Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | A Study Of Provincial Life | 20191123 | By George Eliot Adapted by Katie Hims A new adaptation of one of the 100 Novels That Shaped Our World Episode One: A Study of Provincial Life The Narrator, George Eliot - Juliet Aubrey Dorothea - Olivia Vinall Edward Casaubon - Charles Edwards Dr Lydgate - John Heffernan Will Ladislaw - Joseph Quinn Mr Brooke - Neil McCaul Sir James Chettam - Hugh Skinner Reverend Farebrother - Miles Jupp Mr Bulstrode - Adrian Scarborough Celia - Lucy Reynolds Peter Featherstone - Clive Hayward Fred Vincy - Will Kirk Rosamond Vincy - Laura Christy Mr Vincy - Rick Warden Mrs Cadwallader - Jessica Turner Adolf Naumann - Adam Courting Dr Hawley - Greg Jones Servant - Sinead MacInnes. This Radio 4 adaptation is part of the BBC's The Novels That Shaped Our World - a year-long celebration of literature. Middlemarch is a jewel in the classic novel crown and has a truly wonderful epic arc; it has politics, tragedy, romance and delicious moments of comedy. It's full of highly complex characters and includes wonderfully dynamic females. There are two fascinating storylines that pack a powerful punch. There is the controlling Casaubon, with his hold over Dorothea, and the masterly crafted downfall of Bulstrode. In this 'study of Provincial Life', we follow multiple narratives and viewpoints and they are cleverly twisted together so we have a sense of people constantly threatening and shifting and realigning one another's stories. It's an entire world in microcosm. We witness lives colliding - it's 'the convergence of human lots' and it's about the difficulties of civilisation; we are all the same, and yet we are not the same at all. 'We all of us, grave or light, get our thoughts entangled in metaphors and act fatally on the strength of them. George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love and politics adapted by Katie Hims. George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |
| 02 | Episode 2 : Something More Unmanageable Than A Dragon | 20191125 | By George Eliot Adapted by Katie Hims Edward Casaubon has taken his new wife to Rome. A deep sadness has enveloped his young bride, Dorothea, but while she is sitting all alone an unexpected visitor calls at the apartment. Cast: George Eliot - Juliet Aubrey Dorothea - Olivia Vinall Edward Casaubon - Charles Edwards Will Ladislaw - Joseph Quinn Adolf Naumann - Adam Courting Tantripp - Scarlett Courtney Directed by Tracey Neale George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love and politics adapted by Katie Hims. George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |
| 03 | Episode 3 : A Terrible Optimism | 20191126 | Fred Vincy embarks on an economic learning curve, and learns very little. Cast George Eliot - Juliet Aubrey Featherstone - Clive Hayward Fred Vincy - Will KIrk Mary Garth - Scarlett Courtney Mrs Garth - Alison Belbin Caleb Garth - Neil McCaul Letty Garth - Grace Doherty Mr Bambridge - Rick Warden Farmer - Ikky Elyas Writer: Katie Hims Director: Jessica Dromgoole George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love and politics adapted by Katie Hims. George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |
| 04 | Episode 4 : Vanishing From Daylight | 20191127 | The Casaubons' honeymoon is well and truly over. Cast George Eliot - Juliet Aubrey Dorothea - Olivia Vinall Edward Casaubon - Charles Edwards Celia Brooke - Lucy Reynolds Arthur Brooke - Neil McCaul Sir James Chettam - Hugh Skinner Tertius Lydgate - John Heffernan Rosamond Vincy - Laura Christy Writer: Katie Hims Director: Jessica Dromgoole George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love and politics, adapted by Katie Hims. George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |
| 05 | Episode 5 : Unconcerned As A Jellyfish | 20191128 | When Fred contracts typhoid, Dr Lydgate is drawn into the web of the Vincy household, and specifically, Rosamond Vincy. Cast George Eliot - Juliet Aubrey Tertius Lydgate - John Heffernan Rosamond Vincy - Laura Christy Harriet Bulstrode - Rosie Cavaliero Mr Vincy - Rick Warden Mrs Vincy - Heather Craney Fred Vincy - Will Kirk Peter Featherstone - Clive Hayward Mary Garth - Scarlett Courtney Writer: Katie Hims Director: Jessica Dromgoole George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love and politics, adapted by Katie Hims. George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |
| 06 | Episode 6 : A Key To Understanding | 20191129 | George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love and politics, adapted by Katie Hims. George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |
| 07 | Episode 7: False Expectations | 20191202 | A new adaptation of one of the 100 Novels That Shaped Our World The surprises contained in Peter Featherstone's will precipitate a lot more than an inheritance. Cast George Eliot - Juliet Aubrey Tertius Lydgate - John Heffernan Rosamond - Laura Christy Mr Vincy - Rick Warden Mrs Vincy - Heather Craney Fred Vincy - Will Kirk Mary Garth - Scarlett Courtney Standish - Clive Hayward Writer: Katie Hims Director: Jessica Dromgoole George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love and politics, adapted by Katie Hims. George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |
| 08 | Episode 8: A Small Part Of An Avalanche | 20191203 | A misunderstanding leads Edward Casaubon to suspect his wife of perfidy, and challenge her to a test of her loyalties. Cast George Eliot - Juliet Aubrey Dorothea - Olivia Vinall Edward Casaubon - Charles Edwards Will Ladislaw - Joseph Quinn Arthur Brooke - Neil McCaul Tertius Lydgate - John Heffernan Rosamond Lydgate - Laura Christy Tantripp - Scarlett Courtney Writer: Katie Hims Director: Jessica Dromgoole George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love and politics, adapted by Katie Hims. George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |
| 09 | An Unexpected Electricity | 20191204 | Dorothea makes a terrible discovery about her late husband, and Fred Vincy makes a great step forwards in understanding himself. Cast George Eliot - Juliet Aubrey Dorothea - Olivia Vinall Celia Brooke - Lucy Reynolds Tertius Lydgate - John Heffernan Farebrother - Miles Jupp Farebrother's Aunt - Heather Craney Fred Vincy - Will Kirk Mary Garth - Scarlett Courtney Caleb Garth - Neil McCaul Mrs Garth - Alison Belbin Letty Garth - Grace Doherty Writer: Katie Hims Director: Jessica Dromgoole George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love and politics, adapted by Katie Hims. George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |
| 10 | The Whispering Gallery | 20191205 | By George Eliot Adapted by Katie Hims A stranger arrives in Middlemarch but for one person it will prove to be a nightmare encounter. George Eliot - Juliet Aubrey Nicholas Bulstrode - Adrian Scarborough John Raffles - Clive Hayward Will Ladislaw - Joseph Quinn Mr Trumball - Neil McCaul Clerk - Greg Jones Barman - Adam Courting Auction Bidder - Will Kirk Directed by Tracey Neale George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love and politics adapted by Katie Hims. George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |
| 11 | Please, Remember Me | 20191206 | George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love, and politics adapted by Katie Hims George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |
| 12 | The Convergence Of Human Lots | 20191207 | By George Eliot Adapted by Katie Hims The final visit to Middlemarch as we witness the stealthy convergence of human lots, the interweaving and the unravelling of the stories of love, family and friendship set in an English town. George Eliot - Juliet Aubrey Dorothea - Olivia Vinall Will - Joseph Quinn Mr Bulstrode - Adrian Scarborough Mrs Bulstrode - Rose Cavaliero Dr Lydgate - John Heffernan Rosamond - Laura Christy Rev Farebrother - Miles Jupp Celia - Lucy Reynolds Sir James - Hugh Skinner Mr Brooke/Mr Garth - Neil McCaul Mary Garth - Scarlett Courtney Letty Garth - Grace Doherty Fred Vincy - Will Kirk Mr Vincy - Rick Warden Mrs Vincy - Heather Craney Mrs Plymdale - Jessica Turner Dr Hawley/Clerk - Greg Jones Mrs Abel - Sinead MacInnes Mr Hopkins - Ikky Elyas George Eliot's beloved classic novel of life, love and politics adapted by Katie Hims. George Eliot's tale of life, love and politics in a English town. Adapted by Katie Hims. |