Rudy’s Rare Records: The Complete Series 1-4: A BBC Radio Comedy

Lenny Henry stars in this family comedy set in the finest, feistiest old reggae record shop in Birmingham

‘A joy’ Chris Campling, The Times

Rudy Sharpe is the irrepressible owner of a tiny, ramshackle record store, stacked from floor to ceiling with piles of vinyl. It’s a place with real soul, where the slogan is ‘If we don't have it – them don't mek it’. Helping out behind the counter is Tasha, Handsworth’s only Black goth girl, while Rudy’s best friend Clifton regularly drops in to talk music, women and rum.

When Rudy has a 'heart attack', his long-suffering, middle-aged son Adam reluctantly returns from London to look after him, leaving behind his own classical music shop, Bach to Basics. Accompanying Adam is his teenage son, Richie, who is less than thrilled with the prospect of going to Birmingham, but bonds with his granddad over their shared love of reggae and ska.

Crammed together, sharing the minuscule flat above the shop, the trio collide on a daily basis. Forced to survive each other’s company, can they put their differences aside, keep the store afloat and keep the vinyl dream alive?

Starring Lenny Henry as Adam, Larrington Walker as Rudy and Joe Jacobs as Richie, this feelgood comedy celebrates three generations of Sharpe men bantering, bickering, breaking up and making up – all to a terrific, toe-tapping soundtrack.


Credits
Starring Lenny Henry
Written by Danny Robins, Dan Tetsell and Paula Hines from an original idea by Lenny Henry
Script edited by Danny Robins
Additional material by Doc Brown and Leah Chillery
Produced by Lucy Armitage and Katie Tyrell

Cast
Adam Sharpe – Lenny Henry
Richie Sharp – Joe Jacobs
Rudy Sharpe – Larrington Walker
Doreen/Ms Rogers/Carolina – Claire Benedict
Jamelia/Tasha – Natasha Godfrey
Clifton – Jeffery Kissoon
Alison/Doctor – Tracy-Ann Oberman
Customers – Colin Hoult/Doc Brown
Francis – Michael Fenton Stevens
DJ Karel/Police officer/Sgt Popper – Andrew Brooke
Landlord – Gresby Nash
Diabolicus – Adam de Ville
Trev the Hoodie/Rapper – Doc Brown
Tunde – Femi Elufowoju
Karen – Susie Riddell
Craig/RSPCA man/Hoodie 2 – Joe Sims
Darnell – Javone Prince
Secret Shopper/Lucinda – Sarah Thom
Ainsley Harriott – Himself
Twitch/Trader/Customer/Dealer/Hoodie/Attila/Receptionist – Adam Nagaitis
Bernard Sheedy – Justin Moorhouse
Brinsley Forde – Himself
Katerina – Liza Sadovy
Miss Reenie – Angela Wynter

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 February-18 March 2008 (Series 1), 14 October-4 November 2009 (Series 2), 18 January-22 February 2011 (Series 3), 9 October-13 November 2012 (Series 4)

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