Mapp and Lucia

[Zanzibaragain]

Well that has made my christmas.
Geraldine Mcewan was pretty dam perfect, can't wait to see a new Lucia.

As I haven't read the books or watched the original series yet I had nothing to compare this to so rather enjoyed it. That said, it was probably more a visual enjoyment.

Would be great Sunday night TV though, so hopefully a series is in the offing.

I LOVED Geradine Mckewan in the first version and was ready to dislike Anna C. in this one but it took time to get used to her and I'm glad I bothered, she was good. (not as good as G.M. though).

Ref. the unpleasantness; it is about 2 bitchy women, the first version was a little less overt but the bitchiness was still there.

M.R. was okay (not sure about the teeth either) but P.S. is forever Mapp for me

DS3 and I watched a couple of episodes of Blackadder II starring Miranda Richardson as Elizabeth I over Christmas.

When Anna C was dressed up as Liz I DS asked if she was wearing the Queen's dress from Blackadder.

Do you think it could have been? I like to think it was a little 'in joke'.

Ha ha maybe! Although Anna Chancellor is double the size of Miranda Richardson!

Yes, that's true, Miranda Richardson is quite petite whereas Anna C is tall and broad shouldered.

I did wonder actually if MR was wearing padding in an attempt to make her look frumpy in comparison to Anna C as she looked larger than usual.

Found a picture of MR as Liz I but can't find one of Anna C to compare their costumes.

I shall have to watch it again.

Yes I'm sure she was wearing a fat suit, not necessary IMO. Prunella Scales did Mapp very well without one!

Had a quick look on iPlayer and took a screen shot.

Alas, it doesn't appear to be the same dress. They missed a trick there.

Sorry going to hijack.

Pinkwillow 'Les Petites Muertres' sounds fab, where can I watch it?

I'm usually the one carping that TV adaptations aren't true to the book/s and storylines, so it's a bit of a novelty for me to be able to enjoy a show like this unencumbered by my own expectations and mental images of characters. I loved it. But I'll be reading the books once I've got through my Christmas stash, and no doubt I'll be back to nit-pick if there's another series.

I don't wish to sound pedantic or nit picking here but in them Eliz.1 days they wore bodices and skirts, so the top COULD have been the same but the one worn in Blackadder seems more heavily bejewelled.

The end of this thread is reminding me of a v funny French and Saunders sketch where they played two extras and one of them loudly proclaimed with a scornful laugh

'Don't tell me that's a genuine 16th century saddle bag, Aunty Beeb!'

Echocave grin. sorry my new iPad is apain

Loved every episode of this! As a huge fan of E F Benson's books and admirer of the original series this was a wonderful treat.
When I heard of the casting earlier this year I did wonder if the Mapp and Lucia actresses should have been reversed for the roles but upon watching it I believe that they did in fact work perfectly. Miranda Richardson had more than a nod to Prunella Scales in her interpretation which I enjoyed as Prunella Scales was a perfect Mapp. Georgie was also similar to Nigel Hawthornes version which I liked. Lucia was fabulous in this but maybe just a touch too serious - in the books and original series she was a little more playful imo.
I would rather that they hadn't moved the Guru storyline from Riseholme to Tilling but they amazed me by getting away with it and doing it well.
The affection for the books really came across in the production and the little details were all there (The Contessa's eyeglass falling into her soup etc) which was lovely.
Had the pleasure of seeing some of the filming for this on a visit to Rye in the summer and was really looking forward to seeing it since then.
Fabulous acting, directing, adaptation, production. Loved that they used the real Mallards for Lucias house too. The best thing on TV for years. Absolutely adored it!

I loved it too - though for my money, Mr Wyse did not quite bow enough. But only a minor quibble!

So sad...
Just read that the magnificent Geraldine Mcewan who played Lucia so supremely in the original 1985 series has died. She will always be Lucia to me. Au reservoir Geraldine.

I've been watching the old series on YouTube and it's wonderful.

Was so sad to hear that Geraldine McEwan had died.