Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Born In Captivity | 19790107 | 20110620 (BBC7) 20110621 (BBC7) 20121015 (BBC7) 20121016 (BBC7) 20140317 (BBC7) 20140318 (BBC7) 20160817 (BBC7) 20160818 (BBC7) 20181008 (BBC7) 20181009 (BBC7) 20200601 (BBC7) 20200602 (BBC7) | Ian McKellen stars in the story of John Hamer Shawcross - from his boyhood on the streets of Ancoats, Manchester to his pursuit of power and fame. Howard Spring's novel freely adapted for radio in eight episodes by Ken Whitmore. John Shawcross - Ian McKellen John Shawcross as a Boy - Gary Carp Tom Hannaway as a Youth - Phillip Politt Arnold Ryerson as a Youth - David Riley Grandfather - Geoffrey Banks Ellen - Rosalie Williams Gordon Stansfield - Ian Flintoff Ma Hannaway - Elizabeth Hannaway Charles Artingstall - George Hagan Ann Artingstall - Susan Revilll Hawley - Graham Tennant Lizzie Lightowler - Rosalie Crutchley With Jimmy Braddock, Phillippa Connell and Ruth Williams as the other children. The story of Hamer Shawcross, from boyhood to his pursuit of power and fame. |
| 02 | Thrown To The Wolves | 19790114 | 20110621 (BBC7) 20110622 (BBC7) 20121016 (BBC7) 20121017 (BBC7) 20140318 (BBC7) 20140319 (BBC7) 20160818 (BBC7) 20160819 (BBC7) 20181009 (BBC7) 20181010 (BBC7) 20200602 (BBC7) 20200603 (BBC7) | As John starts work, he studies, preaches and keeps fit - preparing to change the world. Ian McKellen stars in the story of John Hamer Shawcross - set against the wider current of events in England in the early 19th century. Howard Spring's novel freely adapted for radio by Ken Whitmore. John Shawcross - Ian McKellen John Shawcross as a Boy - Gary Carp George Hagan - Charles Artingstall Polly Burnsall - Romy Baskerville Hawley - Graham Tennant Lillian Artingstall - Elizabeth Kelly Ellen - Rosalie Williams Ian Flintoff - Gordon Stansfield Hilda - Lesley Nicol Arnold Ryerson - Andrew Jackson Pen Muff - Vida Paterson Richardson - Randal Herley Ezra Crompton - Jimmy Bradock As Hamer starts work, he studies, preaches and keeps fit, preparing to change the world. |
| 03 | The Fight For St Swithin's | 19790121 | 20110622 (BBC7) 20110623 (BBC7) 20121017 (BBC7) 20121018 (BBC7) 20140319 (BBC7) 20140320 (BBC7) 20160819 (BBC7) 20160820 (BBC7) 20181010 (BBC7) 20181011 (BBC7) 20200603 (BBC7) 20200604 (BBC7) | John's political campaign starts in Bradford with rousing speeches to the crowds. Ian McKellen stars in the story of John Hamer Shawcross - set against the wider current of events in England in the early 19th century. Howard Spring's novel freely adapted by Ken Whitmore. John Shawcross - Ian McKellen Haslett - Alan Meadows Tom Hannaway - Geoffrey Wheeler Marsden - Herbert Smith Lord Lostwithiel of Hereward Castle - Jeffrey Wickham Lady Lettice Melland - Helen Ryan Anne Artingstall - June Barry Lizzie Lightowler - Rosalie Crutchley Arnold Ryerson - Andrew Jackson Pen Muff - Vida Paterson Bellows - Peter Bell Hamer's political campaign starts in Bradford with rousing speeches to the crowds. |
| 04 | Lovers And Losers | 19790228 | 20110623 (BBC7) 20110624 (BBC7) 20121018 (BBC7) 20121019 (BBC7) 20140320 (BBC7) 20140321 (BBC7) 20160822 (BBC7) 20160823 (BBC7) 20181011 (BBC7) 20181012 (BBC7) 20200604 (BBC7) 20200605 (BBC7) | Dirty tricks are played by a ruthless opponent - how will Labour fare in the by-election? Ian McKellen stars in the story of John Hamer Shawcross - set against the wider current of events in England in the early 19th century. Howard Spring's novel freely adapted by Ken Whitmore. John Shawcross - Ian McKellen Tom Hannaway - Geoffrey Wheeler Lord Lostwithiel of Hereward Castle - Jeffrey Wickham Lady Lettice Melland - Helen Ryan Anne Artingstall - June Barry Lizzie Lightowler - Rosalie Crutchley Arnold Ryerson - Andrew Jackson Pen Muff - Vida Paterson Harry, Viscount Liskeard - Peter Guinness Jimmy Newboult - John Baldwin Sergeant Newboult - Tom Harrison Ellen Stansfield - Rosalie Williams Edith Ryerson - Ann Rye Hawley Artingstall - Graham Tennant Hilda - Lesley Nicol Election Official - Anthony Wingate First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1979. |
| 05 | Deaths And Entrances | 19790204 | 20110624 (BBC7) 20110625 (BBC7) 20121019 (BBC7) 20121020 (BBC7) 20140321 (BBC7) 20140322 (BBC7) 20160823 (BBC7) 20160824 (BBC7) 20181012 (BBC7) 20181013 (BBC7) 20200605 (BBC7) 20200606 (BBC7) | John's political pursuits lead him to Westminster and Welsh valley mines. Ian McKellen stars in the story of John Hamer Shawcross - set against the wider current of events in England in the early 19th century. Howard Spring's novel freely adapted by Ken Whitmore. John Shawcross - Ian McKellen Tom Hannaway - Geoffrey Wheeler Lord Lostwithiel of Hereward Castle - Jeffrey Wickham Lady Lettice Melland - Helen Ryan Anne Artingstall - June Barry Lizzie Lightowler - Rosalie Crutchley Arnold Ryerson - Andrew Jackson Pen Muff - Vida Paterson Harry Liskeard - Peter Guinness Jimmy Newboult - John Baldwin Ellen Stansfield - Rosalie Williams Edith Ryerson - Ann Rye Nell Richards - Nina Holloway Marsden - Herbert Smith Carrickfergus - James Tomlinson Evan Vaughan - Richard Clay-Jones Gallery Assistant - Rory Scase Hamer Shawcross's political pursuits lead him to Westminster and Welsh valley mines. |
| 06 | Hamer's Women | 19790211 | 20110627 (BBC7) 20110628 (BBC7) 20121022 (BBC7) 20121023 (BBC7) 20140324 (BBC7) 20140325 (BBC7) 20160824 (BBC7) 20160825 (BBC7) 20181015 (BBC7) 20181016 (BBC7) 20200608 (BBC7) 20200609 (BBC7) | Social reformer John is tempted by Lady Lettice, as his wife fights for the suffragettes. Ian McKellen stars in the story of John Hamer Shawcross - set against the wider current of events in England in the early 19th century. Howard Spring's novel freely adapted by Ken Whitmore. John Shawcross - Ian McKellen Tom Hannaway - Geoffrey Wheeler Anne Artingstall - June Barry Lizzie Lightowler - Rosalie Crutchley Lady Lettice - Helen Ryan Arnold Ryerson - Andrew Jackson Pen Ryerson - Vida Paterson Harry Liskeard - Peter Guinness Jimmy Newboult - John Baldwin Ellen Stansfield - Rosalie Williams Charles Shawcross aged 8 - David Boardman Hawley Artingstall - Graham Tennant Organ grinder - Colin Bean Prison wardens - Joan Anstey/ Delia Corrie Prison doctor - Roger Grainger Social reformer Hamer is tempted by Lady Lettice, as his wife fights for the suffragettes. |
| 07 | Nothing But The Truth, Almost! | 19790218 | 20110628 (BBC7) 20110629 (BBC7) 20121023 (BBC7) 20121024 (BBC7) 20140325 (BBC7) 20140326 (BBC7) 20160825 (BBC7) 20160826 (BBC7) 20181016 (BBC7) 20181017 (BBC7) 20200609 (BBC7) 20200610 (BBC7) | The Great War dominates politics as leaders ask people to unite. Hamer's son enlists. Ian McKellen stars in the story of John Hamer Shawcross - set against the wider current of events in England in the early 19th century. Howard Spring's novel freely adapted by Ken Whitmore. John Hamer Shawcross - Sir Ian McKellen Anne Artingstall - June Barry Lizzie Lightowler - Rosalie Crutchley Arnold Tyerson - Andrew Jackson Pen Ryerson - Vida Paterson Alice Ryerson - Valerie Georgeson Tom Hannaway - Geoffrey Wheeler Lady Hannaway - Romy Baskerville Mrs Ambeley-Rosewater - Cynthia Michaelis Jimmy Newboult - John Baldwin Lady Lettice Melland - Helen Ryan The Election Official - Peter Ellis The Great War dominates politics as leaders ask people to unite and Hamer's son joins up. |
| 08 | Perish, By The Sword | 19790225 | 20110629 (BBC7) 20110630 (BBC7) 20121024 (BBC7) 20121025 (BBC7) 20140326 (BBC7) 20140327 (BBC7) 20160826 (BBC7) 20160827 (BBC7) 20181017 (BBC7) 20181018 (BBC7) 20200610 (BBC7) 20200611 (BBC7) | Labour briefly tastes of power, and fortunes are made and lost as Hamer Shawcross concludes his memoirs. Ian McKellen stars in the story of John Hamer Shawcross - set against the wider current of events in England in the early 19th century. Howard Spring's novel freely adapted by Ken Whitmore. John Hamer Shawcross - Sir Ian McKellen Jimmy Newboult - John Baldwin Lady Lettice Melland - Helen Ryan Lady Hannaway - Romy Baskerville Arnold Tyerson - Andrew Jackson Pen Ryerson - Vida Paterson Lizzie Lightowler - Rosalie Crutchley Tom Hannaway - Geoffrey Wheeler Alice Ryerson - Valerie Georgeson Charles Shawcross - Richard Durden Pendleton - Rory Scase Labour has a brief taste of power, and fortunes are made and lost. |