Drama of the Week

Nick Warburton's comedy drama returns. It takes us to the Fens and the Platters' boatyard nestled on the river.

The Platter community is an eccentric one and at its heart is the chaotic pairing of Pat and his sister Libby. Libby, after a long absence, appears to be back to stay and so does Ravi, the newcomer, who Libby took under her wing. Can they all muddle along together in harmony? Possibly but there are hidden Platter secrets still waiting to be uncovered.

Libby ..... Monica Dolan
Pat ..... Oliver Chris
Ravi ..... Waleed Akhtar
Greg ..... Django Bevan

Directed by Tracey Neale

This second story, narrated by Pat, kicks off with a crisis: Martine, the boatyard Manager (who had a fear of water) has walked out. Her shock departure presents Pat with a problem. Either he runs the boatyard himself or employs someone else. Either idea makes him anxious.

Libby proposes a plan. Both her and Ravi will apply for the job. She’ll ensure Ravi gets it. Although Ravi has experience (he hasn’t) and bristles with good ideas (daydreams), is this ever going to work out for the best?

There are gorgeous trips along the river and over to Blake’s Island. Plans need to be made to thwart a troublesome visitor. But there are unresolved issues and hidden secrets between Pat and Libby that need to be uncovered.

The Writer:
Nick Warburton's wonderful, gentle touch with family dramas is no secret to Radio 4 listeners, as shown in Mardle Fen, Holding Back the Tide, Downstream, and The Archers.

The Cast:
Monica Dolan (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Sherwood, The Change)
Oliver Chris (Rivals, My Lady Jane)
Waleed Akhtar (Won an Olivier Award for his play 'The P Word')
Django Bevan (2025 BBC Carleton Hobbs winner)

Producer & Director: Tracey Neale

Technical Producers:
Keith Graham and Sam Dickinson

Production Co-Ordinators: Sara Benaim and Clare Ewing

This drama was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

Four young idealists - Sonia, Kieran, Indigo and Ayad - fall under the spell of charismatic thinker Faith Abbott at university and channel her ideas into a bold political experiment: Project Hope.

In 2020 they start to reinvent politics from the ground up. But nearly a decade on Britain stands divided, and the group has splintered. When Sonia discovers Faith has denounced Project Hope from beyond the grave, she is forced to revisit the group's remarkable beginnings. Was their experiment always doomed to fail?

Good People is a fictional story set against our very real political moment, examining the rise of populism, the perceived failure of politics-as-usual, and the deep divisions that run though our country and beyond.

This is the first episode in an ambitious six-part state of the nation drama from award-winning political writer Steve Waters.

CAST
Sonia ..... Natalie Simpson
Faith ..... Anastasia Hille
Kieran ..... Nicholas Armfield
Indigo ..... Alby Baldwin
Ayad ..... Ikky Kabir
Philip ..... Clive Hayward
Gabe ..... Django Bevan
Abbie ..... Iona Champain

Writer ..... Steve Waters
Sound ..... Andy Garratt, Keith Graham, Sam Dickinson
Casting Manager ..... Alex Curran
Script Development ..... Abigail Le Fleming
Production Co-ordinator ..... Kate Gray
Assistant Producer ..... Luke MacGregor
Director ..... Anne Isger

A BBC Studios Audio production.

This drama was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4.