One (radio series)

One is a radio comedy series created by David Quantick. It is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 4 Extra.^[1] Each episode lasts 15 minutes and consists of a series of vignettes, each of which features only a single voice.

Subjects

The style and subject matter of the vignettes is varied, but some themes recur.

• Unusual messages recorded on answering machines.
• Readings of notes found in a guest book at a vacation home, featuring bizarre complaints.
• Audio guides to museums that have obscure or bizarre exhibits.
• Parodies of commentaries in the style of well-known personalities, sometimes read by the personalities themselves, such as Jeremy Clarkson reading "Top Dog", or bird expert Bill Oddie describing, in the style of a nature documentary, a typical encounter between Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner.
• Recitations of ideas such as personal crises, bad moods, T-shirt slogans etc., in the style of the Shipping Forecast. For example:

"And now with the time approaching 5 pm,

It's time for the mid-life crisis forecast...

Forties; restless: three or four.

Marriage: stale; becoming suffocating.

Sportscar, jeans and t-shirt; westerly, five.

Waitress; blonde; 19 or 20.

Converse all stars; haircut; earring; children;

becoming embarrassed.

Tail between legs; atmosphere frosty;

Spare room: five or six."

Performers

Performers include Graeme Garden, Dan Antopolski, Simon Greenall, Lizzie Roper, and Deborah Norton. Those appearing as themselves include Jeremy Clarkson and Bill Oddie.

References