''One'' is a radio comedy series created by

David Quantick David Quantick (born 14 May 1961) is an English novelist, comedy writer and critic, who has worked as a journalist and screenwriter. A former freelance writer for the music magazine ''NME'', his writing credits have included '' On the Hour'', '' ...

. It was broadcast on

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...

and

BBC Radio 4 Extra BBC Radio 4 Extra (formerly BBC Radio 7) is a British digital radio station from the BBC, broadcasting archived repeats of comedy, drama and documentary programmes nationally, 24 hours a day. It is the sister station of BBC Radio 4 and the p ...

. Each episode lasts 15 minutes and consists of a series of vignettes, each of which features only a single voice.

Subjects

The style and subject matter of the vignettes is varied, but some themes recur. * Unusual messages recorded on answering machines. * Readings of notes found in a guest book at a vacation home, featuring bizarre complaints. * Audio guides to museums that have obscure or bizarre exhibits. * Parodies of commentaries in the style of well-known personalities, sometimes read by the personalities themselves, such as

Jeremy Clarkson Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English broadcaster, journalist, game show host and writer who specialises in Driving, motoring. He is best known for the motoring programmes ''Top Gear (2002 TV series), Top Gear'' an ...

reading "Top Dog", or bird expert

Bill Oddie William Edgar Oddie (born 7 July 1941) is an English writer, comedian, songwriter, musician, artist, birder, conservationist, television presenter and actor. He was a member of comedy trio The Goodies. A birder since his childhood in Quinton, ...

describing, in the style of a nature documentary, a typical encounter between

Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner are a duo of cartoon characters from the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of animated cartoons, first appearing in 1949 in the theatrical cartoon short ''Fast and Furry-ous''. In each episode, t ...

. * Recitations of ideas such as personal crises, bad moods, T-shirt slogans etc., in the style of the

Shipping Forecast The Shipping Forecast is a BBC Radio broadcast of weather reports and forecasts for the seas around the coasts of the British Isles. It is produced by the Met Office and broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. ...

. For example: :"And now with the time approaching 5 pm, :It's time for the

mid-life crisis A midlife crisis is a transition of identity and self-confidence that can occur in middle-aged individuals, typically 40 to 60 years old. The phenomenon is described as a psychological crisis brought about by events that highlight a person's grow ...

forecast... : :Forties; restless: three or four. :Marriage: stale; becoming suffocating. :Sportscar, jeans and t-shirt; westerly, five. :Waitress; blonde; 19 or 20. :Converse all stars; haircut; earring; children; :becoming embarrassed. :Tail between legs; atmosphere frosty; :Spare room: five or six."

Performers

Performers include

Graeme Garden David Graeme Garden OBE (born 18 February 1943) is a Scottish comedian, actor, author, artist and television presenter, best known as a member of The Goodies and a regular panellist on ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue''. Early life and education ...

Dan Antopolski Dan Antopolski (born 22 August 1972) is a British comic, actor and writer. He has appeared in various television programs and radio shows, and is best known to younger audiences for hosting the UK game show ''The Dare Devil''. In 1998 Antopol ...

Simon Greenall Simon James Greenall (born 3 January 1958) is an English actor, producer, writer and voice artist. He has portrayed Michael in the BBC television series '' I'm Alan Partridge'', as well as in '' Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa,'' the Caretaker in ...

Lizzie Roper Lizzie Roper (born 1967) is a British actress. Career Trained at the Guildford School of Acting after gaining a degree in drama from Aberystwyth University. Lizzie fell into Comedy whilst performing with Lenny Beige at The Regency Rooms as Sadi ...

, and

Deborah Norton Deborah Norton is an English actress. Personal life Deborah Norton was born in Croydon, Surrey, in 1943. She attended a Quaker boarding school and later studied at the Drama Centre London. She worked in Britain until she toured America wit ...

. Those appearing as themselves include

and

References

{{BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio comedy programmes BBC Radio 4 programmes