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Rielly Newbold

Philip Jackson

Tony Bell

Cassie Leyton

Carolyn Pickles

Heather Craney

Matthew Watson

David Cann

Clive Hayward

Sasha Yevtushenko

Justin Hopper

Drama on 4: Dog Days

Dog Days

10/06/2014

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Dog Days

By Justin Hopper. Poignant drama set in the world of independent greyhound racing.

Set in the world of independent greyhound racing (or 'flapping'), Justin Hopper's poignant drama tells of three generations of men all connected with the sport.

By Justin Hopper

Set in the world of independent greyhound racing ('flapping'), Justin Hopper's poignant drama tells of three generations of men all connected with the sport.

Teenager Carl and his grandfather Eric dream of one day breeding a winning greyhound and in Angelfish they believe they might have a star. At the track, Angelfish surpasses all expectations and wins her first race. But Carl's euphoria is cut short when he comes face-to-face with his father Mick, who left without a trace years previously. Although Carl can barely remember him, Mick is desperate to be given a second-chance. But Eric has heard it all before; his son has an ominous track record of letting everyone down and he can't bear to see it happen to Carl again. Has Mick really changed his ways or is this return just part of another ruse?

Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko

In the UK there are two types of greyhound racing; registered racing, which is regulated by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain; and 'flapping', which exists independently. Although it's not illegal, flapping requires no licensing and there's no code of practice. For some, it's just about the sport and the dogs. For others, it's all about the gambling - and with that come shady characters, dangerous criminality and foul play. Our drama is a compelling story about fathers and sons which opens up this little-known world to the listener.

Justin Hopper graduated from the National School of Film and Television in 2001. His credits since then include Number 13 (BBC4), The Hanged Man (BBC4) and How To Make a Million in Slavery (BBC1). His first radio play, The Greater Good, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2009, and his second play The Weighing Room in 2010.

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