written by John Harvey
based on "The Old Wives' Tale" by Arnold Bennett
The first of six parts with Patricia Routledge and Alfred Burke

Headstrong and proud, Sophia struggles against the wishes of her family while her sister Constance - quiet, but no less passionate - accepts a future in the family draper's shop. Then, when the Wakes Week festivities are at their height, Sophia's impetuous and romantic nature leads to tradegy.

Arnold Bennett's greatest novel spans 50 years, from the middle of the 19th century to the first decade of the 20th. The story ranges from the Potteries town of Bursley to Paris, as the contrasting lives of the two sisters unfold.

(Feature: page 12)
(Ceefax Subtitles)