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Series 2, Episode 4 - Ever Decreasing Literary Circles

Flushed with success, Ginny holds a literary salon at Vera's castle. Disappointingly the glitterati stay away. Only Venus turns up and she has never read a book in her life.

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

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Tuesday 1st December 2015 6:30pm Radio 4
Tuesday 8th December 2015 7:30am Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 8th December 2015 5:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 8th December 2015 10:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Wednesday 9th December 2015 5:30am Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 13th August 2017 10:30pm Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
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
Writing team
Sue Limb Writer
Production team
Jamie Rix Director
Jamie Rix Producer
Clive Brill Executive Producer

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