Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads - Commencing June 23rd, BBC One

I like Imelda Staunton and think she is very versatile but the Lady of Letters I don't think worked until about half way through, when it picked up and I enjoyed the rest.
Sarah Lancashire is fantastic and one of the best actors around I think, but wow, incest! Very taboo, I wonder how many mothers were watching with teenage sons ?. There is a good reason why it makes uncomfortable watching, but she acted superbly. It's good to be taken out of our comfort zones from time to time.

Watched the SL one last night.She really is a very good actress, but I didn’t find it credible ( subject matter.)
I wonder if AB got this idea from real cases or was it just a flight of fancy? Although fathers with daughters are often written about ( obvious why!) have never come across this before.
Possessive mothers are legion, giving their DIL a hard time,
But actually feeling animal passion for your own teenage son
Is bizarre, but there could well be real documented cases of this abnormal behaviour.

I found the SL one creepy. I must have led a sheltered life, as I know many mothers of sons are possessive, but have never heard of one who fancies their son.

Weird.

Ooh that sounds so good. I always liked Penelope Wilton

It's very sad and melancholy lemon and then right at the end is the stinger.

I never saw that one, sounds intriguing.

It was Nights in the Gardens of Spain lemongrass.

Chewbacca everyone except me! I can recall the actors but I can’t recall any of the stories.

Am watching Downton at the moment, she is brilliant in that.

I had to switch off halfway through the SL one. Incestual overtones. OMG the bit where she said she had been lying down on her son’s bed with his unwashed laundry pressing on her - then she heard her daughter arrive and so she dashed into her own bedroom with the laundry and her daughter asking why her blouse was unfastened? Beyond creepy. I didn’t want to continue watching. Please tell me it didn’t get worse?

Anyone else think SL sounded short of breath on occasion? Maybe it’s the extra weight she’s carrying (although she still looks attractive). Concerned me anyway.

Which one was Penelope Wilton in?

Isn't it funny how we've all remembered so many of the original tales, and who played in them? testimony to how well written and well acted they were. The Penelope Wilton edition haunts me still.

I’m going to watch tonight.
I adored Penelope Wilton, Eileen Atkins and Stephanie Cole in the originals.

I watched Talking Heads last night and what a treat it was. Two amazing actresses. Imelda Staunton - fabulous and Sarah Lancaster- fantastic.

I always feel sorry for Oedipus, having a complex named after him. After all, he didn't find out he had married his mother until after the event, and if he loved her at all except for the kingdom she came with, it was in ignorance of the facts.

Not Freud's finest hour, I think

When I looked up "Talking Heads" online there were originally 10 episodes and he did a further two for this rerun,Sarah Lancashire's is the first.On the info on TV there are 12 episodes which I think includes Thora Hird's Cream cracker under the setter. I read that he didn't think anyone could do it like she did so it is being shown with her as the original actress. I watched it online and it is superb, made me laugh and cry.She was also the same age as me in the episode which made me think of my life.

I enjoyed watching Imelda Staunton, she delivered the story with great feeling.
Sarah Lancashire on the other hand made my skin crawl and believe it will not do her any favours. DH asked what she was muttering about he said her speech was almost unintelligible.

I agree mrswoo. Its a real honour for any actor to play one of Alan Bennett's characters.
BTW I gather your DH is a window cleaner now?

It must be really difficult for an actor to reprise a much loved and well remembered character and make it their own. I think Imelda Staunton really succeeded in the part of The Woman of Letters. She was perfect for the part as was Patricia Routledge in the original.
The Sarah Lancashire monologue was brilliantly acted but made uncomfortable viewing.
How amazing - and what an honour - it must be to bring Alan Bennett's words to life

I suppose it’s well known that some mothers are very possessive of their sons, but anything else seems a step too far, and I would think, way off the mark.
The Imelda Staunton one was brilliant, I actually preferred it to the Patricia Routledge one.

I must say, looking back at my 15yo sons, grumpy, monosyllabic, a stranger to soap & water, they were probably at their most unloveable at that point in time!

I get the reverse Oedipus thing but maybe it’s something Alan Bennet knew of from his own youth. Not necessarily him, as from what I’ve read of his upbringing that seems unlikely, but a friend, perhaps?

I finished my Alan Bennett story last night at 21.05.

“A chip in the sugar” is performed by Martin Freeman, Witzend. Don’t know how it will compare - haven’t watched it yet.

I wonder if Alan Bennett ever reads Gransnet?
He would find rich pickings.

wonder if Alan Bennett based these characters on people he had come across in real life
Eloethan Hard to tell, but an odd sort of "real life" if he did!
They are all brilliant (haven't caught up with the new ones yet) and must surely be products of his imagination.
Btw; has he done anything similar with gentlemen?