| Ponsonby100/sandbox | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Joanna Trollope (novel) Ian Curteis |
| Directed by | Ferdinand Fairfax |
| Starring | |
| Composers | Stanislas Syrewicz César Franck |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Phillippa Giles (BBC) Rebecca Eaton (WGBH-TV) |
| Producer | Peter Cregeen |
| Running time | 278 minutes |
| Production company | BBC |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC WGBH-TV |
| Release | 19 March – 16 April 1995 |
The Choir is a drama series, written by Ian Curteis from the 1988 novel of the same title by Joanna Trollope, centred on controversy over the future of a cathedral choir in a fictional English city. It was premiered by the BBC on 19 March 1995. [citation needed]
Plot summary edit
The series depicts events which follow the announcement of plans by the dean of Aldminster Cathedral to deal with the cathedral's financial problems and increase community involvement, in conjunction with the local council. This causes a divide between supporters and opponents of the plans, with a profound effect on the personal lives of many of those involved.
Principal cast and characters edit
- David Warner as Canon Alexander Troy, Headmaster of Aldminster Cathedral choir school
- James Fox as Hugh Cavendish, Dean of Aldminster Cathedral
- Richenda Carey as Bridget Cavendish, wife of Hugh
- John Standing as Robert Young, Bishop of Aldminster
- Nicholas Farrell as Leo Beckford, Cathedral organist and choirmaster
- Cathryn Harrison as Sally Ashworth, mother of Henry Ashworth
- Anthony Way as Henry Ashworth, chorister
- Peter Vaughan as Councillor Frank Ashworth, father-in-law of Sally Ashworth and grandfather of Henry
- Oliver Millburn as Nicholas Elliott, former head chorister
- Claire Cox as Ianthe Cavendish, daughter of the Dean and Mrs Cavendish
- Christopher Good as Canon Tom Oddams
- Justin Hayward as Lay Clerk
- Nicola King as Sandra Miles, secretary to Canon Troy
- Bill Britten as Martin Chancellor, sub-organist and assistant choirmaster
- Edward Hughes as Woolridge
- James Hopkins as Chilworth
- Jane Asher as Felicity Troy, wife of Alexander Troy
- Susannah Elliott-Knight as Mrs Cherry Chancellor
Episodes edit
| No. | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferdinand Fairfax | Ian Curteis | 19 March 1995 | N/A | |
|
Nicholas Elliott, a former head chorister at Aldminster Cathedral, returns to the cathedral community as he has no money or home. While he does odd jobs in exchange for board and lodging, he finds tensions are rising despite the successful conclusion of an appeal to restore the organ. The wife of Canon Troy, head of the cathedral school, has left him. The parents of chorister Henry Ashworth have a troubled marriage, and Henry's grandfather Councillor Frank Ashworth sparks off trouble by suggesting to the Dean, Hugh Cavendish, that the local council could buy the headmaster's house for use as a community centre; he also seeks support from Bishop Young. The organist/choirmaster Leo Beckford finds himself subjected to advances from the Cavendishs' rebellious music producer daughter Ianthe, although he is more interested in Henry's mother. Severe problems are found with the roof space of the cathedral, costing £1.4m to repair, leading to dissension over ways to find the money. The Dean starts to develop a secret scheme in collaboration with Frank Ashworth. | |||||
| 2 | Ferdinand Fairfax | Ian Curteis | 26 March 1995 | N/A | |
|
After Henry Ashworth's installation service as a full chorister, Leo Beckford grows closer to Henry's mother. The Dean tells Canon Troy of his plan to transfer financial responsibility for the choir to the city council. This soon leaks, leading to open disputes about the future of the choir as each side plots to gain an advantage. The most urgent repair work on the roof has to be put in hand with no certainty over how it is to be funded. Canon Troy seeks support for the status quo from the Bishop, who proves indecisive. Press publicity about the Dean's plans leads to Sally Ashworth falling out with her father-in-law. Nicholas Elliott is offered a job by Ianthe, who continues trying to attract Leo. The Bishop covertly suggests to the Dean that the choir be abolished immediately to stop the internecine disputes, and the Dean goes to tell Frank Ashworth that he does not want to go ahead with the scheme for council support of the choir. But political machinations within his own party result in Ashworth being embarrassed at a full Council meeting, and he quarrels with Hugh Cavendish about responsibility for the fiasco. Leo and Sally consummate their relationship, but her husband is soon to return to the UK. | |||||
| 3 | Ferdinand Fairfax | Ian Curteis | 2 April 1995 | N/A | |
|
Felicity Troy returns to her husband and throws herself into the campaign to save the choir. Nicholas Elliott starts working for the record company in London. Leo Beckford shows a lack of understanding of the diffculties faced by Sally Ashworth in ending her marriage. Frank Ashworth tries to prepare his grandson for changes which may lay ahead. At a meeting of the cathedral chapter, it is agreed to allow supporters of the choir four months to produce a plan to make it self-financing. Mrs Troy approaches the Bishop, but he agains avoids involvement. Leo Beckford's impatience overwhelms him and he quarrels with Sally, bullies Henry Ashworth, argues with colleagues and is reprimanded by the Dean for disloyalty to his employer. The Dean implies to Canon Troy that the headmaster's house may yet be sold. Meanwhile Nicholas Elliott has recorded a choir performance and persuades Ianthe and her business partner to consider making a CD of the choir singing. The Dean creates obstacles, but the recording sessions start. They go well and afterwards Ianthe kisses Leo Beckford passionately, believing that he now wants her rather than Sally Ashworth. | |||||
| 4 | Ferdinand Fairfax | Ian Curteis | 9 April 1995 | N/A | |
|
The campaign to save the choir is given fresh impetus from a combative speech given by Canon Troy at the cathedral school's annual prizegiving, nuch to the Dean's displeasure. Sally and Frank Ashworth start talking again after she visits his flat, but she makes it clear that she wants to leave her husband. Ianthe renews her attempts to gain Leo's attention before he departs on a national recordiong tour. The choir's CD is released and an attempt by the Dean to have Canon Troy formally censured is rejected by the school governors. In the local authority, Frank Ashworth is being undermined by his own political colleagues. Sally Ashworth and Leo Beckford reconcile and he returns to Aldminster as the CD gains national publicity and huge sales. Beckford tells Ianthe that he wants to marry Sally Ashworth, and she reacts with fury at his betrayal. At a meeting of the full council, Frank Ashworth is sabotaged by his fellow councillors, and he resigns. The Troys receive a letter from the Dean tellinmg them that the headmaster's house has been sold. | |||||
| 5 | Ferdinand Fairfax | Ian Curteis | 16 April 1995 | N/A | |
|
Henry Ashworth's father returns home to a cold reception from his wife Sally. After behaving boorishly as they try to tell Henry about their separation, he goes to stay with Frank Ashworth before returning to Saudi Arabia. Canon Troy argues with the Dean, denouncing his lack of sprituality. Ianthe seeks revenge by going to the local newspaper about Leo's affair as part of the 'real' background to the choir controversy; the Dean visits her in London to reprimand her for her behaviour. The Bishop tells Beckford he must resign because of his affair, but points him towards a job at an independent school. Sally and Leo agree to go there together, but Henry is very unhappy at the prospect, seeking a term-time home with his grandfather. The Troys move out of the now-sold house and into a smaller one in the cathedral close as Mrs Cavendish worries about the state of her marriage to the Dean. Sandra Miles announces that she is leaving the school as her husband-to-be has been promoted. Her simple loyalty and pride in him is contrasted with the mess others make of their lives. Mrs Cavendish attempts to reach a better understanding with the Dean about their marriage; he responds coldly, tells her to obey him in future and says pointedly that the Troys have the advantage that they love each other. The council takes over the headmaster's house, but doubts remain about its usefulness to the community. In the final scene Frank Ashworth and Mrs Cavendish find the Dean praying on his knees in front of the cathedral's high altar. | |||||
Production edit
Filming edit
The series was filmed at Gloucester Cathedral and King's School Gloucester, with additional filming in Cheltenham and at Worcester Cathedral. [citation needed]