Konkers

6 x 30 min episodes
+1 special mini episode on BBC Radio Kent
+2 special mini episodes on CSR FM

‘Konkers’ is a radio sitcom set on the campus of the fictional University of Konkerbury. Inspired by life at the University of Kent, where The Bakery were undergraduates, the series was written by Richard Dadd and nominated ‘Best Scripted Programme’ at the National Student Radio Awards 2007.

Sticking two fingers up at the media’s insistence that youth is all hedonism and confidence, ‘Konkers’ instead paints a picture of isolated and unfortunate undergraduates who stay in to finish their essays, who hate skinny jeans, and who will all meet their tragicomic undoings sooner or later.

With a cast of Canterbury-based voice talent, and some impressive stereo sound design, the series depicts a parade of comedy characters and situations ranging from the hilariously absurd to the painfully real: Geoff Island’s unrequited love for his housemate . . . a shite student band rocketed to improbable superstardom . . . the ill-advised drunken emotion of houseparties . . .

Recording for ‘Konkers’ commenced in late 2006, making it the first programme to enter production for Canterbury’s new community radio station CSR FM (which would launch in January ’07). The show caught the attention of BBC Radio Kent presenter Dominic King, who then commissioned a mini episode for his station which broadcast in September 2008.

This mammoth radio project went on to spawn a smattering of short films featuring characters from the series including a ‘Konkerbury University Promotional’ video and two films focussing on Geoff Island (‘Geoff Island – Konkerbury Student‘ and ‘Geoff Island at Christmas’).

In 2011, CSR marked the fifth anniversary of Konkers entering production by commissioning two brand new sketches, which played out alongside a full repeat run of the show.

We also made time to promote the series with some glossy satirical viral marketing and an elaborate tie-in website