Pallisers, The

1 9 7 4 – 1 9 7 5 (UK)
26 x 50 minute episodes

A Forsyte Saga imitation – complete with Susan Hampshire as flighty Lady Glencora – The Pallisers centred on a 19th century aristocratic family with political ambitions and scandalous lives.

Both Pauline Collins and Hayley Mills declined when asked to play the role of Lady Glencora. Collins apparently wanted more money (and this was no lavish production – all 26 episodes were made for under half a million pounds), and Mills felt weak at the idea of a long series.

Hampshire took up the challenge and was loved for it, playing opposite Philip Latham’s snooty but dull, lantern-jawed MP Plantagenet Palliser – who was serious of aspect, immaculate of tone, impeccable of manner and cutting as an ice-pick.

Adapted by Simon Raven from the six Palliser novels of one-time Liberal candidate Anthony Trollope – and shot on 110 studio sets and in the British countryside – the series failed to fly artistic heights despite fine production (on a modest budget) from Martin Lisemore, and the work of a team of historians and researchers who worked for months to ensure historical accuracy in background costume and lifestyle.

Serious students of Trollope’s novels accused Raven of taking liberties with the dialogue in his adaptation, but those were nothing compared with the liberties a commercial radio station took when a BBC strike halted the recording of the final two episodes.

They cashed in by broadcasting excerpts from the novels covering the passing of Lady Glencora.

Still, viewers eventually enjoyed Susan Hampshire’s last gasps – though she had lain on her deathbed for two months.

Lady Glencora Palliser
Susan Hampshire
Plantagenet “Planty” Palliser
Philip Latham
Duke of Omnium
Roland Culver
Countess Midlothian
Fabia Drake
Laura Kennedy
Anna Massey
Lord Fawn
Derek Jacobi
Lady Fawn
Madeleine Christie
Mrs Hittaway
Penelope Keith
Earl of Silverbridge
Anthony Andrews
Lady Mabel Grex
Anna Carteret
Burgo Fitzgerald
Barry Justice
Patience Crabstick
Carolyn Jones