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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Miriam Margolyes interview

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. Vera Sackcloth-Vest (Miriam Margolyes). Copyright: Little Brother Productions

With her literary background and passion for the written word, Miriam Margolyes claims she was 'born' to play the part of Vera in Gloomsbury. She says: "Vera Sackcloth-Vest is a completely wicked spoof of that great writer Vita Sackville-West. She was a pillar of the establishment and lived in Sissinghurst Castle with her husband and two children and wrote about the land and gardening and she looked rather like a brigand. And she was about 13 inches taller than me. But in every other respect we are as one!"

"This is the most perfect series I can imagine being in. With people of this calibre and writing of this strength, it's absolutely magical. Anything Sue Limb writes I would die to be in. I think she's so gifted. And it has this literary background which I enjoy because that's what I love. I did English at Cambridge and I've never got over that enthusiasm really!"

Miriam has previous links with the Bloomsbury Set. Famously, at the age of 17, she posed nude for painter Augustus John. She recalls: "I was a nude model for Augustus John when I was 17 and I thought he was delightful. It was a very charming interlude. But I didn't really know any of them apart from that and in fact I rather disapprove of them. Mainly because they were very snobbish and they didn't in fact treat DH Lawrence terribly well. They were extraordinarily self-indulgent in a way that wouldn't be allowed now I don't think."

"Of course this is an affectionate send-up and it's great fun to do. I think the point about all these Bloomsbury's is that they were just boiling with sex. They were known at the time for their intellect but at the time it was their genitals that were working over hard not their minds!"

Miriam has achieved global success as a character actress both in television and film but radio still holds a place close to her heart. "I started my whole career in radio," she explains. "In 1965 I joined the BBC drama repertory company and that was the beginning of my career so to still be doing it nearly 50 years later is a great joy. I love the focus and precision of radio. You can't mess about with what you look like, it's about the thought that goes into the presentation of a character that's so fascinating - the detail."

"I was the last generation to be brought up by radio rather than television," twinkles Miriam. "Which is probably why I'm so intelligent and well-read!"

Published: Friday 28th September 2012

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