Such Rotten Luck: Series 1 & 2: A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Drama

The complete Series 1 and 2 of the BBC Radio sitcom about the ups and downs of a second-class writer

Once upon a time, there was a struggling writer named Woodhouse Carton, who tried to make his name as an author while simultaneously running his own creative writing class...

Over 12 episodes, we follow the frustrated scribe's fruitless search for fame and fortune as, supported by his long-suffering wife Gila and feckless sidekick Seamus, he tries to write the definitive biography of philosophical novelist Wolf Heinrich Graubart - or compose the hit song that will set him up for life.

Travelling to Berlin in an attempt to get under the skin of his subject, Woodhouse is confused with contradictory accounts - and confounded by extra expenses. Desperate to make big money, he tries his hand at children's fiction, pens an oratorio, gets a new agent and searches for a patron. With a baby on the way, willl he manage to turn his fortunes around and find success at last?

Scripted by award-winning biographer and dramatist Ronald Hayman, this superbly written literary sitcom stars Tim Pigott-Smith as Woodhouse, Zoë Wanamaker as Gila and Stephen Rea as Seamus, with a distinguished cast including Miriam Karlin, Sheila Hancock and Celia Imrie.

Written by Ronald Hayman Directed by Piers Plowright and Paul Schlesinger Music by Elizabeth Parker of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop Guitar: Patrice Chevalier

Cast Woodhouse - Tim Pigott-Smith Gila/Monie - Zoë Wanamaker Seamus - Stephen Rea Wilhelmina/Jutta/Heidi - Susie Brann Harietta Masterson/Samantha/Hildegarde/Hedwig/Muriel - Miriam Karlin Hamish McVomitory/Professor Trinklekopf/Blind man/Graubart/Dr Vongalis/Harris - Bill Wallis Gila's Dad/Colonel/Cedric - Benjamin Whitrow Gila's Mum - Joan Matheson/Maxine Audley Pachmann - John Moffatt Cissie Soskins - Eva Stuart Frau Graubart - Eva Stuart/Maxine Audley Girl in the street/Sasha/Charlotte aged 17 - Susan Sheridan Mark Grimshaw - Geoffrey Whitehead Mrs Mellon - Sheila Hancock Penelope Pomeroy - Celia Imrie Mary Jane/Fenella - Maxine Audley Ulrike - Tara Dominick Marli Lillene/Jayston - Nickolas Grace Griselda - Victoria Carling MacGillycuddy - James Green Bongo/Bunty/Tommy/Groom/Dollamore/Benjy - Ronald Herdman

Alun - Timothy Bateson Craggs/Breuster/Hotchkiss - James Simmons Dorothy - Petra Markham Jasper - Timothy Carlton With Eva Stuart, Susan Sheridan and Shaun Prendergast as Creative Writing Class members

First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 16-21 September 1989 (Series 1), 21-27 December 1991 (Series 2)

Credits Published by Penguin Random House Ltd Licensed by BBC Studios Distribution Ltd ? 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. ? 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

© 2021 BBC Digital Audio (Lydbog): 9781529142815

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Lydbog: 7. oktober 2021