Bill Bailey to star in Radio 4 comedy special Hennikay
- Bill Bailey is to star in Hennikay, a comedy special due to be broadcast on Radio 4 on Sunday 27th June
- He plays Guy Starling, a middle aged man who suddenly meets up with his imaginary childhood friend
- Bailey says: "I loved working on Hennikay - it was a brilliant, funny, and touching piece of writing by David Spicer"
Bill Bailey is to star in Hennikay, a Radio 4 comedy special about middle aged man who suddenly meets up with his imaginary childhood friend.
The half-hour special, which is due to be broadcast on Sunday 27th June, has been created by David Spicer. The writer has previously worked on Radio 4 sitcoms such as Polyoaks and Double Income, No Kids Yet.
Radio 4 explains: "Bill plays Guy Starling, a middle aged man who, after 45 years, suddenly meets up with his imaginary childhood friend, Hennikay. It's the biggest day in his career and he is on the brink of closing the biggest deal yet but, when Guy strides into his office at Solutify Technology, a software house that develops games for grown-ups to spend their time playing on their phones, he is confronted with an 11 year old boy playing keepy-uppies. And to make matters worse, no one else can see or hear him because he is Hennikay, Guy's imaginary friend from his lonely childhood."
The special will also star Sanjeev Bhaskar as Tony, Elizabeth Carling as Marika, Anna Leong Brophy as Kallie and John Schwab as Don, with Max Pattison - who plays Benji in Not Going Out - voicing the role of Hennikay.
Described as "a warm, funny look at childhood, adulthood and some of the follies of modern life", the comedy is produced by Liz Anstee for CPL Productions.
Bill Bailey says: "I loved working on Hennikay - it was a brilliant, funny, and touching piece of writing by David Spicer. And I relished the chance to work with some top comedy and acting talent."
Sioned Wiliam, Radio 4's commissioning editor for comedy, adds: "It's wonderful having Bill back on Radio 4, acting in this touching and witty script. The role suits him down to the ground, making the most of his brilliant comic timing and charismatic presence."
Hennikay will be broadcast on Radio 4 at 7:15pm on Sunday 27th June, and then will be available on BBC Sounds.
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Bailey recently hinted at a Black Books reunion and has written a potential song for Eurovision 2022.