Christopher Douglas Radio Plays
Christopher Douglas is a well-known actor and writer, and a mainstay of BBC Radio 4 comedy. He has also written a large number of radio dramas.
Christopher plays Ed Reardon in the long-running Radio 4 series which he also co-writes. Ed Reardon’s Week won the Broadcasting Press Guild’s award for Best Radio Programme in 2005 and 2010. He also voices and co-writes the ill-chosen words of Dave Podmore, a Radio 4 regular since 2001 and previously a Guardian columnist. Other radio writing credits include three series of Beauty of Britain (starring Jocelyn Jee Esien), two series of Mastering the Universe with Dawn French, several dramas and a recent adaptation of New Grub Street. TV writing credits include three series of masterclasses hosted by Nicholas Craig (Nigel Planer). Books include a biography of D R Jardine; stage work includes Ed Reardon: A Writer’s Burden, An Evening with Nicholas Craig and Scout’s Honour.
BBC RADIO COMEDIES
Christopher's main comedies for radio are:
Ed Reardon's Week: his most famous creation, co-written with the late Andrew Nickolds. Douglas stars as the titular Ed Reardon: a permanently aggrieved, middle-aged, failed hack writer, consummate fare-dodger, and master of the abusive email who lives in a Berkhamsted flat with his cat, Elgar. The show is one of Radio 4's longest-running narrative comedies, winning the Broadcasting Press Guild's 'Radio Programme of the Year' twice.
Dave Podmore: A long-running satirical comedy created by Chris Douglas, Nick Nickolds, and Nick Newman. Chris voices the character of Dave "Pod" Podmore, widely considered "the world's most disappointing cricketer," a parody of the lower-tier professional sportsman.
Beauty of Britain: Co-written with Nicola Sanderson. A satirical sitcom with Jocelyn Jee Esien as an African immigrant carer trying to navigate and understand British culture.
Mastering the Universe: A surreal and satirical comedy series starring Dawn French, lampooning historical figures, self-help gurus, and overarching human hubris.
I, An Actor: Co-created with Nigel Planer. This spoof autobiography and performance series parodies the world of high-brow, self-important theatre and pretentious thespians.
NOTES ON SOME OF THE DRAMAS
THE ODD WOMEN....2022
By George Gissing (R4, 1500, two successive Sundays beginning 9 Oct 22). This was adapted by Christopher Douglas from the novel, and was set in 1888, when a surge in technology and industry was beginning to create more opportunities for female workers. Cablegrams could now be sent under the Atlantic and across the Empire at 30 words per minute. In the play, an army of secretaries, stenographers and telephonists is being recruited and trained to help the trade boom. The story follows the lives of two principals of a recently-established London secretarial school. The drama gives a penetrating glimpse into a vanished world. Women were regarded as home-makers and if a woman didn't fit into the role through remaining unmarried, she might be regarded as 'odd'; hence the title. Many women without husbands endured much hardship: they were often those who, by fate or economic condition were unable to reach marriage; forced to work and often accepting humble jobs on the verge of slavery. The narrator was Robert Powell; Rhoda Nunn was played by Emma Cunniffe, Mary Barfoot by Geraldine Alexander, Everard Barfoot by Tom Goodman-Hill and Monica Madden by Ayla Wheatley. Production was by Jane Morgan, well-known for her 30-year series of 'Road' plays with the late Douglas Livingstone. On this occasion Jane was working for 7digital. (ND, Diversity website review, Dec 2022)
4 Jul 20: Saturday Play - Tristram Shandy: In Development
This was recorded under lockdown with actors in many locations and produced under those difficult conditions by Gary Brown. Written by Christopher Douglas. As for the radio play - we're in a radio drama studio , where a workshop and podcast are being recorded on the novel Tristram Shandy. It's an opportunity, says producer Philippa Lauriston, to discover a new way of making a radio play. The creative team also includes the actors who will play the novel's main characters. There is also a rumour that a famous actor will be joining them. What could possibly go wrong?
Jason.......Tim McInnerny,
Philippa...Monica Dolan,
Chris.........Christopher Douglas,
Rosie......Mina Anwar,
Clare.......Emily Pithon,
Johnny/Gary....Simon Greenall,
Roberta/Sam.........................Nicola Sanderson,
Producer.... Gary Brown, dipping his toe into 'lockdown' plays for the first time.
(This play won the Tinniswood Award in 2021)
28 Aug 16: Classic Serial slot: New Grub Street, 1
By George Gissing, ad. Christopher Douglas; 2 episodes. The play is set in 1880s London and concentrates on looking at two authors: one with artistic ambitions and one only interested in making money. George Gissing: Christopher Douglas, Edwin Reardon: Sam Alexander, Jasper Milvain: Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Amy/Edith: Emily Pithon, with Olivia Hallinan, Jonathan Keeble and Victoria Brazier. Produced by Gary Brown.
DOLLY ....2009
This play (R4, 1415, 16 Apr 09), by Christopher Douglas, was a dramatisation of the D'Oliveira Affair, which made national headlines almost forty years ago. D'Oliveira, from the South African slums, had worked his way up as a club cricketer and now made a living playing for Worcestershire. He was an exciting batsman and a talented medium-paced swing bowler. His form was so good that he eventually made the England team. In the late sixties he was selected to go on a winter tour of South Africa, which was still under the rule of apartheid.
However, the South African Prime Minister, Vorster, refused to recognise the English team because D'Oliveira was a 'Cape Coloured' - a player who would not be able to sit in the same railway carriages, attend the same functions, or drink in the same bars as his white English and South African counterparts. To the MCC's credit, in the face of such overt and disgusting racism, they called off the tour, and South Africa played no more test matches for about twenty years.
Dickie Bird, the world-famous umpire, was one of the first cricketers to go and coach black children in Soweto. He has strong views on apartheid. In Dickie's words, taken from his autobiography ....when I arrived at the venue...not a soul to be seen....then...they came over the hill....ragged, patched-up pants, no shoes....very different from the magnificent facilities enjoyed by their white counterparts. Even the practice pitches in Johannesburg were out of this world, and here were these black lads with not a cricket stump, bat or ball between them, turning up to play on waste ground....
In the play, D'Oliverira was played by Jude Akuwudike, his wife by Rakie Oyola, and Peter West by the author; the producer was Roland Jacquarello. The play was repeated in 2011, the year when D'Oliveira died. (ND, Diversity website review, Apr 2009)
DAVE PODMORE'S CRICKET FIX...2001-
Excellent comedy series about Dave Podmore, unsuccessful cricketer, and his pragmatic approach to making money out of the game... written by (and starring) Christopher Douglas. So far we've had about thirty episodes.
THE ENGLISHMAN ABROAD....1980
An interesting play by Christopher Douglas. Jardine set out in the winter of
1932 with the avowed intent of destroying "those ruddy convicts" - the
Australian cricket team. The tour became known as the Bodyline Tour
and Jardine earned himself the hatred of every Australian. But he won
the series. With Michael Cochrane as Jardine, Robert East as Gubby
Allen, Haydn Wood as Bob Wyatt and Michael Kitchen as Harold Larwood. Also
stars David Threlfall, Peter Joyce, John Church, Robert Lang, Partick Barr,
John Bott as the rest of the England team...then as the Australians: Bill Woodfull
played by Edmunde Pegge, Bradman by Christopher Blake, Jack Fingleton by
Nick Tate, Viv Richardson by Damon Sanders, Stan McCabe by Peter Dahlsen,
other parts by Philip Dunbar, Gordon Reid, Gordon Gostelow, Michael McStay,
Martin Friend, Christopher Douglas, Stephen Thorne...and Michael Spice and Brian
Haines as the Commander and George V. Directed by Jane Morgan, a
keen cricket enthusiast. Date of first broadcast - 6 Sep 1980; rpt 1981 & 1992.
Later info on the casting:
The cast of the original BBC Radio 4 production of The Englishman Abroad includes several notable British and Australian actors portraying the cricketers, officials, and historical figures of the era:
The England Team & Officials:
Michael Cochrane as Douglas Jardine (England Captain)
Michael Kitchen as Harold Larwood
David Threlfall as Bill Voce
Robert East as Gubby Allen
Haydn Wood as Bob Wyatt
Sam Dastor as The Nawab of Pataudi
Peter Joyce as Bill Bowes
John Church as Maurice Leyland
Robert Lang as Pelham Warner (Team Manager)
Stephen Thorne as Arthur Carr
The Australian Team & Officials
Christopher Blake as Donald Bradman
Edmund Pegge as Bill Woodfull
Nick Tate as Jack Fingleton
Damon Sanders as Vic Richardson
Peter Dahlsen as Stan McCabe
Graham Faulkner as Tim Wall
Michael McStay as Allan Kippax
Gordon Gostelow as Jack Ryder
Martin Friend as Alf Noble
Other Notable Roles
Brian Haines as King George V
Christopher Douglas (the writer) as the Gaumont British News narrator
Patrick Barr as Perrin
John Bott as Higson
Philip Dunbar as Oxlade
Michael Spice as Commander O'Sullivan
The production was directed by Jane Morgan.
Christopher Douglas's extensive research for this play eventually led to his full-length biography of Douglas Jardine.
Nigel Deacon / Diversity website
These plays known to exist in VRPCC collections
Page updated Jul 2026
