Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 20051017 | By Julia Blackburn. Betsy Balcombe was 13 when Napoleon Bonaparte came to live in her garden. The two forged an extraordinary relationship in the first weeks of his incarceration on St Helena, Napoleon's last island. Drawn from contemporary accounts of the period, the drama recreates the meeting of innocence and a great burden of experience. 1/5. As Napoleon's ship arrives at St Helena, he dreads the scrutiny of the islanders and the thousands of soldiers sent to guard him. The next day he visits the island with his entourage, and arrives in the Balcombes' garden. Only Betsy speaks French and so she takes the role of intermediary, but the Emperors' aide, the Count de Las Cases, does not trust her. Napoleon ...... Alex Jennings Betsy ...... Michelle Tate Balcombe ...... Ian McNeice Las Cases ...... Rupert Wickham Violinist Brian Hardy and directed by Mary Ward Lowery. Then News. | |
| 20051018 | By Julia Blackburn. Betsy Balcombe was 13 when Napoleon Bonaparte came to live in her garden. The two forged an extraordinary relationship in the first weeks of his incarceration on St Helena, Napoleon's last island. Drawn from contemporary accounts of the period, the drama recreates the meeting of innocence and a great burden of experience. 2/5. Napoleon moves into the Balcombe's Pavilion. Surrounded by sycophants, he finds the young English girl's frankness amusing. Then Betsy goes too far and has to be punished... Napoleon ...... Alex Jennings Betsy ...... Michelle Tate Balcombe ...... Ian McNeice Las Cases ...... Rupert Wickham Violinist Brian Hardy and directed by Mary Ward Lowery. Then News. | |
| 20051019 | By Julia Blackburn. Betsy Balcombe was 13 when Napoleon Bonaparte came to live in her garden. The two forged an extraordinary relationship in the first weeks of his incarceration on St Helena, Napoleon's last island. Drawn from contemporary accounts of the period, the drama recreates the meeting of innocence and a great burden of experience. 3/5. Betsy spends all her time at Napoleon's side, much to the irritation of the Count de Las Cases. Napoleon ...... Alex Jennings Betsy ...... Michelle Tate Balcombe ...... Ian McNeice Las Cases ...... Rupert Wickham Violinist Brian Hardy and directed by Mary Ward Lowery. Then News. | |
| 20051020 | By Julia Blackburn. Betsy Balcombe was 13 when Napoleon Bonaparte came to live in her garden. The two forged an extraordinary relationship in the first weeks of his incarceration on St Helena, Napoleon's last island. Drawn from contemporary accounts of the period, the drama recreates the meeting of innocence and a great burden of experience. 4/5. Napoleon is hemmed in by boredom and the horror of his future as a prisoner. He finds diversion in teasing Betsy, but their closeness is hateful to Las Cases. Napoleon's entourage are further outraged by Betsy's relationship with the Emperor. Napoleon ...... Alex Jennings Betsy ...... Michelle Tate Balcombe ...... Ian McNeice Las Cases ...... Rupert Wickham Violinist ...... Brian Hardy Director Mary Ward Lowery. Then News. | |
| 20051021 | By Julia Blackburn. Betsy Balcombe was 13 when Napoleon Bonaparte came to live in her garden. The two forged an extraordinary relationship in the first weeks of his incarceration on St Helena, Napoleon's last island. Drawn from contemporary accounts of the period, the drama recreates the meeting of innocence and a great burden of experience. 5/5. The move to Longwood looms like a premonition of death. Napoleon and Betsy play Blind Man's Buff but their frivolity must end soon. Napoleon ...... Alex Jennings Betsy ...... Michelle Tate Balcombe ...... Ian McNeice Las Cases ...... Rupert Wickham Violinist Brian Hardy and directed by Mary Ward Lowery. Then News. | |
| 01 | 20051017 | By Julia Blackburn. as napoleon's ship arrives at st helena, he dreads the scrutiny of the islanders and the thousands of soldiers sent to guard him. the next day he visits the island with his entourage, and arrives in the balcombes' garden. only betsy speaks french and so she takes the role of intermediary, but the emperors' aide, the count de las cases, does not trust her the two forged an extraordinary relationship in the first weeks of his incarceration on st helena, napoleon's last island. drawn from contemporary accounts of the period, the drama recreates the meeting of innocence and a great burden of experience |
| 02 | 20051018 | Napoleon moves into the Balcombe's Pavilion. Surrounded by sycophants, he finds the young English girl's frankness amusing. Then Betsy goes too far and has to be punished. |
| 03 | 20051019 | Betsy spends all her time at Napoleon's side, much to the irritation of the Count de Las Cases. |
| 04 | 20051020 | Napoleon is hemmed in by boredom and the horror of his future as a prisoner. He finds diversion in teasing Betsy, but their closeness is hateful to Las Cases. Napoleon's entourage are further outraged by Betsy's relationship with the Emperor. |
| 05 LAST | 20051021 | The move to Longwood looms like a premonition of death. Napoleon and Betsy play Blind Man's Buff but their frivolity must end soon. |