The Glittering Prizes
The Glittering Prizes is a British television drama by Frederic Raphael about the changing lives of a group of Cambridge students, starting in 1952 and following them through to middle age in the 1970s. It was first broadcast on BBC2 in January 1976 and later adapted into a novel of the same name. Episodes. Episode 1 ‘An Early Life’ aired 21 January 1976 Plot outline: It is the mid-1950s, Adam Morris (Tom Conti) begins his career as a Cambridge undergraduate on a scholarship. Some of Adams views about class and religious faith are tested by an aristocratic  fellow undergraduate who shares his rooms. The series' characters are introduced by their involvement in a play by the Cambridge footlights. Episode 2 ‘A Love Life’ aired 28 January 1976 Plot outline: Still the mid fifties., Adam marries Barbara (Barbara Kellerman), despite parental opposition, whilst Joyce (Angela Down) finds herself pregnant by Alan (John Gregg (actor)) but marries Dan (Malcolm Stoddard). Episode 3 ‘A Past Life’ aired 4 February 1976 Plot outline: The early sixties, Adam (Tom Conti) has a bruising encounter with a famous writer Stephen Taylor (Eric Porter) who was once a Fascist sympathizer but then goes on  to write an Oscar-winning screenplay. Episode 4 ‘A Country Life’ aired 11 February 1976 Plot outline: The mid sixties. Set at a boys approved school Joyce (Angela Down) must finally face up to some unpleasant truths about her seemingly idyllic marriage to Dan (Malcolm Stoddard) , now a teacher , when their old Cambridge friend Alan (John Gregg (actor)), now a media personality , drops in. Episode 5 ‘An Academic Life’ aired 18 February 1976 Plot Outline: the late sixties. Accusations of racism are made by student militants at a plate glass university featuring, Dinsdale Landen as Gavin Pope, Ray Smith (actor ) as Austin Denny, Clive Merrison as Bill Bourne, Suzanne Stone as Joann Bourne, Tim Pigott-Smith as Tim Dent, Carolle Rousseau as Jeanne Dent Episode 6 ‘A Double Life’ aired 25 February 1976 Plot outline: It’s 1976, Adam (Tom Conti), by now a famous writer, copes with the death of his father and tragedies in the personal lives of some old Cambridge friends.