The Fair Intellectual Club

Episodes

EpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
RepeatedComments
01An Encounter With Mr Newton2016110320161110/11 (BBC7)
/15/7) (BBC7)
Intellectual giant Isaac Newton is in town and he's struggling with a new theory to explain why things keep falling on his head.

He encounters the members of the Fair Intellectual club - a secret society for the scholarly improvement of young ladies. With the help of carefree socialite Ishbel, devout clergyman's daughter Marjory and maths boffin Alison, the penny finally drops.

Mr Newton also has to contend with Alison's idiot brother Robert, Ishbel's ancient retainer Kennedy and a rented pineapple.

Isaac Newton - Gavin Mitchell

Ishbel - Caroline Deyga

Marjory - Samara MacLaren

Alison - Jessica Hardwick

Robert - Simon Donaldson

Kennedy - Gordon Kennedy

Music by Aly Macrae.

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in November 2016.

In pre-enlightenment Edinburgh, the Fair Intellectuals lead Newton to the laws of gravity.

02A Rendezvous With Mr Voltaire2016111020161117/18 (BBC7)
/7) (BBC7)
Lucy Porter's sitcom takes us to Edinburgh in the early 18th Century.

Monsieur Voltaire has been thrown out of France for immorality and has come to see his old friend Robert. He trades philosophical maxims with Ishbel and the fellow members of her secret society - Alison and Marjory.

The scholarly young ladies teach him the value of free speech and a brand new use for a broom handle.

Voltaire - Lewis Macleod

Robert - Simon Donaldson

Ishbel - Caroline Deyga

Alison - Jessica Hardwick

Marjory - Samara MacLaren

Music by Aly Macrae.

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2016.

The young ladies teach Voltaire the value of free speech and new uses for broom handles.

03An Encounter With Mr Handel2016111720161124/25 (BBC7)
/7) (BBC7)
Friedrich Handel is down in the dumps because the King is growing tired of his music.

He heads north to Edinburgh for inspiration and meets the ladies of The Fair Intellectual Club - a secret scholarly society for girls.

With the help of Marjory, Handel finds a melancholy theme for a new work. Thanks to the efforts of girl-about-town Ishbel and maths genius Alison, he ends up with a much jauntier, raunchier tune.

Lucy Porter's sitcom is set in early 18th Century Scotland.

Friedrich Handel - Gus Brown

Marjory - Samara MacLaren

Ishbel - Caroline Deyga

Alison - Jessica Hardwick

With Simon Donaldson and Gordon Kennedy

Music by Aly Macrae.

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2016.

The scholarly secret society inspires Mr Handel's latest hit on Edinburgh's Calton Hill.

04A Sojourn With Mr Swift2016112420161201/02 (BBC7)
/7) (BBC7)
It's festival time in Edinburgh, but in the early 18th century it's not a place for comedians and actors, but priests and storytellers like Jonathan Swift.

This young Irish clergyman wants help with his tales, and the members of the Fair Intellectual Club are keen to help him win the So You Think You're Holy competition.

Alison's idiot brother Robert needs assistance too - and an unfortunate mix-up leads to the creation of a literary masterpiece.

Lucy Porter's sitcom set in early 18th Century Scotland.

Alison ....... Jessica Hardwick

Ishbel ....... Caroline Deyga

Margory ....... Samara MacLaren

Robert ....... Simon Donaldson

Kennedy ....... Gordon Kennedy

Mr Swift ....... Keith Fleming

Music by Aly Macrae

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2016.

Jonathan Swift unwittingly creates his masterpiece with the aid of the secret society.

05An Engagement With Mr Hogarth2016120120161208/09 (BBC7)
/7) (BBC7)
A young painter named William Hogarth has been employed to paint Edinburgh Society beauty Ishbel. Science whizz Alison is making potions for her brother Robert. Hogarth finds inspiration but Alison faces ruin unless Marjory and Kennedy can save the day.

Public and private morality come under the spotlight in Lucy Porter's 18th Century sitcom.

William Hogarth - - Gus Brown

Ishbel - - Caroline Deyga

Alison - - Jessica Hardwick

Robert - - Simon Donaldson

Marjory - - Samara MacLaren

Kennedy - - Gordon Kennedy

Music by Aly Macrae

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2016.

Portraits and Poteen delight the Fair Intellectuals when Mr Hogarth comes to Edinburgh.

06 LASTA Fling With Mr Franklin2016120820161215/16 (BBC7)
/7) (BBC7)
A young American inventor named Ben Franklin ends up in Edinburgh. The young ladies of a secret scholarly society are seduced by his exciting talk of the New World and his intellectual prowess.

An elopement is on the cards as Marjory is set to be torn from the wrinkly arms of her fianc退. Will the girls leave their beloved Scotland?

Sparks fly and electricity abounds in the final episode of Lucy Porter's 18th Century Sitcom.

Ishbel - Caroline Deyga

Alison - Jessica Hardwick

Robert - Simon Donaldson

Marjory - Samara MacLaren

Music by Aly Macrae

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2016.

Ben Franklin arrives in a thunderstorm and wins the Fair Intellectuals' hearts and minds.

An elopement is on the cards as Marjory is set to be torn from the wrinkly arms of her fiancé. Will the girls leave their beloved Scotland?