Tolkien In Love

Original version

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Drama on 4

Drama

Drama from BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra.

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 LW

Will Merrick

Claudia Jessie

John Duttine

Sally Grace

Paul Panting

Ben Wilby

Sean Grundy

Liz Anstee

Drama on 4: Sean Grundy - Tolkien in Love

Tolkien in Love

Sean Grundy - Tolkien in Love

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Sean Grundy - Tolkien in Love

Drama by Sean Grundy about the love of JRR Tolkien's life, based on real events.

4 Extra Debut. Orphaned writer JRR Tolkien and Edith Bratt battle against all odds to come together. Based on real events. Stars Will Merrick.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien and Edith Mary Bratt first met in 1908. They were both orphans living in a boarding house in Birmingham. Despite the difference in their ages and religions - she was 19 and Protestant, he was 16 and Catholic - they fell in love. 

When Ronald's guardian, Father Francis Xavier Morgan, found out, he forbade him to see Edith again until he came of age at 21. Ronald reluctantly obeyed and later left the city after winning an exhibition to Oxford. Edith went to live in Cheltenham. At midnight on the night he turned 21, Ronald wrote to Edith declaring his undying feelings. Unfortunately, in the intervening years, she had got engaged to someone else. He raced to her in Cheltenham, they walked through the countryside and Ronald had one chance to win Edith's heart.

Their love was the inspiration for the Beren and Luthien story at the heart of Tolkien's novel The Silmarillion.

Based on real events and written by Sean Grundy. Starring Will Merrick (Skins, The Rack Pack) as Ronald and Claudia Jessie (Line Of Duty, Their Finest) as Edith. 

Ronald    ......    Will Merrick
Edith    ......    Claudia Jessie
Father Francis    ......    John Duttine
Mrs Faulkner    ......    Sally Grace
George    ......    Paul Panting
Hilary    ......    Ben Wilby

A CPL production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in August 2017.

BBC Radio 4

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

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Drama on 4

Sean Grundy - Tolkien in Love

Contributors

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 Extra

About BBC Radio 4 Extra