BBC Sounds has commissioned Sober Companion, a brand new ten-part comedy drama starring Rob Delaney (Catastrophe, Bad Monkey) and Bel Powley (The Morning Show, A Small Light), produced by Merman Television Scotland.
The story follows recovering addict and sober companion Tim (Rob Delaney), who is tasked with escorting pop star Lucy Green (Bel Powley) on a journey to rehab in Arizona.
Reluctant Lucy doesn't believe she needs saving and Tim is the last person she wants telling her how to live her life. An iconic noughties pop star, Lucy is attempting a comeback after years of addiction struggles and tabloid scrutiny. With a new album to launch, a young son to care for and mounting pressure from those around her, one very public mistake threatens to derail everything. After an intervention organised by her manager and loved ones, Lucy finds herself paired with Tim and sent on a journey she never wanted to take.
What begins as a straightforward trip to rehab quickly spirals into a journey packed with mishaps, revelations and unexpected connections, forcing both Lucy and Tim to confront the messy realities of fame, family and recovery.
Alongside Rob Delaney and Bel Powley, the series features Jameela Jamil as Lucy's manager Sabrina, Greg James as himself, and Amber Grappy and Chris Hall as part of the show's standout ensemble cast.
The series is written by Sarah Simmonds (Killing Eve, What it Feels Like for a Girl, Youth) and directed by Destiny Ekaragha (1984, Ted Lasso, The End of the F***ing World). It is produced by Emma Morgan, executive produced by Sharon Horgan, Faye Dorn and Pippa Brown from Merman Television Scotland. The commissioner and executive producer for BBC is Dylan Haskins.
Across ten episodes, listeners will follow Lucy and Tim's increasingly fraught journey from intervention to international travel, navigating media scrutiny, super-fans, personal demons and the challenges of staying on course when everything seems determined to knock them off it.
The series opens with Lucy's highly anticipated album launch, intended to mark a fresh start in her life and career. But when the pressure of returning to the spotlight becomes overwhelming, a public relapse prompts concern from those closest to her and leads to a dramatic intervention. Soon, Lucy and Tim are on a transatlantic trip to Arizona, where every step of the journey presents a new obstacle.
Humorous, heartfelt and unflinchingly honest, Sober Companion blends character-driven comedy with an exploration of recovery, identity and second chances.
Rob Delaney says: “What drew me to Sober Companion was the relationship at its heart. Tim and Lucy arrive in each other's lives at a moment when both of them are struggling, and neither is particularly happy about the arrangement. It's funny, chaotic, moving and often surprising in the way it explores recovery, connection and second chances. I loved getting to play Tim and going on this journey with Bel and the rest of the cast.”
Bel Powley says: “Lucy is such a fascinating character because she's trying so hard to convince everyone, including herself, that she's got everything under control. Underneath the celebrity and the tabloid headlines is someone who's vulnerable, funny and desperately trying to hold her life together. I was immediately drawn to her story, and it was a joy to bring her to life alongside Rob and this fantastic cast.”
Dylan Haskins, Commissioner for BBC Sounds says: “Arc is a home for premium cinematic podcast dramas - sharp, funny and emotionally honest stories about the moments that change us. Following the success of series 1 People Who Knew Me and series 2 Intimacy, the latest series - Sober Companion - comes from the team behind TV hits Bad Sisters, Motherland, Youth and Catastrophe.”
The full series launches on Monday 2 November on BBC Sounds and other platforms as part of the Arc feed and will also broadcast weekdays on Radio 4 at 10.45pm from the same date.
