Stewart Permutt’s comedies feature four different women’s bittersweet views of the world

Stewart Permutt’s bittersweet comedies of the world according to the first of four very different women. June Brown plays Bea, the long-suffering companion of a minor, whose unfortunate demise puts her happily into the limelight. June is best remembered as the iconic soap opera character, Dot Cotton in BBC TV’s EastEnders.

Celia Imrie plays Frances, a shy teacher with an unwanted notoriety. Following a school related incident, Frances takes some time out to reassess her life and career.

Miriam Margolyes plays Stella, proud manageress of an unchanging chocolate shop in a changing world.

Lesley Joseph stars as a ‘person of restricted growth’ whose performances are under threat.