{"product_id":"book-h9y8","title":"Dear Mr Spectator","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe complete Series 1 and 2 of the drama based on the publications of the real-life Lady Whistledown - the anonymous 18th Century columnist, 'Mr Spectator'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e'Wonderfully droll'\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Spectator\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLondon, 1710. Enigmatic man of letters Mr Spectator moves like a shadow through the city's streets and coffee-houses, observing the manners, morals and misdemeanours of his fellow men. He has his finger on the pulse of all the latest news and fashions, and shares his wit and wisdom in his daily news-sheet - which is avidly perused by readers from all stations of society, from the humble to the highest in the land. In these two radio series, we meet his greatest fans, who look to him to solve their problems and determine their futures...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSeries 1 centres around Gilbert Mowbray, a clockmaker who is fast approaching his 40th birthday - and is not handling it well. Neglecting his workshop and his customers, he spends his time glued to Mr Spectator's musings - much to his wife Kitty's exasperation. As his midlife crisis deepens, can the nation's favourite agony uncle help Gilbert reassess his life?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn Series 2, Britain is nine million pounds in debt - but Chancellor of the Exchequer Robert Harley has a plan to generate the necessary income: a little idea called the South Sea Company. However, to get his Bill through Parliament, he needs someone the public trusts to speak out in favour of the scheme. Enlisting the aid of Palace paper-boy Ned Dempsey, Harley determines to track down Mr Spectator - but can Ned unmask the elusive scribbler before time, and Harley's patience, run out?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdapted by Elizabeth Kuti from Joseph Addison and Richard Steele's \u003ci\u003eSpectator\u003c\/i\u003e essays, this wry, whimsical drama stars \u003cb\u003eBenjamin Whitrow\u003c\/b\u003e (\u003ci\u003ePride and Prejudice\u003c\/i\u003e) as Mr Spectator, the anonymous oracle who, like his fictional counterpart Lady Whistledown, hid behind a \u003ci\u003enom de plume\u003c\/i\u003e to stoke controversy. Among the supporting cast are \u003cb\u003eRichard Lumsden, Sam Troughton, Bryan Dick, David Schofield, Jemma Redgrave\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eClaire Rushbrook\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction credits\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInspired by and dramatised from Joseph Addison and Richard Steele's 18th-century \u003ci\u003eSpectato\u003c\/i\u003er essays by Elizabeth Kuti\u003cbr\u003eProduced and directed by Heather Larmour\u003cbr\u003eViolin played by Paddy O'Flaherty\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cu\u003eCast\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMr Spectator - Benjamin Whitrow\u003cbr\u003eGilbert - Richard Lumsden\u003cbr\u003eKitty - Amy Marston\u003cbr\u003eJonathan - Sam Troughton\u003cbr\u003eCoffee-boy - Samuel Barnett\u003cbr\u003eLady - Fo Cullen\u003cbr\u003eGentlemen- Miche Doherty\/Richard Dormer\/Chris McHallem\/Mark Lambert\u003cbr\u003eStockjobbers - Miche Doherty\/Mark Lambert\u003cbr\u003eDisgruntled man\/Freddie\/Lion - Richard Dormer\u003cbr\u003eWife\/Leticia - Sarah Kants\u003cbr\u003eSpectacle inventor\/Gravedigger - Chris McHallem\u003cbr\u003eSignor Niccolini - Miche Docherty\u003cbr\u003eIsabel - Emma Bolger\u003cbr\u003eJacob - Daniel Walsh\u003cbr\u003eAggie - Laura Conway\u003cbr\u003eNed Dempsey - Bryan Dick\u003cbr\u003eHarley - David Schofield\u003cbr\u003eAbigail - Christina Cole\u003cbr\u003eQueen Anne - Jemma Redgrave\u003cbr\u003eAnne Baldwin - Claire Rushbrook\u003cbr\u003eDefoe - Sam Dale\u003cbr\u003eAunt Maude - Stella McCusker\u003cbr\u003eOpera Singer - David Revels\u003cbr\u003eWith Seainin Brennan, Niall Cusack, Paul Kennedy, Marty Maguire and Charlie Niblock-Hamill\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 12-16 January 2009 (Series 1), 16-20 August 2010 (Series 2)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49355535614256,"sku":"BDh9y8","price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/374568-h9y8-Square.jpg?v=1734391966","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-h9y8","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}