Episodes

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0101Pilot - Episode 120190823

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:
Amna ... Kiran Sonia Sawar
Theo ... Tom Stourton
Mum .. Sudha Bhuchar
Dad ... Bhasker Patel
Haris ... Omar Raza
Sunnah ... Amna Saleem
Uncle ... Anil Goutam
Auntie ... Nina Wadia

Written by Amna Saleem
Produced by Ed Morrish

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.

0101Pilot - Episode 12019082320210105 (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:
Amna ... Kiran Sonia Sawar
Theo ... Tom Stourton
Mum .. Sudha Bhuchar
Dad ... Bhasker Patel
Haris ... Omar Raza
Sunnah ... Amna Saleem
Uncle ... Anil Goutam
Auntie ... Nina Wadia

Written by Amna Saleem
Produced by Ed Morrish

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.

010220210112~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.

010320210119~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.

010420210126~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.

010520210202~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.

0201Dad's Dishes20221021

Sitcom by Amna Saleem, starring Kiran Sonia Sawar. Amna is left alone to look after her dad for the weekend.

Kiran Sonia Sawar ... Amna
Evelyn Lockley ... Nora
Sudha Bhuchar ... Mum
Layla Kirk ... Sunnah
Bhasker Patel ... Dad
Atta Yaqub ... Issa
Omar Raza ... Haris
Sajeela Kershi ... Auntie

Production co-ordinator Lily Hambly
Producer Ed Morrish

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.

0202The Psychic20221028

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
Evelyn Lockley ... Nora
Layla Kirk ... Sunnah
Nadia Kamil ... The Psychic
Sanjeev Kohli ... Kelly
Atta Yaqub ... Issa
Sudha Bhuchar ... Mum

Production co-ordinator Lily Hambly
Producer Ed Morrish

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.

0203Kids20221104

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
Sukh Ojla ... Maya
Omar Raza ... Haris
Evelyn Lockley ... Nora
Layla Kirk ... Sunnah
Atta Yaqub ... Issa
Nadia Kamil ... The Child / The Parent
Sanjeev Kohli ... The Waiter / The Priest
Sudha Bhuchar ... Mum
Bhasker Patel ... Dad

Production co-ordinator Lily Hambly
Producer Ed Morrish

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.

0204Raza20221111

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
Evelyn Lockley ... Nora
Omar Raza ... Haris
Layla Kirk ... Sunnah
Atta Yaqub ... Issa
Sudha Bhuchar ... Mum
Bhasker Patel ... Dad
Nadia Kamil ... Waitress
Sanjeev Kohli ... Raza

Production co-ordinator Lily Hambly
Producer Ed Morrish

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.