About Character Invasion

A day bursting with character

On Saturday 29 March, Radio 4 explores all things character. Combining an on-air celebration of how the characters we love have been written, created and bought to life with a day of free events in all the BBC sites that make Radio Drama.

You can listen at home or come to an event at one of our Radio Drama making sites across the country.

Writers' creations will take over the air waves, invading Radio 4’s programmes throughout the day, beginning with Tweet of the Day and through Any Answers? and Loose Ends.

Alongside this an exciting range of free events will be held in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, London and Salford.

Meet writers, actors and programme makers as we explore our love of character together.

On Air Programming

For one day only, fictional characters will be shaking up the Radio 4 schedule.

Popular characters from drama, comedy and literature will pop-up in unexpected places throughout the day. There will be discussion on the process of creating character, seeing them come to life and how writers then let those characters go.

Gwyneth Williams, Controller for BBC Radio 4 said: “Radio 4 has long been home to some of the greatest characters ever known, either born on our station like Alan Partridge and Lynda Snell, or travelled here from novels, plays, films or stories from around the world. These characters can be as beguiling, vivid and tangible as real people, allowing us to reflect on the world around us and go on journeys with them. On a daily basis they infiltrate our homes and minds and now they are infiltrating our station as well!”

As part of the celebrations Dawn French will be stepping back into Reverend Geraldine Granger’s shoes and heading out of Dibley to offer her Thought for the Day, Chris Packham will be reporting from the streets of New York for Tweet of the Day, hot on the trail of Avis Giganteus - a large, conspicuous and highly vocal species – commonly known as Big Bird. On top of that, the original cast of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy will reunite for a special live performance at the BBC Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House.

Events Across the UK

Alongside the on-air programming, an exciting range of free events will be held at every BBC site that makes radio drama: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, London and Salford.

Each venue will be opening their doors for the day, offering a rare chance to see behind the scenes, meet your favourite characters as well as the people who play, write and create them.

Events will range from a special effects masterclass in Cardiff, a chance to meet the casts of M.I. High, Wolfblood and The Dumping Ground with CBBC in Salford, plus special screenings of new episodes. You'll meet The Archers in Birmingham Library and discover just how they create the village of Ambridge using only sound.

There will be dedicated behind-the-scenes radio drama workshops in Belfast, Glasgow and Salford as well as the chance to be in the audience for special Character Invasion editions of Saturday Review and Word of Mouth.