Episodes
Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | 01 | Pilot - Episode 1 | 20190823 | The identity of Amna depends on who you are. To her fellow Glaswegians, she's a Londoner now, having lived there for three years. To Londoners, she's Scottish when they can only hear her, but Asian if they can see her. To Scots, she's Pakistani - but to Pakistanis, she's British. To employers, she's disposable. And to her white, English boyfriend, she's just Amna, as his white privilege means he doesn't have to think about all of that.
To her mum, of course, she's just "beta", the Urdu term for child.
Beta Female is a new sitcom which hinges on Amna's desire to be all these things and more - to keep her Mum and Dad happy by allowing her to believe that she and her boyfriend don't live together, and to keep her boyfriend happy by getting a job and contributing to the rent. Like many women of her background and age, Amna wants to have her differences acknowledged but to be treated the same as everyone else. From work to love to family to social media, Amna walks a tightrope of identity.
Contrasting with her confusion are her little brother, Haris, and her sister, Sunnah, both of whom appear to have "picked a side" - Haris is a young Scottish slacker, and Sunnah is a Muslim wife and mother. Amna still finds herself wanting to be part of both worlds, and seeming to feel part of neither.
This pilot episode sees Amna return home to Glasgow for an Eid party, where she will introduce her boyfriend to her family for the first time.
Cast:
Written by Amna Saleem
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
New sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. | |
01 | 01 | Pilot - Episode 1 | 20190823 | 20210105 (R4) | The identity of Amna depends on who you are. To her fellow Glaswegians, she's a Londoner now, having lived there for three years. To Londoners, she's Scottish when they can only hear her, but Asian if they can see her. To Scots, she's Pakistani - but to Pakistanis, she's British. To employers, she's disposable. And to her white, English boyfriend, she's just Amna, as his white privilege means he doesn't have to think about all of that.
To her mum, of course, she's just "beta", the Urdu term for child.
Beta Female is a new sitcom which hinges on Amna's desire to be all these things and more - to keep her Mum and Dad happy by allowing her to believe that she and her boyfriend don't live together, and to keep her boyfriend happy by getting a job and contributing to the rent. Like many women of her background and age, Amna wants to have her differences acknowledged but to be treated the same as everyone else. From work to love to family to social media, Amna walks a tightrope of identity.
Contrasting with her confusion are her little brother, Haris, and her sister, Sunnah, both of whom appear to have "picked a side" - Haris is a young Scottish slacker, and Sunnah is a Muslim wife and mother. Amna still finds herself wanting to be part of both worlds, and seeming to feel part of neither.
This pilot episode sees Amna return home to Glasgow for an Eid party, where she will introduce her boyfriend to her family for the first time.
Cast:
Written by Amna Saleem
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
New sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. |
01 | 02 | 20210112 | ~Beta Female is a semi-autobiographical sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar (Black Mirror, Pure) as Amna, a young woman trying to find her place in the world - in her work, in her relationships, and in her family. The Accent: When a colleague misidentifies Amna's accent, she takes the opportunity for a change of identity. Amna ... Kiran Sonia Sawar Sunnha ... Hiftu Quasem Issa ... Atta Yaqub Nora ... Evelyn Lockley Sam ... Darren Kuppan Theo ... Tom Stourton Written by Amna Saleem Produced & directed by Ed Morrish A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4 Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. | ||
01 | 03 | 20210119 | ~Beta Female is a semi-autobiographical sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar (Black Mirror, Pure) as Amna, a young woman trying to find her place in the world - in her work, in her relationships, and in her family. The Nanny Flat: Amna is forced to visit her cousin to have her relative poverty rubbed in her face. Amna ... Kiran Sonia Sawar Theo ... Tom Stourton Maya ... Sukh Ojla Mum ... Sudha Bhuchar Nora ... Evelyn Lockley Written by Amna Saleem Produced & directed by Ed Morrish A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4 Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. | ||
01 | 04 | 20210126 | ~Beta Female is a semi-autobiographical sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar (Black Mirror, Pure) as Amna, a young woman trying to find her place in the world - in her work, in her relationships, and in her family. The Zumzum Pani: Amna tries to cover up an unholy mistake from her mother, with her brother as an accomplice. Amna ... Kiran Sonia Sawar Harris ... Omar Raza Mum ... Sudha Bhuchar Dad... Bhakser Patel Nora ... Evelyn Lockley Written by Amna Saleem Produced & directed by Ed Morrish A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4 Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. | ||
01 | 05 | 20210202 | ~Beta Female is a semi-autobiographical sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar (Black Mirror, Pure) as Amna, a young woman trying to find her place in the world - in her work, in her relationships, and in her family. The Surprise: Amna tries to sabotage a family gathering, only to realise that she's sabotaging herself. Amna ... Kiran Sonia Sawar Mum ... Sudha Bhuchar Sunnha ... Hiftu Quasem Dad ... Bhasker Patel Raf ... Darren Kuppan Maya ... Sukh Ojla Nora ... Evelyn Lockley Auntie ... Sajeela Kershi Theo ... Tom Stourton Written by Amna Saleem Produced & directed by Ed Morrish A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4 Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. | ||
02 | 01 | Dad's Dishes | 20221021 | Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. Amna is left alone to look after her dad for the weekend.
Kiran Sonia Sawar ... Amna
Production co-ordinator Lily Hambly
Sound design by Rich Evans at Synbox Post
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
Amna is left alone to look after her dad for the weekend. Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. | |
02 | 02 | The Psychic | 20221028 | Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. A visit to a psychic goes predictably well for Amna, Nora and Sunnah.
Kiran Sonia Sawar ... Amna
Production co-ordinator Lily Hambly
Sound design by Rich Evans at Synbox Post
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
A visit to a psychic goes predictably well for Amna, Nora and Sunnah. Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. | |
02 | 03 | Kids | 20221104 | Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. Amna makes a meal out of a family gathering that should have been child's play.
Kiran Sonia Sawar ... Amna
Production co-ordinator Lily Hambly
Sound design by Rich Evans at Synbox Post
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
Amna makes a meal out of a family gathering that should have been child's play. Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. | |
02 | 04 | Raza | 20221111 | Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. Amna's cousin Raza makes an offer Amna can easily refuse. But should she?
Kiran Sonia Sawar ... Amna
Production co-ordinator Lily Hambly
Sound design by Rich Evans at Synbox Post
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4
Amna's cousin Raza makes an offer Amna can easily refuse. But should she? Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. |