Cabin Pressure (radio series): Difference between revisions
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As part of her last divorce settlement, Carolyn Knapp-Shappey ([[Stephanie Cole]]) was given a [[Business jet|mid-size jet]] aeroplane named "Gertie" (a fictional "Lockheed McDonnell 312"<ref>''Qikiqtarjuaq''</ref>, registration G-ERTI). As a result, she founds her very own single plane [[charter airline]], "MJN Air" ("My Jet Now"), which is crewed by an oddball mixture of characters who fly to various cities around the world, encountering a variety of odd situations. |
As part of her last divorce settlement, Carolyn Knapp-Shappey ([[Stephanie Cole]]) was given a [[Business jet|mid-size jet]] aeroplane named "Gertie" (a fictional "Lockheed McDonnell 312"<ref>''Qikiqtarjuaq''</ref>, registration G-ERTI). As a result, she founds her very own single plane [[charter airline]], "MJN Air" ("My Jet Now"), which is crewed by an oddball mixture of characters who fly to various cities around the world, encountering a variety of odd situations. |
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The airline's only Captain, Martin Crieff ([[Benedict Cumberbatch]]), has wanted to be a pilot since he was six years old (before which he wanted to be an aeroplane). He suffers, however, from a distinct lack of ability in that department. He was rejected by at least one flight school, and had to put himself through the required coursework, barely qualifying for his certification - on his |
The airline's only Captain, Martin Crieff ([[Benedict Cumberbatch]]), has wanted to be a pilot since he was six years old (before which he wanted to be an aeroplane). He suffers, however, from a distinct lack of ability in that department. He was rejected by at least one flight school, and had to put himself through the required coursework, barely qualifying for his certification - on his seventh attempt. He took the job with MJN for no salary at all, as long as he could be Captain.<ref>''Gdansk''</ref> He appears to have no outside interests beyond flying. He is a stickler for procedures and regulations, but is more prissy than pompous. At the end of series two he tells Douglas that he survives financially by running a delivery service using the van he inherited from his father. This was his only inheritance because his father believed he would waste any money he received trying to become a pilot. |
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First Officer Douglas Richardson ([[Roger Allam]]) is, on the other hand, a quite competent pilot who worked for Air England - until he was fired for embezzlement. He chafes at his subordinate position to Martin, and misses no opportunity to flaunt his superiority in the younger pilot's face. In later episodes, it is revealed that Douglas, ashamed of his second-rate job, dresses in Captain's uniform for his wife Helena's benefit, changing to First Officer's uniform before he gets to work. Douglas is, however, something of a smooth operator who knows all of the dodges available to airline officers, and enjoys taking part in all of them. |
First Officer Douglas Richardson ([[Roger Allam]]) is, on the other hand, a quite competent pilot who worked for Air England - until he was fired for embezzlement. He chafes at his subordinate position to Martin, and misses no opportunity to flaunt his superiority in the younger pilot's face. In later episodes, it is revealed that Douglas, ashamed of his second-rate job, dresses in Captain's uniform for his wife Helena's benefit, changing to First Officer's uniform before he gets to work. Douglas is, however, something of a smooth operator who knows all of the dodges available to airline officers, and enjoys taking part in all of them. |
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Revision as of 16:00, 2 February 2012
| Genre | Comedy |
|---|---|
| Running time | 28 minutes |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | BBC Radio 4 |
| Starring | Stephanie Cole, Benedict Cumberbatch, Roger Allam, John Finnemore |
| Written by | John Finnemore |
| Directed by | David Tyler |
| Produced by | David Tyler |
| Original release | 2008 |
| No. of series | 3 (plus Xmas special) |
| Audio format | Stereophonic sound |
Cabin Pressure is a radio situation comedy series written by John Finnemore. Its first series was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2008.[1][2] The show follows the exploits of the oddball crew of the single aeroplane owned by "MJN Air" as they are chartered to take all manner of items, people or animals across the world. The show stars Stephanie Cole, Roger Allam, Benedict Cumberbatch and John Finnemore.
Critical reception to the series was positive and three series have currently been produced, the most recent broadcast in July, 2011, along with a special 2010 Christmas day episode.[3] Cabin Pressure will return for a fourth series in 2012.[4] The theme tune of the series is the Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila by Mikhail Glinka.
Crew
As part of her last divorce settlement, Carolyn Knapp-Shappey (Stephanie Cole) was given a mid-size jet aeroplane named "Gertie" (a fictional "Lockheed McDonnell 312"[5], registration G-ERTI). As a result, she founds her very own single plane charter airline, "MJN Air" ("My Jet Now"), which is crewed by an oddball mixture of characters who fly to various cities around the world, encountering a variety of odd situations.
The airline's only Captain, Martin Crieff (Benedict Cumberbatch), has wanted to be a pilot since he was six years old (before which he wanted to be an aeroplane). He suffers, however, from a distinct lack of ability in that department. He was rejected by at least one flight school, and had to put himself through the required coursework, barely qualifying for his certification - on his seventh attempt. He took the job with MJN for no salary at all, as long as he could be Captain.[6] He appears to have no outside interests beyond flying. He is a stickler for procedures and regulations, but is more prissy than pompous. At the end of series two he tells Douglas that he survives financially by running a delivery service using the van he inherited from his father. This was his only inheritance because his father believed he would waste any money he received trying to become a pilot.
First Officer Douglas Richardson (Roger Allam) is, on the other hand, a quite competent pilot who worked for Air England - until he was fired for embezzlement. He chafes at his subordinate position to Martin, and misses no opportunity to flaunt his superiority in the younger pilot's face. In later episodes, it is revealed that Douglas, ashamed of his second-rate job, dresses in Captain's uniform for his wife Helena's benefit, changing to First Officer's uniform before he gets to work. Douglas is, however, something of a smooth operator who knows all of the dodges available to airline officers, and enjoys taking part in all of them.
The cockpit crew frequently engage in word games, such as naming Brians [sic.] of Britain, making bets that Douglas always wins or playing 'Simon says'.
Carolyn's son Arthur (John Finnemore) is an eager dimwit in his late 20s, who is supposed to be the flight attendant but usually manages to get in everyone's way. Arthur is a relentless optimist, whose biggest claim to fame is being the inventor (or at least discoverer) of fizzy yoghurt (the recipe for which is yoghurt plus time).
Reception
The Independent's Nicholas Lezard praised the first series highly, called "the writing and performances...exceptional" and suggested that the show "deserves an award".[7] Gillian Reynolds of The Daily Telegraph called Cabin Pressure "one of the best written, cast, acted and directed comedies on anywhere."[8]
Awards
Cabin Pressure was nominated for a Writers' Guild of Great Britain award in 2010.[9]
In 2011, John Finnemore won the Best Radio Comedy 2011, awarded by the Writers' Guild of Great Britain[10][11].
Episode list
While it has never been formally announced, it has become apparent that the episode titles are inspired by letters of the alphabet beginning with the first episode, "Abu Dhabi", followed by "Boston" etc. In Series 2 and 3 the episodes were broadcast out of the original intended order for various reasons.[12] Series 4 would therefore have episodes beginning with letters "T" through "Y".
Series one
| No. | Episode No. | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Abu Dhabi" | July 2, 2008 |
| 2 | 2 | "Boston" | July 9, 2008 |
| 3 | 3 | "Cremona" | July 16, 2008 |
| 4 | 4 | "Douz" | July 23, 2008 |
| 5 | 5 | "Edinburgh" | July 30, 2008 |
| 6 | 6 | "Fitton" | August 6, 2008 |
Series two
| No. | Episode No. | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | "Helsinki" | July 17, 2009 |
| 8 | 2 | "Gdansk" | July 24, 2009 |
| 9 | 3 | "Ipswich" | July 31, 2009 |
| 10 | 4 | "Johannesburg" | August 7, 2009 |
| 11 | 5 | "Kuala Lumpur" | August 14, 2009 |
| 12 | 6 | "Limerick" | August 21, 2009 |
Christmas Special
| No. | Episode No. | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | "Molokai" | December 25, 2010 |
Series three
| No. | Episode No. | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1 | "Qikiqtarjuaq" | July 1, 2011 |
| 15 | 2 | "Paris" | July 8, 2011 |
| 16 | 3 | "Newcastle" | July 15, 2011 |
| 17 | 4 | "Ottery St Mary" | July 22, 2011 |
| 18 | 5 | "Rotterdam" | July 29, 2011 |
| 19 | 6 | "St Petersburg" | August 5, 2011 |
References
- ^ Entry at epguides.com
- ^ BBC Radio site for the series
- ^ Happy Birling Day
- ^ John Finnemore (31 December 2011). "24 Things I drew this month - Thing Twenty Four. Plus...Cabin Pressure news". Forget What Did.
- ^ Qikiqtarjuaq
- ^ Gdansk
- ^ Nicholas Lezard (10 August 2008). "Cabin Pressure, Radio 4 : Scratch the surface and there's a classic British sitcom beneath". The Independent. London. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
- ^ Gillian Reynolds (18 July 2011). "A strike and a scandal keep Radio 4 on its toes". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
- ^ "Guild Awards 2010 – shortlists announced". Writers' Guild. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
- ^ Writers' Guild Awards 2011 - winners
- ^ "Victoria Wood awarded top TV honour from Writer's Guild". BBC News. 17 November 2011.
- ^ John Finnemore (19 July 2011). "Newcastle". Forget What Did.
External links
- John Finnemore. "Forget What Did". Blogger.