The Prospect: A BBC Radio Political Drama
"Newly-elected MP Bobby Khan navigating the corruption and tricky world of politics, power and community life.
Bobby Khan has a bright future ahead of him. Young, charismatic and ambitious, he’s recently got married to his long-term girlfriend Lucy, and has just won an important by-election in the Northern constituency of Floxton West.
As an Asian MP, he hopes to improve race relations in his community and bring people together – but when a white DJ is found beaten to death, and a Muslim constituent is arrested for his murder, Bobby faces pressure from the accused’s family to get involved. Then his cousin Wasim is imprisoned on terrorism charges, and Bobby’s idealism is shattered as he becomes embroiled in a series of personal and political dilemmas.
Two years later, the dust has settled, and Bobby is a rising star in Westminster, with his sights set on a ministerial position. But a family bombshell and a blackmailer turn his life upside down once more – and when he backs an animal-testing laboratory in his constituency, he finds himself facing a violent backlash...
Nitin Ganatra and Zubin Varla play Bobby in this thrilling tale of politics, power, corruption and betrayal. Among the stellar cast are Vincent Ebrahim, Bhasker Patel, Barbara Marten, Christopher Bisson, Gillian Kearney, Nicola Stephenson and Sacha Dhawan.
Content Warning: Contains strong language and deals with themes of racism
Production credits
Series 1 written by Avie Luthra and Gary Brown
Series 2 written by Mike Harris, Jon Sen and Avie Luthra
Produced and directed by Pauline Harris
Cast
Bobby Khan – Nitin Ganatra/Zubin Varla
Elizabeth – Barbara Marten
Imran – Vincent Ebrahim/Bhasker Patel
Wasim – Christopher Bisson
Terry – John McArdle
Ayesha – Archie Panjabl
Lucy – Gillian Kearney/Nicola Stephenson
Paul Deacon – David Fleeshman
Rashid Choudry – Amer Nazlr
Rhobina Choudry – Rani Moorthy
Craig Williams – Sam Curtis
Jerome – Aaron Cobham
Newsreader – Mark Edwardson
Martha Kearney – Herself
Harry/Hanif – Sacha Dhawan
DI Brown/Pathologist – Seamus O’Neill
Mike Winters – Michael Feast
Barry – Lee Boardman
Isabella – Fiona Clarke
David/Geraint – James Quinn
Sara – Millie Rose Kinsey
Shazia/Woman – Balvinder Sopal
Ali – Darren Kuppan
Graham – Jonathan Keeble
Karl – Graeme Hawley
Minister – Malcolm Raeburn
Helen – Christine Brennan
News reporter – Shari Vahl
School children from St Mary's Church of England Infant and Junior School, Manchester
Fraud adviser: Shari Vahl
Political adviser: Andrew Russell
Music consultant: Philip Tagney
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 May-8 June 2007 (Series 1), 31 July-14 August 2009 (Series 2)
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"
Avie Luthra, Gary Brown, Jon Sen, Mike Harris (Author), Archie Panjabi, Barbara Marten, Christopher Bisson, Full Cast, Gillian Kearney, Nitin Chandra Ganatra, Sacha Dhawan, Vincent Ebrahim, Zubin Varla (Narrator)
Audiobook
