The Real George Orwell

Jan 10, 2026 6:13 PM

Author:Mike Walker,Jonathan Holloway,Joseph Millson,Lyndsey Marshall,Full Cast

A series of four BBC Radio full-cast dramas exploring the disjuncture between the man who was Eric Blair and the writer who was George Orwell.

George Orwell - the pen name of Eric Blair - was a writer and political commentator who is very hard to pin down. He is a complex mass of confusions - an anti-establishment, pro-English, ex-Etonian, ex-policeman, and socialist, who was ardently anti-authoritarian. He was as anti-fascist as he was anti-communist, a former Spanish Civil War soldier who was anti-war but pro the Second World War.

Burma: After an undistinguished academic career at Eton, Eric leaves in December 1921. When the girl he hopes to marry rejects him, he sets sail for Burma to join the colonial police. His experiences in Burma will affect him profoundly. When he rejects the Empire and returns to England, Blair begins to spend more and more time with the poor.

Dreaming: In September 1938, Eric and Eileen Blair leave London for Marrakech. He is hoping that the climate will be good for his health, and that he will be able to complete his novel, Coming Up for Air. But the bruising reception he received following the publication of Homage to Catalonia is troubling Eric. And both Eric and Eileen are still feeling guilty about the fate of one of their Spanish Civil War comrades, Georges Kopp.

Loving: Eric Blair's relationship with the opposite sex could be a distraught one; over the course of his lifetime, he made several awkward marriage proposals to different women. But his relationship with Eileen O'Shaugnessy, whom he married in 1935, had a huge influence both on his life and his writing.

Jura: In 1947, the year after Eileen's death, Eric leaves London and moves to Jura in the Scottish Hebrides, with his sister Avril, and his three year old son. He is suffering from tuberculosis but is determined to try and make a go of living off the land. But most of all he is determined to finish Nineteen Eighty-Four, his final book.

Cast:

Eric Blair . . . Joseph Millson

Eileen Blair… Lyndsey Marshall

Jacintha Buddicom . . . Sophie Roberts

Wilson . . . Joseph Kloska

Inspector d'Souza . . . Ernest Ignatius

Georges Kopp…Ewan Bailey

Avril Blair…Liza Sadovy

Ricky Blair…James Foster

Other parts played by Armaan Kirmani, Derek Riddell, Alun Raglan, Paul Stonehouse, Ben Crowe, Will Howard, Alun Raglan, Alexandra Guelff, Lizzy Watts.

Burma was written by Mike Walker and directed by Kate McAll.

Dreaming was written by Mike Walker and directed by Jeremy Mortimer.

Loving was written by Jonathan Holloway and directed by Kate McAll.

Jura was written by Jonathan Holloway and directed by Jeremy Mortimer.

Reviews

Humane, sex-positive writing of the funniest, filthiest and most heartening kind.

—— The Guardian

Jack of Hearts might be the most important queer novel of the decade

—— Gay Times

Contemporary sex advice meets mystery in this high school story of bullying and being true to oneself . . . an essential addition to library collections that serve teens.

—— School Library Journal starred review

Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) is the sex ed class you didn't get in high school - positive, frank and inclusive, but also hilarious, heartfelt and impossibly fun. This book is like a hug that also slaps you on the ass (in the consensual flirtatious sexy way).

—— Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

A fierce, frank high school thriller which depicts gay intimacy in a sex positive and unapologetic way.

—— The Bookseller

This book is filth

—— Julian Clary

It's the book about high school that gives you the sex ed class desperately lacking from high school education.

—— Courtney Act

The affirming, sex-positive, brilliant new book that puts the "adult" into young adult literature

—— Attitude Magazine

Readers will be talking about Jack for years to come

—— Diva Magazine

I know that when I was coming out I would have loved to have been able to pick up a book that did not ignore or demonise gay sex

—— Queen and Country Magazine

Jack of Hearts' is a confidently queer story that breaks away from the stereotypes to create refreshing and relatable characters

—— QWEERIST

The book I needed growing up as an isolated gay teen in a straight boy's world

—— Riyadh Khalaf, Presenter of Radio 1's Unexpected Fluids

A joyously sex positive exploration through teenage life with an unashamedly unapologetic queer hero

—— Calum McSwiggan, LGBTQ+ advocate and radio presenter

Dispenses sex advice that could be vital to young adult readers

—— Matt Cain, author of The Madonna of Bolton

Tackles subjects that many would rather bury and pretend teens don't want (or need) to talk about

—— Simon James Green, author of Noah Can't Even and Noah Would Never

A sex-positive and thoughtful romp with humour and heart

—— Kirkus Reviews

A bold, inclusive exploration of teen sexuality that, propelled by Jack's brazen voice, never feels preachy

—— Booklist, starred review

Rosen (The Memory Wall) creates memorable protagonists and brings a fresh, frank voice to his YA debut

—— Publishers Weekly

This book is filth.

—— Julian Clary

It tells stories of diversity, queerness, sexuality, gender, and is very sex positive. It's the book about high school that gives you the sex ed class desperately lacking from high school education.

—— Courtney Act

Jack of Hearts is the book I needed growing up as an isolated gay teen in a straight boy's world.

—— Riyadh Khalaf, Presenter of Radio 1’s Unexpected Fluids

Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) is a joyously sex positive exploration through teenage life with an unashamedly unapologetic queer hero and a page turningly sinister twist. Not only did the story keep me hooked, but it served as an inclusive guide to navigating the world of modern day sex as an adolescent. My horny teenage self would have loved this book, and I'm sure it would have helped him too.'

—— Calum McSwiggan, LGBTQ+ advocate and Radio Presenter

A well-crafted and riveting thriller populated by an engaging cast of characters. If this is what teenagers are like today, I want to go back to school!

—— Matt Cain, author of The Madonna of Bolton

Unapologetically honest, refreshingly bold and gloriously celebratory, Jack of Hearts tackles subjects that many would rather bury and pretend teens don't want (or need) to talk about.

—— Simon James Green, author of Noah Can’t Even and Noah Couldn’t Ever

Never before have I seen a representation of my sexuality and identity so holistic, so genuine, and yet so educational and down to earth at the same time.

—— Bradley Birkholz, LGBTQ+ Activist, Vlogger and Gay Star News and BBC Sesh contributor

It looks like Mark Haddon is about to have a great big success all over again

—— David Sexton , Evening Standard

Brilliantly readable… Comic and bittersweet

—— Observer

A closely observed domestic drama…

—— Carol Birch , Guardian

Characteristically original, deftly observed...

—— Mail on Sunday

A beautifully orchestrated novel that gently questions how we define success

—— James Urquhart , Financial Times

[Haddon] shows a knack for portraying family dynamics…

—— Alastair Mabbott , Herald

Mark Haddon proves himself a master of the domestic drama

—— Big Issue in the North

Gripping drama

—— EasyJet Traveller

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