Following in the footsteps of the Edwardian publishing sensation, the JK Rowling of her day, Patricia travels from London to Scotland and the Lake District to discover what fired Beatrix’s imagination and where her love and understanding of animals was born.
Building on her own experience as an actress who played Beatrix on stage in the 1990s and her present role as patron of the Beatrix Potter society, Patricia discovers the woman behind the myth and reveals what led her to write and illustrate the twenty three little tales filled with animal characters with human habits and emotions that so many of us have grown to love from childhood.
Taking us on an enchanting journey through Beatrix’s life, Patricia meets experts, enthusiasts and publishers to reveal how a letter written to an ill little boy became Peter Rabbit, a blue coat wearing bunny that to this day is an international marketing sensation; what was happening in Beatrix’s personal life to inspire the story of Jemima Puddleduck? And what it means for millions to be able to stand by the wall where Tom Kitten sat only to be scolded by his mother when his clothes were ruined.
With access to rare drawings, letters and artefacts held at the V&A Archive, Patricia leads us into a magical world that captures the pioneering spirit of a genius who made her way firstly in the cut-throat, male dominated Edwardian publishing industry, and then as a leading sheep-breeder and conservationist. The programme explores her legacies in the extensive Lake District properties she left to the National Trust, and of course in her books.
Globally a Beatrix Potter book is sold one every fifteen seconds. She is as popular now as she ever was. And her story is not over.
The documentary will also include an exciting Beatrix Potter publishing announcement as well as an exclusive interview and illustrations revealing how 75 years after she died, it is possible for Beatrix Potter still to be surprising us today.
Daisybeck CEO Paul Stead said “It has been a real treat and a privilege to work with an actress of the calibre and standing of Ms Routledge. We began discussing this wonderful idea a year ago on January 16th, which would have been my dear late Dad’s birthday. He was a huge fan of Patricia’s iconic and much loved character Hyacinth Bucket in “Keeping up Appearances” and meeting her on that date made it even more special. Here we are one year on with a fabulous, fascinating insight into the world of this amazing woman – as told by another. The film, Directed by the imaginative and creative genius that is Ian Denyer, taps in to Patricia’s authentic and mesmerising passion for the Beatrix Potter story and is a must see for anyone whoever loved her little books.”
Beatrix Potter with Patricia Routledge is on More 4 on Tuesday 26th January at 9pm.
