Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | Bronte Country | 19980820 | 20120813/14 (BBC7) 20131205 (BBC7) 20131206 (BBC7) 20150904 (BBC7) 20150905 (BBC7) 20181121 (BBC7) 20181122 (BBC7) 20201120 (BBC7) 20201121 (BBC7) 20240322 (BBC7) 20240323 (BBC7) | London 1853: The orderly life of religious publishers, Spavin and Spavin, is set to transformed by an actress and her son. Cordelia is setting her sights on one of the partners, while her son Primus fancies taking over the firm, starting with hopes of 'acquiring' Charlotte Bronte... Series 1 of Martyn Wade's Victorian era comedy stars Michael Cochrane and Maggie Steed. Primus - Michael Cochrane Cordelia - Maggie Steed Gerald - David Horovitch Edith - Elizabeth Spriggs The Reverend Bronte - Geoffrey Whitehead Charlotte - Sarah Jane Holm Mrs Gaskell/Emily Bronte - Frances Jeater Equity - David Antrobus First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1998. London 1853, and a firm of religious publishers is transformed by an actress and her son. London 1853, and a firm of religious publishers is transformed by an actress and her son. Stars Michael Cochrane. From August 1998. |
| 01 | 02 | Gone For A Burton | 19980827 | 20120820/21 (BBC7) 20131212 (BBC7) 20131213 (BBC7) 20150911 (BBC7) 20150912 (BBC7) 20181128 (BBC7) 20181129 (BBC7) 20201127 (BBC7) 20201128 (BBC7) 20240329 (BBC7) 20240330 (BBC7) | London 1855: Primus's latest publishing coup is the explorer Richard Burton, but drink and other substances seem to have destroyed Burton's sense of direction. Martyn Wade's Victorian era comedy stars Michael Cochrane and Maggie Steed. Primus - Michael Cochrane Cordelia - Maggie Steed Edith - Elizabeth Spriggs Gerald - David Horovitch Katie Joiner - Frances Jeater Richard Burton - Norman Rodway Waiter - David Antrobus First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1998. 1855 - Primus's latest publishing coup is an explorer, but he seems to have lost his way. 1855 - Primus's latest publishing coup is an explorer, but he seems to have lost his way. Stars Maggie Steed. From August 1998. |
| 01 | 03 | The Man In White | 19980903 | 20120827/28 (BBC7) 20131219 (BBC7) 20131220 (BBC7) 20150918 (BBC7) 20150919 (BBC7) 20181205 (BBC7) 20181206 (BBC7) 20201204 (BBC7) 20201205 (BBC7) 20240405 (BBC7) 20240406 (BBC7) | London 1858: A little bored by Gerald, Cordelia is having fun with the novelist Wilkie Collins, who's having a spell of writer's block with The Woman in White. Primus has the answer...or does he? Primus - Michael Cochrane Cordelia - Maggie Steed Edith - Elizabeth Spriggs Gerald - David Horovitch Wilkie Collins - David Timson Simeon - Charles Simpson George Eliot .. - David Antrobus Written by Martyn Wade. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1998. Bored by Gerald, Cordelia is having fun with struggling novelist Wilkie Collins. Bored by Gerald, Cordelia is having fun with struggling novelist Wilkie Collins. Stars Maggie Steed. From September 1998. Martyn Wade's Victorian era comedy stars Michael Cochrane and Maggie Steed. George Eliot - David Antrobus |
| 01 | 04 | The Prosser Prize | 19980910 | 20120903/04 (BBC7) 20131226 (BBC7) 20131227 (BBC7) 20150925 (BBC7) 20150926 (BBC7) 20181212 (BBC7) 20181213 (BBC7) 20201211 (BBC7) 20201212 (BBC7) | London 1858: Primus is determined that Spavin and Spavin's entry should win this distinguished literary award, even if it means seducing the sponsors. Martyn Wade's Victorian era comedy stars Michael Cochrane and Maggie Steed. Primus - Michael Cochrane Cordelia - Maggie Steed Edith - Elizabeth Spriggs Gerald - David Horovitch Simeon - Charles Simpson Mrs Prosser - Frances Jeater Prosser - Geoffrey Whitehead Thackeray - David Antrobus First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1998. Primus does his utmost to ensure one of his books will win a literary award. |
| 02 | 01 | Self Help | 20000107 | 20190508/09 (BBC7) 20190511 (BBC7) 20220325 (BBC7) 20220326 (BBC7) | There are some eccentric and desperate plans to save Spavin and Spavin from financial ruin involving Prince Albert and Samuel Smiles. Stars Michael Cochrane and Maggie Steed. Second series of Martyn Wade's comedy series set in a Victorian publishing house. Primus - Michael Cochrane Cordelia - Maggie Steed Gerald - David Horovitch Edith - Elizabeth Spriggs Mrs Quirk - Joan Sims Simeon - Charles Simpson Prince Albert - Ioan Meredith John - Stephen Critchlow Mrs Beeton - Rachel Atkins Lizzie Siddal - Becky Hindley First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2001. 1860 London. Publishing sitcom with Maggie Steed and Elizabeth Spriggs. From 2001. |
| 02 | 02 | Great Expectations | 20000114 | 20190515/16 (BBC7) 20220401 (BBC7) 20220402 (BBC7) | Primus plans to save Spavin and Spavin from bankruptcy by becoming Charles Dickens's new publisher. Cordelia has a surprise for Gerald. Starring Michael Cochrane and Maggie Steed. Martyn Wade's sitcom set in a Victorian publishing house. Primus - Michael Cochrane Cordelia - Maggie Steed Gerald - David Horovitch Edith - Elizabeth Spriggs Mrs Quirk - Joan Sims Simeon - Charles Simpson Prince Albert - Ioan Meredith John - Stephen Critchlow Mrs Beeton - Rachel Atkins Lizzie Siddal - Becky Hindley Forster - Gerard McDermott First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2001. Ailing Victorian publishers Spavin and Spavin hope Charles Dickens can save them. |
| 02 | 03 | Terminal Journals | 20000121 | 20190522/23 (BBC7) 20220408 (BBC7) 20220409 (BBC7) | Primus's latest plan to save the firm from ruin involves publishing deathbed memoirs of the famous. A chance meeting with the poet Rossetti has him hoping for great things... Starring Michael Cochrane and Maggie Steed. Martyn Wade's sitcom set in a Victorian publishing house. Primus - Michael Cochrane Cordelia - Maggie Steed Gerald - David Horovitch Edith - Elizabeth Spriggs Mrs Quirk - Joan Sims Simeon - Charles Simpson Prince Albert/Smiles - Ioan Meredith John - Stephen Critchlow Mrs Beeton - Rachel Atkins Lizzie Siddal - Becky Hindley Forster - Gerard McDermott First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2000. Primus plots to save the firm by publishing deathbed memoirs of the famous. |
| 02 | 04 | Merger Most Foul | 20000128 | 20190529/30 (BBC7) 20220415 (BBC7) 20220416 (BBC7) | As Spavin and Spavin's fortunes decline, Edith's success as a writer increases. But her refusal to let the firm publish her books leads to desperate plans for a merger... Starring Michael Cochrane and Maggie Steed. Martyn Wade's sitcom set in a Victorian publishing house. Primus - Michael Cochrane Cordelia - Maggie Steed Gerald - David Horovitch Edith - Elizabeth Spriggs Mrs Quirk - Joan Sims Simeon - Charles Simpson Prince Albert/Smiles - Ioan Meredith John - Stephen Critchlow Mrs Beeton - Rachel Atkins Lizzie Siddal - Becky Hindley Forster - Gerard McDermott First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2001. Edith's refusal to let Primus publish her books sparks desperate merger talks. |