In the Balance
Encyclopedia
In the Balance is a BBC Radio 4
black comedy
written by Mark Tavener
. It is the sequel to In the Red, a book, radio and television series, also by Tavener
. The producer was Paul Schlesinger. The cast, headed by Michael Williams and Barry Foster
, also included such actors as Geoffrey Whitehead
and Robert Bathurst
.
The series was, like its predecessor, based around the character George Cragge, a BBC Radio Crime correspondent. The plot involves Cragge and his friend, Superintendent Frank Jefferson, attempting to solve a series of murders during the world cup; the English football squad
and the government itself become entangled up in the mystery.
The series was first broadcast in February and March 1997, but is repeated occasionally on BBC 7
. The main characters reprised their roles in In the Chair and In the End.
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
black comedy
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
written by Mark Tavener
Mark Tavener
Mark Tavener was a British novelist who also wrote for radio and television. Born and brought up in Plymouth, educated at Plymouth College and Peterhouse Cambridge. His 1989 satirical novel In the Red was adapted for radio in 1995, and television in 1998...
. It is the sequel to In the Red, a book, radio and television series, also by Tavener
Mark Tavener
Mark Tavener was a British novelist who also wrote for radio and television. Born and brought up in Plymouth, educated at Plymouth College and Peterhouse Cambridge. His 1989 satirical novel In the Red was adapted for radio in 1995, and television in 1998...
. The producer was Paul Schlesinger. The cast, headed by Michael Williams and Barry Foster
Barry Foster (actor)
Barry Foster was a British actor who appeared in numerous film roles and is known for his leading role as a Dutch detective in the ITV drama series, Van der Valk, which spanned five series over 20 years from 1972....
, also included such actors as Geoffrey Whitehead
Geoffrey Whitehead
Geoffrey Whitehead is an English actor. He has appeared in a huge range of television, film and radio roles. In the theatre, he has played at the Shakespeare Globe, St...
and Robert Bathurst
Robert Bathurst
Robert Guy Bathurst is an English actor. Bathurst was born in the Gold Coast in 1957, where his father was working as a management consultant. His family moved to Dublin, Ireland, in 1959 and Bathurst was enrolled at an Anglican boarding school...
.
The series was, like its predecessor, based around the character George Cragge, a BBC Radio Crime correspondent. The plot involves Cragge and his friend, Superintendent Frank Jefferson, attempting to solve a series of murders during the world cup; the English football squad
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and the government itself become entangled up in the mystery.
The series was first broadcast in February and March 1997, but is repeated occasionally on BBC 7
BBC 7
BBC Radio 4 Extra, formerly known as BBC 7 and BBC Radio 7, is a British digital radio station broadcasting comedy, drama, and children's programming nationally 24 hours a day. It is the principal broadcasting outlet for the BBC's archive of spoken-word entertainment...
. The main characters reprised their roles in In the Chair and In the End.