Robin and Wendy's Wet Weekends is a BBC Radio 4 comedy series written by and starring Kay Stonham and Simon Greenall, which ran from 2001 to 2005. It revolves around the mundane lives of Robin and Wendy Mayfield who live on an anonymous housing estate in Stevenage. Robin tends to be self-centred, demanding and controlling in his relationships. Wendy, however, always seems to see the positive side of any situation, and, while often frustrated, copes with Robin admirably. Both Robin and Wendy have relatively meaningless bureaucratic jobs. Robin manages shipping and receiving for a warehouse, and Wendy works in local government.
To their disappointment (mainly Wendy's), they find themselves unable to have children. Consequently, their considerable energies are channeled into building and maintaining Mayfield, the model village in their garage. Robin drives a decrepit Triumph Herald, claiming it to be a "classic British car". Wendy becomes pregnant in the penultimate episode of Series 3, due to an affair with a patient at the hospital where Robin lies in a coma after an accident at work. The arrival of the baby is a major element in Series 4.
Their next-door neighbours Derek and Maureen also have no children, although Derek has children from a previous marriage. Before suffering burnout and a breakdown, Derek was a legend among salesmen. Now he is usually undergoing treatment with one or more drugs to address his psychological problems, which often trigger erratic behavior when he takes too much or too little. Maureen tends to be involved in the latest get-rich-quick scheme, although none of them turn out to be too successful. To make matters worse, she dumped her previous husband for Derek, and openly regrets having done so.
Each episode focuses on one particular event or activity and details the usually absurd outcome brought about by the group. The humour is gentle, yet the storylines encourage sympathy for the characters.
The first series was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2001. Four series and one special, a total of 19 episodes, have been broadcast up to the end of 2005. Early episodes were co-written by Kay Stonham, who also plays Wendy, and Simon Greenall who played Robin. In the third and fourth series Robin was played by Brian Capron and Kay Stonham was the sole credited writer.
The show is repeated from time to time on BBC Radio 4 Extra and occasionally on Radio 4.
Critical reaction The Financial Times called it "wonderfully nerdish... a dash of Ayckbourn tinged with Mike Leigh, only loopier."Hoyle, Martin, "CRITICS' CHOICE RADIO" [LONDON 1ST EDITION], Financial Times [London (UK)] 24 November 2006: 12. The Times called it "gently humorous, rather sad, slightly surreal"."Radio choice", Times, The (London, England) – Wednesday, 11 March 2009: page 21
Episode list SeriesEpisodeTitleFirst broadcast11The Heinrich Manoeuvre28 December 20012A Fete Worse Than Death4 January 20023A Cavalier Attitude11 January 20024Police, Camera, Amphibian18 January 2002SpecialRobin & Wendy's Wet Edinburgh Weekend20 August 200221Them and Us16 May 20032Take the High Road23 May 20033Entertaining Mr Stone30 May 20034Lassie Go Home6 June 20035A Green Unpleasant Land13 June 20036About Some Boys20 June 200331Alka Salsa25 June 20042Dream Genie2 July 20043Arrivederci Coma9 July 20044Anniversary Waltz16 July 200441Autumn Crocus22 July 20052Congratulations, It's a Hob Nob29 July 20053Baby Love5 August 20054Ground Control to Major Derek12 August 2005
References
External links
radiolistings.co.uk