It's that woman again

By Blog on the Box on Dec 27, 07 09:48 AM

TWO terrible events happened in 1979. Both involved bossy women. Maggie Thatcher became Prime Minister with politics slightly to the right of Attilla the Hun and Audrey fforbes-Hamilton made her first apperance in a sit com.

Now, in 2007, both of them are back. Maggie's consciousness has been downloaded into David Cameron (have you ever seen them together?) and someone at the BBC had the bright idea to bring back To The Manor Born.

For the first time in 26 years Penelope Keith reprised her role as the upper-claarse dictator Audrey. The character was still snapping her fingers at the rest of us, still bossing her one and only friend, and still an insufferable snob.

To The Manor Born was a classic symbol of all that was wrong about the Thatcher generation. It was not so much a love story but it was about the acquisition and retention of wealth. It was about keeping the servants in their place.

And, above all, it was about Audrey getting her own way. Like Maggie, the lady wasn't for turning, and she would move heaven and earth to ensure she ruled the roost. If Songs of Praise is the Tory party at prayer, and Antiques Roadshow is the Tory party showing off their possessions, then To The Manor Born was the Tory party having a laugh.

Never found it funny at the time, didn't find it funny now.

However, if the sub-text wasn't everyone cup of Earl Grey, I will admit the acting was fine. Penelope Keith turned in an energetic performance having a crisis of conscience on behalf of her "poor" neighbours - land-owning farmers one and all - who had to tighten their belts because of a multi-national conglomerate that, it turned out, was her husband's.

Peter Bowles was fine as Richard DeVere while - as always - the real star of the show was Audrey's put-upon friend Marjory.Marjory was a relatively normal character surrounded by caricatures.

To The Manor Born belonged in the past. If nothing else the Christmas special was a timely reminder of how socially divisive Maggie's Britain really was as the Tories plan their resurgence.