The History Podcast - The Magnificent O'Connors: 1. The Saturday Girl

Download The Magnificent O'Connors: 1. The Saturday Girl

In order to unspool a family saga that has lasted over 80 years, Ragnar heads back to where it all began. He starts with the story of his mum, Nemone Lethbridge.

Her younger years were spent watching The Battle of Britain over the skies of Kent, and visiting the bunker where Hitler took his own life. This extraordinary childhood gave way to an extraordinary career as Nemone is one of the UK’s first female barristers. From defending the Kray Twins, to Winston Silcott, she’s made an incredible name for herself in her legal career.

And yet it was a chance meeting in a London pub in 1958 that changed the course of her life forever.

Presenter: Ragnar O’Connor
Producer: Emily Esson, Victoria McArthur
Research: Elizabeth Ann Duffy, Louise Yeoman
Script Assistant and Additional Research: Marisha Currie
Script Writers: Emily Esson, Jack Kibble-White
Original Music: Lomond Campbell
Theme Music: Barry Jackson
Addition mixing and sound effects: Charlie McPhee, Kayleigh Raphel
Story Consultant: Jack Kibble-White
Script Editor: Graham Russell
Executive Editor: Gillian Wheelan
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke

A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

Archive: The Russell Harty Show, ITV, April 1976

Thanks to Cheryl Field, Richard Field and Kirsty Williams

Published on Wednesday, 1st October 2025.

Available Podcasts from The History Podcast

Subscribe to The History Podcast

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the The History Podcast webpage.