BBC Radio 4, 25-29 June 2012, BBC Radio 4 Extra 30 June 2012
This is the third series about Darleen, a young woman with learning difficulties
(Donna Lavin) who has finally married sweetheart Jamie (Edmund Davies), but finds married life not quite what she bargained
for. However it was the first time I had had the chance to catch it.
This five-part drama described Darleen's and Jamie's difficulties on honeymoon, as
they go to Scarborough and find the bed-and-breakfast Darleen's mum Treena (Lesley Nicol) is not quite what they
expected. They went to the local fun-fair, but end up in a scrap that culminates with Jamie spending three hours of their
wedding night in the local A&E.
When they return home, they find life equally tough, both personally and emotionally.
Darleen discovers her natural father Jay (Andrew Schofield), whom Treena had hardly mentioned during Darleen's formative years;
although Darleen takes him at face value, Jay turns out not to be quite what she expected.
Despite their various troubles, Darleen and Jamie keep their spirits up; apparently
nothing can separate them, as they are very much in love with one another, in spite of what anyone else says. Ultimately Pauline
Harris' drama proved a life-affirming listen, celebrating the indomitable spirit of the two central characters that could
never be quashed.
