Ann and Harold
1938 - United KingdomAnn and Harold began life as a radio play in six scenes, broadcast on 5 March 1932. Written by writer and actor Louis Goodrich the play concerns a London society couple's romance from their first meeting to their courtship and finaly their grand society wedding. The play was considered popular enough for a sequel the following year but this time in an episodic serial format.
According to the original Radio Times listing the series (More About Ann and Harold) followed "the pleasures and pains of a very nice modern young couple at a christening, Lord's and a nursing home. The young things are superhumanly, bright through all their ' breaks,' and their crisp dialogue leaves no time or attention for the cricket news while listening. Ann Trevor and Geoffrey Wincott are the chief names in an experienced radio cast."
In 1938 the BBC transferred Ann and Harold to their fledgling TV broadcasts in a serial of five parts, now considered to be the first television series to appear on our screens. The couple, Ann Teviot and Harold Warden were played by Ann Todd and William Hutchison and followed the same storyline as the original series; their first meeting to their wedding, a period that spanned 10 months. The final episode was set at Lord's cricket ground, although in the original play a topical cricketing event had them crossing the river to the Oval.
Writer Louis Goodrich appeared in the televised version which debuted on 12 July at 9.15pm. Three of the episodes were 20 minutes in length whilst two of them were of only 15 minutes duration. Unfortunately, no recording was preserved of the series and the only visual record appears to be the two photographs on this page.
Published on July 15th, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.
