Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20210208 | 1944: In the fictional south London borough of Bexford, a German rocket explodes, destroying an entire store and part of the high street. Among the dead are Valerie, Jo, Vern, Alec and Ben - four-year-olds who were accompanying their mothers to Woolworths.
Their part in time is done' but what of their possible futures? In some other version of the reel of time' their might-be and could-be lives are played out across the next 65 years.
1949 finds Val, Jo, Vern and Alec in a school singing lesson. Meanwhile, nine-year-old Ben is taken to a Millwall game.
Francis Spufford's first novel, Golden Hill, won the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel takes its title from the Book of Common Prayer - Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Written by Francis Spufford
1944: Five young lives are ended. But what of their possible futures? What if? |
| 02 | 20210209 | 1944: In the fictional south London borough of Bexford, a German rocket explodes, destroying an entire store and part of the high street. Among the dead are Valerie, Jo, Vern, Alec and Ben - four year-olds who were accompanying their mothers to Woolworths.
Their part in time is done' but what of their possible futures? In some other version of the reel of time' their might-be and could-be lives are played out across the next 65 years.
It's 1964 and Alec has followed in his father's footsteps as a typesetter. Val takes a trip to Margate.
Francis Spufford's first novel, Golden Hill, won the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel takes its title from the Book of Common Prayer - Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Written by Francis Spufford
1964: Alec has followed in his father\u2019s footsteps as a typesetter. Val goes to Margate. 1944: Five young lives are ended. But what of their possible futures? What if? |
| 03 | 20210210 | 1944: In the fictional south London borough of Bexford, a German rocket explodes, destroying an entire store and part of the high street. Among the dead are Valerie, Jo, Vern, Alec and Ben - four year-olds who were accompanying their mothers to Woolworths.
Their part in time is done' but what of their possible futures? In some other version of the reel of time' their might-be and could-be lives are played out across the next 65 years.
It's 1964 and 24 year-old Vern needs to secure a loan. He takes a young Millwall footballer out to lunch.
Francis Spufford's first novel, Golden Hill, won the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel takes its title from the Book of Common Prayer - Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Written by Francis Spufford
1964: the possible futures of five children killed in a wartime attack continue to unfold. 1944: Five young lives are ended. But what of their possible futures? What if? |
| 04 | 20210211 | 1944: In the fictional south London borough of Bexford, a German rocket explodes, destroying an entire store and part of the high street. Among the dead are Valerie, Jo, Vern, Alec and Ben - four year-olds who were accompanying their mothers to Woolworths.
Their part in time is done' but what of their possible futures? In some other version of the reel of time' their might-be and could-be lives are played out across the next 65 years.
It's 1979. Ben is 39 years-old and,having been taken off medication and thrust back into the workplace, he is struggling to keep going in a world of internalised, brutally cruel voices. Working as a bus conductor offers the relief and distraction of keeping busy.
Francis Spufford's first novel, Golden Hill, won the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel takes its title from the Book of Common Prayer - Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Written by Francis Spufford
It\u2019s 1979 and the lives of five children killed by a wartime bomb continue to unfold. 1944: Five young lives are ended. But what of their possible futures? What if? |
| 05 | 20210212 | 1944: In the fictional south London borough of Bexford, a German rocket explodes, destroying an entire store and part of the high street. Among the dead are Valerie, Jo, Vern, Alec and Ben - four year-olds who were accompanying their mothers to Woolworths.
Their part in time is done' but what of their possible futures? In some other version of the reel of time' their might-be and could-be lives are played out across the next 65 years.
It's 1979 and, five months into the dispute between printworkers and management at The Times, Alec is on the picket. In California, Jo is making music but still rebuffed by love.
Francis Spufford's first novel, Golden Hill, won the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel takes its title from the Book of Common Prayer - Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Written by Francis Spufford
1979: Alec is defiant in the dispute between printers and management at The Times. 1944: Five young lives are ended. But what of their possible futures? What if? |
| 06 | 20210215 | 1944: In the fictional south London borough of Bexford, a German rocket explodes, destroying an entire store and part of the high street. Among the dead are Valerie, Jo, Vern, Alec and Ben - four year-olds who were accompanying their mothers to Woolworths.
Their part in time is done' but what of their possible futures? In some other version of the reel of time' their might-be and could-be lives are played out across the next 65 years.
It's 1979 and the printers dispute at The Times Newspaper shows no sign of ending yet. Vernon Taylor finds himself on the street in need of a place to stay.
Francis Spufford's first novel, Golden Hill, won the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel takes its title from the Book of Common Prayer - Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Written by Francis Spufford
1979: As the dispute still drags on at The Times, Vernon's life is also in disarray. 1944: Five young lives are ended. But what of their possible futures? What if? |
| 07 | 20210216 | In 1944, a German V2 rocket destroyed an entire store and part of a south London high street. Among the dead are Valerie, Jo, Vern, Alec and Ben - four year-olds who were accompanying their mothers to Woolworths.
Their part in time is done' but what of their possible futures? In some other version of the reel of time' their might-be and could-be lives are played out across the next 65 years.
Now in 1994, Val is a volunteer at Samaritans. Her experiences from years before mean she can now help others.
Francis Spufford's first novel, Golden Hill, won the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel takes its title from the Book of Common Prayer - Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Written by Francis Spufford
It\u2019s 1994, and Val is manning the phones. Ben has been rescued. 1944: Five young lives are ended. But what of their possible futures? What if? |
| 08 | 20210217 | In 1944, a German V2 rocket destroyed an entire store and part of a south London high street. Among the dead are Valerie, Jo, Vern, Alec and Ben - four year-olds who were accompanying their mothers to Woolworths.
Their part in time is done' but what of their possible futures? In some other version of the reel of time' their might-be and could-be lives are played out across the next 65 years.
It's 1994 and Glyndebourne is inaugurating its new opera house, Vern dines al fresco. Jo is back in London and teaching music.
Francis Spufford's first novel, Golden Hill, won the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel takes its title from the Book of Common Prayer - Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Written by Francis Spufford
In the summer of 1994, Vern goes to Glyndebourne. Jo gives a singing lesson. 1944: Five young lives are ended. But what of their possible futures? What if? |
| 09 | 20210218 | It's 1944 and, in the fictional south London borough of Bexford, a German rocket explodes, destroying an entire store and part of the high street. Among the dead are Valerie, Jo, Vern, Alec and Ben - four year-olds who were accompanying their mothers to Woolworths.
Their part in time is done' but what of their possible futures? In some other version of the reel of time' their might-be and could-be lives are played out across the next 65 years.
In Episode 9, it's 1994 and Alec has completed an Open University teaching degree and is about to start work.
Francis Spufford's first novel, Golden Hill, won the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel takes its title from the Book of Common Prayer - Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Written by Francis Spufford
1994: Alec has completed an Open University teaching degree and is about to start work. 1944: Five young lives are ended. But what of their possible futures? What if? |
| 10 | 20210219 | It's 1944 and, in the fictional south London borough of Bexford, a German rocket explodes, destroying an entire store and part of the high street. Among the dead are Valerie, Jo, Vern, Alec and Ben - four year-olds who were accompanying their mothers to Woolworths.
Their part in time is done' but what of their possible futures? In some other version of the reel of time' their might-be and could-be lives are played out across the next 65 years.
In Episode 10, Jo is surprised by the past. Alec and his ex-wife attend a family wedding. The imaginary reel of time is slowing, and the possible future lives draw to a close.
Francis Spufford's first novel, Golden Hill, won the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel takes its title from the Book of Common Prayer - Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Written by Francis Spufford
2009: The imaginary reel of time is slowing and the possible future lives draw to a close. 1944: Five young lives are ended. But what of their possible futures? What if? |