The Masterson Inheritance

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The Masterson Inheritance


Cassette cover from the BBC Canned Laughter series, 1993

Genre Comedy-drama
Running time 30 minutes
Country Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom
Language(s) English
Home station BBC Radio 4
Starring Josie Lawrence
Paul Merton
Phelim McDermott
Caroline Quentin
Lee Simpson
Jim Sweeney
Air dates April 22, 1993December 25, 1995
No. of series 3
No. of episodes 20
Audio format Stereophonic sound

The Masterson Inheritance was an improvised comedy series broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1993 to 1995 billed as "an improvised historical saga of a family at war with itself." There were three series and two Christmas specials. From time to time, repeats of the show are broadcast on BBC 7.

In each programme, the cast members, Josie Lawrence, Paul Merton, Phelim McDermott, Caroline Quentin, Lee Simpson and Jim Sweeney would be given a particular historical setting, and, incorporating suggestions from the audience, would improvise that episode in the saga of the Masterson family.

[edit] Episode List

Series Episode Title Historical Setting First broadcast
1 1 The Curse of the Mastersons The 1760s and the slave trade 22 April 1993
2 The Mastersons and Johnson The 1790s 29 April 1993
3 Scurvy The 1800s at sea 6 May 1993
4 The Sweat of the Mastersons Victorian London 13 May 1993
5 The Tatting of the Mastersons 19th century America 20 May 1993
6 The Mastersons Lose Everything The 1890s 27 May 1993
Special 1 The Stuffing of the Mastersons 25 December 1993
2 1 Beware the Ides of Masterson Imperial Rome 11 June 1994
2 The Quest for the Other Rabbit's Foot The court of King Arthur 18 June 1994
3 Last Word to the Mastersons The industrial revolution 25 June 1994
4 The Jousting Mastersons Late 15th century 2 July 1994
5 The Gangrene of the Mastersons The Crimean War 9 July 1994
6 The Mastersons Go Down The Titanic 16 July 1994
3 1 The Mastersons Magical Marquee (1) Travelling Victorian circus 24 June 1995
2 The Mastersons Magical Marquee (2) 1 July 1995
3 Masterson Rides Again 19th century public school 8 July 1995
4 The Masterson Bunch Early 20th century 15 July 1995
5 The Pain of the Mastersons The romantic poets 22 July 1995
6 The St Valentine's Day Masterson 1920s Hollywood 29 July 1995
Special 2 The Mastersons' Christmas Cracker 25 December 1995

[edit] External links