Mapp & Lucia (2014 TV series)

Mapp & Lucia
Series titles over a garden scene
Part one titlecard
GenreComedy-drama
Based onMapp and Lucia by E. F. Benson
Written bySteve Pemberton
Directed byDiarmuid Lawrence
ComposerKevin Sargent
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes3
Production
Executive producerLisa Osborne
ProducerSusie Liggat
Production locationsTilling, Rye, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom
CinematographyDirk Nel
Running time60 minutes
Production companyBBC Drama Production
Original release
Network
Release29 December (2014-12-29) –
31 December 2014 (2014-12-31)

Mapp & Lucia is a British drama television series that was first broadcast on BBC One from 29 to 31 December 2014. The three-part series, adapted by Steve Pemberton and directed by Diarmuid Lawrence, is based on E. F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia collection of novels.[1][2] The series features an ensemble cast, with Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor playing the eponymous characters Elizabeth Mapp and Emmeline 'Lucia' Lucas. It is set in the Sussex coastal town of Tilling, based very closely on Rye, East Sussex, where it was filmed and where Benson lived. Although attracting modest viewing figures, the series received positive reviews from critics.

Cast

Episodes

Episode Title Directed by Written by Airdate UK viewers
(in millions)[4]
1"Episode 1"Diarmuid LawrenceSteve Pemberton29 December 2014 (2014-12-29)4.87
It is 1930 and in the quaint Queen Anne village of Tilling and Miss Elizabeth Mapp reigns supreme over them all. Until, that is, the arrival of Mrs Emmeline 'Lucia' Lucas. With her passion for music, art and high culture of all kinds, Lucia is quite an addition to Tilling's social scene. It's not long before Mapp is indulging attempts to undermine her accomplished tenant.
2"Episode 2"Diarmuid LawrenceSteve Pemberton30 December 2014 (2014-12-30)2.92 (overnight)
The Tilling Summer Exhibition provides Lucia with a new battlefield to conquer. She and Georgie prepare to amaze their new friends with their artistic ability, whatever lengths they have to go to for success. Their triumphs leave Mapp in a fury until an exotic visitor passing through Tilling provides her with an opportunity to start a new trend.
3"Episode 3"Diarmuid LawrenceSteve Pemberton31 December 2014 (2014-12-31)2.24 (overnight)
While most of Tilling thrills to Lucia's artistic accomplishments, Mapp is convinced that her summer visitor is a fraud. Suspecting that her tenant's grasp of Italian is limited to the few phrases she may have picked up from occasional trips to the opera, Mapp thrills to the news that Tilling is to be visited by a genuine Italian contessa. This surely will call Lucia's bluff. And when Lucia goes down with a bout of influenza on the very day of the contessa's arrival, all of Mapp's suspicions seem justified.

Production

Mapp and Lucia was commissioned by Charlotte Moore and Ben Stephenson for BBC One.[5] Filming took place in and around Rye during the summer of 2014 [6] as well as Kent and East Sussex Railway Station in Tenterden.[7]

The "guru" storyline in episode 2 is taken from E.F. Benson's first Lucia novel, Queen Lucia (1920), with Daisy Quantock being the guru's original sponsor. Transported to Tilling in this series, Diva Plaistow plays the Daisy role in the storyline.

References

  1. ^ Plunkett, John (28 February 2014). "David Walliams to star as BBC bags Agatha Christie drama deal". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  2. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (28 February 2014). "Lenny Henry, Steve Pemberton to write new BBC One dramas". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Cast announced for BBC One's adaptation of EF Benson's Mapp And Lucia". BBC. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  5. ^ "BBC One announces adaptation of EF Benson's Mapp And Lucia". BBC. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Mapp and Lucia: Cast Announced: Filming in Rye". www.visit1066country.com. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  7. ^ Kent Film Office (19 December 2014). "Kent Film Office Mapp and Lucia Article".