Darling Ma is how Joyce Grenfell began every one of these entertaining, gossipy, revealing letters to her mother in the USA. They cover Joyce's rise from radio critic on The Observer to the popular star of stage and screen - and are imbued with her inimitable, enthusiastic personality. Joyce Grenfell wrote two volumes of autobiography - Joyce Grenfell Requests the Pleasure and In Pleasant Places - and records of her songs and monologues continue to sell. James Roose-Evans is best known for his work in the theatre, including the one woman revue Re: Joyce which starred Maureen Lipman as Grenfell.