Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20190916 | In this brilliant and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood answers the questions that have tantalised readers for decades.
In The Testaments, set fifteen years after the events of her dystopian masterpiece, the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within. Now the testimonies of three different women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion. Today we hear from the infamous Aunt Lydia, and Agnes, a young girl who has only known life in Gilead.
Dear Readers: Everything you've ever asked me about Gilead and its inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! The other inspiration is the world we've been living in.' Margaret Atwood
The literary event of the year.' Guardian
Writer: Margaret Atwood is the author of more than fifty books, including novels such as Cat's Eye, The Robber Bride, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin and the MaddAddam trilogy. Her 1985 classic, The Handmaid's Tale, went back into the bestseller charts with the election of Donald Trump, when the Handmaids became a symbol of resistance against the disempowerment of women, and with the 2017 release of the award-winning Channel 4 TV series.
Margaret Atwood\u2019s powerful and much-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 02 | 20190917 | Margaret Atwood's long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. Set fifteen years after the events of her dystopian masterpiece, the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is starting to rot from within. Now the testimonies of three women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion. Today: Aunt Lydia continues her machinations, while Daisy, a teenage girl in Canada, receives some shocking news
The literary event of the year.' Guardian
Writer: Margaret Atwood is the author of more than fifty books, including novels such The Handmaid's Tale, Cat's Eye, The Robber Bride, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin and the MaddAddam trilogy.
Margaret Atwood\u2019s powerful and much-anticipated sequel to her classic The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 03 | 20190918 | Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
Set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, the testimonies of three women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion. Today: Aunt Lydia recalls the ruthless birth of the Gilead regime, while the young Agnes hears some devastating news about her own mother
Writer: Margaret Atwood is the author of more than fifty books, including novels such The Handmaid's Tale, Cat's Eye, The Robber Bride, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin and the MaddAddam trilogy.
Margaret Atwood\u2019s powerful and hugely anticipated sequel to The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 04 | 20190919 | Margaret Atwood's brilliant and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
In The Testaments, set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, the testimonies of three women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion. Today we continue with Agnes' story - still in shock from the discovery that her mother was a Handmaid, Agnes is given a very unwelcome lesson in sex and death...
Writer: Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 05 | 20190920 | Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, set 15 years after the events of her dystopian masterpiece.
Today, Aunt Lydia continues her account of the violent birth of the Gilead regime, while back in Canada, the teenage Daisy, still in shock after the car bomb, is hit by even more life-changing news
Writer: Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to her classic The Handmaid's Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 06 | 20190923 | Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
In The Testaments, set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, the testimonies of three women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion.
Today, Aunt Lydia reveals how she came to be a Founder of the Gilead regime, while Agnes remembers the preparations for her arranged marriage...
Writer: Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood\u2019s powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 07 | 20190924 | Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
In The Testaments, set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, the testimonies of three women bring the story to a shocking conclusion.
Today, Aunt Lydia continues the tale of her recruitment into the Gilead regime, while back in Canada Daisy struggles with her new identity as Baby Nicole, and what that could now mean for her...
Writer: Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood\u2019s powerful and much-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 08 | 20190925 | Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
In The Testaments, set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, the testimonies of three women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion.
Today, having discovered that she is Baby Nicole, events seem to be spiraling out of control for Daisy; meanwhile Aunt Lydia remembers fondly the machinations that led to the downfall of her rivals...
Writer: Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood\u2019s much-anticipated sequel her dystopian classic, The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 09 | 20190926 | Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
In The Testaments, set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, the testimonies of three women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion.
Today, faced with her imminent marriage to one of the Gilead Commanders, Agnes takes drastic measures. And finds help from a very unlikely source...
Writer: Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood\u2019s long-awaited sequel to her dystopian masterpiece, The Handmaid\u2019s Tale Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 10 | 20190927 | Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
In The Testaments, set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, the testimonies of three women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion.
Today, Agnes adjusts to life at Ardua Hall with the Aunts, while Aunt Lydia sets the downfall of Dr Grove in motion,...
Writer: Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood\u2019s long-awaited sequel to her dystopian masterpiece, The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 11 | 20190930 | Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
In The Testaments, set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, the testimonies of three women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion.
Today, 'Baby Nicole', now going by the name of Jade travels to the heart of Gilead. Meanwhile, Aunt Lydia is relishes in the downfall of Dr Grove...
Writer: Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood\u2019s much-anticipated sequel to her dystopian classic, The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 12 | 20191001 | Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
In The Testaments, set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, the testimonies of three women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion.
Today: Agnes, now known as Aunt Victoria, is given access to some of darkest secrets of Gilead. Meanwhile, Aunt Lydia wavers over whether or not go ahead with her risky plan...
Writer: Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood\u2019s powerful and much-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 13 | 20191002 | Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
In The Testaments, set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, the testimonies of three women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion.
Today: Agnes and Nicole get some shocking and life-changing news; while Aunt Lydia continues her manoeverings against her rival Aunts...
Writer: Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood\u2019s powerful and much-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 14 | 20191003 | Margaret Atwood's powerful and long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
In The Testaments, set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, the testimonies of three women bring the story to a dramatic conclusion.
Today: when Aunt Lydia's hand is forced, Agnes and Nicole must attempt their escape from Gilead immediately ...
Writer: Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood\u2019s powerful and much-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |
| 15 | 20191004 | Margaret Atwood's gripping sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, set fifteen years after the events of Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, comes to a dramatic conclusion.
Today: now cast adrift in an inflatable, Agnes and Nicole desperately try to row their way to the shores of Canada. Their success will spell the end of Gilead, but what will become of Aunt Lydia if they make it?
Writer: Margaret Atwood
The finale of Margaret Atwood\u2019s much-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Margaret Atwood's powerful and hugely-anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale. |