The Bully

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Drama on 4: The Bully

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, The Bully

A powerful drama based on the true ordeal of a young boy's obsessive compulsive disorder.

Zalie Burrow's drama tells the inspiring but sometimes harrowing story of a mum's quest to find the right treatment for her son's obsessive compulsive disorder.

Zalie Burrow's drama based on the true ordeal of a mum and her young son's traumatic journey with obsessive compulsive disorder.  At times harrowing and painful but with love, hope and inspiration at its core.

Mum, Kate ..... Juliet Aubrey
Joe ..... Charlie Brand
Angie/Mrs Morton ..... Tracy Wiles
Dr Taylor ..... Hasan Dixon
Virginia Steele ..... Jessica Turner
Doreen ..... Jane Slavin
Professor Dickinson/Bruce ..... Nicholas Murchie
Older Joe ..... Luke Nunn

Writer Zalie Burrow
Directed by Tracey Neale

OCD, left untreated, can quickly overwhelm the sufferer and in Joe's case it leads to entire days being filled from beginning to end with repeated rituals, intrusive thoughts and irrepressible panic.  Based on a true story, Zalie Burrow tells the harrowing story of Kate and her son Joe and their painful but yet inspiring path in finding the right treatment for OCD.

The Bully stars Juliet Aubrey as Joe's mum Kate.  Juliet played Dorothea in BBC TV's Middlemarch and was the Narrator, George Eliot in Radio 4's recent adaptation of the novel.  She also played Edith in five series of Radio 4's The Little Ottleys.  Juliet's other TV and film work includes Primeval, Five Daughters, Snatch, Go Now, Fallen, The Infiltrator and LX 2048.

And Joe is played by Charlie Brand.  This is his first lead role in a audio drama.  His previous work includes playing young Linton in Radio 4's adaptation of Wuthring Heights..

This is Zalie's second drama for Radio 4 but her first solo credit.  Her first drama, co-written with Guy Meredith, was 24 Hours From Tulse Hill.  Zalie has previously written on-line dramas for The Wireless Theatre Company.  Her play School Run appeared at the Leicester Square Theatre and Canal Cafe Theatre.

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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