Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | Concert | 20130906 | 20140604 (BBC7) 20160427 (BBC7) 20180111 (BBC7) 20201209 (BBC7) 20201210 (BBC7) 20230416 (BBC7) 20250301 (BBC7) 20140528 (R4) | Three couples sail off into the sunset. And sink. Jack Docherty's sitcom about love, marriage and despair. With their marriages in various states of disrepair - a trip to a classical music concert poses difficulties for everyone. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer Steven Canny A trip to a classical concert poses difficulties for everyone. The love, marriage - and despair of three couples. A classical concert trip poses problems. Stars Jack Docherty. From 2013. |
| 01 | 02 | Weekend Away | 20130913 | 20140611 (BBC7) 20160504 (BBC7) 20180118 (BBC7) 20201216 (BBC7) 20201217 (BBC7) 20230423 (BBC7) 20250308 (BBC7) 20140604 (R4) | Three couples sail off into the sunset. And sink. Jack Docherty's sitcom about love, marriage and despair. With their marriages in various states of disrepair - the promise of a weekend away tests everyone's patience. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer Steven Canny The promise of a weekend away tests the patience of the three couples. Stars Charlie Higson and John Thomson. From 2013. |
| 01 | 03 | Fundraiser | 20130920 | 20140618 (BBC7) 20160511 (BBC7) 20180125 (BBC7) 20201223 (BBC7) 20201224 (BBC7) 20230430 (BBC7) 20250315 (BBC7) 20140611 (R4) | With their marriages in various states of disrepair - a school fundraiser proves unusually challenging for all three couples. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer: Steven Canny A school fundraiser proves unusually challenging for the three couples. A school fundraiser proves unusually challenging for the three couples. Stars Jack Docherty and Fiona Allen. From 2013. |
| 01 | 04 | Barbecue | 20130927 | 20140625 (BBC7) 20160518 (BBC7) 20180201 (BBC7) 20201230 (BBC7) 20201231 (BBC7) 20230507 (BBC7) 20250322 (BBC7) 20140618 (R4) | With their marriages in various states of disrepair - a Barbecue proves painful for everyone. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer Steven Canny A barbecue proves a painful experience for the three couples. A barbecue proves a painful experience for all the couples. Stars Jack Docherty, Charlie Higson and Fiona Allen. From 2013. |
| 01 | 05 | Two Parties | 20131004 | 20140702 (BBC7) 20160525 (BBC7) 20180208 (BBC7) 20210106 (BBC7) 20210107 (BBC7) 20230514 (BBC7) 20250329 (BBC7) 20140625 (R4) | With their marriages in various states of disrepair - two parties provide a particular challenge. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer: Steven Canny |
| 01 | 06 LAST | Lunch | 20131011 | 20140709 (BBC7) 20160601 (BBC7) 20180215 (BBC7) 20210113 (BBC7) 20210114 (BBC7) 20230521 (BBC7) 20250405 (BBC7) 20140702 (R4) | With their marriages in various states of disrepair - a lunch invitation looks like it might change everything. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer: Steven Canny A lunch invitation could change everything for the three couples. |
| 02 | 01 | Wedding | 20141110 | 20180806 (BBC7) 20210203 (BBC7) 20210204 (BBC7) 20230709 (BBC7) 20250510 (BBC7) 20170330 (R4) | The prospect of attending a wedding pushes everyone to the limit. Jack Docherty's sitcom about love, marriage and despair found in three couples. Alice and David wrestle with the dress code; Barney and Cathy struggle with the memories of their own wedding - and Fiona and Evan aren't talking to each other after one of his comments went a bit too far. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer: Claire Jones Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. A looming wedding pushes everyone to the limit. The prospect of attending a wedding pushes the three couples to the limit. Stars Jack Docherty. From November 2014. |
| 02 | 02 | Funeral | 20141117 | 20180813 (BBC7) 20210210 (BBC7) 20210211 (BBC7) 20230716 (BBC7) 20250517 (BBC7) 20170406 (R4) | The prospect of the funeral of a neighbour - Big Phil from No. 36 - shows that even someone's death provides opportunities for flirting, competitiveness and generally reprehensible behaviour. Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. Alice and Cathy are making food for Phil's widow; Barney and David are both keen to do the eulogy and meanwhile Fiona and Evan are trying to cope with the most irritating rescue dog who ever lived. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer: Claire Jones A neighbour's funeral provides opportunities for generally reprehensible behaviour. The love, marriage - and despair of three couples. A death causes some reprehensible behaviour. Starring Fiona Allen. From 2014. |
| 02 | 03 | Pregnancy | 20141124 | 20180820 (BBC7) 20210217 (BBC7) 20210218 (BBC7) 20230723 (BBC7) 20250524 (BBC7) 20170413 (R4) | Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. Cathy reveals to a shocked Barney that she is pregnant. Fiona suggests to a shocked Evan that he get a vasectomy. And David suggests to a shocked Alice that they adopt. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Cathy is pregnant, Alice can't get pregnant, and Fiona doesn't want to get pregnant again! Cathy's pregnant, Alice can't get pregnant and Fiona doesn't want to get pregnant ever again! Stars Kerry Godliman. From 2014. |
| 02 | 04 | David's Villa | 20141201 | 20180827 (BBC7) 20210224 (BBC7) 20210225 (BBC7) 20230730 (BBC7) 20250531 (BBC7) 20170420 (R4) | Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. The three couples are invited to David's villa in Italy. Barney and Evan go out early to help David with some renovations. Meanwhile Fiona tries to help Cathy to get bikini-ready. Alice, of course, is already bikini-ready, which Barney is looking forward to confirming... Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer: Claire Jones Barney and Evan help David with renovations, while the girls get bikini-ready. Barney and Evan help David with renovations at his Italian villa and the girls get bikini ready. Stars Fiona Allen. From 2014. |
| 02 | 05 | Glastonbury | 20141208 | 20180903 (BBC7) 20210303 (BBC7) 20210304 (BBC7) 20230806 (BBC7) 20250607 (BBC7) 20170427 (R4) | Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. The three couples have tickets for Glastonbury. But the festival dates clash with Cathy's dad's birthday. Barney fears he will be marooned in a care home while his friends have the time of their lives at the music festival. At the festival, Alice tries to lose David, Evan tries to get David to loosen his tie, and Fiona tries to get Alice to lose her inhibitions and talk about Barney. Meanwhile, in the care home, Barney is losing the will to live while being made to sing 'If You're Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands'. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer: Claire Jones The three couples have tickets for Glastonbury, but it clashes with Cathy's dad's birthday Glastonbury clashes with Cathy's dad's birthday and Barney fears being stranded in a care home. Stars Jack Docherty. From 2014. |
| 02 | 06 | Date Night | 20141215 | 20180910 (BBC7) 20210310 (BBC7) 20210311 (BBC7) 20230813 (BBC7) 20250621 (BBC7) 20170504 (R4) | Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. The three couples end up on a 'date night' together and Evan is a surprise convert to French cinema. Meanwhile Barney tries to get his smartphone to answer some of life's big questions. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Voice of Barney's smartphone - Jon Briggs Producer: Claire Jones. The couples go on a date night together, and Evan is a surprise convert to French cinema. The three couples go on a ‘date night' together and Evan is a surprise convert to French cinema. Stars John Thomson. From 2014. |
| 02 | 07 | Christmas | 20141222 | 20221220 (BBC7) 20170511 (R4) | The three couples are inevitably preparing for Christmas, with all the bitterness and twistedness this time of year brings. Offensive presents. Boastful Christmas cards. And sledging accidents. What more could you possibly ask for? Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. Barney.... Jack Docherty Producer: Claire Jones The three couples prepare for Christmas, with accompanying bitterness and twistedness. |
| 02 | 08 LAST | Hotel | 20141229 | 20180917 (BBC7) 20210317 (BBC7) 20210318 (BBC7) 20230820 (BBC7) 20250628 (BBC7) 20170518 (R4) | Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. The three couples end up on a 'date night' together and Evan is a surprise convert to French cinema. Meanwhile Barney tries to get his smartphone to answer some of life's big questions. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Voice of Barney's smartphone - Jon Briggs Producer: Claire Jones David, Cathy and Fiona are otherwise occupied - can Barney and Alice get time together? David's in hospital and Cathy and Fiona are at a spa - can Barney and Alice get time together? Stars Sally Bretton. From 2014. |
| 03 | 01 | The Third Way | 20160729 | 20191103 (BBC7) 20191104 (BBC7) 20210627 (BBC7) 20210628 (BBC7) 20210703 (BBC7) 20210704 (BBC7) 20231001 (BBC7) 20250823 (BBC7) 20180828 (R4) | Fiona tests Barney's theory about how to put the spark back into your marriage, much to Barney's annoyance. Evan is housebound, sitting in a rubber ring. And David is worried about his memory. Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. Barney and Cathy have been married for ages and it shows, Evan and Fiona's marriage is one big, noisy argument and David is old enough to be Alice's father. Start/Stop follows the story of these three couples as they try to make the best of things. The characters stop the action, explain themselves to the audience and start up again. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer: Claire Jones A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in July 2016. Fiona road tests Barney's theory about how to put the spark back in your marriage. Fiona tries Barney's theory to put the spark back. Love, marriage and despair for three couples. Stars Jack Docherty. From 2016. Fiona road tests Barney's theory about how to put the spark back in your marriage, much to Barney's annoyance. Meanwhile Evan is housebound, sitting in a rubber ring after breaking his coccyx. And David is worried his memory is failing, and he's trying everything under the sun to improve it. Return of Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. The set up: Barney and Cathy have been married for ages and it shows, Evan and Fiona's marriage is one big, noisy argument and David is old enough to be Alice's father. Start/Stop follows the story of these three couples as they try to make the best of their marriages and friendships. The show is warm, smart and funny, and the characters are able to stop the action, explain themselves to the audience and start it all up again. |
| 03 | 02 | Therapy | 20160805 | 20191110 (BBC7) 20191111 (BBC7) 20210704 (BBC7) 20210705 (BBC7) 20231008 (BBC7) 20250830 (BBC7) 20180904 (R4) | All three couples end up seeing the same therapist. Evan and Fiona are already in therapy to tackle their issues with conflict - mostly over where they should keep the keys. Cathy wants Barney to go to a therapist too, as he keeps calling out Alice's name in his sleep. And during their session, David tries to distract the therapist, who he suspects is having his own lustful thoughts about Alice. Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: With guest star Sanjeev Bhaskar as the Therapist. Producer: Claire Jones A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2016. Jack Docherty's sitcom about three married couples. Guest starring: Sanjeev Bhaskar. Evan and Fiona are in therapy, Cathy wants Barney to go and David's distracting a therapist. With Sanjeev Bhaskar. From 2016. Jack Docherty's sit com about 3 married couples. Guest starring: Sanjeev Bhaskar. Alice - Laura Aikman All three couples end up seeing the same therapist. Special guest Sanjeev Bhaskar. |
| 03 | 03 | Tinder | 20160812 | 20191117 (BBC7) 20191118 (BBC7) 20210711 (BBC7) 20210712 (BBC7) 20231015 (BBC7) 20250906 (BBC7) 20180911 (R4) | Barney and Cathy come up with a plan to find out which of them is the most attractive. What could possibly go wrong? Meanwhile Alice has joined a life drawing class but husband David is jealous and wants to replace the person sitting for it. Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer: Claire Jones A BBC Studio production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2016. Hit comedy about 3 marriages in various states of disrepair. All-star cast. Barney and Cathy vie to be the most attractive, while Alice's life drawing makes David jealous. Stars Jack Docherty. From 2016. Alice - Laura Aikman Alice joins a life drawing class but David is jealous. |
| 03 | 04 | Cathy's Dad | 20160819 | 20191124 (BBC7) 20191125 (BBC7) 20210718 (BBC7) 20210719 (BBC7) 20231022 (BBC7) 20250913 (BBC7) 20180918 (R4) | Cathy's Dad is in a nursing home but Cathy wants him to come and live with them, especially since he's just developed a condition where the wrong words come out all the time. Barney is not keen but then realises he can use looking after Cathy's Dad to make him seem more caring and, as it turns out, more attractive to Alice. Meanwhile David gives his daughter a big role in the school play. And Evan finds there are some plusses to Fiona losing her voice after a throat operation. But will Cathy's Dad ever be able to tell Barney what he thinks of him? Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Cathy's Dad - John Sparkes Producer: Claire Jones A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2016. Hit comedy about 3 marriages in various states of disrepair. All-star cast. Cathy wants her Dad to leave his nursing home and live with them. So Barney starts plotting. Stars John Sparkes. From 2016. Alice - Laura Aikman |
| 03 | 05 | Bnb | 20160826 | 20191201 (BBC7) 20191202 (BBC7) 20210725 (BBC7) 20210726 (BBC7) 20231029 (BBC7) 20250920 (BBC7) 20180925 (R4) | Barney decides to become an Uber driver to boost his income - and to 'bump into' Alice more often - and Cathy decides to rent their spare bedroom out on Air BnB. Meanwhile Evan and Fiona are arguing, and David writes a raunchy bestseller based - to her horror - around Alice. Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: Producer: Claire Jones A BBC Studio Production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2016. Hit comedy with all-star cast, about 3 marriages in various states of disrepair. Barney and Cathy have money woes, Evan and Fiona are arguing and David writes a raunchy book. Stars Jack Doherty. From 2016. Alice - Laura Aikman Money woes for Barney and Cathy, Evan and Fiona argue and David causes a stir... |
| 03 | 06 LAST | Friends | 20160902 | 20191208 (BBC7) 20191209 (BBC7) 20210801 (BBC7) 20210802 (BBC7) 20231105 (BBC7) 20250927 (BBC7) 20181002 (R4) | Start/Stop is a sitcom by Jack Docherty about three marriages in various states of disrepair. Barney and Cathy have been married for ages and it shows, Evan and Fiona's marriage is one big, noisy argument and David is old enough to be Alice's father. Start/Stop follows the story of these three couples as they try to make the best of their marriages and friendships, and the characters are able to stop the action, explain themselves to the audience and start it all up again. This week: 'Friends'. Barney is being suspiciously nice to Cathy. Fiona wants Evan to invest in her new business but Evan thinks it will be a disaster. And David is trying not to be so controlling. Cast: Barney...Jack Docherty Cathy...Kerry Godliman Evan...John Thomson Fiona...Fiona Allen David...Charlie Higson Alice...Laura Aikman Written by: Jack Docherty Producer: Claire Jones A BBC Studio Production Hit sit com about 3 marriages in various states of disrepair. Jack Docherty's sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. Starring: Couple 1: Couple 2: Couple 3: A BBC Studio production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2016. Evan is sceptical of Fiona's business, David's struggling with control and Barney is being nice. Stars Fiona Allen. From 2016. |