Bouquet of Barbed Wire
Encyclopedia
Bouquet of Barbed Wire is a British television series based on a 1969 novel by Andrea Newman
. The series – whose title comes from an incident that occurred to Newman and her mother while on a walk – was made by London Weekend Television
for ITV
in 1976. A new adaptation of the novel was made in 2010.
), who, having just begun at university, becomes pregnant and marries an American, Gavin Sorensen (James Aubrey
). Prue's father, Peter (Frank Finlay
), cannot contain his jealousy and obsessive love for his daughter. For his part, Gavin is focused on seducing Prue's mother Cassie (Sheila Allen
), who obliges as a relief from Peter.
The series was considered highly risqué for the time, but was a considerable success. The critic Clive James
wrote "by the end, everybody had been to bed with everybody else except the baby."
A sequel, Another Bouquet, was made in 1977 and was written for television before being published as a novel. Both Bouquet of Barbed Wire and Another Bouquet are available on DVD
.
by Mammoth Screen
, as a three-part series broadcast by ITV on 7–20 September 2010. Adapted by Guy Andrews
and directed by Ashley Pearce, it starred Trevor Eve
as Peter Manson, Hermione Norris
as Cassie Manson, Tom Riley as Gavin Sorenson and Imogen Poots
as Prue Sorenson.
The 2010 adaptation made some changes to the story in the novel and 1976 version. Prue is now a sixth form student
and Gavin is her Yorkshire-born English teacher, rather than an American PhD student. The first episode was watched by 5.98 million viewers, and received positive reviews, It was released on DVD on 20September 2010.
Andrea Newman
Andrea Newman is an English author.An only child, mainly brought up by her grandmother, she taught at a grammar school after graduating with a degree in English from London University...
. The series – whose title comes from an incident that occurred to Newman and her mother while on a walk – was made by London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in 1976. A new adaptation of the novel was made in 2010.
Outline
The story follows the middle-class Manson family over one hot summer as it is torn apart by the manipulative daughter, Prue (Susan PenhaligonSusan Penhaligon
Susan Penhaligon is a British actress and writer, she is probably best known for her appearances in the controversial 1976 drama Bouquet of Barbed Wire and several ongoing roles in UK television series.-Early days:...
), who, having just begun at university, becomes pregnant and marries an American, Gavin Sorensen (James Aubrey
James Aubrey (actor)
James Aubrey was an English stage and screen actor. He trained for the stage at the Drama Centre London. He made his professional acting debut in a 1962 production of Isle of Children. Aubrey made his screen acting debut in the 1963 adaptation of Lord of the Flies. Aubrey performed with the Royal...
). Prue's father, Peter (Frank Finlay
Frank Finlay
Francis Finlay, CBE is an English stage, film and television actor.-Personal life:Finlay was born in Farnworth, Lancashire, the son of Margaret and Josiah Finlay, a butcher. A devout Catholic, he belongs to the British Catholic Stage Guild. He was educated at St...
), cannot contain his jealousy and obsessive love for his daughter. For his part, Gavin is focused on seducing Prue's mother Cassie (Sheila Allen
Sheila Allen (English actress)
Sheila Allen was an English actress, who was best known to the wider public for her role on television as Cassie Manson in Bouquet Of Barbed Wire and its sequel Another Bouquet...
), who obliges as a relief from Peter.
The series was considered highly risqué for the time, but was a considerable success. The critic Clive James
Clive James
Clive James, AM is an Australian author, critic, broadcaster, poet and memoirist, best known for his autobiographical series Unreliable Memoirs, for his chat shows and documentaries on British television and for his prolific journalism...
wrote "by the end, everybody had been to bed with everybody else except the baby."
A sequel, Another Bouquet, was made in 1977 and was written for television before being published as a novel. Both Bouquet of Barbed Wire and Another Bouquet are available on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
.
Cast
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Peter Manson | Frank Finlay Frank Finlay Francis Finlay, CBE is an English stage, film and television actor.-Personal life:Finlay was born in Farnworth, Lancashire, the son of Margaret and Josiah Finlay, a butcher. A devout Catholic, he belongs to the British Catholic Stage Guild. He was educated at St... |
| Prue Manson/Sorenson | Susan Penhaligon Susan Penhaligon Susan Penhaligon is a British actress and writer, she is probably best known for her appearances in the controversial 1976 drama Bouquet of Barbed Wire and several ongoing roles in UK television series.-Early days:... |
| Gavin Sorenson | James Aubrey James Aubrey (actor) James Aubrey was an English stage and screen actor. He trained for the stage at the Drama Centre London. He made his professional acting debut in a 1962 production of Isle of Children. Aubrey made his screen acting debut in the 1963 adaptation of Lord of the Flies. Aubrey performed with the Royal... |
| Cassie Manson | Sheila Allen Sheila Allen (English actress) Sheila Allen was an English actress, who was best known to the wider public for her role on television as Cassie Manson in Bouquet Of Barbed Wire and its sequel Another Bouquet... |
| Sarah Francis | Deborah Grant |
2010 Adaptation
The novel was adapted again in 2010 for ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
by Mammoth Screen
Mammoth Screen
Mammoth Screen is a UK based independent production company that was established in 2007 by Michele Buck and Damien Timmer. It produces high quality drama for key UK broadcasters, especially ITV, and international distribution.- Forthcoming productions :...
, as a three-part series broadcast by ITV on 7–20 September 2010. Adapted by Guy Andrews
Guy Andrews
Guy Andrews, educated at Cranleigh School and St. Peter's College, Oxford University, is a British television writer who has written for television programmes including "Lost in Austen", "Absolute Power", "Agatha Christie's Poirot", and "Chancer"....
and directed by Ashley Pearce, it starred Trevor Eve
Trevor Eve
Trevor John Eve is a British film and television actor. In 1979 he gained fame as the eponymous lead in the detective series Shoestring and is also known for his role as Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd in BBC television drama Waking the Dead.-Early life:Eve was born in Sutton Coldfield,...
as Peter Manson, Hermione Norris
Hermione Norris
Hermione Norris is an English actress.Norris attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in the 1980s before taking small roles in theatre and on television. In 1996, she was cast in her breakout role of Karen Marsden in the comedy drama television series Cold Feet...
as Cassie Manson, Tom Riley as Gavin Sorenson and Imogen Poots
Imogen Poots
Imogen Gay Poots is an English actress, best known for playing Tammy in the 2007 film 28 Weeks Later, Prue Sorenson in the 2010 remake of the controversial TV drama Bouquet of Barbed Wire and as Jean Ross in the BBC's Christopher and His Kind.-Early life:Poots was born in Hammersmith, London,...
as Prue Sorenson.
The 2010 adaptation made some changes to the story in the novel and 1976 version. Prue is now a sixth form student
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
and Gavin is her Yorkshire-born English teacher, rather than an American PhD student. The first episode was watched by 5.98 million viewers, and received positive reviews, It was released on DVD on 20September 2010.
Cast
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Peter Manson | Trevor Eve Trevor Eve Trevor John Eve is a British film and television actor. In 1979 he gained fame as the eponymous lead in the detective series Shoestring and is also known for his role as Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd in BBC television drama Waking the Dead.-Early life:Eve was born in Sutton Coldfield,... |
| Prue Manson/Sorenson | Imogen Poots Imogen Poots Imogen Gay Poots is an English actress, best known for playing Tammy in the 2007 film 28 Weeks Later, Prue Sorenson in the 2010 remake of the controversial TV drama Bouquet of Barbed Wire and as Jean Ross in the BBC's Christopher and His Kind.-Early life:Poots was born in Hammersmith, London,... |
| Gavin Sorenson | Tom Riley |
| Cassie Manson | Hermione Norris Hermione Norris Hermione Norris is an English actress.Norris attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in the 1980s before taking small roles in theatre and on television. In 1996, she was cast in her breakout role of Karen Marsden in the comedy drama television series Cold Feet... |
| Sarah Francis | Jemima Rooper Jemima Rooper Jemima Rooper is an English actress.- Background :Born in Hammersmith, London, Rooper is the daughter of TV journalist Alison Rooper. She attended Redcliffe Primary School in Chelsea, London and Godolphin and Latymer girls' school. While working on The Famous Five, she passed eight GCSEs with A*... |