Good Show Clarissa/'The Cheat' on Radio 4

[Moonraker]

Not Blyton on TV, but the wireless! Joanna Lumley unveils her Enid Blyton inspired manifesto for children in next weeks Radio Times! Good Show Clarissa (Radio 4, Thursday 3.30pm) features Joanna reading Enid Blyton's The Cheat (1947). You can read a snippet of RT's interview here.

Are you sitting comfortably?

[Tony Summerfield]

'The Cheat' isn't really one of Enid's better short stories, but it is quite a bit longer than most (as are all the stories in The Enid Blyton Treasury) and I strongly suspect that it was chosen on length rather than quality.

[Julie2owlsdene]

I must make a note to remind myself it's on.

[Moonraker]

I'm in a bit of a quandry - I have the Treasury and have found the story. Should I read it? Or should I wait and listen to it on the wireless without knowing the story (other than it involves a girl who needs to pass an exam)?
It would be rather good to hear a new-to-me Blyton on the wireless!

[Wayne Pyer]

I'm in a bit of a quandry - I have the Treasury and have found the story. Should I read it? Or should I wait and listen to it on the wireless without knowing the story (other than it involves a girl who needs to pass an exam)?
It would be rather good to hear a new-to-me Blyton on the wireless!

I also have the treasury and I've decided to hear it first, with book to hand, and maybe read-through later.

[Julie2owlsdene]

I've got the book, read the story, but have forgotten it anyway.

[Lucky Star]

I've got the book, read the story, but have forgotten it anyway.

Best of all worlds.

[valyates]

I know Tony said this was not one of her better stories but it must have made an impression on me as when told it was on I immediately remembered it was from the Treasury (although not the details of the story) - not bad from a distance of over 50 years! I can see the drawing in my minds eye of a girl bent over a desk. I am looking forward to listening to it - Joanna Lumley, great choice

[Comerscroft]

As part of the celebration of three Jolly Hockey Sticks tales, Joanna Lumley will be reading this story by Enid Blyton. I don't know this one, but sounds interesting.

[Julie2owlsdene]

Yes, looking forward to hearing that programme. Nigel, (Moonraker) has already posted about this on a thread called Good Show Clarrisa.



Edit: I've merged the two threads so everything is in one place - Anita

[Tony Summerfield]

I can see the drawing in my minds eye of a girl bent over a desk. I am looking forward to listening to it - Joanna Lumley, great choice

If you want to check it out in the Cave of books, Val, you can actually see the illustrations from The Cheat.

[Moonraker]

I have just listened to it on iPlayer - having forgotten it was on! It was really well read by Joanna Lumley, and much of the original script remained. I followed it at first by reading as it went along. As the ommissions were distracting, I closed my eyes and listened. After listening to it, I read it!

A predictable ending - it was screaming at you from early on. Certainly not one of Enid's best, but still pretty good.

If you missed it, UK residents can hear it here.

[Julie2owlsdene]

Thanks for the link, Nigel. I forgot to listen to it, and I also forgot to look at the note to remind myself

[Tony Summerfield]

I listened to it 'live' on my TV (I don't have a radio that works so it has to be TV or Computer!) whilst I was sticking labels on envelopes. I could see the end coming as well, although it is many years since I read it. It struck me that she had still cheated and the fact that she bungled it didn't make it morally any better!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Thanks for the link, Nigel. I've just listened to the story on iplayer and liked the way Joanna Lumley read it. There's a very similar episode in one of the St. Clare's books, involving Isabel O' Sullivan.