Dear Mr Bigelow

Dear Mr Bigelow

Episode

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

20091026

20091027 (R4)

Sophie Thompson reads from the letters of Frances Woodsford, a Bournemouth council worker, to wealthy American widower, Paul Bigelow, who she never met, written between 1949 and his death in 1961. They evoke life in postwar Britain, and are introduced by Woodsford herself, who is now in her 90s.

Frances enlightens Mr Bigelow about rationing, the differences between Britons and Americans, and her endless problems with her elderly mother.

Abridged by Doreen Estall.

Frances enlightens Mr Bigelow about rationing and her problems with her elderly mother.

20091027

20091028 (R4)

As the nation mourns the death of the King, Frances gears up for her first driving lesson, learns how to deal with a firebomb at Civil Defence classes and, with rationing still very much in force, is faced with the stark choice of kidney soup and consomme de tapioca at Bournemouth's smartest restaurant in town.

Abridged by Doreen Estall.

Frances gears up for her first driving lesson and learns how to deal with a firebomb.

20091028

20091029 (R4)

Frances and her mother take to the road in her temperamental old banger, Frances becomes a bona fide 'fire putter-outer' at Civil Defence classes and enjoys the spectacle of the coronation before a four-inch television screen.

Abridged by Doreen Estall.

Frances and her mother take to the road in her temperamental old banger.

20091029

20091030 (R4)

Frances marvels at Arthur Miller's extraordinary new wife, Marilyn Monroe, at the London debut of his new play. She cuts quite a dash herself in her new silver fox fur, but, on finally meeting her brother's wealthy new fiancee, begins to wonder what the future will hold for her.

Abridged by Doreen Estall.

Frances marvels at Arthur Miller's new wife, Marilyn Monroe.

05 LAST

20091030

20091031 (R4)

Frances attends the 'wedding of the year' between her brother and Audrey and begins to get used to life alone with Mother - only to realise, perhaps too late, that the most important friend in her life is Mr Bigelow, who has now fallen seriously ill.

Abridged by Doreen Estall.

Frances attends the 'wedding of the year' between her brother and Audrey.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	20091026	20091027 (R4)	Sophie Thompson reads from the letters of Frances Woodsford, a Bournemouth council worker, to wealthy American widower, Paul Bigelow, who she never met, written between 1949 and his death in 1961. They evoke life in postwar Britain, and are introduced by Woodsford herself, who is now in her 90s. Frances enlightens Mr Bigelow about rationing, the differences between Britons and Americans, and her endless problems with her elderly mother. Abridged by Doreen Estall. Frances enlightens Mr Bigelow about rationing and her problems with her elderly mother.
02	20091027	20091028 (R4)	Sophie Thompson reads from the letters of Frances Woodsford, a Bournemouth council worker, to wealthy American widower, Paul Bigelow, who she never met, written between 1949 and his death in 1961. They evoke life in postwar Britain, and are introduced by Woodsford herself, who is now in her 90s. As the nation mourns the death of the King, Frances gears up for her first driving lesson, learns how to deal with a firebomb at Civil Defence classes and, with rationing still very much in force, is faced with the stark choice of kidney soup and consomme de tapioca at Bournemouth's smartest restaurant in town. Abridged by Doreen Estall. Frances gears up for her first driving lesson and learns how to deal with a firebomb.
03	20091028	20091029 (R4)	Sophie Thompson reads from the letters of Frances Woodsford, a Bournemouth council worker, to wealthy American widower, Paul Bigelow, who she never met, written between 1949 and his death in 1961. They evoke life in postwar Britain, and are introduced by Woodsford herself, who is now in her 90s. Frances and her mother take to the road in her temperamental old banger, Frances becomes a bona fide 'fire putter-outer' at Civil Defence classes and enjoys the spectacle of the coronation before a four-inch television screen. Abridged by Doreen Estall. Frances and her mother take to the road in her temperamental old banger.
04	20091029	20091030 (R4)	Sophie Thompson reads from the letters of Frances Woodsford, a Bournemouth council worker, to wealthy American widower, Paul Bigelow, who she never met, written between 1949 and his death in 1961. They evoke life in postwar Britain, and are introduced by Woodsford herself, who is now in her 90s. Frances marvels at Arthur Miller's extraordinary new wife, Marilyn Monroe, at the London debut of his new play. She cuts quite a dash herself in her new silver fox fur, but, on finally meeting her brother's wealthy new fiancee, begins to wonder what the future will hold for her. Abridged by Doreen Estall. Frances marvels at Arthur Miller's new wife, Marilyn Monroe.
05 LAST	20091030	20091031 (R4)	Sophie Thompson reads from the letters of Frances Woodsford, a Bournemouth council worker, to wealthy American widower, Paul Bigelow, who she never met, written between 1949 and his death in 1961. They evoke life in postwar Britain, and are introduced by Woodsford herself, who is now in her 90s. Frances attends the 'wedding of the year' between her brother and Audrey and begins to get used to life alone with Mother - only to realise, perhaps too late, that the most important friend in her life is Mr Bigelow, who has now fallen seriously ill. Abridged by Doreen Estall. Frances attends the 'wedding of the year' between her brother and Audrey.