Turning Point: Wasps in a Jam Jar

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Turning Point

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Ten dramas illuminating historical turning points

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Wasps in a Jam Jar

BBC Radio 4 - Turning Point, Wasps in a Jam Jar

Penelope Wilton and Harriet Walter in a comedy drama about Geoffrey Howe's resignation.

'John Biffen said we were like wasps in jam jar. I didn’t like her and she didn’t like me' - Elspeth Howe recalls the events leading up to the famous speech by her husband in 1990.

Turning Point: Wasps in a Jam Jar by Jonathan Maitland.

Elspeth was married to Geoffrey Howe. She was the complete opposite of the other woman in his life, Margaret Thatcher. Elspeth was Chair of the Broadcasting Standards Commission and a vocal supporter of the homeless. She was a feminist, whereas Mrs Thatcher thought a woman's place was in the home. This rivalry played a substantial part in Geoffrey Howe's famous resignation speech in 1990. Arguably the speech was a major turning point in contemporary history. It meant the end of  Mrs Thatcher.  But most significant of all, the European battle lines in the Conservative Party were indelibly drawn that day. There's a straight line from that speech to the Brexit referendum. This comedy drama by journalist Jonathan Maitland dramatises the events leading up to the speech.

Elspeth Howe...................................Penelope Wilton
Margaret Thatcher.........................Harriet Walter
Geoffrey Howe................................James Fleet
Alan Clark/Nigel Lawson.............Jonty Stephens
Ian Gow/Brian Walden.................Simon Greenall
Journalist...........................................Jonathan Maitland
Commons Speaker.........................Hamilton Berstock

Production Co-Ordinator - Pippa Day
Tech Team - Keith Graham & Jenni Burnett
Sound Design - Sue Stonestreet
Director/Producer  -Gary Brown
A BBC Audio Drama North Production.

This drama is an adaptation of Jonathan Maitland's stage play 'Dead Sheep'. Jonathan Maitland is a well known broadcast journalist who has worked extensively for BBC,  ITV and Radio 4. He is now a playwright with several plays already produced. His new play 'The Interview' will premiere at the Park Theatre in Oct 2023.

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