August 6th, 2026
Thursday, the Pleasance duty manager Sandra leaves a voicemail: the 7:30pm Friday slot is being pulled forward to 6pm to accommodate a BBC Radio 4 recording that has been bumped, and if he cannot do 6pm Friday he loses the slot — full stop, no second preview, no warm-up, straight to the half-empty Saturday matinee.
What happened
Thursday, the Pleasance duty manager Sandra leaves a voicemail: the 7:30pm Friday slot is being pulled forward to 6pm to accommodate a BBC Radio 4 recording that has been bumped, and if he cannot do 6pm Friday he loses the slot — full stop, no second preview, no warm-up, straight to the half-empty Saturday matinee. In-trouble: his hour is eighty per cent and Friday was supposed to land the Leeds middle twice more. He texts Yara "BBC wants me Friday, can I have your flat to rehearse in the afternoon, please please please" and she replies "yes, bring teabags." Cute: he arrives at the Marchmont flat with a packet of Yorkshire Gold and she opens the door in his Pleasance hoodie from July. Romance: he runs the hour once in her living room; she tells him the second pause is too long; he fixes it. Decision: he will do 6pm Friday and not tell mum until after.