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15 Minute Drama

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Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations

15 Minute Drama: The Little Ottleys

Haydn Gwynne

Juliet Aubrey

15 Minute Drama: The Little Ottleys: Episode 1

Drama: Classic & Period

The Little Ottleys

Episode 1

BBC Radio 4 - 15 Minute Drama, The Little Ottleys, Episode 1

It is early autumn in the year 1916. Bruce Ottley has returned to England.

It is early autumn in 1916. Bruce Ottley, having gone to America to escape the Zeppelins and to live with Madame Frabelle, has returned to England, much to the dismay of Aylmer.

Series Four (5 episodes)
Episode One
It is early Autumn in the year 1916.
Bruce Ottley, having gone to America to
escape the Zeppelins and to live with
Madame Frabelle, has returned to
England. Though divorced from Edith he
is still residing in the spare room of the
very concise house in Sloane Street,
Knightsbridge. Much to the dismay of Aylmer.

Directed by Tracey Neale


The Story & Characters:

Bruce, Edith and Aylmer are locked in their curious but delightful triangle. Bruce has returned from America, and has been attempting to convince Edith that everything should and can be exactly as it was before. He's unable to function without Edith, but he patronises her (just as he did before), tries to act the domineering husband (despite the fact that he divorced Edith at the end of Series 2) - and is impelled by his vanity to indulge in amorous adventures with other women.

Edith is in love with handsome, cultured Aylmer, and before Bruce's return was on the point of marrying him, but she's unwilling to keep Bruce out of the Ottley home (though she has relegated him to the spare room.) Bruce is a vexation and the single obstacle to Edith's perfect happiness, but she would never forgive herself if she abandoned him and he came to grief.

As for Aylmer, he's as much in love with Edith as he ever was, and finds Bruce ridiculous and aggravating beyond measure, but - having failed to persuade Edith to ditch her former husband - he must somehow learn to live with a shared Edith, and to endure Bruce.

There are three other characters in this fourth series:

Madame Frabelle, who was last encountered in Series 2, where she was a guest with the Ottleys, developed warm feelings for Bruce, and left with him for America. She returns in this series with some surprising news.

Miss Flummerfelt, an amateur actress with whom Bruce has developed a behind-the-scenes relationship but who he had denounced, in front of Edith and Aylmer, as a licentious predator. When their paths cross again Bruce pleads for bygones to be bygones but will Miss Flummerfelt agree?

Vincy Wenham Vincy, is a friend of Edith, a friend of Aylmer, and the nearest approximation possible to a friend of Bruce. Vincy is gormed once again by the turn of events in the Ottley household.

Martyn Wade's sure and dry comic touch is evident once more in his creation of further stories based on Ada Leverson's characters.

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Martyn Wade's witty portrait of love and jealousy set in high society Edwardian London

Martyn Wade's witty portrait of love and jealousy set in high society Edwardian London, based on characters created by Ada Leverson

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The Little Ottleys

Episode 1

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