Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20130909 | London 1958: Unassuming civil servant Thomas Foley is plucked from his desk at the Central Office of Information and sent on a six-month trip to Brussels. His task - to keep an eye on The Britannia, a brand new pub which will form the heart of the British presence at Expo 58, the biggest World's Fair of the century and the first to be held since the Second World War. As soon as he arrives at the site, Thomas feels that he has escaped a repressed, backward-looking country and fallen headlong into an era of modernity and optimism. He is equally bewitched by the surreal, gigantic Atomium, which stands at the heart of this brave new world, and by Anneke, the lovely Flemish hostess who meets him off his plane. But Thomas's new-found sense of freedom comes at a price. The Cold War is at its height, the mischievous Belgians have placed the American and Soviet pavilions right next to each other - and why is he being followed everywhere by two mysterious emissaries of the British Secret Service? Expo 58 may represent a glittering future, both for Europe and for Thomas himself, but he will soon be forced to decide where his public and private loyalties really lie. Written by Jonathan Coe Abridged by Libby Spurrier Read by Tim McInnerny Produced by Joanna Green A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4. A civil servant is sent to an exhibition in Brussels to oversee a replica British pub. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 02 | 20130910 | London 1958: Unassuming civil servant Thomas Foley is plucked from his desk at the Central Office of Information and sent on a six-month trip to Brussels. His task - to keep an eye on The Britannia, a brand new pub which will form the heart of the British presence at Expo 58, the biggest World's Fair of the century and the first to be held since the Second World War. As soon as he arrives at the site, Thomas feels that he has escaped a repressed, backward-looking country and fallen headlong into an era of modernity and optimism. He is equally bewitched by the surreal, gigantic Atomium, which stands at the heart of this brave new world, and by Anneke, the lovely Flemish hostess who meets him off his plane. But Thomas's new-found sense of freedom comes at a price. The Cold War is at its height, the mischievous Belgians have placed the American and Soviet pavilions right next to each other - and why is he being followed everywhere by two mysterious emissaries of the British Secret Service? Expo 58 may represent a glittering future, both for Europe and for Thomas himself, but he will soon be forced to decide where his public and private loyalties really lie. Written by Jonathan Coe Abridged by Libby Spurrier Read by Tim McInnerny Produced by Joanna Green A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4. Arriving in Brussels, Thomas is greeted by the lovely Expo 58 hostess Anneke. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 03 | 20130911 | London 1958: Unassuming civil servant Thomas Foley is plucked from his desk at the Central Office of Information and sent on a six-month trip to Brussels. His task - to keep an eye on The Britannia, a brand new pub which will form the heart of the British presence at Expo 58, the biggest World's Fair of the century and the first to be held since the Second World War. As soon as he arrives at the site, Thomas feels that he has escaped a repressed, backward-looking country and fallen headlong into an era of modernity and optimism. He is equally bewitched by the surreal, gigantic Atomium, which stands at the heart of this brave new world, and by Anneke, the lovely Flemish hostess who meets him off his plane. But Thomas's new-found sense of freedom comes at a price. The Cold War is at its height, the mischievous Belgians have placed the American and Soviet pavilions right next to each other - and why is he being followed everywhere by two mysterious emissaries of the British Secret Service? Expo 58 may represent a glittering future, both for Europe and for Thomas himself, but he will soon be forced to decide where his public and private loyalties really lie. Written by Jonathan Coe Abridged by Libby Spurrier Read by Tim McInnerny Produced by Joanna Green A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4. With Thomas's trip imminent, his wife shows her displeasure by flirting with the neighbour Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 04 | 20130912 | London 1958: Unassuming civil servant Thomas Foley is plucked from his desk at the Central Office of Information and sent on a six-month trip to Brussels. His task - to keep an eye on The Britannia, a brand new pub which will form the heart of the British presence at Expo 58, the biggest World's Fair of the century and the first to be held since the Second World War. As soon as he arrives at the site, Thomas feels that he has escaped a repressed, backward-looking country and fallen headlong into an era of modernity and optimism. He is equally bewitched by the surreal, gigantic Atomium, which stands at the heart of this brave new world, and by Anneke, the lovely Flemish hostess who meets him off his plane. But Thomas's new-found sense of freedom comes at a price. The Cold War is at its height, the mischievous Belgians have placed the American and Soviet pavilions right next to each other - and why is he being followed everywhere by two mysterious emissaries of the British Secret Service? Expo 58 may represent a glittering future, both for Europe and for Thomas himself, but he will soon be forced to decide where his public and private loyalties really lie. Written by Jonathan Coe Abridged by Libby Spurrier Read by Tim McInnerny Produced by Joanna Green A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4. At the opening night party, Thomas meets a Russian journalist with a passion for crisps. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 05 | 20130913 | London 1958: Unassuming civil servant Thomas Foley is plucked from his desk at the Central Office of Information and sent on a six-month trip to Brussels. His task - to keep an eye on The Britannia, a brand new pub which will form the heart of the British presence at Expo 58, the biggest World's Fair of the century and the first to be held since the Second World War. As soon as he arrives at the site, Thomas feels that he has escaped a repressed, backward-looking country and fallen headlong into an era of modernity and optimism. He is equally bewitched by the surreal, gigantic Atomium, which stands at the heart of this brave new world, and by Anneke, the lovely Flemish hostess who meets him off his plane. But Thomas's new-found sense of freedom comes at a price. The Cold War is at its height, the mischievous Belgians have placed the American and Soviet pavilions right next to each other - and why is he being followed everywhere by two mysterious emissaries of the British Secret Service? Expo 58 may represent a glittering future, both for Europe and for Thomas himself, but he will soon be forced to decide where his public and private loyalties really lie. Written by Jonathan Coe Abridged by Libby Spurrier Read by Tim McInnerny Produced by Joanna Green A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4. Thomas discovers that his roommate and the highly-prized ZETA machine have disappeared. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 06 | 20130916 | London, 1958: unassuming civil servant Thomas Foley is plucked from his desk at the Central Office of Information and sent on a six-month trip to Brussels. His task: to keep an eye on The Britannia, a brand new pub which will form the heart of the British presence at Expo 58 - the biggest World's Fair of the century, and the first to be held since the Second World War. As soon as he arrives at the site, Thomas feels that he has escaped a repressed, backward-looking country and fallen headlong into an era of modernity and optimism. He is equally bewitched by the surreal, gigantic Atomium, which stands at the heart of this brave new world, and by Anneke, the lovely Flemish hostess who meets him off his plane. But Thomas's new-found sense of freedom comes at a price: the Cold War is at its height, the mischievous Belgians have placed the American and Soviet pavilions right next to each other - and why is he being followed everywhere by two mysterious emissaries of the British Secret Service? Expo 58 may represent a glittering future, both for Europe and for Thomas himself, but he will soon be forced to decide where his public and private loyalties really lie. CREDITS: READER: TIM MCINNERNY BY JONATHAN COE ABRIDGED BY LIBBY SPURRIER PRODUCED BY JOANNA GREEN. Thomas is bundled into a car and whisked away to an unknown location. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 07 | 20130917 | London, 1958: unassuming civil servant Thomas Foley is plucked from his desk at the Central Office of Information and sent on a six-month trip to Brussels. His task: to keep an eye on The Britannia, a brand new pub which will form the heart of the British presence at Expo 58 - the biggest World's Fair of the century, and the first to be held since the Second World War. As soon as he arrives at the site, Thomas feels that he has escaped a repressed, backward-looking country and fallen headlong into an era of modernity and optimism. He is equally bewitched by the surreal, gigantic Atomium, which stands at the heart of this brave new world, and by Anneke, the lovely Flemish hostess who meets him off his plane. But Thomas's new-found sense of freedom comes at a price: the Cold War is at its height, the mischievous Belgians have placed the American and Soviet pavilions right next to each other - and why is he being followed everywhere by two mysterious emissaries of the British Secret Service? Expo 58 may represent a glittering future, both for Europe and for Thomas himself, but he will soon be forced to decide where his public and private loyalties really lie. CREDITS: BY JONATHAN COE BOOK AT BEDTIME: Monday 9 - Friday 13 September 2013 and Monday 16 - Friday 20 September 2013 READER: TIM MCINNERNY ABRIDGED BY LIBBY SPURRIER PRODUCED BY JOANNA GREEN A Pier production for BBC Radio 4. The thought of doing his bit for Queen and country makes Thomas feel like a hero. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 08 | 20130918 | London, 1958: unassuming civil servant Thomas Foley is plucked from his desk at the Central Office of Information and sent on a six-month trip to Brussels. His task: to keep an eye on The Britannia, a brand new pub which will form the heart of the British presence at Expo 58 - the biggest World's Fair of the century, and the first to be held since the Second World War. As soon as he arrives at the site, Thomas feels that he has escaped a repressed, backward-looking country and fallen headlong into an era of modernity and optimism. He is equally bewitched by the surreal, gigantic Atomium, which stands at the heart of this brave new world, and by Anneke, the lovely Flemish hostess who meets him off his plane. But Thomas's new-found sense of freedom comes at a price: the Cold War is at its height, the mischievous Belgians have placed the American and Soviet pavilions right next to each other - and why is he being followed everywhere by two mysterious emissaries of the British Secret Service? Expo 58 may represent a glittering future, both for Europe and for Thomas himself, but he will soon be forced to decide where his public and private loyalties really lie. BY JONATHAN COE BOOK AT BEDTIME: Monday 9 - Friday 13 September 2013 and Monday 16 - Friday 20 September 2013 READER: TIM MCINNERNY ABRIDGED BY LIBBY SPURRIER PRODUCED BY JOANNA GREEN A Pier production for BBC Radio 4. Having discovered a corn plaster in his bed at home Thomas questions Sylvia's faithfulness Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 09 | 20130919 | London, 1958: unassuming civil servant Thomas Foley is plucked from his desk at the Central Office of Information and sent on a six-month trip to Brussels. His task: to keep an eye on The Britannia, a brand new pub which will form the heart of the British presence at Expo 58 - the biggest World's Fair of the century, and the first to be held since the Second World War. As soon as he arrives at the site, Thomas feels that he has escaped a repressed, backward-looking country and fallen headlong into an era of modernity and optimism. He is equally bewitched by the surreal, gigantic Atomium, which stands at the heart of this brave new world, and by Anneke, the lovely Flemish hostess who meets him off his plane. But Thomas's new-found sense of freedom comes at a price: the Cold War is at its height, the mischievous Belgians have placed the American and Soviet pavilions right next to each other - and why is he being followed everywhere by two mysterious emissaries of the British Secret Service? Expo 58 may represent a glittering future, both for Europe and for Thomas himself, but he will soon be forced to decide where his public and private loyalties really lie. CREDITS: BY JONATHAN COE READER: TIM MCINNERNY ABRIDGED BY LIBBY SPURRIER PRODUCED BY JOANNA GREEN A Pier production for BBC Radio 4. As Thomas is recalled back to London, he and Anneke say a passionate goodbye. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 10 | 20130920 | London, 1958: unassuming civil servant Thomas Foley is plucked from his desk at the Central Office of Information and sent on a six-month trip to Brussels. His task: to keep an eye on The Britannia, a brand new pub which will form the heart of the British presence at Expo 58 - the biggest World's Fair of the century, and the first to be held since the Second World War. As soon as he arrives at the site, Thomas feels that he has escaped a repressed, backward-looking country and fallen headlong into an era of modernity and optimism. He is equally bewitched by the surreal, gigantic Atomium, which stands at the heart of this brave new world, and by Anneke, the lovely Flemish hostess who meets him off his plane. But Thomas's new-found sense of freedom comes at a price: the Cold War is at its height, the mischievous Belgians have placed the American and Soviet pavilions right next to each other - and why is he being followed everywhere by two mysterious emissaries of the British Secret Service? Expo 58 may represent a glittering future, both for Europe and for Thomas himself, but he will soon be forced to decide where his public and private loyalties really lie. A Pier production for BBC Radio 4. Thomas is set up with a new job which seems too easy to secure. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |