More on life with his autistic son

Henry Normal is to make another Radio 4 show based on his experiences bringing up a child with autism.

A Normal Life follows last year's show A Normal Family, and tells more about bringing up his son, Johnny, who was diagnosed with ‘mildly severe’ autism. 

The follow-up will air on Sunday April 2, World Autism Awareness Day.

Describing the show as a mix of 'poetry, storytelling and comedy', the BBC said: ‘The show tackles the subjects of life, death, loneliness, loss, human frailty and other classic conversation stoppers.’

Normal started in comedy as a performance poet on the Manchester stand-up scene, becoming a co-writer of TV programmes such as The Royle Family, The Mrs Merton Show.

He set up the comedy production company Baby Cow with Steve Coogan in 1999, making such shows as Gavin and Stacey, The Mighty Boosh and Alan Partridge, and the Oscar-nominated film Philomena, but stood down last year.

He has also written a book entitled A Normal Family,  about his life with Johnny, now 18, which is expected out in May.

Kate Hewson, senior editor at publisher Two Roads, said: ‘We hope it will be the go-to book for anyone faced with a daunting diagnosis, as well as a wonderful, warm story of the unconditional, unconventional love between a father and a son.’

A Normal Life is to be recorded on March 20 at the BBC Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, Central London. Click here to be in the audience. 

Published: 2 Mar 2017