Part of a Radio 2 comedy season

Radio 2 has released details of a new batch of comedy showcases featuring Romesh Ranganathan, Cardinal Burns, Tim Vine and a new sketch show from Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse.

The programmes in the season, some of which have previously been announced, are:

Parental Guidance

Written by Max Davis, who has previously worked on News Quiz and Dead Ringers, Parental Guidance is set around the lives of Roshan and Kate Parera played by comedian Romesh Ranganathan and Sherlock star Amanda Abbington.

The characters live in Ranganathan’s real home town of Crawley, Sussex, with their two children, Emma and Lewis. Roshan is a cost-benefits analyst for the airline industry, Kate is stay-at-home mum, while Roshan's overbearing mother, played by Meera Syal, lives nearby and is still disappointed that Roshan picked Kate and not a nice Sri Lankan girl to marry.

This pilot episode involves Kate and Roshan going to their school reunion and is produced by Sam Michell for BBC Studios.

Monday March 13, 10.30pm

Harry And Paul Present: The Gentlemen’s Club

This is a mockumentary sketch show set in Wibbles, London’s oldest member’s club, with a cast of elderly and eccentric characters. It’s described as ‘a slice of life in a once-vital, fading British institution, and a peek at the often bizarre stories and attitudes contained within’.

Written and performed by Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, it will also star Jim Broadbent, Amelia Bullmore, Tom Hollander and Jason Lewis. It, too, is produced by Sam Michell for BBC Studios.

Tuesday March 14, 10.30pm

Just Grand

Just Grand is a family sitcom about a clash of generations and cultures, written by Bafta-winning writers Phil Mealey – who has penned The Royle Family and Early Doors –  and Daniel Peak (Not Going Out). 

It stars Siobhan Finneran, who played Sarah O’Brien in Downton Abbey, Troillied’s Jason Watkins and Denise Welch.

Sandra and Frank are a working class couple who dream of escaping Stockport for a new life in Fuengirola. But their dream is scuppered when the couple become unwilling guardians to their estranged grandchildren - a pair of over-privileged and bewildered siblings from the Home Counties.

Produced by Julia McKenzie for BBC Studios.

Wednesday March 15, 10.30pm

Tim Vine Travels in Time

Tim climbs through the magic grandfather clock in his antique shop and emerges in a different time and place. The pilot is a gag-packed take on Robin Hood, and features a celebrity guest star, yet to be named.

Produced by Alex Walsh-Taylor for Baby Cow

Tuesday March 21, 10.30pm

Cardinal Burns presents Dean and Murf

Multi-character comedy from writer-performers Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns – and directed by Julian Barratt, who also makes a guest appearance (as do David Earl and regular Cardinal Burns collaborator Chris Hayward).

Ex ravers Dean and Murf live on a dilapidated houseboat on the Regents Canal.  Four years in arrears on their mooring fees, they are forced to visit the job centre which leads them on a surreal adventure working as factory workers on a Ken Loach film.

Produced by Jenna Jones and Rupert Majendie for Left Bank Pictures.

Wednesday March 22, 10.30pm

Also coming to Radio 2 as part of the season is Barbara Nice’s four-part sitcom, commissioned following a pilot which aired in 2015.

Creator Janice Connolly stars alongside John Henshaw as a couple with different ideas about retirement: Barbara seeks adventure while husband Ken wants nothing more than spending his days watching Pointless.

 Radio 2 head Lewis Carnie said: ‘This year’s comedy showcases are the perfect way to introduce some new and exciting programmes to our audience. The shows are being made by some of the best comedy production teams in the business and feature some of the biggest names in the field today.’

And BBC comedy commissioning chief Shane Allen added: ‘This run of comedy showcases has lured a terrific array of first class comedy talent. The Radio 2 audience is in for a whole pick-and-mix of wonderful treats.’

Previous comedy highlights on Radio 2 have included Miranda Hart’s Joke Shop, Matt Lucas’s And The Winner Is, and The Flight Of The Concords – all of which transferred to TV.

Published: 14 Feb 2017