Managing Izzy

Written by Sue Teddern

Wednesday 6th February at 2:05pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Siobhan Redmond and Morven Christie star in AbsolutelyProduction’s new sitcom pilot ‘Managing Izzy’ written by Sue Teddern on Wednesday 6th February at 2:05pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Morven Christie and Siobhan Redmond star as ditzy boss Izzy and her cannily capable PA Janine in this Edinburgh based sitcom. Thistle-Do-It Tours is getting by, no thanks to Izzy, who has a 4G phone, a designer wardrobe and all the common sense of a cocktail bridie. Just as well Janine is now on board.

Janine hasn’t worked in an office for nearly 20 years and has never heard of hot-desking, Tweeting or organic Rooibos. But Izzy couldn’t have hired a better PA, especially when she takes a bunch of American foodies on an ill-fated tour of the Trossachs, alienates her besotted driver and loses head honcho, Ben, in the middle of nowhere after ‘schmoozing’ him good and proper the night before.

Despite major driving anxieties, Janine retrieves the now legless Ben from a bar in Balquhidder and entertains him with ‘real’ Scottish food, while also organising Izzy’s dad’s surprise 60th birthday party. She even, graciously, lets Izzy believe she saved the day. They’ll make a great team…

Izzy – Morven Christie (2012, Hunted)
Janine – Siobhan Redmond ( Bob Servant, Catherine Tate)
Ashley – Sam Heughan (River City, Batman Live)
Greg – Gordon Kennedy (Robin Hood )
Ben – Felix Dexter (Citizen Khan, The Fast Show)

Director – Marilyn Imrie
Producer – Gordon Kennedy

Although a veteran of the Birds of a Feather writing team and a highly experienced radio dramatist, Managing Izzy is, surprisingly, Sue Teddern’s first sitcom for radio … and for Radio Scotland. She returns to radio after a year away, creating and co-writing ITV’s army wives drama Homefront and has also been busy finessing series four of her successful Radio 4 Woman’s Hour comedy-drama, soloparentpals.com. Other radio credits include In Mates, which reunited her with Birds of a Feather star Pauline Quirke; Sad Girl, about a painting stolen by the Nazis; and From Galway Graceland, based on a song by Richard Thompson.

“The idea for Managing Izzy came out of watching one of my favourite films, Working Girl. I’ve been a secretary myself and, as a temp, I’ve worked for the occasional self-obsessed, inept boss. Izzy is flirty, adorable and utterly useless. Which is why Janine is her perfect PA, even though she hasn’t worked in an office for nearly 20 years. The setting, an Edinburgh-based tour guide company called Thistle-Do-It Tours, offers endless plots, settings and visiting characters. Managing Izzy has been a total joy to make and I think it shows in the brilliant performances and production.”