大象传媒

Roberta鈥檚 networking as Michael鈥檚 part-time, unpaid manager is finally paying off and she is beginning to get her husband some serious industry traction. She lines up an audition for the prestigious topical panel show, To Put It Another Way. Unfortunately, this lands Michael in a bear pit of bullying stand up comedians who are used to the gladiatorial nature of these shows. Encountering a bitter, aggressive stand-up is enough to put Michael off being a comedian for good.

As the restructuring process at work comes to a climax (being re-interviewed for the job he already has) Michael is at a very low ebb. Feeling like a comedy failure after acting as a punch bag at the panel show run through, he is now certain he is for the chop.

In spite of the battering he received in front of an audience at the TV run through, he receives encouragement from stand-up comic Natalie Duke, who gives Michael an idea that might change everything. Could he really could give up the day job?

Roberta is pushing Michael hard to take the plunge and use the platform his Room Next Door following has created to forge a comedy career, with her as his full-time manager, of course. But it seems that she is far more keen to ditch her secure day job than Michael is, especially when his boss at the kitchen worktop company delivers his plan to reorganise the company.

Will Michael take the plunge? Will Roberta take the plunge? Will you take the plunge and give it a listen?

Performers: Michael Spicer with Ellie Taylor, Joanna Neary, Susan Wokoma, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Greig Johnson, Tara Flynn and Peter Curran

Writer: Michael Spicer
Producer: Matt Tiller

A Starstruck production for 大象传媒 Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2021.