A BBC Radio 4 comedy

A hilarious BBC Radio sitcom of big dreams, small towns, and rock'n'roll! 
 
When Kenny (Stephen Tompkinson) gives up his life in the geography classroom to join a struggling a capella group with a beautician, a dentist and a boxer, he doesn't realise he'll soon be in the best band on the wedding circuit - and fronting the potential future of rock 'n' roll... 
 
Between trying to manage the band's failing love lives and their battling ambitions, Kenny finds that chaos greets them wherever they go. Arguments about who gets to sing the lead? Check. Rowing about recording contracts? Check. Selling out for a TV talent show? Check. 
 
Even if their only gigs are the engagement parties of their exes and a 'cruise ship' that's really a reconditioned destroyer, it doesn't mean they can't all dream of the big time: wealthy widows, international rock star glamour, private jets. It's just a pity that it looks more like old school reunions and the same old small time rows... 
 
A rib-tickling mixture of music and comedy from the writers of Peep Show, Dead Ringers, and The Now Show, and starring Stephen Tompkinson (Wild at Heart, Drop the Dead Donkey, Brassed Off), Nicola Walker (Last Tango in Halifax, Doctor Who: The Audio Adventures, Unforgotten), Adrian Scarborough (Killing Eve, Crashing, Miranda) and Clive Rowe (The Story of Tracy Beaker, Harry Hill). Also featuring Meera Syal, Henrietta Garden, Dan Strauss, Darren Boyd and Matthew Little. 
 
Written and devised by Bill Dare 
Written by Giles New, Jessie Armstrong and Sam Baine 
Producer Gareth Edwards 
 
Cast 
 
Stephen Tompkinson 
Clive Rowe 
Adrian Scarborough 
Doon Mackichan 
Nicola Walker 
Meera Syal 
Brian Bovell 
Rachel Preece 
Debra Stephenson 
Dave Lamb 
Giles New 
Matthew Little 
Tony Gardner 
Robert Webb 
Bill Dare 
Darren Boyd 
Dan Strauss 
Henrietta Garden 
Stephen Powell 
Raquel Cassidy 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, February-March 2000 and July 2001 
 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC Radio Comedy

The Secret World: Inside the Private Lives of the Famous

Comedy impression series that follows the imagined private lives of the rich and powerful.

All four series of the BBC Radio 4 comedy impressions show following the imagined private lives of the rich and powerful 
 
The Secret World is an impressions show with a difference – it shines a light on the imaginary alternative lives of famous folk. Each episode takes place over one day, with stories unfolding and overlapping from morning to night. 
 
In these 22 episodes, we hear about the bizarre habits of celebrities from Lady Gaga to Keith Harris and Orville. Al Pacino reveals his alternative life as a balloon twister, Barack Obama becomes a Pearly King; Professor Brian Cox finds himself stalked by various women, including the Queen; and the Archbishop of Canterbury tries Tweeting for the first time – with disastrous results. 
 
We also find out what Sean Connery, Griff Rhys Jones, Pam Ayres, Kirsty Young and Peter Sallis have in common (they all enjoy nothing more than meeting up for a spot of bare-knuckle fighting), discover Princess Anne’s secret passion for trainspotting, and learn about Russell Crowe’s strange fixation with sprouts. And there are sinister revelations about Alan Titchmarsh’s dark side when his career is threatened... 
 
Winner of the Gold Award for Best Comedy at the 2014 Radio Academy Awards, this richly imaginative satirical comedy stars Dead Ringers alumni Jon Culshaw, Lewis MacLeod, Duncan Wisbey and Debra Stephenson, as well as acclaimed comedy performers Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Julian Dutton, Sarah Hadland and Jess Robinson. 
We also peer into the lives of Al Pacino, Miranda Hart, Prince Charles, Lady Gaga and the Queen, to name a few. 
 
 The cast are: 
 Jon Culshaw, Lewis MacLeod, Duncan Wisbey, Margaret Cabourn Smith, Julian Dutton, Sarah Hadland, Jess Robinson and Debrea Stephenson

The Complete Series 1-2

Brian Gulliver's Travels

The BBC Radio 4 satirical comedy series about a seasoned presenter of travel documentaries, Brian Gulliver, who finds himself in a hospital's secure unit after claiming to have experienced a succession of bizarre adventures.

Bill Dare is a writer and producer who has created numerous critically-acclaimed comedy shows for both TV and radio, including Dead Ringers, Spitting Image, The Mary Whitehouse Experience, The Now Show, The Secret World and Brian Gulliver's Travels.

The complete BBC Radio 4 satirical comedy series about a seasoned presenter of travel documentaries, Brian Gulliver, who finds himself in a hospital's secure unit after claiming to have experienced a succession of bizarre adventures. 
 
In series 1 we hear about Brian's travels in Gelbetia, a country run by doctors; Juradia, where every other person is a lawyer; Osminia, a land where marriage is outlawed; Sham, a country where alternative therapies abound; Erosia, which has a very different view of sexual politics; and Jampoa, where fame definitely equals fortune. 
 
In series 2 we hear about Brian's travels in Chamanoa, where genetics is pitted against education; Lessington, where ignorance reigns; Gravinia and Plumpf, a land where the military are revered above everything; Anidara, where he finds himself put out to stud; Hermicia, where charity is strangely in abundance; and Kognitia, where selective memory is taken to a new extreme 
 
Starring Neil Pearson as Brian Gulliver, the cast also includes Duncan Wisby, Vicki Pepperdine, Lisa Dillon, Colin Hoult, Toby Longworth, Adrian Scarborough, Dan Tetsell, Barunka O'Shaughnessy, Debra Stephenson, Colin Hoult, Nina Conti, Jo Bobin and Marcus Brigstocke. 
 
Produced by Steven Canny

Eight BBC Radio Productions

Comedy Pick’n’Mix

A comedy pick’n’mix of panel shows, sitcoms, sketches and satire – dip your ears in and take your pick. Featuring some of comedy’s top names, including Armando Iannucci, John Oliver, Nicola Coughlan, Jimmy Carr, and more. 
 
First up is the pilot for What Happened There (the original name for what became Armando Iannucci’s Charm Offensive), Armando’s topical panel show, starring Jimmy Carr, Lucy Porter, Dan Gaster, and John Oliver. 
 
Weird and wonderful sketches come from our second show, Festival of the Spoken Nerd: a lollop through the underlying realities of our universe from the smash-hit brain squad made of Helen Arney, Matt Parker & Steve Mould - three physicist-mathematician-comedians who explore explain and astound with a cornucopia of physical and scientific ideas. 
 
Our third show is Jack Bernhardt’s sitcom British Troll Farm, a comedy set in a secret British military unit dedicated to fighting the social media cyberwar... badly; starring Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton and Derry Girls) and Daniel Ings. 
 
Up next is Crash Course, the panel show that tests how much knowledge the brain can absorb, retain and retrieve in 24 hours. The contestants have had just one day to learn about some fascinating topics… But will they remember a damn thing? Featuring Marcus Brigstocke and Josie Lawrence. 
 
Fifth is The Electric Hotel, home of the brilliant sketch troupe The Electric Eel. From a Marriage Guidance session that goes terribly wrong to two painters & decorators falling in love, this is the latest in a fine line of hilarious hotel comedies: John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers, Neil Simon’s California Suite and Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining... 
 
Next up we have God Squad, a sitcom set in a University Christian Society where the members realize that unless they adapt - they haven’t got a prayer. Featuring Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts) 
 
Seventh is Skeptic Tank, a panel show hosted by comedian Nick Doody that looks at every dodgy statistic, urban myth and piece of nonsensical parental advice offering the perfect antidote to every piece of Daily Mail nonsense you've ever had to listen to. This is where the geek bites back... Featuring Chris Addison. 
 
… and finally, we hear Jason Hazeley & Joel Morris’s tour around the toilet books of Great Britain in Are You Alright in There?. Toilet books. No, not books about toilets. The funny or fascinating books that have pride of place on any home’s most exclusive shelf: the safe space – the lock-in. Featuring Diane Morgan (aka Philomena Cunk). 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Starring Armando Iannucci, Lucy Porter, Dan Gaster, Jimmy Carr, John Oliver, Emma Kennedy, Vaughan Savidge (What Happened There?), Helen Arney, Matt Parker, Steve Mould, Tom Crowley, Celeste Dring (Festival of the Spoken Nerd), Daniel Ings, Nicola Coughlan, Steve Edge, Tala Gouveia, Ewan Bailey, Kerry Shale (British Troll Farm), David Tyler, Marcus Brigstocke, Josie Lawrence, Kirsty Wark, Mark Watson (Crash Course), Dan Clark, Adam G Goodwin, Cliff Kelly (Electric Hotel), Barney Fishwick, Jack Chisnall, Lili Miller, Helena Antoniou, Charly Clive, Kiell Smith-Bynoe (God Squad), Nick Doody, Chris Addison, Simon Evans, Shaparak Khorsandi (Skeptic Tank), Eleanor Bron, Diane Morgan, John Lloyd, Ben Schott, Andy Riley, Jason Hazeley, Joel Morris (Are You Alright In There?) 
 
Written by Armando Iannucci, Roger Drew, Jon Holmes, Danny Robins, Tony Roche, Dan Tetsell (What Happened There?), Helen Arney, Matt Parker, Steve Mould, Dan Evans (Festival of the Spoken Nerd), Jack Bernhardt (British Troll Farm), Dan Clark, Adam G Goodwin, Cliff Kelly (Electric Hotel), Barney Fishwick, Jack Chisnall (God Squad), Jason Hazeley, Joel Morris (Are You Alright In There?) 
 
 
Produced & directed by David Tyler (What Happened There?, Festival of the Spoken Nerd, British Troll Farm, Electric Hotel, God Squad, Skeptic Tank, Are You Alright In There?) and Bill Dare (Crash Course) 
 
 
A Pozzitive production for the BBC 
 ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Bill Dare

Robert Duncan

Julia Hills

Jan Ravens

Mark Kilmurry

Roger Blake

Sally Phillips

Dan Strauss

Ronni Ancona

Alistair McGowan

Full Cast

A collection of the hilarious show-within-a-show about two daytime TV presenters 
 
Sit back, dip your biscuit in your tea, and relax... because Mike and Sue are here! In each episode of this mid-morning spoof, the sofa-bound host couple Mike and Sue and their live studio audience tackle various topics of the day - no matter how clumsily. 
 
Ranging from shopping addictions and teenagers to cults and holidays, the programme intersperses studio segments with sketches on the day's topics, so if you've ever wanted to know what gardening and terrorism have in common, or what the wider public really feels about marriage, listen up. Plus: could therapy have helped Henry VIII, what are the most dangerous ducks, and will Mike and Sue win the TV award that, surely, everyone knows they deserve? Plus a moving appeal on behalf of actors who make moving appeals. 
 
Starring Jan Ravens (Dead Ringers, Spitting Image), Robert Duncan (Old Harry's Game, Drop the Dead Donkey), Sally Phillips (Miranda, Smack the Pony), Steve Punt (The Now Show, Horrible Histories), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Friday Night Dinner, Toast of London), Alistair McGowan (The Big Impression, Have I Got News for You), Ronni Ancona (Last Tango in Halifax, The Big Impression), and many more. This four-series run will scratch any itch you have for mid-morning mayhem, no matter the time of day, and is just the thing for fans of The Now Show and Knowing Me, Knowing You. 
 
Cast and credits 
Mike - Robert Duncan 
Sue - Julia Hills (Series 1) 
Sue - Jan Ravens (Series 2-4) 
 
Assorted roles: 
Sally Phillips 
Tracy-Ann Oberman 
Steve Punt 
Alistair McGowan 
Ronni Ancona 
Bill Dare 
Roger Blake 
Mark Kilmurry 
Dan Strauss 
Debbie Isitt 
Tim De Jongh 
Christopher Douglas 
Toby Longworth 
Emma Kennedy 
Martin Jarvis 
Pauline McLynn 
Karl MacDermott 
Jonathan White 
Conor Lambert 
Mario Rosenstock 
Farrell Fleming 
 
Music by Mike Burton 
Written by Steve Punt, Christopher Douglas, Dan Gaster, Will Ing, Ben Silburn, Ian Brown, James Hendrie, Bert Tyler-Moore, George Jeffrie, Tim De Jongh, David Spicer and Hugh Rycroft 
Created by Bill Dare 
 
Produced by Pete Sinclair, Julia Hills, Jo Clegg, Aled Evans and Helen Williams 
 
Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4: 
25 April - 30 May 1996 (Series 1) 
4 June - 9 July 1997 (Series 2) 
17 September - 22 October 1998 (Series 3) 
14 September - 19 October 1999 (Series 4) 
Sadly Episode 2 of Series 2 could not be included as it is lost from the BBC Archive 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Bill Dare

Books by Bill Dare

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter