Classic radio comedy from the BBC starring Caroline Quentin and Jim Sweeney

Life for supply teacher, Phil (Jim Sweeney), is turned upside down when his wife, Sarah (Caroline Quentin) is offered a new job. Phil agrees to give up work and become a stay-at-home dad to daughter Sophie - after all, how hard can it be?

Phil quickly realises parenthood isn’t all coffee mornings and cake. He has to grapple with playgroups (when he can find them), new friends (some a little more ‘out there’ than others), a ‘helpful’ mother-in-law (she isn’t) and when Sarah goes to Paris with work, can Phil contain his jealousy? Listen and laugh as Phil and Sarah try to navigate their middle-class angst and new family dynamics with hilarious results. Just when Phil thinks he’s getting the hang of things, Sarah has big news… And events really end with a bang!

Caroline Quentin rose to fame playing Dorothy in Men Behaving Badly, went to star in Jonathan Creek, Bridgerton and Midsomer Murders, and competed in Strictly Come Dancing. She is a keen gardener and was featured in the Chelsea Flower Show. Jim Sweeney is a comedian and member of the Comedy Store Players best known for his improvisation on TV and radio with fellow comedians Josie Lawrence and Paul Merton. A film, TV and stage actress, Sara Kestelman was recently in the BBC One seriesThis is Going to Hurt.

Listen to both series of this comedy about family life in the nineties now, available as a download for the first time.

Cast and credits

Series 1

Written by Gary Brown

Produced by Ann Jobson

Sarah - Caroline Quentin

Phil - Jim Sweeney

Fay - Shirley Stelfox

Liam - Steve Steen

Gerald/Querol - Lloyd Peters

Gavin - Paul Clarkson

Sophie - Nadine Ballantyne

Tai Ch''i Instructor/Tracey’s Dad - Jim Barclay

Mrs Grainger - Jilly Meers

Kath - Rachel Atkins

Edna - Yvonne Edgell

Brenda - Toni Palmer

Carol - Melanie Hudson

Stacey - Kim Barry

Martha - Rebecca Front

Sam - Ben Brown

Ray - Gary Brown

Carol - Melanie Hudson

Doctor - Tony Hawks

Lisa Forman - Geraldine Fitzgerald

Other parts played by Jillie Meers and David Thorpe

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 6 October - 10 November 1993

Series 2

Written by Gary Brown

Produced by Ann Jobson

Sarah - Caroline Quentin

Phil - Jim Sweeney

Fay - Sara Kestelman

Liam - Steve Steen

Gerald - Lloyd Peters

Sophie - Nadine Ballantyne

Martha - Melanie Hudson

Aleric - John Wheatley

Henri - Philippe Smolikowski

Francoise - Deborah Berlin

Simone - Becky Hindley

Sam - Ben Brown

Midwife - Marie McAteer

Harry - Harry Landis

IzzyWizzy - Steve Dixon

Rodney - Gary Brown

Candida - Natasha Pyne

Gavin - Paul Clarkson

Mrs Lee - Becky Hindley

Saskia - Jessica Brown

Other parts played by Anna Van Heeswjk, Eva Stuart, Andrew Branch, Jilly Bond, John Bennett, Tessa Worsley and Joshua Towb.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 12 July - 16 August 1995

© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Classic radio comedy from the BBC starring Caroline Quentin and Jim Sweeney

Life for supply teacher, Phil (Jim Sweeney), is turned upside down when his wife, Sarah (Caroline Quentin) is offered a new job. Phil agrees to give up work and become a stay-at-home dad to daughter Sophie - after all, how hard can it be?

Phil quickly realises parenthood isn’t all coffee mornings and cake. He has to grapple with playgroups (when he can find them), new friends (some a little more ‘out there’ than others), a ‘helpful’ mother-in-law (she isn’t) and when Sarah goes to Paris with work, can Phil contain his jealousy? Listen and laugh as Phil and Sarah try to navigate their middle-class angst and new family dynamics with hilarious results. Just when Phil thinks he’s getting the hang of things, Sarah has big news… And events really end with a bang!

Caroline Quentin rose to fame playing Dorothy in Men Behaving Badly, went to star in Jonathan Creek, Bridgerton and Midsomer Murders, and competed in Strictly Come Dancing. She is a keen gardener and was featured in the Chelsea Flower Show. Jim Sweeney is a comedian and member of the Comedy Store Players best known for his improvisation on TV and radio with fellow comedians Josie Lawrence and Paul Merton. A film, TV and stage actress, Sara Kestelman was recently in the BBC One seriesThis is Going to Hurt.

Listen to both series of this comedy about family life in the nineties now, available as a download for the first time.

Cast and credits

Series 1

Written by Gary Brown

Produced by Ann Jobson

Sarah - Caroline Quentin

Phil - Jim Sweeney

Fay - Shirley Stelfox

Liam - Steve Steen

Gerald/Querol - Lloyd Peters

Gavin - Paul Clarkson

Sophie - Nadine Ballantyne

Tai Ch''i Instructor/Tracey’s Dad - Jim Barclay

Mrs Grainger - Jilly Meers

Kath - Rachel Atkins

Edna - Yvonne Edgell

Brenda - Toni Palmer

Carol - Melanie Hudson

Stacey - Kim Barry

Martha - Rebecca Front

Sam - Ben Brown

Ray - Gary Brown

Carol - Melanie Hudson

Doctor - Tony Hawks

Lisa Forman - Geraldine Fitzgerald

Other parts played by Jillie Meers and David Thorpe

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 6 October - 10 November 1993

Series 2

Written by Gary Brown

Produced by Ann Jobson

Sarah - Caroline Quentin

Phil - Jim Sweeney

Fay - Sara Kestelman

Liam - Steve Steen

Gerald - Lloyd Peters

Sophie - Nadine Ballantyne

Martha - Melanie Hudson

Aleric - John Wheatley

Henri - Philippe Smolikowski

Francoise - Deborah Berlin

Simone - Becky Hindley

Sam - Ben Brown

Midwife - Marie McAteer

Harry - Harry Landis

IzzyWizzy - Steve Dixon

Rodney - Gary Brown

Candida - Natasha Pyne

Gavin - Paul Clarkson

Mrs Lee - Becky Hindley

Saskia - Jessica Brown

Other parts played by Anna Van Heeswjk, Eva Stuart, Andrew Branch, Jilly Bond, John Bennett, Tessa Worsley and Joshua Towb.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 12 July - 16 August 1995

© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Classic radio comedy from the BBC starring Caroline Quentin and Jim Sweeney

Life for supply teacher, Phil (Jim Sweeney), is turned upside down when his wife, Sarah (Caroline Quentin) is offered a new job. Phil agrees to give up work and become a stay-at-home dad to daughter Sophie - after all, how hard can it be?

Phil quickly realises parenthood isn’t all coffee mornings and cake. He has to grapple with playgroups (when he can find them), new friends (some a little more ‘out there’ than others), a ‘helpful’ mother-in-law (she isn’t) and when Sarah goes to Paris with work, can Phil contain his jealousy? Listen and laugh as Phil and Sarah try to navigate their middle-class angst and new family dynamics with hilarious results. Just when Phil thinks he’s getting the hang of things, Sarah has big news… And events really end with a bang!

Caroline Quentin rose to fame playing Dorothy in Men Behaving Badly, went to star in Jonathan Creek, Bridgerton and Midsomer Murders, and competed in Strictly Come Dancing. She is a keen gardener and was featured in the Chelsea Flower Show. Jim Sweeney is a comedian and member of the Comedy Store Players best known for his improvisation on TV and radio with fellow comedians Josie Lawrence and Paul Merton. A film, TV and stage actress, Sara Kestelman was recently in the BBC One seriesThis is Going to Hurt.

Listen to both series of this comedy about family life in the nineties now, available as a download for the first time.

Cast and credits

Series 1

Written by Gary Brown

Produced by Ann Jobson

Sarah - Caroline Quentin

Phil - Jim Sweeney

Fay - Shirley Stelfox

Liam - Steve Steen

Gerald/Querol - Lloyd Peters

Gavin - Paul Clarkson

Sophie - Nadine Ballantyne

Tai Ch''i Instructor/Tracey’s Dad - Jim Barclay

Mrs Grainger - Jilly Meers

Kath - Rachel Atkins

Edna - Yvonne Edgell

Brenda - Toni Palmer

Carol - Melanie Hudson

Stacey - Kim Barry

Martha - Rebecca Front

Sam - Ben Brown

Ray - Gary Brown

Carol - Melanie Hudson

Doctor - Tony Hawks

Lisa Forman - Geraldine Fitzgerald

Other parts played by Jillie Meers and David Thorpe

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 6 October - 10 November 1993

Series 2

Written by Gary Brown

Produced by Ann Jobson

Sarah - Caroline Quentin

Phil - Jim Sweeney

Fay - Sara Kestelman

Liam - Steve Steen

Gerald - Lloyd Peters

Sophie - Nadine Ballantyne

Martha - Melanie Hudson

Aleric - John Wheatley

Henri - Philippe Smolikowski

Francoise - Deborah Berlin

Simone - Becky Hindley

Sam - Ben Brown

Midwife - Marie McAteer

Harry - Harry Landis

IzzyWizzy - Steve Dixon

Rodney - Gary Brown

Candida - Natasha Pyne

Gavin - Paul Clarkson

Mrs Lee - Becky Hindley

Saskia - Jessica Brown

Other parts played by Anna Van Heeswjk, Eva Stuart, Andrew Branch, Jilly Bond, John Bennett, Tessa Worsley and Joshua Towb.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 12 July - 16 August 1995

© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.