ITV3 Commission Comedy Drama ‘Ladies of Letters’
ITV3 has announced its first comedy drama commission, a 10-part adaptation of Ladies of Letters. The series, based on the hit radio shows and books of the same name, will star Maureen Lipman (Agony, The Pianist, He Kills Coppers) and Anne Reid (Life Begins, The Mother) as Irene Spencer and Vera Small, and charts a correspondence between two widows who meet at Vera’s daughter’s wedding reception. Ladies of Letters is adapted for television by Carole Hayman and Lou Wakefield, who wrote both the original source books and the hugely popular radio series.
Irene (Lipman) and Vera (Reid) reveal their exploits and adventures to one another through the letters they write, each of them trying to outdo the other whether with recipes, holiday destinations or who has the best grandchildren.
Ladies of Letters blends the comedic elements of the ladies’ relationship with a hint of melancholy as we learn how each of them is taken for granted by their families and loved ones. The series follows the ups and downs of their long-distance relationship as it occasionally becomes slightly fractious when one or other of them engages in too much one-upmanship
About the new commission Emma Tennant, Controller of ITV3 and CITV says:
“Ladies of Letters is a fantastically successful brand with a dedicated and loyal following of both the books and radio series. As such, ITV3 is hugely proud for this 10-part series to be our first comedy drama commission, particularly with two such great actors taking the lead roles.”
The series Executive Producer, Geoffrey Perkins, adds:
“We are sure television audiences now will really enjoy the love/hate relationship between these two feisty but often blinkered ladies as they swap barbed insults with each other. Oh, and it’s really funny, touching and occasionally deliciously rude!”
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I am a big fan of the audio version, is there a date for the release of the televised version?
Christine,
They have only just started filming the series, so probably not until the middle/end of next year
Nick H
I really like Ann Reid and am assuming she will be Vera, but have to say it’s a shame the parts will not be played by Patricia Routledge and Prunella Scales who have made these characters their own with the talking books. I have often wondered why the books have not transferred to TV before and hope the series will be worth waiting for.
Love the books and radio, hope the TV show gives us another wonderful series?
Any times or dates yet?
It’s tonight at 10:00, just noticed it on http://www.ladiesofletters.co.uk/
feb 3rd after watching episode 1
it was all worth the wait…. expectations exceeded at every turn
SUBLIME…. A TRIUMPH
congratulations to all concerned long may it run !
Ladies of Letters.com was brilliant. I have it on disc and listen to it often.
The TV version ‘Ladies of Letters’ was a great dissappointment. I looked forward to seeing two great actresses whom I normally enjoy watching but the first episode came across very tame compared with the radio version. Let’s hope it improves.
Ladies of letters is fabulous,I am sure my neighbours can hear me laughing through the walls. I thoroughly enjoyed the talking books and now the telly version is as good – well done lets have more !
Is the series out on DVD thought it would make an excellent mothers day present?