Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | The Only Man Stalin Was Afraid Of | 20190225 | 20250811 (BBC7) 20250812 (BBC7) | One of the world's most murderous dictators is in desperate need of help from an old friend. Starring: Peter Capaldi Freya Parker Peter Serafinowicz A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2019. A highly murderous dictator desperately needs help from an old friend. One of the world's most murderous dictators desperately needs help from an old friend. Starring Peter Capaldi. From 2019. Episode 1: The Only Man Stalin Was Afraid Of Alexei Sayle?s The Absence of Normal is a series of dark comic plays narrated by Alexei Sayle and adapted from his original short stories. The Only Man Stalin Was Afraid Of finds one of the world?s most murderous dictators in desperate need of help from an old friend. Starring Peter Capaldi, Freya Parker and Peter Serafinowicz Written and adapted for radio by Alexei Sayle A series of dark comic plays adapted from Alexei Sayle's short stories |
| 01 | 02 | Banner Bright | 20190304 | 20250818 (BBC7) 20250819 (BBC7) | A group of left wing radicals meet during the occupation of a Lancashire university in 1968 and come to believe they can change the world with an inspirational protest banner. Starring: Ben Crompton George Fouracres Kath Hughes Tim Key Nimisha Odedra A BBC Studios production or BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2019. Radical left-wing students think their inspirational banner can change the world. 1968. Radical left-wing students think their inspirational banner can change the world Stars Ben Compton. From 2019. Episode 2: Banner Bright Alexei Sayle's The Absence of Normal is a series of dark comic plays narrated by Alexei Sayle and adapted from his original short stories. Banner Bright is the story of a group of left wing radicals who meet during the occupation of a Lancashire university in 1968 and come to believe they can change the world with an inspirational protest banner. Starring Ben Crompton, George Fouracres, Kath Hughes, Tim Key and Nimisha Odedra Written and adapted for radio by Alexei Sayle |
| 01 | 03 | The Minister For Death | 20190311 | 20250825 (BBC7) 20250826 (BBC7) 20190318 (R4) | The Minister for Death is the story of a Liverpudlian pensioner who turns the tables on a would be mugger and in the process rediscovers an unhealthy lust for murder. Starring Paul Barber, Lewis MacLeod, Shaun Mason, Freya Parker and Frances Tomelty. Written and narrated by Alexei Sayle. Adapted for radio by Graham Duff. A Liverpudlian pensioner rediscovers an unhealthy lust for murder. A Liverpudlian pensioner rediscovers an unhealthy lust for murder after seeing off a mugger. Starring Paul Barber. Episode 3: The Minister for Death In the process, he rediscovers an unhealthy lust for murder... A Liverpudlian pensioner rediscovers an unhealthy lust for murder after seeing off a mugger. Stars Paul Barber. From 2019. |
| 01 | 04 LAST | The Last Woman Killed In The War | 20190318 | 20250901 (BBC7) 20250902 (BBC7) 20190325 (R4) | In 1960s Liverpool, Mary's parents whisk her away from their working class community to hide her illegitimate pregnancy. Returning 40 years later to confront them, she discovers that attitudes have shifted somewhat. Mary returns to Liverpool 40 years after she was forced to leave to hide her illegitimate pregnancy. |
| 02 | 01 | Clive Hole | 20210310 | Clive Hole has a top job in TV commissioning, a chauffeur and a secretary. There's only one problem. He is completely incapable of making a decision on what to commission and what to turn down. The pressure begins to mount on Clive when two dogged producers, Cherry and Tatum, make it their number one priority to get a decision on their screenplay, Bold as Bacon. Starring Katheryn Drysdale, Graham Duff, George Fouracres, Georgie Glenn, Tim McInnerny, Alice McMillan, Duncan Wisbey. Dark comic plays narrated by Alexei Sayle, adapted from his original short stories. | |
| 02 | 02 | Barcelona Chairs | 20210317 | Alexei Sayle's The Absence of Normal, is a series of dark, comic plays narrated by Alexei Sayle and adapted for radio from his original short stories. Architect rupert' (yes, spelt and pronounced with a lower case r') is frustrated by his lack of `player architect` status and his clients' derivative design briefs. He sets about embedding himself in Tony Blair's Labour government while designing a minimal and perfectly uncomplicated home for himself and his family. Starring Ambika Mod, Hugh Quarshie, Siobhan Redmond. Dark comic plays narrated by Alexei Sayle, adapted from his original short stories. | |
| 02 | 03 | The Nameless Park | 20210324 | In Liverpool there's a nameless park near St Michael's Hamlet. It's a beautiful if jagged place, filled with strangely exotic plants. Jason's sister has a strong affinity with the park and takes her wheelchair user brother for regular trips around its paths. But when Jason falls critically ill, the true nature of their parents emerges. Starring Louis Emerick, George Fouracres, Shaun Mason, Alice McMillan, Claire Sweeney. Original music and lyrics by Tim Sutton. | |
| 02 | 04 LAST | Locked Out | 20210331 | Katherine has locked herself out of her house on a seemingly quiet and peaceful street in Central London. As she waits for her partner to return with the keys, she begins to realise that she knows nothing of the lives of her neighbours - the people who come and go, who do strange and apparently quite sinister things, and who sleep only a few inches away from her. Starring Maxine Peake |