''Summer's Lease'' is a British television drama series which aired in four parts on

BBC Two BBC Two is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matte ...

in 1989. It is based on John Mortimer's novel of the same title, adapted by the author. Sir John Gielgud won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his performance and the soundtrack, composed by Nigel Hess was named by the Television and Radio Industries Club Best Television Theme.

Cast

* Susan Fleetwood as Molly Pargeter (4 episodes) * John Gielgud as Haverford Downs (4 episodes) * Michael Pennington as Hugh Pargeter (4 episodes) * Rosemary Leach as Nancy Leadbetter (4 episodes) * Caroline Waldron as Henry Pargeter (4 episodes) * Veronica Lazar as Baronessa Dulcibene (4 episodes) * Suzanne Hay as Sam Pargeter (4 episodes) * Samantha Glenn as Jack Pargeter (4 episodes) * Siria Betti as Giovanna (4 episodes) * Denis Lill as Ken Corduroy (3 episodes) * Gabrielle Anwar as Chrissie Kettering (3 episodes) * Mel Martin as Rosie Fortinbras (2 episodes) * Frederick Treves as Nicholas Tapscott (2 episodes) * Annette Crosbie as Connie Tapscott (2 episodes) * Feodor Chaliapin Jr. as Prince Tosti-Castelnuovo (2 episodes) * Graham McGrath as Chrissie's Friend (2 episodes) * Pupo De Luca as The Messenger (2 episodes) * Siri Neal as Chrissie's Friend (2 episodes) * Leslie Phillips as William Fosdyke (1 episode) * Jeremy Kemp as Buck Kettering (1 episode) * Elizabeth Bennett as Mrs. Marcia Tobias (1 episode) * Bernice Stegers as Louise Corduroy (1 episode) *

Carole Mowlam Carole Mowlam (20 December 1936 – 14 April 2012) was a British stage actress, stage and film actress. She appeared in a recurring role in the early British soap opera ''The Grove Family''. In 1961 she starred in the BBC's ''The House Under the ...

as Sandra Kettering (1 episode)

Reception

In a 1991 review, John J. O'Connor of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' called the series "more successful as travelogue than drama." O'Connor summarised that despite some excellent performances, the characters "are not terribly interesting."

Accolades

At the 1991 Primetime Emmy Awards, Sir John Gielgud won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Special, and was also nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor.

References

Bibliography

* Jerry Roberts. ''Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors''. Scarecrow Press, 2009.

External links

* {{John Mortimer 1989 British television series debuts 1989 British television series endings 1980s British drama television series BBC television dramas Television shows based on British novels 1980s British television miniseries Works by John Mortimer British English-language television shows Primetime Emmy Award–winning television series