Comedy drama set in Hardacre's, the worst advertising agency in London

For three decades, Rupert Hardacre was one of the big beasts of advertising: he worked hard, played hard, and lived hard. But he fell harder...

Driven out of every reputable agency in town for drinking all their whiskey and sleeping with all their wives, he used the remains of his fortune to found Hardacre's, the best (and only) advertising agency on the M25. Now he's so confident that his name alone will take him back to the top, he's happy to leave all the actual work to the creative department.

But for the Hardacre organisation, there's more chaos than creativity. The entire creative team is made up of two fresh-faced and utterly clueless graduates, the new accounts chief Amanda is terrifying everyone, and their permanently disengaged receptionist Laura doesn't appear to know (or care) what's going on.

On a good day, Rupert and the Hardacre team will be coming up with ads for industrial adhesives, cast iron stoves, and jewellery for dogs. But can they beat the competition and rebuild their reputation to crawl back up the greasy ladder to success? Will old friends in the industry be their saving grace - or their downfall? And most importantly, can Rupert ever get a decent glass of whiskey?

Starring Nigel Havers (Downton Abbey, Coronation Street), Josie Lawrence (Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Eastenders) and Mathew Baynton (Ghosts, The Wrong Mans), the charming and hilarious Reluctant Persuaders won Best Scripted Comedy at the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2016, and is perfect for fans of In and Out of the Kitchen and Fags, Mags and Bags.

Written by Edward Rowett
Produced by Gordon Kennedy
Directed by Alan Nixon
An Absolutely Production for BBC Radio 4

Cast
Rupert Hardacre - Nigel Havers
Amanda Brook - Josie Lawrence
Joe - Mathew Baynton
Teddy (Series 1, 3 and 4) - Rasmus Hardiker
Teddy (series 2)/Frederick - Kieran Hodgson
Laura/'Gram Woman - Olivia Nixon
Charles Blackwell - Martin Jarvis
Laurie Patterson - Frances Barber
Lake - Rebekah Staton
Ace - Oliver Chris
Doctor/WPC/Crystal/Client/Waitress - Holly Morgan
Jordan - Richard Goulding
Bill Lessing - Mark Evans
Barista - Andrew Nolan
Elgin - James Northcote
Mikey - Esh Alladi
Christmas Ad Voice Over - Gordon Kennedy
MC/Narrator - Victoria Rigby
Waitress - Olivia Penhallow
Bartender - Mark Evans
Tube Announcer - David Fairs
Book Launch Host - Edward Rowett

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra on 15 September - 6 October 2015 (Series 1), 6 April - 27 April 2017 (Series 2), 4 October - 8 November 2018 (Series 3), 2 March - 6 April 2021 (Series 4)

©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd