A BBC Radio Spoof comedy

Paperback Hell: Series 1-3

All three series of the literary spoof series 
 
Paperback Hell takes a wry look at well-known genres riding high in the publishing charts, and mercilessly lampoons them to hilarious effect. Featuring choice chapters culled from titles that bear a striking resemblance to something you've read before, it's the book show that seems determined to destroy the good name of literature. 
 
These 16 episodes showcase a selection of inexplicably popular bestsellers by imaginary authors, including Romany Cleff's debut chick-lit novel Shopping for Mr Wrong; Edith Plunger's medieval monastic murder mystery A Posset Full of Death; radical filmaker Chuck Morris's account of his trip to the Hay and Wye literary festival, You Suck Bush; and Jack "Sunglasses" Ramsey's not-entirely-true memoir of life in the 1960s criminal underworld, Stop the Dodgems, I Want to Throw Up. 
 
Plus, the Napoleonic Wars invade the airwaves as suspiciously fictional author Alexander Cromwell narrates his military adventure, Thrust's Eagle; celebrity lifestyle gurus Gilly Haberdasher and Dr Graham Golden share excerpts from their tie-in book to the hit TV programme, How Not To Live; and there's a chance to experience a young woman's erotic awakening as 'Anonymous' reads from a specially adapted version of Forbidden Fire (which contains sex scenes that some listeners may find strangely disappointing). 
 
Written by Danny Robins and Dan Tetsell (The Museum of Everything, Young Dracula), this witty, entertaining send-up stars Michael Fenton Stevens, Rebecca Front, Mel Hudson, Alex Lowe and Dan Tetsell. 
 
Production credits 
 
 
Ghostwritten by Danny Robins and Dan Tetsell 
Produced by Lucy Armitage 
Original music by Ben Walker 
 
Starring Michael Fenton Stevens, Rebecca Front, Mel Hudson, Alex Lowe and Dan Tetsell 
With Michael Brandon (Series 3, Episodes 1 and 2) 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 16 January-6 February 2003 (Series 1), 7 July-11 August 2004 (Series 2), 5 October-9 November 2005 (Series 3) 
 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Marcus Brigstocke

Claire Downes

Stuart Lane

Al Holloway

Danny Robins

Dan Tetsall

Hazel Grian

Ben Kozo

Patrick McNamara

Full Cast

A BBC Radio Comedy

A comedy sketch show recreating the bygone eras of radio, featuring the hilarious work of Marcus Brigstocke, Danny Robbins, Dan Tetsell and othersIf you thought radio started with Marconi, you were wrong, and here’s the proof – twelve extraordinary archive recordings from the past two millennia of the wireless. Join DJs Steve in the Afternoon and Suzanne Canker for some historical humour and hot takes on the Roman invasion, the First World War, the Crusades, the original Olympic Games – and much, much more.Tune in to Radio Victoriana for steam-powered shenanigans from the Great Exhibition (and all the latest inventions), climb aboard HMS Beagle for a scientifical journey with Charles Darwin, find out who really wrote Shakespeare’s plays and prepare for a right royal knockabout as Suzanne’s cohorts do battle with Henry VIII’s radio Reformation. Plus, get your regular end-of-the-world updates from Dark Age FM, enjoy Championship Matchmaking live from Georgian Bath, and listen in as Charles I (or is it Steve?) faces the scaffold in a Civil War Execution Special...Written and performed by Marcus Brigstocke, Danny Robbins and Dan Tetsell (The Museum of Everything), and a team of comedic talents including Claire Downes and Stuart Lane (The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin), this funny, fast-paced sketch show is like Horrible Histories, but for grown-ups.Cast and creditsWritten and performed by Marcus Brigstocke, Claire Downes, Sean Grundy, Stuart Lane, Al Holloway, Danny Robbins, Dan Tetsell, Tasha Butterworth, Hazel Grian, Ben Kozo and Patrick McNamaraProduced by Paul Dodgson & Sean GrundyFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:Series 11: Roman Britain Radio 18 October 20002. Dark Age FM 25 October 20003. Crusade Roadshow 1 November 20004. Headless – Civil War Radio 8 November 20005. Mad – Georgian Radio 15 November 20006. Steaming – Radio Victoriana 22 November 2000Series 21. Radio Mustard 18 September 20022. Beagle FM 25 September 20023. Tempest FM 2 October 20024. Greensleeves FM 9 October 20025. Sherwood FM 16 October 20026. Olympic FM 23 October 2002© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Dan Tetsall

Books by Dan Tetsall

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