To think the majority of radio 4 drama is awful?

[Mogginthemog]

Today’s offerings I’ve cringed through were something called, “Tom Wrigglesworth’s hang-ups’ and, “Introduction and Allegro”, about a string quartet. Both supposedly comedies and both pathetically unfunny and irritating. I’ve been at home far more than usual due to illness and bad weather and just about every drama that’s come on I’ve ended up turning off. I don’t understand why they can do factual programmes so well yet don’t seem to be able to find people to write decent drama.

I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable and am totally out of kilter with what decent drama involves or whether most of it is actually a pile of rubbish.

Mogg, BBC iPlayer Radio app

My DP sometimes listens to Radio 4 plays. I can't stand them as everyone seems to talk in no accent plummy voices, they all sound the same.

All* radio drama is terrible.

Most radio comedy is terrible.

*There was a series of three(?) Afternoon Plays a couple of years back which were a real exception. Felt very cinematic in style by being much less “actorly” than usual. Sounded observed rather than performed. I wish I knew what they were called. They were about a conspiracy concerning a GM plague or a nuclear leak or something.

Uterus The wall of crisps! The Super Soaker etcectera. I'll have a flake and a Gratzie.

AuntieElle thank you. I’ve downloaded the app and found the scary section.

Agree that most Radio 4 drama is terrible. The DH and I always have a giggle about the ones that are set on a ship in the middle of a storm, or on a moor in the middle of a storm, or in the middle of a storm, or other noisy setting where a technique is used which we call “shouting quietly”..so Radio 4..
And yet, sometimes you get a real gem, that takes your breath away. That's why we still listen..

The afternoon dramas are awful, so are most new comedies but I like Tom Wrigglesworth. Home Front (WW1) was full of 21st century beliefs and language.
Why are there so many 15 minute slots on Radio 4?

Mind wipe here. Please can someone remind me of the name of the radio 4 comedy where the name of the protagonist is in the title?

It's driving me mad.

There are quite a few. Can you tell me a bit about it?

I too thought the strong quartet drama today was very dull and a real come down from Stone (which I thought was very well done, it had me hooked enough to tune in on days when I don't usually listen to the radio).

@Weezol

I have remembered. Count Arthur Strong.

Thank you though

Gatorades i was looking forward to the string quartet drama this afternoon but found it so laboured and boring and unconvincingly acted.

I heard one last year where the main character was a cockroach!!!!!

Also I certainly wouldn’t have them on if my 6 year old was in the car with me. The language they use in the afternoon is a bit much pre watershed iyam!!

Iyam?? IMO!

John Finnemore's Double Acts, anyone? I was literally CRYING with laughter at the lesbian wedding one.

Don't That would have been 'Metamorphosis' by Kafka. Regarded as a classic of Russian literature by some. I'm sure it's full of clever imagery and nods to the terrible experiences of imperialism or communism or something but I just can't see them. Also the women in it are doormats.
By the end of it I just wanted to tread on him and open all the windows.

The JF Double Acts penguin one on a tiny island was fantastic.
Jenny Eclair’s Little Lifetimes is also very good. The school teacher having a meltdown was so good. They’ve left one up by mistake, not the best in the series, but still worth a listen:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b099yqss

the 6.30 radio 4 comedy slot used to be funny. Now it just isn't.

Angstrom - currently running on a Wednesday in the 6.30 comedy slot is terrific (in my opinion). There was also one a while back where aliens took over a village that I also thought was great (but can't for the life of me remember what the title was). I don't listen to much radio drama but I do spend most of my spare time plugged into radio comedy. I channel my loathing into The Museum of Curiosity, where John Lloyd books three really interesting guests that you'd really like to hear about, then spends 30 mins talking over them in an attempt to disappear up his own massively smug arse.

John Lloyd is insufferable. But worst of all is The Now Show (Punt and Dennis). Could it be more tired and lame? Urgh!

I love Fags, Mags and Bags too. Even though I feel I shouldn't. It's so warm. Bit like Miranda on telly, which I was ready to dismiss.

Mark steel is good in a gentle way - London comes visiting.
Marcus Brigstocke is hilarious, always has been.

But yes, most of the drama is mind-suckingly tedious.

Oh yes, that jenny eclair one about the teacher was fantastic. Really good writing. Don't think I heard the rest in the series.

Another Stone fan here, it was great! Enjoy the gangster thing with Toby jones. I find anything spooky or antibiotic resistancy too freaky on the radio, my imagination takes over! Also, shamefully, I really struggle to get into anything where the characters have strong regional or American accents, suffering on the moors etc... boring! I like the Indian ones though and taggart, stone etc. Anything Agatha Christie - basically crime.
R4 comedy can be superb though- cabin pressure, revolting people, old Harry's game, John finnemore, R4 extra is fab!

YES AuntyElle!

I can't stand The Now Show, all the jokes are so obvious (and already trottted out by everyone with access to bbc news and the will to update their facebook status) and the same topics are covered so much better elsewhere. The Now Show has definitely far far exceeded it's shelf life.

Radio 4 dramas are DIRE! Usually featuring cringeworthy "regional" accents and bizarre unfunny "slapstick" characters.