About the Radio Script Blog
Bringing radio drama, sound design cues, and studio paper aesthetics to modern web publishing.
Why BBC-style Radio Scripts?
Unlike television or film scripts which rely heavily on visual action descriptions, BBC Radio Drama scripts rely on auditory immersion. Sound effects (FX), acoustic space (reverb, background atmosphere), music stings, and crisp dialogue create the scene entirely within the listener's imagination.
Script Notation & Formatting Cues
Our blog post scripts follow standard BBC Sound Drama layout rules:
1. Scene Headings
Headings specify interior/exterior locations and time of day in bold uppercase:
2. FX / Sound Effects Cues
Sound design instructions are formatted using blockquotes with italicized text:
FX: **[Heavy rain outside hitting window panes. Glass clattering.]**
3. Character Dialogue & Parentheticals
Speaker headers use uppercase bold text with minimal vertical spacing before lines:
ARTHUR:
(whispering)
It’s the Second Law, Bob. You can’t fight entropy.
Featured Radio Series
- The Greasy Spoon: A comedic sit-com series centered around Joe, Bob, and cafe owner Brenda in a Coventry cafe.
- Bureau of Absurdity: Anything goes.
- Standalones: One-off radio scripts that don't fit anywhere else.
The Writer
I'm Andy Hawthorne and I write radio scripts as a change from columns, blogs and novels. I'm based in Coventry, England. And I'm old enough to remember when radio comedy shows were a thing.