There’s a TV season that I am rather looking forward to on BBC Four which starts on 16th November, called ‘Women We’ve Loved‘.

The season consists of three films, one about Enid Blyton, one on Gracie Fields and the final on Margot Fonteyn.

I am a big fan of all three, especially Enid Blyton, so I heartily applaud BBC Four for creating this season!

In Enid, Helena Bonham Carter is actually in a role that isn’t ‘scary’ nor opposite Johnny Depp, and directed by Tim Burton – and she looks great in it!

The first of the films will be Enid, which will be shown on BBC Four on Monday 16th November, 21:00 – 22:25, with Gracie! shown the week after, and Margot the week following that.

A short synopsis of each of the films follows; if you click on the links you will find short preview trailers of each.

Enid

Helena Bonham Carter leads the cast in Enid, written by Lindsay Shapero, and is joined by Matthew Macfadyen and Denis Lawson.

Blyton’s charming characters and classic tales have enchanted countless generations of children for almost 80 years and she has sold more than 500 million books in 40 countries. This drama casts light on the ambitious and driven woman behind the beloved Famous Five, Secret Seven, Malory Towers and the Noddy series.

From the adversity of an imperfect childhood to renowned author and household name, the orderly, reassuringly clear worlds that Enid Blyton created within her stories contrasted with the intricacy of her personal life.

Gracie!

Jane Horrocks is Gracie! in Nick Vivian‘s romantic comedy about Gracie Fields, singer and comedienne from Rochdale who rose to fame in the Thirties – becoming the nation’s darling and highest-paid film actress in the world.

Renowned for her “common touch”, Gracie symbolised the indomitable spirit of Thirties Britain. Her mass appeal was unprecedented.

Beginning at the phenomenal peak of her career when her iconic status seemed indestructible, this one-off film examines Gracie’s potent war-time struggle between love and duty, and the staggering long-term repercussions of her relationship with Italian-born Hollywood director Monty Banks.

The film opens a window on the complicated and fragile private life of a very public star who, despite everything, was determined to keep the nation laughing.

Jane Horrocks will sing a stunning repertoire of Gracie songs including Sally, Sing As We Go and I Never Cried So Much In All My Life.

Margot

Anne-Marie Duff stars as Margot Fonteyn, one of the greatest dancers of our time. Margot is written by Amanda Coe, and partly based on Meredith Daneman’s Fonteyn biography.

Margot tells the story of the prima ballerina assoluta’s dancing partnership and complex relationship with Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev, forged towards the end of her career.

The partnership propelled them into the stratosphere of international stardom, creating a kind of celebrity that had never existed before and securing their place in the hearts of audiences and the history of ballet.

Margot also stars Sir Derek Jacobi as choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton; Penelope Wilton as Margot’s mother BQ; Lindsay Duncan as Ninette de Valois, founder of The Royal Ballet; Con O’Neill as Margot’s husband Tito; and Dutch actor Michiel Huisman as Nureyev.