2.3 Cousin Bette

While Andy is returning to an old favourite and a third viewing,
Martin is seeing this 1971 adaptation of Honore de Balzac’s Cousin
Bette for the first time. As with Barchester his worst fears are
unfounded, in fact he, like confirmed fan Andy, finds this drama
compelling and delicious and vows to introduce it to others. The
series concerns the fortunes of poor relation Cousin Bette played
with verve and ferocity by the wonderful Margaret Tyzack (best
known for the role of Antonia in I, Claudius) who decides to
revenge herself upon her family when the man she saves from
suicide, Count Steinbock (Colin Baker), is taken from her. Bette
allies herself with the beautiful and ambitious Valerie Marneffe
(Helen Mirren) whose appetite for money just about surpasses her
appetite for lovers and together the pair set about destroying the
Hulot family, including sex-mad patriarch Hector (Thorley Walters)
and his long-suffering deeply religious wife Adeline (Ursula
Howells). The series also stars Doctor Who luminaries Edward de
Souza, Davyd Harries and David Garth. A surprisingly fast-paced
exploration of revenge, jealousy and infidelity, Andy and Martin
choose their favourite moments and give their commentary on the
unfolding intrigue and some of the most memorable performances ever
given in BBC costume drama. Margaret Tyzack was quite rightly
nominated for an Emmy for what is surely the role of her career.