Explore every episode of the podcast Riverside Radio

Episode 38 By Katie Bryan

Tash and Mike are finally forced to face the question they’ve both been avoiding. With Tash preparing to leave for Los Angeles, can their relationship survive the distance or will one of them have to make a life-changing choice?

As Naomi opens up about the reality of her own relationship struggles and Mike says goodbye to the family home filled with childhood memories, emotions run high.

At the London Borough of Culture finale event at Battersea Power Station, Tash and Mike take a walk by the river and finally talk honestly about their future.

But when Tash asks Mike to take a leap and leave Wandsworth behind, will he choose love or the place he’s always called home?

Viva La Wandsworth by Kevin Ung

After the fire, Mike calls in favours from friends, neighbours and local businesses in a determined effort to help Andy. As the community quietly comes together behind the scenes, Andy is persuaded to return to the café for a surprise he never expected.

Meanwhile, Tash celebrates a major step in her writing career but Mike has something important he wants to tell her.

Episode 36 by Elena Novello

Tash rushes inside the burning cafe to rescue Mike. As emergency services arrive and the shock begins to settle, Mike struggles with guilt, convinced he's responsible for what happened.

In hospital, questions start to emerge about whether the fire was really an accident. As suspicions grow, Tash, Naomi and Andy confront Lewis, leading to a tense showdown and ends with an unexpected knock at the door.

Episode 35 - By Kim Teresa Marsh

Suspicions grow when Tash and Naomi begin tailing Lewis, convinced his return to London hides more than he’s admitting. As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, relationships become increasingly tangled. But while truths come to light, a sudden emergency threatens to change everything leaving one life hanging in the balance.

Episode 34 – Petals and Pretence

Valentine’s Day arrives in Wandsworth with bouquets, big gestures, and emotions nobody quite has under control. As Mike hopes romance is finally going right, Tash finds herself haunted by old feelings and growing suspicions about Lewis that refuse to stay buried. Between new beginnings, uncomfortable reunions, and secrets uncovered over late-night wine, love proves complicated, messy, and occasionally allergenic. Because behind every perfect bouquet lies something waiting to unravel.

Open Mind By Emma Cooney

What starts as a harmless drink in Mike’s pub turns into an unexpectedly intimate day out, as Mike and Tash are thrown together for a series of flat viewings across Wandsworth. From awkward silences and disastrous properties to sirens, students, and a coffin that really shouldn’t be there, the day becomes less about finding the right flat and more about what they’re both quietly looking for next. As hope builds around one final place near Tooting Common, phone calls, old loyalties and a surprise confession threaten to shift everything. Sometimes it’s the most ordinary days that ask the biggest questions about love, timing, and what it really means to move on.

Episode 32 by Abadesi Osunsade 

Mike has lost his voice - and in the silence, everything else finally gets heard. As doctor’s orders force him into wordlessness, a series of visits change the shape of his world: his daughter confronts the feelings he’s always joked away, his mum announces a bold new beginning, and his ex-wife says the things that were never said when it mattered most. Just as Mike begins to listen properly - to others and to himself - a quiet walk on the Common brings one final conversation that could change everything.

At One With Your World - by John Myatt 

Natasha is stuck. Book three isn’t coming, her confidence is wobbling, and her agent Stefan has a mysterious plan to fix it. What begins as a rainy trip across Wandsworth turns into an unexpected sound bath experience that pulls Natasha deep into the worlds she’s created and the life she’s been avoiding. As past and present blur, familiar faces reappear in new forms, old wounds resurface, and a truth about love, home and creativity finally clicks into place. By the time Natasha steps back out into the real world, she’s found her way forward - the Wandsworth way! 

Episode 30 by Youyang Song

As Andy struggles to bring his half-finished café to life, an unexpected visit from his sister Tash reopens old wounds and raises uncomfortable questions about family, money and trust. Andy puts on a brave face hiding a dangerous secret that could cost him everything.

Later, at a London Borough of Culture networking event, Andy finds unexpected connection in Dani, a driven young actor juggling creativity and survival in the city. Their shared frustrations spark the beginnings of a hopeful collaboration until a coincidence reveals just how small the borough really is.

As the day draws to a close outside Battersea Arts Centre, past and present collide, and a truth long kept quiet threatens to unravel fragile new bonds. Some secrets can’t stay hidden forever.

Episode 29: Clearing - By Ashley Miller

As Tash navigates the fallout of her break-up and the recent loss of her father, a reluctant visit to Tricia’s house to clear his belongings opens old wounds and unexpected memories. From a chance meeting in the pub to an emotional art unveiling, Clearing explores grief, identity, and the complicated ties that bind families together. 

Episode 28 – The Last Supper - By Gemma Lawrence

Tash invites Mike over for dinner, but the evening takes an unexpected turn when a call from her agent brings her writing struggles back into focus. As they talk, the conversation drifts toward creativity, loss, and the choices people make when things no longer feel like they’re working. Over food and wine, both are forced to confront what they may need to let go of.

Episode 27 - Overexposure 

When Tash reluctantly attends a pub gathering to mark her late father’s birthday, emotions she’s carefully buried begin to surface. What starts as a well meaning night of remembrance quickly unravels as grief, guilt and unresolved family tensions collide. A seemingly thoughtful gesture forces Tash to confront what she’s lost and what can’t be fixed leading to a raw confrontation that exposes the cracks beneath the surface.

Episode 26 - Not Yet by Elizabeth Adan-Peart

Tash goes to St George’s Hospital after being told her father may not wake up. Left alone at his bedside, she struggles to find the words to say, filling the silence with memories, small talk, and stories from her childhood in Wandsworth.

As the hours pass, Tash reflects on her relationship with her father, her anger after her mother’s death, and the years she spent away from home. Through these fragmented conversations, she begins to reconnect, not just with him, but with the place she once tried to leave behind.

Christmas by James Fritz 

Christmas Day brings Tash back to her family home where an already complicated gathering becomes even more fraught when her ex-husband Lewis, Mike and both their families sit down to dinner together.

Tash is challenged on her relationships, her writing career and her connection to Wandsworth itself, while Mike is forced to confront the reality of where he stands in her life. Meanwhile, Andy’s new café venture raises awkward questions about money and trust, and Val’s blunt observations cut through the politeness of the occasion.

What begins as a celebratory family meal turns into a series of emotional confrontations, as truths are revealed about failed marriages, stalled ambitions and future plans that have not yet been shared with everyone at the table. By the time a major revelation about Tash’s career comes out, the balance of relationships in the room has shifted dramatically.

Episode 24 – Stories We Don’t Tell

Tensions bubble up at the pub when Val’s fury over an insult to her prized turnips collides with Mike’s reluctance to revisit his past and his ex. Meanwhile, Tash escapes to the StoryCatchers project, only to be blindsided when her father, Leonard, shows up as an interviewee. What begins as a community storytelling session turns into a deeply personal reckoning, forcing Tash and Leonard to confront long-buried grief, unspoken memories, and the complicated love between a father and daughter. As Christmas approaches, a tender reconciliation forms until Tash reveals a life-changing decision that could take her far from Wandsworth forever.

Episode 23 by Charlotte D’Angelo

Tash’s peaceful evening at The Latchmere is thrown into chaos when her ex-husband Lewis suddenly reappears and quickly clashes with her new relationship. As Tash and Mike navigate the awkward fallout, Dannii steps into a surprising new role. Naomi unveils big dreams for a Wandsworth café, and a tennis-court mishap sparks an unexpected connection for Tash’s book project. Friendship, fresh starts, and a few emotional cracks take centre stage in this warm, funny, and heartfelt chapter of life in Wandsworth. 

A Bitter Revelation by Annie Fox 

A lively afternoon in Mike’s pub takes a dramatic turn. Tash’s writing career hits a crisis, Val declares war on the allotment weeds, and an American stranger hints at a lost love he’s come to reclaim. But when Tash walks in, the truth drops: the stranger is her ex-husband.

Humour, heartache, and one huge shock! Wandsworth has never felt smaller.

New Beginnings by Sade Canzius

In this emotional episode, Mike faces life after redundancy and takes his first steps toward a long-held dream. Across town, Tash and Andy navigate old tensions and unexpected revelations as they rediscover Wandsworth together, from Tooting Market to Battersea Park. Their day ends at The Latchmere, where family truths surface and new beginnings take shape.

Episode 20 - By Elizabeth Adan-Peart 

Tash receives news her father has had a stroke and rushes to St George’s Hospital in Tooting. At his bedside, she grapples with shock, guilt and years of unspoken family tension. As she talks to him, memories of happier times surface alongside painful reminders of loss, distance and unresolved grief. In a quiet hospital ward, Tash begins to confront her past and the complicated relationship she still hopes to repair.

Bonfire Night by Molly Anne Sweeney

It’s Bonfire Night in Battersea Park, sparklers, candyfloss, roaring crowds, and all the magic and mayhem of one of Wandsworth’s favourite traditions.

For Tash, though, fireworks have never been her thing… until Mike convinces her to see the night through his eyes. Wrapped in the smoky scent of bonfires and childhood memories, the pair find themselves swept into the warmth of the community and each other as the sky erupts with colour over the Thames.

But what begins as a glittering, heart-warming night out takes an unexpected turn. A chance reunion, quiet confessions on the ferris wheel, and a phone call that changes everything.

Cats and Dogs by James Wood 

When Tash accidentally stays the night at Mike’s, a surprise early return from his mum Val sends the pair scrambling for a graceful exit. But their awkward morning only gets stranger when a mysterious alley cat derails their breakfast plans and drags Mike (very much a dog person) into unexpected chaos, car scratches, Bon Jovi singalongs, and an emotional trip to Battersea Cats & Dogs Home. As debates about loyalty and independence unfold, could an old bin cat help Mike and Tash face their feelings…and their future?

We’re Not Teenagers by Ozge Gozturk

Mike and Tash reunite for a sunset stroll along the Thames that turns into an unexpected, mud-splattered adventure. Between missed feelings, lager on the riverbank, a Bon Jovi dance break, and a dramatic police rescue, they rediscover their connection with a lot of laughter and just a hint of romance. Growing up doesn’t mean losing the fun… even if the police mistake you for drunk teenagers.

A New Passenger by Fergus Church

When Mike returns to work after heartbreak, his days behind the wheel take a surprising turn. A quiet new passenger joins him for a five day booking  and what begins as small talk soon unravels into a raw reflection on love, loss, and second chances.

As Mike opens up about his failed relationship with Tash he finds himself caught between fiction and reality, wondering if he’s already driven too far to turn back. But sometimes, it takes a stranger to steer you toward what you’ve been running from.

Complications by Priscilla Yeung

When an unexpected trip to A&E leads to an awkward reunion, secrets unravel fast. Tash discovers that Mike’s past is more complicated than she realised, and Gina has a few surprises of her own. As relationships fracture and reality sets in, Tash is forced to decide whether to keep driving forward or finally put on the brakes.

Date Night by Anna Spearpoint

Mike and Tash finally head out on their long-awaited date, but nothing goes quite to plan. From an overly enthusiastic pub quiz host to a fire alarm that leads to actual flames, their evening quickly spirals into chaos. Add in a highly suspicious Bichon Frise, a disastrous trip to bingo, and an unexpected dash to A&E, and you’ve got one of the most eventful nights out Tooting has ever seen.

Just when Mike thinks things can’t possibly get any worse, an all-too-familiar face appears and Tash realises this date has one last shocking surprise in store.

The Morning After the Night Before by Dan Sareen

A messy morning, a dressing gown, and one very awkward but honest conversation. Can a chance night together turn into something more?

After a night they didn’t plan on, Mike and Tash wake up to awkward coffee, missed phone calls, and the terrifying clarity that everything’s changed. This episode follows fumbling attempts at breakfast, frantic advice from friends, and a small, brave question that could change two lives.

Eighteen Floors Up - by Lilli Palmer

When Tash returns home after a long day, the broken lift in her tower block turns what should be a simple journey into a test of stamina, patience, and truth. With Mike by her side, the pair climb eighteen flights of stairs, uncovering differences in background, class, and perspective along the way.

As their conversation winds through Wandsworth’s past and present what begins as a grumble about gentrification and oat milk shifts into something far more personal. By the time they reach the top, confessions spill out as easily as exhaustion and an unexpected spark brings them closer than ever.

The Performance - by Ian Sturrock

Mike promised his daughter he’d be in the audience for her big performance but nothing could have prepared him for the raw, provocative theatre piece he ends up watching. As the evening unfolds, father and daughter are forced to confront unspoken truths about art, identity, and family, while old memories and new encounters stir up unexpected emotions.

This episode explores the fragile balance between pride and disappointment, love and estrangement, and the courage it takes to truly see someone for who they are.

Ghost Stories by James Fritz

Mike and Tash take a drive and swap eerie tales of Wandsworth’s haunted past. From the infamous murder of Charles Bravo at The Priory on Bedford Hill to the shadowy figure of “Wandsworth Annie” inside the prison walls, the borough proves to be rich in ghostly lore.

But it’s not just local legends. Mike shares his own chilling encounter with the mysterious Black Dog of Wandsworth Road, while Tash recalls a moment when the memory of her late mother seemed to return in the most unexpected way.

Darkly funny, moving, and spine-tingling in equal measure, Ghost Stories explores the thin line between memory, myth, and the things that haunt us all.

The Perfect Park - By James Fritz

Tash is stuck. Her agent wants chapters, her book needs a setting, and nothing feels quite right. Mike is never short of a suggestion. From Battersea Park to hidden green spaces, the pair embark on a search for the perfect bench in the perfect park, a place where her characters can sit, talk, and breathe life into her story.

But as their journey winds from recreation grounds to forgotten graveyards, it’s not just Tash’s characters who come into focus. Between the rules of “the code,” a stubborn surname formality, and quiet moments among pigeons and headstones, new tensions and connections begin to stir.

Meanwhile, back in her agent’s office, Tash discovers her Wandsworth project may hold more promise and more romance than even she expected...

Things Left Unsaid - By Amadeus Redha

As Wandsworth bustles with the colour and rhythm of a South Asian street procession, secrets and feelings bubble beneath the surface.

Mike confides in his mum Val about his growing connection with Tash. Meanwhile, Tash opens up to her best friend Naomi, trying to untangle her own feelings about Mike and that fleeting, messy, almost-romantic moment they shared over burgers and milkshakes.

But while Naomi urges Tash to follow her heart, Val warns Mike to tread carefully. Between class divides, lingering ties to his estranged wife Gina, and the blurred lines between driver and client, is this something real… or just a moment best left unsaid?

The Wandsworth Way – Episode 7 by Lucy Davidson

Bestselling romantic fiction author Natasha Defoe takes the stage for a candid literary Q&A, opening up about why she writes about love and whether she truly believes the happily-ever-afters she creates.

But when the applause fades, a rainy dash to the car with her driver Mike leads to burgers, milkshakes, and surprising confessions.

As old stories of marriage and heartbreak surface, an unexpected moment of connection threatens to change everything… until a badly timed knock on the window breaks the spell.

Back for Good by Yana Penrose

After a scheduling mishap leaves her weekend wide open, Tash finds herself unexpectedly reconnecting with her old best friend Naomi for a spontaneous girls night out at Battersea Park in Concert. Over breezers, memories, and the sound of Jools Holland warming up the crowd, the pair reminisce about youthful disasters, failed relationships, and the twists and turns of adulthood.

But as the evening unfolds, something deeper is revealed. Tash’s return to Wandsworth isn’t just about recovery and fresh air. There’s a story waiting to be written, and she may need Naomi’s help to tell it.

Meeting Val - by Mbeke Waseme

In this deeply moving and personal episode, Tash visits Val (Mike’s mother) for an interview that unexpectedly turns into a rich, multi-generational story of migration, resilience, and love. From Val's early days as an Irish nurse newly arrived in London to her life in Wandsworth today, we uncover a vibrant oral history shaped by prejudice, perseverance, and community spirit. A tender, funny, and sometimes heartbreaking conversation that reveals the true meaning of home.

A MISSED CONNECTION - Written by Joe Wiltshire Smith

In this episode of The Wandsworth Way, a chance to uncover the past is almost lost in the present. When Tash decides to abandon her blockbuster book series to focus on a deeply personal new novel rooted in Wandsworth's history, she sets off for an interview that could be pivotal with a 92-year-old former nurse from St. George’s Hospital. But things don’t go to plan.

As cabbie Mike struggles with shortcuts, traffic jams, and Tash’s rising frustration, the day unravels fast, until a surprising twist back at his mum Val’s kitchen table might just put things right. 

Under Pressure by Orode Faka.

Previously on The Wandsworth Way, Tash Defoe returned home, but not everyone knew she was back.

In episode 3, secrets surface, old places stir new feelings, and a familiar face catches her off guard.

Welcome to The Wandsworth Way, a new radio soap opera on Riverside Radio for the Mayor's London Borough of Culture. Co-produced by Theatre503 and Wandsworth Council. 

Tash drops a bombshell! She’s not finishing her bestselling trilogy. With her career on the line and her agent in shock, Tash sets her sights on something new: a book about Wandsworth. But what does home really mean after so many years away? As the news spreads on live radio, Tash makes a bold public call to the people of the borough. Now the clock’s ticking,she’s got one year to make it work.

Welcome to The Wandsworth Way, a new radio soap opera on Riverside Radio for the Mayor's London Borough of Culture. Co-produced by Theatre503 and Wandsworth Council. 

In our debut episode, Tash returns to Wandsworth after years away in New York. A chance encounter in a local pub sparks memories of the past and sets off a chain of events she could never have predicted. Tash finds herself in St George’s Hospital and begins a journey to reconnect with the borough she once called home.

As she attempts to rediscover Wandsworth for her new book, an unexpected reunion with a stranger from the pub reveals the past is never as far away as it seems.