High Table, Lower Orders
Encyclopedia
High Table, Lower Orders is a BBC Radio 4
comedy-drama murder mystery written by the late Mark Tavener
and set in a fictional Cambridge
college in crisis. The first series was broadcast in six episodes from 18th February to 25th March 2005 Episode Guide at RadioListings.co.uk, and the second series was broadcast from 7th April to 12th May 2006 . Its title refers to the custom of High Table
and the murder and skulduggery that occurs in the series.
, to investigate the death. At the same time, Zoe Templeton, a philosophy graduate and Simon's former girlfriend, loses her job as political sketch-writer on a national newspaper and is forced to freelance. Her first job is covering the aftermath of Devanti's death, which brings her back together with both Simon, whom she left for Devanti on the eve of Simon's final undergraduate exam, and her tutor Patricia, who was also one of Devanti's conquests. Her re-appearance opens old wounds for Simon, who drank himself into oblivion when she left him, leaving him in no condition for a final exam, and resulting in him failing to get the first-class honours degree that would have ensured his continued academic career.
The plot thickens as the Master himself dies, and the various fellows, including the Machiavellian history don Gilbert Devlin, compete to be his replacement. Meanwhile the list of people who might have wanted Peter Devanti dead keeps growing. Nearly everyone connected with the college had a reason to hate Devanti or want him removed, including anyone with ambition to be Master, since Devanti himself was the obvious candidate to succeed. Most of the female characters had affairs with and were abandoned by Devanti, including Zoe and Patricia.
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
comedy-drama murder mystery written by the late Mark Tavener
Mark Tavener
Mark Tavener was a British novelist who also wrote for radio and television. Born and brought up in Plymouth, educated at Plymouth College and Peterhouse Cambridge. His 1989 satirical novel In the Red was adapted for radio in 1995, and television in 1998...
and set in a fictional Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
college in crisis. The first series was broadcast in six episodes from 18th February to 25th March 2005 Episode Guide at RadioListings.co.uk, and the second series was broadcast from 7th April to 12th May 2006 . Its title refers to the custom of High Table
High Table
At Oxford, Cambridge and Durham colleges — and other, similarly traditional and prestigious UK academic institutions At Oxford, Cambridge and Durham colleges — and other, similarly traditional and prestigious UK academic institutions At Oxford, Cambridge and Durham colleges — and other, similarly...
and the murder and skulduggery that occurs in the series.
Plot outline
Both series feature a murder mystery set against a background of satirical references to newspaper and television journalism, politics, government bureaucracy, and academic in-fighting. In particular there is a long-running feud between Gilbert and the Dean of the College. The Dean is the religious leader of the College, in charge of the Chapel, Choir and all religious services. The office was once the most important in the College, which was founded by monks. Actual authority has become vested in the Master and the Bursar, and the current Dean would like to regain the power that his predecessors lost.Series 1
Peter Devanti, a notorious TV populariser of history, dies after being the college's guest at High Table. The apparent cause is eating nuts despite a known allergy. However the college's Master suspects foul play. He invites Simon Harrison, a formerly brilliant biology student who is condemned to work in the Health and Safety ExecutiveHealth and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in England and Wales and Scotland...
, to investigate the death. At the same time, Zoe Templeton, a philosophy graduate and Simon's former girlfriend, loses her job as political sketch-writer on a national newspaper and is forced to freelance. Her first job is covering the aftermath of Devanti's death, which brings her back together with both Simon, whom she left for Devanti on the eve of Simon's final undergraduate exam, and her tutor Patricia, who was also one of Devanti's conquests. Her re-appearance opens old wounds for Simon, who drank himself into oblivion when she left him, leaving him in no condition for a final exam, and resulting in him failing to get the first-class honours degree that would have ensured his continued academic career.
The plot thickens as the Master himself dies, and the various fellows, including the Machiavellian history don Gilbert Devlin, compete to be his replacement. Meanwhile the list of people who might have wanted Peter Devanti dead keeps growing. Nearly everyone connected with the college had a reason to hate Devanti or want him removed, including anyone with ambition to be Master, since Devanti himself was the obvious candidate to succeed. Most of the female characters had affairs with and were abandoned by Devanti, including Zoe and Patricia.
Series 2
A year after the events of Series 1, Simon and Zoe are living together in Cambridge, intending to marry. Zoe is now working for a "red top" tabloid newspaper. Simon is initially out of work, but is soon awarded a Fellowship in "Forensic Science and Criminology" by Gilbert, now the Master of the college. A student apparently commits suicide by hanging himself. Simon is not convinced. Meanwhile Bernard, the Bursar is trying to reorganise the college to be more financially viable. The Dean tries to engineer a revolution and abolish the post of Master.Both series
- Gilbert Devlin, Fellow in History and later Master — Geoffrey PalmerGeoffrey Palmer (actor)Geoffrey Dyson Palmer, OBE is an English actor, best known for his roles in sitcoms such as Butterflies and As Time Goes By.-Career:...
- The Dean — Michael MaloneyMichael MaloneyMichael Maloney is an English actor.Born in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, Maloney's first television appearance was as Peter Barkworth's teenage son in the 1979 drama series, Telford's Change....
- Simon Harrison, biology graduate turned Health and Safety Executive bureaucrat — Samuel WestSamuel WestSamuel Alexander Joseph West is an English actor and theatre director. He is perhaps best known for his role in Howards End and his work on stage. He also starred in the award-winning play ENRON...
- Zoe Templeton, philosophy graduate turned journalist, and Simon's former girlfriend — Sharon SmallSharon SmallSharon Small is a Scottish actress acclaimed for her dramatic work in film, radio, theatre and television. Her best-known TV role is that of Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers in the BBC television adaptation of the Inspector Lynley Mysteries by Elizabeth George.-Education and personal life:Small...
- Bernard, the College Bursar — Jonathan CoyJonathan CoyJonathan Coy is a British actor born in Hammersmith, London on 24 April 1953. He has worked since 1975 largely in television, notably as Henry in the long running legal series Rumpole and as Bracegirdle in the television series Hornblower, adapted from the books by C. S. Forester...
- Written by Mark TavenerMark TavenerMark Tavener was a British novelist who also wrote for radio and television. Born and brought up in Plymouth, educated at Plymouth College and Peterhouse Cambridge. His 1989 satirical novel In the Red was adapted for radio in 1995, and television in 1998...
- Producer Dawn Ellis
Second series
- Dr. Roisin McDade, Fellow in English — Michelle FairleyMichelle FairleyMichelle Fairley is an Northern Irish actress of film, stage and television.-Life and career:Born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland to well known publicans Teresa and Brian Fairley, she grew up in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland she appeared in a range of British television shows including The Bill,...
- Jane — Tracey WilesTracey WilesTracey Wiles is a Scottish actor, most notable for radio appearances such as High Table, Lower Orders and the radio adaptation of Venus in Copper.-Sources:...
- Jim — Stephen Hogan