The Northern Irish actor and author James Ellis died on 8 March 2014. Radio 4 Extra paid tribute with this series of five short stories translated from the French and adapted by James Ellis to an Irish setting.
Best known as Bert Lynch in Z Cars (a character he played for some 16 years), James Ellis also appeared on TV in Doctor Who, In Sickness And In Health, Ballykissangel and Only Fools And Horses.
Sir Kenneth Branagh, who as a young actor appeared with him in Graham Reid’s ‘Billy’ trilogy, said that he was "a great inspiration". Sir Kenneth had been “blessed to begin my career working with (James)”.
These stories were recorded by James Ellis in front of an audience at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. The first tale, originally by Guy de Maupassant, was introduced to James by a teacher who drew comparisons “between the harsh lifestyle of the 19th-century Norman peasant and the unrelenting calendar of the Ulster farmer of days gone by”. It is the story of a dying woman and her son who, because he needs to harvest his crops, hires Granny Greer whose job is to sit with old people until they die. When Mrs O'Gorman hangs around too long, Granny decides to frighten her to death...
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2003.
1/5 Old Granny Greer outwits a miserly son by striking a deal with his ailing mother.
Scully's Goat
2/5 What befalls an unsuspecting goat when she escapes to pursue her freedom?
My Uncle Julius
3/5 The Davenport family's boat fails to come in, in more ways than one.
The Miller's Tale
4/5 A priest goes to desperate lengths to entice his erring flock back to the fold.
The Umbrella
5/5 When a man's new umbrella is ruined, his wife cunningly replaces it within budget.
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Replies
These sound sooo good!!
Thanks for the short stories....love them!