Radio 4 afternoon plays

[Divisive Cotton]

The thing is that everyone in R4 plays has a very nice voice, so the things can sneak up on you. You've got the radio on, you're doing something else, there's a pleasant noise coming from the speakers, then you suddenly realise: you've been listening to utter drivel for the last hour.

Yeah I like the way it just suddenly hits you. You think, WTF is this?! as you turn your head towards the radio before reaching out for the off switch.

 

[mrs quoad]

This week's evening piece of shite stars that nice common bird with a heart of gold, you know, the one R4 always employ to sound common, but with a heart of gold. A bit young, over-emphasises all those yoof-y words, sounds like she'd like to give you a cuddle. Playing a single mum. For a change.

 

[trashpony]

Maxine Peake. She was brilliant in that thing on telly the other week though when she was playing an abused wife.

I did hear a really good adaptation of Emil and the Detectives the other week but my friend did it.

 

[Shirl]

I don't know how often you lot listen to the afternoon play but there are some really good ones. I admit there are some that I don't like, quite a few actually but there are plenty that I enjoy.

I'm usually doing other things whilst listening, driving, ironing, clipping a dog or whatever and I just listen for the distraction. I enjoy the 45 minutes for what it is. It's not like I've bought a ticket and got dressed up to go to listen to it.

 

[kittyP]

I always end up listening to the good ones when I'm driving. And invariably, I arrive at my destination 15 mins before the bloody end.

This is me too!

This or you are on a long drive and desperate for a wee, sitting in the service station car park, breaking your neck, waiting for it to finish so you can go.

 

[kittyP]

There's also "the bloke with the Nigerian accent" who pops up quite a bit everywhere.

The thing is that everyone in R4 plays has a very nice voice, so the things can sneak up on you. You've got the radio on, you're doing something else, there's a pleasant noise coming from the speakers, then you suddenly realise: you've been listening to utter drivel for the last hour.

But see this is what I also quite like,
I was driving to Wales once and suddenly realised that for the last half an hour I had been listening to a programme about the fact there is no space left in graveyards any more, I hadn't even clocked what I was listening to. Just letting the comforting dulcet tones wash over me.
It made me smile

 

[Fictionist]

I think I've previously posted that my cousin was trying to write one about dispossessed black urban yoof.

Him being a herb farmer brung up in rural Kent and having spent the entirety of his formative years in a private boys' boarding school. I believe they had a local black person, but not until the mid-90s. The local town is a good 5 miles away.

This - for me - summarises 95% of afternoon plays. The other 5% - like the ones starring Johnny Vegas or those that don't bother trying to be 'hip', 'in wid da kids', 'gritty realist' or 'other token R4 suitable tag which I've got fuck all idea about but like the sound of'. They are sadly - IME - in the overwhelmed minority.

R4 afternoon plays = 95% shit .

That is all