The BBC Radio 4 comedy series

Fags, Mags and Bags: Series 1-4

The complete series 1-4 of the award winning Radio 4 comedy, set in a Glasgow cornershop

Sanjeev Singh Kohliis a British Asian comedian, writer and actor. He is most famous for his role as Navid in the Scottish sitcom Still Game. In 2016 Sanjeev reprised the role of Navid in the sitcom Still Game. He also playes Ramesh Majhu in the radio sitcom Fags, Mags and Bags and (since 2015) as AJ Jandhu in the BBC Scotland soap opera River City. Kohli has also played Norrie in BBC Four's Bob Servant Independent. 
 
Glasgow born writer/performer Donald Mcleary is probably best know for BBC Radio 4's "Fags Mags and Bags" which he co-created, writes and performs with Sanjeev Kohli. He won the Writer's Guild Award for best radio comedy for series one of this show and was also nominated for a Sony award.

First broadcast in 2007, Fags, Mags and Bags delivers shop-based shenanigans and over-the-counter philosophy, courtesy of Ramesh Mahju and his trusty sidekick Dave. Ramesh has built his shop up over the course of 30 years, and it is a firmly entrenched feature of the local area. He is ably assisted by Dave, a forty-something underachiever who shares Ramesh's love of the art of shopkeeping, even if he is treated like a slave. Then of course there are Ramesh's sons Sanjay and Alok, both surly and not particularly keen on the old-school approach to shopkeeping. However, they are the natural successors to the business, and Ramesh is keen to pass all his worldly wisdom on to them - whether they like it or not... 
 
Series 1: Raising Keenan, The De-Magowaning of Ramesh, Wall of Crisps, Build the Titanic, The Festival of Maltodextrin, January February. 
 
Series 2: Beansy, Beansy, Beasny, Beansy, Beansy, Skeletor Attack, Rameshtonite, All the Best, Cousin Wacko, Confectionary McEnroe. 
 
Series 3: Jack Black's Black Jacks, Mr Majhu Goes To Lenzie, The Wrath of Khan, The Lenzie Splicer, Bacon Punctuation and The Fall of Phallon and the Rise of Bugatox. 
 
Series 4: Foam Wizards, Magical Mister Murgatroyd, The Bewerdine Spectrum, Evil Nabarra, Ayabassa Alan, John Craven’s Fjallraven.

Sanjeev Kohli

Donald McLeary

Mina Anwar

Full Cast

'As mad as ever - and very funny'

The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series

Five more series of the award-winning BBC radio sitcom set in a Scots-Asian corner shop near Glasgow 
 
'As mad as ever - and very funny' Daily Mail 
 
Ramesh Mahju and his trusty sidekick Dave Legg are back with more banter, bargains, shop-based shenanigans and over-the-counter philosophy. 
 
In these 24 episodes, Ramesh gets in trouble with the local headmistress over his new line of sweets, has a wobble about his Meat Loaf date with new girlfriend Malcolm, ponders retiring (but who would take over his convenience store empire?) and makes a mint when the new House of Wax opens in Lenzie, and the town is besieged by tourists. 
 
However, his surly sons Sanjay and Alok continue to reject Ramesh's worldly wisdom, preferring to make music with their new friend Grebo (aka Carnaptious Scrooch). And when the Bish spots Sanjay busking in East Kilbride, he's forced to confess that he's not been entirely truthful about his college education. 
 
Dave, meanwhile, explores every avenue to find a partner, from internet dating to wondering whether to take his 'bromance' with best pal Lesley to the next level. When he meets Margot on a Moving Alan fan site, he's on cloud nine - but not everyone is convinced... 
 
Plus, the Wall of Crisps is rocked by scandal, as the bag placement of a new range of Scottish political snacks is hotly debated; and love is in the air as the corner shop regulars prepare for a wedding. But will Sanjay perform at the reception with his new horrible band? 
 
Written by and starring Sanjeev Kohli and Donald McLeary, this warm, feelgood comedy also features Mina Anwar as Malcolm, and a host of guest stars including Julie T Wallace, Sean Biggerstaff, Julia Deakin, Lewis MacLeod, Simon Greenall and Gabriel Quigley. 
 
 
Production credits 
Written by and starring Sanjeev Kohli and Donald McLeary 
Produced by Gus Beattie for Gusman Productions 
A Comedy Unit production for BBC Radio 4 
 
Cast 
Ramesh - Sanjeev Kohli 
Dave - Donald McLeary 
Sanjay - Omar Raza 
Alok - Susheel Kumar 
Malcolm - Mina Anwar 
Frank Butcher - Barry Howard 
Archibald Sibbald/Alan/Mr Hepworth/Lorna McKillop - Tom Urie 
Mutton Jeff - Sean Scanlan 
Bra Jeff - Steven McNicoll 
Hilly Bewerdine/Paella Fieldings - Kate Brailsford 
Jordan - Lucas Beatty/James McKean 
Mrs Begg - Marjory Hogarth 
Father Neil Green - Andrew O'Neill 
Bishop Briggs - Michael Redmond 
Mrs Birkett/Phil - Stewart Cairns 
Keith Futures - Gavin Mitchell/Greg McHugh 
Mrs Temple - Julie T Wallace 
Lovely Sue - Julie Wilson Nimmo 
Grebo - Sean Biggerstaff/Manny Sumal 
Janice Littbarski - Julia Deakin 
Terry Wogan/Duncan Norvelle - Lewis MacLeod 
Keenan's Mum/Mrs Armstrong/Thin Elizabeth//Dolly Eggs/Cambus - Maureen Carr 
Candida - Barbara Rafferty 
Lesley - Simon Greenall 
Fraser Linlithgow - Sean Biggerstaff 
Kallum - Taryam Boyd 
Songs of Praise presenter - Effie Summers 
Helena - Lorraine McIntosh 
Provost - Moray Hunter 
Angusina Comer/Nathan Laser - Gavin Mitchell 
Margot - Gabriel Quigley 
Other parts played by the cast 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 September-31 October 2012 (Series 5), 18 April-23 May 2016 (Series 6), 28 August-18 September 2017 (Series 7), 15 August-5 September 2018 (Series 8), 19 June-10 July 2020 (Series 9) 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Donald McLeary

Praise for Fags, Mags and Bags: Series 5-9

'As mad as ever - and very funny'

Books by Donald McLeary

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