Flying the Flag: The Complete Series 1-4: A BBC Radio 4 comedy drama

All four series of the Eastern bloc embassy sitcom starring Dinsdale Landen

Set in a British embassy somewhere in Russia, as the Cold War draws to a close, this entertaining sitcom follows Her Majesty's Ambassador Mr Mackenzie as he navigates the idiosyncrasies of life behind the Iron Curtain. Together with his First Secretary, William Frost, and personal assistant Helen Waterson, he manages matters ranging from dissidents to diplomatic dinners, all while maintaining his urbane, unflappable demeanour.

Engaging with Communism is challenging enough, but the era of glasnost and perestroika brings new problems - including tourism, press freedom and an outbreak of political sickness in the People's Republic. However, Mackenzie battles on bravely, striving to dispense his own unique blend of British foreign policy and maintain the upper hand. Whether he's dealing with drug barons, hijackers, a Briton being held hostage or a container ship full of toxic waste, it's all in a day's overwork for the Ambassador. Not even an imminent revolution can faze him: but all distinguished careers must come to an end, and eventually it's time for Mackenzie to pack his diplomatic bags.

But as he contemplates a bleak future in Britain, with no servants - and no knighthood - he finds himself facing one final crisis. Can he salvage some personal profit from someone else's disaster?

Written by Alex Shearer, this wry observation of East-West diplomacy stars Dinsdale Landen as Ambassador Mackenzie, with Peter Acre as William, Moir Leslie as Helen, Christopher Benjamin as Colonel Surikov and Stephen Greif as US Ambassador Spiro Weinberg.

Production credits Written by Alex Shearer Produced by Pete Atkin and Neil Cargill

Cast HM Ambassador Mr Mackenzie - Dinsdale Landen William Frost - Peter Acre Helen Waterson - Moir Leslie Brown - Milton Johns Bryant - Stuart Organ Colonel Surikov - Christopher Benjamin Yakov Korovin - Michael Bilton Mikael Korovin - Jonathan Kydd US Ambassador Spiro Wineberg - Stephen Greif Eugenia - Sue Broomfield Brown - Milton Johns Mrs Poonskey - Margaret Ward Mrs Newton - Susie Brann George Sommers - Peter Howell Harris - Stephen Rashbrook Olav/Captain Warner - David Goodland Morris - John Baddeley Keith Branley - Richard Pearce Nesterov - Peter Craze Brodsky - Paul Gregory Frank Burton - Alan Dudley Gerald Calder-Browne MP - Richard Tate Henry Treebling - John Grieve Dr Hutchings - Norman Bird Grub - Julian Dutton Duncan Bridges - Peter Whitman Princess Sharon Eckersley - Elaine Lordan Dave - Simon Schatzberger

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 21 April-26 May 1987 (Series 1), 10 March-28 April 1988 (Series 2), 20 November-25 December 1990 (Series 3), 16 June-4 August 1992 (Series 4)

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Lydbog: 1. juli 2021