Kristin Scott Thomas narrates and Dervla Kerwin stars in this two-part adaptation by Lavinia Greenlaw of Virginia Woolf's comic novel, set in London before the First World War.

Katharine Hilbery is forced to choose between her engagement to the eminently suitable William Rodney and her attraction to Ralph Denham. Meanwhile, suffragette Mary Datchet must also choose between her passion for Ralph and her dedication to the suffrage cause.
(Repeated on Saturday at 9pm)

[Picture caption] An unusual perspective on the Chelsea set at the beginning of the last century, as observed by writer Virginia Woolf

"Nothing interesting ever happens to me," says Katharine Hilbery, the beautiful, privileged, witty and bright granddaughter of a distinguished Victorian poet - which should give you some clue that a great life-changing challenge is about to burst on to her horizons. This is the start of a two-part adaptation of Virginia Woolf's romantic-comedy novel, set in pre-First World War Chelsea, in which a group of modern young thinkers believe they can change the world with poetry and pamphlets. Kristin Scott Thomas makes an impressive radio debut as the narrator and her performance is matched by a quality cast that includes Dervla Kirwan, Jamie Glover, Susannah Corbett and John MacKay. These four are involved in the two key romances that form the basis of the novel, but for me it is Woolf's timeless genius with words that makes this a must: "The office atmosphere is very bad for the soul," being a line that particularly appealed!