People Who Knew Me - Intimacy: 4. Safe Sex Santa

Episode Date: July 29, 2026

An early call to set brings Liza and Gary into a tense rehearsal that blurs boundaries. When a surprise visitor arrives, Liza is thrown further off balance.In 'Intimacy' Episode 4: Lena Headey as Liza Alison Steadman as Mum Hannah Waddingham as Lou Tia Bannon as Ruby Simon Kassianides as Nico Thaddea Graham as Kate Tom Goodman-Hill as Gary Matthew Broome as Alex Maisie Williams as BunnyAdditional voices were: Tom Glenister, Mark Kilcawley, James Nicolaou, Paul Panting, Finlay Paul, Nigel Pilkington, Josh Singh Sian, Sam Stafford Based on an original idea by: Erika Lust Executive Produced by: Sharon Horgan, Faye Dorn Executive Producer for the BBC: Dylan Haskins Assistant Commissioner for BBC: Lorraine Okuefuna Written, created and directed by: Lena Headey Consultant Audio Director: Celia De Wolff Series Produced by: Emma Morgan Story Produced by: Maddie Beautyman and Megan Heverin Production Manager: Archan Mohile Production Coordinator: Marlene Beauquis Smith Production Runner: Tobias Davies Script Assistants: Liis Miik and Jo Troy Casting Director: Lauren Evans Intimacy Coordinator: Robbie Taylor Hunt Recorded at: Sound Node Sound Designer: Martin Schulz Supervising Sound Editor and Mixer: Daniel Jaramillo Recording Engineers: David Crane and Giancarlo Granata Music and Score composed by: Max Perryment Merman Television Managing Director: Rebecca Parkinson Merman Finance Director: Jackie Sidey Merman Television Head of Production: Amanda Wasey Merman Television Finance Manager: Gemma Wilson Legal and Business Affairs: Mark Rogers and Georges Villeneau Artwork Photography: Stevan Keane Behind the Scenes: Michas Vanni

You're about to listen to Intimacy, the latest series of ARC. This episode contains strong language and sexual content. Intimacy, episode four. Michael, hi! Liza. Bingo. What do you want? I made you smile, admit it.

I'm busy, Leiza. It's 5am. You said you had something to tell me, you asked me to call you. Oh, if I said that, you'd call me. Oh, um, well, who is? Who's actually having it though? Laura. Your colleague, Laura.

Yes. Right. You should tell her. It's better coming from you. Michael, come on. You need to put your big boy pants on and tell our daughter you're going to be a dad again, at 52. You need to put a proposal together about the money you're earning on this job. Where it's going?

It's going to me. The little bit I have left. I lose 10% in commission immediately and then I hand over the tax money. Look, it won't be this job. that allows me to pay you back, but this kicks the door open. The tides are turning, your girl is on the up. You're not my girl. It was a platonic, your girl.

A universal declaration of she's got it. Uh, hello? Kalimera. Kalimera. Is there any coffee? A breakfast starts at 7.30. Ah. You go to Nico's bar, he will be open.

Close to the Zeti. Keep walking straight. Just straight? Nah, you can't miss it. Thank you. Nico. From the Portaloo. Magic cock, Nico. Messages.

Visit, Lyser. We wouldn't be a distraction. Not like you're working hard. You're in Greece. And Ruby misses you. I've never been to Greece, Liza. They do that liqueur, the aniseed one. I've always wanted to try it.

Delete. Message deleted Feet in the sand And the ocean Delete Message deleted In my room when you get some money I don't mind sleeping on the sofa

I mean it's a bit doggy Fun fact Our dog The loyal and protective Alan died two years ago The sofa still smells of him So this must be the place Hello

Calamara My God his eyes Calamera Electric. Oh, hello. Coffee? God, yeah. Uh, Nico.

Uh, Liza. Uh, sorry, my English is very bad. This is going to be interesting. Stay at Tecate? Only hotel here. Ah, you are with the movie. I am? I would like to see more of you.

Maybe. Can I show you food? Can I show you my tits? I understand. Tits. Goftyak no Dorae. Hey, Kate. Liza, Gary needs you on set.

Now, he needs me right now. Yeah, urgently. We don't have any drivers on to 7.30, but it'll take 20 minutes, if you jog. Jog? Sure, uh, just down the one road, right? Just go straight? Yes. Um, I didn't bring any money. Later, it's okay.

Well, I'll come by later and saddle up. Not saddle, not saddle. Settle. I'll pay. you. I have to go. It's okay. I take you. Really? Yeah, ba-me-a-no. No, no, no. He smells real, fresh sweat and warmth.

My belly in his back. His breathing is calm. This feels good. Come, follow me. I just need to grab something from my trailer. Okay. One sec. It's not in here. Have you seen it? Oh, I moved it to your chair. You left it by the monitors.

Tit-tap, nip, nipers, ball wags out. Ball wagsawks. You're like safe sex Santa. Do you not rummage through my intimacy sack, please? A semi-deflated Pilates ball, is that to throw? No, it's a barrier so actors can bounce with each other and not touch. Bounce? Yeah, for sex.

Of course, silly me. Kate, is she here? We didn't have long. Why do we always rush when men call? Is there some great emergency? Nope, not really. Just having a tantrum. Sorry, a moment of inspiration. Kate.

Gonna fucky his shoe. Yeah, sorry, just walking in. Liza, thank you for coming so quickly. You look, uh, windswept. Do I? I got a ride on a bike. I'll just be in your trailer, Gary, unless you need me. Yeah, sure, sure.

Okay, cool, see you later. Bye. Um, just me and you, are Bonnie and Alex coming? No, they're both, well, sleeping is my guess. Um, look, it's, it's an unconventional ask, Liza, so keep an open mind. Um, this scene, I know. need to shoot with Bunny. We spoke last night.

She's a little hesitant. I thought that if we walk through it, I can show her all the angles I'm going to use, make her feel more at ease. She was in your room last night. Briefly, we had a quick chat. She loves the idea. Great.

Liza, yep. Sorry, I'll turn it to silence. I just need to get something off my chair. Oh, I don't have any. Why don't I have any knickers in this kit? You done? Yeah. All right.

Can you just lay down? For the purpose of this rehearsal, I'll be Alex. A waterbed isn't the easiest to hold a position. Just let me tuck my dress. Okay. So it's a physical challenge raises focus. She's grappling with her subconscious. Everything is difficult for.

her at this point. Castle that was off. I thought it was off. There, it's off now. He's going to tie her wrists like this. You can't do that.

You have to ask permission. It's Bonnie's her body. It's my body. It hurts, Gary. My wrists. You need to have my consent. Sorry. I get carried away.

May I show you what I would like, Eliza? Think about Ruby. With your permission, respecting your boundaries. She wants to live with me, that's good. Yes, communicating like that will be great for Bonnie. Get through this and that will happen. Oh, just let me adjust a light. Don't move. I can't move.

Just think about Ruby. Think about her room, about making it nice. May I sit between your legs? Yes. Lift your legs over my shoulders. Yes. She wants that bed with the desk underneath it. They're close.

Like this. Mellers is on top. She has nowhere to go. He fucks her. It's you. He says, You made me. You're a lot besides an animal.

Do you see? Liza, makes sense. There's nowhere for her to go. I found Bunny. What are you... Hi, Bonnie. Gary said you were nervous and thought this would have. I never said I was nervous. He told me you were nervous. I wanted to help. Oh, silly me.

Miscommunication. Yeah, let me untie you, Liza. I am capable of doing what I'm being paid for. Why, you, uh... You didn't have a conversation? No, not about this, he wanted... Bonnie? A bit fucking weird.

You two, on the bed, alone. It was like you were trying to do my job. Liza, answer your bloody phone. Yes, I am... Sorry, Bonnie, I... Now! Hello? Mom.

Surprise! I'm here. Could you come and get me? I didn't be. Episode 4. Lena Hidi as Liza. Alison Stedman as Mum. Hannah Warringham as Lou.

Tia Bannon as Ruby. Simon Cassianides as Nico. Thaddea Graham as Kate. Tom Goodman Hill as Gary. Matthew Broome as Alex. Maisie Williams as Bunny. Additional voices by Tom Glanister. Mark Kilcali.

James Nicolaou. Paul Panning. Finley Paul. Nigel Pilkington. Josh Singh-Sian. Sam Siam. Stafford, based on an original idea by Erica Lust, executive produced by Sharon Horgan and Faye Dorn.

Executive producer for the BBC, Dylan Haskins. Assistant Commissioner for the BBC, Lorraine Bukafuna. Written, created and directed by Lena Heady, with additional direction by Celia DeWolf, series produced by Emma Morgan. Story produced by Maddie Boudeman and Megan Heberon. Production manager, Archon Mohele. Production Coordinator, Marlene Boland,

Boki Smith. Production runner, Tobias Davies. Script assistants, Lee Smick and Joe Troy. Casting director, Lauren Evans. Intimacy coordinator, Robbie Taylor Hunt. Audio production and post-production by Sound Node. Sound designer, Martin Shultz. Supervising sound editor and mixer, Daniel Haramizio. Recording engineers, David Crane and Giancarlo Granata. Music and score composed by Max Periment. For a full list of credits, Go to the episode description. For further support on any of the issues raised in this series, go to BBC.com.com.uk forward slash actionline. Intimacy is a Merman Television Scotland production for BBC Sounds.