A star-studded BBC radio production of Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion - plus bonus drama The ‘B’ Word, telling the story of the play’s scandalous opening night

Irascible phonetics professor Henry Higgins makes a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering that he can train Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle to talk ‘like a lady’ and pass as a duchess at the Ambassador’s Ball. As the day of reckoning approaches, can Eliza convince the assembled aristocrats that she’s one of them? And what will become of her afterwards?

This effervescent radio version of Shaw’s classic comedy features a stellar cast, including award-winning comedians Alistair McGowan as Henry Higgins, Morgana Robinson as Eliza Doolittle and Al Murray as Alfred Doolittle.

Also featured on this release is The ‘B’ Word, written by and starring Alistair McGowan as Bernard Shaw. Centring on the shocking opening night of Pygmalion - the first time that the word ‘bloody’ was used on the British stage - it also explores the passionate love-hate relationship between Shaw; his leading man, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (Richard McCabe) and his leading lady, Mrs Patrick Campbell (Charlotte Page), who played the 19-year-old Eliza Doolittle at the age of 49.

Cast and credits

Pygmalion Henry Higgins……………………Alistair McGowan Eliza Doolittle……………………Morgana Robinson Alfred Doolittle……………………Al Murray Colonel Pickering……………………Hugh Fraser Mrs Higgins……………………Sian Phillips Mrs Pearce/Maid……………………Charlotte Page Mrs Eynsford-Hill……………………Georgie Glen Clara Eynsford-Hill……………………Maeve Bluebell Wells Freddy Eynsford-Hill………………………..Tom Forrister Nepommuck……………………David Sturzaker Ambassador……………………John Dougall Ambassador’s wife……………………Sarah Ridgeway Bystander……………………David Sterne Written by Bernard Shaw Produced and directed by Emma Harding

The ‘B’ Word Bernard Shaw……………………Alistair McGowan George Alexander……………………David Sturzaker Mrs Patrick Campbell………………………..Charlotte Page Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree……………………Richard McCabe Charlotte Shaw……………………Georgie Glen Merivale……………………Philip Fox Gurney/Fishman……………………Simon Ludders Bell……………………Charlie Clements Maid……………………Sarah Ridgeway Written by Alistair McGowan Produced and directed by Emma Harding Production Coordinator: Jenny Mendez Studio Managers: Alison Craig, Caleb Knightley and Thomas Glasser

Duration: 2 hours 45 mins approx.