Black Pudding

The offer of an honorary degree at a less than prestigious ex-polytechnic sends Peter into a depressive spiral, as he questions whether he has wasted his life.

The team call on the chief psychiatrist to the academic profession, the radical Doctor Bloch.

Starring Simon Callow, Miles Jupp and Jane Horrocks.

Comedy about the inept staff at a historic house.

Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the Lake District. But one place they never go to is Plum House - the former country home of terrible poet George Pudding (1779-1848).

Now a crumbling museum, losing money hand over fist, it struggles to stay open under its eccentric curator Peter Knight. Tom Collyer tries and fails to get the museum back on track, alongside the hopelessly out of touch deputy Julian, corner-cutting gift shop manager Maureen, put-upon education officer Emma, and enthusiastic but dim-witted caretaker Alan.

Written by Ben Cottam and Paul McKenna

Peter ...... Simon Callow
Maureen ...... Jane Horrocks
Julian ...... Miles Jupp
Tom ...... Tom Bell
Alan ...... Pearce Quigley
Emma ...... Louise Ford
Doctor Bloch ...... Steve Pemberton
Steve Clegg ...... Alex Lowe
Vice Chancellor ...... Alex Lowe
Receptionist ...... Sarah Daykin

Producer: Sarah Cartwright
Director: Paul Schlesinger

A Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2018.