All-star dramatisation of the correspondence of Ada Lovelace, revealing the intense inner world of a young Victorian Lady who anticipated our digital age.

Ada was the abandoned daughter of the romantic poet Lord Byron. Concerned that Ada might inherit her father’s feckless and ‘dangerous’ poetic tendencies, her single mother Lady Byron made sure she was tutored thoroughly in mathematics, and regularly prescribed ‘more maths’ to improve her mental health.

When she came out in London society, Ada met the man who would change her life, but not in the way most debutantes would have imagined. The distinguished mathematician, Charles Babbage became her life-long friend and mentor: Ada was fascinated by his steam-powered calculating machines.

Supported by her husband William, she defied society’s expectations, studying mathematics with extraordinary passion and determination when she was married with three small children; and later suggesting boldly to Babbage that he might like to work with her on his innovative thinking machines.

Ada Lovelace ...... Sally Hawkins
Lady Byron ...... Olivia Williams
Charles Babbage ...... Anthony Head
William ...... George Watkins

With Georgina Ferry

Producer: Anna Buckley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2015. Show less