the bradshaws, stage and radio comedy

The Bradshaws, 1983

Proving that not every popular radio show is a product of the BBC, although The Bradshaws have never (that we know of) appeared in their own full length radio series.

Created especially for The Gary Davies Show with Gary Davies on Piccadilly Radio in 1983, The Bradshaws were the creation of comedian and musician Buzz Hawkins.  They made their debut in 1983 when Hawkins wrote a poem about a family’s day trip to Blackpool.  This proved to be hugely popular and  it was not long before a radio series was developed.  Aside from creating the series Hawkins writes it and voices all the characters.

In 1986 Buzz Hawkins was made producer of The Phil Wood Show, on which he performed more Bradshaws material.  The series has gone on to feature as a strand in many commercial radio shows.  Some episodes made it to a TV series produced by Granada TV.

Today The Bradshaws are still going strong The series can be heard as a strand of the Billy Butler show on BBC Radio Merseyside, on the Chorley-based Station Chorley FM, and on 7 Waves Radio 92.1.

Summary

The Bradshaws is set in a Cosy Terraced House with outside loo in the fictional Manchester suburb of Barnoldswick (any relation to the actual town of Barnoldswick, is apparent only in the name as the characters refer to Manchester as being their local town on many occasions).  It’s the time of pounds, shillings and pence (probably sometime in the 1950s), there is almost always a brass band playing two or three streets away .

The series follows the lives of The Bradshaws, a normal working-class family with little money, although they are able to afford a few luxuries (such as Alf’s Woodbines).

Clips

Characters

Audrey
Alf
Billy
Poshy/Oswald
The Dog

all characters except Poshy who is a cat and the dog are voiced by Buzz Hawkins

Details

Created By: Buzz Hawkins
Channel: Various commercial radio stations have carried the series since 1983
Transmission Dates: 1983 – present

Official Website