The Pickerskill Reports. Image shows from L to R: Harry Hindle-Rand (Thomas Sangster), Dr Henry Pickerskill (Ian McDiarmid). Copyright: Curtains For Radio
The Pickerskill Reports

The Pickerskill Reports

  • Radio comedy drama
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2009 - 2013
  • 9 episodes (2 series)

Black comedy series starring Ian McDiarmid as Dr Pickerskill, a retired English master looking back at the lives of his most entertaining pupils. Stars Ian McDiarmid, Richard Johnson, Philip Madoc and Michael Sarne.

Key details

Genre
Comedy Drama
Broadcast
2009 - 2013
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Episodes
9 (2 series)
Stars
Ian McDiarmid, Richard Johnson, Philip Madoc and Michael Sarne
Writer
Andrew McGibbon
Director
Andrew McGibbon
Producers
Nick Romero, Andrew McGibbon and Jonathan Ruffle
Company

Ian McDiarmid is Dr Henry Pickerskill, the retired English master of Haunchurst School for boys. Richard Johnson (Bleak Expectations) and Philip Madoc (Dad's Army) also have regular parts in the show.

Told in the form of flashbacks and letters from the ex-pupils to Pickerskill, each episode tells the darkly comic account of the life of one of the pupils. Shaped by Haunchurst School, these boys' flaws and gifts are analysed by Pickerskill and we find out what became of them in adulthood.

In the first episode, a wicked pupil encourages a school teacher's alcoholism with altar wine, exposing the teacher to bribes for answers to end of term exams. Pickerskill believes the boy to be a ruthless sociopath and predicts he will go on to do very well indeed.

Additional details

Production
Studio

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Friday 28th August 2009 at 11:30am on BBC Radio 4
Most recent repeats

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