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A spider rescue, a wedding and a huge shock. Can Joanna and Roger's marriage survive?

Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam play loving, long-marrieds, in the 5th series of Jan Etherington’s award-winning comedy.

This week, Joanna rescues a spider from the bedroom ceiling and there are joyful preparations for the wedding of Auntie Hilda and Jack in the care home. ‘The last wedding we planned was our own’ Joanna says, reminding Roger they’ve been together for 50 years. ‘On and off’ Roger responds. Then Roger has a visitor from his past that will rock the foundation of their marriage. Struggling through Auntie Hilda’s wedding day, a devastated Joanna tells him ‘I feel like I’m looking down on myself and trying to work out how I can live with this’ and she finally has to make a decision that breaks Roger’s heart.

Conversations from a Long Marriage is Written by Jan Etherington. It is produced and directed by Claire Jones. And it is a Â鶹Éç Studios Production for Radio 4.

Wilfredo Acosta - sound engineer
Charlotte Sewter - studio assistant
Jon Calver - sound designer
Katie Baum - production coordinator

Conversations from a Long Marriage won the Voice of the Listener & Viewer Award for Best Radio Comedy in 2020, was nominated for a Writers’ Guild Award in 2022 and a British Comedy Guide award in 2024.

‘Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam have had illustrious acting careers but can they ever have done anything better than Jan Etherington’s two hander? This is a work of supreme craftsmanship.’ RADIO TIMES
‘Peppered with nostalgic 60s hits and especially written for the pair, it’s an endearing portrait of exasperation, laced with hard won tolerance – and something like love.’ THE GUARDIAN
‘You’ve been listening at my window, Jan’. JOANNA LUMLEY
‘Sitcom is what marriage is really like – repetitive and ridiculous – and Jan’s words are some of the best ever written on the subject’. RICHARD CURTIS