Radio program (UK): Linda Smith's A Brief History of Time Wasting

A situation comedy written by and starring Linda Smith. It debuted on Radio 4, and is now repeated regularly on BBC Radio 7.

Linda Helen Smith (29 January 1958 – 27 February 2006) was an English stand-up comic and comedy writer. She was a regular Radio 4 panellist, being voted "Wittiest Living Person" by listeners in 2002. She met her partner, Warren Lakin, at university, and they were together for nearly 30 years until her death. She died of cancer.

A Brief History of Time Wasting
Linda Smith’s A Brief History of Timewasting was a BBC Radio 4 situation comedy series written by and starring the late Linda Smith. It ran for two series of six episodes each from July 2001 until July 2002.

Set in East London, where Smith herself lived, A Brief History of Timewasting concerned the struggle of a single woman to fill the day, helped by her inept, sugar-loving, live-in builder Chris (Chris Neill), morbid elderly neighbour Betty (Margaret John), and Cab driver Worra (Femi Elufowoju Junior). Supporting roles were played by Jeremy Hardy and Martin Hyder. Many familiar voices from Radio 4, including then-chief announcer Peter Donaldson, Thought for the Day regular Rabbi Lionel Blue, and Woman's Hour stalwart Jenni Murray appeared as themselves.

Series 1
1/6. Buying a new carpet sweeper for her neighbour turns into a major operation.
2/6. At an exhibition, Linda tries getting her neighbour's Jack the Ripper letters valued.
3/6. When neighbour Betty gets involved with Ground Force, an unlikely team of gardeners arrives.
4/6. Linda and chums head to the coast, letting the train increase the strain.
5/6. As neighbour Betty plans building a mausoleum, Linda gets a visit from Rob Newman and Jeremy Hardy.
6/6. Linda's procrastinating live-in builder finds fame and Betty's got worries. With Mark Steel.

Series 1 Airdates and Titles
Episode Original Airdate Title
1 12 July 2001 The Carpet Sweeper
2 19 July 2001 East End Mafia
3 26 July 2001 Opera, Gas and Gardening
4 02 August 2001 A Day Trip To Romney Marsh
5 09 August 2001 Coffins, Funerals and Nursing Homes
6 16 August 2001 999 Emergency

Series 2
Episode Original Airdate Title
1 04 June 2002 Fragile Peace
2 11 June 2002 Poltergeist
3 18 June 2002 Museum Of East End Life
4 25 June 2002 New Islington
5 02 July 2002 Neighbourhood Watch
6 09 July 2002 The End Of Timewasting