Plum House Series 1 by Ben Cottam & Paul McKenna

Comedy about the inept staff at an historic house. Starring Simon Callow and Jane Horrocks.

Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the Lake District. But one place they never go to is Plum House - the former country home of terrible poet George Pudding (1779-1848). Now a crumbling museum, losing money hand over fist, it struggles to stay open under its eccentric curator Peter Knight (Simon Callow).

Can anyone save Plum House from irreversible decline?

Tom Collyer, sent from the Trust to do just that, seems to be the most likely candidate but the challenge is huge as he confronts the reality of winning round Peter Knight's handpicked team - the hopelessly out of touch deputy Julian (Miles Jupp), the corner-cutting gift shop manager Maureen (Jane Horrocks) intent on making profit from extremely cheap plum-themed merchandise, and maintenance man Alan (Pearce Quigley) who has heard the words "health" and "safety" but never in the same sentence.

In this opening episode, the museum's preparations for the annual WI visit include hiding away valuable artefacts as, according to Peter, some members are prone to stealing them. And Julian gives a disastrous lecture on the life and work of George Pudding.

Written by Ben Cottam and Paul McKenna

Peter ...... Simon Callow
Maureen ...... Jane Horrocks
Julian ...... Miles Jupp
Tom ...... Tom Bell
Alan ...... Pearce Quigley
Emma ...... Louise Ford
Mary ...... Kate Anthony
Jean ...... Sandra Maitland

Directed and Produced by Paul Schlesinger

A Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in June 2016.

Episode 1
Why Why WI?

Episode 2 27:17
Perilously Poorly Peter
Peter is forced to visit town, somewhere he hasn't been since Woolworths closed down, for a medical emergency.

He leaves his hopelessly out-of-touch deputy Julian in charge who sees it as a perfect opportunity for him to finally make his mark on the place by, amongst other things, establishing his cafe Chez Julian, a hangout for 'Cumbrian Jean Paul Sartres'.

Episode 3 55:01
Trust the Trust
A mysterious visitor arrives.
Being visited is an unusual event in itself, but when he shows genuine interest in how the place is run our team immediately suspect he has been sent from the Trust to spy on them.
Why else would a man, on his own, turn up at a museum unannounced?

Episode 4 1:22:56
Tom has organised a special summer event and invited the great and good from the world of George Pudding scholarship to gather round the museum's celebrated plum tree.

It's bound to be a day to remember. But with Peter encountering his arch nemesis - the unbearably pompous Mungo Prynne (Roger Allam), Julian upsetting a neighbouring farmer and Emma rather enjoying the plum punch, will it be remembered for the right reasons?

Episode 5 1:50:15
The Rather Risky Ramble
Tom returns from a team building course in London to find the Plum House team have been bickering in his absence. So he decides to put what he has learned into action.

Peter has a better idea to restore team spirit and suggests the museum's staff go on a walk through the Cumbrian countryside, known as Pudding's Horseshoe. Hiking boots on, the group set off on their ramble on a beautiful sunny day, full of enthusiasm and Kendal Mint Cake.

What can possibly go wrong?

Episode 6 2:18:00
Lights, Camera, Pudding
Tom returns from a team building course in London to find the Plum House team have been bickering in his absence. So he decides to put what he has learned into action.

Peter has a better idea to restore team spirit and suggests the museum's staff go on a walk through the Cumbrian countryside, known as Pudding's Horseshoe. Hiking boots on, the group set off on their ramble on a beautiful sunny day, full of enthusiasm and Kendal Mint Cake.

What can possibly go wrong?

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