New comedy from stand-up comedian Ashley Blaker about his unusual home life. In episode two, Ashley tells the story of how the Blakers came to add to their already hectic home by adopting a two-year-old girl with Down Syndrome.

Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children is a mix of stand-up and observational documentary, all recorded in the Blakers’ unusual home with the voices of his real family, and tackling parenting, adoption and raising children with special needs.

The series brings a whole new perspective to the subject of parenting. That is because as parents of six children, Ashley and his wife Gemma are trying to raise a family in a world that is only really set up for having two. What's more, the Blakers’ children are not just any kids. Three have special needs – two autistic boys and an adopted girl with Down Syndrome – and Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children sensitively finds the funny in both raising children with disabilities and adoption.

The series is written and performed by Ashley Blaker - a comedian who has performed on five continents including tours of the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Israel and Australia. His 2018 Off-Broadway run was called ‘a slickly funny stand-up show’ by the New York Times and, in 2020, he returned with Goy Friendly which ran at the prestigious SoHo Playhouse.

Ashley is joined by Shelley Blond (Peep Show, Cold Feet and the voice of Lara Croft in Tomb Raider), Kieran Hodgson (three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee), Rosie Holt (online lockdown star with countless viral videos) amd Judith Jacob (EastEnders, The Real McCoy, Still Open All Hours).

Also appearing as themselves are Ashley’s own children: Ami (17), Ophie (15), Simi (13), Soroh (12), Sruly (11) and Bina (7).

Producer: Steve Doherty
A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4 Show less