Period drama Tipping The Velvet set in Victorian times, follows Nan Astley (Rachael Stirling), a young oyster maid from Witstable, who becomes obsessed with the music hall performer Kitty Butler (Keeley Hawes) who performs a male impersonation act. The pair fall in love and when Kitty moves to London Nan follows and joins the act.
When the relationship falls apart Nan ends up working as a prostitute but is rescued by Diana Letherby (Anna Chancellor) only for Nan to spoil things by having an affair with Diana’s maid Zena (Sally Hawkins). Once again back on the streets she eventually finds love with Florence (Jodhi) but then Kitty reappears in her life…
Rachael Stirling as Nan
Tipping The Velvet notched up a veritable media frenzy when it aired in 2002, the more salacious tabloids really embracing the admittedly frank nature of the lesbian scenes in the three part drama. It was the first of Sarah Walters’ novels to be adapted for TV.
Cast: RACHAEL STIRLING as Nan Astley; KEELEY HAWES as Kitty Butler; ANNA CHANCELLOR as Diana Lethaby; JODHI MAY as Florence; SARA STOCKBRIDGE as Dickie
SALLY HAWKINS as Zena Blake
Writer: Andrew Davies / Novel: Sarah Walters / Executive Producers: Sally Head, Gareth Neame, Sally Woodward Gentle / Producer: Georgina Lowe / Director: Geoffrey Sax
UK / BBC-2 / 3×60 minute episodes / Broadcast 9-22 October 2002