This radio drama is about two unemployed and lazy best friends, Gary and Steve, who share a flat in East London. Their other friend Neil was similarly unemployed in his youth but is now successful with a family. Neil tries to help Gary and Steve by getting them jobs, but they make fools of themselves in interviews. The characters of Gary, Steve, and Neil are then described. Gary is a conspiracy theorist who believes Neil has been brainwashed by society. Steve is a struggling musician who is always spaced out. Neil is now a family man who is resigned to working to provide for his family, unlike his carefree youth. A budget of £1666 for the 5-minute radio drama is

1. UNIT 42:
RADIO DRAMA
“ ”
BY JACK TANNER

2. STORY
Two best friends Gary and Steve share a flat in east London, the
two are unemployed, painfully lazy and get up to legally
questionable activities. The two have a third friend named
Neil, Neil used to be just like Gary and Steve when they were
younger going to college but managed to make something of
himself when he left college, he is now successful and has a
family of his own and is always pushing Gary and Steve to make
something of themselves. Neil attempts to get Gary and Steve
jobs and they go to a series of job interviews and make complete
fools out of themselves.

3. TARGET AUDIENCE
• Up In Smoke is aimed at an ABC1 audience
• ages of 15 and 35
• comedy - very wide audience
• The main bracket Up in Smoke will be aimed at is
college/university students

4. CHARACTERS - GARY
About – 35 years old white
British, Philosophical conspiracy theorist. He
believes that Neil is just like the rest of society
in that he is brainwashed by the man and that
there is more to life than sucking up to
corporate fat cats to earn money. Gary spends
most of his time on the internet posting about
9/11 conspiracy theories and the Illuminati.
Gary considers himself a hard-core Liberal.
Best friends – Steve, Neil (through college)
Family life – Raised by a nuclear family which
consists of Gary’s mother, father and younger
brother with highly conservative values. Gary is
considered a disappointment by them but it
doesn’t bother him as he believes his family is
brainwashed by the government.

5. STEVE
About – 35 years old, white British, Struggling (and
terrible) musician. Steve is very spaced out all the
time and doesn’t say much but attempts to express
his opinions and emotions through music. Even
though he is told all the time that he is a terrible
musician, he insists that he has almost found his
sound and that he will soon be an accomplished
musician.
Best friends – Neil, Gary (through college)
Family life – Steve came from a broken home, raised
by his mum who was also a hippie from back in the
60’s and would often offer him drugs. She is also the
reason for Steve’s passion for music as his mother
would play endless amounts of Jimmi Hendrix and
dance like she was out of her mind on LSD which she
usually was.

6. NEIL
About – 34 years old, Successful business/family
man. Two children Oscar (7 years old) Louise (10
years old). He is resigned to the fact that his lot in
life is born work and die which causes clashes
between his peers although they remain best
friends. His wife Sandra is always on his case about
everything, especially when he is with Gary and
Steve and Neil often does what his wife tells him.
Best friends – Gary, Steve
Wife – Sandra
Family life – Neil had a standard family
upbringing, his family had high aspirations for him
and although they were worried about him in the
college years the worry didn’t last long when it
became clear that he was very intelligent and well
motivated to succeed.

7. SANDRA
About – 32 years old, white British. Neil’s
wife, controlling evil and neurotic, she doesn’t
like Neil’s friends and although she is never
present these things become obvious in
conversation and phone calls.
Husband – Neil
Family life – Raised in a very traditional
way, conservative political beliefs

8. BUDGET
I have been given £20,000 per hour for my radio drama but I am
only having 5 minutes of radio drama so my budget is £1666
Writer - £555
Actors x4 - £138
Foley artist - £550
Free use of Henley college equipment

9. QUESTIONS?