A woman waits in a hospital bed while her husband tears across London with a priceless suitcase that may or may not contain one egg - their only chance of having a baby.

Written and performed by Olivia Poulet and Laurence Dobiesz, #blessed is inspired by true events of IVF treatment within the NHS. It's funny, a little-bit heart-breaking and, in the end, life-affirming. It's a love story.

Pippa goes under the anaesthetic for extraction from her one viable follicle. Husband Steven is ready and waiting to take the fluid across London in a heavy metal-plated suitcase as quickly as he can. As she waits in recovery, Pippa longs to hear from him, longs to hear good news. Steven faces train cancellations, passengers suspicious of his strange case, and the anxiety of his own performance when he finally reaches his destination. Will there be an egg? Can he fertilise it? The story unfolds through their own anxious internal thoughts, and by text and phone calls. This is their last chance to become a family.

Director Susannah Tresilian is a theatre director as well as a radio and podcast producer.
Writer and actor Olivia Poulet is best known for her performances in The Thick of It and In the Loop.
Laurence Dobiesz is currently writing the second series of his sitcom podcast, Wastes of Space.

Writers: Olivia Poulet and Laurence Dobiesz
Sound Designer: James Morgan
Director: Susannah Tresilian

Producer: Melanie Harris
Executive Producer: Polly Thomas

A Sparklab production for BBC Radio 4. Show less