Father Figure. Image shows from L to R: Elaine Whyte (Lucy Montgomery), Tom Whyte (Jason Byrne), Dylan Whyte (Dominic Applewhite). Image credit: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Father Figure

Fast-paced sitcom written by and starring Jason Byrne as a disastrous house husband

Strand:
Radio 2's Comedy Showcase
AKA:
Radio 2's Comedy Showcase: Father Figure
Genre:
Sitcom
Broadcast:
2010 - 2012  (BBC Radio 2)
Episodes:
5 (pilot + 1 series)
Starring:
Jason Byrne, Pauline McLynn, Lucy Montgomery, Dominic Applewhite, Dermot Crowley, Michael Smiley
Writers:
Jason Byrne
Production:
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Jason starts a new life as a house husband looking after the kids and doing a few domestic chores - what could be simpler?

Things don't go well for Jason and he is soon on the run from the law with multiple problems, including some stolen dogs.

Following the pilot in 2010, a four-part series follows in 2012. Jason comments: "Radio 2 have commissioned myself and along with Julia McKenzie my amazing producer, to record a four-parter. I play a character called Tom which is a kind of version of me with fantastic performances from Pauline McLynn, Michael Smiley, Dermot Crowley, Dominic Applewhite and Lucy Montgomery as my family and best friend."

Our Review: The farce behind the pilot of this sitcom was a good idea, but it really didn't come across particularly well on the radio for some reason... maybe the problem was in the pace and the way the actors delivered their lines, as something didn't sound right. The show has been given a four-part series, so it'll be interesting to see what it can do from here...