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15 Minute Drama

The Year They Invented Sex

Episode 3

Duration: 15 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 FMLatest broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 LW

By Caroline and David Stafford. Episode 3.

Inspired by taking part in The Pill trials, June convinces Ray to let go of his inhibitions and Jeanette's husbands attempts to romance her backfire...

Cast:

Jeanette- Clare Corbett
Isobel- Naomi Frederick
June- Sarah Smart
Lella Florence- Joanna Monro
Ray- Lloyd Thomas
Terence- Iain Batchelor

Produced by Lucy Collingwood.

It's 1960 in Birmingham and Lella Florence is looking for women to help with trials of the contraceptive pill. Married women in a certain age and weight bracket are required.

Three very different women decide to take part. Ditsy June's fed up with being under the influence of her overbearing in laws and would rather save up for a new bathroom than for another baby. Glamorous Jeanette wants to avoid another agonising labour and to keep her wealthy husband happy. And Isobel has her own secret reasons for signing up...

All three women couldn't guess the ways their lives will be changed by taking part in the trial and meeting each other.

Written with sharp observation and a great sense of the period, this warm witty drama by Caroline and David Stafford shines a light on how iconic and life changing an invention the Contraceptive Pill was. Show less

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