The Jail Diaries Of Sir Ralph Stanza

Six episodes. First broadcast from 20040818 to 20040922.

Albie Sachs, Nelson Mandela, Jeffrey Archer... the literary penal tradition is an honourable one, now reaching its pinnacle with Sir Ralph Stanza, the poet dedicated to bringing culture to the masses, and gently explain it to them.

 
 
SeriesEpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
Description
0101Prison Bard20040818In this first instalment of audio diaries from his recent stint as poet-in-residence at a maximum security prison, the lucky inmate who is his first workshopee receives Stanza's usual poetic tips, covering such subjects a street culture, spelling and jokes about poets' names.
0102Doing Rhyme20040825It's an Irish prisoner this week, Conor, who's the lucky inmate in Sir Ralph's one-to-one sessions as poet-in-residence at Longmore Grange maximum security jail. Consequently the distinguished poet is extra specially keen to be 'sensitive', making sure to encourage the young man to write about 'the troubles', before he returns to his hotel room to toast his success with a can of 'the Guinness'.
0103Horny On The Inside20040901This week's workshoppee is suffering badly from missing his spouse, so Sir Ralph makes sure to get him to write poetry in which he fantasises about her being unfaithful to him while he's stuck inside - guaranteed to be a therapeutic experience.
0104Jermaine Man20040908This week's workshoppee is young black prisoner Jermaine, so Sir Ralph provides a masterclass in rap, street culture and how to be cool.
0105Beating The Rap20040915 
0106 LASTFinal Stretch20040922Sir Ralph's stint as prison poet-in-residence reaches its climax with an Eminem-style battle on the mics between him and prisoner Jermaine. Ralph isn't sure his 'posse' has enough 'cred'.

Cast and Crew

conorjames scales
deanneil bell
garyneil bell
ginajoan kempson
jermainechris jack
joechris jack
joshtheo ant smith
kerrielorraine cheshire
kevtheo ant smith
mctheo ant smith
micktheo ant smith
officer marplechris jack
officerjames scales
officerjoan kempson
officerlorraine cheshire
prisonerneil bell
produced in manchester by graham frost
robbojack deam
robojack deam
sir ralph stanzajames quinn
additional cast james scales, neil bell, chris jack, joan kempson
produced by graham frost
written by james quinn