Ladies Of Letters. Image shows from L to R: Vera Small (Anne Reid), Irene Spencer (Maureen Lipman). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions
Ladies Of Letters

Ladies Of Letters

  • TV comedy drama / sitcom
  • ITV3
  • 2009 - 2010
  • 20 episodes (2 series)

Comedy drama about two warring widows. Based on the books and BBC Radio 4 series of the same name. Stars Maureen Lipman, Anne Reid, Morag Siller, Daniel Crowder, Paul Chahidi and more.

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Series 2, Episode 9

Vera is right to suspect that St John the vet is her grandson Nelson's father: he heads for Australia the moment he hears the boy may be his. Irene is now housekeeping for him.

Further details

Vera has moved - with her granddaughter Sabrina - to Mandela Court, where she enjoys daily dance sessions with her African neighbour - Sara of the Astarte tribe. Her former neighbour Yasmin provides her with footware for Nelson - her new grandson in Australia. What does Yasmin do at nights to be able to afford these things?

Vera writes to Howard asking if, by any chance, the vet she suspects of being Nelson's father was called St John - another of baby Nelson's names. Howard confirms that this is true. Vera is ecstatic - a vet, a profession in the family.

Irene continues to hold the domestic fort in Melbourne - worrying that she's not getting nappies as white as they should be, and penning odes to England and Vera - both of whom - as Vera points out - she is remembering through rose tinted specs.

Irene needs to pull herself together, and maybe come back home. Vera gets quite enthusiastic about the idea. Irene could stay at Mandela Court!

Irene has news to tell: Lesley is pregnant again - and the father is Lesley's boss - Brian, with whom she's been having an affair! Also - St John the vet has turned up in Australia to claim Nelson as his own!

Vera gets the impression from Howard and Anthony that St John actually isn't as respectable or wealthy as she'd hoped, but everything's peachy in Oz: St John and Karen have had a very happy re-union, though Irene's finding Lesley's brash partner Brian very hard work. This makes her more and more determined to take Vera's advice and return to England. Vera is enthusiastic and starts busily planning Irene's life.

Broadcast details

Date
Tuesday 9th November 2010
Time
10pm
Channel
ITV3
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Thursday 11th November 2010 9:00pm ITV3
Sunday 28th August 2011 4:10pm ITV1
Friday 27th August 2021 10:00pm ITV3
Thursday 23rd December 2021 10:00pm ITV3
Friday 24th December 2021 2:00am ITV3
Saturday 17th December 2022 1:15am ITV3
Monday 29th May 2023 12:05am ITV3

Cast & crew

Cast
Maureen Lipman Irene Spencer
Anne Reid Vera Small
Morag Siller Karen
Daniel Crowder Howard
Paul Chahidi Anthony
Stacey Roca Lesley Spencer
Ella Luxford Cheryl Marie
Jada Wallace-Mitchell Sabrina
Guest cast
Richard Dempsey St. John
Mark Little Brian
Writing team
Lou Wakefield Writer
Carole Hayman Writer
Production team
John Henderson Director
Matthew Francis (as Francis Matthews) Producer
Sophie Clarke-Jervoise Executive Producer
Carole Hayman Associate Producer
Lou Wakefield Associate Producer
Rachel Alabaster Line Producer
David Yardley Editor
Heather Gibson Production Designer
Kate Day Casting Director
Aideen Morgan Costume Designer
John Ignatius Director of Photography
Sarah Grundy Make-up Designer
Mark Thomas Composer
Robert Fabbri 1st Assistant Director

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