Anna Madley

Mr Blue Sky (Radio 4, yesterday) was billed as a "warm comedy" but as it drew towards its final episode it grew chillier, deeper. Mark Benton starred as the man in the title, husband, father, hopeless salesman with the infuriating habit (I know it's infuriating because I share it) of always looking on the bright "could-have-been-worse" side. His wife is flirting with the builder, his daughter has brought home a nightmare live-in boyfriend, his son has grievances, he loses his job. On top of all that he gets shot in the head then discovers he already has a potentially fatal aneurysm, about both of which he subsequently keeps silent. Funny? Well, yes. Andrew Collins, the writer, understands people. Anna Madley, for independents Avalon, let it be overplayed at first but brought it finally sailing home on a wing and a tear.