Frances Tomelty
How Does That Make You Feel?

How Does That Make You Feel?

  • Radio comedy drama
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2010 - 2019
  • 55 episodes (11 series)

Radio 4 comedy drama about a sincere caring psychotherapist who, deep down, is losing patience. Stars Frances Tomelty, Marcella Riordan, Cathy Belton, Roger Allam, Rebecca Saire and Tim McInnerny

Key details

Genre
Comedy Drama
Broadcast
2010 - 2019
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Episodes
55 (11 series)
Stars
Frances Tomelty, Marcella Riordan, Cathy Belton, Roger Allam, Rebecca Saire and Tim McInnerny
Writer
Shelagh Stephenson
Director
Eoin O'Callaghan
Producer
Eoin O'Callaghan
Company

In How Does that Make You Feel? we visit a group of people who all share one thing in common, a therapist called Martha... oh, and a growing set of neuroses which appear to be overtaking their wholly imperfect lives.

As therapists go, Martha is reasonably compassionate, but deep down she's losing patience. It seems all her clients want to be something they are not, and it's driving them and her, out of their minds?

There's Richard Fallon MP, who's convinced promotion to the front bench is being denied him because of his obese son and a wife who lost all patience with him 20 years ago.

Caroline, who thinks her child's a genius with an IQ way off the scale. She is worried that instead of following the path of celebrity like her, her daughter may go on to study mere physics thereby consigning her and more importantly Caroline to a life of unbearable ordinariness. In later series she is trying to persuade her 13 years old son to prepare to be Prime Minister, but he's more interested in being a dress designer.

There's Philip, who insists he isn't facing a crisis since his demotion from Good Morning Norfolk to a shopping channel - but whose new girlfriend is 30 years his junior and clearly on the make.

And Howard, a chef whose son, Aaron, though 33 is still trying to get a band off the ground, whilst looming resentfully over their lives, upstairs in the back bedroom. In later series, Howard has managed to Aaron to move out, only to discover that his real problem lies with his fantasist wife, Helen.

When Howard stops coming to therapy, we meet Tony, Howard's boss at the restaurant whose wife thinks he needs therapy. He has no idea why. Mostly he wants to talk about why women are so weird and why he has absolutely no need of a therapist. However he would like Martha to give him a certificate proving his sanity, if possible.

Additional details

Also known as
  • 15 Minute Drama: How Does That Make You Feel?
  • How Does That Make You Feel? (Ordinary's Not Enough)
Production
Studio

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Monday 1st February 2010 at 10:45am on BBC Radio 4
Most recent repeats

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