The Lentil Sorters
The Lentil Sorters (2015, United Kingdom)
BBC radio show BBC radio sitcom radio sitcomIn the Local and National Statistics office, Graham Quicks, Head of the People and Places Department, is the traditional, by-the-book kind of civil servant. He will not tolerate any shenanigans when it comes to the collecting or analysing data. At least he would not tolerate, but his small team does not really follow his lead.
Daniel Porter is the Data Analyst and the maverick of the statistics world - he will do anything to prove his point, even if this will sink the weeks of research done so far. He is not heavy on the actual work, but doesn’t mind introducing more cynical methods to show how much right he really was about the topic.
Audrey Carr is the Survey Researcher and the more human side of the office. She strongly believes that people are basically good and the data she collects should reflect that. Of course, her passion is not always met with the answers she was expecting, which causes her headaches.
Mrs. Wilkins is not actually part of the team, she works as the tea lady, but in the past she had different jobs around the office of LNS and knows what is what. Her passion is... let’s just say she likes to repurpose things... that aren’t bolted down.
The Lentil Sorters was a very short series (only 4 episodes), but it was one of those sitcoms that at the first glance just could not work. What could be interesting in lives of people, who spend whole days collecting and analysing data about topics that have barely any impact on lives of other people? Nothing. And that nothing is the basis of this comedy - the office of LNS works on surveys that have very little to do with the outside world, but Jack Bernhardt managed to make this setting work. The characters do get out of their safe space and meet ordinary people, who influence their own views.
The Lentil Sorters was not a top tier sitcom, but it deserved a chance with at least second season. Unfortunately it just wasn’t meant to be and we are left with just 4 episodes.
add a commentEpisodes of The Lentil Sorters
Series 1 (2015)
1. Standard Deviation
The team uncovers a correlation between eyebrows, strawberries and dangerous dogs.
2. Multi-Parameter Database Search
A database linking of Ribena and MI5 makes Graham reach for his Stress Cardigan.
3. Researcher Bias
Daniel and Audrey save the Welfare State with a can of lager and a police uniform.
4. False Positives
A stag do, a stats conference and a blood test combine to make Graham’s life worse.
