British Comedy Guide
The Lady In The Van. Image shows from L to R: Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith), Alan Bennett (Alex Jennings). Copyright: BBC Films
The Lady In The Van

The Lady In The Van

  • 2015 film

The Lady In The Van is a drama based on real events, about a vagrant who the playwright Alan Bennett allowed to park her van in his driveway, where she lived for fifteen years. Also features Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Jim Broadbent, Frances de la Tour, Roger Allam and more.

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The Lady In The Van. Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith). Copyright: BBC Films

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
2015
Stars
Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Jim Broadbent, Frances de la Tour, Roger Allam, Deborah Findlay, Gwen Taylor, Pandora Colin and more
Writer
Alan Bennett
Director
Nicholas Hytner
Producers
Nicholas Hytner, Damian Jones, Kevin Loader, Miles Ketley, Charles Moore, Christine Langan and Ed Wethered
Company

A mostly true story.

Miss Shepherd was a woman of uncertain origins who "temporarily" parked her van in Alan Bennett's London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. Secretive, crotchety and nervous, her presence was soon felt not just by Alan but by all of those who knew him. What began as a begrudged favour became a relationship that would change both their lives.

Filmed on the street and in the house where Bennett and Miss Shepherd actually lived.

Stream and download

Additional details

UK certificate
12A
Duration
104 minutes
UK release
Friday 13th November 2015
Distributors

Columbia Pictures

Production
Location
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Wednesday 16th October 2024 at 10:20pm on BBC4
  • Sunday 13th October 2024 at 11:00pm on BBC1 Wales
  • Sunday 13th October 2024 at 10:30pm on BBC1

Recording details

  • Gloucester Crescent (Camden)

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