Mr Blue Sky

Mr Blue Sky, a four-part comedy drama written by Andrew Collins, finished on Monday on a wistful note, with ever-optimistic Harvey - the Mr Blue Sky of the title - failing to reveal his aneurysm to his family. He didn't want to ruin the happy vibe. He'd got his rubbish job back, his daughter was marrying her boyfriend, Kill-R, and his son had joined the army. This was a lovely series that got better as it went along. And Harvey's snarky oncologist - his mantra: "It's bad news" - was a joy from the start.

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.

Andrew Collins blog

So, Episode 2 of Mr Blue Sky aired on Radio 4 this morning at the convenient time of 11.30am; I listened to it on headphones via my laptop in the British Library, which felt a bit weird. Secretly listening to my own work.

New comedy, Mr Blue Sky (Radio 4), is about Harvey Easter, an eternal optimist. He walks to work one morning, and gets shot. "I suppose it's better than being stabbed," he chirrups.

Andrew Collins's comedy makes you smile rather than guffaw, but is full of warm, nicely observed lines. Harvey (Mark Benton) is maddeningly upbeat, and Rebecca Front plays his exasperated wife well. A neighbour repeatedly lights bonfires in the garden ("What are you burning," she yells, "Edward Woodward?"). Harvey looks on the bright side: "At least he's not burning tyres." And relations with his teenage son are improving: "I think he respects me now I've been shot."

Be glad of first night nerves

It doesn't get any easier. The first episode of Mr Blue Sky aired this morning, at 11.30, on BBC Radio 4. I was as nervous before it went out as I might have been waiting in the wings to go onstage.

Permission to be unfunny

Andrew Collins introduces Mr Blue Sky...