The Glittering Prizes

The Glittering Prizes is a British television drama by Frederic Raphael about the changing lives of a group of Cambridge students, starting in 1952 and following them through to middle age in the 1970s.[1] It was first broadcast on BBC2 in January 1976[1] and later adapted into a novel of the same name.[2][3]

The Glittering Prizes
GenreDrama
Written byFrederic Raphael
Directed byWaris Hussein
Robert Knights
StarringTom Conti
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
ProducerMark Shivas
Running time80 minutes
Production companyBBC
Release
Original networkBBC2
Original release21 January (1976-01-21) –
25 February 1976 (1976-02-25)

Episodes

Episode 1 ‘An Early Life’ aired 21 January 1976
Plot outline: It is the mid-1950s, Adam Morris (Tom Conti) begins his career as a Cambridge undergraduate on a scholarship. Some of Adam's views about class and religious faith are tested by an aristocratic fellow undergraduate who shares his rooms. The series's characters are introduced by their involvement in a play by the Cambridge Footlights.

Episode 2 ‘A Love Life’ aired 28 January 1976
Plot outline: Still the mid fifties., Adam marries Barbara (Barbara Kellerman), despite parental opposition, whilst Joyce (Angela Down) finds herself pregnant by Alan (John Gregg (actor)) but marries Dan (Malcolm Stoddard).

Episode 3 ‘A Past Life’ aired 4 February 1976
Plot outline: The early 1960s, Adam (Tom Conti) has a bruising encounter with a famous writer Stephen Taylor (Eric Porter) who was once a fascist sympathiser but then goes on to write an Oscar-winning screenplay.

Episode 4 ‘A Country Life’ aired 11 February 1976
Plot outline: The mid sixties. Set at a boys' approved school Joyce (Angela Down) must finally face up to some unpleasant truths about her seemingly idyllic marriage to Dan (Malcolm Stoddard), now a teacher, when their old Cambridge friend Alan (John Gregg (actor)), now a media personality, drops in.

Episode 5 ‘An Academic Life’ aired 18 February 1976
Plot Outline: the late sixties. Accusations of racism are made by student militants at a plate glass university featuring, Dinsdale Landen as Gavin Pope, Ray Smith (actor) as Austin Denny, Clive Merrison as Bill Bourne, Suzanne Stone as Joann Bourne, Tim Pigott-Smith as Tim Dent, Carolle Rousseau as Jeanne Dent.

Episode 6 ‘A Double Life’ aired 25 February 1976
Plot outline: It’s 1976, Adam (Tom Conti), by now a famous writer, copes with the death of his father and tragedies in the personal lives of some old Cambridge friends.

Cast (selected)
Character Actor
Adam Morris Tom Conti
Barbara Morris Barbara Kellerman
Lionel Morris Leonard Sachs
Joyce Hadleigh/Bradley Angela Down
Dan Bradley Malcolm Stoddard
Barbara Ransome/Parks Anna Carteret
Donald Davidson David Robb
Mike Clode Mark Wing-Davey
Anna Cunningham Emily Richard
Alan Parks John Gregg
Denis Porson Nigel Havers
Bill Bourne Clive Merrison
Stephen Taylor Eric Porter
Gavin Pope Dinsdale Landen
  • Fame and Fortune (2007) novel (sequel to The Glittering Prizes). Broadcast by BBC Radio 4 in six episodes October–November 2007
  • Final Demands (2010) novel (sequel to Fame and Fortune). Broadcast by BBC Radio 4 in six episodes March 2010

References
  1. Evans, Jeff (2001). The Penguin TV Companion. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-051467-8.
  2. "BFI Screenonline: Glittering Prizes, The (1976)". www.screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  3. The Glittering Prizes | TVmaze, retrieved 14 February 2022
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