Fanny Burney

Laura Doddington

Timothy West

Juliet Aubrey

Eleanor Bron

Full Cast

Two BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisations

A BBC radio drama adaptation of Fanny Burney’s best-known novel, plus a dramatisation of her diaries 
 
Before Jane Austen, there was Fanny Burney. In the 1780s, she was England’s most celebrated female author, having achieved extraordinary success with two hit novels. She went on to become a royal servant, marry an exile from the French Revolution and undergo a gruelling mastectomy without the aid of anaesthetic – all events chronicled in her diaries, which were published posthumously to great acclaim. Contained here are dramatisations of her first and most famous novel, and her remarkable journals and letters. 
 
Evelina – Initially published anonymously, Fanny Burney’s witty epistolary account of a young woman’s introduction to the beau monde took Georgian London by storm. Brought up by her guardian since her mother died in childbirth and her father refused to acknowledge her, Evelina has spent her childhood in rural seclusion. But a letter from her grandmother and an invitation to London lead her into the dangerous and unfamiliar world of the Ton, where she meets a collection of fops, dandies and dastardly rakes – as well as the dashing Lord Orville. Can she navigate the traps and challenges of fashionable society to find true love? Laura Doddington stars as Evelina in this 10-part dramatisation of Burney’s satirical comedy of manners. 
 
Dear Little Burney – Beginning in 1778, when Evelina catapulted Fanny Burney to fame, this 15-part adaptation of her letters and diaries vividly portrays the most momentous events of her extraordinary life. From adjusting to her sudden celebrity to becoming wardrobe mistress to Queen Charlotte, witnessing George III’s madness, spending ten years in France during the Napoleonic Wars and enduring an agonising operation, we are swept up in her joys, anxieties and disappointments – and given an intimate glimpse into everyday life in 18th century London and Paris. Starring Juliet Aubrey as Fanny, with Timothy West, Eleanor Bron, Robert Whelan and June Barrie. 
 
Evelina first published in 1778 
Diaries and letters first published 1842-1846 
 
Production credits 
Written by Fanny Burney 
Adapted by Jennifer Howarth 
Produced and directed by Sara Davies 
 
Cast 
Evelina 
Evelina – Laura Doddington 
Mr Villars – Philip Manikum 
Caroline/Mrs Mirvan/Prostitute – Jacqueline Tong 
Lady Howard/Mrs Selwyn – Phyllida Nash 
Mr Lovel/Mr McCartney – John Mackay 
Lord Orville – Ian Kelly 
Sir Clement Willoughby – Andrew Collins 
Captain Mirvan/Sir John Belmont – Mark Buffery 
Madame Duval – Stephanie Cole 
Mr Branghton – Chris Harris 
Tom Branghton – Stuart Crossman 
Polly Esther – Ruth Elliott 
Monsieur du Bois/Officer/Coachman – James Anderson 
 
 
Dear Little Burney 
Fanny – Juliet Aubrey 
George III – Timothy West 
Queen Charlotte – Eleanor Bron 
Susan – Kate Seaward 
Dr Burney – Robert Whelan 
Charles/George – Chris Garner 
MrsThrale – Liz Morgan 
Mr Fairly/Mr Kemble – Andrew Hilton 
Prince of Wales – Andrew Collins 
Mrs De!any/Mrs Siddons – June Barrie 
Lowndes – David Collins 
Gent!eman – Paul Dodgson 
Miss Dewe – Caitlin Hobbs 
Dr Johnson – Bill Wallis 
Mrs Schwellenberg – Kim Hicks 
d'Arblay – Thierry Harcourt 
With Cornelius Garrett, Claire Marchionne, Angela Barlow, Ric Jerrom, Rob Hutchinson and Joshua Boyden 
 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Fanny Burney

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