#Blessed and Other Stories of Love and Friendship

13 BBC Radio Dramas

By: Peter Flannery, Olivia Poulet, Laurence Dobiesz, Karen Laws, Melanie Harris, Hannah Silva, Dan Rebellato, Tim Dawson, Gemma Bedeau, Ishy Din, Derron Sandy, Kyle Hernandez, Elisha Efua Bartels, Lucy Montague Moffatt

Narrated by: full cast, Olivia Poulet, Mina Anwar, Jamie Winstone, Finella Woolgar

Thirteen plays about human connection, from some of BBC Radio's best writers exploring love, family, romances and life's ups and downs.

This diverse collection of stories centres around family dynamics, relationships both romantic and platonic, and the diverse ways ordinary people navigate the vicissitudes of everyday life.

Ranging from modern fairy tales to coming-of-age dramas, they feature a wide variety of styles, and are scripted by an array of writers from award-winning dramatists to first-time authors. Here are stories of meeting and parting; hope and heartbreak; grief and forgiveness; and the endless possibility of change.

We meet the couple racing to secure their IVF treatment; the wide-eyed young Conservative whose awakening is more than just political; the teenager who discovers a secret that threatens his entire extended family; the ex-offender transformed through his friendship with a photographer, and many more captivating characters. These engrossing dramas let us venture into their worlds; giving us an intimate insight into their lives and loves.

Among the casts are Jaime Winstone, Sean Gallagher, Rhea Bailey, Mina Anwar, Ciarán Griffiths and Harry McEntire.

Cast and credits

All plays are Sparklab productions for BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3.

Produced by Melanie Harris and Executive Produced by Polly Thomas, Jeremy Mortimer & Jo Meek.

#blessed

Cast: Olivia Poulet, Laurence Dobiesz, Ayesha Dharker, Valmike Rampersad, Fenella Woolgar

Written by Olivia Poulet and Laurence Dobiesz. Directed by Susannah Tresilian.

Indigo Children

Cast: Lizzy Clark, Jaime Winstone, Luke Jerdy, Sylvestra Le Touzel

Written by Hannah Silva. Directed by Jude Kelly

My Life Is a Series of People Saying Goodbye

Cast: Sean Gallagher, David Annen, Will Payne, Fenella Woolgar, Frances Grey, Jenny Jules

Written by Dan Rebellato. Produced and Directed by Polly Thomas

Not for Turning

Cast Nicola Holt, Henry Devas, Andrew Bentley, Ashley Gerlach, Toby Hadoke

Written by Tim Dawson. Directed by Lawrence Till

The Ladies Room

Cast: Rhea Bailey, Lisa Livingstone, Lois Chimimba

Written by Gemma Bedeau. Directed by Melanie Harris

Whose Baby?

Cast: Gurjeet Singh, Mina Anwar, Perveen Hussain, George Bukhari, Sid Akbar Ali

Written by Ishy Din. Directed by Julia Ford.

1963

Cast: Andy Clark, Curtis Appleby, Ross Waiton, Jill Dellow, Micheal Ajao

Written by Peter Flannery. Directed by Melanie Harris

Carifesta 2019: Mr Singh

Cast: Keegan Maharaj, Rhesa Samuel, Idrees Saleem, Tafar Lewis, Khadijah Kirton, Israel Nunes

Children from the Quays Foundation, Maloney, Trinidad & Tobago.

Written by Derron Sandy. Directed by Melanie Harris

Carifesta 2019: Aron

Cast: Levee Rodriguez, Errol Fabien, Anand Lawkaran, Jayron Remy, Tishanna Williams, Nickolai

Salcedo. Written by Kyle Hernandez. Directed by Melanie Harris

Carifesta 2019: Water More Than Flour

Cast: Mandisa Granderson, Conrad Parris, Kimmy Stoute-Robinson, Arnold Goindham

Written by Elisha Efua Bartels. Directed by Melanie Harris

Karin and Andrew

Cast: Eve Shotton, Ciarán Griffiths, Darren Kuppan, Melissa Jane Sinden

Scripted and directed by Melanie Harris.

In His Kiss

Cast: Niamh McGowan, Harry McEntire, Kimberly Hart-Simpson

Written by Lucy Montague Moffatt. Directed by Julia Ford

The Reality Tunnel

Cast: Sarah Miele, Sam Newton

Written by Karen Law. Directed by Melanie Harris

©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd