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BBC Radio 4 LW

British New Wave

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Celebrating the fiction that became iconic films of the Sixties

British New Wave celebrates the fiction that became iconic films of the Sixties and the figures who became icons themselves

BBC Radio 4 FM

British New Wave: Georgy Girl

Lucy Speed

Paul Ready

Stephen Critchlow

Philippa Stanton

Ella Smith

Ben Crowe

Joanna Brookes

Tracey Neale

Rhiannon Tise

Margaret Forster

British New Wave: Georgy Girl: Episode 1: Georgy Girl - Episode 1

Drama

Georgy Girl - Episode 1

Episode 1

Episode 1: Georgy Girl - Episode 1

Georgy Girl

BBC Radio 4 - British New Wave, Georgy Girl, Georgy Girl - Episode 1

London, 1965. Georgy is sparky, funny and independent but desperate to fall in love.

London, 1965. Georgy is wonderfully sparky, funny and financially independent but desperate to fall in love.

By Margaret Forster
Dramatised by Rhiannon Tise
Georgy is wonderfully sparky, funny and
financially independent. She's living in the
swinging London of 1965 but she's twenty-seven
and never been asked out by a fella, let alone
kissed. She's desperate to fall in love.

Directed by Tracey Neale

The Story:

As part of our British New Wave season the Fifteen Minute Drama brings to the Radio 4 airwaves the compelling story of Georgina Parkin. Georgy is twenty-seven. Brought up in Kensington by her parents, Ted and Doris who are live-in servants of rich socialite James. She lives in her own flat in Battersea with the cool and disdainful Meredith who has the male population at her feet. Georgy thinks her flat-mate is beautiful, witty and clever. Georgy, on the other hand, is a physically awkward, large young woman, who lacks self-esteem, never been taken out on a date, let alone kissed. She is desperate to meet someone and fall in love. This is the Swinging Sixties after all.

And then she falls in love with Jos, a charming and directionless young man. But there's a problem - he's Meredith's fella and there are complications when Meredith announces she is pregnant. A tangled living situation emerges. Then James makes Georgy an unconventional and surprising offer which she agrees to think about. Is his offer the key to Georgy's happiness? Or, will she hold out for true love with Jos?

The Writer:

Margaret Forster is the author of many successful novels, including Lady's Maid, Have the Men Had Enough? and The Memory Box and several acclaimed biographies, including Good Wives. Her most recent books have been Diary of an Ordinary Woman and The Unknown Bridesmaid.

The Dramatist:

Rhiannon won the Richard Imison Award for her first radio play The Waltzer. Her most recent radio play, broadcast earlier this year, was Outside In. Rhiannon has written for the BBC series Doctors and her stage plays have been performed at The Royal Court, The Royal National Theatre, The Traverse Theatre, The Tron Theatre Glasgow, Soho Theatre and The Arcola Theatre.

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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.

Rhiannon Tise dramatises Margaret Forster's tale set in the swinging London of 1965

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