The Brothers: The Complete Series 1-3

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Drama

De: Caroline Stafford, David Stafford

Narrado por: Adam Godley, Raymond Coulthard, Pauline McLynn, Pearce Quigley, Alex Lowe, full cast

All 16 episodes of the BBC radio comedy about the dysfunctional Burbage siblings.

Brothers Nigel and Michael share everything - home, work and acute neuroses. Several years ago, they gave up respectable careers to set up a website design company in Nigel's living room. That was their first mistake....

They rapidly discover that no one can disturb, pester and annoy like a sibling can - except, perhaps, for their eccentric friends Zorro and Oonagh, whose constant interruptions and distractions lead them into some increasingly odd situations. Liquidised orchids, tropical fish, John Travolta's cufflinks and revolving bow ties are soon part of their daily routine as, beset by professional problems and private consternation, the beleaguered brothers find their lives becoming increasingly surreal.

The arrival of their feckless father, Peter, sparks further havoc for the duo and worries about absent wives and all-too-present fiancées only add to the pressure. Can the brothers fix their strained filial relationship, or will they only find happiness by going their separate ways?

Written by Caroline and David Stafford, whose credits include Hazelbeach and the Birkett legal dramas, this engaging comedy drama stars Adam Godley (The Umbrella Academy) as Nigel, Raymond Coulthard (Hotel Babylon) as Michael, Pauline McLynn (Father Ted) as Oonagh and Pearce Quigley and Alex Lowe as Zorro.

Written by Caroline and David Stafford

Produced and directed by Marc Beeby

Cast

Nigel - Adam Godley

Michael - Raymond Coulthard

Oonagh - Pauline McLynn

Zorro - Pearce Quigley/Alex Lowe

Sally/Korean daughter - Alice Hart

Korean dad - Jon Glover

Unsuitable man - Harry Myers

Peter - James Fleet

Helen - Sophie Roberts

Trapper - Sam Dale

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19th May-9th June 2004 (Series 1), 28th September-2nd November 2005 (Series 2), 19th February-26th March 2007 (Series 3)

©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Storyline seemed tortured, but acting was good

I should have just stopped listening after a couple episodes, but I suffered my way through. Caroline and David Stafford's Hazelbeach was so well done in script, story, and acting that I kept hoping this would get better. It didn't.

The character Michael did make me laugh off and on here. The characters Uma and Zorro, who often dominated the scenes, were just irritating all the way through and only detracted from what could have been a flow. The brothers' father was very good in acting and script, but he only showed up a few episodes.