How Does That Make You Feel? Series 1-10

The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Drama

By: Shelagh Stephenson

Narrated by: Rebecca Saire, Marcella Riordan, Frances Tomelty, Tim McInnerny, Roger Allam, Cathy Belton

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

Psychotherapist Martha is reasonably compassionate, but deep down she's losing patience. It seems all her clients want to be something they are not, and it's driving them (and her) out of their minds. 

There's Richard Fallon MP, who's convinced that promotion to the front bench is being denied him because of his obese son and a wife who lost all patience with him 20 years ago. 

Caroline, who is worried that instead of following the path of celebrity like her, her daughter may go on to study mere physics - thereby consigning her (and more importantly Caroline) to a life of unbearable ordinariness. 

Philip, who insists he isn't facing a crisis since his demotion from Good Morning Norfolk to a shopping channel, but whose new girlfriend is 30 years his junior and clearly on the make. 

Howard, a chef whose 33-year-old son Aaron is still trying to get a band off the ground whilst looming resentfully over his parents’ lives from the back bedroom. 

And Tony, Howard's boss at the restaurant, whose wife thinks he needs therapy. He has no idea why. Mostly he wants to talk about why women are so weird and why he has absolutely no need of a therapist. However, he would like Martha to give him a certificate proving his sanity, if possible. 

Across a series of 15-minute comedy vignettes, How Does that Make You Feel? offers a fly-on-the-wall view of Martha’s sessions, each one shedding more light on the lives of her entertaining clients.

Starring Frances Tomelty, Roger Allam, Marcella Riordan, Tim McInnerny, Cathy Belton and Rebecca Saire.

Produced and directed by Eoin O’Callaghan.

©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Amusing look at life today - social media, food

There was a slow start for me as each session served to introduce the characters and get them to a point where they were 3-D. Until that was done I wasn't certain about this. Yet, I was constantly bemused and amused by this comedy drama. Then, there were bursts of laughter that started for me.

The entire series is a good snapshot of our lives today. We still muddle around with our goals, accomplishments, relationships, and embarrassing moments. But these days we do it with similar experiences - facebook, instagram, twitter, texting, smart phones, google, and we have common references - gluten free foods, new food prep machines, drawn-on eyebrows, Tinder dates, quantum physics, reiki, feng shui, annoying neighbors, custody of the dog after divorce, and viral fame or infamy due to social media.

My favorite character was Richard, played by Roger Allam. His portrayal got me to laugh out loud enough times that my belly got sore. Although my laughter was sometimes at moments that I suppose should have been sad - but Roger Allam manages to show the irony of situations with deftness.

This isn't a story with a beginning and an end. We pop into these people examining their lives, and at the end there is no resolution. There has been evolution and change, but there is no defined ending. Just like life.

It was enjoyable. The writing ranged very broadly in topics it touched on - if you are well-read or aware of many new issues there will be many times that you "ping" on shared knowledge..

Thoughtful and perceptive observations throughout the writing. The voice acting was superb.

funny and at times serious

Too funny; Snippets of sessions between a therapist and her patients. The listener is a fly in the wall and get to hear the client stories as they ramble on with the therapist who during the series gets and takes a tv opportunity. The clients' self-absorption is truly hysterical, while at the same time you can hear the underside of their struggles. Performances are great.

Voyeuristically hilarious

I was very surprised at how much I loved this show. It’s just people talking about their messed-up, everyday, mundane lives, so I thought I’d be bored out of my mind. But I was actually riveted through every minute. The stories are delightful in the same way gossip about someone we don’t know is delightful, and sometimes you just have to say, ‘he said WHAT?!’
In addition to feeding our nosey itch, however, you also get very attached to Roger Allam’s haplessly lovable character.
Overall, I loved it, and I was sad when it was over.

great performance

great performance and it sounds all true to life. Particularly like Tony the rambler, so real.

Enjoyable because it felt real

I enjoy anything that sounds like real life. The actors in this were great. Ever conversation felt real and all the voices felt believable, even when someone referred to the voices in their own head. If you're curious about what folks are saying when talking to their therapists, check this out.

Surprisingly funny

I decided to give this one a go because I had the credit and wasn't disappointed. The setting is simple enough, a psychotherapist works with her clients. Listening to their trials and tribulations is remarkably funny. It's best summarised really as Alan Bennet with a twist.

There's a lot there for your money as well so if you like little 15 minute slices of humour then go for it.

Unswitchoffable!

Superb series of bitter-sweet, understated but incisive portraits of people whom we all recognise. The scripts are full of wry, dry humour and are wonderfully narrated. An absolute treasure.

Absolutely fantastic!

I've had this title for a while and never got round to listening to it and now regret my procrastination. The writing is superb with the characters progressing through more as each session goes by. I started off listening to this when doing chores and am now just sat, listening, laughing, howling with laughter again, sometimes shaking my head at the characters narcissism or bafflement with their lives. Oh, and how the seriously long suffering therapist starts her sessions with a pep talk to herself at the beginning of some of the later sessions had me in floods of laughter. The humour is very very dry, the lack of awareness in some of the clients is breathe-taking but always true to their character arch. I think as someone who has gone through counselling I thought I would be cringing and thinking did I sound like that but this is not the case and although nearly at the end of the book I know I will listen to this repeatedly. One of the best audio books I have bought on Audible.

Brilliantly performed and a Laugh out loud series.

Absolutely loved it and got emotionally invested in all the characters. Definitely my favourite purchase off Audible thus far. Fantastic!!!

Oh noooo

This book is well acted, the inane storylines are woeful, I cannot in all seriousness recommend it to anyone.
Sorry just not my-cup of tea

Funny, perceptive, tragic and utterly brilliant

I could listen to this on a loop forever. The writing is so sharp, the characters develop beautifully with each session and the humour makes me shake with mirth. An absolute gem.

Funny & touching

Can’t recommend this highly enough- had me in stitches, but it also hits the right tone with compassion.

outstanding comedy

Great performances and wonderful script,a hidden gem not to be missed. Another radio 4 treasure.

i want more..

excellent from start to finish, great for listening to while on a long journey ..

This is laugh out loud funny!

What a great story. I have downloaded so many books over the last 10 years but this is the first time I’ve written a review.