Anna Merritt and Deborah Wiseman’s radio comedy-drama The Cost of Living has just aired on Newstalk.

The story is a heartfelt and humorous exploration of marital breakdown in a challenging financial landscape in the Ireland of today.

Jen and Tony Tully’s twenty-six-year marriage is dead. The separation agreement is signed, only there is no new freedom for them to celebrate or no excitement at the prospect of new beginnings. Victims of the dire cost of living crisis, they have no choice but to continue to live under the same roof. Their cohabitation is rife with tension and a list of rules to manage household conflict isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. With no love, no money, and no space how can they possibly move on?

You can listen at:

Newstalk player: 

https://link.goloudplayer.com/s/pGE6WjwXmIPy

Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/32A2XtMibVXrhHAn9SrgJU?si=fUnoKrrZS-iH8u8QURrrPQ

Apple Podcasts: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/drama-on-newstalk/id1456350706?i=1000700919393

Also Anna and Deborah were recent finalists in the 2025 Catalyst International Film Festival for a short film script called Bubbles and The New York Festivals Radio Awards 2025 have shortlisted their comedy/drama radio play Sandwich, which was broadcast on Newstalk in 2024 and subsequently won an IMRO award.

Listen to Sandwich here

https://www.goloudnow.com/podcasts/drama-on-newstalk-583/sandwich-465670