The Rita Rudner Show

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Are We There Yet?

20130401

American comedian Rita Rudner stars as herself in a new four-part sitcom where she returns to the UK with her husband, played by Martin Trenaman.

The series has been written by Rita and her real life husband Martin Bergman. As she tries to re-establish herself in the UK, things go from bad to worse as she's joined by a group of colleagues who try and make her return as successful as possible. Not helped by her inept management, her eccentric hotel owner and her bizarre cockney comedy opening act - her visit doesn't go to plan!

In this opening episode, Rita and her husband Martin have an unexpectedly lengthy flight to London and find the hotel they're staying in is unusual to say the least - encapsulated by it's odd owner Mrs Harrison (the wonderful Phyllida Law). They realise their UK management haven't quite realised who Rita is and she is forced to work with a failing comedian who's been chosen as her support act.

With a supporting cast that includes Michael Fenton Stevens, co-writer Martin Bergman, Mike Wilmot and Vivienne Avramoff, the series mixes sitcom with classic stand up routines from Rita.

Producer: Paul Russell
An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4.

American comedian Rita Rudner's sitcom. She returns to the UK with chaotic results!

Sitcom. American comedian Rita Rudner returns to the UK - with chaotic results

Who's Your Daddy?

20130408

In the second episode of American comedian Rita Rudner's new sitcom (written with her real life husband Martin Bergman), Rita continues to try and re-establish herself in the UK after a long absence.

She's come to the UK with her husband Martin (Martin Trenaman) and, from the start, things go awry! Staying at a bizarre hotel - The Richester - Rita is further confused by its eccentric owner Mrs Harrison (the wonderful Phyllida Law).

Rita and Martin meet some of the hotel's guests including The Fabulous Twins, who take oddness to another level! Rita and Martin are invited for dinner by their friends David Baddiel and Morwenna Banks (playing themselves) and, in so doing, Rita finds out some starting revelations about her husband.

This episode also features a memorable karaoke rendition of a classic Beyonce track - memorable for all the wrong reasons!

Once again mixing sitcom with Rita's infamous stand-up, The Rita Rudner Show is a classic old fashioned sitcom with a sterling cast that includes Michael Fenton Stevens, co-writer Martin Bergman and Vivienne Avramoff.

Producer: Paul Russell

An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4.

Rita meets some bizarre hotel guests and has dinner with David Baddiel and Morwenna Banks.

Sitcom. American comedian Rita Rudner returns to the UK - with chaotic results

Life's a Gamble

20130415

The third episode of American comedian Rita Rudner's new sitcom - written by herself and her real life husband, Martin Bergman.

Rita continues to face somewhat challenging circumstances as she returns to the UK after a fifteen year break. With the help of her husband Martin (Martin Trenaman), she tries to re-establish her comedy career in the UK and her agent arranges for her to play a gig for a French industrialist - with chaotic results.

Rita and Martin are also helped by the bizarre Mrs Harrison (the wonderful Phylida Law), a hotelier who has introduced them to an array of slightly off kilter characters. And Martin decides to assemble a scratch team of card players to win a fortune at a casino and, not unexpectedly, things don't quite go to plan!

Again featuring some classic stand-up comedy from Rita, this old-fashioned style sitcom has a sterling supporting cast, including Martin Bergman, Michael Fenton-Stevens, Dominic Frisby and Vivienne Avramoff.

Producer: Paul Russell
An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4.

Rita faces a French gig and her husband's chaotic casino visit with some eccentrics.

Sitcom. American comedian Rita Rudner returns to the UK - with chaotic results

Diamond Encrusted Turtle Holder

20130422

The fourth and final episode of American comedian Rita Rudner's new sitcom about her chaotic return to the UK after a fifteen year break - written by Rita and her real life husband Martin Bergman.

With the help of her husband Martin (Martin Trenaman) Rita is forced to cope with a very unfamiliar England and meets an array of odd characters, including hotelier Mrs Harrison (played by the wonderful Phyllida Law) and various guests at the hotel - such as The Fabulous Twins who try to help Martin buy a gift for Rita, without much success.

Meanwhile, Rita's agent Phil hopes to get some help from Alan Carr - but there's a mix up and eventually Rita is forced to host a charity auction. Rita's also frustrated by a well - meaning support comedian, Jim Jenson who ends up being a major hindrance.

With some more classic stand up from Rita Rudner and a stellar supporting cast including Michael Fenton Stevens, Alan Carr, Dominic Frisby and Amy Wilson Thomas.

Producer: Paul Russell
An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4.

Rita tries to get help from Alan Carr, and husband Martin attempts to buy her a gift.

Sitcom. American comedian Rita Rudner returns to the UK - with chaotic results

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	Are We There Yet?	20130401	American comedian Rita Rudner stars as herself in a new four-part sitcom where she returns to the UK with her husband, played by Martin Trenaman. The series has been written by Rita and her real life husband Martin Bergman. As she tries to re-establish herself in the UK, things go from bad to worse as she's joined by a group of colleagues who try and make her return as successful as possible. Not helped by her inept management, her eccentric hotel owner and her bizarre cockney comedy opening act - her visit doesn't go to plan! In this opening episode, Rita and her husband Martin have an unexpectedly lengthy flight to London and find the hotel they're staying in is unusual to say the least - encapsulated by it's odd owner Mrs Harrison (the wonderful Phyllida Law). They realise their UK management haven't quite realised who Rita is and she is forced to work with a failing comedian who's been chosen as her support act. With a supporting cast that includes Michael Fenton Stevens, co-writer Martin Bergman, Mike Wilmot and Vivienne Avramoff, the series mixes sitcom with classic stand up routines from Rita. Producer: Paul Russell An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4. American comedian Rita Rudner's sitcom. She returns to the UK with chaotic results! Sitcom. American comedian Rita Rudner returns to the UK - with chaotic results
02	Who's Your Daddy?	20130408	In the second episode of American comedian Rita Rudner's new sitcom (written with her real life husband Martin Bergman), Rita continues to try and re-establish herself in the UK after a long absence. She's come to the UK with her husband Martin (Martin Trenaman) and, from the start, things go awry! Staying at a bizarre hotel - The Richester - Rita is further confused by its eccentric owner Mrs Harrison (the wonderful Phyllida Law). Rita and Martin meet some of the hotel's guests including The Fabulous Twins, who take oddness to another level! Rita and Martin are invited for dinner by their friends David Baddiel and Morwenna Banks (playing themselves) and, in so doing, Rita finds out some starting revelations about her husband. This episode also features a memorable karaoke rendition of a classic Beyonce track - memorable for all the wrong reasons! Once again mixing sitcom with Rita's infamous stand-up, The Rita Rudner Show is a classic old fashioned sitcom with a sterling cast that includes Michael Fenton Stevens, co-writer Martin Bergman and Vivienne Avramoff. Producer: Paul Russell An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4. Rita meets some bizarre hotel guests and has dinner with David Baddiel and Morwenna Banks. Sitcom. American comedian Rita Rudner returns to the UK - with chaotic results
03	Life's a Gamble	20130415	The third episode of American comedian Rita Rudner's new sitcom - written by herself and her real life husband, Martin Bergman. Rita continues to face somewhat challenging circumstances as she returns to the UK after a fifteen year break. With the help of her husband Martin (Martin Trenaman), she tries to re-establish her comedy career in the UK and her agent arranges for her to play a gig for a French industrialist - with chaotic results. Rita and Martin are also helped by the bizarre Mrs Harrison (the wonderful Phylida Law), a hotelier who has introduced them to an array of slightly off kilter characters. And Martin decides to assemble a scratch team of card players to win a fortune at a casino and, not unexpectedly, things don't quite go to plan! Again featuring some classic stand-up comedy from Rita, this old-fashioned style sitcom has a sterling supporting cast, including Martin Bergman, Michael Fenton-Stevens, Dominic Frisby and Vivienne Avramoff. Producer: Paul Russell An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4. Rita faces a French gig and her husband's chaotic casino visit with some eccentrics. Sitcom. American comedian Rita Rudner returns to the UK - with chaotic results
04	Diamond Encrusted Turtle Holder	20130422	The fourth and final episode of American comedian Rita Rudner's new sitcom about her chaotic return to the UK after a fifteen year break - written by Rita and her real life husband Martin Bergman. With the help of her husband Martin (Martin Trenaman) Rita is forced to cope with a very unfamiliar England and meets an array of odd characters, including hotelier Mrs Harrison (played by the wonderful Phyllida Law) and various guests at the hotel - such as The Fabulous Twins who try to help Martin buy a gift for Rita, without much success. Meanwhile, Rita's agent Phil hopes to get some help from Alan Carr - but there's a mix up and eventually Rita is forced to host a charity auction. Rita's also frustrated by a well - meaning support comedian, Jim Jenson who ends up being a major hindrance. With some more classic stand up from Rita Rudner and a stellar supporting cast including Michael Fenton Stevens, Alan Carr, Dominic Frisby and Amy Wilson Thomas. Producer: Paul Russell An Open Mike production for BBC Radio 4. Rita tries to get help from Alan Carr, and husband Martin attempts to buy her a gift. Sitcom. American comedian Rita Rudner returns to the UK - with chaotic results