Audrey Fforbs-Hamilton enjoys all the little luxuries that a women of her standing and ancestry might expect, that is until her husband dies and the death duties force her to sell Grantleigh Manor, and move into the coach house, only retaining her faithful butler, Brabinger. The Manor is subsequently bought by a successful business man, Richard De Vere, and at first audrey resents him for taking her place, but secretly likes him. The series was written by Peter Spence and was extremely popular with the first paperback having to be reprinted!
In total there were three series made for television, and almost twenty years later, there was an adaptation for Radio 2. Ten episodes were especially recorded six of which were adaptations of the television scripts and four were written expressly for radio and the series was produced by Jane Berthoud. In the TV version Penelope Keith played Fforbs-Hamilton and Peter Bowles, De Vere, but Keith Barron replaced Bowles in the radio version. All of the TV series is now available on video and DVD from Acorn Media, and can be bought at a discount using the links to Amazon on the right. A double cassette containing 4 of the 10 episodes was released soem while ago, but the series has been broadcast on BBC7 since.
:: SERIES 1 | 2 | 3 | Radio
Series One.
| Title | TX Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Losing Grantleigh Manor | 30.9.79 | Volume 1 |
| The New Owner | 7.10.79 | Volume 1 |
| Going To Church | 14.10.79 | Volume 1 |
| The Fireplace | 21.10.79 | Volume 1 |
| The Hunt Ball | 28.10.79 | Volume 2 |
| A Holiday At Home | 4.11.79 | Volume 2 |
| The TV Commercial | 11.11.79 | Volume 2 |
| A Grantleigh Christmas | 25.12.79 | Volume 6 |
Series Two.
| Title | TX Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Farm Manager | 5.10.80 | Volume 3 |
| No Room In The Lodge | 12.10.80 | Volume 3 |
| The Vanishing Vase | 19.10.80 | Volume 3 |
| Tramps And Poachers | 26.10.80 | Volume 4 |
| New Years Honours | 2.11.80 | Volume 4 |
| Speedy Recovery | 9.11.80 | Volume 4 |
Series Three.
| Title | TX Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Scouts | 18.10.81 | Volume 5 |
| Save The Railway Station! | 25.10.81 | Volume 5 |
| Horses & Helicopters | 1.11.81 | volume 5 |
| A Rare Bird | 8.11.81 | Volume 6 |
| Female Prerogative | 15.11.81 | Volume 6 |
| Business Crisis | 22.11.81 | Volume 6 |
| Marraige and Back | 29.11.81 | Volume 6 |
Radio Series.
Originally broadcast on Radio 2 of a Saturday lunchtime at 1.30pm.
| Title | TX Date | Notes |
|---|---|
| Rhythms of the Earth | 25.1.97 |
| The Grape Vine | 1.2.97 |
| What's in a Name | 8.2.97 |
| Vive Le Sport | 15.2.97 |
| Sons of Fathers | 22.2.97 |
| A Wife's Perogative | 1.3.97 |
| The Spare Room | 8.3.97 |
| An Englishman's Home | 15.3.97 |
| The Honours List | 22.3.97 |
| Plenty More Fish | 29.3.97 |