British Comedy Guide
Jail Mates. Image shows from L to R: Gerry (Gary Little), Jenny (Julia Sutherland). Copyright: Dabster Productions
Jail Mates

Jail Mates

  • Radio comedy drama
  • BBC Radio Scotland
  • 2016 - 2017
  • 4 episodes (1 series)

Comedy about a 40-something, adventure-seeking mum who writes to a man in prison. Stars Julia Sutherland, Gary Little and Rosco McClelland.

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Jail Mates. Image shows from L to R: Jenny (Julia Sutherland), Gerry (Gary Little). Copyright: Dabster Productions

Key details

Genre
Comedy Drama
Broadcast
2016 - 2017
Channel
BBC Radio Scotland
Episodes
4 (1 pilot + 1 series)
Stars
Julia Sutherland, Gary Little and Rosco McClelland
Writers
Julia Sutherland and Gary Little
Producer
Richard Melvin
Company

A comedy of correspondence between a recently divorced woman and a recently imprisoned man. Despite wanting different things, their letters help them find some common ground.

Jenny is a 40 something, adventure-seeking mum, forced to move back in with her parents in a posh suburb of Glasgow, after her marriage broke down (in no small part due to her lust for life... and the gardener!).

Bored of her life back in this middle-class enclave, and in a search of some excitement, she's registered with a website called Jailmates.com and begun corresponding with inmate Gerry, a fellow Glaswegian from the other side of town, currently serving 18 months for stealing books and selling them online.

Gerry is a 40 something self-proclaimed scholar. He's found a new friend (and perhaps more) in Jenny, and is looking forward to some female companionship to distract himself from life inside.

Their backgrounds and experiences of life couldn't be more different - on a day-to-day basis, Jenny worries about not fitting in with the other mums at the school gate, while Gerry's just trying to make it through the day unscathed.

Jenny is frustrated by the expectations placed upon her by the world, constantly rejecting pressure to conform, and - albeit in starkly different circumstances - Gerry is too.

Through this series of letters, they discover a common ground and compatibility, but will a relationship develop?

Additional details

Production
Studio

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Friday 12th February 2016 at 1:30pm on BBC Radio Scotland
Most recent repeats
  • Saturday 28th January 2017 at 11:30am on Radio Scot - Episode 3
  • Saturday 21st January 2017 at 11:30am on Radio Scot - Episode 2
  • Saturday 14th January 2017 at 11:30am on Radio Scot - Episode 1

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