When Alan Met Ray
Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4, this warm and affectionate drama tells of the meeting of the two comedy-writing legends Alan Simpson and Ray Galton. When 18-year-old Ray is told he has only six weeks to live, he begins painful treatment to limit the spread of his tuberculosis. In hospital he meets Alan - the same age - who has just been given last rites following a severe hemorrhage. Striking up a friendship, they discover shared interests - football, girls, watching comedy films and listening to the hospital radio. The trials of ward life give rise to their pairing as possibly the two most influential sitcom writers ever.
- Runtime
- 44m
- Released
- 2025
Details
Release year: 2025
Storyline
Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4, this warm and affectionate drama tells of the meeting of the two comedy-writing legends Alan Simpson and Ray Galton. When 18-year-old Ray is told he has only six weeks to live, he begins painful treatment to limit the spread of his tuberculosis. In hospital he meets Alan - the same age - who has just been given last rites following a severe hemorrhage. Striking up a friendship, they discover shared interests - football, girls, watching comedy films and listening to the hospital radio. The trials of ward life give rise to their pairing as possibly the two most influential sitcom writers ever.
Top credits
- Karen Bartke — Alan's Mum
- Phil Cornwell — Wally
- Harry Enfield — Ray Galton
- Tony Gardner — Dr. Ducaine