A BBC Radio 4 comedy drama

Baggage: The Complete Series 1-4

All four series of the comedy drama set in Edinburgh, following the lives of three fortysomething best friends 
 
'Warmth, realism, humour... a continuing pleasure' The Guardian 
 
Caroline, Fiona and Ruth are lifelong friends, who've grown up together, laughed and cried together, and stood by each other through thick and thin. They may not always see eye to eye, and they might drive each other crazy, but they can't do without each other. 
 
But life's got a lot more complicated since they were 22, when the only things they carried around were handbags. Now, in midlife, they've got more baggage than the average airport carousel. Caroline's been dumped by her politician husband of 10 years, Alistair; single mother Ruth is struggling with her monosyllabic teenage son; and Fiona's walked out on her husband Roddy - and moved in with Caroline, in her poky top-floor Marchmont flat. 
 
Over the course of several manic Midsummers, crisis-ridden Christmases and hopeful Hogmanays, they grapple with ex-husbands and new lovers; broodiness and babies; divorce, dementia and alcoholism - only to find themselves climbing their biggest mountain yet. Aided by Roddy, Fiona's elderly mum Gladys, and Caroline's larger-than-life dad Hector, they set about forging their own new, strangely shaped, thoroughly 21st Century family... 
 
Written by Hilary Lyon, who also stars as Caroline, this funny, poignant sitcom is a love letter to female friendship - and to one of Europe's loveliest capital cities, Edinburgh. Phyllis Logan and Adie Allen co-star as Fiona and Ruth, with Peter Capaldi and Stuart McQuarrie as Alistair, Robin Cameron as Roddy, June Watson as Gladys and David Rintoul as Hector. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Hilary Lyon 
Produced by Moray Hunter and Gordon Kennedy 
Directed by Marilyn Imrie 
Broadcast Assistant: Sarah Tombling 
Sound Engineer: Phil Horne 
Studio Manager: Alison McKenzie 
Theme song by Nusa 
An Absolutely Production for BBC Radio 4 
 
Cast 
Caroline - Hilary Lyon 
Fiona - Phyllis Logan 
Ruth - Adie Allen 
Roddy - Robin Cameron 
Caitlin - Holly Wagner 
Mike/Simeon - Stuart McQuarrie 
Rev Nicholas/Tax man - Moray Hunter 
Alistair - Peter Capaldi/Stuart McQuarrie 
Kir - Peter Capaldi 
Caitlin - Holly Wagner 
Gladys - June Watson 
Fats/Waiter - Gordon Kennedy 
Janie - Hilary MacLean 
Gillian - Carolyn Bonnyman 
Trampy little nurse/Miriam/Polly/Wifie - Nicola Grier 
Malcolm/Peter - Jack Docherty 
Preston - Roger May 
Hector - David Rintoul 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 April-11 May 2005 (Series 1), 4 August-1 September 2006 (Series 2), 5 December 2007-9 January 2008 (Series 3), 8 July-12 August 2009 (Series 4) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Hilary Lyon

Julie Graham

Hilary MacLean

Simon Greenall

June Watson

Full Cast

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Comedy Drama

Both series of the hilarious and heart-warming comedy drama set in an Edinburgh café 
 
Arty free spirit Trisha returns to her native city of Edinburgh after years of living in London. Although she is coping with the loss of her job and a bruised heart, she arrives at Waverley Station enthusiastic and eager for the next chapter of her life to begin. Meanwhile, Trisha's big sister Clare could not be more different. A non-practising qualified accountant, she has been married for years, has two spoiled teenage children and has probably spent too much time on the school PTA. Together, they decide to open a new café in leafy Bruntsfield, which marks the beginning of a whole new era for both sisters. 
 
Throw in temperamental opera-loving Polish chef, Krzysztof and uninvited waitress, Lizzie, and you have the perfect recipe for volatile relationship tension, a lot of laughs and a few secrets for good measure. 
 
Cast 
Trisha – Julie Graham (Series 1) / Hilary Maclean (Series 2) 
Clare – Hilary Lyon 
Krzysztof – Simon Greenhall 
Lizzie – Pearl Appleby 
Minty – June Watson 
Richard – Roger May 
Callum – Derek Riddell 
Other roles played by Nicola Grier, Moray Hunter, Guy Paul, Duncan Duff, Stuart McQuarrie and Scott Hoatson 
 
Written by Hilary Lyon 
Directed by Marilyn Imrie 
Produced by Gordon Kennedy and Moray Hunter 
An Absolutely Production for BBC Radio 4First broadcast 7 April 2014 – 10 August 2015 
©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Hilary Lyon

Books by Hilary Lyon

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