Ed Reardon's Weekend

The author and pipe-smoker undertakes a journey through his life literary. Featuring The Swim, Dad, The Last Miaow, Parsnip Junction, Summer of '76 and Original British Drama.

What can be said about Ed Reardon that the man himself could not write with greater style and elan? The man who once ghost-wrote a book for Sooty is never lost for words. Even his recent theft of Edam from a BBC redundancy party cannot keep him off-air for long.

A warning to 12-year-old media charlatans though: it's time to tremble. Lynne Truss's fiercest critic is here to grace BBC Radio 4Extra in person. The scourge of the railway fare tariff has hand-picked six chapters of his life to share with you, in a retrospective already hailed as 'a collection of programmes'.

Finally the author of Who Would Fardels Bear is set to receive his due. Or would do, if we could keep him out of the betting shop and in the studio long enough to get his links recorded.

Ed's recent output includes the Stig's Xmas Book of Speed Camera Locations, but there's no denying the sheer artistic power of the man, as he applies his singular talent to children's TV, misery memoirs, Original British Drama and even breaking a window.

Produced by Martin Dempsey.

The author and pipe-smoker's journey through his life literary.

What can be said about Ed Reardon that the man himself could not write with greater style and elan? The man who once ghost-wrote for Sooty is never lost for words. Even his recent theft of Edam from a BBC redundancy party can't keep him off-air for long.

A warning to 12-year-old media charlatans though: it's time to tremble. Lynne Truss's fiercest critic is here to grace us in person. The scourge of the railway fare tariff and author of 'Who Would Fardels Bear' is set to receive his due - if we can keep him out of the betting shop long enough.

Ed's recent output includes the Stig's Xmas Book of Speed Camera Locations, but there's no denying his sheer artistic power, as he applies his singular talent to children's TV, misery memoirs, Original British Drama and even breaking a window.

Enjoy 6 hand-picked chapters of Ed's life:

* Ed Reardon's Week: series 1 (1/6) The Swim

The life of an author, pipe smoker, fare-dodger and master of the abusive e-mail. From 2005

* Series 3 (2/6) Dad

His father's visit sparks ideas of inheritance in the misanthropic writer's mind. From 2006

* Series 5 (3/6) Anger Management

Can grumpy Ed convince the local council that his temper is under control? From 2008

* Series 7 (4/6) Parsnip Junction

Ed is caught up in sibling rivalry as Ping's sister, Py, undertakes work experience at the agency. From 2011

* Series 7 (6/6) Summer of '76

Ed is befriended online by old flame Fiona, but should they get reacquainted? From 2011

* Series 8 (2/6) Original British Drama

Ed ends up working with his son, Jake, on a piece of 'genuine' factutainment. From 2012

Producer: Martin Dempsey

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in 2012

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