Ability

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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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 LW

Ability: Series 4: Blood, Sweat and Dribble

Blood, Sweat and Dribble

Series 4

BBC Radio 4 - Ability, Series 4, Blood, Sweat and Dribble

After a double date with Jess's new hunk, Matt joins the gym in an effort to impress Anna.

After a double date with Jess's new hunk, who just happens to be a gym instructor, Matt is pressured into joining the gym. He sincerely hopes his efforts will impress Anna.

Matt (played by Lee Ridley, aka Lost Voice Guy) is 28. 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. Matt is funny and clever and "up for stuff". 

Matt shares a flat with his best mate, Jess (Sammy Dobson). He has a rubbish carer, Bob (Jason Lewis). And finally, last year, in series 3 Matt met Anna (Lisa Hammond). They have loads in common and she is even a wheelchair user so they can share their annoyance and grief and same sense of humour at people's crazy attitudes to disabilities.

Now in series 4 of this award nominated comedy, Matt has been with Anna for six months. They are just back from what should have been a romantic weekend away, but Matt is now worried that when Anna fell over in the hotel he wasn't able to pull her up again. So when Jess's new hunky boyfriend (Harry Hepple) offers to give Matt a training session in the gym, he reluctantly agrees. 

Ability is the semi-autobiographical co-creation of Lee Ridley, who, like Matt, has Cerebral Palsy and uses his iPad to speak. Producer Jane Berthoud started developing this sitcom with Lee after he won the BBC New Comedy Awards in 2014. Lee later went on the win Britain's Got Talent in 2018. 

The series is set in Newcastle. 

Written by Lee Ridley, Kat Butterfield and Daniel Audritt
A Funnybones production for BBC Radio 4

Ability: Series 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.

Matt is worried that Anna is becoming more carer than girlfriend.

Matt has been with his girlfriend Anna for six months now, and is worried that she has all too easily slipped into the role of carer. He sets out to un-blur the lines.

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Ability

Series 4

Blood, Sweat and Dribble

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