Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20220904 | by Elizabeth Gaskell dramatised by Lin Coghlan Margaret - Patsy Ferran Mr Hale - Paul Chahidi Mrs Hale - Ruth Everett Dixon - Felicity Montagu John Thornton - James Cartwright Mrs Thornton - Pooky Quesnel Higgins - Sean Gilder Bessy - Olivia Barrowclough Aunt Shaw - Joanna Monro Henry Lennox - Jonathan Forbes Henderson - David Hounslow Boucher - Lloyd Thomas Youth - Colin Ryan Cabbie - Roger Ringrose Directed by Sally Avens Sound by Peter Ringrose and Keith Graham Margaret Hale and her family are forced to move north to the industrial mill town of Milton, an upheaval that brings the awakening of her social conscience. When a strike threatens the town, Margaret finds herself pitted in passionate opposition to the values of local mill owner John Thornton, one of her family's few acquaintances in their new home. Gaskell's great Condition of England novel still resonates today in its portrayal of the north-south divide and its themes of class, gender and social responsibility. It stars award-winning actress Pasty Ferran as Margaret, Paul Chahidi (This Country, Good Omens) as Hale, James Cartwright (The Archers, History Boys, Johnny Shakespeare) as John Thornton and Felicity Montagu (Alan Partridge, Landscapers) as Dixon. Elizabeth Gaskell's great novel of social unrest, starring Patsy Ferran. |
| 02 | 20220911 | by Elizabeth Gaskell Dramatised by Lin Coghlan Margaret - Patsy Ferran Mr Hale - Paul Chahidi John Thornton - James Cartwright Mrs Thornton - Pooky Quesnel Mrs Hale - Ruth Everett Frederick - Colin Ryan Dixon - Felicity Montagu Higgins - Sean Gilder Boucher - Lloyd Thomas Mrs Boucher - Evie Killip Leonards - Luke Nunn Inspector - Jonathan Forbes Old Man - Roger Ringrose Old Woman - Joanna Monro Directed by Sally Avens The Hale family have moved North to Milton, an industrial mill town. Margaret's friendship with Bessy, a young mill girl who died, has brought her into close contact with the suffering of the workers. Now Bessy's father, a union leader, has called a strike and Margaret finds herself caught in the middle between the workers and the mill owner, John Thornton, one of her family's only acquaintances. Gaskell's great novel still resonates today in its portrayal of the north-south divide and its themes of class, gender and social responsibility. Elizabeth Gaskell's novel of social unrest combines passion and politics in a heady mix. |
| 03 | 20220918 | by Elizabeth Gaskell dramatised by Lin Coghlan Margaret - Patsy Ferran John Thornton - James Cartwright Mr Hale - Paul Chahidi Mr Bell - Roger Ringrose Mrs Thornton - Pooky Quesnel Higgins - Sean Gilder Dixon - Felicity Montagu Henry Lennox - Jonathan Forbes Aunt Shaw - Joanna Monro Henderson - David Hounslow Directed by Sally Avens Following the death of a man at the railway station Margaret's reputation is compromised once more. Only John Thornton stands between her and the police, but can Margaret ever redeem herself in his eyes? Elizabeth Gaskell's great state of the nation novel still resonates today with its examination of class, gender and politics and its examination of the north-south divide. Elizabeth Gaskell's condition of England novel, starring Patsy Ferran. |