British Comedy Guide
Gloomsbury. Image shows from L to R: Henry Mickleton (Jonathan Coy), Vera Sackcloth-Vest (Miriam Margolyes), DH Lollipop (John Sessions), Lionel Fox (Nigel Planer), Venus Traduces (Morwenna Banks), Ginny Fox (Alison Steadman). Copyright: Little Brother Productions
Gloomsbury

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.

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Series 4, Episode 1 - Digging the Dirt

When Henry announces to Vera that he has invited Llewd George down to Sizzlinghurst to advise him on the best way to become a Labour MP, Vera flies off the handle. Can she get no privacy in her own garden? All she wants is to be left alone.

Further details

When Henry announces to Vera that he has invited Llewd George down to Sizzlinghurst to advise him on the best way to become a Labour MP, Vera flies off the handle. Can she get no privacy in her own garden? All she wants is to be left alone.

Not only does Llewd George live up to his reputation as a randy old goat (as Vera suspected), but Mrs Gosling takes affront at his politics and, after a row with Mr Gosling, goes on strike and storms off to live with her sister.

Meanwhile Vera has resorted to digging in the corner of her garden to escape Llewd George's clutches, only to be interrupted by Ginny Fox and a BBC producer, Miss Hilda Matthewson. There is a fascination between Vera and Hilda, much to Ginny's chagrin, and plans are immediately set in motion for Hilda to arrange a BBC tour for Vera talking about her books and her garden so that the two women can be together.

But telling Henry that she is going on tour raises Henry's suspicions. After all, it was only this morning that Vera craved solitude and swore she would never leave her precious castle again.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 7th April 2017
Time
11:30am
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Miriam Margolyes Vera Sackcloth-Vest
Alison Steadman Ginny Fox
Jonathan Coy Henry Mickleton
Alison Steadman Mrs Gosling
Nigel Planer Lionel Fox
Nigel Planer Gosling
Morwenna Banks Hilda Matthewson
Guest cast
John Sessions Lewd George
Writing team
Sue Limb Writer
Production team
Jamie Rix Director
Jamie Rix Producer
Clive Brill Executive Producer

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