Candle & Bell

24/12/2025

Well 2025 is winding down and we're getting ready to welcome a new year in. 2026 is going to bring a few changes (for the better!) and we're looking forward to sharing them with everyone.

For now, we're reflecting on a tough and busy year. This year Candle & Bell produced a feature film - The Date - which is almost finished! a short for BBC3 called Doppelganger, and we made season 2 of Tom & Lauren are Going OOT!

The work we've produced for clients included filming on beaches, in studios, castles, stately homes and football clubs. We also got to share our project ‘Portraits of Blyth” which was an all consuming project mentally and creatively, but has been so well received by the community in Blyth.

Our industry is navigating the rise of AI, lower budgets and fewer opportunities. But as we approach 13 years of business we know it always comes down to resilient - to be yourself, to find a way to create the things you believe in, to collaborate with people who share your values and ideals.

So if anyone needs us, Candle & Bell will be here - still creating things, still challenging ourselves and everyone around us to make great art, still being our weird and wonderful selves.

May you have a Merry and Bright holiday season.

See you all in 2026. 🧡

24/12/2025

Well 2025 is winding down and we're getting ready to welcome a new year in. 2026 is going to bring a few changes (for the better!) and we're looking forward to sharing them with everyone.

For now, we're reflecting on a touch and busy year. This year Candle & Bell produced a feature film - The Date - which is almost finished! a short for BBC3 called Doppelganger, and we made season 2 of Tom & Lauren are Going OOT!

The work we've produced for clients included filming on beaches, in studios, castles, stately homes and football clubs. We also got to share our project ‘Portraits of Blyth” which was an all consuming project mentally and creatively, but has been so well received by the community in Blyth.

Our industry is navigating the rise of AI, lower budgets and fewer opportunities. But as we approach 13 years of business we know it always comes down to resilient - to be yourself, to find a way to create the things you believe in, to collaborate with people who share your values and ideals.

So if anyone needs us, Candle & Bell will be here - still creating things, still challenging ourselves and everyone around us to make great art, still being our weird and wonderful selves.

May you have a Merry and Bright holiday season.

See you all in 2026. 🧡

22/12/2025

We're heading into the Christmas break celebrating some lovely news. SCRUM, written by Bethan Moore and co-produced with Andy Malone from Eight Zero Three Media is now being developed with Film4. The project was initially supported by New Writing North's Genre Feature Lab programme.

Link to article: https://newwritingnorth.com/film4-commission-scrum-following-pilot-development-programme/

10/12/2025

The final episode of ‘Tom and Lauren Are Going OOT’ is live tonight at 11pm on BBC Radio 4 or Sounds straight after where you can also catch the first 4 episodes of series 2. 👍🏼

Have you heard how hilarious the new series is? 🤣🤣

We have loved working on all five episodes of series 2 With the amazingly talented Tom Machell and Lauren Pattison and featuring the fabulous Julian Clary as Neil, Louise Young as Becca and Sarah Balfour as Tilly.

What an ensemble and what a ride. Thank you to all involved!
👏🏼Director: Katherine Armitage
👏🏼Recording Engineer and Sound Design: Philip Quinton
👏🏼Theme Music: Scrannabis
👏🏼Producers: Maria Caruana Galizia and Zahra Zomorrodian

“I’m delighted that we’ve been trusted with a series 2 for Tom & Lauren. We had so much fun writing the first series and bringing these characters to life, and it’s wonderful to see people backing great comedy made in the north east,” said writer and star Lauren Pattison.

‘Tom & Lauren are Going OOT!’ is a Candle & Bell production for BBC Radio 4.

📷© Candle & Bell Limited | Paul Stephenson

08/12/2025

Our feature film The Date has finished post production! Big thanks to everyone who has been a part of this journey. Congratulations to writer / director and our co-producer 🧡🧡

04/12/2025

We work with the best North East talent 🙌

Tom thinks he can beat Lauren to the finish line of the Great North Run.

04/12/2025

We are super proud of Tom Machell who has been shortlisted in the BBC Audio Drama Awards for his comedy performance in ‘Tom and Lauren Are Going OOT!’ 🙌

Want to hear him in action? ➡️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002m0cy

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2mqwLYwGgNVsxFpZrNQ31sq/the-2026-shortlist

Announcing the shortlisted people and programmes for the 2025 BBC Audio Drama Awards.

03/12/2025

🤩We're super excited that episode 4 IS HERE and we have a new guest star! 🤩

We are absolutely delighted to have Sarah Balfour join us for this series of ‘Tom and Lauren Are Going OOT!’.

Sarah joins Tom and Lauren in this episode all about the Great North Run and has recently finished filming on another of Candle & Bell’s Productions – Doppleganger – which will be out on BBC Three in the new year.

Sarah, originally from South Shields was so happy to a part of this production. “I was a huge fan of series 1 of the show and I feel incredibly excited to be part of series 2 as Tom’s sister Tilly," said Sarah.

You can catch this episode live on tonight at 11pm or on BBC Sounds

‘Tom & Lauren are Going OOT’ is a Candle & Bell production for BBC Radio 4.

📷 © Candle & Bell Limited | Paul Stephenson
&Bell

26/11/2025

📢EPISODE 3 IS HERE! 📢

We loved working with Julian Clary once again on this series. Make sure to tune in to this week’s episode of Tom and Lauren are Going OOT! to catch the icon in his hilarious performance as Neil exclusively on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds!

In this episode Tom and Lauren have their sights set on winning the grand prize at the pub quiz. Will they manage to get a team together in time?

“The Tom and Lauren scripts are brilliant, so I was in straight away. Playing Neil the grumpy neighbour is great fun. In another life I could be him.” Julian Clary

You can catch up on Episodes 1 and 2 now on BBC Sounds https://bbc.in/4r1PTeW 📻🎧and tune in to episode 3 tonight at 11pm on

“Tom & Lauren are Going OOT” is a Candle & Bell production for BBC Radio 4.
📷© Candle & Bell Limited | Paul Stephenson

23/11/2025

We're very excited to be attending the North East Culture Awards this week at the beautiful Stockton Globe.

Tom Machell and Lauren Pattison, writers and stars of our hit BBC Radio 4 sitcom have been nominated for Writer of the Year. They are up again amazing competition and all the categories this year show culture at it's best in the North East. We wish all finalists the best and lots of luck to wor Tom and Lauren🤞😄

If you'd like to listen to their writing in action tune into series 1 and the first few episodes of series 2 of 'Tom and Lauren Are Going OOT!' on now 👉https://bbc.in/4r1PTeW

19/11/2025

Loved episode 1 and 2 of the new series of Tom and Lauren?

Don't worry, there's plenty more where that came from!

You can get up to date with series 2 of ‘Tom and Lauren Are Going OOT!' on BBC Sounds https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002m0cx

“We had such a brilliant time making this series, bringing audiences back into the chaos and hilarity of their lives. With new characters joining, the returning genius of Julian Clary and Louise Young, listeners are in for a real treat.” Tom Machell

Tom & Lauren are Going OOT! is a Candle & Bell production for BBC Radio 4.

📷© Candle & Bell Limited | Paul Stephenson

14/11/2025

Meet our lovely sound editor and designer... Philip Quinton! Phil worked on season 1 and the new season of Tom and Lauren are Going OOT!
Thank you Phil for all the hard work and care you put into this series. We love you 🧡🧡🧡

You can listen to the new series of Tom and Laure are Going OOT! On BBC Sounds right now?