Gloomsbury
- Radio sitcom
- BBC Radio 4
- 2012 - 2018
- 30 episodes (5 series)
Radio parody of the arty Bloomsbury group. Stars include Alison Steadman, Miriam Margolyes, Morwenna Banks, Jonathan Coy and John Sessions. Also features Roger Lloyd Pack and Nigel Planer.
Episode menu
Series 2, Episode 4 - Ever Decreasing Literary Circles
Further details
Flushed with her recent success, Ginny is to hold a literary salon, but she wants Vera to co-host it. They argue about where to have it, whom to invite and what kind of refreshments should be offered. Mrs Gosling is obstructive about the possibility of vegetarianism.
Meanwhile, Henry can't decide whether to carry on working for the Foreign Office or write a biography of Byron or Tennyson, and follows Vera round the castle unsuccessfully trying to elicit her advice.
When the great day arrives, Henry is banished from the castle lest he gets in the way. Instead of the longed-for literary celebrities, however, the only arrival at Sizzlinghurst that day is a snowstorm of apologetic telegrams. Hurt and aghast that nobody loves them, Vera and Ginny blame each other.
The only person who turns up is Venus, who wasn't invited and has never read a book in her life. Only as the day draws to a close does Vera remember with horror that today was Henry's birthday and that she has neglected him without so much as a card, a gift or a kiss. Wracked with guilt, Vera makes up to Henry on a pile of dusty sacks in Gosling's shed.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Wednesday 23rd April 2014
- Time
- 11:30am
- Channel
- BBC Radio 4
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
Miriam Margolyes | Vera Sackcloth-Vest |
Alison Steadman | Ginny Fox |
Morwenna Banks | Venus Traduces |
Jonathan Coy | Henry Mickleton |
Alison Steadman | Mrs Gosling |
Roger Lloyd Pack | Gosling |
Roger Lloyd Pack | Lionel Fox |
Sue Limb | Writer |
Jamie Rix | Director |
Jamie Rix | Producer |
Clive Brill | Executive Producer |