I don’t mention radio dramas very often here, and I should really. How to Lose Friends and Alienate People is based on the book by Toby Young relating his experiences working as a journalist in America – in particular for a spell spent at Vanity Fair.
In this radio version (the link works until Friday), Virgin Radio’s Al Murray plays Young and what a dislikeable man he is. There really is very little redeeming about someone so shallow. Mind you, you don’t care a great deal for anybody in this play.
Having said that, I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy listening to this story. While most of the characters are crass, you can take a certain enjoyment in hearing them struggle through their situations. A couple of the American accents were a little off, but nothing too distracting.
I haven’t read the book this play is based on, and have no intention of doing so. I’m sure he has in some minor way redeemed himself by his story’s end, but is that enough?
PS If anyone can get me a copy of part 3 of Radio 4’s Classic Serial – The Cairo Trilogy – I’d be very grateful. I missed it on the radio and can’t now stream it.