Reluctant Persuaders

In this opening episode, the agency is shaken by the arrival of a new accounts chief, Amanda Brook who is determined to rebrand and re-launch the agency as a legitimate business.

Inept creative team Joe and Teddy, two recent graduates who are still not entirely sure what it is they're supposed to be doing, find themselves fighting to save their jobs and prove they are not quite as clueless as they appear.

Meanwhile, creative director and advertising legend Rupert Hardacre is appalled to discover Amanda expects him to do slightly more than play golf and drink whisky all day.

And receptionist Laura...well, she doesn't care what happens.

The team must work together as they head to the Advertise NOW! Awards and find an answer to the question - how do you advertise yourself?

Amanda Brook - Josie Lawrence

Joe - Matthew Baynton

Teddy - Rasmus Hardiker

Laura - Olivia Nixon

Director: Alan Nixon

Producer: Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015.

The agency is shaken by the arrival of a new accounts chief.

Horrified at seeing his name associated with such a low calibre of clients, creative director and advertising legend Rupert Hardacre resolves to bring in a better class of account. He enlists Amanda's help to chase down McCutcheon's Whisky, a client he worked with many years earlier.

While Hardacre and Amanda head off, Joe and Teddy are left at the office determined to prove that they can design a poster, hire a plumber, and interview a client entirely unsupervised. Their jobs may just depend on it.

Amanda Brook - Josie Lawrence

Joe - Matthew Baynton

Teddy - Rasmus Hardiker

Director Alan Nixon

Producer Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4.

Rupert Hardacre enlists Amanda's help to win back one of his old accounts.

Back at the office, hopeless creative team Joe and Teddy devise a campaign for an anti-aging cream for men. Worse, they must grapple with the most difficult and least glamorous form of advertising of all - radio work.

They find themselves unexpectedly assisted by creative director Rupert Hardacre who descends from on high at Amanda's instruction to give the little people the benefit of his creative wisdom. The only trouble is, he seems to have forgotten most of it. Fortunately, he wrote it all down in a book entitled Hardacre on Advertising and he sets out to find a copy for Joe and Teddy.

Amanda Brook - Josie Lawrence

Joe - Matthew Baynton

Teddy - Rasmus Hardiker

Director: Alan Nixon

Producer: Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015

The agency must grapple with the lowest form of advertising of all - the radio.

Moreover, thanks to a herculean effort by accounts chief Amanda Brook, the agency will be featured in an article in industry bible Campaign. It's a chance to answer their critics and take control of their image. A reporter is coming by today to interview the team, and Amanda needs them at their very best. Or - failing that - their least incompetent.

But the team has other things on their mind. Like Joe's divorce lawyer, who seems to have developed a sideline as a blacksmith. Or their campaign for Hardacre's mysterious gentlemen's club. Or why Teddy is covered in spiders.

Or what to do when the office lift breaks down, stranding Joe, Teddy, Amanda, and Hardacre between floors, with the woman from Campaign due any minute.

Edward Rowett's sitcom starring Nigel Havers as Rupert Hardacre, Mathew Baynton as Joe, Josie Lawrence as Amanda Brook and Rasmus Hardiker as Teddy.

Director: Alan Nixon

Producer: Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015.

The team try to overcome their greatest challenge - exiting a lift.

Welcome back to Hardacre's, the worst advertising agency in London.

Series two of Edward Rowett's award-winning sitcom starring Nigel Havers, Mathew Baynton and Josie Lawrence.

We find the team a little higher up the proverbial ladder. No longer fighting to stay afloat, but now fighting to get ahead, this week the team are confronted with an unexpected challenge - a can of water.

Tasked by accounts manager Amanda with creating a campaign to sell water to impoverished millennials, copy-writer Joe and art director Teddy face an unsettling question - can you convince people with no money to buy something they could have for free? And even if you can - should you?

As ever, they are alternately assisted and obstructed by their washed up creative director and self-professed advertising god, Rupert Hardacre and disinterested receptionist Laura.

Amanda - Josie Lawrence

Teddy - Kieran Hodgson

Laura - Olivia Nixon

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2017.

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017.

London's worst advertising agency, Hardacre's, tries to put the excitement back into water. Stars Nigel Havers. From 2017.

[LISTEN NOW]

The worst advertising agency team in London are unexpectedly in demand.

The marketing manager of nutrition company Protein Team enlists their services for a huge poster campaign, aimed at selling protein shakes to women.

Yet no sooner is their ad up - featuring a slender woman, and an even more slender bikini - than Hardacre's find themselves at the centre of a media storm over misogyny, body-shaming, and the evils of advertising.

Wracked with guilt and determined to make amends, Joe clashes with his older and more cynical creative director Rupert Hardacre and accounts manager Amanda, who are convinced that sex sells and all publicity is good publicity. But in an age of Twitter storms and third-wave feminism, are they behind the times?

Edward Rowett's award-winning sitcom.

Amanda - Josie Lawrence

Jordan - Richard Goulding

Teddy - Kieran Hodgson

Laura - Olivia Nixon

Tube announcer - David Fairs

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2017.

The team discover their Protein Team campaign has gone viral. And not in a good way.

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017.

London's worst advertising agency discovers a campaign's gone viral – and not in a good way. Stars Nigel Havers. From 2017.

[LISTEN NOW]

The worst advertising agency team in London are on the lookout for a charity prepared to accept their work.

While Joe is determined to do some good in the world, Amanda and Hardacre are more interested in winning prestige and awards with a buzzy new charity campaign.

As Joe and Teddy head out into the streets and soup kitchens of London, looking for the ground level stories that make a good campaign, Amanda and Hardacre spend an evening at a fundraiser organised by Hardacre's old brother in arms Bill Lessing.

But where's he been for the last ten years? And what exactly does his charity do?

Edward Rowett's award-winning sitcom.

Amanda - Josie Lawrence

Jordan - Richard Goulding

Teddy - Kieran Hodgson

Bill Lessing - Mark Evans

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2017.

The Hardacre ad agency attempts to do some charitable work.

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017.

Can London's worst advertising agency soothe their souls with some charitable work? Stars Nigel Haves. From April 2017.

[LISTEN NOW]

Things are looking up for Hardacre's, the worst advertising agency in London. They're pitching for the biggest account of their lives - the cutting edge new smartphone, the Cosmos X10.

It's the day of the big pitch and Hardacre, Joe, Teddy, Amanda, and Laura are waiting to be called in. They may be waiting rather a long time, in fact, as they appear to have turned up six hours early.

As the day unfolds and the wait continues, it emerges that some of the team may have something to hide. Is there more at stake than meets the eye? And what does it have to do with Charles Blackwell, Hardacre's oldest and dearest nemesis?

Edward Rowett's award-winning sitcom.

Amanda - Josie Lawrence

Teddy - Kieran Hodgson

Laura - Olivia Nixon

Charles Blackwell - Martin Jarvis

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2017.

Nigel Havers stars, as Hardacre's ad agency fight for the biggest account of their lives.

In a battle for survival, can London's worst advertising agency win their biggest contract? Stars Nigel Havers. From April 2017.

[LISTEN NOW]

The return of Edward Rowett's award-winning sitcom.

Series two ended in euphoria, as Hardacre's secured their biggest ever account - the Cosmos X10 smartphone.

Now there's a reality check, as the team realise how woefully ill-equipped they are to handle a client of this magnitude.

Accounts manager Amanda Barnes immediately sets to work hiring new staff, while agency chief and creative director Rupert Hardacre heads into London's Soho to secure new and grander premises.

Meanwhile on the creative side, copywriter Joe Starling begins to doubt his ability to deliver work for an account this size, despite reassurance from his art director and best friend Teddy Beech, leading Joe to take drastic action.

Hardacre - Nigel Havers

Amanda - Josie Lawrence

Teddy - Rasmus Hardiker

Doctor - Holly Morgan

Barista - Andrew Nolan

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2018.

Hardacre's advertising agency lands its biggest-ever account.

After losing the biggest account of their careers - the Cosmos X10 smartphone - the team have slid back down the greasy pole and find themselves once again serving only the smallest and least interesting clients around.

While Joe, Amanda and Hardacre continue to feel sorry for themselves, Teddy is determined to lift their spirits. Appointing himself chief morale officer, he sets out to brighten the mood at the agency with a succession of increasingly ill-advised morale-boosting schemes.

What starts with an innocuous Hawaiian shirt day soon snowballs into a team-building and bonding exercise none of the staff will ever forget.

Edward Rowett's award-winning sitcom.

Hardacre - Nigel Havers

Amanda - Josie Lawrence

Teddy - Rasmus Hardiker

Laura - Olivia Nixon

WPC and Crystal - Holly Morgan

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2018.

Nigel Havers stars as Hardacre's ad agency go on a team-building day.

After losing the biggest account of their careers – the Cosmos X10 smartphone – the team have slid back down the greasy pole and find themselves once again serving only the smallest and least interesting clients around.

Befriendr is a dating-style app designed to help lonely city-dwellers make friends.

Amanda recruits Joe as the most normal member of the agency, to accompany her to the Befriendr launch event - a chance to network, and maybe even make some new friends themselves.

Meanwhile, Hardacre and Teddy - both banned from attending the event for not being normal enough - seek solace in each other's company.

Hardacre resolves to remake Teddy in his own image, teaching him how to be A Real Man.

Edward Rowett's award-winning sitcom.

Hardacre - Nigel Havers

Amanda - Josie Lawrence

Teddy - Rasmus Hardiker

Laura / 'Gram Woman - Olivia Nixon

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2018.

Hardacre's ad agency compete for a dating app account called Befriendr. With Nigel Havers.

Amanda recruits Joe as the most normal member of the agency, to accompany her to the Befriendr launch event – a chance to network, and maybe even make some new friends themselves.

Meanwhile, Hardacre and Teddy – both banned from attending the event for not being normal enough – seek solace in each other's company.

Soon he has Joe and Amanda hooked on them as well, and all work is put on hold as the team obsess over the most exciting books they've ever read.

Meanwhile, Hardacre receives a visit from old flame Laurie, and finds himself caught in a battle for her affections with a wholly unexpected opponent.

Edward Rowett's award-winning sitcom.

Hardacre - Nigel Havers

Amanda - Josie Lawrence

Teddy - Rasmus Hardiker

Laura - Olivia Nixon

Laurie Patterson - Frances Barber

Book Launch Host - Edward Rowett

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2018.

Nigel Havers stars as Rupert Hardacre gets a visit from an old friend.

Work at Hardacre's advertising agency is brought to a standstill when Teddy becomes obsessed with a series of literary thrillers – the continuing adventures of John Soldier in titles such as Kill And Let Die and The Deathman Cometh.

Their efforts are complicated by the arrival at the agency of Elgin Hardacre, hired by his father as a copywriter - despite having no relevant skills or experience.

While Hardacre shows no interest in his son and Amanda dismisses him as an idiot and resolves to fire him by the end of the week, Joe and Teddy take pity on Elgin and take him under their wing.

In the process, they discover that however bad Hardacre might be as a boss, he's infinitely worse as a father - and Elgin in turn reveals some peculiar beliefs.

Edward Rowett's award-winning sitcom.

Hardacre - Nigel Havers

Amanda - Josie Lawrence

Teddy - Rasmus Hardiker

Laura - Olivia Nixon

Elgin - James Northcote

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2018.

With Nigel Havers. Hardacre's son Elgin joins the team and reveals some strange beliefs.

Their efforts are complicated by the arrival at the agency of Elgin Hardacre, hired by his father as a copywriter – despite having no relevant skills or experience.

In the process, they discover that however bad Hardacre might be as a boss, he's infinitely worse as a father – and Elgin in turn reveals some peculiar beliefs.

He's quit his job at Hardacre's advertising agency.

A few hours earlier on Christmas Eve and Hardacre's are having a party. Rupert Hardacre (Nigel Havers) has pulled out all the stops to celebrate the agency's most successful year ever. By creating a wildly popular TV ad for Walton's department store, Hardacre's have reached the Promised Land - the reputation of the agency is restored and their future is secured. And it's all thanks to Joe.

Joe, Hardacre, Amanda and Teddy gather to celebrate their achievement, get drunk, sing some karaoke and ring in Christmas. For once, everything at Hardacre's has gone right and everyone is happy.

So how has Joe ended up in that bar?

Hardacre - Nigel Havers

Amanda - Josie Lawrence

Teddy - Rasmus Hardiker

Narrator - Victoria Rigby

Bartender - Mark Evans

Christmas Ad Voice Over - Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2018.

Nigel Havers stars as Hardacre's ad agency have a Christmas party.

It's February 2019, nobody's ever heard of a coronavirus, and Rupert Hardacre hasn't been seen since Christmas.

At the agency, things have been running remarkably smoothly in his absence. Still high on the success of his Christmas campaign for Walton's department store, Joe (Mathew Baynton) is filling Hardacre's shoes as creative director, while accounts manager Amanda (Josie Lawrence) is enjoying herself as de facto head of the agency. Only art director Teddy (Rasmus Hardiker) frets about the whereabouts of their missing leader.

As Joe discovers the perks of being creative top dog, running with a new crowd and making a new friend (Oliver Chris), everyone begins to ask themselves the same question...

Who needs Rupert Hardacre?

Cast:

Nigel Havers – Hardacre

Mathew Baynton – Joe

Josie Lawrence – Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker – Teddy

Oliver Chris – Ace

Holly Morgan – Client/Waitress

Esh Alladi – Mikey

Written by Edward Rowett

Directed by Alan Nixon

Script edited by Mark Evans

Edited and Engineered by Jerry Peal

Production Manager: Sarah Tombling

Based on an original idea by Edward Rowett and Robert Frimstone

Recorded at The Soundhouse Studios, London

Produced by Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4

Hardacre's ad agency returns for a new series. One problem - Rupert Hardacre is missing.

Nigel Havers - Hardacre

Mathew Baynton - Joe

Josie Lawrence - Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker - Teddy

Oliver Chris - Ace

Holly Morgan - Client/Waitress

Esh Alladi - Mikey

For Amanda (Josie Lawrence), Joe (Mathew Baynton), and Teddy (Rasmus Hardiker), relief at his return soon turns to anxiety as Hardacre and Lake begin to remake the agency in their own image, adopting a more holistic approach to creativity.

As the rest of the team gradually warms to Lake, Joe finds himself increasingly isolated, and resolves to discover exactly what has happened to the Rupert Hardacre he thought he knew.

Cast:

Nigel Havers - Hardacre

Mathew Baynton - Joe

Josie Lawrence - Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker - Teddy

Rebekah Staton - Lake

Written by Edward Rowett

Directed by Alan Nixon

Script edited by Mark Evans

Edited and Engineered by Jerry Peal

Production Manager: Sarah Tombling

Based on an original idea by Edward Rowett and Robert Frimstone

Recorded at The Soundhouse Studios, London

Produced by Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely Production for the BBC

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4

Nigel Havers stars, as Rupert Hardacre returns to his ad agency a much changed man.

Nigel Havers – Hardacre

Mathew Baynton – Joe

Josie Lawrence – Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker – Teddy

Rebekah Staton – Lake

The celebrations are interrupted by Teddy's brother Frederick (Kieran Hodgson), who is determined the time has come for Teddy to make something of his life. But Teddy is more concerned about keeping a promise to Mr Hardacre, in an adventure with cowboys, spies, rock stars, and Milk Tray men.

Cast:

Nigel Havers - Hardacre

Mathew Baynton - Joe

Josie Lawrence - Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker - Teddy

Kieran Hodgson - Frederick

Written by Edward Rowett

Directed by Alan Nixon

Script edited by Mark Evans

Edited and Engineered by Jerry Peal

Production Manager: Sarah Tombling

Based on an original idea by Edward Rowett and Robert Frimstone

Recorded at The Soundhouse Studios, London

Produced by Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4

Nigel Havers stars, as Hardacre's ad agency celebrates a birthday.

It's Teddy's (Rasmus Hardiker) birthday, and Joe (Mathew Baynton) has pulled out all the stops to celebrate – even roping an unwilling Amanda (Josie Lawrence) and Hardacre (Nigel Havers) into the festivities.

Nigel Havers – Hardacre

Mathew Baynton – Joe

Josie Lawrence – Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker – Teddy

Kieran Hodgson – Frederick

Amanda (Josie Lawrence) and Hardacre (Nigel Havers) compete to pull Joe out of his funk, and prove to the other that they are the more gifted mentor. Meanwhile Teddy (Rasmus Hardiker) has worries of his own, as he attempts to care for a new pet.

Cast:

Nigel Havers - Hardacre

Mathew Baynton - Joe

Josie Lawrence - Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker - Teddy

Written by Edward Rowett

Directed by Alan Nixon

Script edited by Mark Evans

Edited and Engineered by Jerry Peal

Production Manager: Sarah Tombling

Based on an original idea by Edward Rowett and Robert Frimstone

Recorded at The Soundhouse Studios, London

Produced by Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4

Mathew Baynton stars, as Joe discovers grief is a thing with feathers.

Nigel Havers – Hardacre

Mathew Baynton – Joe

Josie Lawrence – Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker – Teddy

Amanda (Josie Lawrence) wants the conference room, Teddy (Rasmus Hardiker) wants to eat Joe's lunch, and Hardacre (Nigel Havers) just wants to know what on earth he's doing.

As he attempts to negotiate himself five minutes of peace, Joe finds himself dragged into a discussion of different methods of self-improvement, self-help, and self-realisation.

Cast:

Nigel Havers – Hardacre

Mathew Baynton – Joe

Josie Lawrence – Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker – Teddy

Written by Edward Rowett

Directed by Alan Nixon

Script edited by Mark Evans

Edited and Engineered by Jerry Peal

Production Manager: Sarah Tombling

Based on an original idea by Edward Rowett and Robert Frimstone

Recorded at The Soundhouse Studios, London

Produced by Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4

Nigel Havers stars, as Hardacre's ad agency attempts to get through a lunch hour.

Nigel Havers - Hardacre

Mathew Baynton - Joe

Josie Lawrence - Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker - Teddy

Joe, Hardacre (Nigel Havers), Amanda (Josie Lawrence), and Teddy (Rasmus Hardiker) arrive at the ceremony to eat, drink, and be merry – and celebrate the agency's rise to respectability.

But when a familiar foe resurfaces (Martin Jarvis) things begin to veer off course, and what should be a night of triumph turns into one of recrimination and revelation, that threatens the future of Hardacre's itself.

Cast:

Nigel Havers – Hardacre

Mathew Baynton – Joe

Josie Lawrence – Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker – Teddy

Martin Jarvis – Charles Blackwell

Victoria Rigby – MC

Olivia Penhallow – Waitress

Written by Edward Rowett

Directed by Alan Nixon

Script edited by Mark Evans

Edited and Engineered by Jerry Peal

Production Manager: Sarah Tombling

Based on an original idea by Edward Rowett and Robert Frimstone

Recorded at The Soundhouse Studios, London

Produced by Gordon Kennedy

An Absolutely production for BBC Radio 4

Nigel Havers stars, as Hardacre's ad agency is nominated for an award.

Joe, Hardacre (Nigel Havers), Amanda (Josie Lawrence), and Teddy (Rasmus Hardiker) arrive at the ceremony to eat, drink, and be merry - and celebrate the agency's rise to respectability.

Nigel Havers - Hardacre

Mathew Baynton - Joe

Josie Lawrence - Amanda

Rasmus Hardiker - Teddy

Martin Jarvis - Charles Blackwell

Victoria Rigby - MC

Olivia Penhallow - Waitress