BBC Radio stand up and sketch comedy

Rich Hall's (US) Breakdown

Comedian Rich Hall takes an acerbic look across the pond at US politics, from the closing stages of the 2016 election to the 2020 race for the White House

I could listen to Hall for ever. His laconic, hilarious intelligence and beautiful use of language is always a delight

Comedian Rich Hall takes an acerbic look across the pond at US politics, from the closing stages of the 2016 election to the 2020 race for the White House 
 
‘I could listen to Hall for ever. His laconic, hilarious intelligence and beautiful use of language is always a delight’ Miranda Sawyer, The Observer 
 
Welcome to Washington D.C.'s favourite political phone-in show, as multi award-winning comedian (and American citizen) Rich Hall and a selection of comedians from both sides of the Atlantic reflect on the latest political events in the United States. 
 
Using a combination of stand-up, sketch and interview, Rich Hall’s US Breakdown broadcasts live from the fictional IBBC network in Washington to the whole of America, as Rich and his producer Nick Doody take calls from every corner of the country to hear the concerns of voters and give us their take on the issues troubling the US electorate. 
 
Speaking to American pundits, comics and the man on the street, the series guides us through the chaotic circus of a presidential race and offers an insight into the unfolding drama of Donald Trump’s presidency. Hall muses on Trump’s first 60 days in office, and first 12 months, breaks down the result of the US midterms and weighs up the relative merits of the candidates seeking the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2020. 
 
Enlightening, entertaining and engaging, Rich Hall’s sardonic, satirical take on the state of his nation will appeal to anyone with even a passing interest in US politics. 
 
Production credits 
Written and presented by Rich Hall and Nick Doody 
With Lewis MacLeod, Debra Stephenson, Mike Wilmot, Karen Bartke, Andrew Maxwell, Jess Robinson, Lewis Black, Alex Edelman, Charlie Wolf, David Feldman, Jena Friedman, Freya Parker, Desiree Burch, Emma Sidi, Jen Kirkman 
Additional material by Ben Partridge, Robin Morgan, Sarah Campbell, Gráinne Maguire, Jenny Laville, James Kettle, Laura Major, Mike Shephard 
Produced by Joe Nunnery 
Independence Day special produced by Matt Stronge 
A BBC Studios production 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 19 October-9 November 2016, (Series 1), 22 March 2017 (Special: 60 Days of Trump), 18 January 2018 (Special: 12 Months of Trump), 22 November 2018 (Special: Midterms), 4 July 2019 (Special: Independence Day), 28 November 2019, 1 December 2019

The Complete BBC Radio 4 Sitcom

The Castle

Hie ye to The Castle, a rollicking sitcom set way back then, starring James Fleet (The Vicar Of Dibley), Neil Dudgeon (Life Of Riley, Midsomer Murders), Martha Howe-Douglas (Horrible Histories) &amp; Ingrid Oliver (Doctor Who).

Kim Fuller (Author) 
 Kim Fuller is an award-winning writer for film, TV and radio. His many TV credits include Not the Nine O'Clock News, Spitting Image and Red Dwarf, while his radio credits include The Castle. 
 
Matt Kirshen (Author) 
 Matt Kirshen is an actor, comedian and writer who has appeared in and written for numerous television and radio shows, including Bigipedia and The Castle.

Hie ye to The Castle, a rollicking sitcom set way back then, starring James Fleet (The Vicar Of Dibley), Neil Dudgeon (Life Of Riley, Midsomer Murders), Martha Howe-Douglas (Horrible Histories) &amp; Ingrid Oliver (Doctor Who). 
 
 
Thrill! - as brave knight Sir William De Warenne’s dungeon renovation falls foul of the Health &amp; Safety inspectors 
 
Swoon! - as young Lady Anne tries to lose her cut-glass accent in an attempt to get on “The Only Way Is Wessex” 
 
Sympathize! - as Lord of the castle Sir John hires the latest top-of-the-range horse, but can’t work out what to do with the built-in “ashtrays” 
 
…and Get Out Your Laughing-Spats! as Bates the new valet arrives hotfoot from Downton Abbey... 
 
This is medieval England seen from a 21st century comedy perspective complete wit the now-legendary lute jingles. If you’ve ever wanted to hear the medieval versions of Jumping Jack Flash, Mama Mia, I Shot The Sheriff or even Agadoo, this is the series to buy! 
 
Sir John Woodstock (James Fleet) is the Lord of the Castle and basically in charge of keeping order in the ramshackle medieval village. Although he hates all that torturing and usually lets the peasants off with a bit of community service. He lives in his huge but slightly falling down castle (but then it was built by the French so what can one expect) with his daughter Anne (Martha Howe-Douglas) and very teenage son Henry (Steven Kynman). Anne’s best friend Charlotte (Ingrid Oliver) nearly always joins Anne on her constant quest to find fit men in the village. And Anne certainly isn’t interested in Sir William De Warenne ("Knight errant, scourge of the Levant") (Neil Dudgeon) who lives across the way. Unfortunately he can’t take a hint and is besotted with Lady Anne and Sir John thinks it a good match. Ah! what is a Lady to do! Cardinal Duncan (Jonathan Kydd) (a man of the cloth – in particular crushed silk which he loves), has to endure De Warenne’s incessant plans to woo Lady Anne and has little time to peruse sweethearts of his own. Which oddly enough, he doesn’t seem to mind... 
 
Written by......................................................... Kim Fuller 
 
with additional material by Nick Doody&amp; Matt Kirshen 
 
Music by Guy Jackson 
 
Produced and directed by............................ David Tyler

The Complete Series 1-2

Bigipedia

Welcome to Bigipedia - the omniscient friend you know from your computer and laser watch takes over your PC for 30 minutes in a unique experiment in broadwebcasting...

Marcus Brigstocke

Jeremy Salsby

Toby Davies

Nick Doody

Tom Neenan

Steve Punt

Dan Tetsell

William Andrews

Rufus Jones

Margaret Cabourn-Smith

Colin Hoult

The BBC Radio 4 comedy show

Shortlisted for the BBC Audio Drama Award 2015 for Best Scripted Comedy (Studio Audience) 
 
In the complete Series 1-4 of the multi-award-winning hit show from the people who brought you Cabin Pressure and Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive, stand-up comedian Marcus Brigstocke has been put in charge of a thing! 
 
In each episode, Marcus finds he's volunteered to be in charge of a big old thing - a hospital, a prison, the banking system, the great British press - and each week he starts out by thinking "Well, it can't be that difficult, surely?" and ends up with "Oh - turns out it's utterly difficult and complicated. Who knew...?". 
 
Helping him fail to find the answers are regular guest stars such as Rufus Jones (Hunderby, Holy Flying Circus), William Andrews (Sorry, I've Got No Head), Margaret Cabourn-Smith (Miranda) and Colin Hoult (from Ricky Gervaise's Derek). Together they tackle the ills of British society, from the House Of Lords and internet trolling all the way up to the big issues - like why a paisley hanky is good for hiding disreputable stains, and how to use toothpaste to fool your landlord. 
 
Written by Marcus Brigstocke, Jeremy Salsby, Toby Davies, Nick Doody, Dan Tetsell, Steve Punt and Tom Neenan. 
Produced by David Tyler 
A Pozzitive Production for BBC Radio 4 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2021BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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