Forbidden Britain: Brief Encounter Revisited

Nina Wadia presents a rich and emotionally resonant exploration of one of Britain’s most enduring love stories — David Lean’s 1945 classic, Brief Encounter.

Eighty years after its release, the film’s quiet heartbreak, moral restraint and unforgettable music still echo through British storytelling. But why does a tale of emotional repression and romantic sacrifice in a bygone era continue to resonate so deeply? And what does it say about how we deal with these conflicting emotions today?

Nina hears from Celia Johnson’s daughters — Kate Grimond and Lucy Fleming — who reflect on their mother’s iconic performance as Laura Jesson, and the personal cost of portraying such aching restraint. We hear from Margaret Barton, who played the young waitress Beryl, offering rare insight into the atmosphere on set and the film’s post-war reception. We also hear from Henrietta Vincent, Celia Johnson’s niece, who played Laura’s young daughter in the film.

Richard Curtis, writer of some of Britain’s most beloved romantic films — including Four Weddings, Love Actually and Notting Hill — reflects on Brief Encounter’s place in the national storytelling tradition, and why emotional restraint remains a defining trait in how British characters fall in love, hold back, and carry on. Screenwriter Ollie Lyttelton shares the challenges of getting his 2022 comedy Cheaters commissioned, revealing that even today, infidelity remains a difficult subject to tackle with humour.

The programme features archive from down the years, including reflections from Celia Johnson, Noël Coward and others. We also hear about the magnificent score, learn how the train was one of the film’s biggest stars and put Carnforth on the world map.

Nina explores how Brief Encounter shaped the way Britain tells stories about love, guilt and doing what we think is right. With personal reflections, rare archive, and a quietly provocative tone, this documentary invites listeners to revisit a classic — and to ask why its heartbreak still feels so familiar.

Other contributors include actors Lesley Joseph and David Benson (who played Noël Coward in the sitcom Goodnight Sweetheart) offering their own reflections on Coward’s legacy, the film’s emotional power, and the enduring tension between love and duty.

The programme also remembers the many parodies and tributes Brief Encounter has inspired — from Victoria Wood’s sketches to Alan Bennett’s The History Boys. Actors Samuel Barnett and Jamie Parker revisit their own Brief Encounter scene from the film, reflecting on its emotional weight and comic timing. Meanwhile, we hear how Celia Johnson’s letters referencing the film have been brought to life by her two daughters, offering a rare glimpse into the personal reflections behind a national treasure.

There’s also a nod to television drama and comedy that continued the theme of forbidden love — including Carla Lane’s sitcom Butterflies, which brought emotional restraint and romantic yearning into suburban kitchens in the 1970s. Writer Simon Nye reflects on how he even drew on Brief Encounter in an episode of Men Behaving Badly in the 1990s. And Nina remembers starring in a Brief Encounter parody in Goodness Gracious Me.

Often listed as a fans’ favourite romantic film, Professor Thomas Dixon — the so-called “Professor of Emotions” and author of Weeping Britannia - considers how cinema goers of the day connected with Brief Encounter.

Producer: Ashley Byrne
A Made in Manchester production for BBC Radio 4