Harry Hill stars as the Governor in this BBC Radio 4 prison-based sitcom
‘Properly funny’ Miranda Sawyer, The Observer
The Egg is Britain's remotest and highest-security prison, floating on a giant prehistoric egg in the middle of the ocean. Running the place is Governor Harry who, along with his trusty assistants Anne and Peter, does his best to keep the inmates under control – while dreaming of a transfer to the cushy Sparkles Open Prison.
In Series 1 he has to contend with government inspectors; mysteriously malfunctioning CCTV cameras; escaped prisoners; a demanding film star; a new, tough screw and a pair of mating whales attacking the Egg.
Series 2 sees Harry and the team striking oil and pitching a new invention to Dragon’s Den, while Peter faces a conflict of interest when his brother arrives at the prison. Plus, Harry finds himself on hold to customer services; tries to cope with food shortages, and gets sweaty palms (and itchy fingers) when a self-destruct button is found on the Egg.
Created by Dan Maier, regular writer on Harry Hill’s TV Burpand co-writer with Charlie Brooker of A Touch of Cloth, this smart, surreal and superbly silly series stars Harry Hill as Governor Harry, with Karen Bartke as Anne and Marek Larwood as Peter. Guest stars include Gyles Brandreth as Prisoner Brandreth and Deborah Meaden and Evan Davis as themselves.
Written by Dan Maier
Produced by Sam Michell
A BBC Studios production
First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 7 January 2017-22 February 2018, (Series 1), 6 February-13 March 2019 (Series 2)
Cast
Governor Harry........................Harry Hill
Anne........................Karen Bartke
Peter........................Marek Larwood
The Minister/Rev Simone........................Alison Belbin
Tim/Skulk/Nev/Doubleday........................Jason Forbes
Jones/Tim the Helicopter Pilot/Warder Leo Hatchet/Admiral Fernandez/Dominic........................Dan Maier
The Minister/Jo-Jo Peebles........................Tanya Moodie
Prisoner Brandreth........................Gyles Brandreth
Brad De Depprio........................Demetri Goritsas
The Minister/The Hold Voice........................Sukh Ojla
Deborah Meaden........................Herself
Evan Davies........................Himself
Sebastian/Prisoner Birtwhistle........................Paul Putner
Gyles Brandreth is a writer, performer, former MP and Government Whip, now Chancellor of the University of Chester and probably best known these days as a reporter on BBC1's The One Show and as a regular on Radio 4's Just a Minute. On TV he has featured on Have I Got News For You, QI, Room 101, Countdown, and This is Your Life. As a journalist he writes for the Telegraph and Daily Mail and is a columnist for The Oldie. The founder of the National Scrabble Championships, his books about words and language include four best-sellers, The Joy of Lex, Word Play, Have You Eaten Grandma? and Dancing by the Light of the Moon.