Ability

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BBC Radio 4 FM

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Comedy: Sitcoms

Sitcom about Matt, who has cerebral palsy and can only speak using an app on his tablet.

Sitcom about Matt, who has cerebral palsy and can only speak using an app on his tablet. Co-written by Lee Ridley and Katherine Jakeways.

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 LW

Lee Ridley

Allan Mustafa

Katherine Jakeways

Ability: Series 1: The Date

The Date

Series 1

BBC Radio 4 - Ability, Series 1, The Date

Matt persuades his carer Bob to pretend to be him and ring a prospective internet date.

Matt has cerebral palsy only speaking via an app. Will his carer pretend to be him for an online date? Stars Lee Ridley. From 2018.

Matt can only speak via an app. Will his carer pretend to be him for an online date?

Matt is 25. He has cerebral palsy and can only speak via an app on his iPad. Everyone who cares about Matt knows that this isn't the defining thing about him. He is funny and clever and "up for stuff" - partly because he is keen to show that there's nothing he can't do, but also because, if he's honest, he's aware that he's less likely than other people to get the blame. 

Now Matt's left home for the first time and moved in to share a flat with his best mate, Jess. But when Bob (Allan Mustafa) shows up as the new carer, the fun really starts. Bob is new to the job and, although willing, domestic duties are not really his forte. He's better at selling weed and dealing in knocked off iPads.

But he likes Matt and treats him like a real person. So, as far as Matt is concerned, Bob is here to stay. 

Matt ...... Lee Ridley
Bob	...... Allan Mustafa
Writer ...... Lee Ridley
Writer ...... Katherine Jakeways

Ability is the semi-autobiographical co-creation of Lee Ridley, otherwise known as Lost Voice Guy. Like his sitcom creation, Lee has cerebral palsy and can only speak via an app. Lost Voice Guy is - probably - the first stand up comedian to use a communication aid. 

Katherine Jakeways is the co-creator and co-writer of Ability

A Funny Bones production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2018.

Ability: Series 1

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