Talking About Jane Austen In Baghdad

Episodes

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Broadcast
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01Getting To Know You201108292005. Bee, a London journalist, contacts May, an Iraqi academic, about life in her battle-scarred country.

Neither foresees the dramatic events that will change their lives.

The story of BBC journalist Bee Rowlatt's email friendship with Iraq-based academic, May Witwit.

Dramatised in five parts by John Fletcher.

May - Souad Faress

Bee - Fenella Woolgar

Ali - Zubin Varla

Justin - Stephen Hogan

Eva/Ayasha - Deeivya Meir

Militia Man/Official/Minister - Peter Polycarpou

Newsnight director - Jonathan Forbes

Lawyer/Octavia - Elaine Claxton

Director: Peter Kavanagh

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2011

An email friendship between a BBC journalist and an Iraq-based academic.

Story of the email friendship between a British journalist and an Iraq-based academic

02Secrets201108302005. May Witwit is an English Literature lecturer at Baghdad University specialising in Jane Austen.

Bee Rowlatt works at the BBC World Service in London as a reporter.

For some time they've been exchanging emails initially as part of Bee's work and a curious friendship has grown up.

Neither foresees the dramatic events that will change their lives.

Dramatised by John Fletcher.

May - Souad Faress

Bee - Fenella Woolgar

Ali - Zubin Varla

Justin - Stephen Hogan

Eva/Ayasha - Deeivya Meir

Militia Man/Official/Minister - Peter Polycarpou

Newsnight director - Jonathan Forbes

Lawyer/Octavia - Elaine Claxton

Director: Peter Kavanagh

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2011

A curious friendship has grown up between journalist Bee Rowlatt and May Witwit.

Story of the email friendship between a British journalist and an Iraq-based academic

03An Escape201108312005. At last, faced by continuous threats to her life, May pleas with Bee to help her and her husband escape.

Bee decides to discuss it with her husband Justin, a reporter for BBC TV's 'Newsnight'.

The story of BBC journalist Bee Rowlatt's email friendship with Iraq-based academic, May Witwit.

Dramatised by John Fletcher.

May - Souad Faress

Bee - Fenella Woolgar

Ali - Zubin Varla

Justin - Stephen Hogan

Eva/Ayasha - Deeivya Meir

Militia Man/Official/Minister - Peter Polycarpou

Newsnight director - Jonathan Forbes

Lawyer/Octavia - Elaine Claxton

Director: Peter Kavanagh

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2011

Story of the email friendship between a British journalist and an Iraq-based academic

04Getting It Right20110901Bee, a British journalist, has been helping May, an Iraqi university teacher, to escape from the terrible violence in Iraq.

Their first attempt was poorly planned and a failure. This time they realise they must be more self-disciplined and plan things far more professionally.

Bee, whose just had her third baby Elsa, goes to see an immigration lawyer.

The story of BBC journalist Bee Rowlatt's email friendship with Iraq-based academic, May Witwit.

Dramatised by John Fletcher.

May - Souad Faress

Bee - Fenella Woolgar

Ali - Zubin Varla

Justin - Stephen Hogan

Eva/Ayasha - Deeivya Meir

Militia Man/Official/Minister - Peter Polycarpou

Newsnight director - Jonathan Forbes

Lawyer/Octavia - Elaine Claxton

Director: Peter Kavanagh

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2011

Bee and May realise that they must plan May's escape far more professionally.

Story of the email friendship between a British journalist and an Iraq-based academic

05A House In Chawton20110902May's name has appeared on a terrorist death list. She and her husband Ali are desperate to escape from Iraq.

Bee, a British journalist, has managed to arrange a university place for May, but to get to Britain they must first get to Jordan. At the last moment Ali's Jordanian visa is refused.

May resolves to go by herself to Jordan and sort out the problem.

The story of BBC journalist Bee Rowlatt's email friendship with Iraq-based academic, May Witwit.

Dramatised by John Fletcher.

May - Souad Faress

Bee - Fenella Woolgar

Ali - Zubin Varla

Justin - Stephen Hogan

Eva/Ayasha - Deeivya Meir

Militia Man/Official/Minister - Peter Polycarpou

Newsnight director - Jonathan Forbes

Lawyer/Octavia - Elaine Claxton

Director: Peter Kavanagh

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2011

Bee has arranged a university place for May, but then her husband Ali's visa is refused.

Story of the email friendship between a British journalist and an Iraq-based academic