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Books to solve your Secret Santa dilemma

Eight BBC Radio Productions

Comedy Pick’n’Mix

A comedy pick’n’mix of unheard & exclusive BBC Radio panel shows, sitcoms, sketches and satire – featuring some of comedy’s top names, including Armando Iannucci, John Oliver, Nicola Coughlan, Jimmy Carr, and more. 
 
First up is the unaired 2005 pilot for Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive (titled 'What Happened There'), 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... 
 
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, 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. 
 
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... 
 
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. 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. 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) 
 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 Dec 2012 (Are You Alright in There?), 19 Feb 2019 (Crash Course), 29 Jul 2019 (British Troll Farm), 29 Oct 2021 (God Squad). 
Previously unaired (What Happened There?, Festival of the Spoken Nerd, Electric Hotel, The Skeptic Tank). 
 
A Pozzitive production for the BBC©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Panel Game

One Person Found This Helpful: Series 2 plus a Christmas Special

Frank Skinner hosts the second series and a Christmas special of the show based on online reviews as he and his all-star panel celebrate the good, the bad & the baffling 
 
Everyone has an online life, and when the great British public put pen to keyboard to leave a review, they almost always write something hilarious. And our all-star panel have to work out just what they were reviewing – and maybe contribute a few reviews of their own... and more... So if you’re the person who went on Trip Advisor to review Ben Nevis as “Very steep and too high”, this show salutes you! 
 
In episode one, Frank & the team find out what you think about googling, goggling, groping, gropping and the correct way to punch yourself in the face. With guests Laura Smyth, Sunil Patel, Simon Evans and Kyrah Gray 
 
In episode two, we discover what you, the public, said about about ball pits and the KGB, and find out who hasn’t been to the dentist for forty years. With guests Angela Barnes, Finlay Christie, Catherine Bohart and Rajiv Karia 
 
In the third episode, Frank & the team discuss the best place to put a forget-me-not and the worst place to put a floof. With guests Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Simon Evans, Daliso Chaponda and Ania Magliano 
 
In episode four, Frank & the team discover how to poke an egg, sleep with a fish and fill a hamper with paté. With guests Ian Smith, Lou Sanders, Chloe Petts and Marcus Brigstocke 
 
In the fifth episode, Frank & the team find out what happens when Abba take a shower, when All Saints sell a T-shirt, and when you hear Russell Crowe sing. With guests Sara Barron, Pierre Novellie, Simon Evans and Harriet Kemsley 
 
And in the final episode of the series, Frank & his guests – Marjolein Robertson, Phil Wang, Dee Allum and Simon Evans - discover the latest views on the Epic of Gilgamesh and which part of the tiger not to eat. 
 
In the 2024 Christmas Special, Frank asks the teams which traditional panto features an animatronic dinosaur, the worst present they’ve ever received, and whether the one-star write-up “bit claggy, made me feel sick” is a review of some stuffing or Love Actually 
 
 
Production credits 
Hosted by Frank Skinner 
Devised by Jason Hazeley and Simon Evans with the producer David Tyler 
Written by Frank Skinner, Catherine Brinkworth, Sarah Dempster, Jason Hazeley, Rajiv Karia, Karl Minns, Katie Sayer & Peter Tellouche 
 
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 25 Dec 2024 (Xmas Special), 3 March - 7 April 2025 (series 2) 
 
(C)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

One Person Found This Helpful

Frank Skinner hosts the series where a celebrity panel delve into the bizarre world of online shopping 
 
Everyone has an online life, and when the great British public put pen to keyboard to leave a review, they almost always write something hilarious. One Person Found This Helpful is the panel game that invites an all-star line-up to celebrate the good, the bad and the baffling. 
 
Over the course of six episodes, the celebrity guests are presented with a selection of hilarious reviews and tasked with working out what exactly is being described. Maybe they'll even have a go at writing their own reviews along the way... So if you’re the person who went on Trip Advisor to review Ben Nevis as ‘Very steep and too high’, this show salutes you! 
 
In the first episode of the series, Frank and the team find out what you think about mead, Poirot and a stinky brontosaurus. With guests Simon Evans, Jessica Fostekew, Amy Gledhill and Ahir Shah. 
 
In Episode Two, we discover what you, the public, said about a dodgy snow globe and a risky waffle. Frank is joined by guests Desiree Burch, Simon Evans, Kerry Godliman and Andrew Maxwell. 
 
In the third episode, Frank and the team hear what you said about a sparkly tower, the M1 and some hot lava. The guests are Sara Barron, Marcus Brigstocke, Pierre Novellie and Laura Smyth. 
 
In Episode Four, we get your views on lemons, sharks and a very painful ladder. Frank is joined by guests Catherine Bohart, Daliso Chaponda, Shaparak Khorsandi and Ian Smith. 
 
In the fifth episode, Frank and the team find out what you thought about a scenic fishfinger and a wobbly cupcake. With guests Scott Bennett, Jo Caulfield, Simon Evans and Esther Manito. 
 
And finally in Episode Six, we discover what the world had to say about sharp carpets and a keg with a difference. Frank is joined by guests Simon Evans, Ania Magliano, Sunil Patel and Kiri Pritchard-McLean. 
 
Production credits 
Hosted by Frank Skinner 
Devised by Jason Hazeley and Simons Evans with David Tyler 
Produced by David Tyler 
Written by Frank Skinner, Catherine Brinkworth, Sarah Dempster, Jason Hazeley, Rajiv Karia, Karl Minns, Katie Sayer and Peter Tellouche 
 
A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4 
www.pozzitive.co.uk 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 19 February - 25 March 2024 (Series 1) 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Frank Skinner (Author, Reader) Frank Skinner performed his first stand-up gig in December 1987, and four years later went on to win the prestigious Perrier Award. During the 1990s Frank established himself as a major name in entertainment - both in live comedy and on television. In 1994 and 1997 he sold-out two UK tours, the second of which culminated in a performance at London's Battersea Power Station - what was then the largest ever audience for stand-up comedy in the UK. On television, Frank has created and starred in a succession of hit comedy shows, including nine series of The Frank Skinner Show from 1995 to 2005; and with his comedy partner David Baddiel, Fantasy Football (1994 - 2004), and Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned (2000 - 2005). 
 
As well as live stand-up and television, Frank has attained three number one hits with the iconic football anthem 'Three Lions' alongside David Baddiel and the Lightning Seeds. He has starred in the West End in both Art and Lee Hall's Cooking with Elvis; and his critically acclaimed first book Frank Skinner was the bestselling autobiography of 2002, spending a total of 46 weeks in the Sunday Times bestsellers' list. In 2006 Baddiel and Skinner's World Cup podcasts caused an online sensation with over one million downloads leading to yet another number one chart hit. 
 
In 2007 Frank Skinner returned to stand-up with another sell-out tour of the UK. 
 
Frank currently divides his time between London and Birmingham - and, of course, his beloved West Brom.

A BBC Radio comedy

Ångström

Scandinavian detective yarn by Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley

Matthew Holness stars in this superbly silly Scandinavian detective yarn 
 
Knut Ångström is a brooding, alcoholic, maverick Swedish detective from the mean streets of Oslo. Following the deaths of his beloved wife Christa, and cheeky duck Elvin, he is posted to the Njalsland peninsula, where he becomes embroiled in a labyrinthine mystery which bears an eerie similarity to the Askeladden killings - a case from his distant past. 
 
Arriving at a secluded valley after an anonymous tip-off, Ångström finds his crime scene is missing a corpse. It seems the attack was so brutal that it's obliterated all trace of the body (or maybe there was no murder?) But Ångström is undeterred, and together with young, blue-haired investigative reporter Mina Oblong, he follows his hunch to the offices of Councillor Birgit Lundstrom. 
 
But when Lundstrom turns up dead, Ångström himself is in the frame for her murder. Determined to clear his name, he seeks the help of Benny from ABBA - but why is Benny from ABBA suddenly Mexican? A clue left by the killer leads Ångström and Mina from a novelty troll factory to the remote Celibate Puffin Island (but it's all one word in Swedish) where they find a possible connection between the Askeladden murders and the sinister Bolax Corporation - and get one step closer to discovering the identity of the mysterious Ash Lad... 
 
This gag-packed, snow-packed, flat-packed Scandi-spoof was created by Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley (The Ladybird Books for Grown Ups, Charlie Brooker's ...Wipe,That Mitchell and Webb Look, A Touch of Cloth) and stars the Perrier Award-winning Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi's Darkplace) as Knut Ångström. 
 
 
 
Written by Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley 
Cast: Matthew Holness, Nadia Kamil, Simon Kane, Morgana Robinson, David Reed, Freya Parker, Kevin Eldon and Anna Crilly 
Produced by Lyndsay Fenner 
 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 10-31 January 2018

The BBC Radio 4 Current Affairs Parody

Agendum: Series 2

A current affairs parody & stupidly feasible visit to the 24-hour Hall Of Opinion Mirrors. Because there are two stories to every story.

The BBC Radio 4 current affair pardody

Agendum: Series 1

Jason Hazeley

Simon Evans

David Tyler

Frank Skinner

One Person Found This Helpful is a lively panel game hosted by the witty Frank Skinner, bringing together an all-star line-up of celebrity guests to revel in the hilarity of online reviews. Over the course of seven entertaining episodes, the guests are challenged to decipher the good, the bad, and the downright baffling reviews, guessing what exactly is being described. With plenty of laughs and unexpected twists, the celebrities might even try their hand at crafting their own amusing reviews, making for a fun-filled celebration of the quirks of internet commentary.

Jason Hazeley

Books by Jason Hazeley

Series by Jason Hazeley

One Person Found This Helpful

Articles featuring Jason Hazeley

Books to solve your Secret Santa dilemma

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