Reviving the spirit of Comedy Playhouse

A collection of six comedy pilots from upcoming writers has been released as a download collection.

The shows are the result of a competition to revive the spirit of the BBC’s anthology series Comedy Playhouse, run by production company  Big Finish. 

The winning script, The Cracks Are Showing by Cy Henty and Alan Ronald, plus the five runners-up have now been produced as full-cast audio episodes. 

Actors taking part include Two Doors Down’s Siobhan Redmond,  Judy Flynn from The Brittas Empire, impressionist Jessica Martin, and Timothy Bentinck from The Archers. 

Here’s a summary of each of the pilots, available now as a single download to own from www.bigfinish.com, priced £19.99.

Sad Sunk Rock by Tom Worsley

After his girlfriend dumps him and he proves unbearable, Victor is sent to join three other marine biologists on the isolated island of Sad Sunk Rock; they are Elspeth, who has been there for 38 years and talks to the sheep, Deborah, who has had no contact with the outside world, and Ally, a wild-eyed Scotsman who is technically twins, slightly radioactive and who once fought an alligator in the Amazon. Victor's first thought is to return to the mainland at the first opportunity, but somehow he begins to feel that he might fit in...

Scribbling by Amy Xander

Four inhabitants of a rural, West Country town - Madeleine, Edward, Ling and Beth - reluctantly bond after joining a writers' group run by brazen new resident Laurie, a former entertainer still desperate for an audience. 

Members by Jack Bradfield and Fergus Macdonald

The House of Commons during the reign of King George II is a strange and cloistered world of the corrupt and the eccentric, where the main businesses of the day are boozing, whoring, and trying to get pudding served earlier. Due to an administrative mix-up, the young Henry Fthistle finds himself elected to parliament, and finds it is almost impossible to leave. (Cast pictured above)

Square Peggs by Jenny Devaux and Phil Butcher

It's the Peggs first day in their new country home, but all is not well - there's no mobile signal, no takeaway, the neighbours are... different, and Dawn's run over the previous owner's cat. Can anything else go wrong?

Golden Sands by Toby Walker

Chortle-by-Sea is a bleak, desolate and decaying seaside town, and few visitors come to purchase the peculiar novelties from Julie's gift shop or to sample the delights of Sue's chip shop. And it is not much of a place for the young, awkward Rowan and Sophie to have a blossoming romance. It is, however, the ideal place for a murder.

The Cracks are Showing by Alan Ronald and Cy Henty

When Karloff goes for an interview to be an 'office scapegoat', he is found to be too optimistic for the position, and is thrown out of the window. In his death, he is joined by painter and philosopher William Blake on a metaphysical quest through the underworld to find out who is responsible for humankind's misery.

The competition was run with writers’ association Write On Comedy with a  judging panel that included comedy historian Robert Ross, impressionist Steve Nallon and actress Jane Lamacraft.

Comedy Playhouse originally aired for 128 episodes from 1961 to 1975 and spawned hits including Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part, Up Pompeii!, The Liver Birds, Are You Being Served? and Last Of The Summer Wine.

A revival of nine pilots between 2014 and 2017 led to a full series of the Spencer Jones sitcom Mister Winner.

Published: 27 Nov 2025