The Road and the Miles to Dundee by Val McDermid

Available for over a year

Famous writer Stella has always been haunted by the song her dad used to sing at family gatherings, ‘The Road and the Miles to Dundee’. Coming out of a bad break-up, and in tears from hearing that song again, Stella meets Jen, a new writer, headed for the same literary festival. They hit it off at once. Stella becomes tempted to break her own long-standing rules, but that damn song just keeps getting in the way. With flashbacks to her formative experiences, and family songs and renditions that she cherishes and loathes in equal measure, Stella enables Jen to see the woman behind the famous novelist. Stella however, is expert at shooting herself in the foot, and meeting Jen is no exception. The two women have very different visions of what should happen next, but whose vision will prevail? Renowned Scottish crime writer Val McDermid’s semi-autobiographical queer tale of avoiding love on the rebound - and the power of family memory. With songs from Barbara Dickson as you’ve never heard her before. Stella ……. Louise Oliver Jen ……. Susannah Laing Aunt Jean/Betty ……. Barbara Dickson Dad ……. John Kazek Andy ……. Michael Monroe Tenor ……. Cameron Goodall Produced by an all queer, multi-ethnic production team and cast, including British/West Indian queer writer Rikki Beadle-Blair. The Road and the Miles to Dundee is last of three LGBTQ+ short dramas commissioned from queer BAME production company Bona Broadcasting. Director: Turan Ali A Bona Broadcasting production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2022.