…having finally finished filming for a new TV series about the naughty Prince Regent and his age. Back in January, when we started, I loved my red dress, a design which fortuitously turned out to be called ‘The Beau’ (as in Brummell). By July I was sick of the sight of it.
(Before you ask impertinent questions about my personal hygiene, yes, I had two identical dresses, so one could always be at the cleaner’s).
Let me fill you in on this Regency project – it’s in three parts, for brilliant BBC4 once again (yes, the brainy channel). The Prince Regent officially became ‘acting king’ in 1811, two hundred years ago, and the series is probably going to be called Elegance and Decadence (two lovely words which seem to sum up his nine-years reign as Regent before he properly became King George IV in 1820). When all is edited I think we’ll have an hour on the corpulent Prince of Whales himself, beginning of course at our beautiful Kew Palace where he grew up, great events and great artists (Lawrence and Turner) and the Battle of Waterloo. Episode Two is planned to be about architecture, Brighton Pavilion, Windsor Castle, the property market and the middle classes, and there’s a bit of my all-time favourite Regency person Jane Austen. We finish with an hour of sedition, violent protest, the Peterloo Massacre, industrialisation, royal divorce and dissent. Fun, huh?
The final day’s filming which eventually happened last week was cancelled about six times because of the WIND, as it involved floating in a hot air balloon over the elegant city of Bath on a still summer morning. Blissful, you might think, unless, like me … you hate heights.
I spent most of the journey crouched in the bottom of the tiny basket, popping 
up only for pieces-to-camera, and all the while our crew called out things like ‘It’s amazing!’ and ‘I’ve never seen anything so wonderful!’ (In the pictures, left, I’m pretending to enjoy myself.)
Then we landed in a field, fell over onto our side and got dragged along through the wet grass.
Once we were (semi-) safely down, I felt glad that I’d done it, but I won’t be queuing up to get into a balloon again any time soon. But I must admit it was worth it for this fascinating project.
I very much enjoyed your ‘If Walls Could Talk’ series, which first called you to my attention. I went so far as to visit the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton, attempting to find the cottage (and if possible the bed) in which you spent what seemed to be a rather uncomfortable night: pretty game, I thought! I think I did locate the cottage and bed, sporting bright red curtains. But it seems that your visit there was cloaked in secrecy because none of the ordinary staff seemed to have heard of your nocturnal adventure. But then they hadn’t seen the BBC4 progamme either. Oh well…they’ve heard of it now.
Good old BBC4: it seems to be the ‘serious’ successor to BBC2 and Channel 4 as they used to be, and scandalously are no longer.
Anyway, I will be watching your new Georgian mini-series with great interest. I am however puzzled why it was necessary to wear this one red dress all the time – as if it were some kind of uniform! – surely they could have let you sample the other styles and colours of the period. Or did it assist the photography?
Ballooning has its attractions, especially for a photographer interested in the landscape below, but I have yet to summon up courage for an ascent! I can’t help dwelling on such things as pylons and power lines and thunderstorms and – as in your own case – a rough landing. I think you have made light of a scary experience.
Lucy Melford
I really look forward to seeing your take on Regency/Prince Regent’s life. I recently attended a Regency dance group which I loved and would recommend to you if you ever get the chance as it’s not only great for history lovers but a good way to meet new friends and keep fit and if your Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice addict, there is nothing better than the feeling of accomplishment in getting Mr Beveredge’s Maggot right even if the dance was created earlier than Regency period.
Sorry about the hot air balloon ride. It sounds like the experience made you a ‘basket’ case.
Prince of Whales? Not a typo I’m sure; do tell.
I found a very well rusted nail in my motorbike tyre this week. It looked like a nail from a horse’s hoof. With the deep roadworks going on around Gloucester, I think I may have been ‘hobbled’ by one of our glorious ancestors. Either that or it’s a random old nail in the road. Nevertheless, given Gloucester’s close links to the Monarchy and its many historical buildings, do you have any plans to come visit?
When I visited the U.K. a number of years ago the hostess of the B&B where I was staying near Stroud suggested seeing Gloucester Cathedral where Edward II is entombed. Due to my schedule I wasn’t able to take her suggestion but I hope to return some day.
It was really nice to meet you at the dance filming in Devizes! I was really pleased to see the photo of our group posted here.Thanks for sharing and I’m looking forward to watching the series on BBC4.
Natalie (in the antique gold with pearls dress)
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Am loving your Regency programmes Lucy! Your love and enthusiasm for the subject is wonderful. You put that Starkey fella in his place …