Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20201005 | Sam Selvon's sparkling, lyrical tale of a group of Caribbean immigrants who band together to buy a house in London.
Sick of paying exorbitant rent for a basement in Brixton, Battersby decides to buy his own house - but he can't do it alone. He pulls together a motley crew of shift workers, pot-washers, hustlers and calypsonians who share a desire to own their place. Plans, scams, deceits and double dealing ensue as friends feud and switch allegiance and through it all, the pile of money under Bat's mattress never quite grows as it should.
Written by Sam Selvon
Comic tale of a group of Caribbean immigrants battling to get on London\u2019s property ladder. Sam Selvon's novel of West Indian migrant life in 1960s London. |
| 02 | 20201006 | Sam Selvon's sparkling, lyrical tale of a group of Caribbean immigrants who band together to buy a house in London.
Sick of paying exorbitant rent for a basement in Brixton, Battersby decides to buy his own house - but he can't do it alone. He pulls together a motley crew of shift workers, pot-washers, hustlers and calypsonians who all share a desire to own their place. Plans, scams, deceits and double dealing ensue as friends feud and switch allegiance and through it all, the pile of money under Bat's mattress never quite grows as it should.
Jamaican room-mate Harry Banjo has come up with a solution to Battersby's renting woes and the Trinidadian is about to put it to his friends.
Written by Sam Selvon
Battersby calls a meeting of his Trinidadian friends to discuss buying a house together. Sam Selvon's novel of West Indian migrant life in 1960s London. |
| 03 | 20201007 | Sam Selvon's sparkling, lyrical tale of a group of Caribbean immigrants who band together to buy a house in London.
Sick of paying exorbitant rent for a basement in Brixton, Battersby decides to buy his own house - but he can't do it alone. He pulls together a motley crew of shift workers, pot-washers, hustlers and calypsonians who all share a desire to own their place. Plans, scams, deceits and double dealing ensue as friends feud and switch allegiance and through it all, the pile of money under Bat's mattress never quite grows as it should.
With the decision made to pool their resources for a deposit, the friends need to come up with some cash.
Written by Sam Selvon
With the decision made to buy a house together, the friends must come up with some cash. Sam Selvon's novel of West Indian migrant life in 1960s London. |
| 04 | 20201008 | Sam Selvon's sparkling, lyrical tale of a group of Caribbean immigrants who band together to buy a house in London.
Sick of paying exorbitant rent for a basement in Brixton, Battersby decides to buy his own house - but he can't do it alone. He pulls together a motley crew of shift workers, pot-washers, hustlers and calypsonians who all share a desire to own their place. Plans, scams, deceits and double dealing ensue as friends feud and switch allegiance and through it all, the pile of money under Bat's mattress never quite grows as it should.
The bold decision to escape unscrupulous landlords affects each of the friends differently.
Written by Sam Selvon
The bold decision to buy a house affects each of the friends in a different way. Sam Selvon's novel of West Indian migrant life in 1960s London. |
| 05 | 20201009 | Sam Selvon's sparkling, lyrical tale of a group of Caribbean immigrants who band together to buy a house in London.
Sick of paying exorbitant rent for a basement in Brixton, Battersby decides to buy his own house - but he can't do it alone. He pulls together a motley crew of shift workers, pot-washers, hustlers and calypsonians who all share a desire to own their place. Plans, scams, deceits and double dealing ensue as friends feud and switch allegiance and through it all, the pile of money under Bat's mattress never quite grows as it should.
Although the friends have been saving for a month, treasurer Jean is yet to see a penny.
Written by Sam Selvon
Although the friends have been saving for a month, treasurer Jean is yet to see a penny. Sam Selvon's novel of West Indian migrant life in 1960s London. |
| 06 | 20201012 | Sam Selvon's sparkling, lyrical tale of a group of Caribbean immigrants who band together to buy a house in London.
Sick of paying exorbitant rent for a basement in Brixton, Battersby decides to buy his own house - but he can't do it alone. He pulls together a motley crew of shift workers, pot-washers, hustlers and calypsonians who all share a desire to own their place. Plans, scams, deceits and double dealing ensue as friends feud and switch allegiance and through it all, the pile of money under Bat's mattress never quite grows as it should.
As the sun comes out in London, the would-be home owners start to resent their frugal lifestyles.
Written by Sam Selvon
As the sun comes out in London, the would-be home owners start to resent living frugally. Sam Selvon's novel of West Indian migrant life in 1960s London. |
| 07 | 20201013 | Sam Selvon's sparkling, lyrical tale of a group of Caribbean immigrants who band together to buy a house in London.
Sick of paying exorbitant rent for a basement in Brixton, Battersby decides to buy his own house - but he can't do it alone. He pulls together a motley crew of shift workers, pot-washers, hustlers and calypsonians who all share a desire to own their place. Plans, scams, deceits and double dealing ensue as friends feud and switch allegiance and through it all, the pile of money under Bat's mattress never quite grows as it should.
With home-ownership feeling increasingly like a pipe dream, Syl starts to fret about his love life.
Written by Sam Selvon
With home-ownership feeling like a pipe dream, Syl starts to fret about his love life. Sam Selvon's novel of West Indian migrant life in 1960s London. |
| 08 | 20201014 | Sam Selvon's sparkling, lyrical tale of a group of Caribbean immigrants who band together to buy a house in London.
Sick of paying exorbitant rent for a basement in Brixton, Battersby decides to buy his own house - but he can't do it alone. He pulls together a motley crew of shift workers, pot-washers, hustlers and calypsonians who all share a desire to own their place. Plans, scams, deceits and double dealing ensue as friends feud and switch allegiance and through it all, the pile of money under Bat's mattress never quite grows as it should.
Willing to try anything to replenish the deposit fund, Bat is running an excursion - and the residents of Brixton are ready to cut loose.
Written by Sam Selvon
Battersby\u2019s excursion to Hampton Court is the talk of Brixton. Sam Selvon's novel of West Indian migrant life in 1960s London. |
| 09 | 20201015 | Sam Selvon's sparkling, lyrical tale of a group of Caribbean immigrants who band together to buy a house in London.
Sick of paying exorbitant rent for a basement in Brixton, Battersby decides to buy his own house - but he can't do it alone. He pulls together a motley crew of shift workers, pot-washers, hustlers and calypsonians who all share a desire to own their place. Plans, scams, deceits and double dealing ensue as friends feud and switch allegiance and through it all, the pile of money under Bat's mattress never quite grows as it should.
With summer fading and the deposit still not reached, a push is coming from an unexpected quarter.
Written by Sam Selvon
As summer wanes there\u2019s a push to get on the property ladder from an unexpected quarter. Sam Selvon's novel of West Indian migrant life in 1960s London. |
| 10 | 20201016 | Sam Selvon's sparkling, lyrical tale of a group of Caribbean immigrants who band together to buy a house in London.
Sick of paying exorbitant rent for a basement in Brixton, Battersby decides to buy his own house - but he can't do it alone. He pulls together a motley crew of shift workers, pot-washers, hustlers and calypsonians who all share a desire to own their place. Plans, scams, deceits and double dealing ensue as friends feud and switch allegiance and through it all, the pile of money under Bat's mattress never quite grows as it should.
Bat's duplicity has been uncovered by the formidable Teena.
Written by Sam Selvon
Bat\u2019s duplicity has been uncovered by the formidable Teena. Sam Selvon's novel of West Indian migrant life in 1960s London. |