The Cold Swedish Winter is a semi-autobiographical[1][2] BBC radio comedy sitcom by Danny Robins[3] about Geoff (Adam Riches), a marginally successful London stand-up comic living in Sweden.[4][5][6] He has relocated when his girlfriend Linda (Sissela Benn) gets pregnant and decides they should raise their child in her home town, the unpronounceable Yxsjö.
Other regular characters are Linda's father, Sten (Thomas Oredsson), mother, Gunilla (Anna-Lena Bergelin), and Goth arsonist brother Anders (Fredrick Andersson); Geoff's expatriate friend Ian (Robins) and Danish Kurd cafe proprietor Soran (Farshad Kolghi).[6]
Recorded on location,[7] the show launched in 2014[8] and the fourth series was broadcast in November and December 2018[9] with the fifth[10] beginning in December 2020.
Episode list edit
Series one edit
| No. | Episode No. | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Winter" | 11 August 2014 | |
| Guest appearances: Helen Braunholz-Smith (Jen), Lisa Werlinder (Shop Assistant) | ||||
| 2 | 2 | "Spring" | 18 August 2014 | |
| 3 | 3 | "Summer" | 25 August 2014 | |
| Guest appearances: Lisa Werlinder (Shop Assistant) | ||||
| 4 | 4 | "Autumn" | 1 September 2014 | |
| Guest appearances: Joakim Jennefors (Estate Agent/Jorgen), Lisa Werlinder (Doctor) | ||||
Series two edit
| No. | Episode No. | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | "Winter" | 1 January 2016 | |
| Guest appearances: Fredrik Andersson, Thomas Ericsson, Shanthi Rydwall (Actors) | ||||
| 6 | 2 | "Episode 2" | 8 January 2016 | |
| Guest appearances: André Wickström (Johan), Shanthi Rydwall (Female Steward), Fredrik Andersson (Ice Hockey Announcer) | ||||
| 7 | 3 | "Episode 3" | 15 January 2016 | |
| Guest appearances: Thomas Ericsson (Pedestrian) | ||||
| 8 | 4 | "Episode 4" | 22 January 2016 | |
| Guest appearances: Thomas Ericsson, Shanthi Rydwall (Actors) | ||||
Series three edit
| No. | Episode No. | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "Spring: Wedding Venues" | 25 August 2017 | |
| Guest Appearances: Cecilia Nilsson (Margaretta/Sylvi), Fredrik Andersson (Folk Dancer/Guide), Isak Jansson (Campsite Owner), André Wickström (Lars), Thomas Eriksson (Erik/Waiter), Frank Pitcher (John) | ||||
| 10 | 2 | "Summer: New Swedes" | 1 September 2017 | |
| Guest appearances: Krister Henriksson (Knut), Ajmal Shamsi (Ashkan), Cecilia Nilsson (Teacher), Thomas Eriksson (Guard/Neighbour), Isak Jansson (The Swedish Sun), Frank Pitcher (John) | ||||
| 11 | 3 | "Autumn: Wedding" | 8 September 2017 | |
| Guest appearances: Cecilia Nilsson (Ingeborg/Matilda), Thomas Eriksson (Registrar), Frank Pitcher (John) | ||||
| 12 | 4 | "The Latte Pappas" | 15 September 2017 | |
| Guest appearances: André Wickström (Johan), Thomas Eriksson (Fredrik), Isak Jansson (Tobias), Frank Pitcher (John), Iris Pitcher (Ebba) | ||||
Series four edit
| No. | Episode No. | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | "Childhood" | 23 November 2018 | |
| Guest appearances: Harry Nicolaou (John) | ||||
| 14 | 2 | "Work" | 30 November 2018 | |
| Guest appearances: Kristoffer Appelquist (Jonas), Mohamed Said (Ahmed), Johanna Wagrell (Carola), Thomas Eriksson (Mattias), Harry Nicolaou (John) | ||||
| 15 | 3 | "Equality" | 7 December 2018 | |
| Guest appearances: Thomas Eriksson (Mattias), Harry Nicolaou (John), Johanna Wagrell (Woman in Supermarket) | ||||
| 16 | 4 | "Stadsfest" | 14 December 2018 | |
| Guest appearances: Thomas Eriksson (Man in Loo/Traffic Cop), Harry Nicolaou (John) | ||||
Series five edit
| No. | Episode No. | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 1 | "Lagom Lockdown" | 16 December 2020 | |
| Guest Appearances: Mel Hudson (Jean), Thomas Eriksson (Henning), Fredrik Andersson (Customs Guy), Harry Nicolaou (John) | ||||
| 18 | 2 | "An American in Yxsjö" | 23 December 2020 | |
| Guest Appearances: Nic Sampson (Wilbur), Harry Nicolaou (John) | ||||
| 19 | 3 | "Crayfish Require These Drinks" | 30 December 2020 | |
| Guest Appearances: Johanna Wagrell (Maria), Harry Nicolaou (John) | ||||
| 20 | 4 | "Vasaloppet" | 6 January 2021 | |
| Guest Appearances: Thomas Eriksson (Johan), Harry Nicolaou (John) | ||||
References edit
- ^ "Danny Robins: 'I didn't have any expectations of Sweden'". Scan Magazine. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "'Lagom': Why Swedes Are Happier Than Us". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Danny Robins". dannyrobins.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
- ^ "Brit's life in Sweden becomes BBC radio show". The Local - Sweden's News in English. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
- ^ "The Cold Swedish Winter". BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ a b "The Cold Swedish Winter". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- ^ "More Swede?". Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 - The Cold Swedish Winter, Series 1, Winter". BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 - The Cold Swedish Winter, Series 4, Childhood". BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ "Fifth series for The Cold Swedish Winter". Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide. Retrieved 30 September 2019.