Talking to Strangers is the new radio 4 show written and performed by Sally Phillips (Smack the Pony, Miranda, Bridget Jones) and Lily Bevan (Actress, comedian and writer - Pheasant Plucker stand up) airing 4 Feb, consisting of comic monologues in which a range of characters find themselves engaging in that most un-British of activities: talking to a stranger. Each piece is a character study: funny, frank, absurd, moving... Characters include a sex councillor who loves to draw, a spy who loves to share, a woman who likes to help too much ("I'm a serial helpist..."), a frustrated falconer, a cheater who has to call her cheatee the morning after.

Some experiences that might ring close to home for some include: the rather nervous yoga teacher, who is as flighty as they come, equating downward dogs to anything that her imagination conjures up at the last minute; the tattoo artist who waxes lyrical while tattooing a helpless woman who we ominously never hear a peep out of. With guest stars Emma Thompson, Olivia Coleman and Jessica Hynes among others, the mostly female lead show offers a great diversity of characters, all refreshingly funny in their own way. Hopefully this show will mark the start for more quality radio comedy programmes to come, specially during the cold nights when you can't be bothered to get out from under your duvet. At least you'll be contentedly laughing from the comfort of your own - or maybe someone else's - bed.

Talking to Strangers airs Thursday 4 Feb 23.00 on bbc.co.uk/radio4