BBC Radio 4, December 27 and then on iPlayer

Fat Charlie’s life seems to be going from bad to worse…

Things definitely don’t seem to be going Charlie’s way – even when he finally gets a chance to confront Spider about his interaction with Rosie, all his brother can say is that she thought Spider was Charlie… which is supposed to (but quite definitely doesn’t) make things better. And that’s after he’s spent ages trying to get home from a cinema where he’s somehow sat through a movie multiple times. Which in its turn was after Spider had eaten the steak Charlie intended to cook for him and Rosie…

What works so well about Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel is that, despite things going downhill, there’s still an odd feeling of optimism. Things are going on that Charlie’s as yet unaware of, but which as listeners we sense might help him.

Julian Rhind-Tutt’s Grahame Coate is as unctuous as ever, but we now are certain of the malice within him, as he frames Charlie for the fraud – and I’m not sure Maeve Livingstone is doing the right thing by pushing him.

Allegra McIlroy’s direction and Wilfredo Acosta’s sound design ensure the listener knows precisely where they are, and there’s a very different feel for the various locations. It all adds up to highly enjoyable listening.

Verdict: The fraternal rivalry is at the heart of the episode, but outside forces are gathering. 8/10

Paul Simpson