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From Fact To Fiction

First broadcast from 20060429 to 20091226.

Series in which writers create a fictional response to the week's news.

The form of the programme will be led by the subject matter so you can expect drama in a number of different guises, as well as poetry and prose. The breadth of approach will be echoed by the range of writers who will be invited to participate.

  • Four of the programmes were presented on the BBC World Service in the World Drama series.
  • The series starting 20090502 is listed by the BBC as #6, but it should be #7, and the same for the following series.
 

Radio 4  Radio 4

Official Site

67 episodes

 
SeriesEpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast		RepeatedDescription
0101Rain2006042920060430 
0102Brave Faces2006050620060507Celebrated playwright David Edgar takes a mischievous look behind the scenes at this week's local elections.
This piece imagines the soundbites you'll never hear as local candidates and senior politicians agonise over their speeches in anticipation of the judgment of the electorate.
Cast: Nicky Henson, David de Keyser, Nisha Nayar, Tracy Wiles, Bertie Carvel, Kim Wall, Elizabeth Bell, Gerard McDermott.
0103 2006051320060514Playwright Georgia Fitch takes us on the road to the FA Cup Final with a family of West Ham fans. Once they hit problems, it's not long before some of the political battles that raged across Barking and Dagenham recently are being re-fought as they struggle to make it to Cardiff in time for the game.
Cast: Desmond McNamara, Nicola Walker, Damian Lynch, Jamie Kenna.
0104Cleaning The Pipes2006052020060521Celebrated poets Michael Symmonds Roberts and Imtiaz Dharker combine with composer John Harle to create Cleaning the Pipes, a response to Britain's initiative to bring stability to the Helmand province of Afghanistan. The Commander of the Task Force described their role thus: "We are not here as a colonial force to come and sort out the problems. Our role is to clean the pipes and get things flowing again".
0105 2006052720060528 
0106 2006060320060604 
0107 2006061020060611Playwright Bettina Gracias provides a fictional response to a story in this week's news.
0108 LAST 2006061720060618Irish playwright Colin Teevan takes his inspiration for this short drama from a story in this week's news.
0201Just Another Tribe2006102120061022 
0202 2006102820061029This week John Reid announced immigration restrictions on the number of Romanian and Bulgarian workers entering the country once those countries have entered the EU in 2007.
Writer and broadcaster Mark Lawson sets his drama, United! in a fictional Northern club where, coincidentally, a Romanian and Bulgarian footballer have just been signed. However, problems soon arise when the East European superstars find personal reasons for refusing to play in the forthcoming Friday and Sunday games.
Cast includes Struan Rodger and Gerard McDermott.
0203 2006110420061105This week's story is written by Alistair Beaton.
The year is 2012, the Kyoto treaty is about to expire and the eyes of the world are on the London Olympics. But one junior minister is so frustrated by the International Community's failure to seriously address the Carbon Emissions crisis, that he decides that a spectacular environmental gesture wiill help focus attention on what really matters.
0204Donald's New Job2006111120061112Guy Browning speculates on new employment for former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
0205 2006111820061119This week's story is written by Lemn Sissay.
On Wednesday, the Queen's Speech outlined the Blair government's strategy for the year ahead. But for Lemn, the speech is perhaps marked as much as by what the monarch was unable to say as by what was in the prescribed text.
0206Carry On Boozing And Cruising2006112520061126By Harry Venning and Dave Ramsden.
They thought it was the end of the booze cruise, but how wrong can you be? Get onboard the celebratory booze cruise and carry on boozing!
Captain/Light....David Fleeshman
Number 2/Frankie....James Nickerson
Rose/Barmaid....Fiona Clarke
Jack/Barman....Mikey North
Bromhead....Lloyd Peters
Music by Robin Steadman.
Director Gary Brown.
0207 20061202 In a week when Tony Blair expressed 'deep sorrow', for Britain's role in the Slave Trade, and the Mayor of London accused the black Chairman of the CRE of 'failing the victims of racism', Jazz Poet, Rommi Smith meditates on our legacy of Empire and why sorry always seems the hardest word.
0208 LAST 2006120920061210 
0301Completion2007051920070520This edition features Completion, by playwright Colin Teevan.
With Dexter Fletcher and Noma Dumezweni 
0302Authentic2007052620070527This story, exploring whether constant surveillance makes us feel more or less secure, is by Rebecca Lenkiewicz.
Sandra....Lizzy McInnerney
Clive....Shaun Dooley
Frank/Man/Policeman....Lloyd Hutchinson
Gary/Manager....Stephen Critchlow
Lynne....Jasmine Callan 
0303Forget Me Not2007060220070603Featured author is playwright Sarah Daniels, who imagines the impact of death in action upon a typical soldier's family and its effect on a triangle of women who are left behind.
0304Draining The Pool2007061620070617By Stewart Lee.
America is facing its worst summer drought since the Dust Bowl years of the Great Depression while many parts of the world are suffering floods. President Bush, however, is still non-committal in response to climate change. Fervent Democrat Frank has retired to Arizona with his wife, but what is happening to his tranquil poolside lifestyle?
0305Gaza2007062320070624By Philip Palmer.
This story imagines what it's like for ordinary people caught up in the violence and in-fighting in Gaza City, as well as the reactions of British nationals working in the region. Featuring original composition from BBC Radio Drama composer-in-residence Nicolai Abrahamsen.
Iman and Alena....Jasmine Callan
Fatmah....Souad Faress
Billy....John Dougall
Daniel....Simon Treves
Hamir....Christoper Simon.
0306Coming Home2007070720070708by Sue Teddern. In Yorkshire, Reg is coming home. But what's left of his home to come back to?
0307 LASTThe Brownies Are Ready To Serve2007071420070715by John Sergeant.
0401Pundits2007111020071111By Christopher William Hill.
As a London-based journalist responds to the state of emergency in Pakistan, she is influenced by the conspiracy theories of a friend in Washington. But is the news from Islamabad darker than anybody dares to imagine?
Todd Hagan....Henry Goodman
Pippa Reynolds....Haydn Gwynne
Saba Iqbal....Priyanga Burford
Matt....Simon Treves
Zoe....Joannah Tincey 
0402To The River2007111720071118Poet Adrian Mitchell and singer Andy Roberts collaborate on To the River, a surreal journey into the depths of a curious underworld.
0403 2007112420071125, RptofSat7.00pmSeries in which writers create a fictional response to the week's news.
Fallen into The Wrong Hands by Thomas Crowe, takes an imaginative leap from Alistair Darling's reassurance that the mislaid Child Benefit information almost certainly hasn't been misappropriated. With Ewan Bailey.
0404Cash Flow2007120120071202Amanda Bullmore's Cash Flow explores some of the absurdities we face when we step into the labyrinthine world of finance.
With Julia Davis, Stuart McQuarrie, Anne Rabbit, Simon Treves and Peter Marinker.
0405 2007120820071209As a man suddenly reappears four years after being declared dead, director Jamie Harper and his team of actors create a drama Left, touching on the experience of those left behind when someone goes missing.
0406 2007121520071216In a week that sees the return of the Spice Girls, Kate Mosse's dramatic piece centres on a young woman wanting to know what happened to Girl Power.
0407Christmas Recess2007122220071223Jeremy Hardy and Paul B Davies create a comic play about a crisis of conscience for a backbench MP.
0408 LASTResolution2007122920071230Ryan Craig's comically tender play Resolution reflects on a year of political upheaval and tells of a deal between two powerful men who clearly can't bear to be in the same room. He asks what we want from the people who manage us and what we can expect from the year to come.
With Gerard Murphy, Robert Bathurst, Frances Jeater.
0501The Ant And The Crocodile20080426 Bettina Gracias explores a personal story behind the vociferous protests around the Olympic torch and the situation in Tibet.
With Pik-Sen Lim, Jonathan Chan-Pensley and Chooi Beh.
0502 20080503 This week's featured author is dramatist Marcy Kahan.
On election day, Artie has been given an ultimatum by his girlfriend Zoe. Travelling through London to the polling station, he contemplates his love of both Zoe and the city.
With Stephen Mangan and Helen Longworth 
0503A Change Of Heart2008051020080511Christopher Reason's A Change of Heart is a comedy about a disappointed local councillor who has just lost her seat. She wants to radically change her life so that she doesn't have to care any more.
With Siobhan Finneran, David Fleeshman, Graeme Hawley and Lloyd Peters 
0504Polar Bear 2008051720080518Sean Buckley's Polar Bear looks at the tragic consequences of crimes of violence perpetrated by young people. With Sally Hawkins, Josef Altin and Joe Prospero.
0505Family Snaps 2008052420080525In a week when the Bank of England warned of a sharp rise in unemployment and reports of the debt crisis hitting the middle classes have made the headlines, writer Richard Monks looks at the personal cost of a national crisis.
0506A Thousand Times2008053120080601Katie Hims's story A Thousand Times looks at the shattering effects of violence on everyone it touches.
0507The Orchard 2008060720080608As world leaders meet in Rome for a UN-sponsored summit on the world food crisis, writer Lin Coghlan looks at the issues surrounding food shortages through the prism of a modern fairytale.
0508 LASTUp On The Roof 2008061420080615In the light of rooftop protests and the Commons counter-terrorism vote, Colin Shindler takes a comic look at the politics and practicalities of direct action.
0601Ozymandias 2008101820081019Mark Burton is first in the hotseat for the return of the series in which writers create a fictional response to the week's news.
In a week that has seen global economic recession move even closer, Burton's Ozymandias takes a comic look at how the volatile stockmarket at home and in Russia has caused problems even for the oligarchs.
With Ewan Bailey and Annabelle Dowler 
0602Magnificent Desolation2008102520081026In the week that India launched its first mission to the Moon, Kim Revill discovers slices of life on earth that reveal the ambitions of aspiring superpowers and faltering confidence amongst the old order.
0603Transit2008110120081102Writer and journalist PG Morgan goes behind the lines in the US presidential election
0604This Is Our Moment2008110820081109The writer Kwame Kwei-Armah creates a fictional response to the week's news.
The effects that Barack Obama's message of change message may have on our own communities.
0605Clear Your Desk2008111520081116With UK house sales falling to a 30-year low and unemployment figures rising, comedy writer and actor Laura Solon examines the financial crisis through the eyes of two rival estate agents. As their professional relationship turns personal, are they helping or hindering their risk of unemployment?
0606The Gulf 2008112220081123Writer Katie Hims creates a fictional response to the week's news. She imagines the trepidation onboard a cargo ship as it approaches the Gulf of Arden, the scene of many recent hijackings.
0607Pins And Needles2008112920081130The writer Jeff Young creates a fictional response to the week's news.
Writer Jeff Young and musician Pete Wylie create a fictional response to the week's news.
0608 LAST 2008120620081207Will Self tells the story of the day Angela's family receive a visit from a social worker.
0701Coughs And Sneezes 2009050220090503Playwright Laura Wade creates a fictional response to a story in the week's news.
With a swine flu pandemic increasingly likely, the spotlight is thrown on an anxious couple newly returned from Mexico.
With Samuel West, Lucy Akhurst and Benjamin Askew.
0702 2009050920090510Bonnie Greer imagines the impact on those involved in exhumating unknown WWI soldiers.
Series in which writers create a fictional response to the week's news.
As experts begin the exhumation of up to 400 unknown WWI soldiers in the village of Fromelles, Bonnie Greer imagines the impact upon some of those involved.
With Nadine Marshall, Malcolm Tierney, Benjamin Askew.
0703 2009051620090517John Fletcher creates a fictional response to the week's news.
0704 2009052320090524Comedian Robin Ince creates a fictional response to the week's news.
As more high-profile politicians lose their jobs because of the Westminster expenses scandal, the comedian Robin Ince tells the story of an ordinary man with no interest in freebies.
With Kevin Eldon, Jeremy Swift and Janice Acquah.
Comedian Robin Ince imagines a man with no interest in freebies.
0705Ghost Writing20090530  
0705Parliament Of Rooks2009053020090531Party leaders are promising to give power to the people, and scientists have discovered that rooks aren't so bird-brained. With a nod to Chaucer, playwright Steve Waters takes us to the Parliament of Rooks, where the birds are having their own crisis of leadership.
With David Hargreaves, Alex Macqueen, Sophie Stanton and Paul Rider.
Dramatist Steve Waters creates a fictional response to the week's news.
0706I Dreamed A Dream2009060620090607In a week where policies have taken a back seat and the elections became a fight for one man's survival, you may be somewhat disillusioned with British politics. But if you think you feel that now, wait till you hear the greatest talent show on earth, hosted by Alistair Mcgowan and written by Patrick Neate.
Patrick Neate creates a fictional response to the week's news. Starring Alistair Mcgowan 
0707The Guilt Season   
0707The Underdog 2009061320090614Offbeat Poet Tim Key gets distracted as he tries to tackle the burning issues of the day.
Offbeat Poet Tim Key attempts to tackle the burning issues of the day, but gets distracted by England's World Cup qualifier with Andorra. With Tom Basden 
0708 LASTChocolate 2009122620091227Katie Hims responds to the threatened takeover of British confectionary group Cadbury with a bittersweet love story.
With Christine Kavanagh and John Biggins
Directed by Abigail le Fleming.
Katie Hims responds to the threatened takeover of British confectionary group Cadbury.
0708 LASTCounting 2009062020090621As Iran waits for election results to be recounted, and in Britain an inquiry is announced into the Iraq War, April De Angelis looks at secrecy in the region.
Playwright April De Angelis looks at secrecy in the Iran/Iraq region.
Playwright April De Angelis creates a fictional response to the week's news.
07 Chocolate20090620  
0801The Man In The Suit 2009110720091108Playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz creates a fictional response to the week's news.
Playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz creates a fictional response to the week's news, prompted by Radovan Karadzic's first appearance at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
As Karadzic insisted that he needed more time to prepare his defence and claimed that his fundamental rights had been violated, there were many with other thoughts on their mind.
With Nigel Anthony, Annette Crosbie, Adam Kotz and Zoe Waites.
0802 2009111420091115Playwright Annie Caulfield creates a fictional response to the week's news.
As the price of gold hit record levels this week, an Australian exploration company publicised its plans for full-scale production at Scotland's first goldmine in 2011.
0803Jam Today? 2009112120091122Writer DJ Britton creates a fictional response to the week's news.
Series in which writers create a fictional response to the week's news.
In the week in which Transparency International published their Corruption Perceptions Index, citing the MPs' expenses scandal as a key factor in the UK's lowest placing yet, DJ Britton tells the story of a young politician hoping to land a safe seat in the next election.
With Anne-marie Duff, Rory Kinnear and John Biggins.
0804The Herald In The Sky 2009112820091129By Glyn Maxwell. Two nurses tend to a man who has been in a coma for over 20 years.
Series in which writers create a fictional response to the week's news.
Glyn Maxwell's story is set in a hospital room where two nurses tend to a man who has been in a coma for over 20 years.
With Claire Rushbrook, Nigel Hastings and Lydia Wilson.
0805 20091205 Jeremy Front creates a fictional response to the week's news.
0806What Is The Custom Of Your Grief? 2009121220091213Writer Timberlake Wertenbaker creates a fictional response to the week's news.
This week witnessed the death of the 100th British soldier to be killed in Afghanistan this year, the 237th since 2002. In What is the Custom of Your Grief? playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker imagines the correspondence between two young girls bereaved by the conflict.
Performed by Betsabeh Emran and Emerald O'Hanrahan.
0807 2009121920091220Writer Liz Jensen creates a fictional response to the week's news.
WD  20060909 Four contemporary British plays responding to the news of the week, including Rain, Cleaning the Pipes, I was John Prescott's Butler and World Justice.