Nose bleeds, cursed photographs and inside out calves: how we made Icklewick FM
The Delightful Sausage’s Amy Gledhill and Chris Cantrill. Image: Ed Moore
Icklewick FM is the brand new BBC Radio 4 sitcom from Edinburgh Fringe ‘Best Show’ nominated double act, The Delightful Sausage (Amy Gledhill and Chris Cantrill). Having listened to a preview of the series we can confirm that not only is Icklewick FM a hoot, it’s also largely improvised and packed with viscerally brilliant sound design, giving it a unique vibe. So, when Amy Gledhill offered to explain how the show is made via her production diary; LMAOnaise jumped at the chance to understand how this audio oddity came to be…
It’s 9.30am on 14th November 2023 and we’re on our way to Redlight Studios in London, pickpocketing capital of the world. We’re spending the day recording our new improvised BBC Radio 4 sitcom, Icklewick FM.
As per, country bumpkin Chris has his big massive phone out and asks everyone we meet, “how do you do?” I say he should put it away to avoid getting mugged but he tells me that nobody would dare because he’s crazy, “like the Joker”.
Icklewick FM’s Producer Benjamin Sutton has already been at the studio for hours, preparing for the day’s recording. Mark Silcox who plays our in-world producer Mr Patel has also arrived early to make everybody a cup of tea.
There’s a buzz at the door, it’s Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Phil Ellis who portrays Icklewick FC’s beleaguered manager, Stanley Power. Phil shows Chris a laminated photograph he’s been carrying in the pocket of his well travelled leather jacket. I don’t know what it’s of, and Phil won’t show me, but Chris’ cheeks go bright red and he immediately rings his wife to apologise.
The scene we’re recording this morning is from episode 5 where Stanley’s on air to (finally) discuss some positive news. For each episode, Chris and I write meticulously detailed plots for the cast to improvise around, a bit like Curb but nobody is a millionaire. On average, I’d say it takes around 30 seconds of recording before these story outlines are rendered completely useless and today is no exception when Phil takes the chat in a totally unpredictable direction. Producer Ben confirms this means we’ll have to rethink content for episodes 2, 3 and 6 so, when his nose starts bleeding we break for lunch.
The Delightful Sausage duo with their in-world producer Mark Silcox, having the time of their lives.
Chris ensures we’re late back by trying to order an off-menu delicacy in ye olde authentic Itsu. As Phil packs up his bag to go, Chris begs him to see the photograph again. Speaking from experience of such matters, Mark tells Phil the laminated image must be destroyed and with that we’re back to the studio for the afternoon session where we’re recording the opening to episode 3, which is our exciting outside broadcast episode where Chris births an inside out calf.
Because we’re opening this show with this scene, we need to make sure it’s not too gross so our sound designer Jack Lewis Evans (who plays Amy’s randy nephew Tenny and flag shagger Shafto) has sent us a few snippets to approve. The sound design on the calf itself is staggeringly impressive but so nightmarish I’m pretty sure we should all be tried for crimes against humanity at the Hague.
To finish off the day, we’re recording the closing scenes of the series finale from episode 6 with our brilliantly talented ensemble cast. They’re bringing a full-scale riot to life as an unruly mob with murderous intent. They’re all brilliant and for just a moment it feels like they’re properly going to kick off.
At the end of the recording sessions we end up with 24 hours of audio that’s whittled down to 2 and a half by Ben and Jack. Lord knows how it’ll come together, but we really are having the time of our lives…
Icklewick FM airs on Tuesday nights at 11pm on BBC Radio 4. You can catch up with the full series now on BBC Sounds.
Illustration: Sam O’Leary
