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Cabin Pressure #3
Cabin Pressure: The Complete Series 3
Cabin Pressure is set in the wing and a prayer world of a tiny, one-plane charter airline; staffed by two pilots, one on his way down, and one who was never up to start with. Whether hunting for polar bears or a cleverly-hidden lemon, no job is too small, but many, many jobs are too difficult. And then there are the otters...
Carolyn Knapp-Shappey, MJN Air's formidable boss, has employed two of the very cheapest pilots money can buy: Captain Martin Crieff, who's always wanted to fly and won't let a little thing like lack of ability stop him, and First Officer Douglas Richardson, smooth-voiced old sky god and eternal schemer. Passenger service is provided by the relentlessly cheery Arthur, proud inventor of both Surprising Rice and his own hat.
Written by John Finnemore (John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme, The Now Show), Cabin Pressure stars Stephanie Cole as Carolyn, Benedict Cumberbatch as Martin, Roger Allam as Douglas and John Finnemore as Arthur.
3 CDs. 2 hrs 48 mins.
Carolyn Knapp-Shappey, MJN Air's formidable boss, has employed two of the very cheapest pilots money can buy: Captain Martin Crieff, who's always wanted to fly and won't let a little thing like lack of ability stop him, and First Officer Douglas Richardson, smooth-voiced old sky god and eternal schemer. Passenger service is provided by the relentlessly cheery Arthur, proud inventor of both Surprising Rice and his own hat.
Written by John Finnemore (John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme, The Now Show), Cabin Pressure stars Stephanie Cole as Carolyn, Benedict Cumberbatch as Martin, Roger Allam as Douglas and John Finnemore as Arthur.
3 CDs. 2 hrs 48 mins.
Audio CD
First published August 5, 2011
4 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
John Finnemore
192 books48 followersJohn David Finnemore (born 28 September 1977) is a British comedy writer and actor. He wrote and performs in the radio series Cabin Pressure, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme, and John Finnemore's Double Acts, and frequently features in other BBC Radio 4 comedy shows such as The Now Show.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 18, 2014
Brilliant.
July 31, 2013
*yellow car*
Read
January 31, 2026I’m having such a blast with this show!
This season has my favorite episode. Well, trying to pick out a favorite episode of Cabin Pressure is like picking out a favorite child, but if I had to, I’d pick “Ottery St Mary”.
Douglas, Martin, and Arthur trying to figure out how many otters GERTI can transport is the golden standard for comedy. Highlights also include Carolyn and Herc just being themselves (I need more romance between older people, you cowards!) and, of course, how can I forget Snoopadoop the Cockapoo – noblest of hounds.
This season has my favorite episode. Well, trying to pick out a favorite episode of Cabin Pressure is like picking out a favorite child, but if I had to, I’d pick “Ottery St Mary”.
Douglas, Martin, and Arthur trying to figure out how many otters GERTI can transport is the golden standard for comedy. Highlights also include Carolyn and Herc just being themselves (I need more romance between older people, you cowards!) and, of course, how can I forget Snoopadoop the Cockapoo – noblest of hounds.
April 11, 2013
Still loving this show! Just one scene for you this time because it had me crying with laughter and deserves the whole review to itself, in my humble opinion!
To set the scenario up for anyone who hasn't heard the episode, Arthur is going through the safety demonstration:
“Right. Your seatbelt is fastened, adjusted, and unfastened like this. Hang on, oh no, like, sorry it’s different when you’re not wearing it! Ah. Anyway, w-w-what should happen is you put the metal square bit into the metal box of matches bit until it goes click. No, no. It’s more of a “kkkkch” no, no. It’s a “kch kch” no. That’s a dolphin. If it makes a noise like a dolphin I don’t know what you’ve done.”
My one disappointment is that this doesn't contain the Christmas special episode 'Molokai' *pouts*!
To set the scenario up for anyone who hasn't heard the episode, Arthur is going through the safety demonstration:
“Right. Your seatbelt is fastened, adjusted, and unfastened like this. Hang on, oh no, like, sorry it’s different when you’re not wearing it! Ah. Anyway, w-w-what should happen is you put the metal square bit into the metal box of matches bit until it goes click. No, no. It’s more of a “kkkkch” no, no. It’s a “kch kch” no. That’s a dolphin. If it makes a noise like a dolphin I don’t know what you’ve done.”
My one disappointment is that this doesn't contain the Christmas special episode 'Molokai' *pouts*!
January 25, 2026
An utter joy to listen too and a delight to find Anthony Head has joined this cast.
Just a load of good, harmless fun.
Just a load of good, harmless fun.
July 28, 2021
"To be quite honest with you, Captain, I don't think there's a whole lot about this plane full of unsupervised otters the CAA is going to love."
March 5, 2022
✨Brilliant ✈️✨
February 12, 2022
Still had me laughing out loud at times.
February 3, 2019
Douglas says Stoke-on-Trent in this one!! Someone famous acknowledged we exist!! Yay!! Shout-out!!
FULL Review:
‘Four of The Most Inept, Unskilled People Try to Run an Airline on Good Faith’
- Ashley V. Robinson, Ep. 49 of Geek History Lesson Podcast
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
I’m sure you’re thinking, but that’s 6 stars? Out of 5? That’s an improper fraction!
Well, I had to because it really is, that good. Hands down the funniest thing I’ve ever heard (and not just because I am a sucker for British comedy) Cabin Pressure is one of many brilliant recommendations I have scooped out of my favourite podcast, Geek History Lesson.
The title, quoted from one of GHL’s co-hosts, is really all you really need to know since if I were to go into all the reasons I love this audiobook/show/drama, I’d ruin it for a new listener. The least spoiler-y reasons come down to Douglas and his never-ending genius wit and the many recurring references and jokes that litter the 26 instalments of the show – since it is technically an audio-show by origin but I consider it an audiobook since its distribution on Audible.
I have discovered John Finnemore, writer and also actor, of Cabin Pressure to be the unseen mastermind behind much of my favourite television and he is clearly gifted in his craft. Cabin Pressure has foreshadowing, running jokes, and intelligent and engaging stories and a brilliant core cast of all-star British talent including John Finnemore, Rodger Allam, Stephanie Cole and Benedict Cumberbatch.
If Cabin Pressure announced a second series of episodes tomorrow, I would be right there ready for them and would happily listen and re-listen to all of the existing ones again.
I can’t recommend it enough, you can buy the episodes individually I think, but I think the best way to listen is via Audible subscription since you get to keep them afterwards in easily manageable series.
FULL Review:
‘Four of The Most Inept, Unskilled People Try to Run an Airline on Good Faith’
- Ashley V. Robinson, Ep. 49 of Geek History Lesson Podcast
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
I’m sure you’re thinking, but that’s 6 stars? Out of 5? That’s an improper fraction!
Well, I had to because it really is, that good. Hands down the funniest thing I’ve ever heard (and not just because I am a sucker for British comedy) Cabin Pressure is one of many brilliant recommendations I have scooped out of my favourite podcast, Geek History Lesson.
The title, quoted from one of GHL’s co-hosts, is really all you really need to know since if I were to go into all the reasons I love this audiobook/show/drama, I’d ruin it for a new listener. The least spoiler-y reasons come down to Douglas and his never-ending genius wit and the many recurring references and jokes that litter the 26 instalments of the show – since it is technically an audio-show by origin but I consider it an audiobook since its distribution on Audible.
I have discovered John Finnemore, writer and also actor, of Cabin Pressure to be the unseen mastermind behind much of my favourite television and he is clearly gifted in his craft. Cabin Pressure has foreshadowing, running jokes, and intelligent and engaging stories and a brilliant core cast of all-star British talent including John Finnemore, Rodger Allam, Stephanie Cole and Benedict Cumberbatch.
If Cabin Pressure announced a second series of episodes tomorrow, I would be right there ready for them and would happily listen and re-listen to all of the existing ones again.
I can’t recommend it enough, you can buy the episodes individually I think, but I think the best way to listen is via Audible subscription since you get to keep them afterwards in easily manageable series.
February 27, 2024
Series 3 of Cabin Pressure is ‘PARAMOUNT’. And the best so far, if you ask me.
Series 1 and 2 are fantastic, and should certainly be enjoyed before listening to Series 3, but this is where writer John Finnemore and his fellow actors (Benedict Cumberbatch, Roger Allam, and Stephanie Cole) take their work to the next level.
There just isn't an episode that doesn't work this time around. We start with a bang in Episode 1 as the crew charters some tourists up to the Arctic in search of polar bears. In the process, Arthur becomes a 'bear expert', Martin has to pretend he's French, Douglas is the epitome of unprofessional (on purpose), and somehow Carolyn doesn't lose her mind. The 'Traveling Lemon' goes down as one of the all-time great in-flight games the crew has ever created. And that's just the first episode!
From there, we're off for Birling Day round 2 ("I think the First Officer might be MAGIC."), meeting new friends and old while shuttling a crew for a wee Scottish Airline, delivering a piano to Ottery St Mary for Martin's side job (And, in arguably the series funniest moment, learning from Douglas where the name Ottery St. Mary truly comes from), filming a pre-flight safety video ("We could make it like a disaster movie!"), and finally, finding a way to save GERTI from Carolyn's ex-husband in St Petersburg.
From beginning to end, I'm not sure I ever stopped laughing. If you've listened this far, I cannot recommend Series 3 highly enough. And remember, you're ALWAYS playing 'Yellow Car'.
*I should also note that Benedict Cumberbatch does not appear in the episode 'Newcastle', as he was ill the day of the recording. Tom Goodman-Hill does an admirable job filling in as Martin, particularly embodying the character's wonderful awkwardness around women.
Series 1 and 2 are fantastic, and should certainly be enjoyed before listening to Series 3, but this is where writer John Finnemore and his fellow actors (Benedict Cumberbatch, Roger Allam, and Stephanie Cole) take their work to the next level.
There just isn't an episode that doesn't work this time around. We start with a bang in Episode 1 as the crew charters some tourists up to the Arctic in search of polar bears. In the process, Arthur becomes a 'bear expert', Martin has to pretend he's French, Douglas is the epitome of unprofessional (on purpose), and somehow Carolyn doesn't lose her mind. The 'Traveling Lemon' goes down as one of the all-time great in-flight games the crew has ever created. And that's just the first episode!
From there, we're off for Birling Day round 2 ("I think the First Officer might be MAGIC."), meeting new friends and old while shuttling a crew for a wee Scottish Airline, delivering a piano to Ottery St Mary for Martin's side job (And, in arguably the series funniest moment, learning from Douglas where the name Ottery St. Mary truly comes from), filming a pre-flight safety video ("We could make it like a disaster movie!"), and finally, finding a way to save GERTI from Carolyn's ex-husband in St Petersburg.
From beginning to end, I'm not sure I ever stopped laughing. If you've listened this far, I cannot recommend Series 3 highly enough. And remember, you're ALWAYS playing 'Yellow Car'.
*I should also note that Benedict Cumberbatch does not appear in the episode 'Newcastle', as he was ill the day of the recording. Tom Goodman-Hill does an admirable job filling in as Martin, particularly embodying the character's wonderful awkwardness around women.
December 10, 2014
Le Bear Polar!
June 30, 2019
Cabin Pressure is a delight. The cast fit together perfectly: Benedict Cumberbatch as the anxious, hapless, not-yet-failed captain; Roger Allam as the older, more talented and far more distinguished co-pilot; Stephanie Cole as the fearsome airline owner, who won't tolerate the foolish men messing it all up; and John Finnemore (the writer) as her bumbling son Arthur, the steward.
The third series starts to refer back to old jokes and plotlines (welcome back, Birling day), and there's a bigger role for Martin, which reflects Benedict's growing popularity at the time. For fans this means it's even better than the first two in many ways (which is saying a lot).
Anthony Head also joins the cast as Herc, and his voice is somehow even more delicious than Roger's.
I could happily listen to them for hours; I have done, and they're hours full of laughter and camaraderie. Heartily recommended.
The third series starts to refer back to old jokes and plotlines (welcome back, Birling day), and there's a bigger role for Martin, which reflects Benedict's growing popularity at the time. For fans this means it's even better than the first two in many ways (which is saying a lot).
Anthony Head also joins the cast as Herc, and his voice is somehow even more delicious than Roger's.
I could happily listen to them for hours; I have done, and they're hours full of laughter and camaraderie. Heartily recommended.
July 15, 2019
4.50 stars - rated pg13 (secular, fairly clean)
British radio sitcom released on Audible. I love Stephanie Cole in other British tv sitcoms so was looking forward to listening to this. I laughed and loved the hilarious season #1 and immediately bought all the other Cabin Pressure series' and anything else done by John Finnemore. This Cabin Pressure radio sitcom is fairly clean for a secular program but I've since discovered that other things done by John Finnemore can be rather unwholesome, tasteless and offensive so I've deleted his other programs off my audible. But the ensemble cast of this Cabin Pressure series is great together and I wish they'd done more than 4 years worth of hilarious programs.
British radio sitcom released on Audible. I love Stephanie Cole in other British tv sitcoms so was looking forward to listening to this. I laughed and loved the hilarious season #1 and immediately bought all the other Cabin Pressure series' and anything else done by John Finnemore. This Cabin Pressure radio sitcom is fairly clean for a secular program but I've since discovered that other things done by John Finnemore can be rather unwholesome, tasteless and offensive so I've deleted his other programs off my audible. But the ensemble cast of this Cabin Pressure series is great together and I wish they'd done more than 4 years worth of hilarious programs.
February 5, 2021
LOVED IT OMG THE LAST PART WAS EPIC
And now Caroline, Douglas, Martin and Arthur will continue their always amusing, always entertaining flying adventures in my imagination (or until I can get my hands on season 4, which I’m so glad to discover exists!!!!)
And now Caroline, Douglas, Martin and Arthur will continue their always amusing, always entertaining flying adventures in my imagination (or until I can get my hands on season 4, which I’m so glad to discover exists!!!!)
April 9, 2023
This just gets better and better- so funny. My son now calls out "yellow car" when we are driving. If you enjoy dry British humor, you will probably like this. Thanks to Mindy Brouse for the recommendation.
July 3, 2023
Best series yet! The characters are bedded in and the additional foils of Carolyn's husband Gordon and her paramour Herc add many laughs. And I loved how they handled an episode without the great BC - lovely touch!
June 11, 2017
Radio sitcomly perfection.
July 4, 2017
Liberally the best radio play I've listened so far this year.
November 7, 2017
I dare say this is my favorite yet. Rotterdam is absolutely priceless, mostly for Arthur. I listened to that one twice, it's so hilarious.
January 18, 2018
I absolutely love this series!
May 8, 2019
Is this the one with the polar bears?! Love it!
May 9, 2019
Attention me ami... regarde vous a "bear polar"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2019
The episode Qikiqtarjuaq, though the title may appear to be the result of a cat sitting on the keyboard, is actually a legitimate place and a top 3 favorite episode of the show.
August 29, 2019
I love these so much! They are so fun to listen to and always give me a good laugh!
March 29, 2020
i'll never get over how funny this drama is
April 14, 2022
Up, up and away! Even funnier and more clever than seasons one and two.
March 11, 2023
Another great time up in the air with these guys!
February 14, 2022
One word. Brilliant!
April 17, 2016
Okay, so in case it wasn't clear already, I think this whole series is amazing. But, this might be the greatest season and Qikiqtarjuaq may be the greatest episode. At least to far.
I want a t-shirt that says "Polar Bears are brilliant!". Or maybe I want a tattoo that says that. I haven't decided yet.
Qikiqtarjuaq is also where we're first introduced to the game of hide the lemon. And Douglas proves to be too clever even for himself.
The of course there's another episode set on Birlingday.
Herc, the only pilot to out-smug Douglas, is introduced and is played by Anthony Head. I may have squealed just a little bit.
And there's Ottery Kisses and Yellow Car and the one with the horrible actor and the one with the engine.
Looking at my rating on the screen, I'm fighting an urge to take a yellow felt tip pen and adding a sixth star.
I want a t-shirt that says "Polar Bears are brilliant!". Or maybe I want a tattoo that says that. I haven't decided yet.
Qikiqtarjuaq is also where we're first introduced to the game of hide the lemon. And Douglas proves to be too clever even for himself.
The of course there's another episode set on Birlingday.
Herc, the only pilot to out-smug Douglas, is introduced and is played by Anthony Head. I may have squealed just a little bit.
And there's Ottery Kisses and Yellow Car and the one with the horrible actor and the one with the engine.
Looking at my rating on the screen, I'm fighting an urge to take a yellow felt tip pen and adding a sixth star.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews