All six episodes of the BBC radio comedy about two chalk-and-cheese flatmates
Nick Reynolds is a lefty alternative comedian-turned-holistic therapist. Living on the floor below him is Gyles Brandon, an ex-Tory MP turned media darling. Poles apart, they’d never choose each other as friends, but when Nick accidentally floods Gyles’ apartment, they become reluctant flat-sharers.
Joined by Gyles’ goddaughter Sophie Okuyu, the spoilt daughter of a corrupt African politician, the housemates get into various scrapes, including plotting to seek revenge on Gyles’ ex-wife, trying to curry favour (and make some money) at a swanky Mayfair art gallery, and going on a celebratory night out which swiftly turns to disaster...
Written by and starring Gyles Brandreth as Gyles and Nick Revell as Nick, this Odd Couple story was inspired by a chance meeting between the pair at the Edinburgh Festival, where they hit it off despite being political opposites. Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle, Black Mirror) plays Sophie, and guest stars include Prunella Scales, Timothy West, Martin Jarvis and Neil Pearson.
Cast
Gyles Brandon – Gyles Brandreth
Nick Reynolds – Nick Revell
Sophie Okuyu – Gugu Mbatha-Raw
George Carstairs – Martin Jarvis
Taxi driver/Goon – Nathan Caton
Mr Longstaff/ Richard Dowdeswell/Piers/Brian/Barry – Martin Hyder
Shop assistant – Alys Torrance
Mrs Woodman – Prunella Scales
Mr Woodman – Timothy West
Charles Danbury – Nickolas Grace
Jana – Maria McErlane
Immigration officer/Asif – Dan Mersh
Olga – Barunka O'Shaughnessy
Rick – Neil Pearson
Written by Nick Revell and Gyles Brandreth
Produced by Ed Morrish
BA: Pamela Norris
Studio Managers: Alick Hale-Monro & Gary Newman
Archive BA: Kevin Gordon
Theme music composed and performed by Ben Walker
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.