Episodes

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02Other People's Problems20140909

Juliet Stevenson continues Ian McEwan's powerful and haunting new novel, The Children Act - a story about faith, love and the Law and about the welfare of children and the duty of those who care for them.
Fiona Maye is an esteemed High Court Judge presiding over cases in the Family Court and admired for her 'godly distance and devilish understanding'. But beneath her professional composure, her happy marriage of thirty years is suddenly in trouble and a recent case has caused her heartache. Now she faces a life or death decision.
For religious reasons, a beautiful seventeen-year-old boy is refusing life-saving treatment, and his devout parents support his wishes. Should the secular court overrule sincerely held faith? What really lies in the boy's best interests?
Ian McEwan is one of the UK's leading novelists, his many novels include Atonement, Enduring Love and On Chesil Beach.
The reader is Juliet Stevenson
The abridger is Sally Marmion
The producer is Di Speirs.

Juliet Stevenson reads Ian McEwan's powerful new novel about faith, love and the law.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

03A Matter of Extreme Urgency20140910

Juliet Stevenson continues Ian McEwan's powerful and haunting new novel, The Children Act - a story about faith, love and the Law and about the welfare of children and the duty of those who care for them.

Fiona Maye is an esteemed High Court Judge presiding over cases in the Family Court and admired for her 'godly distance and devilish understanding'. But beneath her professional composure, her happy marriage of thirty years is suddenly in trouble and a recent case has caused her heartache. Now she faces a life or death decision.

For religious reasons, a beautiful seventeen-year-old boy is refusing life-saving treatment, and his devout parents support his wishes. Should the secular court overrule sincerely held faith? What really lies in the boy's best interests? Tonight the lawyers state their case while the clock ticks.

Ian McEwan is one of the UK's leading novelists, his many novels include Atonement, Enduring Love and On Chesil Beach.

The reader is Juliet Stevenson
The abridger is Sally Marmion
The producer is Di Speirs.

The lawyers state their case while the clock ticks.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

04For the Sake of Religion20140911

Juliet Stevenson continues Ian McEwan's powerful and haunting new novel, The Children Act - a story about faith, love and the Law and about the welfare of children and the duty of those who care for them.

Fiona Maye is an esteemed High Court Judge presiding over cases in the Family Court and admired for her 'godly distance and devilish understanding'. But beneath her professional composure, her happy marriage of thirty years is suddenly in trouble and a recent case has caused her heartache. Now she faces a life or death decision.

For religious reasons, a beautiful seventeen-year-old boy is refusing life-saving treatment, and his devout parents support his wishes. Should the secular court overrule sincerely held faith? What really lies in the boy's best interests? Tonight Fiona hears from all sides and takes an unorthodox approach.

Ian McEwan is one of the UK's leading novelists, his many novels include Atonement, Enduring Love and On Chesil Beach.

The reader is Juliet Stevenson
The abridger is Sally Marmion
The producer is Di Speirs.

Fiona hears from all sides and takes an unorthodox approach.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

05I'll Sing Along with You20140912

Juliet Stevenson continues Ian McEwan's powerful and haunting new novel, The Children Act - a story about faith, love and the Law and about the welfare of children and the duty of those who care for them.

Fiona Maye is an esteemed High Court Judge presiding over cases in the Family Court and admired for her 'godly distance and devilish understanding'. But beneath her professional composure, her happy marriage of thirty years is suddenly in trouble and a recent case has caused her heartache. Now she faces a life or death decision.

For religious reasons, a beautiful seventeen-year-old boy is refusing life-saving treatment, and his devout parents support his wishes. Should the secular court overrule sincerely held faith? What really lies in the boy's best interests? Tonight will a meeting in a hospital room clarify Fiona's mind?

Ian McEwan is one of the UK's leading novelists, his many novels include Atonement, Enduring Love and On Chesil Beach.

The reader is Juliet Stevenson
The abridger is Sally Marmion
The producer is Di Speirs.

Will a meeting in a hospital room clarify Fiona's mind?

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0620140915

Juliet Stevenson continues Ian McEwan's powerful and haunting new novel, The Children Act - a story about faith, love and the Law and about the welfare of children and the duty of those who care for them.

Fiona Maye is an esteemed High Court Judge presiding over cases in the Family Court and admired for her 'godly distance and devilish understanding'. But beneath her professional composure, her happy marriage of thirty years is in trouble and a recent case has caused her heartache. Now she faces a life or death decision.

For religious reasons, a beautiful seventeen-year-old boy is refusing life-saving treatment, and his devout parents support his wishes. Should the secular court overrule sincerely held faith? What really lies in the boy's best interests? Today the judge must make her ruling.

Ian McEwan is one of the UK's leading novelists, his many novels include Atonement, Enduring Love and On Chesil Beach.

The reader is Juliet Stevenson
The abridger is Sally Marmion
The producer is Di Speirs.

'The welfare of the child - the court's paramount consideration'.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0720140916

Juliet Stevenson continues Ian McEwan's powerful and haunting new novel, The Children Act - a story about faith, love and the Law and about the welfare of children and the duty of those who care for them.

Fiona Maye is an esteemed High Court Judge presiding over cases in the Family Court and admired for her 'godly distance and devilish understanding'. But beneath her professional composure, her happy marriage of thirty years is in trouble and recent cases have caused her heartache.

Should the secular court overrule sincerely held faith? What really lies in a child's best interests? When is a child still a child?

Today, off on the northern circuit, Fiona finds that her recent ruling that a child's welfare is best served by intervention is not so easily left behind.

Ian McEwan is one of the UK's leading novelists, his many novels include Atonement, Enduring Love and On Chesil Beach.

The reader is Juliet Stevenson
The abridger is Sally Marmion
The producer is Di Speirs.

'So many questions for you'.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0820140917

Juliet Stevenson continues Ian McEwan's powerful and haunting new novel, The Children Act - a story about faith, love and the Law and about the welfare of children and the duty of those who care for them.

Fiona Maye is an esteemed High Court Judge presiding over cases in the Family Court and admired for her 'godly distance and devilish understanding'. But beneath her professional composure, her happy marriage of thirty years is in trouble and recent cases have caused her heartache.

Should the secular court overrule sincerely held faith? What really lies in a child's best interests? And as the boy whose life she has saved through the court's intervention makes an epic journey and seeks her out, what should Fiona do now?

Ian McEwan is one of the UK's leading novelists, his many novels include Atonement, Enduring Love and On Chesil Beach.
The reader is Juliet Stevenson
The abridger is Sally Marmion
The producer is Di Speirs.

'All of life and love that lie ahead'.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0920140918

Juliet Stevenson continues Ian McEwan's powerful and haunting new novel, The Children Act - a story about faith, love and the Law and about the welfare of children and the duty of those who care for them.

Fiona Maye is an esteemed High Court Judge presiding over cases in the Family Court and admired for her 'godly distance and devilish understanding'. But beneath her professional composure, her happy marriage of thirty years is in trouble and recent cases have caused her heartache.

Above all the surprise arrival of Adam Henry, the teenager whose life she saved through the court's intervention, has left her exposed and shaken.

How do you find safe ground again when you have overstepped the mark?

Ian McEwan is one of the UK's leading novelists, his many novels include Atonement, Enduring Love and On Chesil Beach.

The reader is Juliet Stevenson
The abridger is Sally Marmion
The producer is Di Speirs.

'Her kiss was the kiss of Judas'.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

1020140919

Juliet Stevenson reads the final episode of Ian McEwan's unsettling new novel, The Children Act - a story about faith, love and the Law and about the welfare of children and the duty of those who care for them.

Fiona Maye is an esteemed High Court Judge presiding over cases in the Family Court and admired for her 'godly distance and devilish understanding'. But beneath her professional composure, her happy marriage of thirty years is in trouble and recent cases has caused her heartache.

Tonight as she prepares for the Christmas concert the troubles of the year seem finally behind her, but can the past be left behind?

Ian McEwan is one of the UK's leading novelists, his many novels including Atonement, Enduring Love and On Chesil Beach.

The reader is Juliet Stevenson
The abridger is Sally Marmion
The producer is Di Speirs.

As Fiona prepares for the Christmas concert, the troubles of the year seem behind her.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

BAB01An Ultimatum: a Rook for a Knight20140908

Juliet Stevenson begins Ian McEwan's powerful and haunting new novel, The Children Act - a story about faith, love and the Law and about the welfare of children and the duty of those who care for them.

Fiona Maye is an esteemed High Court Judge presiding over cases in the Family Court and admired for her 'godly distance and devilish understanding'. But beneath her professional composure, her happy marriage of thirty years is suddenly in trouble and a recent case has caused her heartache. Now she faces a life or death decision.

For religious reasons, a beautiful seventeen-year-old boy is refusing life-saving treatment, and his devout parents support his wishes. Should the secular court overrule sincerely held faith? What really lies in the boy's best interests?

Ian McEwan is one of the UK's leading novelists, his many novels include Atonement, Enduring Love and On Chesil Beach.

The reader is Juliet Stevenson
The abridger is Sally Marmion
The producer is Di Speirs.

Juliet Stevenson reads Ian McEwan's powerful new novel about faith, love and the law.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature