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Chelmsford 123 - The Revival

Series 1 of the New Audio Production

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Chelmsford 123 - The Revival

By: Jimmy Mulville
Narrated by: Rory McGrath
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About this listen

This is the brand-new first series of the audio revival of classic comedy Chelmsford 123, Hat Trick’s first official production for Channel 4.

Chelmsford 123 was originally a two-series sitcom set in Roman Britain that brought memorable characters, strong gags and hilarious storylines to the small screen. Using the original scripts as foundation, these four episodes contain all-new material written by Rory McGrath and Jimmy Mulville and are perfect for both fans of the series as well as anyone looking for a bit of comic relief...so come back with us to AD 123 for a generous dose of historical humour.

Episode 1 - "Arrivederci Roma": It’s AD 123, and the people of Britain are about to receive a new governor from Rome - Aulus Paulinus. This is not the greatest news for the local Trinovantes tribe, so their leader - Badvoc - plots a ‘welcome’ party.

Episode 2 - "What’s Your Poison?": Whilst Aulus plans a great banquet to improve relations with the local leaders, Grasientus plots to poison Badvoc. Each side hears word of the treachery and believes it aimed at them.

Episode 3 - "One for the Road": Aulus Paulinus intends to put his mark on Britain by constructing a grand Roman road direct between Londinium and Chelmsford - but there’s a seemingly insignificant settlement in the way.

Episode 4 - "Heads You Lose": After a trip to inspect the fortifications against the border of Caledonia, Aulus has had enough of Badvoc’s liberty-taking and has him imprisoned under sentence of death. Is this the end of the (Roman) road for Badvoc?

Chelmsford 123: The Audio Revival is produced by Hat Trick Productions and Spiteful Puppet Entertainment. This series is narrated by Rory McGrath, Philip Pope, Neil Pearson, Paterson Joseph, Phil Nice, Barnaby Eaton-Jones, Kim Jones, Ben Perkins, Darrell Maclaine, Hannah Boydell and Wink Taylor.

©2022 Hat Trick Productions (P)2022 Hat Trick Productions
Ancient Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Fiction Comedy Funny Witty
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Wasn’t a fan of the ending. They should have done more. Unique episodes would have been good too.

I liked it up to a point.

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I was excited when I found out that Chelmsford 123 was returning, because although I was a big fan, it generally seemed to have been forgotten. I was disappointed to find out they were redoing old episodes, but pleased the scripts were being updated. Alas, it would have been better just with the original scripts.

Series two of the original TV series had a running bit about how the character Blag would (without knowing when) make comments that would be relevant to the viewers in the present day, but not to the characters. This was always my least favourite part, and it's been crudely forced into the older scripts, in a way that's even worse. Some cracking gags have been left out in favour of this, and it's never funny.

Another big change is there's swearing. I've nothing against swearing, but it doesn't really add anything here. They've also left in parts of the original where a character would start to swear and then be interrupted. Given another will use the same swearword about ten seconds later, you wonder why they bothered.

The scripts also drop some great wordplay, but keep visual jokes, meaning they have to be explained in the most clunky way possible.

I hope they make some more. All the scripts here were by Rory McGrath alone, when he cowrote the originals with Jimmy Mulville, so hopefully they could write together. Some original episodes would be appreciated. Series two under with the cast being arrested and on their way to Rome. Finding out what happened next could be fantastic.

Average return to fondly remembered series

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Really enjoyed the story, fine acting and very funny - thank you . Laughed several times out loud making my wife listen to it as well.

Fantastic return to form

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I may have to review that statement.

This is less a 'revival' and more an amalgamation of several episodes with some added new bits (which aren't as funny as the old stuff)

Having said that, it's great to hear the old voices, and it brings back happy memories of watching this show first time around.

Full of 'laddish' humour, they were clearly having plenty of fun making this, and at 2 hours it doesn't outstay its welcome.

They call me Mungo the critic

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