The Hauntening (radio series)

The Hauntening is a radio sitcom written and created by Tom Neenan and directed and produced by David Tyler. It is centred around the dangerous potential of modern technology, and stars Tom Neenan and Jenny Bede.

The Hauntening
GenreComedy
Running time28 minutes
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home stationBBC Radio 4
StarringTom Neenan
Jenny Bede
Created byTom Neenan
Written byTom Neenan
Directed byDavid Tyler
Produced byDavid Tyler
Original release11 October 2017 (2017-10-11)
No. of series4
No. of episodes13
Audio formatStereophonic sound

The programme was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.[1] In 2019, the second series was nominated for a Writers Guild of Great Britain award for Best Radio Comedy.[2] In 2021, Jenny Bede was nominated for a BBC Audio Drama Award for Best Supporting Performance for playing Heidi.[3]

Overview

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The Hauntening is a radio comedy series written by and starring Tom Neenan, and produced by Pozzitive Television.

Reception

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The Cambridge Geek wrote that "it packs a lot into the quarter hour, and you'll almost certainly enjoy it", and Exciting Stuff wrote that it was "new and fresh, and one to put on your must-listen list".[4]

Episode list

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Series one

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No. Episode No. Title Original airdate
11"SoulMaits"11 October 2017 (2017-10-11)

Tom Neenan discovers what horrors lurk in our apps and gadgets.

Guest Cast: Frances Barber as The App
22"The Asag Chiller"18 October 2017 (2017-10-18)

Tech blogger Tom has acquired a healthy new lifestyle, a shiny new fridge and a terrifying new problem in the second of these modern horror stories.

Guest Cast: Ewan Bailey as Asag.

Series two

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No. Episode No. Title Original airdate
31"Hosting"17 October 2018 (2018-10-17)

Tom hosts a podcast with an unwanted guest.

Guest Cast: Vincent Franklin as Dominic Caville
42"Shofa"24 October 2018 (2018-10-24)

A taxi app offers some unexpected destinations.

Guest Cast: Naz Osmanoglu as Amar
53"Viral"31 October 2018 (2018-10-31)

Tom attracts the attention of a very persistent blogger.

Guest Cast: Nicola Walker as Camilla

Series three

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No. Episode No. Title Original airdate
61"Waiting"14 October 2020 (2020-10-14)

Tom gets stuck on hold.

Guest Cast: Nina Sosanya as The Operator
72"Calculating"21 October 2020 (2020-10-21)

Tom and Heidi have to make a horrifying decision.

Guest Cast: Julian Rhind-Tutt as Dr Conroy Georgie Glen as Elicia
83"Pedalling"28 October 2020 (2020-10-28)

Tom has to stay ahead of the pack.

Guest Cast: Nicholas Wooderson as DI Freck
94"Sleeping"4 November 2020 (2020-11-04)

Tom's sweet dreams turn sour.

Guest Cast: Andy Nyman as Charlie

Series four

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No. Episode No. Title Original airdate
101"Star Struck"5 October 2022 (2022-10-05)

A celebrity birthday message from Joanna Lumley turns into a terrifying gift for Tom.

Guest Cast: Joanna Lumley as Herself, Martin Jarvis as The App and Peter Davison as Himself
112"The Mezzo Ten"12 October 2022 (2022-10-12)

What if an NFT was not just a ridiculous way to spend your money, but a terrifying one as well?

Guest Cast: Joseph May as Lance
123"WordHell"19 October 2022 (2022-10-19)

A simple word game turns n*sty.

Guest Cast: Steve Brody as Ken
134"Dead Funny"26 October 2022 (2022-10-26)

There seems to be a problem with the studio audience, because there shouldn't be one.

Guest Cast: Geoffrey Whitehead as The Archivist

References

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  1. ^ "The Hauntening - Radio 4 Sitcom".
  2. ^ "Writers' Guild Awards 2020". 4 December 2019.
  3. ^ "The shortlist for the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2022". BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  4. ^ "The Hauntening: Episode 1 - Soulmaits - Review - Audio - Exciting Stuff - We don't do dull!". 12 October 2017.