William Hogarth’s A Harlot’s Progress & Marriage a la Mode: Two Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramas

A scandalous full-cast dramatized romp through Hogarth’s famous paintings, bringing to life the story in – and behind – each canvas

Listen to this double helping of laugh-out-loud comedy featuring an all-star cast including Stephen Mangan, Annabel Scholey (The Split), Sheila Reid (Benidorm) and Will Keen (His Dark Materials and The Crown) as they bring alive the life and times of William Hogarth and the stories revealed - and concealed - in his famous sequence of engravings.

This enchanting and hilarious collection is comprised of two audio treats. In the first, A Harlot’s Progress, it’s 1732 and a young, undistinguished painter abandons his classical training and sets out to tell the tale of a country girl's downfall on the streets of London in a series of paintings. Innocent Moll Hackabout, the story’s heroine, arrives in London and is swiftly taken in by procuress Mrs Needham. She becomes a city trader’s courtesan but falls for a famous highway man. As she descends into a life of prostitution, penury and misery, painter William’s life in 18th century London is just beginning… In Marriage a la Mode the story continues and Mr and Mrs Hogarth return with another romp through a series of classic engravings as a marriage made in the Bank of England unites the aristocratic Squanders with the bourgeois Grubpumps, to the disgust of both bride and groom. Hogarth engraves the disastrous consequences of marrying for money rather than love as the wealthy newlyweds indulge every desire - if only they desired each other. Affairs, transgressions, debts, deceit and murder are only a part of this pacy and hilarious adventure that culminates in very different endings for the Squanders, Grubpumps and Hogarths. Writer Jonathan Myerson is a renowned TV and radio dramatist. His animated film The Canterbury Tales won a BAFTA Award and four primetime Emmys and he has also written scripts for several British television drama series including The Bill, Holby City, EastEnders, Jupiter Moon and The Legend of William Tell. A Harlot’s Progress Cast and credits Written by Jonathan Myerson Directed and produced by Jonquil Panting William Hogarth - Will Keen Jean - Shella Reid Moll - Liz White London girl - Amelia Lowdell London girl - Annabel Scholey Mrs Needham - Rosemary Leach Charteris - Crawford Logan Gourlay - Gerard McDermott Wagondriver - Stephen Critchlow Giuseppe - Paul Reynolds Solomon - Nickolas Grace Bess - Amelda Brown James/Dr Rock - Ben Crowe Client/Joshua - Geoffrey Beevers First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6th - 10th February 2006 Marriage a la Mode Cast and credits Written by Jonathan Myerson Directed and produced by Jonquil Panting William Hogarth - Will Keen Jane Hogarth - Rebecca Johnson Charles - Stephen Mangan Emily Grubpump (Later Countess Squander) - Anna Madeley Grubpump - Robin Soans Sylvester Silvertongue/Sir Andrew - John Dougall Old Squander/Misaubin - Sam Dale Mrs Wisebourne - Nichola McAulffle Tyers - Anthony Glennon Clarissa - Poppy Friar Missus - Rachel Bavidge Steward - Mark Straker Simmy - Jasmine Callan Little William - Jordan Clarke First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26th - 2nd March 2007 ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

© 2025 BBC Digital Audio (Lydbog): 9781529969009

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Lydbog: 17. juli 2025