Susan Calman - Keep Calman Carry On

She has no down time, no hobbies (unless you count dressing up your cats in silly outfits) and her idea of relaxation is to play Grand Theft Auto, an hour into which she is in a murderous rage with sky high blood pressure. Her wife had to threaten to divorce her to make her go on holiday last year. Her first for four years. But she's been told by the same long-suffering wife, that unless she finds a way to switch off, and soon, she's going to be unbearable.

So Susan is looking at her options to try and immerse herself in the pursuits that her friends find relaxing, to find her inner zen and outer tranquillity.

Can she ditch the old Susan Calman and attempt to find the new Susan Calm?

For her first attempt, Susan tries to learn how to unwind, by going hillwalking with Muriel Gray.

Keep Calman Carry On is an audience stand up show in which Susan reports on how successful she's been - both at relaxing and at the pursuit itself - as well as playing in and discussing a handful of illustrative clips from her efforts.

It's an attempt to find out how people find solace or sanctuary in these worlds and how Susan can negotiate her own place in them.

Producer: Lyndsay Fenner.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2016.

Susan Calman tries to learn how to unwind, by going hillwalking with Muriel Gray.

Susan Calman tries to unwind by attempting pursuits her friends find relaxing.

She has no down time, no hobbies (unless you count dressing up your cats in silly outfits) and her idea of relaxation is to play Grand Theft Auto, an hour into which she is in a murderous rage with sky-high blood pressure. Her wife had to threaten to divorce her to make her go on holiday last year. Her first for four years. But she's been told by the same long-suffering wife that unless she finds a way to switch off, and soon, she's going to be unbearable.

So Susan is looking at her options to try and immerse herself in the pursuits that her friends find relaxing, to find her inner zen and outer tranquillity. Can she ditch the old Susan Calman and attempt to find the new Susan Calm?

This time, in a typically British leisure pursuit, Susan goes to a cricket match with comedian and author, Andy Zaltzman.

Keep Calman Carry On is an audience stand-up show in which Susan reports on how successful she's been - both at relaxing and at the pursuit itself - as well as playing in and discussing a handful of illustrative clips from her efforts.

It's an attempt to find out how people find solace or sanctuary in these worlds and how Susan can negotiate her own place in them.

Producer: Lyndsay Fenner.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2016.

Susan Calman tries to unwind by watching cricket with Andy Zaltzman.

Susan Calman tries to unwind by attempting pursuits her friends find relaxing.

She has no down time, no hobbies (unless you count dressing up your cats in silly outfits) and her idea of relaxation is to play Grand Theft Auto, an hour into which she is in a murderous rage with sky-high blood pressure. Her wife had to threaten to divorce her to make her go on holiday last year. Her first for four years. But she's been told by the same long-suffering wife that unless she finds a way to switch off, and soon, she's going to be unbearable.

So Susan is looking at her options to try and immerse herself in the pursuits that her friends find relaxing, to find her inner zen and outer tranquillity. Can she ditch the old Susan Calman and attempt to find the new Susan Calm?

This time, John Finnemore takes her on a spontaneous holiday.

Keep Calman Carry On is an audience stand up show in which Susan reports on how successful she's been - both at relaxing and at the pursuit itself - as well as playing in and discussing a handful of illustrative clips from her efforts.

It's an attempt to find out how people find solace or sanctuary in these worlds and how Susan can negotiate her own place in them.

Producer: Lyndsay Fenner.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2016.

John Finnemore takes Susan Calman on a spontaneous holiday to help her learn to unwind.

Susan Calman tries to unwind by attempting pursuits her friends find relaxing.

She has no down time, no hobbies (unless you count dressing up your cats in silly outfits) and her idea of relaxation is to play Grand Theft Auto, an hour into which she is in a murderous rage with sky high blood pressure. Her wife had to threaten to divorce her to make her go on holiday last year. Her first for four years. But she's been told by the same long-suffering wife, that unless she finds a way to switch off, and soon, she's going to be unbearable.

So Susan is going to look at her options and try to immerse herself in the pursuits that her friends find relaxing, to find her inner zen and outer tranquillity. Each week she will ditch the old Susan Calman and attempt to find the new Susan Calm, in a typically British leisure pursuit.

This time, she visits the Scottish National Portrait Gallery with Phill Jupitus.

Keep Calman Carry On is an audience stand up show in which Susan reports on how successful she's been - both at relaxing and at the pursuit itself - as well as playing in and discussing a handful of illustrative clips from her efforts.

It's an attempt to find out how people find solace or sanctuary in these worlds and how Susan can negotiate her own place in them.

Producer: Lyndsay Fenner

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2016.

Susan Calman tries to unwind by visiting an art gallery with Phill Jupitus.

Susan Calman tries to unwind by attempting pursuits her friends find relaxing.

She has no down time, no hobbies (unless you count dressing up your cats in silly outfits) and her idea of relaxation is to sit on her sofa playing Assassin's Creed, an hour into which she is in a murderous rage with sky high blood pressure. Her wife had to threaten to divorce her to make her go on holiday, and she's been told by the same long-suffering wife that unless she finds a way to switch off, and soon, she's going to be unbearable.

Susan decided her best bet was to try to immerse herself in the pursuits that her friends find relaxing, to find her inner zen and outer tranquillity.

In her first series, she attempted to find the new Susan Calm, by watching Cricket; going Hillwalking; visiting an Art Gallery and being spontaneous. She enjoyed these pursuits, but all too soon found herself slipping back into her old ways. So she's trying again.

For starters, she's taking a trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh to learn about Gardening with Val McDermid, in the hope of one day being able to tell her Euphorbia from Euphoria.

In this audience stand up show, Susan reveals how successful she's been - both at relaxing and at the pursuit itself - as well as playing in and discussing a handful of illustrative clips from her efforts.

Written by Susan Calman and Jon Hunter.

Producer: Lyndsay Fenner

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2017.

Susan Calman tries to learn how to unwind, by learning about gardening from Val McDermid.

Susan Calman tries to unwind by attempting pursuits her friends find relaxing.

For starters, she's taking a trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh to learn about Gardening with Val McDermid, in the hope of one day being able to tell her Euphorbia from Euphoria.

Susan decided her best bet was to try to immerse herself in the pursuits that her friends find relaxing, to find her inner zen and outer tranquillity.

So now she's taking a trip to the Latitude Festival with Robin Ince, to try and understand why all her friends think a weekend of noisy camping is a relaxing way to spend their time.

In this audience stand up show, Susan reveals how successful she's been - both at relaxing and at the pursuit itself - as well as playing in and discussing a handful of illustrative clips from her efforts.

Written by Susan Calman and Jon Hunter.

Producer: Lyndsay Fenner

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2017.

Susan Calman tries to learn how to unwind, by visiting a music festival with Robin Ince.

Susan Calman tries to unwind by attempting pursuits her friends find relaxing.

So now she's taking a trip to the Latitude Festival with Robin Ince, to try and understand why all her friends think a weekend of noisy camping is a relaxing way to spend their time.

Susan decided her best bet was to try to immerse herself in the pursuits that her friends find relaxing, to find her inner zen and outer tranquillity.

So now she's learning how to bake with Great British Bake Off star Selasi Gbormittah.

In this audience stand up show, Susan reveals how successful she's been - both at relaxing and at the pursuit itself - as well as playing in and discussing a handful of illustrative clips from her efforts.

Written by Susan Calman and Jon Hunter.

Producer: Lyndsay Fenner

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2017.

Stand-up show. Susan Calman tries to relax by learning to bake with Selasi Gbormittah.

Susan Calman tries to unwind by attempting pursuits her friends find relaxing.

So now she's learning how to bake with Great British Bake Off star Selasi Gbormittah.

Susan decided her best bet was to try to immerse herself in the pursuits that her friends find relaxing, to find her inner zen and outer tranquillity.

So now she's going birdwatching with the writer and comedian Emma Kennedy.

In this audience stand up show, Susan reveals how successful she's been - both at relaxing and at the pursuit itself - as well as playing in and discussing a handful of illustrative clips from her efforts.

Written by Susan Calman and Jon Hunter.

Producer: Lyndsay Fenner

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2017.

Stand-up comedian Susan Calman tries to relax by going birdwatching with Emma Kennedy.

Susan Calman tries to unwind by attempting pursuits her friends find relaxing.

So now she's going birdwatching with the writer and comedian Emma Kennedy.