BBC Radio 4 Comedy
von Armin (
@islayblog)
Some people say radio is dead. I disagree. I think it is very much alive. I still listen to it a lot and there are quite a few programmes I wouldn’t want to miss. Here are some of my favourite comedy programmes on BBC Radio 4:
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5. Down the Line
Don’t we all love call in shows, with various nutters talking about their pet hates? Even the Guardian likes it, so Down the Line with Gary Bellamy must be good. Unfortunately it’s off air as I’m writing this, I hope it will be back soon with another series.
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4. The Lawrence Sweeney Mix
The Lawrence Sweeney Mix is improvisation at its best. The audience suggests a topic and they talk about it. The most recent series seems to have finished this week, so go to the listen again page while you can. And hope for it to come back.
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3. I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue
I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue how to describe this programme. It calls itself the antidote to panel games. And is really good.
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2. Just a minute!
A classic. 35 (!) years old and still going strong. Just a Minute. The rules: Talk about a given topic for one minute without hesitation, repetition or deviation. Just brilliant. And with Nicholas Parsons. And Paul Merton.
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1. The Now Show
I think they call The Now Show topical comedy. Comedy about current affairs. Very funny. Unfortunately also off air at the moment, but I’m confident it will be back at some point.
And thanks to the internet you don’t even have to live in the UK to listen to them, most of them are available online, either as a stream or some even as a podcast. Or if they are currently off air you might still be able to listen to the last show via listen again.
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matze am 26.02.2008 #1
radio isn’t dead in any way. but radio comedy has never ever been funny…..
Armin (Autor) am 26.02.2008 #2
Care to expand why?
matze am 09.03.2008 #3
actually, never maybe is the wrong word. but most times, radio comedy just isn’t funny. or probably just not my cup of tea……
Zetter am 14.05.2008 #4
Radio comedy programmes are somewhat popular in the UK. However, there are a lot of shows that I don’t find particularly funny, but isn’t this also true for most of the comedy programmes on tv?
I wouldn’t make a distinction between radio and tv shows in terms of “being funny” or not. Radio programmes can be as funny as tv programmes sometimes even funnier.
“The Goon Show” for example, was Monty Python’s source of inspiration – and it is without a doubt the funniest and smartest thing there is. And it’s a radio programme!
adam maq am 16.05.2008 #5
The BBC radio comedies are outstanding. Think about hitchikers guide to the galaxy; old harry’s game . They’re so dangerous that if you’re listening in the car they may be quite distracting. Other bbc gems include mark steel and the jeremy hardy show.
They can be better then TV in many ways – actually so much good tv started on radio.