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Semi Circles: The Complete Series 1 and 2

By: Simon Brett
Narrated by: David Wood, Paula Wilcox, full cast
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Summary

Paula Wilcox and David Wood star in this BBC Radio sitcom about an upwardly mobile husband and wife climbing the social ladder in suburbia.

Helen and Ben have recently moved into a lovely semi-detached house in an up-and-coming area and are eager to restore their home to its original character (complete with open fireplace in the living room and milkmaid's yoke on the wall). They're also keen to host dinner parties and mix with the right sort of people - to the bafflement of their elderly neighbour, Mrs Kelly, who's lived in the neighbourhood all her life and preferred it before it filled up with middle-class incomers.

In these 12 episodes, Ben and Helen join an action committee to oppose the opening of a new restaurant on their street, contemplate the attractions of the countryside and squabble over spending Christmas with Helen's mother in West Wittering. Plus, Helen flirts with feminism, Ben contemplates private education and the couple unite to fight the forces of materialism....

Written by Simon Brett, whose sitcom credits include After Henry, this improving story of life and improving times in an improving neighbourhood stars Paula Wilcox as Helen and David Wood as Ben.

Produced by Pete Atkin.

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1st March - 5th April 1982 (Series 1), 16th November - 21st December 1982 (Series 2).

Cast:

Helen - Paula Wilcox

Ben - David Wood

Mrs Kelly - Pat Heywood

Alastair - Bruce Alexander/Tony Millan

Mr Juke - Arthur English

Roger - Ben Aris

Mo - Penelope Nice

Mr Mukerjee - Tariq Yunis

Willy - Robert Longden

Blythe - Bryan Coleman

Perpetua - Patience Tomlinson

Laura - Anita Carey

Nigel - James Griffiths

Linda - Jill Lidstone

Kevin - Stuart Organ

Julian - Mark Wing-Davey

Maureen - Miranda Forbes

Doctor - Robert Rietty

Mr Cullingford - Michael Bilton

Dick - David Gooderson

Marian - Jean Trend

Neil - Nick Wilton

Britt - Rosalind Adams

©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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What listeners say about Semi Circles: The Complete Series 1 and 2

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Wry is probably the word

A gently satirical look at 1980s suburban smugness. None of the behaviours and ways of thinking portrayed have changed in their essentials. It makes for easy and amusing listening.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

sadly was put off early in the audio

racial content heard which did upset me. I nevcontinued to listen pass the scene that started with the ignorant neighbour. ignorance didn't appear to be tackled so I stopped listening.cannot give an overall review.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Boring!

Not as I expected. Very tedious and boring, no story to speak of. Waste of a credit. First bad listen in about 50!

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3 people found this helpful