Second Thoughts

Synopsis

All four series of the BBC radio comedy drama about a couple experiencing love for the second time – plus special festive episode The Fight Before ChristmasBill and Faith are both divorcees, late in love but new to each other. As they battle to forge a relationship together, they discover that the course of true love doesn’t always run smoothly.In these 31 episodes, they move in together, plan a wedding and deal with the challenges of married life – all the while trying to balance the demands of Gavin’s ex-wife, Liza, and her teenage children, Hannah and Joe. From bickering about the kids to worrying about money, trying to find time for romance and dealing with feelings of jealousy, the duo’s relationship comes under fire from all sides. Can they make love work the second time around?Inspired by the real lives of its writers, husband and wife Jan Etherington and Gavin Petrie, this funny, bittersweet sitcom was adapted for ITV where it ran for five seasons and was followed by an equally successful sequel, Faith in the Future. It stars Lynda Bellingham as Faith and James Bolam as Bill.Written by Jan Etherington and Gavin PetrieProduced by Pete Atkin (Series 1), Sioned Wiliam (Series 2) and Paul Schlesinger (Series 3 and 4 and The Fight Before Christmas)First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 3 November-22 December 1988 (Series 1), 31 October-19 December 1989 (Series 2), 9 April-28 May 1991 (Series 3), 18 June-23 July 1992 (Series 4), 25 December 1992 (The Fight Before Christmas)CastFaith……………………Lynda BellinghamBill……………………James BolamHilary……………………Celia Imrie/Geraldine FitzgeraldLiza……………………Belinda LangHannah……………………Kelda Holmes/Emma Gregory/Julia SawalhaJoe……………………Mark DenhamGrace/Jill……………………Moir LeslieAlex……………………John Samson/Mark StrakerRay……………………Nicholas Courtney/Ian LindsayTed/Mr Burrows……………………Norman BirdTreadwell……………………Richard TateChristian/Gideon/Waiter……………………Ian TargettRichard……………………John Moffatt/Christopher Good/Geoffrey WhiteheadSteve……………………Guy BroughamRachel……………………Rebecca FrontPolice Officer……………………Deborah RowbottomDennis……………………Brian BowlesMr Roper……………………Danny SchillerMarjorie……………………Jo KendallRegistrar……………………John BaddeleyVideo Man……………………Richard TateCabbie……………………Ben OnwukweGina……………………Danielle AllenKevin……………………Mark Straker/David LearnerKarel Cerny……………………Nigel CarringtonClayton……………………David LearnerChris……………………Peter GunnLouise……………………Melanie HudsonCourse Leader/Duncan……………………Nick Murchie