Think the Unthinkable (BBC Audio)
This title presents the Sony award-winning radio series starring Marcus Brigstocke, with David Mitchell and Stephen Moore. Unthinkable Solutions are the hapless management consultants who inflict their unique brand of help on unsuspecting companies. This first series of the BBC Radio 4 comedy won a Silver Award at the Sony Radio Academy Awards, and stars Marcus Brigstocke as team leader Ryan ('Imagine you are square pegs and we are round holes. Try to think of me as a round hole'), Emma Kennedy as the sociopathic Sophie, Catherine Shepherd as dopey Daisy, and David Mitchell as Owen: 'Alright, losers!' It's time to think the unthinkable as Longleys Bank needs to transform its image.So what can the team of consultants bring to the table? Ryan and company also become part of rationalising council services (i.e. sacking people), and an ailing high street retailer desperately seeks their help (and they must be desperate). It's time to bring IT expert Owen into the loop when customer complaints reach record levels at a call centre, and it's mission critical with the capital's transport system in shambles. It's time for the team to get pro-active...Over five episodes, Unthinkable Solutions prove that there is no 'I' in team - but there is one in 'incompetent'.
Hilarity Unleashed in the World of Management Mayhem
Introduction: "Think the Unthinkable," a BBC Radio 4 sitcom created by James Cary, brings uproarious humor to the world of management consulting. First broadcast in 2001, this audiobook captures the misadventures of a team of hapless consultants as they inflict their unique brand of help on unsuspecting companies. Starring Marcus Brigstocke, David Mitchell, Catherine Shepherd, Emma Kennedy, and Beth Chalmers, the show has gained acclaim for its sharp wit and memorable characters.
Characters: The central character, Ryan Packer (Marcus Brigstocke), serves as the team leader, combining enthusiasm with cluelessness and a penchant for inadvertently insulting himself. Sophie Stott (Emma Kennedy/Beth Chalmers) brings a direct and no-nonsense approach, coupled with sociopathic tendencies. Daisy de Vere (Catherine Shepherd) adds a touch of relentless niceness and naivety to the team, serving as the conscience that often goes unheard. Owen (David Mitchell), the team's technical expert and Sophie's stalker, contributes to the chaos with his immoral and creepy demeanor. The ensemble is further enhanced by Jed (Robin Ince), a member of Owen's online fraternity, and the quirky characters they encounter along the way.
Plot and Humor: The series is structured around the team's endeavors to assist companies, with each episode featuring a new client and a fresh set of challenges. The comedy arises from the team's incompetence, bizarre metaphors, and the clash of personalities within the group. Ryan's relentless positivity, Sophie's violent temper, Daisy's naivety, and Owen's immorality create a comedic dynamic that keeps listeners engaged.
Noteworthy Episodes: The show's episodes cover a range of scenarios, from dealing with banks and councils to navigating the challenges of Christmas parties and credit cards. The series successfully combines workplace satire with absurdity, offering listeners a delightful escape into the world of corporate chaos.
Guest Appearances: "Think the Unthinkable" also features notable guest appearances by comic actors such as Greg Proops, Simon Greenall, and Olivia Colman, adding extra layers of humor and surprise to the already entertaining narrative.
Reception and Awards: The sitcom garnered acclaim, winning a Silver Sony Award for Comedy in 2002 for its inaugural episode. Its success led to repeat broadcasts and the release of Series 1 on CD by BBC Audio in February 2008.
Conclusion: "Think the Unthinkable (BBC Audio)" stands out as a hilarious and irreverent take on the world of management consulting. With its talented cast, clever writing, and absurd scenarios, the audiobook provides an entertaining listening experience that will leave audiences laughing at the unthinkable antics of these misguided consultants. Whether you're a fan of workplace humor or simply enjoy a good laugh, this audiobook is a must-listen for those who appreciate clever comedy with a touch of absurdity.
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2008
Unthinkable Solutions are the firm to call in if your business is failing, losing money and market share... after they have worked their unique brand of magic, you are sure to see the firm go to the wall, but only after they've got their huge fee that is!
I think that the series got better and better, with the characters more fully rounded later on, epecially David Webb as Owen, the complete computer geek. I fell deeply for the voice of Daisy [Catherine Shepherd] who is so 'earnest' it hurts. "Look I know how to deal with conflict - I did a number of workshops and seminars in Bosnia". Marcus Brigstocke is, as ever, in his element as Ryan, coming up with the most wonderful double-speak and corporate management twaddle you have ever heard...unless you happen to work in PR that is, in which case it will all make perfect sense.
I loved some of the absurd psycho babble and new-age thinking... "Sophie, since we had the office de-magnetised, has your bank card worked? No, neither has mine...".
I really hope the BBC issue the rest of the series as my personal favourite episode was "Brunel Insurance" that I found bed-wettingly funny.
If you like the absurd comedy of the best BBC4 has to offer, then you could do no wrong buy buying this, it's great.
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