A six-part biographical drama on the life and work of the celebrated Scottish inventor.
This serial follows the struggles and triumphs of Alexander Graham Bell (Alec McCowen) during the pivotal years of his career. As a dedicated teacher of the deaf, he meets Mabel Hubbard (Francesca Annis), a bright young pupil who would become his wife. The narrative depicts Bell’s determination to perfect his most famous invention, the telephone, while also charting the development of his romance with Mabel. Her influential father, Mr Hubbard (John Woodnutt), plays a key role in the story as Bell seeks both his daughter’s hand and financial backing for his experiments.
This biographical production was a work of considerable historical commitment. The teleplays were written by Alistair Bell, a direct descendant of the inventor’s cousin, lending the project a unique familial authority. The producer, Pharic MacLaren, insisted on a high degree of authenticity, commissioning a full-scale replica of Bell’s Boston laboratory for the studio scenes. By focusing on the inventor’s dual motivations, professional ambition and personal devotion, the serial constructed a portrait of a great historical figure grounded in human emotion rather than simple reverence.
Broadcast: BBC1, 6 Episodes, Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays, 28 February – 4 April 1965
Written by: Alistair Bell
Book: Lyon Todd
Script Editor: Betty Willingale
Production Design: Michael Edwards
Producer: Pharic MacLaren
Director: Julia Smith
Main Cast: Alec McCowen (Alexander Graham Bell), Francesca Annis (Mabel Hubbard), John Woodnutt (Mr Hubbard), Archie Duncan (Mr Tweedie), Peter Fraser (Melville Bell), Jean Anderson (Jeannie MacEwan), Tom Watson (Ben Herdman), Elspeth Duxbury (Mrs Tweedie), Ian Fleming (Doctor Jamieson), John Phillips (Professor Bell), Barbara Cavan (Mrs Bell),
