother, her aunt Nancy Astor and her beloved husband Reggie are just some of the larger-than-life characters that people this captivating reading.
Cast and Credits
Hats Off
Written by Joyce Grenfell
Read by Maureen Lipman
Introduced by Janie Hampton
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3-10 Jun 2001
Choice Grenfell
Written by Joyce Grenfell
Performed by Maureen Lipman
Music by Denis King, Maureen Lipman, Richard Addinsell, Joyce Grenfell and Virginia Graham
Pianist: Denis King
Directed by Alan Strachan
Produced by Jonathan James-Moore
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 2-6 Mar 1998
Dear Joyce… Dear Ginnie
Read by Maureen Lipman and Janie Hampton
Produced by Jonathan James-Moore
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 20-24 Dec 1999
Two Light Up the Third
written by Russell Davies
Starring Maureen Lipman as Joyce Grenfell
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 29 Sep 1996
How to Listen
Starring Joyce Grenfell and Stephen Potter, featuring members of the ‘How’ Repertory Company
First broadcast BBC Radio Third Programme, 29 Sep 1946
Joyce Grenfell Requests the Pleasure
Written and read by Joyce Grenfell
Abridged by Janet Quigley
Produced by Pat McLoughlin
Five BBC Radio adaptations of the works of William Makepeace Thackeray - plus bonus features
Best known today for his comic masterpiece, Vanity Fair, W. M. Thackeray was regarded in his time as the only rival to his contemporary, Charles Dickens. This collection includes a selection of his finest satirical fiction, as well as two fascinating programmes exploring his life and writings.
Vanity Fair - Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, Thackeray's deliciously ironic tale of passion and ambition follows the fortunes of penniless, social-climbing Becky Sharp and her wealthy, sweet-natured best friend, Amelia Sedley. Starring Stephen Fry as the Narrator, with Emma Fielding as Becky, Katy Cavanagh as Amelia and Toby Jones as Jos.
Barry Lyndon - Forced to leave his native Ireland after an unfortunate duel, young Redmond Barry embarks on a series of adventures that take him from the battlefields of the Seven Years War to the highest courts of Europe and the drawing rooms of English society. Gerard McSorley and Andrew Scott star in Thackeray's picaresque classic alongside Shelia Hancock and Kenneth Cranham
The Yellowplush Papers- Adam Buxton stars in these five comic tales about the rise and fall of canny Regency footman Charles Yellowplush.
Pendennis - Thackeray's semi-autobiographical coming-of-age tale charts the youthful exploits of handsome, impoverished Arthur Pendennis as he leaves his home in the country to make his way in London society. Dominic Guard stars as Arthur, with Hugh Dickson as The Writer.
The Newcomes- Featuring characters from Vanity Fair and narrated by Arthur Pendennis, this epic saga tells the story of several generations of a respectable English family, centring around Colonel Thomas Newcombe and his artist son, Clive. Starring Simon Lack, Carleton Hobbs and Nigel Grahame.
Al Murray on Thackeray - Comedian Al Murray talks about his great-great-great-grandfather, William Makepeace Thackeray, and why he thinks Vanity Fair is still relevant today.
Andrew Davies/William Thackeray - James Naughtie and a group of readers chat to Andrew Davies about Thackeray's classic novel, Vanity Fair, which he adapted for BBC TV in 1998.
NB: Due to the age and nature of some of the recordings, the sound quality may vary
First published 1837 (The Yellowplush Papers), 1844 (The Luck of Barry Lyndon), 1848 (Vanity Fair), 1849-50 (Pendennis), (1855 The Newcomes)
Cast and credits
Written by W. M. Thackeray
With thanks to Keith Wickham
Contents List
Vanity Fair
Barry Lyndon
The Yellowplush Papers
Pendennis
The Newcomes
Al Murray on Thackeray
Andrew Davies on William Thackeray
An eight-part comedy serial set in a provincial university with a most unusual English department
Against his better judgement, Andrew Patterson accepts a job as a lecturer in English literature at a remote Northern redbrick university. His departmental colleagues are an eccentric bunch: doddery Head of English Professor Misty, who looks like he went to school with Little Dorrit; Amy Spade, who's suffering from an identity crisis and given to sending anonymous letters, and man-eating Melissa Murgatroyd, the honeypot of the Senior Common Room. Fortunately, Patterson has old friend and fellow lecturer Victor to show him the ropes - but even so, his first day does not go well.
University life continues to throw up bewildering challenges, from tracking down Misty's lawnmower to surviving his inaugural lecture, writing a soft porn novel and dealing with the demands (both erotic and otherwise) of his students. Meanwhile, his wife Jane is becoming worryingly keen on their nerdy neighbour Cuthbertson, and the English department is in crisis... Can Patterson salvage his marriage and make it through term without getting fired?
Written by acclaimed authors Malcolm Bradbury and Christopher Bigsby, both former university lecturers, this lively campus comedy was the first sitcom to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Australian Lewis Fiander stars as the hapless Patterson, with John Barron as the Vice-Chancellor, Richard Vernon as Professor Misty and Maureen Lipman as Melissa.
Production credits
Written by Malcolm Bradbury and Christopher Bigsby
Produced by Geoffrey Perkins
Theme music: 'Jester's Jig' by Gordon Giltrap
Cast
Patterson - Lewis Fiander
Vice-Chancellor - John Barron
Professor Misty - Richard Vernon
Jane - Judy Parfitt
Melissa - Maureen Lipman
Cuthbertson - Richard O'Callaghan
Victor - Hugh Thomas
Amy Spade/Cleaner - Maggie Steed
Probity - Jack May
Mary/Lady Professor/Mrs Jackson/Mrs Misty/Verity - Frances Jeater
Mrs Vice-Chancellor - Irene Prador
Sandra - Liza Hayden
Bannerji - Tariq Yunus
Jake - Philip Davis
Valerie Candle - Leueen Willoughby
Inspector Firestone - David Tate
Ancient boy - Patrick Barr
Hotel manager - Rowland Davies
Landlady - Patricia Hayes
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 19 February-9 April 1981
Five delightful pantomimes featuring musical numbers, silly jokes and fun for all the family!
In Puss In Boots, young Tom dreams of winning the heart of Princess Rose Petal. Can Puss in Boots help Tom defeat Baron Skinflint and his greedy ogre, and win the princess’ heart?
Aladdin is a happy peasant boy. But the wicked Abanazar needs his help, as only Aladdin can enter the secret cave to find a very special lamp…
In Mother Goose, Jack and Jill are in love and want to get married. Will their wish come true, thanks to a magical goose which lays golden eggs?
Dick Whittington has come to London to seek his fortune. It seems his luck is changing – until the evil King Rat threatens everything…
In Sleeping Beauty, the christening of Princess Rosebud is interrupted by the Wicked Fairy Carabosse, who gives the baby a terrible gift. If Rosebud pricks her finger and spills a drop of blood she will fall into a deep sleep…
With stellar casts including Terry Wogan, Maureen Lipman, Anita Harris, June Whitfield, Kenneth Connor and Frank Thornton.
Everyone loves a traditional Christmas pantomime, and with this classic BBC Radio collection you can enjoy the festive fun whenever you wish. With rousing songs, corny jokes and the obligatory Widow Twankey, it’s perfect entertainment for all the family. Oh, yes it is!
Maureen Lipman and Patrick Barlow star in a full-cast dramatisation of the classic children's tale. When Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away from Kansas by a cyclone, they arrive in the strange land of the Munchkins. Setting off on a magical journey, they are befriended by the Tinman, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion, all of whom join Dorothy's quest to find the wonderful Wizard of Oz. Barbara Barnes, Philip Franks, Patrick Barlow, Bradley Lavelle and Kerry Shale also star in this BBC Radio 4 dramatisation. The wonder and excitement of L Frank Baum's unforgettable story live on in this full-cast dramatisation, complete with evocative music and sound effects.
A BBC comedy sitcom from BBC New Comedy Award winner Lucy Beaumont, also starring Maureen Lipman.
Sophie still lives at home with her mum in Hull. They make a living doing car boot sales at the weekend. Except they don't really make a living because her mum can't bear to get rid of any of their junk. Plus, they don't have a car. As their house gets more cluttered, Sophie feels more trapped. She dreams of moving to London to meet her dad and to become a famous actress. Will this dream ever come true?
Starring Lucy Beaumont as Sophie and Maureen Lipman as her mum, Sheila.
