The BBC Radio 4 Impressions Show

Dead Ringers: Series 24 & 25

Both series of the hugely popular topical satire show from 2024Fresh from winning ‘Best Radio Sketch Show’ at the 2023 Comedy.co.uk Awards, Dead Ringers is back with two more series, aiming a satirical slingshot at world affairs, the culture wars – and Mr Blobby. With the supply chain of human folly functioning better than ever, there’s no shortage of targets for their merciless mockery, and among the politicians and celebrities being pilloried are Sir Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, Jeremy Hunt, Rylan and Ronnie O’Sullivan.Liz Truss speaks her truth in her new book (‘I KNOW!!!’), Nigel Farage launches a pubcast, Alan Bennett advises on the Drake v. Kendrick Lamar beef and David Attenborough is traumatised by Baby Reindeer. Plus, Taylor Swift finds an unlikely boyfriend on Poetry Please, Jacob Rees-Mogg tells us about the birds and the bees, Rishi Sunak has an urgent message for Elon Musk, and the new Dr Who has a novel way of dealing with alien invaders…There’s also a special episode from the Hay Festival, featuring the ‘Top 20 Government Apologies’ playlist, Harry Kane’s predictions for the Euros – and a surprising new arrival in Bridgerton. And in the aftermath of the UK and US elections, the team take a probing look at the new inhabitants of Number Ten and the White House. Will they prove to be as risible as the previous incumbents?NB: Series 24 was recorded before the tragic news of the death of Michael Mosley Cast and creditsStarring Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis MacLeod, Duncan Wisbey and Jess RobinsonWritten by Nev Fountain & Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Ed Amsden & Tom Coles, Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, Sarah Campbell, Angela Channell, Cody Dahler, Rob Darke, Sarah Dempster, Sophie Dixon, Christopher Donovan, Toussaint Douglass, Lizzy Mansfield, Christina Riggs, Katie Sayer, Peter Tellouche, Edward Tew, Rachel Thorne and Joe ToppingWith additional material by Jennifer WalkerProduced and created by Bill DareExecutive Producers: James Robinson, Pete Strauss and Richard MorrisProduction Co-ordinator: Dan MarchiniSound Design: Rich EvansFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 26 Apr-31 May 2024 (Series 24), 1-22 Nov 2024 (Series 25)© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Complete Series 1-2

Elephants to Catch Eels

The complete Series 1 and 2 of the BBC Radio comedy set in an 18th century Cornish village.

The complete Series 1 and 2 of the BBC Radio comedy set in an 18th century Cornish village. 
 
In the first series, Tamsyn Trelawny's band of 18th century Cornish smugglers try to outwit customs officers, a hairy folk band helps Tamsyn and the Cornish smugglers to escape the law and Tamsyn tries to keep her love-life out of the scandal rags. Also, when a new rival appears in town, Tamsyn tries to quit then, finally, Tamsyn joins customs men to stop Courageous Kate from marrying her dad. 
 
In the second series, smuggler Tamsyn Trelawny wants to win 'Peasants Personality of the Year', her head is turned by hunky new band of outlaws 'Boyz 2 Rob' and Tamsyn tries to escape from the clutches of French revolutionaries. It’s also Jesters' Relief Week - but must Cornish smuggler Tamsyn raise funds for Devonians? Also, smuggler Jago is kidnapped. But can he survive in polite city society? And, lastly, there’s a surprise for Tamsyn - and confusion aboard a boat to France. 
 
 Written by Tom Jamieson and Nev Fountain and produced by Jan Ravens. Elephants to Catch Eels stars Lucy Speed in the first series and Sheridan Smith in the second.

The BBC Radio 4 impressions show

Dead Ringers: Series 15

The 15th series of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 impressions show starring Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens and others, plus the 2015 Christmas Special and 2016 New Year's Day Special, which is A Look Back at the Year 2020!

...its return to radio is nothing less than very welcome.

Tom Jamieson and Nev Fountain are part of the principal joke writing team for Private Eye magazine. Fountain and Jamieson were the head writers of the award winning satirical sketch series DEAD RINGERS which transferred from Radio 4 to BBC2 in 2002, where it then ran for seven successful series and subsequently on BBC TV (and was revived for radio in 2014). They have also contributed to many radio and television comedy programmes, including HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU, 2DTV, THE NEWS QUIZ and BIG IMPRESSION. The pair are also responsible for the Radio 4 historical comedy ELEPHANTS TO CATCH EELS and TXT MSSG RCVD, the first episode of the BBC3 anthology series TWISTED TALES.

The 15th series of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 impressions show starring Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens and others, plus the 2015 Christmas Special and 2016 New Year's Day Special, which is A Look Back at the Year 2020! Duration: 3 hours 10 mins.

Dead Ringers: Series 27 Plus Specials

The complete series 27 of the popular impressions show, plus two Specials 
 
The popular topical comedy show is back with another helping of political vituperation, media mauling and celebrity savaging. So sit back and treat your ears to a bumper helping of superb satirical impressions from the team.

Tom Jamieson

Nev Fountain

Jon Culshaw

Lewis MacLeod

Jan Ravens

Jess Robinson

Duncan Wisbey

Jason Forbes

The impressions show that needs no introduction - with bonus End of Year specials 
 
Radio 4’s award-winning and hugely popular comedy show is back with yet another helping of political-vituperation, media-mauling and celebrity-savaging. Sit back and treat your ears to a bumper edition of superb satirical impressions from the team - Jon Culshaw, Lewis MacLeod, Jan Ravens, Jess Robinson, Duncan Wisbey and Jason Forbes. 
 
Series 26 delivers Greta Thunberg coming to Rachel Reeves’s rescue and Gary Lineker trying something new… Enjoy a mad mix of super injunctions, super heroes, the Epstein files and, er, Diane Abbott. In this series the team's vocal firepower has Iran playing host to a surprising WMD Inspector, Laura Kuenssberg being de-escalated, and Ross Kemp on Grooming Gangs. Trump drops the F-Bomb, Lammy drops another clanger, money saving expert Martin Lewis drops into NATO and in a moment of pure, meta-madness Netanyahu, Trump and Putin play Just A Minute. 
 
Since January 2000, Dead Ringers has served up razor-sharp caricatures and explosively satirical truth-bombs and this latest offering is no exception. Laugh-out-loud as these impressive impressionistas make listening magic out of current affairs. 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Starring Jan Ravens, Jon Culshaw, Lewis Macleod, Jess Robinson, Jason Forbes, Duncan Wisbey and Kieran Hodgson 
 
Written by Nev Fountain, Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Tom Coles, Sophie Dickson, Toussaint Douglass, Rob Darke, Cody Dahler, Edward Tew, Jon Holmes, Davina Bentley, Katie Sayer, Alice Bright, Chris Donovan, Peter Tellouche, Lizzy Mansfield, Rachel E. Thorn, Jennifer Walker, Cooper Mawhinny-Sweryt, Alex Buchanan, Chris Ballard, Joe Topping, Phoebe Butler, David Whitehead, Nicky Roberts, Pete Redfern, Vicky Richards, Ali Panting and Declan Kennedy 
 
Created by Bill Dare 
Produced by John Holmes 
Executive Producers: James Robinson, Peter Strauss and Richard Morris 
Production Co-ordinators: Caroline Barlow and Jodie Charman 
 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13th Jun - 18th Jul 2025 (series 26), Dec 2025 (Specials) 
 
©2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Tom Jamieson

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