Safety Catch. Simon McGrath (Darren Boyd). Copyright: BBC
Safety Catch

Safety Catch

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2007 - 2010
  • 12 episodes (3 series)

Radio sitcom starring Darren Boyd as Simon McGrath, a weapons dealer who never intended to go into the arms trade. Also features Joanna Page, Lewis Macleod, Sarah Smart, Brigit Forsyth and Rachel Atkins

Character guide

Simon McGrath (Series 1-2)

Played by: Darren Boyd

Simon is the show's narrator and its anti-hero. He claims that he really wants to be an electronic musician but is trapped in his current job as an arms dealer due to laziness and cowardice. Likewise, he sort of knows that his relationship with Anna isn't right but is too scared to do anything about it.

Anna Greig (Series 1-2)

Played by: Joanna Page

Anna is Simon's girlfriend. She is desperate to settle down and have children and wants Simon to be the right man to do all that with. It would be so much more convenient than having to find someone else.

Boris Kemal (Series 1-2)

Played by: Lewis Macleod

Boris is Simon's work colleague. Unlike Simon, Boris has absolutely no qualms about what he does for a living, believing that arms dealing is a humanitarian service - Give me a man a fish and he can feed himself for a day. Give a man a gun and he can steal fish for the rest of his life. is one of his phrases!

Judith McGrath (Series 1-2)

Played by: Sarah Smart

Judith is Simon's sister. She works for Oxfam and is appalled by Simon's job but can't quite bring herself to disown her big brother, however much she'd like to.

Angela McGrath (Series 1-2)

Played by: Brigit Forsyth

Angela is Simon's mother. She doesn't care about the ethical implications of his job - as long as he gets his own desk and a hot lunch, that's good enough for her.

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