The fast-talking glamorous musical drama set in a 1930s Chicago radio studio.

A radio caper set in Hollywood's Golden Age, Big Broadcast sees radio station WKAZ's most successful programme, 'The Hour of Charm', face trouble from gangsters, sponsors, moral guardians and politics, not to mention Chicago's own winters.

When an acrimonious songwriting couple are facing threats from notorious gangster Brannigan, will a song save the day? Sometimes the hour can seem long when you're radio staff - so what happens when Chicago snow traps you in the building completely? A new manager plans to change the whole format of the show, but a deep-voiced celebrity could use his charm to stop the manager in his tracks. And when the station is threatened with closure by the League of Decency, Katharine Hepburn herself comes to the rescue with her inimitable style.

Starring Samantha Spiro (Sex Education, Game of Thrones), Josie Lawrence (Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Eastenders), and Susannah Fielding (This Time with Alan Partridge, Black Mirror), this joyful, nostalgic musical drama will transport you to a different time and place.

Written by Neil Brand

Music by Neil Brand

Directed by David Hunter and Jessica Dromgoole

Cast

Samantha Spiro - Myrna (Series 2-3)

Josie Lawrence - Jean Forsythe

Nigel Harman - Grant Thornhill

Sam Dale - Arthur Clarke (Series 1-2)

Sean Baker - Brannigan

Joanna Monro - Myrna (Series 1)

Jane Whittenshaw - Sadie

Stuart McLoughlin - Billy

Jim Norton - Harry

Paul Heath - Jamie

Roslyn Hill - Georgia

Bettrys Jones - Caitlin

Ian Conningham - Doug/Jimmy Cagney/Cary Grant/Robert F. Winkler

Chris Jarman - Paul Robeson

Ryan Early - Arthur Clarke (Series 3)

Ryan Whittle - Jerry

Kerry Gooderson - Dixie

Stephen Hogan - Princeton

Emma Handy - Jess

Elizabeth Counsell - Grace Stibbens

John Lightbody - Stupendo

Lauren Cornelius - Norma Chaffey

Susannah Fielding - Katharine Hepburn

Neil McCaul - Arthur Clarke (Series 4)

Bettrys Jones - Barbara Meek

Heather Craney - Ramona Fairfax

Hasan Dixon - Jerry Soundguy

Clive Hayward - Preston Lanister

Franchi Webb - Danny Folly

BBC Singers - Margaret Cameron, Charles Gibbs, Olivia Robinson, Stephen Jeffes, Helen Neeves, Katherine Nicholson, Chris Bowen, Jamie W Hall, Nancy Cole, Jimmy Holliday

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:

1 June 2011 (Series 1)

24 December - 25 December 2014 (Series 2)

21 October - 28 October 2018 (Series 3)

20 December - 27 December 2020 (Series 4)