Ed Reardon’s Week: Series 16

The complete 16th series of the hit comedy – including the 100th episode

‘Matchless’ Julie Burchill, The Spectator

Ed Reardon, washed-up writer, master of the diatribe and a man with the unfaltering ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, hits the milestone of his 20th anniversary on Radio 4. Still mourning his beloved feline companion, he finds solace in a new life partner – the offspring of Elgar. But he’s sorely in need of a new source of income now his wealthy Third Age writing-class students have all decamped to Dubai.

Never one to be defeated, he clears out his storage cupboard to illegally sub-let it as an ‘opportunity for boutique capsule living’, tries to find an outlet for his long-forgotten radio play A Pigeon in Sainsbury’s, takes on the role of theatre critic for The Countrywoman magazine, and agrees to write a bottle episode of Jaz Milvain’s new show about two chalk-and-cheese cops who do things their own way. With commissions thin on the ground, he’s forced to become the ‘Writer in Residence’ at a nuclear power station: but unfortunately, his on/off romantic partner Maggie is on the other side of the fence protesting. And in the final episode of the series – the landmark 100th show – the curmudgeonly author makes the fateful decision to stop writing for good. Can Zadie Smith persuade Ed not to throw in the towel?

First broadcast in 2005, Ed Reardon’s Week has garnered two Broadcasting Press Guild awards for Best Radio Programme, and attracted some of the UK’s finest actors as guest stars. Joining the roll call in this series are Adrian Scarborough, Robert Powell, Stephen Mangan and Joe Thomas, while regulars include Christopher Douglas as Ed, Lisa Coleman as Eli, Barunka O’Shaughnessy as Ping and Pippa Haywood as Maggie.

Written by Christopher Douglas Produced by Dawn Ellis Production Co-ordinator: Katie Baum Sound: Jon Calver & Alison McKenzie

Cast Ed Reardon – Christopher Douglas Eli – Lisa Coleman Christos/Uncle Beastly – Simon Greenall Ping – Barunka O’Shaughnessy Sheila/Francesca/Fifi/Kayleigh/Newsreader – Nicola Sanderson Ross – Dan Tetsell Simon – Joe Thomas Maggie – Pippa Haywood The Pigeon – Stephen Mangan Nick – Adrian Scarborough Michael Berkeley – Himself Willow – Eve Ponsonby Sir Peter – Robert Powell Jaz Milvain – Philip Jackson Jake – Sam Pamphilon Clare – Clare Perkins Devashree – Aasiya Shah Danny – Tom Stourton Kate – Robin Weaver Petroc Trelawney – Himself

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 June-4 August 2025

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