Wooden Overcoats - Episodes 4 & 5

It's been a remarkably busy nine days! Post-production on the series continues apace. In the midst of it all, we held our successful second Live Show. And on Tuesday, I was interviewed on BBC Radio twice - Radio Jersey in the morning, and Radio Guernsey in the evening - to talk about Wooden Overcoats and the island of Piffling. Rather splendidly, small fan communities have begun to spring up, with discussions about the characters and where the emotional arcs are headed. It's absolutely marvellous that people are already invested in our series and we're incredibly grateful.

Episode 4 is Tempting Fête by my own sweet self. Rudyard Funn is reluctantly tasked with organising Piffling Vale's first fête in eleven years. Whilst Antigone and Georgie help as best they can, Rudyard's ideas are thrown into turmoil after a chance remark from Eric Chapman.

After three episodes that established the premise of the series and the core relationships of the central characters, I wanted to explore Piffling Vale itself. We see the drastically underfunded but eternally optimistic village council in action. We delve into the matter of community spirit and what it means to be a part of Piffling. And we see Eric Chapman, already perfectly integrated into his new surroundings, continuing to increase his reputation, whilst Rudyard remains vehemently baffled at how things are changing so rapidly around him.

You'll be delighted by the return of Steve Hodson as the erratic Mayor Desmond Desmond. Andy Secombe remains on hand as Reverend Wavering, joyful as ever. And big plaudits go to our guest star Catriona Knox (BBC2's Charlie Brooker's Weekly / Election Wipe, Radio 4's Mission Improbable),  delivering a highly spirited performance as the infamous Lady Templar.

 Then it's onto Episode 5: She Stoops to Conquer by T. A. Woodsmith. When I first had coffee with Tiff to find out what she wanted to do with Wooden Overcoats, her instant reaction was: "I want to write an episode about Antigone." At that point, all we had was a draft of my Episode 1, in which Antigone is very much a supporting character. But it swiftly became apparent that Rudyard's acerbic sister - a master mortician hiding a deep-seated and entirely resentful lust for her feared business rival, Eric Chapman - was destined to drive a number of the series' plots. And Tiff's Episode 5 gives us Antigone at her most determined so far.

Fearing a life of loneliness and despair, Antigone seeks Georgie's advice on how to bring out the flirtier side of her nature. But her uneasy voyage of self discovery is hi-jacked by Rudyard, who requires her to seduce a rich and valuable new client...

There are so many things to like about this episode, not least Beth Eyre's wonderfully funny performance as an Antigone firmly out of her comfort zone. We get to see the domestic side of Funn Funerals, as Rudyard, Antigone and Georgie argue at the breakfast table. Eric Chapman finds himself faced with a client he can't win over with his charm. And there's a powerhouse portrayal of a smooth and utter bastard from Max Olesker (BBC1's W1A, BBC Radio 4's The Casebook of Max and Ivan) as Seymour Prophitte. "I haven't spent two decades getting filthy rich just to spend it all on women, Lamborghini's and an incredibly heavy pocket watch."

As ever, you can subscribe to us on iTunes or from your preferred podcast client, or listen to us on the Wooden Overcoats website.

Enjoy yourselves!