Let Them Eat Cake (TV series)

*Let Them Eat Cake*
Let Them Eat Cake
	Let Them Eat Cake DVD cover
Created by	Peter Learmouth
Written by	Peter Learmouth
Directed by	Christine Gernon
Starring	Dawn French; Jennifer Saunders; Adrian Scarborough;
Composer	Nick Bicât
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	6
Production
Executive producers	Peter Bennett-Jones; Jon Plowman;
Producer	Christopher Skala
Running time	29 minutes
Production company	Tiger Aspect Productions
Original release
Network	BBC One
Release	9 September –; 14 October 1999

Let Them Eat Cake is a British sitcom that aired on BBC One in 1999. Starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, it is one of the few programmes in which French and Saunders have both appeared which they did not create themselves.

Plot

It is 1782, seven years before the French Revolution. The most reviled woman in France is the ambitious and immoral Comtesse de Vache, who stalks the halls of the Palace of Versailles, spreading terror into the hearts of her fellow aristocrats by gathering their darkest and most intimate secrets. The Comtesse's servants are her maid, former sex worker Lisette, and her flamboyantly gay couturier, Bouffant. Her constant rival is Madame de Plonge, who is accompanied by her naïve yet sharp-witted daughter, Eveline.

Cast

Jennifer Saunders as Colombine, Comtesse de Vache
Dawn French as Lisette
Adrian Scarborough as Monsieur Bouffant
Alison Steadman as Madame de Plonge (episodes 1, 2, 4, 6)
Lucy Punch as Eveline de Plonge (episodes 1, 2, 4, 6)
Elizabeth Berrington as Marie Antoinette (episodes 1, 4, 6)
Julian Rhind-Tutt as Marie Antoinette's Advisor (episodes 1, 4, 6)
Linda Spurrier as 1st Aristocratic Woman (episodes 2, 3, 6)
Maggie Whiting as 2nd Aristocratic Woman (episodes 2, 3, 6)

Steadman was credited as a "special guest star" despite appearing in four of the six episodes.

Guest stars

James Greene as the Comte de Vache (episodes 1 & 4)
Adam James as the Marquis de Bonvie (episode 1)
Philip Voss as Physician (episode 1)
Richard E. Grant as Monsieur Vigée-Lebrun (episode 3)
Maggie Steed as Madame Vigée-Lebrun (episode 3)
Kathy Burke as Cecile (episode 5)
Louisa Lytton as Little Girl (episode 5)

Episodes

No.	Title	Original air date
1	"The Pox"	9 September 1999 (1999-09-09)
Madame de Plonge tries to humiliate the Comtesse de Vache by convincing her to seduce one of her lovers. Meanwhile, the Comte de Vache has contracted the pox and wishes to end his life pressed against Colombine's bosom.
2	"Murder"	16 September 1999 (1999-09-16)
Colombine loses a bet against the Marquise de Fufu and is arrested after the Marquise is found brutally murdered in her apartment.
3	"The Portrait"	23 September 1999 (1999-09-23)
The Marquis de Sade has escaped from the Bastille and it seems that Colombine has become a favoured victim of his depravities. Meanwhile, a famous artist wants to paint Colombine. Guest starring Richard E. Grant and Maggie Steed.
4	"Making Voopee"	30 September 1999 (1999-09-30)
Colombine believes herself to be pregnant and thinks the King to be the father. She then conspires to do away with the King's legitimate son so that her own will become heir to the throne of France.
5	"A Marriage of Convenience"	7 October 1999 (1999-10-07)
A Duke is offering a vast sum to anyone who can provide him with a "show wife," which he needs to appear to be one of the lads. Colombine tries to enlist her estranged sister, Cecille (played by Kathy Burke), for the job.
6	"The Royal Command Performance"	14 October 1999 (1999-10-14)
The King and Queen have decided to hold a Royal Command Performance, consisting basically of them copulating, and Colombine does her best to outshine her nemesis, Madame de Plonge.

DVD releases

Let Them Eat Cake was released in Region 2 (UK) and Region 4 (Australia) on 5 March 2007.

References

Mark Lewisohn, "Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy", BBC Worldwide Ltd, 2003