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The Thrill of Love

4 Extra Debut. The last woman to be hanged in Britain, Ruth Ellis - and the role of women close to her in her final months. Stars Maxine Peake.

Maxine Peake plays Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain.

Amanda Whittington's hit stage transfer imagines the role played by the women close to Ruth during the months between Ruth's murder of her lover David Blakely and her subsequent death by hanging.

Framed with interviews and laced with the music of Billie Holiday, this is an intimate, evocative and thought provoking drama.

Ruth Ellis ...... Maxine Peake
Sylvia ...... Siobhan Finneran
Jack Gale ...... Joe Armstrong
Vickie Martin ...... Phoebe Dynevor
Doris Judd ...... Victoria Brazier
Home Secretary Gwilym Lloyd George ...... Alan Williams

Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore
Music: Billie Holiday

Director: Kate Chapman
Producer: Justine Potter
Executive Producer: Melanie Harris

A Savvy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in November 2016.

1 hour

Last on

Mon 13 Jan 202004:00

Clip

Credits

RoleContributor
Ruth EllisMaxine Peake
SylviaSiobhan Finneran
Jack GaleJoe Armstrong
Vickie MartinPhoebe Dynevor
Doris JuddVictoria Brazier
Home Secretary Gwilym Lloyd GeorgeAlan Williams
WriterAmanda Whittington
DirectorKate Chapman
ProducerJustine Potter

Broadcasts

  • Sat 5 Nov 201614:30
  • Sat 30 Jun 201814:30
  • Sun 12 Jan 202016:00
  • Mon 13 Jan 202004:00

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