Hennikay

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

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Comedy: Sitcoms

Bill Bailey stars as a man who unexpectedly meets his imaginary childhood friend Hennikay.

Bill Bailey stars as a stressed-out businessman, whose life is unexpectedly turned upside down by someone he hasn't seen for 45 years: his imaginary childhood friend, Hennikay.

Bill Bailey stars as a stressed-out businessman, whose life is unexpectedly turned upside down by someone he hasn't seen for 45 years: his imaginary childhood friend, Hennikay.

Acclaimed comedian (and Strictly Come Dancing champion) Bill Bailey leads a cast which includes Dave Lamb and Elizabeth Carling in this warm, funny look at childhood, adulthood and some of the follies of modern life; where a man with a confused child in his head might just be the sanest person in the room.

Written by David Spicer

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 LW

Hennikay: Series 1: 4. Going Home

4. Going Home

Series 1

BBC Radio 4 - Hennikay, Series 1, 4. Going Home

Guy goes back home to where it all started to see if he can make sense of Hennikay.

Bill Bailey stars as a stressed-out businessman, whose life is unexpectedly turned upside down by someone he hasn’t seen for 45 years - his imaginary childhood friend, Hennikay.

Bill Bailey stars as Guy Starling, a middle aged man who, after 45 years, and for reasons quite unknown to him, is suddenly revisited by his imaginary childhood friend, Hennikay.

Things have come to a head for Guy. He has lost his job, he’s running out of money and, most worrying of all, his 11-year-old imaginary friend, Hennikay, is still a very permanent – and annoying – fixture in his life. No matter how hard he tries to persuade him that he doesn’t exist, he just can’t get him to leave.

And so in a last-ditch attempt to understand why his old friend has returned from his childhood and just what he wants, Guy decides to go back home to where it all started and see his Mum – who unfortunately for him, is not imaginary.

Over the years Guy has found that trips back to his boyhood home never go smoothly, but this one becomes spectacularly rocky. As mother and son share some uncomfortable home truths, family skeletons are dragged out of cupboards and Guy gets stuck in a bush.

As always, Hennikay is there to save the day and this time in the most unexpected way. Because, as he tells Guy, just because he’s imaginary, doesn’t mean he’s not real.

Cast:
Guy – Bill Bailey
Tony – Dave Lamb
Marika – Elizabeth Carling
Sheila - Miranda Richardson
Hennikay – Max Pattison

Written by David Spicer
Producer: Liz Anstee
A CPL production for BBC Radio 4

Hennikay: Series 1

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

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Hennikay

Series 1

4. Going Home

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