A BBC Radio 4 comedy

Soloparentpals.com

The complete Series 1-5 of the BBC Radio 4 comedy about parenting in modern times 
 
Tom and Rosie are solo parents living 250 miles apart. Both recently divorced, bruised and lonely, they're looking for a cyber pal who understands what they're going through. So when they log on to a parenting advice website, they make an instant, sparky connection. Gradually, their online friendship becomes something more, and a 'will they/won't they' relationship develops via emails, text, phone calls and the SPP forum. 
 
Following a succession of twists and turns, mistiming's and misunderstandings, they finally meet - only for things get even more complicated. But fortunately, new chatroom buddies and confidants Baz, Tash, Gilly, Scott and Barb are there to provide advice and a shoulder to cry on - as well as chipping in with the latest news on their own tangled love lives... 
 
Written by Sue Teddern, whose credits include Birds of a Feather and My Family, this hit sitcom first aired in the Woman's Hour drama slot under the title Singleparentpals.com, and went on to run for five successful series between 2009 and 2014. Funny, moving and involving, it will strike a chord with single parents everywhere. Maxine Peake and Liz White star as Rosie, with Kris Marshall and Julian Rhind-Tutt as Tom. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Sue Teddern 
Produced and directed by David Hunter 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2-6 November 2009 (Series 1), 23-27 August 2010 (Series 2), 24-28 October 2011 (Series 3), 18 March 2013 (Series 4), 31 March-4 April 2014 (Series 5) 
 
Cast 
Rosie - Maxine Peake/Liz White 
Tom - Kris Marshall/Julian Rhind-Tutt 
Tash/SPP chat room voice - Laura Molyneux/Karina Jones 
Gill - Janice Acquah/Christine Kavanagh/Jane Whittenshaw/Joanna Brooks 
Scott - Matt Addis/David Seddon 
Mark - Matt Addis 
Robin - Malcolm Tierney 
Bazz - Jonathan Tafler/Sam Dale 
Jo-C - Annabelle Dowler 
Lily - Isadora Dooley Hunter 
Calum - Thomas Rolinson/Keaton Lansley/Arthur Hughes 
Barb - Alison Pettitt/Adjoa Andoh 
Waiter/Tony - James Lailey 
Debbie/Lindsey - Philippa Stanton 
Rugby Ryan - David Seddon 
Ginny - Philippa Stanton/Priyanga Burford 
Pat - Carolyn Pickles 
 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Sue Teddern

Katharine Whitehorn

Beattie Edmondson

Nikesh Patel

John Bowler

John Dougall

Karen Bartke

Alison Belbin

Eleanor Bron

Full cast

A BBC Radio 4 Sitcom

Both series of the engaging romantic comedy set in a 1960s bedsit, inspired by Katharine Whitehorn's cookery classic 
 
It&rsquo;s 1964, and 22-year-old Trisha moves into a West Hampstead bedsitter to escape her controlling suburban parents and her boring fiancé, Keith. She&rsquo;s determined to make it as a swinging, get-ahead girl-about-town, but finds herself struggling with homesickness, loneliness and the challenges of cooking a decent meal on a single gas ring. 
 
Then she rescues a grotty wardrobe from her landlady&rsquo;s attic, and it yields a surprising treasure &ndash; a copy of Cooking in a Bedsitter, which becomes her bible. Soon, she&rsquo;s rustling up tasty treats for dinner parties and double dates &ndash; aided by Deepak, the dishy young medical student from across the landing. 
 
He introduces her to the delights of aloo pakora, she surprises him with a picnic at the seaside &ndash; but when their burgeoning relationship is snuffed out by Trisha&rsquo;s parents, she moves on, to a different bedsit and a new man. She&rsquo;s definitely over Deepak: or is she? If she wants him back, she&rsquo;ll have to move fast &ndash; before he heads out of her life forever... 
 
Written by Sue Teddern (soloparentpals.com), and interspersed with recipes and extracts from Katharine Whitehorn&rsquo;s original book, this appetising romcom stars Beattie Edmondson and Nikesh Patel. 
 
 
Production credits 
Written by Sue Teddern 
Inspired by Cooking in a Bedsitter by Katharine Whitehorn 
Extracts from Cooking in a Bedsitter read by Karen Bartke and Eleanor Bron 
Directed by Emma Harding 
 
Cast 
Trisha &ndash; Beattie Edmondson 
Deepak &ndash; Nikesh Patel 
June &ndash; Alison Belbin/Ellie Darvill 
Len &ndash; John Bowler/Rupert Holliday-Evans 
Tony &ndash; John Dougall 
Katharine Whitehorn &ndash; Karen Bartke/Eleanor Bron 
Jill &ndash; Natasha Cowley 
Keith/Mike &ndash; Finlay Robertson 
The Hunk/Stuart &ndash; Luke MacGregor 
Male Guest/Big Nev &ndash; Gavi Singh Chera 
Female Guest/Sal &ndash; Catriona McFarlane 
Moira &ndash; Isabella Inchbald 
Robert &ndash; Clive Hayward 
Karl &ndash; Adam Fitzgerald 
Julie/Clare/Susie &ndash; Abbie Andrews 
Policeman &ndash; Neil McCaul 
Malcolm &ndash; Gary Duncan 
Errol &ndash; Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 28 Nov-19 Dec 2016 (series 1) and 4 Dec-25 Dec 2017 (series 2). 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Sue Teddern

Books by Sue Teddern

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter