Charlotte and Lillian

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Comedy: Sitcoms

Comedy by about a young charity volunteer and the old lady she has been paired with.

Comedy by Holly Walsh and Kat Sommers about a young charity volunteer and the old lady she has been paired with. With Miriam Margolyes and Helen Monks.

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 FM

Charlotte and Lillian: Series 2: 1. The Game

1. The Game

Series 2

BBC Radio 4 - Charlotte and Lillian, Series 2, 1. The Game

Charlotte has met a new man, prompting Lillian to offer her best dating advice.

Charlotte has met a new man, so Lillian offers her best dating advice. Stars Helen Monks and Miriam Margolyes. From 2019.

Charlotte and Lillian are back, spending time together as part of a Befriend the Elderly scheme. 

They may bicker about everything from signs of dementia to the appeal of Harry Styles, but underneath it’s clear they are two kindred spirits. Two selfish, self-absorbed spirits, but ones who mirror and rely on each other nonetheless.

Very nearly 30, Charlotte is still living at home with her parents and chronically unable to figure out what to do with her life. Beneath her attempt at do-gooding is barely disguised despair. She's terrified she is no good. Useless. Unloveable. She looks to Lillian to provide some meaning to her life - if she can help to improve Lillian’s life somehow, she’d feel a lot better about her own. And there’s all the kudos and social media likes that come with charity work - not to mention the lure of Lillian's large spare room. 

Lillian meanwhile is still her ebullient self, but her facade hides a nagging fear of what's to come - her body is giving up on her. Lillian's motto is still “Keep Buggering On” – aka keep getting at Charlotte – but increasingly, she’s forced to wonder why. She masks all this by doubling down and manipulating Charlotte into carrying out all her menial tasks. If Charlotte won’t do them, there are plenty of other volunteers who will.

Charlotte has met a new man, prompting Lillian to offer up her best dating advice.  Things may have changed since Lillian’s day, but some of her suggestions contain hard-won, ageless wisdom. 

The trouble is, Charlotte can't tell which ones – and Lillian may not have her best interests at heart.

Charlotte    ......    Helen Monks
Lillian    ......    Miriam Margolyes

Written by Kat Sommers and Holly Walsh.

Producer: Lucy Armitage

A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4,  first broadcast in October 2019.

Charlotte and Lillian: Series 2

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Charlotte and Lillian are back together. Starring Helen Monks and Miriam Margolyes.

Charlotte and Lillian are back, spending time together as part of a Befriend the Elderly scheme. Starring Helen Monks and Miriam Margolyes.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Charlotte and Lillian

Series 2

1. The Game

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4