John Sessions
Electric Ink

Electric Ink

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2009 - 2010
  • 12 episodes (2 series)

Radio 4 sitcom set in a newspaper office that aims to satirise the world of modern journalism. Stars Robert Lindsay, Alex Jennings, Elizabeth Berrington, Ben Willbond, Zita Sattar and more.

Episode menu

Series 2, Episode 1

Maddox has lost the job of news editor and now faces being sued.

Further details

Electric Ink is a comic satire set in the world of newspapers. It follows a group of dysfunctional journalists as they attempt to cover major news stories while grappling with the demands of working in a multi-platform environment; watching circulation figures plummet; and seeing half the workforce laid-off in the recession.

At the heart of the comedy is the relationship between Maddox Bradley, a journalist who mourns the days of proper investigative journalism, and Freddy, the online editor, who will regurgitate a press release quite happily and call it a story. But they have a grudging respect for each other, as Freddy helps Maddox stay afloat in the world of Twitter, Facebook and podcasting - and Maddox shows Freddy how to sniff out the real story.

Both are at the mercy of Oliver, the pragmatic editor more concerned with keeping his job, and Carol, the news editor. Only Masha, the Russian head of online communities, knows Freddy's secret - he is a posh boy from Eton rather than a über-cool kid from the street. Well, that's what Freddy thinks, anyway...

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 3rd December 2010
Time
11:30am
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Monday 4th June 2012 9:30am Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 5th June 2012 2:30am Radio 4 Extra
Friday 13th December 2013 9:30am Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 14th December 2013 2:30am Radio 4 Extra
Monday 14th September 2015 9:30am Radio 4 Extra
Monday 14th September 2015 4:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 15th September 2015 4:30am Radio 4 Extra
Wednesday 27th September 2017 7:00am Radio 4 Extra
Wednesday 27th September 2017 5:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 28th September 2017 5:00am Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 30th September 2017 12:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Friday 10th April 2020 7:00am Radio 4 Extra
Friday 10th April 2020 5:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 11th April 2020 5:00am Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 11th December 2022 10:00pm Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
Alex Jennings Oliver
Debbie Chazen Masha
John Sessions Maddox Bradley
Stephen Wight Freddy
Polly Frame Carol
Guest cast
Sam Dale Keith
Writing team
Alistair Beaton Writer
Tom Mitchelson Writer
Production team
Sally Avens Producer

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