BBC Radio 4 has ordered a new four-part comedy series from Ashley Blaker entitled 6.5 Children.
The commission follows the comedian’s successful two-part Radio 4 show Ashley Blaker’s Goyish Guide To Judaism, broadcast as part of the Stand-Up Specials slot. The new series of four half hours is a mix of stand-up and observational documentary that moves beyond Blaker’s Orthodox Judaism and meets his extraordinary family. all recorded in the Blakers’ unusual home and featuring the voices of his real family.
As parents of six children, Blaker and his wife, Gemma are trying to raise a family in a world that is only really set up for having two or three. On top of that, the Blakers’ children are not just any kids: three have special needs – two autistic boys and an adopted girl with Down Syndrome – and 6.5 Children sensitively finds the funny in raising children with disabilities. Naturally, an entire episode of the show will deal with lockdown when the Blakers had to home-school half a dozen children at once.
Ashley Blaker said: ‘I am very excited to be bringing a new series to Radio 4 and very grateful to the network for putting their trust in me. I am looking forward to being able to share with the nation just how crazy our home life is. If nothing else, it should be a cathartic experience!’
Blaker is a comedian who has performed on five continents including tours of the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Israel and Australia. His 2018 Off-Broadway run was called ‘a slickly funny stand-up show’ by the New York Times and in 2020 he returned with ‘Goy Friendly’ which ran at the prestigious SoHo Playhouse.
In August 2018, he made his debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a sold-out run of his show ‘Observant Jew’. He is the first Orthodox Jewish comedian to be given his own BBC show – Ashley Blaker’s Goyish Guide To Judaism.
Blaker tweeted: "Absolutely delighted to announce that my new four part series ‘6.5 Children’ is coming to @BBCRadio4 next year. (Not true that we run the media, I wanted six parts.)"
6.5 Children will be produced by Steve Doherty for Giddy Goat Productions and will be broadcast at 11.30pm on BBC Radio 4 in the summer of 2021.
Picture: Steve Ullathorne
