Episodes
Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
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01 | 20110711 | Alison Lurie's comic novel of academia and alien gurus, dramatised by Melissa Murray. New York in 1968, and naive young sociology graduate, Roger Zimmern, has just got his first job at a university. 1/10 Roger ... Jonathan Forbes McCann ... Nathan Osgood Elsie ... Barbara Barnes Verena ... Alex Tregear Bob ... Simon Bubb Directed by Marc Beeby 1968. New York State. Newly graduated sociologist Roger Zimmern is delighted to be asked work with his academic hero Tom McCann. They are to investigate the Truth Seekers, a small cult group who believe they are receiving spiritual guidance from the planet Varna. The group is run by middle-aged Elsie and her beautiful niece, Verena. Under cover, the two academics join the Truth Seekers. But things quickly begin to go wrong. Roger's objectivity is tested when he begins to fall in love with Verena. And what is happening to Tom McCann? Why is he behaving so strangely? Poor Roger, desperate to be a success, desperate to be noticed, doesn't know who to trust.. Imaginary Friends is a devastatingly funny look at the foibles of modern times. It's driven by a story that works brilliantly on a number of levels - in part a sharp social satire of the academic profession, in part a witty exploration of the wilder reaches of ' spirituality'. It is also a tender - if slightly skewed - love story, and a touching take on a young man's coming of age. New York, 1968. Naive young sociologist Roger Zimmern gets his first job at university. |
02 | 20110712 | By Alison Lurie. Dramatised by Melissa Murray 2/10 Young sociologist Roger Zimmern has made contact with the small cult known as the Truth Seekers. But are they crazy enough for a ground breaking sociological study? Roger ... Jonathan Forbes McCann ... Nathan Osgood Elsie ... Barbara Barnes Verena ... Alex Tregear Sissy ... Susie Riddell Bill ... Peter Polycarpou Mrs Munger ... Jane Whittenshaw Directed by Marc Beeby. Young sociologist Roger makes contact with the small cult known as the Truth Seekers. |
03 | 20110713 | By Alison Lurie, dramatised by Melissa Murray 3/10 Sociologists Roger Zimmern and his boss, Tom McCann, have managed to infiltrate the small cult of the Truth Seekers. But now their reasons for being there are about to be exposed. Roger ... Jonathan Forbes McCann ... Nathan Osgood Elsie ... Barbara Barnes Verena ... Alex Tregear Ken ... Simon Bubb Bill ... Peter Polycarpou Felicia... Susie Riddell Mrs Munger ... Jane Whittenshaw Directed by Marc Beeby. After infiltrating the cult, Roger and Tom's true identities are set to be revealed. |
04 | 20110714 | By Alison Lurie. Dramatised by Melissa Murray 4/10 Verena, leader of the Truth Seekers, seems to have lost her way. Her aunt Elsie has persuaded professor Tom McCann to speak to her. But McCann has an agenda of his own. Roger ... Jonathan Forbes McCann ... Nathan Osgood Elsie ... Barbara Barnes Verena ... Alex Tregear Bill ... Peter Polycarpou Mrs Munger ... Jane Whittenshaw Directed by Marc Beeby. |
05 | 20110715 | By Alison Lurie. Dramatised by Melissa Murray 5/10 Sociologist Tom McCann is behaving increasingly strangely, much to the frustration of his young assistant Roger. But they're about to hear some news that will make things a great deal stranger. Roger ... Jonathan Forbes McCann ... Nathan Osgood Elsie ... Barbara Barnes Verena ... Alex Tregear Sissy ... Susie Riddell Bill ... Peter Polycarpou Mrs Munger ... Jane Whittenshaw Directed by Marc Beeby. Roger is worried that McCann is behaving increasingly strangely. |
06 | 20110718 | By Alison Lurie. Dramatised by Melissa Murray 6/10 Roger has gone to see Verena, worried that Tom McCann has influenced the announcement that the Varnians are about to visit earth. Roger ... Jonathan Forbes McCann ... Nathan Osgood Elsie ... Barbara Barnes Verena ... Alex Tregear Sissy ... Susie Riddell Bill ... Peter Polycarpou Mrs Munger ... Jane Whittenshaw Ken ... Simon Bubb Peggy Elaine Claxton Directed by Marc Beeby. Roger worries that Tom has influenced the announcement that the Varnians are coming. |
07 | 20110719 | By Alison Lurie. Dramatised by Melissa Murray 7/10 It's the moment the Truth Seekers have been waiting for. Their spiritual guides from the planet Varna are about to arrive. Roger ... Jonathan Forbes McCann ... Nathan Osgood Elsie ... Barbara Barnes Verena ... Alex Tregear Sissy ... Susie Riddell Bill ... Peter Polycarpou Mrs Munger ... Jane Whittenshaw Ken ... Simon Bubb Peggy Elaine Claxton Directed by Marc Beeby. The Truth Seekers' spiritual guides from the planet Varna are about to arrive. |
08 | 20110720 | By Alison Lurie. Dramatised by Melissa Murray 8/10 Things have taken a bizarre turn, as sociologist Tom McCann has claimed he has been possessed by the spirit of the alien guru, Ro of Varna, Roger ... Jonathan Forbes McCann ... Nathan Osgood Elsie ... Barbara Barnes Verena ... Alex Tregear Bob/Ken... Simon Bubb Cop ... Alun Raglan Directed by Marc Beeby. Sociologist Tom claims he has been possessed by the spirit of the alien guru Ro of Varna. |
09 | 20110721 | By Alison Lurie. Dramatised by Melissa Murray 9/10 Following an argument during which a shot was fired, Tom McCann and his fellow Truth Seekers have come to the attention of the local police. Roger ... Jonathan Forbes McCann ... Nathan Osgood Elsie ... Barbara Barnes Verena ... Alex Tregear Bob/Ken... Simon Bubb Bill/Cop ... Peter Polycarpou Mrs Munger ... Jane Whittenshaw Cop ... Alun Raglan Directed by Marc Beeby. |
10 | 20110722 | By Alison Lurie. Dramatised by Melissa Murray 10/10 Roger, on his way to visit Tom McCann in hospital, has stopped off to visit Elsie, where he has heard some terrible news. Roger ... Jonathan Forbes McCann ... Nathan Osgood Elsie ... Barbara Barnes Mrs Munger ... Jane Whittenshaw Nurse ... Elaine Claxton Directed by Marc Beeby. On his way to visit Tom McCann in hospital, Roger hears some terrible news. |