Bristow

Synopsis

Michael Williams stars in all three series of the BBC Radio 4 sitcom based on Frank Dickens’ famous comic strip characterBristow is a middle-aged, ineffectual buying clerk for the Chester-Perry Organisation. He is merely a small cog in a gigantic wheel... and he knows it. But he has his own small ways of rebelling, and together with sparring partner Jones and tea lady Mrs Purdy, he weaves hopeless tangles of red tape to confound the system and liven up everyone’s day.In these fourteen episodes, Bristow hopes to make a mint from a rumoured takeover bid; helps Jones to plan his escape from Chester-Perry; crusades to improve conditions for the cleaning ladies and falls in with troublemaker Tom Paine at the office dinner dance. Plus, he obtains some inside information that must surely lead to promotion; learns the meaning of poetic justice while writing for the house journal and bumbles towards proving his theory that he is surrounded by incompentents.Adapted by Frank Dickens from his own cartoon strip, which ran for 41 years in London’s Evening Standard and was syndicated internationally, this charming corporate comedy stars Michael Williams (A Fine Romance) as Bristow, with Rodney Bewes (The Likely Lads) as Jones and Dora Bryan (Last of the Summer Wine) as Mrs Purdy.Written by Frank DickensProduced and directed by Neil CargillMusic composed and performed by John WhitehallImage copyright © Estate of Frank Dickens, 2019.First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 21 April-26 May 1999, (Series 1), 24 November-15 December 1999 (Series 2), 7-28 July 2000 (Series 3)CastBristow……………………Michael WilliamsJones……………………Rodney BewesMrs Purdy……………………Dora BryanHewitt……………………Owen BrenmanBJ Bothwick……………………Christopher BenjaminMiss Sunman……………………Katy OdeyFudge/Stationmaster/Samson/Hawkins/Tom……………………Jon GloverMrs Dimple/Molly……………………Sheila ReidJonathan Quartly……………………Bernard CribbinsRupert Clement……………………Royce MillsRichard Blobb……………………Norman BirdMiss Golightly……………………Lucy AkhurstPostboy/Little Red……………………Simon SchatzbergerReceptionist/Yellow Overcoat Girl……………………Zeena EateGert……………………Liz FraserDaisy……………………Joan SimsFred Stokes……………………David BattleyHickford……………………Roger Lloyd PackLift Boy……………………Ian KellandMiss Peach/Miss Glockling……………………Carol StarksMoorcroft……………………Robert BathurstWitherspoon……………………Peter KellyFenella……………………Anna MountfordPerkins……………………Leslie PhillipsTeacher……………………Jane BookerSylvana/Miss Pleasant……………………Jackie NegliaLiftboy……………………Ian KellandWith Sarah Huntley and David Ryall