Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children

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BBC Radio 4 LW

Comedy

Comedy: Standup

A mix of stand-up and documentary about his unusual home life from comedian Ashley Blaker.

A mix of stand-up and documentary, all recorded in the Blakers' home with the voices of Ashley's real family, tackling parenting, adoption and raising children with special needs.

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Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children: Series 1: Lockdown

Lockdown

Series 1

BBC Radio 4 - Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children, Series 1, Lockdown

In the final episode of the series, Ashley Blaker recalls parenting during lockdown.

New comedy from Ashley Blaker about his unusual home life. In the final episode of the series, Ashley Blaker recalls the challenges of parenting during lockdown.

New comedy from stand-up comedian Ashley Blaker about his unusual home life. In the final episode of the series, Ashley recalls the challenges of parenting during lockdown when he had to home school six children at six very different levels. He also wonders if, despite the hardships, this was actually a golden period to be looked back on with great affection. If nothing else, it was a year mostly without the horror of family trips.

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

Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children: Series 1

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

Comedy from stand-up comedian Ashley Blaker about his unusual home life.

A mix of stand-up and documentary, all recorded in the Blakers' home with the voices of his real family, tackling parenting, adoption and raising children with special needs.

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Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children

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