Stella Gibbons - Nightingale Wood

STELLA GIBBONS - NIGHTINGALE WOOD - 1. EPISODE 1 (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 4th May 2023

On either side of Nightingale Wood through one idyllic year in the late 1930s, hearts beat and minds scheme, as the dowdy Wither family tries to compete with the glittering Springs.

Bookish Tina Wither is in love with Saxon, her father's handsome and aloof chauffeur.

Her shop girl sister-in-law, Viola, has fallen for Victor Spring, the lord of the manor. And Madge is in love with a dog...

Stella Gibbons' sparkling comedy of manners.

Starring Victoria Hamilton and Francine Chamberlain.

Dramatised in two-parts by Christopher William Hill.

Tina ...... Victoria Hamilton
Mother/Nellie ...... Dinah Stabb
Viola ...... Francine Chamberlain
Victor ...... Simon Bubb
Father/Falger ...... Paul Moriarty
Edna/Fawcuss ...... Adjoh Andoh
Saxon/Bill ...... Adam Billington
Madge ...... Victoria Inez Hardy
Hetty ...... Alex Rivers
Phyllis/Lint ...... Joan Walker
Spurrey/Phillips ...... Ian Masters
Cattyman/Mrs Phillips ...... Judith Coke

Director: Marion Nancarrow

First broadcast in the ‘Neglected Classics' season on BBC Radio 4 in 2011.

STELLA GIBBONS - NIGHTINGALE WOOD - 2. EPISODE 2 (320kbs-m4a/130mb/56mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 5th May 2023

The young, widowed and pretty Viola Wither finally has the chance to escape her stifling in-laws in Essex.

Whilst they are spending a month in the Lakes, she and her sister-in-law Tina escape to Stanton on Sea.

Viola is still pining for the dashing Victor Spring - who has kissed her - and Tina for the beautiful chauffeur, Saxon - likewise.

But is it all hopeless?

Conclusion of Stella Gibbons' sparkling pre-war comedy of manners.

Starring Victoria Hamilton and Dinah Stabb.

Dramatised by Christopher William Hill.

Tina ...... Victoria Hamilton
Mother ...... Dinah Stabb
Viola ...... Francine Chamberlain
Victor ...... Simon Bubb
Father ...... Paul Moriarty
Edna ...... Adjoh Andoh
Saxon ...... Adam Billington
Hetty ...... Alex Rivers
Phyllis ...... Joan Walker
Spurrey ...... Ian Masters
Uncle Frank ...... James Lailey
Mr Brodhurst ...... Gerald McDermott

Director: Marion Nancarrow

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011.

Stella Gibbons - Westwood

STELLA GIBBONS - WESTWOOD (320kbs-m4a/261mb/1hr54mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 17th & 18th March 2021

1943: Margaret Steggles moves to bomb-damaged London to take up her new teaching job.

Stella Gibbons' gentle comedy adapted in two parts by Lynne Truss.

Narrator/Lady Challis .... Rosemary Leach
Margaret Steggles .... Juliet Aubrey
Gerard Challis .... Michael Fenton Stevens
Hilda Wilson .... Saffron Burrows
Hebe Niland .... Caroline Harker
Zita Mandelbaum .... Mia Soteriou
Seraphina Challis .... Phyllida Nash
Dick Fletcher .... Jonathan Nibbs
Mrs Steggles .... Angela Barlow
Mr Hudson .... Chris Donnelly
Grantey .... Jacqueline Tong
Earl .... Martin T. Sherman
Mrs Wilson .... Barbara Kellermann

Producer: Kate McAll

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2004.

STELLA GIBBONS - WESTWOOD - 1. CHALLIS CHARM (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 17th March 2021

Through a dropped ration book, she meets the Challises, who live at Westwood, an elegant house in Highgate.

The Challis family have great charm, and, with the casual selfishness of the privileged, they soon take advantage of Margaret's slavish admiration.

STELLA GIBBONS - WESTWOOD - 2. DISILLUSIONMENT (320kbs-m4a/130mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 18th March 2021

Teacher Margaret Steggles wonders if pompous playwright Gerald Challis really is the man of her dreams?

Stella Gibbons - Cold Comfort Farm

STELLA GIBBONS - COLD COMFORT FARM (320kbs-m4a/496mb/3hrs35mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 16th to 19th November 2020

First published in 1932, Stella Gibbons' tale of early 20th-century rural England is dramatised in four parts by Elizabeth Proud.

Starring Patricia Gallimore and Elizabeth Proud.

Music: Terence Allbright
Director: Ian Cotterell

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 1981.

STELLA GIBBONS - COLD COMFORT FARM - 1. FLORA'S RIGHTS (320kbs-m4a/123mb/54mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 16th November 2020

In which Flora Poste - she of the strong will and the slender ankle - begins her adventures.

Flora believes that unless life is tidy, one cannot even begin to enjoy it - and life with her relatives at Cold Comfort Farm promises to be anything but.

Flora Poste ..... Patricia Gallimore
Stella Gibbons ..... Elizabeth Proud
The Abbe Fausse-Maigre ..... Malcolm Hayes
John Westbrook ..... John Westbrook
Mary Smiling ..... Kate Binchy
Charles Fairford ..... David McAlistair
Aunt Gwen ..... Pauline Letts
Angus McKnag ..... Alexander John
Spiritualist Lady ..... Gladys Spencer
Judith Starkadder ..... Margaret Robertson
Reuben Starkadder ..... Trevor Martin
Adam Lambsbreath ..... Cyril Shaps
Seth Starkadder ..... Sion Prober
Amos Starkadder ..... John Hollis
Mark Dolour ..... Stephen Garlick
Elfine Starkadder ..... Jane Knowles

STELLA GIBBONS - COLD COMFORT FARM - 2. AMOS'S CALL (320kbs-m4a/123mb/54mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 17th November 2020

Flora aims to tidy up the Starkadders, and the apocalyptic ravings of preacher Amos.

Flora believes that unless life is tidy, one cannot even begin to enjoy it - and life with her relatives at Cold Comfort Farm promises to be anything but.

Flora Poste ..... Patricia Gallimore
Stella Gibbons ..... Elizabeth Proud
John Westbrook ..... John Westbrook
Reuben Starkadder ..... Trevor Martin
Adam Lambsbreath ..... Cyril Shaps
Seth Starkadder ..... Sion Probert
Amos Starkadder ..... John Hollis
Aunt Ada Doom ..... Fabia Drake
Meriam ..... Amanda Murray
Mrs Beetle ..... Miriam Margolyes
Mrs Murther ..... Diana Bishop
Mr Mybug ..... Michael Spice
Waitress ..... Kathryn Hurlbutt

STELLA GIBBONS - COLD COMFORT FARM - 3. ELFINE'S RIGHTS (320kbs-m4a/124mb/54mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 18th November 2020

In which Flora's plots begin to thicken and she seems to be making headway over the tidying-up of the farm. But she's reckoned without Aunt Ada Doom...

Flora Poste ..... Patricia Gallimore
Stella Gibbons ..... Elizabeth Proud
John Westbrook ..... John Westbrook
Reuben Starkadder ..... Trevor Martin
Judith Starkadder Margaret Robertson
Adam Lambsbreath ..... Cyril Shaps
Seth Starkadder ..... Sion Probert
Amos Starkadder ..... John Hollis
Micah Starkadder ..... Alexander John
Richard Hawk-Monitor ..... Stephen Garlick
The Abbé Fausse-Maigre ..... Malcolm Hayes
Meriam ..... Amanda Murray
Mrs Beetle ..... Miriam Margolyes
Aunt Ada Doom ..... Fabia Drake
Mr Mybug ..... Michael Spice
Claud Hart-Harris ..... Roger Hammond
Harkaway Starkadder ..... David Timson
Urk Starkadder ..... Christopher Scott
Monsieur Solide ..... Alan Dudley
Rennett Starkadder ..... Christine Absalom
Mrs Hawk-Monitor ..... Margot Boyd
Elfine Starkadder ..... Jane Knowles
Young Man ..... David McAlister

STELLA GIBBONS - COLD COMFORT FARM - 4. FLORA'S RIGHTS AGAIN (320kbs-m4a/124mb/54mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 19th November 2020

As the wedding draws near, Flora Poste wrestles with Aunt Ada Doom. Will she get her rights at last?

Flora Poste ..... Patricia Gallimore
Stella Gibbons ..... Elizabeth Proud
John Westbrook ..... John Westbrook
Reuben Starkadder ..... Trevor Martin
Judith Starkadder Margaret Robertson
Adam Lambsbreath ..... Cyril Shaps
Seth Starkadder ..... Sion Probert
Amos Starkadder ..... John Hollis
Micah Starkadder ..... Alexander John
Richard Hawk-Monitor ..... Stephen Garlick
The Abbé Fausse-Maigre ..... Malcolm Hayes
Aunt Ada Doom ..... Fabia Drake
Mrs Beetle ..... Miriam Margolyes
Mr Mybug ..... Michael Spice
Harkaway Starkadder ..... David Timson
Urk Starkadder ..... Christopher Scott
Rennett Starkadder ..... Christine Absalom
Mrs Hawk-Monitor ..... Margot Boyd
Elfine Starkadder ..... Jane Knowles
Charles Fairford ..... David McAlister
Earl P Neck ..... Nigel Anthony
Dr Mudel ..... John Rye
Letty ..... Pauline Letts
Susan ..... Diana Bishop