Audiobooks by James Kettle

The Headset Set: The Complete Series 1 and 2: A BBC Radio 4 comedy drama

"The BBC Radio sketch show set in a vast call centre Smile5 is the mail-order catalogue company that sells anything and everything, from foot spas to fishing insurance, Rolex watches to lawnmowers. And way out of town, miles from anywhere, is its immense call centre, populated by the Headset Set: team leader Sailesh, recently transferred from Bangalore and hiding a dark secret; long-term employee (and determined technophobe) Bernie; self-loathing, streetwise cynic Aleesha; and Big Tony, who treats the job as a sideline to his own, somewhat shadier enterprises. Along with Ralph, the unsympathetic head of training; childlike Bradley, who's too nervous to make calls; and the recalcitrant HR department, they spend their days dealing with strange requests and even stranger people. In these twelve hilarious episodes, we eavesdrop on both sides of their bizarre, horrific and ludicrous phone calls, as well as following the ups and downs of call centre life. Series 1 sees the hapless operators thrown into chaos by a new phone system; falling ill en masse; coping with appraisal day and reacting to the news that their colleague Dan has died. And in Series 2, the team welcome new colleague Scott, deal with missing lunches and a massive hole in the middle of the office; bring their dogs to work and prepare to suffer the Curse of the Thermostat... This sparkling sketch show was created by Stephen Carlin and James Kettle, penned by a team of comedy writers - including established names such as Madeleine Brettingham and Jon Hunter as well as new, emerging talent - and script edited by Dan Tetsell and James Kettle. It stars Chizzy Akudolu, Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Colin Hoult, Phaldut Sharma, Philip Fox and Lucy Montgomery. Credits Created by Stephen Carlin and James Kettle Written by Madeleine Brettingham, Stephen Carlin, Kevin Core, Rob Gilroy, Rebecca Hobbs, Colin Hoult, Jon Hunter, James Kettle, Tom Neenan, Celia Pacquola, Ben Partridge, Dale Shaw, Dan Tetsell and Andy Wolton Script editors: Dan Tetsell and James Kettle Produced by Tilusha Ghelani Cast Aleesha - Chizzy Akudolu Bernie - Margaret Cabourn-Smith Big Tony/Ralph - Colin Hoult Sailesh/Bradley - Phaldut Sharma Various - Philip Fox and Lucy Montgomery Other characters played by the cast First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 June-28 July 2011 (Series 1), 1 November-6 December 2012 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

James Kettle, Stephen Carlin (Author), Chizzy Akudolu, Colin Hoult, Lucy Montgomery, Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Phaldut Sharma, Philip Fox (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tom Wrigglesworth's Hang Ups: Series 1-5

"Listen in on award-winning comedian Tom Wrigglesworth’s family phone calls in these five fantastic series ‘A keenly observed, comical joy’ Stuart Heritage, The Guardian In these 24 episodes, Tom Wrigglesworth phones home for his weekly check-in, giving us a funny, fascinating glimpse into his family background and the influences that have shaped his temperament, opinions and hang-ups. As the conversations unfold, Tom takes time out from the calls to explain the situation and his parents’ reactions, and relate various anecdotes from the past which illustrate his family's views. And sometimes he just needs to sound-off about life’s everyday annoyances. There’s the fact his parents don’t trust him with his own car or sister, some terrifying stag weekend shenanigans, a neighbourly good deed that lands Tom in trouble and a dodgy exchange on a train. Meanwhile, Mum and Dad deal with a problematic package holiday, a flood at the family home, an unexpected Christmas visitor and some new neighbours – while Gran enters the cut-throat world of competitive well-dressing, tries to help Tom with a ‘gambling situation’ and gets involved in smuggling. But amid the trials and tribulations, there are triumphs, as Dad celebrates a milestone in governmental reform, Mum learns to drive and Tom recounts a milestone in his own life – the arrival of his newborn twin daughters. Tom Wrigglesworth's Hang-Ups lets us eavesdrop on the Wrigglesworth clan in all their dysfunctional glory – so sit back and enjoy a bit of totally legal phone hacking in thesehilarious helpings of down-the-line adventures.Tom Wrigglesworth stars as himself, with Judy Parfitt, Rita May and Elizabeth Bennett as Granny, Paul Copley as Dad, Kate Anthony as Mum and Amy Wrigglesworth as Amy."

James Kettle, Miles Jupp, Tom Wrigglesworth (Author), Full Cast, Tom Wrigglesworth (Narrator)

Audiobook

Wordaholics: The Complete Series 1-3: The word-obsessed BBC comedy panel show

"All 18 episodes of Radio 4's word-obsessed comedy panel game hosted by Gyles Brandreth, where stars from across the world of wordplay come together to guess the meanings of now-obsolete words, invent their own clichés and cockney rhyming slang, discuss their own favourite words and phrases - and suggest words they would like to ban. This witty and unexpected show brings you toponyms, abbreviations, euphemisms, old words, new words, cockney rhyming slang and Greek gobbledegook. Find out the meaning of words like giff-gaff, knock-knobbler and buckfitches; the difference between French marbles, French velvet and the French ache; hear the glorious poetry of the English language, as practiced from writers varying from William Shakespeare to Vanilla Ice; and spend time laughing and learning with some of the finest Wordaholics in the business. With top guests including Stephen Fry, Jack Whitehall, Michael Rosen, Susie Dent, Alex Horne, Paul Sinha, Robin Ince, Josh Widdecombe, Natalie Haynes, Dave Gorman, Richard Herring, Ed Byrne, Jenny Eclair and Milton Jones. Written by Jon Hunter and James Kettle. Produced by Claire Jones."

James Kettle, Jon Hunter (Author), Alex Horne, Dave Gorman, Gyles Brandreth, Jack Whitehall, Michael J. Rosen, Paul Sinha, Richard Herring, Robin Ince, Stephen Fry, Susie Dent (Narrator)

Audiobook