Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20090406 | 1991: After a chance meeting on a train, novelist, Michael Pearce is commissioned to write the family history of the powerful, wealthy and ruthless Winshaw family. But whenever he feels stressed, Pearce turns again and again to view a clip of his favourite film, What A Carve Up! Robert Bathurst stars in Jonathan Coe's wickedly funny, black comedy, inspired by the immorality, greed, corruption and ambition of 1980s Britain - adapted by David Nobbs (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin). Coe's cult 1994 fictional novel was inspired after he watched the old British comedy horror film, What A Carve Up! (1961) starring Sid James, Kenneth Connor and Shirley Eaton. Coe opted to borrow both the film's title and the theme of a family -- as a way of exposing foul play in the British Establishment - and the excesses and evils of all aspects of Thatcherite Britain during the 80s and early 90s. Michael - Robert Bathurst Fiona - Fiona Allen Hortensia/Tabitha - Flaminia Cinque Mortimer - Charlie Higson Alice - Lucy Punch Pyles - Jeff Rawle Michael's Mum - Geraldine McNulty Lawrence/Waiter - Gus Brown Producer: Lucy Armitage Made by Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Radio 4 and first broadcast in 2005. Novelist Michael Pearce gets a lucrative offer. Starring Robert Bathurst. Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted in eight parts by David Nobbs | |
| 02 | 20050301 | 20090407 (R4) | 1991: Biographer Michael Pearce's attempt to research the powerful Winshaw family proves challenging. But whenever he feels stressed, Pearce turns again and again to view a clip of his favourite film, What A Carve Up! Robert Bathurst stars in Jonathan Coe's wickedly funny, black comedy, inspired by the immorality, greed, corruption and ambition of 1980s Britain - adapted by David Nobbs (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin). Coe's cult 1994 fictional novel was inspired after he watched the old British comedy horror film, What A Carve Up! (1961) starring Sid James, Kenneth Connor and Shirley Eaton. Coe opted to borrow both the film's title and the theme of a family -- as a way of exposing foul play in the British Establishment - and the excesses and evils of all aspects of Thatcherite Britain during the 80s and early 90s. Michael - Robert Bathurst Fiona - Fiona Allen Hilary - Rebecca Front Henry/Peter Eaves - Jeff Rawle Findlay/McGanny - Charlie Higson Hortensia/Receptionist/Nanny - Flaminia Cinque Alan Beamish/Taxi Driver - Gus Brown Simon Pride Wetherby - Alan Davies Michael's Mum - Geraldine McNulty Producer: Lucy Armitage Made by Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Radio 4 and first broadcast in 2005. Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted in eight parts by David Nobbs |
| 03 | 20050308 | 20090408 (R4) | 1991: Battling to write about the mighty Winshaws, Michael Pearce meets the family's politician, Henry - and enlists the help of a private detective. But whenever he feels stressed, Pearce turns again and again to view a clip of his favourite film, What A Carve Up! Robert Bathurst stars in Jonathan Coe's wickedly funny, black comedy, inspired by the immorality, greed, corruption and ambition of 1980s Britain - adapted by David Nobbs (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin). Coe's cult 1994 fictional novel was inspired after he watched the old British comedy horror film, What A Carve Up! (1961) starring Sid James, Kenneth Connor and Shirley Eaton. Coe opted to borrow both the film's title and the theme of a family -- as a way of exposing foul play in the British Establishment - and the excesses and evils of all aspects of Thatcherite Britain during the 80s and early 90s. Michael - Robert Bathurst Fiona - Fiona Allen Findlay - Charlie Higson Henry - Jeff Rawle Hortensia - Flaminia Cinque Alan Beamish - Gus Brown Michael's Mum - Geraldine McNulty Producer: Lucy Armitage Made by Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Radio 4 and first broadcast in 2005. Michael Pearce meets the family's politician, Henry. Stars Robert Bathurst. Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted in eight parts by David Nobbs |
| 04 | 20050315 | 20090409 (R4) | Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted by David Nobbs, is a black comedy inspired by the immorality, greed and ambition of 1980s Britain. Michael Pearce is writing the biography of the notorious Winshaw family. He encounters Mortimer Winshaw's son, art guru Roddy. Michael - Robert Bathurst Fiona - Fiona Allen Roddy/Farringdon - Gus Brown Findlay - Charlie Higson Hilary - Rebecca Front Pyles/Phoebe's Dad - Jeff Rawle Conrad/Mortimer - Charlie Higson Phoebe - Lucy Punch Tabitha - Flaminia Cinque A Tiger Aspect production for BBC Radio 4. Michael Pearce encounters Mortimer Winshaw's son, art guru Roddy. Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted in eight parts by David Nobbs |
| 05 | 20050322 | 20090413 (R4) | Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted by David Nobbs, is a black comedy inspired by the immorality, greed and ambition of 1980s Britain. Farmer Dorothy squeezes every last pound from her livestock. Michael - Robert Bathurst Fiona - Fiona Allen Dorothy - Geraldine McNulty Findlay/Mortimer - Charlie Higson George Brunwin/Electrician - Gus Brown Henry/Farmer - Jeff Rawle A Tiger Aspect production for BBC Radio 4. More dark revelations as Michael Pearce probes ruthless farmer, Dorothy Winshaw. Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted in eight parts by David Nobbs |
| 06 | 20050329 | 20090414 (R4) | Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted by David Nobbs, is a black comedy inspired by the immorality, greed and ambition of 1980s Britain. Biographer Michael Pearce turns his attention to Thomas Winshaw, financier and lifelong voyeur. Michael - Robert Bathurst Fiona - Fiona Allen Findlay...... Charlie Higson Thomas Winshaw - Geoffrey Palmer James Gilroy - Gus Brown Hortensia - Flaminia Cinque Michael's Mum - Geraldine McNulty Alice - Lucy Punch Henry/Hanrahan - Jeff Rawle Sid James - Arthur Smith A Tiger Aspect production for BBC Radio 4. Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted in eight parts by David Nobbs |
| 07 | 20050405 | 20090415 (R4) | Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted by David Nobbs, is a black comedy inspired by the immorality, greed and ambition of 1980s Britain. The spotlight falls on arms dealer Mark Winshaw. Michael - Robert Bathurst Fiona - Fiona Allen Mark Winshaw - Alan Davies Pemberton-Oates - Gus Brown Joan/Fiona's Nurse - Flaminia Cinque Hilary Winshaw - Rebecca Front Michael's Mum/Doctor Gillam - Geraldine McNulty Thomas Winshaw - Geoffrey Palmer Henry Winshaw/German Industrialist - Jeff Rawle A Tiger Aspect production for BBC Radio 4. Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted in eight parts by David Nobbs |
| 08 | 20050412 | 20090416 (R4) | Shocking family truths about the Winshaws pile-up, but what's in-store for their biographer, Michael? But whenever he feels stressed, Pearce turns again and again to view a clip of his favourite film, What A Carve Up! Robert Bathurst stars in Jonathan Coe's wickedly funny, black comedy, inspired by the immorality, greed, corruption and ambition of 1980s Britain - adapted by David Nobbs (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin). Coe's cult 1994 fictional novel was inspired after he watched the old British comedy horror film, What A Carve Up! (1961) starring Sid James, Kenneth Connor and Shirley Eaton. Coe opted to borrow both the film's title and the theme of a family -- as a way of exposing foul play in the British Establishment - and the excesses and evils of all aspects of Thatcherite Britain during the 80s and early 90s. Michael - Robert Bathurst Fiona - Fiona Allen Hortensia/Tabitha - Flaminia Cinque Mark Winshaw - Alan Davies Hilary Winshaw - Rebecca Front Mortimer Winshaw - Charlie Higson Michael's Mum/Dorothy - Geraldine McNulty Thomas Winshaw - Geoffrey Palmer Phoebe - Lucy Punch Henry Winshaw/Pyles - Jeff Rawle Producer: Lucy Armitage Made by Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Radio 4 and first broadcast in 2005. Shocking family truths about the Winshaws pile up. Jonathan Coe's cult novel, adapted in eight parts by David Nobbs |