Hilary Mantel - Beyond Black

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Voices From The Other Side

20100301

Alison Hart is a professional medium, an awkward, obese, disorganised woman, but with a gift for empathy and a good platform technique.

Her familiar spirits are figures from her chaotic childhood, principal among them a small, foul-mouthed circus performer with disgusting personal habits called Morris who is her unpleasant and bitter spirit guide.

To try and create some order in her messy existence she has taken on an assistant, the highly efficient but essentially heartless Colette, who, although she is a regular witness to Alison's gift, is nevertheless a profoundly sceptical companion. The two of them are bound together by a need that neither wants to recognise.

Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.

Dramatised in ten parts by Caroline Harrington.

Alison - Alison Steadman

Colette - Rosie Cavaliero

Morris - Bill Wallis

Director: Sara Davies

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.

A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.

Colette's Story

20100302

Colette is an event organiser whose marriage to dull, conventional Gavin ends after she has the strange experience of holding a phone conversation with Gavin's mother, whom she later discovers is dead.

Colette's interest in the paranormal leads her to a Psychic Extravanganza in Windsor where professional medium Alison is performing, and to a subsequent consultation where Alison drops a bombshell about her father and then makes her a surprising job offer.

Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.

Alison - Alison Steadman

Colette - Rosie Cavaliero

Gavin - Mark Meadows

Natasha/Renee - Adrienne O'Sullivan

Dramatised by Caroline Harrington.

Director: Sara Davies

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.

Colette leaves her dull husband, becomes interested in the paranormal and consults Alison.

A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.

An Evil Thing

20100303

Colette decides Alison should publish a book, and starts to interview her on tape. She soon realises she's taken on more than she might want to know.

Alison's memories of her childhood in Aldershot turn out to be profoundly disturbing. Her mother arranged abortions for other women, but couldn't get rid of her own child, and may well have offered her to a succession of detestable petty thieves and abusers. They lived in squalor, Alison was neglected, and her school life and subsequent jobs were messed up by interfering spirits. She was rescued by a neighbour, Mrs Etchells, who claimed to be her grandmother, and who introduced her to the psychic world.

Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.

Alison - Alison Steadman

Colette - Rosie Cavaliero

Morris - Bill Wallis

Emmie - Katharine Rogers

Keith - Simon Armstrong

Mrs McGibbet - Sheila Hannon

Mrs Etchells - June Barrie

Dramatised in ten parts by Caroline Harrington.

Director: Sara Davies.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.

Collette wants Alison to write a book, but her childhood memories are too disturbing.

A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.

Death Of A Princess

20100304

Colette is woken one night by Alison getting news from beyond of Princess Diana's fatal car crash.

The tragic accident means business will be heavy for all the psychics at the Psychic Fair in Nottingham, and they're not helped by Alison's disgusting spirit guide, Morris, who is more than usually irritating, patrolling the motorway services, desperate to find his mates, and interfering with Alison's friend Mandy.

As Alison becomes more disturbed by the darker side of her job, Morris finds his old mate Aitkenside, a development that throws Alison into despair.

Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.

Alison - Alison Steadman

Colette - Rosie Cavaliero

Morris - Bill Wallis

Mandy - Adrienne O'Sullivan

Silvana - Jacqueline Tong

Dramatised by Caroline Harrington.

Director: Sara Davies

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.

Princess Diana's fatal crash means a busy time for Alison and her fellow psychics.

A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.

Escape

20100305

Alison's disgusting spirit guide Morris has been joined by Donny Aitkenside, one of the violent group of petty criminals who were in and out of the house all through Alison's abusive childhood.

Alison knows the other members of the spirit gang can't be far behind, and decides the only way to escape them is to move to a new house where they won't want to follow her. Her assistant Colette locates a suitable new development, and the move has the desired effect: Morris hates it, and announces he's leaving.

At long last, Alison thinks, she's free.

Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.

Alison - Alison Steadman

Colette - Rosie Cavaliero

Morris - Bill Wallis

Emmie - Katharine Rogers

Aitkenside - Simon Armstrong

Dramatised by Caroline Harrington.

Director: Sara Davies.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.

A violent blast from Alison's past appears, and drastic measures are needed to escape.

A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.

Alison's Good Action

20100308

Alison's disgusting spirit guide, Morris, seems to have disappeared, much to Alison's delight, leaving her to enjoy her new house unmolested. Colette decides that it's time for her to take a more proactive role in the business, but reading palms doesn't seem to be her forte, and an unexpected encounter with her ex, Gavin, leaves her rattled.

When a homeless young man takes up residence in the new garden shed, Alison sees an opportunity finally to perform a good action and lay the evil ghosts of her past to rest. But Colette has other ideas.

Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past

Alison - Alison Steadman

Colette - Rosie Cavaliero

Gavin - Mark Meadows

Mart - Malcolm Hamilton

Dramatised by Caroline Harrington.

Director: Sara Davies

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.

Alison sees an opportunity finally to lay the evil ghosts of her past to rest.

A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.

The Fiends Are On Their Way

20100309

Alison is increasingly troubled by a sense of foreboding, which becomes stronger on the return of her horrible spirit guide Morris. Her young friend Mart, banished by Colette from the garden shed but working with a group of labourers over the road, tells her he's seen a white van full of boxes arrive looking for her.

The news brings back terrible memories to Alison, who fears that the events of her childhood - and the evil men who were part of them - are getting closer all the time. Meanwhile, her assistant Colette is more interested in getting their accounts sorted out.

Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.

Alison - Alison Steadman

Colette - Rosie Cavaliero

Morris - Bill Wallis

Mandy - Adrienne O'Sullivan

Mart - Malcolm Hamilton

Dramatised by Caroline Harrington.

Director: Sara Davies

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.

Now that Morris has come back, Alison is increasingly troubled by a sense of foreboding.

A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.

Team Psychics

20100310

Alison is invited to take part with her fellow mediums in a Team Psychics show, but the event is disrupted when the elderly medium Mrs Etchells sees some unexpected figures in the back row of the audience.

The fiends from Alison's past are back, and they are intent on mischief. Their first victim is Mrs Etchells, who dies of a heart attack and brings Alison disturbing news from the other side.

Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.

Alison - Alison Steadman

Colette - Rosie Cavaliero

Silvana - Jacqueline Tong

Mrs Etchells - June Barrie

Dramatised by Caroline Harrington.

Director: Sara Davies

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.

Alison is invited to take part with her fellow mediums in a Team Psychics show.

A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.

A Violent Death

20100311

Alison tries to get the truth about her childhood out of her mother, but Emmie won't give her a straight reply. It's not until the appalling Morris and his evil spirit friends have caused another shocking death that Alison begins to get some answers.

When Alison confronts Morris with the evil he's done, he counters by revealing the true extent of the vengeance that the young Alison took on her abusers. It's all too much for Colette, who announces she won't stay another day in the house.

Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.

Alison - Alison Steadman

Colette - Rosie Cavaliero

Morris - Bill Wallis

Emmie - Katharine Rogers

Dramatised by Caroline Harrington.

Director: Sara Davies

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.

Alison tries to get the truth about her childhood out of her mother.

A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.

Alison's Retribution

20100312

Alison knows that in order to banish the demons of her past she must face them and confront the painful truth about what happened in her childhood. With the help of Mrs McGibbet, yet another spirit from her past, Alison learns the worst.

Meanwhile, Colette goes back home to Gavin for a heart-to-heart. And Alison's appalling spirit guide Morris comes to a realisation...

Conclusion of Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past.

Alison - Alison Steadman

Colette - Rosie Cavaliero

Morris - Bill Wallis

Emmie - Katharine Rogers

Aitkenside - Simon Armstrong

Gavin - Mark Meadows

Mrs McGibbet/Maureen - Sheila Hannon

Dramatised by Caroline Harrington.

Director: Sara Davies

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010.

To banish her demons, Alison must confront the painful truth about her childhood.

A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	Voices From The Other Side	20100301	Alison Hart is a professional medium, an awkward, obese, disorganised woman, but with a gift for empathy and a good platform technique. Her familiar spirits are figures from her chaotic childhood, principal among them a small, foul-mouthed circus performer with disgusting personal habits called Morris who is her unpleasant and bitter spirit guide. To try and create some order in her messy existence she has taken on an assistant, the highly efficient but essentially heartless Colette, who, although she is a regular witness to Alison's gift, is nevertheless a profoundly sceptical companion. The two of them are bound together by a need that neither wants to recognise. Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past. Dramatised in ten parts by Caroline Harrington. Alison - Alison Steadman Colette - Rosie Cavaliero Morris - Bill Wallis Director: Sara Davies First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010. A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.
02	Colette's Story	20100302	Colette is an event organiser whose marriage to dull, conventional Gavin ends after she has the strange experience of holding a phone conversation with Gavin's mother, whom she later discovers is dead. Colette's interest in the paranormal leads her to a Psychic Extravanganza in Windsor where professional medium Alison is performing, and to a subsequent consultation where Alison drops a bombshell about her father and then makes her a surprising job offer. Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past. Alison - Alison Steadman Colette - Rosie Cavaliero Gavin - Mark Meadows Natasha/Renee - Adrienne O'Sullivan Dramatised by Caroline Harrington. Director: Sara Davies First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010. Colette leaves her dull husband, becomes interested in the paranormal and consults Alison. A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.
03	An Evil Thing	20100303	Colette decides Alison should publish a book, and starts to interview her on tape. She soon realises she's taken on more than she might want to know. Alison's memories of her childhood in Aldershot turn out to be profoundly disturbing. Her mother arranged abortions for other women, but couldn't get rid of her own child, and may well have offered her to a succession of detestable petty thieves and abusers. They lived in squalor, Alison was neglected, and her school life and subsequent jobs were messed up by interfering spirits. She was rescued by a neighbour, Mrs Etchells, who claimed to be her grandmother, and who introduced her to the psychic world. Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past. Alison - Alison Steadman Colette - Rosie Cavaliero Morris - Bill Wallis Emmie - Katharine Rogers Keith - Simon Armstrong Mrs McGibbet - Sheila Hannon Mrs Etchells - June Barrie Dramatised in ten parts by Caroline Harrington. Director: Sara Davies. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010. Collette wants Alison to write a book, but her childhood memories are too disturbing. A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.
04	Death Of A Princess	20100304	Colette is woken one night by Alison getting news from beyond of Princess Diana's fatal car crash. The tragic accident means business will be heavy for all the psychics at the Psychic Fair in Nottingham, and they're not helped by Alison's disgusting spirit guide, Morris, who is more than usually irritating, patrolling the motorway services, desperate to find his mates, and interfering with Alison's friend Mandy. As Alison becomes more disturbed by the darker side of her job, Morris finds his old mate Aitkenside, a development that throws Alison into despair. Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past. Alison - Alison Steadman Colette - Rosie Cavaliero Morris - Bill Wallis Mandy - Adrienne O'Sullivan Silvana - Jacqueline Tong Dramatised by Caroline Harrington. Director: Sara Davies First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010. Princess Diana's fatal crash means a busy time for Alison and her fellow psychics. A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.
05	Escape	20100305	Alison's disgusting spirit guide Morris has been joined by Donny Aitkenside, one of the violent group of petty criminals who were in and out of the house all through Alison's abusive childhood. Alison knows the other members of the spirit gang can't be far behind, and decides the only way to escape them is to move to a new house where they won't want to follow her. Her assistant Colette locates a suitable new development, and the move has the desired effect: Morris hates it, and announces he's leaving. At long last, Alison thinks, she's free. Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past. Alison - Alison Steadman Colette - Rosie Cavaliero Morris - Bill Wallis Emmie - Katharine Rogers Aitkenside - Simon Armstrong Dramatised by Caroline Harrington. Director: Sara Davies. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010. A violent blast from Alison's past appears, and drastic measures are needed to escape. A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.
06	Alison's Good Action	20100308	Alison's disgusting spirit guide, Morris, seems to have disappeared, much to Alison's delight, leaving her to enjoy her new house unmolested. Colette decides that it's time for her to take a more proactive role in the business, but reading palms doesn't seem to be her forte, and an unexpected encounter with her ex, Gavin, leaves her rattled. When a homeless young man takes up residence in the new garden shed, Alison sees an opportunity finally to perform a good action and lay the evil ghosts of her past to rest. But Colette has other ideas. Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past Alison - Alison Steadman Colette - Rosie Cavaliero Gavin - Mark Meadows Mart - Malcolm Hamilton Dramatised by Caroline Harrington. Director: Sara Davies First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010. Alison sees an opportunity finally to lay the evil ghosts of her past to rest. A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.
07	The Fiends Are On Their Way	20100309	Alison is increasingly troubled by a sense of foreboding, which becomes stronger on the return of her horrible spirit guide Morris. Her young friend Mart, banished by Colette from the garden shed but working with a group of labourers over the road, tells her he's seen a white van full of boxes arrive looking for her. The news brings back terrible memories to Alison, who fears that the events of her childhood - and the evil men who were part of them - are getting closer all the time. Meanwhile, her assistant Colette is more interested in getting their accounts sorted out. Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past. Alison - Alison Steadman Colette - Rosie Cavaliero Morris - Bill Wallis Mandy - Adrienne O'Sullivan Mart - Malcolm Hamilton Dramatised by Caroline Harrington. Director: Sara Davies First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010. Now that Morris has come back, Alison is increasingly troubled by a sense of foreboding. A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.
08	Team Psychics	20100310	Alison is invited to take part with her fellow mediums in a Team Psychics show, but the event is disrupted when the elderly medium Mrs Etchells sees some unexpected figures in the back row of the audience. The fiends from Alison's past are back, and they are intent on mischief. Their first victim is Mrs Etchells, who dies of a heart attack and brings Alison disturbing news from the other side. Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past. Alison - Alison Steadman Colette - Rosie Cavaliero Silvana - Jacqueline Tong Mrs Etchells - June Barrie Dramatised by Caroline Harrington. Director: Sara Davies First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010. Alison is invited to take part with her fellow mediums in a Team Psychics show. A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.
09	A Violent Death	20100311	Alison tries to get the truth about her childhood out of her mother, but Emmie won't give her a straight reply. It's not until the appalling Morris and his evil spirit friends have caused another shocking death that Alison begins to get some answers. When Alison confronts Morris with the evil he's done, he counters by revealing the true extent of the vengeance that the young Alison took on her abusers. It's all too much for Colette, who announces she won't stay another day in the house. Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past. Alison - Alison Steadman Colette - Rosie Cavaliero Morris - Bill Wallis Emmie - Katharine Rogers Dramatised by Caroline Harrington. Director: Sara Davies First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010. Alison tries to get the truth about her childhood out of her mother. A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.
10	Alison's Retribution	20100312	Alison knows that in order to banish the demons of her past she must face them and confront the painful truth about what happened in her childhood. With the help of Mrs McGibbet, yet another spirit from her past, Alison learns the worst. Meanwhile, Colette goes back home to Gavin for a heart-to-heart. And Alison's appalling spirit guide Morris comes to a realisation... Conclusion of Hilary Mantel's blackly comic novel about a professional medium with a troubled past. Alison - Alison Steadman Colette - Rosie Cavaliero Morris - Bill Wallis Emmie - Katharine Rogers Aitkenside - Simon Armstrong Gavin - Mark Meadows Mrs McGibbet/Maureen - Sheila Hannon Dramatised by Caroline Harrington. Director: Sara Davies First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2010. To banish her demons, Alison must confront the painful truth about her childhood. A professional medium takes on a highly efficient but heartless assistant.