British Comedy Guide
Prospero Ariel
Prospero, Ariel, Reith And Gill

Prospero, Ariel, Reith And Gill

  • Radio comedy drama
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2010
  • 1 episode

Comedy drama starring Tim McInnerny as Sir John Reith, the first Director General of the BBC. Stars Tim McInnerny, Anton Lesser, Jon Glover, David Seddon, Stephen Darcy and more.

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Key details

Genre
Comedy Drama
Broadcast
2010
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Episodes
1
Stars
Tim McInnerny, Anton Lesser, Jon Glover, David Seddon, Stephen Darcy, Tina Gray and Alison Pettitt
Writer
Gary Brown
Director
Peter Leslie Wild
Producer
Peter Leslie Wild

This comedy drama is a fictional account of artist Eric Gill's clash with the Corporation over his famous sculpture of Prospero and Ariel.

Gill became quite a celebrity as he carved the statue in situ on scaffolding in front of Broadcasting House. In his trademark smock and beret, he drew the attention of the tabloid papers and became known as the Married Monk. This play imagines conversations between the BBC Director General Sir John Reith and the artist as he passes him on his way into Broadcasting House each morning.

Framed with a period newsreel-style commentary, the comedy playfully deals with the perennial tension between the establishment and the artist. The strange and mysterious Gill contrasts with the authoritarian figure of Reith but, in the end, the sculpture focuses their thoughts about the role of art in the life of mankind.

Additional details

Production
Studio

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Wednesday 9th June 2010 at 2:15pm on BBC Radio 4
Episode length
45 minutes
All previous repeats
  • Friday 25th May 2012 at 2:15pm on Radio 4

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