The Headset Set

Series

Episode

First
Broadcast

Comments

20110623

It's Sailesh's first day as team leader at Smile5.

This is a mail order catalogue company selling everything from Rolex watches to lawnmowers, from financial products to phone and broadband, from holidays to health insurance.

And somewhere in a brown-field wasteland miles from the nearest town, it runs one of the largest call centres operating in the UK.

This is the world of The Headset Set.

Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff.

Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu

Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony - Colin Hoult

Sailesh - Paul Sharma

Various - Philip Fox

Other characters played by the cast.

Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Andy Wolton, Ben Partridge, Colin Hoult, Dan Tetsell, Dale Shaw, Kevin Core, Rob Gilroy and Tom Neenan

Script editor: Dan Tetsell

Producer: Tilusha Ghelani

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2011.

It is Sailesh's first day as team leader working at catalogue company Smile5.

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

20110630

A new phone system is causing chaos in the call centre at Smile5, the mail order catalogue company.

Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff.

Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu

Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony - Colin Hoult

Sailesh - Paul Sharma

Other characters played by the cast.

Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Andy Wolton, Colin Hoult, Madeleine Brettingham, Dale Shaw, Kevin Core, Rob Gilroy, Tom Neenan and Jon Hunter.

Script editors: James Kettle and Dan Tetsell

Producer: Tilusha Ghelani

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011.

A new phone system is causing chaos at catalogue company Smile5.

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

20110707

Everyone is falling ill in the open-plan offices of Smile5, the catalogue company that sells anything and everything.

Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff.

Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu

Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony - Colin Hoult

Sailesh - Paul Sharma

Various - Philip Fox

Other characters played by the cast.

Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Celia Pacquola, Andy Wolton, Benjamin Partridge, Colin Hoult, Kevin Core, Madeliene Brettingham, Rebecca Hobbs and Dan Tetsell.

Script editor: James Kettle

Producer: Tilusha Ghelani

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July2011.

Everyone is falling ill in the open-plan offices of catalogue call centre Smile5.

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

20110714

Appraisal day dawns in the offices of catalogue company Smile5, but only Sailesh has prepared for it.

Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff.

Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu

Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony - Colin Hoult

Sailesh - Paul Sharma

Various - Philip Fox

Other characters played by the cast.

Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Celia Pacquola, Andy Wolton, Benjamin Partridge, Colin Hoult, Kevin Core, Madeliene Brettingham, Rebecca Hobbs and Dan Tetsell.

Script editor: James Kettle

Producer: Tilusha Ghelani

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2011.

Appraisal day dawns at catalogue company Smile5, but only Sailesh has prepared for it.

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

20110721

The team at catalogue company Smile5 discover their colleague Dan has died.

They react in their usual callous and manipulative way. Meanwhile, Ralph the trainer has a new trainee in Philip the artist.

Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff.

Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu

Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony - Colin Hoult

Sailesh - Paul Sharma

Various - Philip Fox

Other characters played by the cast.

Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Celia Pacquola, Andy Wolton, Benjamin Partridge, Colin Hoult, Kevin Core, Madeliene Brettingham, Rebecca Hobbs and Dan Tetsell.

Script editor: James Kettle

Producer: Tilusha Ghelani

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2011.

The team at Smile5 discover that their colleague Dan has died, and react callously.

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

20110728

The call centre staff at catalogue company Smile5 discover why Sailesh left Bangalore.

Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff.

Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu

Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony - Colin Hoult

Sailesh - Paul Sharma

Various - Philip Fox

Other characters played by the cast.

Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Celia Pacquola, Andy Wolton, Benjamin Partridge, Colin Hoult, Kevin Core, Madeliene Brettingham, Rebecca Hobbs and Dan Tetsell.

Script editor: James Kettle

Producer: Tilusha Ghelani

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2011.

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

20121101

A fast-moving audience sketch show set in the world of a call centre called Smile5, a company that sells anything and everything. This week, a new Guy called Scott starts work at Smile 5, while sketches include a man calling to complain about a faulty bowl.

Aleesha and other characters ..... Chizzy Akudolu

Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult

Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma

Writers ..... Various

Script editor ..... Dan Tetsell/James Kettle.

Producer ..... Tilusha Ghelani

WELCOME TO SMILE5!

Smile5 is a mail order catalogue company selling everything from Rolex watches to lawnmowers, from financial products to phone and broadband, from holidays to health insurance. And somewhere in a brown-field wasteland miles from the nearest town, it runs one of the largest call centres operating in the UK. This is the world of The Headset Set.

Each episode features a host of sketches set eavesdropping on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous business-customer relationship. The remaining sketches are set in the Smile5's offices. We meet four of the call centre's employees:

Sailesh - Officially the team leader, Sailesh has recently moved from Bangalore seemingly bringing a wealth of call-centre experience and an admirable work ethic lacking in his fellow Headsetters, which the others resent him for.

Bernie - As she's been here longer than anyone, she refuses to recognise Sailesh's authority. She also refuses to learn how to use anything more technologically advanced than a 1980s trim phone.

Aleesha - A self-loathing street-wise cynic who resents having to work at Smile 5. Or in fact, having to work at all.

Big Tony - Tony spends most of his time on the phone, but not necessarily on Smile 5 business. He's always running some sort of dodgy scam, like a minicab office from his desk.

Other sketches feature Smile5's unsympathetic counsellor and the head of training Ralph, who trains the most inept of the call centre staff, such as the child-like Bradley.

The series stars Chizzy Akudolu (Holby City), Margaret Cabourn Smith (Fresh Meat, Miranda), Colin Hoult (Being Human; Life's Too Short), Lucy Montgomery (Armstrong and Miller; Lucy Montgomery's Variety Pack) and Phaldut Sharma (Eastenders)

This is a team written sketch show originated by Stephen Carlin and James Kettle. Established sketch writers such as Stephen Carlin, James Kettle, Jon Hunter and Colin Hoult are joined by the best comedy writers to have emerged from recent 'open door' radio shows. These recent Radio 4 and 4 extra shows, Recorded for Training Purposes and Newsjack, gave new comedy writers an opportunity to hone their skills.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2012.

A new guy called Scott starts work, while a man calls to complain about a faulty bowl.

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

20121108

Sketches set in a call centre called Smile 5, a mail order catalogue company that sells anything and everything. On the Smile 5 call centre floor, Bernie is excessively angry over her missing lunch.

Aleesha and other characters ..... Chizzy Akudolu

Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult

Various characters ..... Lucy Montgomery

Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma

Script editor: James Kettle.

Producer: Tilusha Ghelani.

First broadcast on Radio 4 in 2012.

Bernie is wildly angry over her missing lunch on Smile5's call centre floor.

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

20121115

EPISODE 3

Audience sketch show set in the world of a call centre called Smile5, a company that sells anything and everything.

Aleesha and other characters ..... Chizzy Akudolu

Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult

Various ..... Lucy Montgomery

Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma

Writers ..... Various

Producer ..... Tilusha Ghelani.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.

Could a viral outbreak threaten the happiness of the Smile5 call centre?

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

20121122

Audience sketch show set in the world of a call centre called Smile5, a company that sells anything and everything. The Headsetters have been asked to remove the massive hole in the middle of their office. It's health and safety gone mad.

Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult

Various ..... Lucy Montgomery

Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma

Writers ..... Various

Producer ..... Tilusha Ghelani

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012.

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

20121129

Audience sketch show set in the world of a call centre called Smile5, a company that sells anything and everything. Bernie brings her dog in to the office and starts a craze.

Aleesha and other characters ..... Chizzy Akudolu

Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult

Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma

Writers ..... Various

Producer ..... Tilusha Ghelani.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2012.

Bernie brings her dog and starts a craze in the Smile5 call centre office.

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

20121206

EPISODE 6

Audience sketch show set in the world of a call centre called Smile5, a company that sells anything and everything. The call centre installs a thermostat, which causes conflict.

Aleesha and other characters ..... Chizzy Akudolu

Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith

Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult

Various ..... Lucy Montgomery

Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma

Writers ..... Various

Producer ..... Tilusha Ghelani.

The call centre installs a thermostat, which makes temperatures rise.

Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5

Episodes

Series	Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	01	20110623	It's Sailesh's first day as team leader at Smile5. This is a mail order catalogue company selling everything from Rolex watches to lawnmowers, from financial products to phone and broadband, from holidays to health insurance. And somewhere in a brown-field wasteland miles from the nearest town, it runs one of the largest call centres operating in the UK. This is the world of The Headset Set. Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff. Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony - Colin Hoult Sailesh - Paul Sharma Various - Philip Fox Other characters played by the cast. Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Andy Wolton, Ben Partridge, Colin Hoult, Dan Tetsell, Dale Shaw, Kevin Core, Rob Gilroy and Tom Neenan Script editor: Dan Tetsell Producer: Tilusha Ghelani First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2011. It is Sailesh's first day as team leader working at catalogue company Smile5. Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5
01	02	20110630	A new phone system is causing chaos in the call centre at Smile5, the mail order catalogue company. Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff. Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony - Colin Hoult Sailesh - Paul Sharma Other characters played by the cast. Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Andy Wolton, Colin Hoult, Madeleine Brettingham, Dale Shaw, Kevin Core, Rob Gilroy, Tom Neenan and Jon Hunter. Script editors: James Kettle and Dan Tetsell Producer: Tilusha Ghelani First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011. A new phone system is causing chaos at catalogue company Smile5. Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5
01	03	20110707	Everyone is falling ill in the open-plan offices of Smile5, the catalogue company that sells anything and everything. Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff. Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony - Colin Hoult Sailesh - Paul Sharma Various - Philip Fox Other characters played by the cast. Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Celia Pacquola, Andy Wolton, Benjamin Partridge, Colin Hoult, Kevin Core, Madeliene Brettingham, Rebecca Hobbs and Dan Tetsell. Script editor: James Kettle Producer: Tilusha Ghelani First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July2011. Everyone is falling ill in the open-plan offices of catalogue call centre Smile5. Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5
01	04	20110714	Appraisal day dawns in the offices of catalogue company Smile5, but only Sailesh has prepared for it. Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff. Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony - Colin Hoult Sailesh - Paul Sharma Various - Philip Fox Other characters played by the cast. Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Celia Pacquola, Andy Wolton, Benjamin Partridge, Colin Hoult, Kevin Core, Madeliene Brettingham, Rebecca Hobbs and Dan Tetsell. Script editor: James Kettle Producer: Tilusha Ghelani First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2011. Appraisal day dawns at catalogue company Smile5, but only Sailesh has prepared for it. Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5
01	05	20110721	The team at catalogue company Smile5 discover their colleague Dan has died. They react in their usual callous and manipulative way. Meanwhile, Ralph the trainer has a new trainee in Philip the artist. Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff. Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony - Colin Hoult Sailesh - Paul Sharma Various - Philip Fox Other characters played by the cast. Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Celia Pacquola, Andy Wolton, Benjamin Partridge, Colin Hoult, Kevin Core, Madeliene Brettingham, Rebecca Hobbs and Dan Tetsell. Script editor: James Kettle Producer: Tilusha Ghelani First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2011. The team at Smile5 discover that their colleague Dan has died, and react callously. Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5
01	06	20110728	The call centre staff at catalogue company Smile5 discover why Sailesh left Bangalore. Eavesdrop on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls when customers call in as events unfold with company staff. Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu Bernie - Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony - Colin Hoult Sailesh - Paul Sharma Various - Philip Fox Other characters played by the cast. Written by James Kettle, Stephen Carlin, Celia Pacquola, Andy Wolton, Benjamin Partridge, Colin Hoult, Kevin Core, Madeliene Brettingham, Rebecca Hobbs and Dan Tetsell. Script editor: James Kettle Producer: Tilusha Ghelani First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2011. Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5
02	01	20121101	A fast-moving audience sketch show set in the world of a call centre called Smile5, a company that sells anything and everything. This week, a new Guy called Scott starts work at Smile 5, while sketches include a man calling to complain about a faulty bowl. Aleesha and other characters ..... Chizzy Akudolu Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma Writers ..... Various Script editor ..... Dan Tetsell/James Kettle. Producer ..... Tilusha Ghelani WELCOME TO SMILE5! Smile5 is a mail order catalogue company selling everything from Rolex watches to lawnmowers, from financial products to phone and broadband, from holidays to health insurance. And somewhere in a brown-field wasteland miles from the nearest town, it runs one of the largest call centres operating in the UK. This is the world of The Headset Set. Each episode features a host of sketches set eavesdropping on both sides of the bizarre, horrific and ludicrous business-customer relationship. The remaining sketches are set in the Smile5's offices. We meet four of the call centre's employees: Sailesh - Officially the team leader, Sailesh has recently moved from Bangalore seemingly bringing a wealth of call-centre experience and an admirable work ethic lacking in his fellow Headsetters, which the others resent him for. Bernie - As she's been here longer than anyone, she refuses to recognise Sailesh's authority. She also refuses to learn how to use anything more technologically advanced than a 1980s trim phone. Aleesha - A self-loathing street-wise cynic who resents having to work at Smile 5. Or in fact, having to work at all. Big Tony - Tony spends most of his time on the phone, but not necessarily on Smile 5 business. He's always running some sort of dodgy scam, like a minicab office from his desk. Other sketches feature Smile5's unsympathetic counsellor and the head of training Ralph, who trains the most inept of the call centre staff, such as the child-like Bradley. The series stars Chizzy Akudolu (Holby City), Margaret Cabourn Smith (Fresh Meat, Miranda), Colin Hoult (Being Human; Life's Too Short), Lucy Montgomery (Armstrong and Miller; Lucy Montgomery's Variety Pack) and Phaldut Sharma (Eastenders) This is a team written sketch show originated by Stephen Carlin and James Kettle. Established sketch writers such as Stephen Carlin, James Kettle, Jon Hunter and Colin Hoult are joined by the best comedy writers to have emerged from recent 'open door' radio shows. These recent Radio 4 and 4 extra shows, Recorded for Training Purposes and Newsjack, gave new comedy writers an opportunity to hone their skills. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2012. A new guy called Scott starts work, while a man calls to complain about a faulty bowl. Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5
02	02	20121108	Sketches set in a call centre called Smile 5, a mail order catalogue company that sells anything and everything. On the Smile 5 call centre floor, Bernie is excessively angry over her missing lunch. Aleesha and other characters ..... Chizzy Akudolu Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult Various characters ..... Lucy Montgomery Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma Script editor: James Kettle. Producer: Tilusha Ghelani. First broadcast on Radio 4 in 2012. Bernie is wildly angry over her missing lunch on Smile5's call centre floor. Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5
02	03	20121115	EPISODE 3 Audience sketch show set in the world of a call centre called Smile5, a company that sells anything and everything. Aleesha and other characters ..... Chizzy Akudolu Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult Various ..... Lucy Montgomery Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma Writers ..... Various Producer ..... Tilusha Ghelani. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012. Could a viral outbreak threaten the happiness of the Smile5 call centre? Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5
02	04	20121122	Audience sketch show set in the world of a call centre called Smile5, a company that sells anything and everything. The Headsetters have been asked to remove the massive hole in the middle of their office. It's health and safety gone mad. Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult Various ..... Lucy Montgomery Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma Writers ..... Various Producer ..... Tilusha Ghelani First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2012. Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5
02	05	20121129	Audience sketch show set in the world of a call centre called Smile5, a company that sells anything and everything. Bernie brings her dog in to the office and starts a craze. Aleesha and other characters ..... Chizzy Akudolu Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma Writers ..... Various Producer ..... Tilusha Ghelani. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2012. Bernie brings her dog and starts a craze in the Smile5 call centre office. Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5
02	06	20121206	EPISODE 6 Audience sketch show set in the world of a call centre called Smile5, a company that sells anything and everything. The call centre installs a thermostat, which causes conflict. Aleesha and other characters ..... Chizzy Akudolu Bernie and other characters ..... Margaret-Cabourn Smith Big Tony, Ralph and other characters ..... Colin Hoult Various ..... Lucy Montgomery Sailesh, Bradley and other characters ..... Phaldut sharma Writers ..... Various Producer ..... Tilusha Ghelani. The call centre installs a thermostat, which makes temperatures rise. Comedy sketch show set in a vast call centre called Smile5