
- Genre
- Sitcom
- Broadcast
- 2016 - 2020
- Channel
- BBC Radio 4
- Episodes
- 18 (3 series)
- Starring
- Philip Jackson, James Northcote, Tom Palmer, Alison Steadman, Mark Benton, Shobna Gulati and Rasmus Hardiker
- Writers
- Ian Brown and James Hendrie
- Director
- Gordon Kennedy
- Producer
- Gordon Kennedy
The Break is set in the fictional Yorkshire coastal town of Flamford - the seaside town sanity forgot - and features retired resident, Jeff Whittaker and his estranged London-bred financial whizz-kid nephew, Andy Chambers, who has arrived unannounced and stressed-out in desperate need of peace and quiet.
Andy gets neither of these as Jeff takes it upon himself to cure all of Andy's ills in a series of comic and poignant adventures around the town. Each week they meet Jeff's regular friends, Fish Shop Frank, Pest Control Supervisor, Corinne who has an 'arrangement' with Jeff every second Thursday, and Joyce Rickles from The Copper Kettle Café, who is constantly startled by everything, most of all her flamethrower toaster.
Over the first series, Jeff and Andy form an unlikely double act and whether it's trying to claim a free dinner at the local posh hotel or attempting to recycle a fridge, there are a host of Flamford residents getting in the way, from pompous self-interested Derek Horrox The Mayor, and punctilious and pedantic PC Clarke to extremely-pleased-with-herself local minister, The Reverend Beverley.
When Series 2 begins, Andy has been living with Jeff for a few months now, and their relationship has developed into one of edgy tolerance. Andy is now more likely to push back against Jeff's wiles and schemes, and Jeff is less wary of pushing Andy too far.
Series 3 - which sees James Northcote take over from Tom Palmer as Andy - continues the adventures in Flamford.
- Production company
- Also known as
- Shortscreen: The Break
- Laugh track
- None
Broadcast details
- First broadcast
- Monday 30th May 2016 on BBC Radio 4 at 11:30am
- Last new broadcast
- Wednesday 15th July 2020 on BBC Radio 4 at 11:30am
- Length of episodes
- 30 minutes
- Upcoming repeats
- Series 2 Episode 1: Tomorrow at 7am on Radio 4 Extra
- Series 2 Episode 1: Tomorrow at 5pm on Radio 4 Extra
- Series 2 Episode 1: Wednesday at 5am on Radio 4 Extra
- Series 2 Episode 1: Saturday at 12:30pm on Radio 4 Extra