The Masterson Inheritance is an improvised comedy series broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1993 to 1995 billed as "an improvised historical saga of a family at war with itself." There were three series and two Christmas specials. It was broadcast from 1993 to 1995. From time to time, repeats of the show are broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
In each programme, the cast members – Josie Lawrence, Phelim McDermott, Paul Merton, Caroline Quentin, Lee Simpson, and Jim Sweeney – would be given a particular historical setting, and, incorporating suggestions from the audience, would improvise that episode in the saga of the Masterson family. One episode, The Marooned Mastersons, was never broadcast but is available on Jim Sweeney's website.
Music Each episode of the saga was introduced by and ended with Erich Korngold's Hollywood-style title music from the 1946 film noir Deception.
Critical reaction The Independent reckoned the show was genuinely improvised, due to the "air of suppressed panic", even if the improvisation revolved around a small number of choices. It questioned the longevity of the format once people got bored with listening to their mistakes.
Episode list SeriesEpisodeTitleHistorical settingFirst broadcast11The Curse of the MastersonsThe 1760s and the slave trade22 April 19932The Mastersons and JohnsonThe 1790s29 April 19933ScurvyThe 1800s at sea6 May 19934The Sweat of the MastersonsVictorian London13 May 19935The Tatting of the Mastersons19th century America20 May 19936The Mastersons Lose EverythingThe 1890s27 May 1993Special1The Stuffing of the MastersonsVictorian Christmas25 December 199321Beware the Ides of MastersonImperial Rome11 June 19942The Quest for the Other Rabbit's FootThe court of King Arthur18 June 19943Last Word to the MastersonsThe Industrial Revolution25 June 19944The Jousting MastersonsLate 15th century2 July 19945The Gangrene of the MastersonsThe Crimean War9 July 19946The Mastersons Go DownThe Hercules (passenger ship)16 July 199431The Mastersons Magical Marquee (1)Travelling Victorian circus24 June 19952The Mastersons Magical Marquee (2)1 July 19953Masterson Rides Again19th century public school8 July 19954The Masterson BunchEarly 20th century before the great war15 July 19955The Pain of the MastersonsThe romantic poets22 July 19956The St Valentine's Day Masterson1920s Hollywood29 July 1995Special2The Mastersons' Christmas Cracker An isolated village of ancient beliefs 25 December 1995
References
External links The Masterson Inheritance fansite Episode listing from epguides.com