Cabin Pressure. Image shows from L to R: Arthur (John Finnemore), Douglas (Roger Allam), Carolyn (Stephanie Cole), Martin (Benedict Cumberbatch). Copyright: Pozzitive Productions
Cabin Pressure

Cabin Pressure

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2008 - 2014
  • 27 episodes (4 series)

Radio sitcom based around a one-plane charter airline. No job is too small, but many jobs are too difficult for pilots Douglas and Martin. Stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Roger Allam, Stephanie Cole, John Finnemore and Anthony Head

Episode menu

Series 2, Episode 1 - Helsinki

Carolyn and her sister haven't spoken for 15 years. Which is why Arthur has invited her to a party on board, together with 500 Euros-worth of smuggled orchids.

Notes

Trivia from John Finnemore's blog

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 17th July 2009
Time
11:30am
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Tuesday 27th July 2010 6:30pm Radio 4
Thursday 7th April 2011 5:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Monday 23rd April 2012 9:30am Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 24th April 2012 2:30am Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 10th November 2013 7:30am Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 10th November 2013 10:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 23rd April 2017 11:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 24th March 2019 11:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 5th July 2020 7:15pm Radio 4
Friday 10th July 2020 7:30am Radio 4 Extra
Friday 10th July 2020 5:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Friday 10th July 2020 10:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 11th July 2020 5:30am Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 27th December 2022 10:30pm Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
Benedict Cumberbatch Martin
Roger Allam Douglas
Stephanie Cole Carolyn
John Finnemore Arthur
Guest cast
Alison Steadman Ruth Gregson
Matt Green Kieran Gregson
Simon Greenall Milo (Customs Officer)
Writing team
John Finnemore Writer
Production team
David Tyler Producer

Press

A wonderful bit of whimsy which included the observation that Helsinki just has to be a brilliant place to visit because it sounds "half helter skelter, half twinkly". "Or," countered the cynical co-pilot (played by Roger Allam of The Thick Of It fame), "like a sink of hell."

Johnny Dee, The Guardian, 29th July 2010

Welcome return for John Finnemore's situation comedy about a struggling small charter airline. It's blessed with a classy cast, Roger Allam, Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephanie Cole as Carolyn, the boss, and Finnemore himself as her perennially perky son Arthur. And today Alison Steadman arrives as Carolyn's sister. They haven't spoken for years. Arthur hasn't bothered to think about that as he's planned a cheery birthday trip for them all. To Helsinki. He's booked it on his Mum's credit card. And she thought it was proper business.

Gillian Reynolds, The Telegraph, 17th July 2009

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