Cabin Pressure (radio series)
Encyclopedia
Cabin Pressure is a radio situation comedy
series written by John Finnemore
. Its first series was broadcast on BBC Radio 4
in 2008. The show follows the exploits of the oddball crew of the single aeroplane owned by "MJN Air" as they are chartered to take all manner of items, people or animals across the world. The show stars Stephanie Cole, Roger Allam, Benedict Cumberbatch and John Finnemore.
Critical reception to the series was positive and three series have currently been produced, the most recent broadcast in July, 2011, along with a special 2010 Christmas day episode. The theme tune of the series is the Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila by Mikhail Glinka
.
) was given a mid-size jet
aeroplane named "Gertie" (a fictional "Lockheed McDonnell 312"). As a result, she founds her very own single plane charter airline, "MJN Air" ("My Jet Now"), which is crewed by an oddball mixture of characters who fly to various cities around the world, encountering a variety of odd situations.
The airline's only Captain, Martin Crieff (Benedict Cumberbatch
), is younger and less experienced than the co-pilot, First Officer Douglas Richardson (Roger Allam
), who has ended up at MJN after being fired from his previous post for smuggling. In later episodes, it is revealed that Douglas, ashamed of his second-rate job, dresses in Captain's uniform for his wife Helena's benefit, changing to First Officer's uniform before he gets to work. Douglas is, however, something of a smooth operator who knows some of the dodges available to airline officers.
Martin, in contrast, has wanted to be a pilot since he was six years old (before which he wanted to be an aeroplane) but suffers from a distinct lack of ability in that department, barely qualifying for his certification. He took the job with MJN for no salary at all, as long as he could be Captain. He appears to have no outside interests beyond flying. He is a stickler for procedures and regulations, but is more prissy than pompous. At the end of series two he tells Douglas that he survives financially by running a delivery service using the van he inherited from his father. This was his only inheritance because his father believed he would waste any money he received trying to become a pilot. The cockpit crew frequently engage in word games, such as naming Brians [sic.] of Britain, making bets that Douglas always wins or playing 'Simon says
'.
Carolyn's son Arthur (John Finnemore
) is an eager dimwit who is supposed to be the flight attendant but manages to get in everyone's way. Arthur's biggest claim to fame is being the inventor (or at least discoverer) of fizzy yoghurt.
s Nicholas Lezard
praised the first series highly, called "the writing and performances...exceptional" and suggested that the show "deserves an award". Gillian Reynolds of The Daily Telegraph
called Cabin Pressure "one of the best written, cast, acted and directed comedies on anywhere."
award in 2010.
In 2011, John Finnemore won the Best Radio Comedy 2011, awarded by the Writers' Guild of Great Britain
.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
series written by John Finnemore
John Finnemore (writer)
John David Finnemore is a comedy writer and actor best known as a frequent guest on The Now Show and for the radio sitcom Cabin Pressure.-Education:...
. Its first series was broadcast on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
in 2008. The show follows the exploits of the oddball crew of the single aeroplane owned by "MJN Air" as they are chartered to take all manner of items, people or animals across the world. The show stars Stephanie Cole, Roger Allam, Benedict Cumberbatch and John Finnemore.
Critical reception to the series was positive and three series have currently been produced, the most recent broadcast in July, 2011, along with a special 2010 Christmas day episode. The theme tune of the series is the Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila by Mikhail Glinka
Mikhail Glinka
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka , was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition within his own country, and is often regarded as the father of Russian classical music...
.
Plot
As part of her last divorce settlement, Carolyn Knapp-Shappey (Stephanie ColeStephanie Cole
Stephanie Cole, OBE is an English stage, television, and film actress, best known for playing characters a great deal older than her actual age.-Early life:...
) was given a mid-size jet
Business jet
Business jet, private jet or, colloquially, bizjet is a term describing a jet aircraft, usually of smaller size, designed for transporting groups of up to 19 business people or wealthy individuals...
aeroplane named "Gertie" (a fictional "Lockheed McDonnell 312"). As a result, she founds her very own single plane charter airline, "MJN Air" ("My Jet Now"), which is crewed by an oddball mixture of characters who fly to various cities around the world, encountering a variety of odd situations.
The airline's only Captain, Martin Crieff (Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch is an English film, television, and theatre actor. His most acclaimed roles include Stephen Hawking in the BBC drama Hawking ; William Pitt in the historical film Amazing Grace ; the protagonist Stephen Ezard in the miniseries thriller The Last Enemy ; Paul...
), is younger and less experienced than the co-pilot, First Officer Douglas Richardson (Roger Allam
Roger Allam
Roger Allam is an English actor, known primarily for his stage career, although he has performed in film and television. He played Inspector Javert in the original London production of the stage musical Les Misérables....
), who has ended up at MJN after being fired from his previous post for smuggling. In later episodes, it is revealed that Douglas, ashamed of his second-rate job, dresses in Captain's uniform for his wife Helena's benefit, changing to First Officer's uniform before he gets to work. Douglas is, however, something of a smooth operator who knows some of the dodges available to airline officers.
Martin, in contrast, has wanted to be a pilot since he was six years old (before which he wanted to be an aeroplane) but suffers from a distinct lack of ability in that department, barely qualifying for his certification. He took the job with MJN for no salary at all, as long as he could be Captain. He appears to have no outside interests beyond flying. He is a stickler for procedures and regulations, but is more prissy than pompous. At the end of series two he tells Douglas that he survives financially by running a delivery service using the van he inherited from his father. This was his only inheritance because his father believed he would waste any money he received trying to become a pilot. The cockpit crew frequently engage in word games, such as naming Brians [sic.] of Britain, making bets that Douglas always wins or playing 'Simon says
Simon says
Simon says is a children's game for three or more players where one player takes the role of 'Simon' and issues instructions, to the other players, which should only be followed if prefaced with the phrase 'Simon says', for example 'Simon says jump in the air'...
'.
Carolyn's son Arthur (John Finnemore
John Finnemore (writer)
John David Finnemore is a comedy writer and actor best known as a frequent guest on The Now Show and for the radio sitcom Cabin Pressure.-Education:...
) is an eager dimwit who is supposed to be the flight attendant but manages to get in everyone's way. Arthur's biggest claim to fame is being the inventor (or at least discoverer) of fizzy yoghurt.
Reception
The IndependentThe Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
s Nicholas Lezard
Nicholas Lezard
Nicholas Lezard is an English journalist and literary critic.Lezard has a weekly column, 'Nicholas Lezard's choice', reviewing paperback books for the Guardian. He also writes for the Independent, and writes the 'Down and Out in London' column for the New Statesman.-External links:* at journalisted...
praised the first series highly, called "the writing and performances...exceptional" and suggested that the show "deserves an award". Gillian Reynolds of The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
called Cabin Pressure "one of the best written, cast, acted and directed comedies on anywhere."
Awards
Cabin Pressure was nominated for a Writers' Guild of Great BritainWriters' Guild of Great Britain
The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, established in 1959, is a trade union for professional writers. It is affiliated with both the Trades Union Congress and the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds .-Activities:...
award in 2010.
In 2011, John Finnemore won the Best Radio Comedy 2011, awarded by the Writers' Guild of Great Britain
Writers' Guild of Great Britain
The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, established in 1959, is a trade union for professional writers. It is affiliated with both the Trades Union Congress and the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds .-Activities:...
.
Episode list
While it has never been formally announced, it has become apparent that the episode titles are inspired by letters of the alphabet beginning with the first episode, "Abu Dhabi", followed by "Boston" etc. In Series 2 and 3 the episodes were broadcast out of the original intended order for various reasons. A hypothetical Series 4 would therefore have episodes beginning with letters "T" through "Y".Series one
| No. | Episode No. | Title |
|---|
Series two
| Number | Episode No. | Title |
|---|
Christmas Special
| Number | Episode No. | Title |
|---|
Series three
| No. | Episode No. | Title |
|---|