Bleak Expectations. Image shows from L to R: Hardthrasher (Geoffrey Whitehead), Aunt Lily (Celia Imrie), Young Pip (Tom Allen), Mr Gently Benevolent (Anthony Head), Sir Philip Bin (Richard Johnson), Harry Biscuit (James Bachman). Copyright: BBC
Bleak Expectations

Bleak Expectations

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2007 - 2012
  • 30 episodes (5 series)

Radio comedy following the adventures of Pip Bin as he struggles against the cruel plotting of his evil guardian Mr Gently Benevolent. Stars Tom Allen, Anthony Head, Richard Johnson, James Bachman, Susy Kane and more.

Episode menu

Series 3, Episode 1 - A Lovely Life Re-Kippered Again Once More

Pip Bin's happiness is shattered once again. Fog-filled streets, murders, and ghastly apparitions from beyond the grave abound, and through it all echoes the terrible menacing coo of a possessed and evil pigeon.

Further details

This first episode features a seance with Britain's shortest, fattest spiritualist, Small Medium Large - and the return from the dead of Mr Benevolent, who possesses a pigeon and sets out to frame Pip for murder. This brings him to the attention of Inspector Whackwallop of Scotland Yard and his Victorian crime-fighting tools, including state-of-the-art security paintings and the forensic science of bottom prints.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 29th October 2009
Time
6:30pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Friday 14th January 2011 11:30am Radio 4
Thursday 28th June 2012 10:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 17th June 2014 11:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 3rd December 2015 11:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 22nd March 2018 11:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Monday 18th November 2019 10:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Wednesday 28th April 2021 10:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 1st May 2021 2:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 2nd May 2021 2:00am Radio 4 Extra
Friday 10th February 2023 9:30am Radio 4 Extra
Friday 10th February 2023 2:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Friday 10th February 2023 7:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 11th February 2023 5:30am Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
Tom Allen Young Pip
Anthony Head Mr Gently Benevolent
Richard Johnson Sir Philip Bin
James Bachman Harry Biscuit
Susy Kane Pippa Bin
Geoffrey Whitehead Wackwallop
Sarah Hadland Ripely
Mark Evans Ensemble Actor
Writing team
Mark Evans Writer
Production team
Gareth Edwards Producer

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