To the Manor Born

Joan Walker reads Peter Spence’s delightful novelisation of his smash-hit BBC TV series about the veering fortunes of unreconstructed snob Audrey fforbes-Hamilton. It is 1979, and for as long as she can remember Audrey fforbes-Hamilton has enjoyed all the little luxuries that a woman of her position and ancestry might expect – a manor in the country, a modest staff, the awed respect of the local village and, of course, ‘a few shillings’ in the bank. But, after the death of her husband, all that is soon to change. Moving with Brabinger, her loyal but decrepit butler, to the diminutive estate Lodge Audrey must face the horrors of a life of penury and a distinct lack of social position. So, with the handsome but nouveau riche Richard DeVere newly installed at the Manor, Audrey prepares to do battle on behalf of her reputation, class and the hallowed name of fforbes-Hamilton. To The Manor Born ran on BBC TV from 1979 to 1981 and has been repeated countless times around the world. Portrayed to great acclaim on screen by Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles, the sparring on-off romance of Audrey and Richard formed the basis of one of the most enduringly popular television comedies of our time. This adaptation of episodes from the first series, published in paperback in 1979, is one of a new range of Classic TV Novelisations from BBC Audiobooks. © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd