The complete series 1 and 2 of the historical sitcom about well-meaning but gullible 18th century squire Fenton Babblewick and his clever manservant Augustus.

When idealistic Fenton Babblewick inherits his uncle's Yorkshire estate, it's the perfect opportunity to realise his Utopian dreams. But for his valet, Augustus Snipe, moving to Babblewick Hall is a nightmare. The servants are surly, the house is freezing cold and full of farm animals, and worst of all, it's in the North - a world away from the cosy coffeehouses and gentlemen's clubs of London.

In these 10 episodes, Fenton tries his hand as an agricultural reformer and radical grower of beetroots, falls in love with the charming Miss Lucinda Bluntstone, and embarks on a glamorous political career. An escape to London beckons - but Augustus's hopes are dashed when his master chooses to stay in the village, where he tries to convert a workhouse into a school and investigates a case of witchcraft....

Fans of Blackadder will love this lighthearted comedy drama, full of japes, jokes and amusing sound effects and soundtracked with brilliant Baroque-style music. Olivier Award-winning actor Nicholas Le Prevost stars as Fenton Babblewick, with Forbes Masson as Augustus Snipe and Sam Kelly and Dave Hill as Jack. Among the stellar guest cast are Sophie Thompson, Maurice Denham, Tracie Bennett and John Moffatt.

Production credits:

Written by Scott Cherry.

Produced by Paul Schlesinger (Series 1) and Jon Rolph (Series 2).

Music composed by Paul Mottram.

Violin: Paul Mottram

Cast:

Fenton Babblewick - Nicholas Le Prevost

Augustus Snipe - Forbes Masson

Barney - David Antrobus

Jack - Sam Kelly/Dave Hill

Molly - Gillian Bevan

Bob Scotcher - Philip Jackson

Peck - Alex Lowe

Pickett - Christian Rodska

Grunter - Geoffrey McGivern

Flinch - Maurice Denham

Mrs Bluntstone - Elizabeth Spriggs

Lucinda - Tracie Bennett

Smellie - David Timson

Hartson - Geoffrey Whitehead

Berridge - Jeremy Clyde

Dribb/Maddison - John Baddeley

Mrs Maddison - Sara Coward

Highwayman - Stephen Critchlow

William Babblewick - Benjamin Whitrow

Elizabeth Babblewick - Pauline Yates

Harriet - Courtney King

Septimus Hickey - John Moffatt

With Maggie McCarthy, Benedict Sandiford, Michael Troughton, Pat Coombs, Kim Wall, Lynda Barron, Phil Nice, Peter Gunn, Sophie Thompson, Rosemary Leach.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 27th December 1995 - 31st January 1996 (series 1), 4th - 25th September 1998 (series 2).