Home
/
Fiction
/
Victoria Station
Victoria Station
Apr 4, 2026 7:26 AM

Author:Steve Chambers,Full Cast,Sean Baker,Philip Jackson,Christopher Scott,Julia Ford,Colleen Prendergast,Pauline Letts,John Hartley,Gavin Muir,Michael Tudor Barnes

Victoria Station

The complete Series 1 and 2 of the historical drama set in a bustling Midlands railway station in the Victorian era

In these two series, set on selected dates in January 1895 and December 1896, we follow the day-to-day shenanigans of Bridgford station master Joe Braddock and his staff, along with a motley crew of passengers and passers-by. Each episode is a self-contained drama, as well as telling the ongoing story of the crises and challenges tackled by the team, and their rivalries, enmities, friendships and burgeoning romances.

As Series 1 begins, a goods train is derailed - just as a VIP visitor is about to arrive. As the crew scramble to clear the line, it becomes evident that the accident has damaged the Sherwood Tunnel: and something sinister lurks within. When a man is found dead, a public inquiry is launched - and as a second disaster looms, Signalman Fred Roberts fights to clear his name...

In Series 2, newly promoted Regional Superintendent Archibald Cripps is hatching a plot to replace Joe as Station Manager. Adding to Joe's worries are a painful tooth, pickpockets, fare-dodgers and his daughter Josie's relationship with porter Jack Robson. But when a train gets stuck in a snowdrift, with a young pregnant woman on board, it's up to Joe and his rescue party to save the day - even if it means getting fired...

Written by Steve Chambers (HighLites), these gentle, engaging plays take us back to a bygone age of travel, when the railways ruled the roost. They star Sean Baker as Joe Braddock, with a full cast including Philip Jackson, Christopher Scott, Julia Ford, Colleen Prendergast, Pauline Letts and John Hartley.

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 January-1 February 1995 (Series 1), 27 November-18 December 1996 (Series 2)

Credits

Written by Steve Chambers

Directed by David Hunter, Celia de Wolff and Marion Nancarrow

Technical presentation by Richard Beadsmore, Keith Graham, David Blount, Tim Sturgeon, Ian Harker and Hilary Carruthers

Cast

Joe Braddock - Sean Baker

Tidmarsh - Philip Jackson/Christopher Scott

Josie - Julia Ford/Colleen Prendergast

Ada - Pauline Letts

Fred Roberts - John Hartley

Mr Cripps/Moran/Woodcock - Gavin Muir

Phoebe - Becky Hindley

Sydney - Tom Bevan

Jackson - Joshua Towb/Chris Pavlo

Wheeler - Tom Knight/Keith Drinkel

Robson - Lloyd Notice/Robert Harper

Mrs Brook Hammond - Frances Jeater

General Booth/Blind man - Michael Tudor Barnes

Parkin - Michael Tudor Barnes/Stephen Thorne

Girl thief/Sheena - Deborah Berlin

Professor Geider - David Collings

McCarthy - Ian Masters

Lydia - Geraldine Fitzgerald

Hancock - Nicholas Collett/Alex Lowe

Ellen Davison - Annabel Mullion

Sarah - Elizabeth Anson

Crippled John - Ronald Herdman

Russian acrobat - David B Miller

Reverend Sentence/Dr Keeble - George Parsons

Meat porter - Ian Peck

Purvis - Oliver Senton

Nellie - Jane Slavin

Hall/Mr Newton - Peter Whitman

Sheena MacDonald - Deborah Berlin

Mrs MacDonald/Miss Walker - Jilly Bond

Mr MacDonald - Peter Yapp

Dr Pettigrew - David Holt

Tuffnell/Mr Alcock - Don McCorkindale

Sir James Chettle/Ridley - Stephen Thorne

Mrs Peabody - Joyce Gibbs

Hickman - Tim Seely

Jamie - Ian Taylor

Captain Hargreaves - Mark Bonnar

Bishop - James Taylor

Bert - Peter Gunn

Colonel Smithers-Jenkins/Holbrook/Farmer White/Mr Jenkins - Ioan Meredith

Florrie - Amanda Gordon

Flora - Tracy Wiles

Mrs Ellen Scrimshaw - Ann Beach

Dr Marie Pascal - Alice Arnold

Harry - James Daley

Dora - Ashley Moore

Paper Seller - Kim Wall

Janet/Jane Cakebread - Joanna Monro

Mary - Adjoa Andoh

Miss Joseph - Mary Roscoe

Mrs Gunn/Lady Casterton - Shirley Dixon

©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Reviews

I'll place Bittersweet in the hands of all my feely, achy, beautiful friends

—— Glennon Doyle, author of #1 NYT bestseller Untamed

Susan Cain's Bittersweet grabs you by the heart and doesn't let go

—— Brené Brown, author of the NYT bestseller Atlas of the Heart

This is the rare book that doesn't just open your eyes - it touches your heart and sings to your soul

—— Adam Grant, #1 NYT bestselling author of Think Again

This book is an absolute triumph: it's for anyone who has ever really lived, loved, or lost

—— Greg McKeown, author of NYT bestsellers Effortless and Essentialism

An amazing and profound book . . . every single person should read it

—— Johann Hari, bestselling author of Stolen Focus

Original and timely... [shows] the resilience of the human spirit, the tenacity and love that helps us survive.

—— IRISH TIMES

A heart-wrenching, all at sea read -- you are going to want this on your radar.

—— ERICKA WALLER

Mischievous and thought-provoking

—— Sheerluxe

Slyly humorous, sharp, courageous and at times devastating... The Odyssey is a wildly original satire

—— Frances Cha, author of 'If I Had Your Face'

Vuong writes with such a sensitive scrutiny, breathtaking in its expression

—— Financial Times, *Books of the Year*

A stirring collection of poetry. Vuong experiments with language and form while probing the aftermath of his mother's death and his determination to survive it. Take your time with these poems, and return to them often

—— Washington Post

Through these poems, Vuong sings loud and clear of everything worth living for and discovering - just as vividly as he did in his critically acclaimed titles On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and Night Sky With Exit Wounds

—— NPR

An incredibly impactful collection, there's no doubt Time Is A Mother will strike a chord with most

—— Gay Times, *Books of the Year*

A profound and accomplished collection

—— Dazed Digital, *Books to Look Out For 2022*

Heartbreaking and perfect

—— White Review, *Books of the Year*

A gorgeous, moving and awe-inspiring gathering of poems that feel like award-winning short films. These vignettes of loss, grief and love will take your breath away

—— Skinny, *Books of the Year*

An indispensable collection

—— ArtReview

Entirely enjoyable, totally engrossing novel, Garmus' beautifully drawn characters, her polished, engaging prose and a hugely satisfying plot make for a glorious read.

Lessons In Chemistry is alight with warmth, wit and hard-won wisdom. Absolutely wonderful

—— DAILY EXPRESS

Fast, funny and furious

—— DAILY EXPRESS

Original and refreshing. Elizabeth Zott is one of those singular, unforgettable characters you don't come across enough in fiction. Witty and dark, it is both a breath of fresh air and a reminder of how much still has to change for true equality

—— PRESS ASSOCIATION

Zott is a brilliantly realised character whom it's impossible not to love...[a] warm and addictive novel which cleverly and entertainingly unpacks the thorny questions around women's empowerment, the need to be true to oneself and why we should refuse to accept the limitations others try to impose on us. A triumph

—— DAILY MAIL

Smart, funny, big-hearted

—— SUNDAY TIMES

A fabulous novel. Compelling, satisfying, a real page-turner

—— NINA STIBBE

Witty, inspiring and a joy

—— I-NEWSPAPER

Feminism is the catalyst that makes [Lessons in Chemistry] fizz like hydrochloric acid on limestone. Elizabeth Zott does not have 'moxie'; she has courage. She is not a 'girl boss' or a 'lady chemist'; she's a groundbreaker and an expert in abiogenesis. . . To file Elizabeth Zott among the pink razors of the book world is to miss the sharpness of Garmus's message. Lessons in Chemistry will make you wonder about all the real-life women born ahead of their time - women who were sidelined, ignored and worse because they weren't as resourceful, determined and lucky as Elizabeth Zott. She's a reminder of how far we've come, but also how far we still have to go

—— NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

Lessons in Chemistry is a breath of fresh air - a witty, propulsive, and refreshingly hopeful novel populated with singular characters. This book is an utter delight - wry, warm and compulsively readable

—— CLAIRE LOMBARDO, author of THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD

A proper page turner which really made me giggle. It's so dry. The humour has a gorgeous lightness of touch. I really enjoyed it

—— STEVE WRIGHT, BBC RADIO TWO BOOK CLUB

Original, fresh, tender, funny and warm. The story dances and swirls, captivating the reader from the first page. Elizabeth Zott is the most wonderful character. Just fantastic

—— SINEAD MORIARTY

Strikingly relevant. . . Darkly funny and poignant. . . Lessons in Chemistry's excellent experiment is quirky and heartwarming

—— THE ATLANTIC

A funny, thought-provoking revenge story. Elizabeth Zott is ahead of her time. This is such a great book, everyone should read it!

—— SHAPARAK KHORSANDI

Garmus has made feminism not just palpable, but delicious

—— I-NEWS

A truly involving and uplifting book! Bonnie Garmus addresses serious topics with humour that is genuinely funny. I especially liked the dog. Mine only appears to know one word, which is 'supper', but there again she is a Labrador. I'm sure this is going to be a great success, and deserves to be

—— ANNE YOUNGSON, Costa Book Award-shortlisted author of MEET ME AT THE MUSEUM

This incredible novel has EVERYTHING - an unforgettable heroine, wry humour, love, family and bucketloads of optimism and female empowerment. It's WONDERFUL

—— HANNAH BECKERMAN

An energetic debut ... A more adorable plea for rationalism and gender equality would be hard to find

—— KIRKUS (starred review)

Bold, smart and often hilarious look at so-called women's work

—— REAL SIMPLE, US

Charming and emboldening tale with a vintage sheen... A thoroughly entertaining and emboldened look at gender in the 1960s. A must read!

—— MAGIC RADIO, BOOK CLUB READ

Garmus delivers an assured voice, an indelible heroine and relatable love stories

—— WASHINGTON POST

Elizabeth is a woman who challenges the norms of a woman in the 60s...her perseverance to succeed is enthralling. The fight to do what she really wants, and that alone, is one that'll have you rooting for her throughout

—— STYLIST

Indefatigable and formidable, Elizabeth pushes the bounds of how women and their work are perceived in this thoroughly engaging debut novel

—— BOOKLIST

A kicky debut, this book tackles feminism, resilience, and rationalism in a fun and refreshing way

—— BUZZFEED

Every bit as brilliant as everyone is saying. Funny, clever, full of heart and wonderful characters. I loved it

—— A J PEARCE

Unforgettable ... Elizabeth Zott is intelligent, fearless, determined and utterly inspiring

—— CULTUREFLY

An absolute delight. Zott is a cracking protagonist - strikingly single-minded, socially awkward, fiercely determined to forge her own path

—— FINANCIAL TIMES, Best Audio Books

Witty, fast-paced and unabashedly amusing' Lessons in Chemistry is 'written with charm, verve and piercing insight ... a future classic

—— LITERARY REVIEW

The best book I've read recently. I loved it

—— SARA COX, BBC 2 Between the Covers

I loved it. You don't want to finish it. You don't want to put it down. It's wonderful to hear a voice that has total honesty and clarity. I love that Elizabeth Zott is funny and hasn't got a clue that she's funny

—— DEBORAH MEADEN, BBC 2 BETWEEN THE COVERS

I loved everything about it. There were so many things I could relate to

—— STEPHEN BAILEY, BBC 2 BETWEEN THE COVERS

i couldn't put it down. It was so easy to read: hilarious, heartfelt. With all of the issues that we are still dealing with right now. Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure

—— SUKH OJLA

Laugh-aloud funny, witty and provocative, LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY recreates the rampant sexism of America just before Betty Friedan's THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE and the bonfire of the bras

—— THE TIMES, audiobook of the week

A funny, big-hearted read

—— THE TIMES, Summer Reading Choice

I adored this confident, witty portrait of an unforgettable woman and her time

—— DAILY MAIL, Summer reading recommendations

One of the smartest and funniest novels to appear this year

—— THE NEW EUROPEAN

We guarantee you will love this charming debut

—— HELLO MAGAZINE

This smart, uproarious, emotional page-turner...has been the year's runaway hit. Rightly so

—— SUNDAY TIMES, Books of the Year

Irresistible, a gorgeous tribute to resilience and the many types of love that sustain us

—— OPRAH DAILY

Sharp and deliciously readable. Brings bite as well as charm to the tale of a super-rational scientist navigating sexism in early 60s America.

—— GUARDIAN, Books of the Year

The idiosyncratic wit of this year's blockbuster debut is instantly appealing, but it's also a narrative with real bite. Uplifting and irresistibly zany

—— THE MAIL, Books of the Year

I fell for Elizabeth Zott immediately. A wonderfully entertaining and empowering read

—— GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, Books of the Year

A wonderful novel - polished, pacy, funny, witty, warm, life-affirming, and thought-provoking

—— SUNDAY MAIL, SCOTLAND

Witty and sometimes hilarious. The CATCH-22 of early feminism

—— STEPHEN KING

Enchanting, clever, funny and packed with deeply engaging characters. I still think about it a lot

—— INDIA KNIGHT's Book of the Year, SUNDAY TIMES

As with all the best stories, there is a timelessness to this book. One senses it will be read in ten or twenty years' time

—— IRISH TIMES

Biting and cheering in exactly the right measure

—— JOJO MOYES

The TV cook bit hooked me right in and it did not disappoint. This book is Charming, witty and clever

—— NADIYA HUSSAIN
Comments
Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdbook.com All Rights Reserved