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I got another credit on BBC Radio 7’s Newsjack this week – a gag and my very first sketch! You can hear the show here – and below is the original script for the sketch in question (it was edited for the show). I’ve left it laid out as you lay out radio scripts (apparently. I had to go to the BBC Writers’ Room website to find out how to do so). Anyway, hope you like :).
MILES This week, Yale University signed an agreement with Peru to return thousands of Inca artefacts. The event has sent cultural shockwaves throughout the world – extending even to Britain, where we understand the following exchange took place at the Peruvian Embassy in London.
FX PERUVIAN MUSIC (PANPIPES ETC). OFFICE ATMOS
AMBASSADOR You know what we want, Senor/a.
GOVT OFFICIAL Of course, Mr Ambassador. It’s just… Well, we’ve grown awfully fond of him.
AMBASSADOR I understand. He is adorable. But he belongs to us.
GOVT OFFICIAL You see, Paddington Bear…
AMBASSADOR Pastuso.
GOVT OFFICIAL Yes. Si. Pastuso – Paddington – well, he’s been in Britain for so long, he’s really become one of us.
AMBASSADOR Of course, but…
GOVT OFFICIAL Look, Mr Ambassador: Paddington eats marmalade sandwiches, drinks cocoa, wears duffle coats and wellington boots… He has become completely assimilated into our culture.
AMBASSADOR But he’s always giving you hard stares.
GOVT OFFICIAL Well, that is true…
AMBASSADOR And his outfits? Pah! He only has two: red coat, blue wellingtons; or blue coat, red wellingtons.
GOVT OFFICIAL You shouldn’t just go by the toys, you know.
AMBASSADOR And his suitcase: it is always packed! It’s like he’s always ready to go… back to Peru!
GOVT OFFICIAL But you asked us to ‘Please look after this bear’!
AMBASSADOR NO! We did not. Aunt Lucy did.
GOVT OFFICIAL Oh, please. Look: we’ve even named a station after him.
AMBASSADOR Waterloo?
GOVT OFFICIAL Mr Ambassador, there will be outrage over here if Paddington goes. There’ll be protests in the streets! Mostly by children under eight, admittedly, but…
AMBASSADOR I’m sorry, Senor/a, but it is a fait accompli. Or whatever the Spanish is for that. You see, Paddington – Pastuso – he stowed away.
GOVT OFFICIAL What?
AMBASSADOR Yes. Don’t you remember the first book? Paddington Bear stowed away. Therefore he is…
GOVT OFFICIAL Oh my god… An illegal immigrant?
AMBASSADOR Si.
GOVT OFFICIAL Oh, bugger. Well, in that case he’s all yours, Ambassador. He’s at 32 Windsor Gardens.