Mapp & Lucia (1985 TV series)

Last updated

Mapp & Lucia
Mapp&lucia dvd cover.jpg
Complete series DVD cover
GenreComedy-drama
Based on Mapp and Lucia by E.F. Benson
Written by Gerald Savory
Directed by Donald McWhinnie
Starring Geraldine McEwan
Prunella Scales
Nigel Hawthorne
Denis Lill
Irene Handl
Composer Jim Parker
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerNick Elliott
ProducerMichael Dunlop
Running time48−51 minutes
Production company London Weekend Television
Original release
Network Channel 4
Release14 April 1985 (1985-04-14) 
31 May 1986 (1986-05-31)

Mapp & Lucia is a British television series, set in the fictional Sussex coastal town of Tilling and based on three 1930s novels by E. F. Benson, beginning with Mapp and Lucia . It was produced by London Weekend Television, filmed in Rye (on which Benson based Tilling) and neighbouring Winchelsea in the 1980s, and starred Prunella Scales as Mapp, Geraldine McEwan as Lucia, Nigel Hawthorne as Georgie, and Denis Lill as Major Benjy. The script was by Gerald Savory. There were ten episodes, (which aired in two series of five) broadcast on Channel 4 in 1985 and 1986. The opening title painting was painted by the artist Reg Cartwright. These have been repeated over the years, and a new BBC adaptation, Mapp & Lucia , aired in 2014.

Contents

Series one is a five-episode adaptation of Mapp and Lucia (1931). Season two adapts both the fifth book ( Lucia's Progress , 1935) in the first three episodes, and the sixth book ( Trouble for Lucia , 1939) in the final two episodes.

Cast

Production

Filming took place in Rye and Winchelsea as well as KentChilham features in episodes 1, 2 and 10, doubling as Risholme and Hever Castle features as the residence of Poppy, Duchess of Sheffield. [1]

Episodes

Series 1 (1985)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Village Fete" Donald McWhinnie Gerald Savory 14 April 1985 (1985-04-14)
Mapp accepts Lucia as her new summer tenant and Georgie, encouraged by Lucia, finds his own lodgings in Tilling. After the successful fete in Riseholme, rescued from disaster by Lucia, they move into their new homes.
2"Battle Stations"Donald McWhinnieGerald Savory21 April 1985 (1985-04-21)
Mapp finds herself losing her position as the queen bee of Tilling society after Lucia's successful entertainments—none of which include Mapp. It appears open war is on the horizon between the two socialites.
3"The Italian Connection"Donald McWhinnieGerald Savory28 April 1985 (1985-04-28)
Lucia's tableaux to raise funds for the local hospital is a success and she takes the opportunity to seek revenge on Mapp for preventing the showing of hers and Georgie's art submissions at the local art exhibition. Lucia's success however is overshadowed by her subsequent home piano recitals that bore the attendees. The Contessa Faraglione visits and Lucia avoids Mapp's plans to expose Lucia's lack of Italian, a fluency she has feigned as she actually knows only a few scattered phrases. Georgie provides the perfect ruse.
4"Lobster Pots"Donald McWhinnieGerald Savory5 May 1985 (1985-05-05)
Lucia decides to stay in Tilling and sells her house in Riseholme, much to Georgie's consternation. Mapp is suitably horrified, but soon is pleased that Tilling society now looks to her. Georgie decides to also stay. When Mapp tries to wheedle out the recipe for "Lobster á la Riseholme" from Lucia, her plan to steal it leads to unforeseen problems.
5"The Owl and the Pussycat"Donald McWhinnieGerald Savory12 May 1985 (1985-05-12)
With the apparent drowning of Mapp and Lucia, both Georgie and Major Flint find themselves about to receive sizable inheritances. Georgie, on his part, has been shopping for a memorial. Mapp and Lucia surprisingly return and find the Major has jumped the gun in claiming his good fortune early. After reflection, Mapp sees an opportunity.

Series 2 (1986)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
6"Winner Takes All"Donald McWhinnieGerald Savory3 May 1986 (1986-05-03)
Georgie has shingles so Lucia lets him stay at Grebe. After dabbling in the stock market Lucia's shares in the South African gold mine Siriami pay dividends and other Tilling residents join in. Everybody profits except Mapp and Major Benjy. Mapp and Lucia stand against each other for seats on the local council.
7"Change and Change About"Donald McWhinnieGerald Savory10 May 1986 (1986-05-10)
Neither Mapp nor Lucia win a seat at the local election. Mapp and Major Benjy are strapped for cash. Lucia proposes that they swap houses and is excited when she believes that she has discovered ancient artifacts buried at Mallards.
8"Lady Bountiful"Donald McWhinnieGerald Savory17 May 1986 (1986-05-17)
Lucia donates money to restore the Tilling church organ and to several local charities. She is also offered a seat on the town council. Mapp and Benjy, still living at Grebe, are flooded out and are forced to move in with Lucia. Lucia has stunning news.
9"Worship"Donald McWhinnieGerald Savory24 May 1986 (1986-05-24)
Lucia marries Georgie and is made the mayor of Tilling. She selects Mapp as Lady Mayoress.
10"Au Reservoir"Donald McWhinnieGerald Savory31 May 1986 (1986-05-31)
Lucia and Georgie travel to London and they meet Poppy who is interested in Georgie. Quaint Irene's portrait of Lucia as mayor is rejected while Irene's painting of Mapp has been declared the picture of the year. Lucia plots to regain her superiority as the social queen of Tilling.

Home releases

SeriesRelease dateRef.
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
Series 112 November 20025 August 20027 July 2010 [2] [3] [4]
Series 222 June 2004N/A29 July 2011 [5] [6]
Series 1 & 225 March 201413 October 2003N/A [7] [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. F. Benson</span> English novelist and writer (1867–1940)

Edward Frederic Benson was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, historian and short story writer.

<i>Oz</i> (TV series) American drama television series

Oz is an American prison drama television series set at a fictional men's prison created and principally written by Tom Fontana. It was the first one-hour dramatic television series to be produced by the premium cable network HBO. Oz premiered on July 12, 1997, and ran for six seasons. The series finale aired on February 23, 2003.

<i>My Hero</i> (British TV series) British TV sitcom (2000–2006)

My Hero is a British television sitcom, created by Paul Mendelson, and produced for the BBC between 2000 and 2006. The series follows the exploits of an alien superhero known as "Thermoman" - a multi-powered superhero who originates from the planet Ultron - during his time between missions after falling in love with a British nurse he rescued. Although incredibly intelligent amongst his kind, Thermoman is unfamiliar with human life, which not only leads others to consider him dim-witted and idiotic, but also causes problems due to his many misunderstandings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rye, East Sussex</span> Town in East Sussex, England

Rye is a town and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England, two miles from the sea at the confluence of three rivers: the Rother, the Tillingham and the Brede. An important member of the mediaeval Cinque Ports confederation, it was at the head of an embayment of the English Channel, and almost entirely surrounded by the sea.

<i>Ballykissangel</i> British television drama series (1996–2001)

Ballykissangel is a BBC television drama created by Kieran Prendiville and set in Ireland, produced in-house by BBC Northern Ireland. The original story revolved around a young English Roman Catholic priest as he became part of a rural community. It ran for six series, which were first broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2001. It aired in Ireland on RTÉ One and in Australia on ABC TV from 1996 to 2001. Repeats have been shown on Drama in the United Kingdom and the series also has been shown in the United States on some PBS affiliates.

Mapp and Lucia is a series of novels by E. F. Benson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geraldine McEwan</span> English actress (1932–2015)

Geraldine McEwan was an English actress, who had a long career in film, theatre and television. Michael Coveney described her, in a tribute article, as "a great comic stylist, with a syrupy, seductive voice and a forthright, sparkling manner".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilling (Sussex)</span>

Tilling is a fictional coastal town, based on Rye, East Sussex, in the Mapp and Lucia novels of Edward Frederic Benson (1867–1940).

<i>The Land Before Time</i> (TV series) American TV series or program

The Land Before Time is an American animated musical television series, based on The Land Before Time film series created by Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss. It was developed for television by Ford Riley for Cartoon Network and was produced by Universal Animation Studios and Amblin Entertainment, and animated by Wang Film Productions in Taiwan and Toon City in the Philippines. It premiered on YTV in Canada for a test on January 5, 2007 and premiered on Cartoon Network in the United States on March 5.

Riseholme is a fictional Elizabethan village in the Cotswolds in the "Lucia" novels of Edward Frederic Benson (1867–1940). It is thought to have been based on Broadway, Worcestershire.

<i>Agatha Christies Marple</i> British ITV television series

Agatha Christie's Marple is a British ITV television programme loosely based on the books and short stories by British crime novelist Agatha Christie. The title character was played by Geraldine McEwan from the first to the third series, until her retirement from the role, and by Julia McKenzie from the fourth series onwards. Unlike the counterpart TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot, the show took many liberties with Christie’s works, most notably adding Miss Marple’s character to the adaptations of novels in which she never appeared. Following the conclusion of the sixth series, the BBC acquired the rights for the production of Agatha Christie adaptations, suggesting that ITV would be unable to make a seventh series of Marple.

<i>Vera</i> (TV series) British crime drama television series (2011–present)

Vera is a British crime drama television series based on the Vera Stanhope series of novels by Ann Cleeves. First broadcast on ITV on 1 May 2011, it stars Brenda Blethyn as the principal character, Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope. In January 2024, it was confirmed that the show has been renewed for a fourteenth series. It was then announced that the series, to air in early 2025, would be the show's last.

<i>Father Brown</i> (2013 TV series) British television period mystery series

Father Brown is a British period detective television series loosely based on the Father Brown short stories by G. K. Chesterton, starring Mark Williams as the crime-solving Roman Catholic priest. Broadcast began on BBC One on 14 January 2013. In April 2023 the BBC confirmed that filming had begun on an 11th series, for broadcast in January 2024, and also confirmed the return of Lorna Watson as Sister Boniface. The commissioning of series 12 and 13 were confirmed in April 2024.

<i>Mapp & Lucia</i> (2014 TV series) British TV series or programme

Mapp & Lucia is a British drama television series that was first broadcast on BBC One from 29 to 31 December 2014. The three-part series, adapted by Steve Pemberton and directed by Diarmuid Lawrence, is based on E. F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia collection of novels. The series features an ensemble cast, with Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor playing the eponymous characters Elizabeth Mapp and Emmeline 'Lucia' Lucas. It is set in the Sussex coastal town of Tilling, based very closely on Rye, East Sussex, where it was filmed and where Benson lived. Although attracting modest viewing figures, the series received positive reviews from critics.

<i>The Durrells</i> British comedy-drama series

The Durrells is a British comedy-drama television series loosely based on Gerald Durrell's three autobiographical books about his family's four years (1935–1939) on the Greek island of Corfu. It aired on ITV from 3 April 2016 to 12 May 2019. The series is written by Simon Nye, directed by Steve Barron and Roger Goldby, and produced by Christopher Hall. Lee Durrell, Gerald Durrell's widow and director of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, acted as consultant. The series was partly filmed on location in Corfu, as well as at Ealing Studios and Twickenham Studios in London.

Miss Mapp is a 1922 comic novel written by E. F. Benson. It is the second of six novels in the popular Mapp and Lucia series, about idle women in the 1920s and their struggle for social dominance over their small communities. This book introduces Miss Mapp, the social tyrant of the fictional coastal town of Tilling, and the cast of Tillingites, including Diva Plaistow, Major Benji Flint, Mr. and Mrs. Wyse, and Quaint Irene. Tilling was inspired by the town of Rye, where Benson lived at Lamb House, with his own commanding view of the High Street inspiring Mapp's domain, Mallards.

<i>Prisoner</i> season 3 Australian drama television series

The third season of Australian drama television series Prisoner premiered on Network Ten on 4 February 1981. It consists of 81 episodes and concluded on 11 November 1981.

<i>Mapp and Lucia</i> 1931 novel by E. F. Benson

Mapp and Lucia is a 1931 comic novel written by E. F. Benson. It is the fourth of six novels in the popular Mapp and Lucia series, about idle women in the 1920s and their struggle for social dominance over their small communities. It brings together two sets of characters from three previous Benson novels: Emmeline "Lucia" Lucas, Georgie Pillson and Daisy Quantock from Queen Lucia (1920) and Lucia in London (1927), and Miss Elizabeth Mapp and her neighbours from Miss Mapp (1922).

Lucia's Progress is a 1935 comic novel written by E.F. Benson. It is the fifth of six novels in the popular Mapp and Lucia series, about idle women in the 1920s and their struggle for social dominance over their small communities. It continues the story from the 1931 novel Mapp and Lucia, which brought Emmeline "Lucia" Lucas and Georgie Pillson from Queen Lucia (1920) and Lucia in London (1927) together with Miss Elizabeth Mapp and her neighbours from Miss Mapp (1922).

Trouble for Lucia is a 1939 comic novel written by E.F. Benson. It is the sixth and final novel in the popular Mapp and Lucia series, about idle women in the 1920s and their struggle for social dominance over their small communities.

References

  1. Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office Mapp and Lucia Article".
  2. "MAPP & LUCIA, SERIES ONE DVD SET". amazon.com. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  3. "Mapp And Lucia: The Complete First Series [DVD][1985]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  4. "Mapp and Lucia Series 1". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  5. "MAPP & LUCIA, SERIES TWO DVD SET". amazon.com. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  6. "Mapp and Lucia Series 2". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  7. "Mapp and Lucia: The Complete Collection". amazon.com. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  8. "Mapp & Lucia: The Complete Series (1985-1986)". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2020.