Evelina & Dear Little Burney
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Summary
A BBC radio drama adaptation of Fanny Burney’s best-known novel, plus a dramatisation of her diaries
Before Jane Austen, there was Fanny Burney. In the 1780s, she was England’s most celebrated female author, having achieved extraordinary success with two hit novels. She went on to become a royal servant, marry an exile from the French Revolution and undergo a gruelling mastectomy without the aid of anaesthetic – all events chronicled in her diaries, which were published posthumously to great acclaim. Contained here are dramatisations of her first and most famous novel, and her remarkable journals and letters.
Evelina – Initially published anonymously, Fanny Burney’s witty epistolary account of a young woman’s introduction to the beau monde took Georgian London by storm. Brought up by her guardian since her mother died in childbirth and her father refused to acknowledge her, Evelina has spent her childhood in rural seclusion. But a letter from her grandmother and an invitation to London lead her into the dangerous and unfamiliar world of the Ton, where she meets a collection of fops, dandies and dastardly rakes – as well as the dashing Lord Orville. Can she navigate the traps and challenges of fashionable society to find true love? Laura Doddington stars as Evelina in this 10-part dramatisation of Burney’s satirical comedy of manners.
Dear Little Burney – Beginning in 1778, when Evelina catapulted Fanny Burney to fame, this 15-part adaptation of her letters and diaries vividly portrays the most momentous events of her extraordinary life. From adjusting to her sudden celebrity to becoming wardrobe mistress to Queen Charlotte, witnessing George III’s madness, spending ten years in France during the Napoleonic Wars and enduring an agonising operation, we are swept up in her joys, anxieties and disappointments – and given an intimate glimpse into everyday life in 18th century London and Paris. Starring Juliet Aubrey as Fanny, with Timothy West, Eleanor Bron, Robert Whelan and June Barrie.
Evelina first published in 1778
Diaries and letters first published 1842-1846
Production credits
Written by Fanny Burney
Adapted by Jennifer Howarth
Produced and directed by Sara Davies
Cast
Evelina
Evelina – Laura Doddington
Mr Villars – Philip Manikum
Caroline/Mrs Mirvan/Prostitute – Jacqueline Tong
Lady Howard/Mrs Selwyn – Phyllida Nash
Mr Lovel/Mr McCartney – John Mackay
Lord Orville – Ian Kelly
Sir Clement Willoughby – Andrew Collins
Captain Mirvan/Sir John Belmont – Mark Buffery
Madame Duval – Stephanie Cole
Mr Branghton – Chris Harris
Tom Branghton – Stuart Crossman
Polly Esther – Ruth Elliott
Monsieur du Bois/Officer/Coachman – James Anderson
Dear Little Burney
Fanny – Juliet Aubrey
George III – Timothy West
Queen Charlotte – Eleanor Bron
Susan – Kate Seaward
Dr Burney – Robert Whelan
Charles/George – Chris Garner
MrsThrale – Liz Morgan
Mr Fairly/Mr Kemble – Andrew Hilton
Prince of Wales – Andrew Collins
Mrs De!any/Mrs Siddons – June Barrie
Lowndes – David Collins
Gent!eman – Paul Dodgson
Miss Dewe – Caitlin Hobbs
Dr Johnson – Bill Wallis
Mrs Schwellenberg – Kim Hicks
d'Arblay – Thierry Harcourt
With Cornelius Garrett, Claire Marchionne, Angela Barlow, Ric Jerrom, Rob Hutchinson and Joshua Boyden
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
Before Jane Austen, there was Fanny Burney. In the 1780s, she was England’s most celebrated female author, having achieved extraordinary success with two hit novels. She went on to become a royal servant, marry an exile from the French Revolution and undergo a gruelling mastectomy without the aid of anaesthetic – all events chronicled in her diaries, which were published posthumously to great acclaim. Contained here are dramatisations of her first and most famous novel, and her remarkable journals and letters.
Evelina – Initially published anonymously, Fanny Burney’s witty epistolary account of a young woman’s introduction to the beau monde took Georgian London by storm. Brought up by her guardian since her mother died in childbirth and her father refused to acknowledge her, Evelina has spent her childhood in rural seclusion. But a letter from her grandmother and an invitation to London lead her into the dangerous and unfamiliar world of the Ton, where she meets a collection of fops, dandies and dastardly rakes – as well as the dashing Lord Orville. Can she navigate the traps and challenges of fashionable society to find true love? Laura Doddington stars as Evelina in this 10-part dramatisation of Burney’s satirical comedy of manners.
Dear Little Burney – Beginning in 1778, when Evelina catapulted Fanny Burney to fame, this 15-part adaptation of her letters and diaries vividly portrays the most momentous events of her extraordinary life. From adjusting to her sudden celebrity to becoming wardrobe mistress to Queen Charlotte, witnessing George III’s madness, spending ten years in France during the Napoleonic Wars and enduring an agonising operation, we are swept up in her joys, anxieties and disappointments – and given an intimate glimpse into everyday life in 18th century London and Paris. Starring Juliet Aubrey as Fanny, with Timothy West, Eleanor Bron, Robert Whelan and June Barrie.
Evelina first published in 1778
Diaries and letters first published 1842-1846
Production credits
Written by Fanny Burney
Adapted by Jennifer Howarth
Produced and directed by Sara Davies
Cast
Evelina
Evelina – Laura Doddington
Mr Villars – Philip Manikum
Caroline/Mrs Mirvan/Prostitute – Jacqueline Tong
Lady Howard/Mrs Selwyn – Phyllida Nash
Mr Lovel/Mr McCartney – John Mackay
Lord Orville – Ian Kelly
Sir Clement Willoughby – Andrew Collins
Captain Mirvan/Sir John Belmont – Mark Buffery
Madame Duval – Stephanie Cole
Mr Branghton – Chris Harris
Tom Branghton – Stuart Crossman
Polly Esther – Ruth Elliott
Monsieur du Bois/Officer/Coachman – James Anderson
Dear Little Burney
Fanny – Juliet Aubrey
George III – Timothy West
Queen Charlotte – Eleanor Bron
Susan – Kate Seaward
Dr Burney – Robert Whelan
Charles/George – Chris Garner
MrsThrale – Liz Morgan
Mr Fairly/Mr Kemble – Andrew Hilton
Prince of Wales – Andrew Collins
Mrs De!any/Mrs Siddons – June Barrie
Lowndes – David Collins
Gent!eman – Paul Dodgson
Miss Dewe – Caitlin Hobbs
Dr Johnson – Bill Wallis
Mrs Schwellenberg – Kim Hicks
d'Arblay – Thierry Harcourt
With Cornelius Garrett, Claire Marchionne, Angela Barlow, Ric Jerrom, Rob Hutchinson and Joshua Boyden
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd