 Funny, moving, colourful, camp and raunchy, this 90-minute one-off drama offers an insight into the world of romantic fiction, seen through the publishing phenomenon of Mills & Boon. They are two names synonymous with ripping bodices and one of the most recognisable and compelling genres in literature. So what is behind its phenomenal success?
Interweaving the stories of three very different women, the drama sheds light on the impact and influence the books have had on women's lives during the last century.
Tonight's first story features Mary (Jodie Whittaker), wife of Charles Boon - the wheeler-dealer who co-founded the publishing imprint with his upright business partner and trusted friend Gerald Mills. Their decision to take a chance on the low-brow, high-romance genre proved to be so original and successful that it went on to alter the course of publishing history. Although Charles was brilliant at identifying the need for "romance" through literature in his publishing empire, he was less adept at identifying it at home. This story is inspired by the lives of the actual people behind the scenes.
Janet Bottomley (Olivia Colman, pictured) is the heroine of tonight's second tale - an ordinary spinster devoted to her ailing mother at her own expense. Janet's life takes a U-turn when she meets a devastatingly handsome consultant, Dr Grant (Patrick Baladi, pictured) who must operate on her mother. The meeting triggers Janet's fantastical yearning for romance and a comedy of errors ensues, changing her world for ever. This story is inspired by the real experience of many women in the 1970s, discovering their voices during a time of social and sexual revolution.
Finally, there's the story of Kirstie (Emilia Fox), which brings the experience of Mills & Boon up to date. A university lecturer in literature and feminist studies, Kirstie is in a stagnating relationship with her partner, Nick. Thwarted, bored and frustrated, she is lecturing to students on romantic literature and its place within the literary canon when a sexy young stranger, Jack, enters her life...
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