Marketing Genius

Available for 173 days

What happens when a socially awkward and neurotic part-time comedian becomes a global internet sensation? Should this married father of two quit as a copywriter for a kitchen worktop company to follow a calling that shows no sign of paying the mortgage, the bills or for a variety of bafflingly expensive anthropomorphic steam trains? Or should he keep juggling the increasingly unmanageable balls of office work, family life and comedy? As Michael’s Room Next Door videos amass tens of millions of views online, he finally wins plaudits for his comedy. But it also leads to awkward encounters with fans, stressful award ceremonies and an audition to play an upbeat cheese string. Michael’s wife Roberta pushes him to take chances, wanting him to build on his success while also being desperate to leave her own disappointing job and manage him full-time. After 20 years of making comedy under the radar, can an ordinary person like Michael successfully navigate the unpredictable road to fame? Only you can decide. By listening to the show. Please. Written and performed by Michael Spicer. With: Ellie Taylor Joanna Neary Peter Curran Kiell Smith-Bynoe Greig Johnson Producer: Matt Tiller A Starstruck and Tillervision production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2021.