Mapp & Lucia (2014 TV series)

*Mapp & Lucia*
Mapp & Lucia
	Part one titlecard
Genre	Comedy-drama
Based on	Mapp and Lucia by E. F. Benson
Written by	Steve Pemberton
Directed by	Diarmuid Lawrence
Composer	Kevin Sargent
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	3
Production
Executive producer	Lisa Osborne
Producer	Susie Liggat
Production locations	Tilling, Rye, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom
Cinematography	Dirk Nel
Running time	60 minutes
Production company	BBC Drama Production
Original release
Network	BBC One; BBC One HD;
Release	29 December –; 31 December 2014

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

Anna Chancellor as Emmeline 'Lucia' Lucas
Steve Pemberton as Georgie Pillson
Miranda Richardson as Elizabeth Mapp
Mark Gatiss as Major Benjy
Felicity Montagu as Godiva 'Diva' Plaistow
Gemma Whelan as Irene Coles
Paul Ritter as Reverend Kenneth Bartlett
Poppy Miller as Evie Bartlett
Nick Woodeson as Mr Wyse
Pippa Haywood as Mrs Wyse
Katy Brand as Hermione 'Hermy' Pillson
Joanna Scanlan as Ursula 'Ursy' Pillson
Frances Barber as Amelia, Contessa di Faraglione ^[3]
Jenny Platt as Foljambe
Gavin Brocker as Cadman
Soo Drouet as Grosvenor
Susan Porrett as Withers
Harish Patel as Guru/Gupta

Episodes

Episode	Title	Directed by	Written by	Airdate	UK viewers (in millions)^[4]
1	"Episode 1"	Diarmuid Lawrence	Steve Pemberton	29 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 Lawrence	Steve Pemberton	30 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 Lawrence	Steve Pemberton	31 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

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

External links

Mapp & Lucia at BBC Online
Mapp and Lucia at IMDb

[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.

[barb-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".

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