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Books to solve your Secret Santa dilemma

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

Bill Dare

Helen Arney

Matt Parker

Steve Mould

Barney Fishwick

Jack Chisnall

Joel Morris

Jason Hazeley

Jack Bernhardt

Cliff Kelly

Adam Goodwin

Dan Clark

Nicola Coughlan

Armando Iannucci

Jimmy Carr

Marcus Brigstocke

Mark Watson

Chris Addison

Eleanor Bron

John Lloyd

Daniel Ings

Eight BBC Radio Productions

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

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