Ability

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

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 FM

Ability: Series 3: VDP Experience

VDP Experience

Series 3

BBC Radio 4 - Ability, Series 3, VDP Experience

Matt, Bob and Jess go to a festival to celebrate Jess's birthday. But Matt is much more interested in tracking down Anna, who he believes is also there, so he can make amends.

Matt is 27. 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.

In this third series of the award-nominated comedy, Matt is still sharing a flat with his best mate, Jess (Sammy Dobson). And he still has his rubbish carer, Bob (Jason Lewis.) And now, finally, Matt has met a woman (Anna, played by Lisa Hammond). But no sooner had they met than Matt managed to upset her - and by doing something he should definitely have know better about too - making her feel uncomfortable about using a wheelchair. 

So now, Matt finds himself at a festival, supposedly to celebrate Jess's birthday, but all he really wants to do is find Anna, who he believes is also there, so he can make amends. 

Ability is the semi-autobiographical co-creation of the 2018 Britain’s Got Talent winner, Lee Ridley, otherwise known as Lost Voice Guy. Like his sitcom creation, Lee has cerebral palsy and can only speak via an app. He is - probably - the first stand up comedian to use a communication aid. Prior to BGT, Lee won the BBC New Comedy Award in 2014. He has written and performed four full Edinburgh shows and completed major sell out tours of the UK.

The series is co-written by Kat Butterfield and Daniel Audritt. It's set in Newcastle and many of the cast last played together as children in Biker’s Grove.


A Funny Bones production for BBC Radio 4

Ability: Series 3

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Third series of the semi-autobiographical co-creation of Lee Ridley, aka Lost Voice Guy.

Third series of the semi-autobiographical co-creation of the 2018 Britain's Got Talent winner, Lee Ridley, otherwise known as Lost Voice Guy.

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