Whatever happens with Brexit we will remain huge fans of Bridget Christie, who has a new BBC Radio 4 show Bridget Christie’s Utopia in the works, prompted by her reaction to the EU Referendum and her stand up show Because You Demanded It.
Speaking to the i Newspaper Bridget described her deep unhappiness about leaving the EU and why she wrote a show about it: “I wanted people to not forget who did what and why.
“There are 65 million people in this country and 17 million voted to leave – I don’t consider that a majority.
“And if there was [a need for a referendum], they should have taken much longer about it. They should have made it really clear what it actually meant.
“I cannot think of a single, single positive reason for [leaving]. Not a single one. I understand why people might have voted to leave because of what they think the EU represents. But if you told people how much worse off they are going to be – that there isn’t all this money for the NHS, in fact the NHS is going to be much worse off; that it is going to cost us £60 billion a year or something; that we have got no trade negotiators in this country; that it is going to take years and years; that it makes Europe weaker against Putin and whoever; environmental reasons, workers’ rights, everything… disability rights.
“This country was filthy in the 1970s. There was human shit on beaches and in our rivers. People forget. Our rivers were polluted. It was disgusting… Migration – it’s not the problem. But look at history – it’s the oldest trick in the book. And we’ve fallen for it again.”
Bridget Christie’s Utopia will take Bridget on a journey to meet four people who believe they have found their utopia, be it through ignoring the news or emulating Tom and Barbara on the Good Life. By which I mean being self-sufficient, not living next door to fancy neighbours. Bridget described the series to the i Newspaper: “I don’t feel happy with my country, with what’s happening. Whose utopia do I take on in order for me to be happy?…I’m sure I can’t be on my own with this”.
As well as the stand up tour and radio show Bridget is writing a sitcom about Brexit Britain, telling the story of a middle-aged woman who is stuck in a rut and has returned to her home town to regroup and decide what to do with her life. “It’s basically me if I didn’t get a very unexpected break at the age of 42.”
Bridget Christie’s Because You Demanded It goes on tour on 20th February. For more information click here!