Damian Barr - Maggie And Me

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

~~~

20130506

20130603 (R4)

Damian Barr reads his touching and entertaining memoir of growing up in a small Scottish steelworks town in the 80s.

On 12th October 1984 young Damian's world explodes. He watches in panic as his mum rips off her wedding ring and packs their bags. Later that night he is glued to the news as Margaret Thatcher miraculously survives the IRA bomb that has blown apart the Grand Hotel in Brighton. As his own life descends into chaos, he knows that he too must survive.

In the shadow of the Falklands war, milk snatching, and the strikes that are spreading across Britain, tensions flare up in the heart of his own community. As the local Ravenscraig steelworks and his dad's job come under threat, Damian holds onto Maggie's advice to work hard and escape.

Written and read by Damian Barr.

Abridged by Sian Preece

Producer: Allegra McIlroy.

A boy in a steelworking town in the 1980s finds an unlikely heroine in Maggie Thatcher.

~~~

20130604

Damian Barr reads his extraordinary memoir of growing up in small-town Scotland in the 1980s.

The threat of closure comes to Ravenscraig, the nearby steelworks where Damian's dad works, and tensions build locally. But as the community mounts a campaign to 'Save the Craig' and the chaos of his homelife escalates, ten year old Damian finds escape in his books and his new best friend Mark - everybody at school loves Mark, but he's joined at the hip to Damian.

Written and read by Damian Barr.

Abridged by Sian Preece

Producer: Allegra McIlroy.

As the steelworkers go out on strike, Damian falls in love for the first time.

~~~

20130605

Powerful 1980s memoir written and read by Damian Barr.

It's 1987 and Damian Barr is eleven years old. He's terrified of the AIDS epidemic, and he's sure it's coming to get him. Secondary school is a harsh place for a young gay boy on free school dinners. As his chaotic home life escalates he attempts to hide from his sexuality, and turns to the escape offered by his friend Heather's calm home.

Abridged by Sian Preece

Producer: Allegra McIlroy.

Eleven-year-old Damian falls in love with his friend Mark, but tries to hide his sexuality

~~~

20130607

20130606 (R4)

Though Damian is caught up in the anti-capitalist enthusiasm of one of his teachers who smuggles key anti Poll Tax Protesters into school to inspire the children, he still has a secret desire to impress his unlikely heroine Margaret Thatcher.

He's been hiding his sexuality for years, but he finally discovers some freedom in dancing to Madonna in Glasgow's only gay club.

Written and read by Damian Barr.

Abridged by Sian Preece

Producer: Allegra McIlroy.

Damian is caught up in a secret school visit from Scottish poll tax protesters.

05 LAST

~~~

20130607

Still at school, Damian makes a brave decision to come out as gay, but discovers first-hand the impact of Clause 28 when his normally supportive teachers are unable to discuss his sexuality openly with him.

He heads to university and leaves Scotland for good with the help of a bursary from a mystery benefactor, and finally makes it to a new life as a journalist living in Brighton with his partner. His last visit to Scotland reminds him of the ghosts of his past that still echo in his life, the Ravenscraig steelworks that were the heart of the community and have now disappeared from the landscape, and his complicated relationship with Margaret Thatcher, his unlikely heroine.

Written and read by Damian Barr.

Abridged by Sian Preece

Producer: Allegra McIlroy.

Damian escapes to university and fulfils his dream of becoming a journalist.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	~~~	20130506	20130603 (R4)	Damian Barr reads his touching and entertaining memoir of growing up in a small Scottish steelworks town in the 80s. On 12th October 1984 young Damian's world explodes. He watches in panic as his mum rips off her wedding ring and packs their bags. Later that night he is glued to the news as Margaret Thatcher miraculously survives the IRA bomb that has blown apart the Grand Hotel in Brighton. As his own life descends into chaos, he knows that he too must survive. In the shadow of the Falklands war, milk snatching, and the strikes that are spreading across Britain, tensions flare up in the heart of his own community. As the local Ravenscraig steelworks and his dad's job come under threat, Damian holds onto Maggie's advice to work hard and escape. Written and read by Damian Barr. Abridged by Sian Preece Producer: Allegra McIlroy. A boy in a steelworking town in the 1980s finds an unlikely heroine in Maggie Thatcher.
02	~~~	20130604		Damian Barr reads his extraordinary memoir of growing up in small-town Scotland in the 1980s. The threat of closure comes to Ravenscraig, the nearby steelworks where Damian's dad works, and tensions build locally. But as the community mounts a campaign to 'Save the Craig' and the chaos of his homelife escalates, ten year old Damian finds escape in his books and his new best friend Mark - everybody at school loves Mark, but he's joined at the hip to Damian. Written and read by Damian Barr. Abridged by Sian Preece Producer: Allegra McIlroy. As the steelworkers go out on strike, Damian falls in love for the first time.
03	~~~	20130605		Powerful 1980s memoir written and read by Damian Barr. It's 1987 and Damian Barr is eleven years old. He's terrified of the AIDS epidemic, and he's sure it's coming to get him. Secondary school is a harsh place for a young gay boy on free school dinners. As his chaotic home life escalates he attempts to hide from his sexuality, and turns to the escape offered by his friend Heather's calm home. Abridged by Sian Preece Producer: Allegra McIlroy. Eleven-year-old Damian falls in love with his friend Mark, but tries to hide his sexuality
04	~~~	20130607	20130606 (R4)	Though Damian is caught up in the anti-capitalist enthusiasm of one of his teachers who smuggles key anti Poll Tax Protesters into school to inspire the children, he still has a secret desire to impress his unlikely heroine Margaret Thatcher. He's been hiding his sexuality for years, but he finally discovers some freedom in dancing to Madonna in Glasgow's only gay club. Written and read by Damian Barr. Abridged by Sian Preece Producer: Allegra McIlroy. Damian is caught up in a secret school visit from Scottish poll tax protesters.
05 LAST	~~~	20130607		Still at school, Damian makes a brave decision to come out as gay, but discovers first-hand the impact of Clause 28 when his normally supportive teachers are unable to discuss his sexuality openly with him. He heads to university and leaves Scotland for good with the help of a bursary from a mystery benefactor, and finally makes it to a new life as a journalist living in Brighton with his partner. His last visit to Scotland reminds him of the ghosts of his past that still echo in his life, the Ravenscraig steelworks that were the heart of the community and have now disappeared from the landscape, and his complicated relationship with Margaret Thatcher, his unlikely heroine. Written and read by Damian Barr. Abridged by Sian Preece Producer: Allegra McIlroy. Damian escapes to university and fulfils his dream of becoming a journalist.