British Comedy Guide
Linda Smith's A Brief History Of Timewasting. Linda (Linda Smith). Copyright: BBC
Linda Smith's A Brief History Of Timewasting

Linda Smith's A Brief History Of Timewasting

  • Radio sketch show / sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2001 - 2002
  • 12 episodes (2 series)

Linda Smith wrote and starred in this Radio 4 sitcom, playing a version of herself living in East London and struggling with the minutiae of life. Also features Margaret John, Femi Elufowoju Jr, Chris Neill, Jeremy Hardy and Martin Hyder

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Key details

Genres
Sketch Show, Sitcom
Broadcast
2001 - 2002
Episodes
12 (2 series)
Stars
Linda Smith, Margaret John, Femi Elufowoju Jr, Chris Neill, Jeremy Hardy and Martin Hyder
Writer
Linda Smith
Producers
Lucy Armitage and Jon Rolph
Company

In this sitcom, Linda Smith plays a version of herself living in her East London house, dealing with the chaos caused by her inept live-in builder Chris, the demands of her morbid elderly neighbour Betty, and Wara, the enthusiastic Nigerian minicab driver.

Linda's trademark cynical and surreal observations on life run through this show, which ran for two series in 2001 and 2002. After her death in 2004, Jeremy Hardy revealed that Linda had been working on a third series.

Additional details

Also known as
  • A Brief History Of Timewasting
Production
Studio
Soundtrack
The theme music is Flowers on the Wall by The Statler Brothers

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Sunday 27th August 2023 at 11:00pm on Radio 4 Extra - Series 1, Episode 6
  • Sunday 20th August 2023 at 11:00pm on Radio 4 Extra - Series 1, Episode 5
  • Sunday 13th August 2023 at 11:00pm on Radio 4 Extra - Series 1, Episode 4

Recording details

  • BBC Broadcasting House - Series 1
  • The Drill Hall - Series 2

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