Love In A Cold Climate (ITV 1980, Judi Dench, Michael Williams)

Period drama serial Love In A Cold Climate was based on the lives of the Mitford girls during the 1920’s and 1930’s including their unwise friendship with Adolf Hitler during his early years in power.

As befitting the high profile nature of the series it was given a TV Times cover and two major features. One was written by one of the Mitford sisters, Diana (who had gained even more infamy for herself by marrying British fascist Oswald Mosley in 1936). Mosley himself, living in exile in France, died on 3 December 1980 whilst the series was on air. The other focused on the cars, mostly 1920’s Daimler’s, used on the production.

Writer Simon Raven had previously adapted the super popular Edward and Mrs Simpson for ITV in 1977. The BBC mounted an equally high profile version in 2001.

cast
Judi Dench as Sadie
Michael Aldridge as Uncle Matt
Michael Williams as Davey Warbeck
Lucy Gutteridge as Linda
John Moffatt as Lord Merlin
Isabelle Amyes as Fanny
Vivian Pickles as Lady Montdore
Diana Fairfax as Emily Warbeck
Job Stewart as Boy Dougdale
Rosalyn Landor as Polly
Rebecca Saire as Victoria
Christopher Scoular as Alfred
Richard Hurndall as Lord Montdore
Michael Cochrane as Cedric Hampton
Yolande Palfrey as Jassy
Selena Carey-Jones as Louisa
Max Harris as Little Matt
Jean-Pierre Cassel as Fabrice, Duc de Sauveterre
Anthony Head as Tony Kroesig
Peter Howell as Duke of Paddington
Joshua Le Touzel as Bob
Leon Eagles as Sir Leicester Kroesig
Adrienne Corri as Veronica Chaddesley-Corbett
Ralph Lawson as Christian Talbot
Ann Queensberry as Lady Patricia
Richard Beale as Josh
Michael Lees as Lord Fort-William

crew details
Writer: Simon Raven
Book: Nancy Mitford
Producer: Gerald Savoury
Director: Donald McWhinnie

production details
Country: UK
Network: ITV – Thames
Duration: 8×50 minute episodes
Aired From: 29 October – 17 December 1980

THE EPISODES
1. CHILD HUNT (29 Oct 80)
2. COMING OUT (5 Nov 80)
3. RINGS AND THINGS (12 Nov 80)
4. THE MERRY WIDOWER (19 Nov 80)
5. HEIR APPARENT (26 Nov 80)
6. FOREIGNERS ARE FIENDS (3 Dec 80)
7. MONSIEUR LE DUC (10 Dec 80)
8. IN LOVE AND WAR (17 Dec 80)