Roger Allam returns alongside Joanna Lumley in the seventh series of Jan Etherington’s much-loved BBC Radio 4 comedy drama, Conversations from a Long Marriage. The new series brings listeners back to the warm, sharp, funny and deeply human world of Joanna and Roger, a couple whose decades-long marriage continues to be full of affection, irritation, music, memories and wonderfully observed conversation.
The series has become a favourite with listeners for the natural rhythm between its two leads. As a two-hander, it depends almost entirely on voice, timing and emotional truth — qualities that Roger Allam and Joanna Lumley bring with remarkable ease. Their performances make the couple feel not like characters being performed, but like people we have come to know.
In a recent article for Radio Times, writer Jan Etherington reflected on the personal roots of the series and its emotional return. She wrote that she had come to understand Conversations from a Long Marriage as “a love letter to Gavin,” referring to her late husband and creative partner Gavin Petrie.
That sense of love, loss and lived experience has always been part of the series’ quiet power. Beneath the jokes and affectionate sparring is a portrait of a long relationship shaped by shared history: the private shorthand, the old arguments, the songs, the misunderstandings, and the comfort of still being known by another person.
Series 7 finds Joanna and Roger adjusting to life in their new seaside home. The new episodes include unfriendly locals, visitors, the discovery that one of Roger’s old flames lives nearby, and more serious moments involving friendship, grief and misunderstanding.
The result is exactly what listeners have come to love: a comedy drama that is witty without being shallow, tender without being sentimental, and beautifully carried by two actors who understand how much can be said in a pause, a sigh, or a perfectly timed reply.
Conversations from a Long Marriage returned to BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds on Monday 4 May 2026, with past episodes also available on BBC Sounds. The Series 7 audiobook is listed for release on 18 June 2026.
Maybe the conversations in our 42 year partnership are not as polished but they are certainly similar. Which is what attracted me with series one and kept me listening ever since.
This is a fabulous audio play on Sounds. The most heartwarming, funny, wonderfully real, but at times, heartbreakingly tearful play myself and hubbie have ever listened to. Three times, we might add.
Roger Allam and Joanna Lumley’s natural personalities really shine through. And the chemistry coming together from both of them, WOW. The best, most fabulous play ever written about an older couple and life, we related to anyway.
Thanks Jan Etherington, Roger Allam and Joanna Lumley. A truly brilliant, beautifully put together piece of writing and acting.
Amazing.
I’ve fallen in love with Roger Allam in Conversations from a long marriage and am listening and still laugh at a second time around. I want the series to go on forever!
I listened twice over conversations of along marriage, its funny and brilliant, absolutely love it ,please can we have series 8,or let it go on forever, 👏👏the Characters seem so real love the actors they’re brilliant, and brilliantly written
I have all 7 series on Audible. My favourite listen x
This is one of the most wonderful radio productions I have ever followed. I really hope that an eighth series is commissioned very soon. I have just finished S7 and feel as though I’ve binged on a box of Maltesers and am desperately looking for more .
Completely in love with Roger Allam firstly as Thursday and now in Conversations From a Long Marriage. Whilst I admit I love the first 4 series’ the most I listen avidly to all new episodes. Pure genius. Believe it or not I have listened to each and every single episode six times over! Thank you Roger for bringing joy to so many x