Revolting People is a BBC Radio 4 situation comedy set in colonial Baltimore, Maryland, just before and during the American Revolutionary War. The series is written by the Briton Andy Hamilton and the American Jay Tarses, with Tarses playing a sour shopkeeper named Samuel Oliphant and Hamilton playing a cheerfully corrupt, one-legged, one-eyed, one-armed, one-eared one-nostrilled British soldier, Sergeant Roy McGurk, billeted on him.

Samuel's children are Mary, who is in love with McGurk's prim commanding officer Captain Brimshaw while at the same time operating as a notorious anti-British pamphleteer under the pseudonym Spartacus; Cora, in an unconsummated marriage with the pompous pro-British Loyalist official Ezekiel but nevertheless a mother; and the dimwitted Joshua, whose favourite recreation is wrestling bears.

Series 1 and 2 were released on CD in 2007–8. Repeats on the series now play on BBC Radio 4 Extra (formerly BBC Radio 7).

Cast Andy HamiltonSergeant Roy McGurk Jay TarsesSamuel Oliphant Sophie ThompsonSeries 1 / Jan RavensSeries 2 and 3 / Julia HillsSeries 4Mary Oliphant James FleetCaptain Brimshaw Hugh DennisEzekiel Spriggs Felicity MontaguSeries 1 / Penelope NiceSeries 2 and 3Cora Spriggs (née Oliphant) Tony MaudsleyJoshua Susie BlakeMrs. Arbuthnot (Series 1)/Elizabeth Oliphant (Series 2)

Additional roles played by Philip Pope, Michael Fenton Stevens, Rebecca Front and the cast. Series 1 had guest appearances by William Hootkins as Samuel's brother Dan, and Timothy West as General Venables. Produced by Paul Mayhew-Archer

Episode list

Series 1 (2000) Originally ran in 2000. Revolved around the imposition of martial law in Baltimore and the springing up of a torrid, though also chaste, love affair between Oliphant's daughter Mary and an officer of the local British garrison, Captain Brimshaw. The show starts on 5 March 1770, the day of the Boston Massacre. 18 JanuaryStorm Clouds 25 JanuaryMore Storm Clouds 1 FebruaryEven More Storm Clouds 8 FebruaryTons of Storm Clouds 15 FebruaryA Helluva Lot of Storm Clouds 22 FebruaryAn Incredible Amount of Storm Clouds

This series was released on CD on 3 September 2007.

Series 2 (2001) Originally ran in 2001. Less continuous than series 1 but developed the same theme with the added introduction of Oliphant's long-departed wife reappearing as a lesbian (to McGurk's lecherous satisfaction). 24 AprilTrying Times 1 MayEven More Trying Times 8 MaySome More Trying Times 15 MayAnd Yet Even More Trying Times 22 MayA Bunch More Trying Times 29 MayStill in Trying Times

This series was released on CD on 7 January 2008.

Series 3 (2004) The third series originally ran in 2004 and consisted of stand-alone episodes parodying various classic films with a final episode that turned the series on its head. 27 MayYoung Love 3 JuneA Kiss is Just a Kiss (parodying Casablanca) 10 JuneThe God-Given Talent 17 JuneOver the Rainbow (parodying The Wizard of Oz) 24 JuneThem Thar Hills (parodying gold rush westerns) 1 JulySecrets And Lies

Series 4 (2006) First broadcast in 2006, and repeated from 31 March 2007. The events of the final episode of the previous series are explained as having been a dream.

2 MayEzekiel is KidnappedSamuel's pompous son-in-law, Ezekiel, is kidnapped by a rebel militia 9 MayMcGurk Runs the ShopSamuel goes in search of his sister, Belle. 16 MayGeorge WashingtonThe episode centres on Capt Brimshaw's attempt to convince Washington to negotiate a peace with Britain.Samuel realises he's in the middle of a war when half his shop is burnt down by rebelling colonists and the other half by the BritishThis episode opened with a nightmare in which Samuel is sent to Hell for indecision. The Devil turns out to resemble McGurk; a reference to Andy Hamilton's role as Satan in Old Harry's Game. 23 MayPiratesSamuel, McGurk and the others flee to England 30 MayReunionSamuel, McGurk and the others arrive in London 6 JuneThe KingSamuel, McGurk and the others finally meet King George IIIThey nearly manage to get him to call off the war, until Mary accidentally implies that the war is "all about oil" (in a reference to a criticism made by the opposition to the Iraq War) and re-awakens Britain's interest in keeping the rebellious colony.

Notes

External links BBC website – Revolting People