Joseph Delaney used to be an English teacher, before becoming the best-selling author of the Spook's series, which has been published in 30 countries and sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide. The first book, The Spook's Apprentice, was adapted into a major motion picture starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.

Joseph Delaney

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BBC Radio Comedy

Three series of the Sony Award-winning BBC Radio comedy show 
 
A fast-paced mix of stand-up, songs and sketches, The Now Show takes an off-the-wall look at world events, blending satire and silliness to poke fun at politics and lampoon the news. 
 
In these 18 episodes from 2014 and 2015, Steve Punt co-presents with Hugh Dennis and, on one occasion, Jon Culshaw. Joining them are a raft of comedians including Nathan Caton, Elis James, Sara Pascoe, Aditi Mittal, Alex Edelman and Alexei Sayle, as they dissect the headlines with their scalpel of wit. 
 
Everything is fair game and a potential target for the team, and topics under the spotlight include the Scottish independence referendum; the UN climate summit; 3-parent babies; fox hunting and whether or not Pluto is a planet. David Quantick ponders the Proms; Nish Kumar wonders if Monopoly is to blame for economic inequality; and Jon Holmes explain how the British Army is waging war through social media. 
 
Plus, the team pose the traditional Audience Questions, including 'What have you observed that demands explanation?', 'What gadget or invention do you most regret buying?' and 'What irritates you so much you'd be prepared to go to prison?' 
 
Cast and credits 
Presented by Steve Punt, Hugh Dennis and Jon Culshaw 
Written by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis with the cast 
Additional material by Liam Beirne, Rose Biggin, Sarah Campbell, Chris Coltrane, Tom Crowley, Max Davis, Alice Gregg, Gareth Gwynn, Gaby Hutchinson-Crouch, Jon Hunter, Nadia Kamil, Jane Lamacraft, Sarah Morgan, Carrie Quinlan, Andy Woolton 
 
Produced by Alexandra Smith and Joe Nunnery 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
Series 44 featuring: Mitch Benn, Nathan Caton, Pippa Evans, John Finnemore, Jon Holmes, Elis James, Nish Kumar, Terry Mynott, Sara Pascoe, Grace Petrie, David Quantick, Laura Shavin, Iain Stirling, Holly Walsh 
 
Series 45 featuring: Mitch Benn, Marcus Brigstocke, Pippa Evans, Rich Hall, John Finnemore, Jon Holmes, Tez Ilyas, Adam Kay, Nish Kumar, Aditi Mittal, Laura Shavin, Vikki Stone 
 
Series 46 featuring: Mitch Benn, Peter Bradshaw, Rory Cellan-Jones, Alex Edelman, Harry the Piano, Jon Holmes, Faisal Islam, Alice Lowe, Elis James, Emma John, Sarah Kendall, Tom Peck, David Quantick, Alexei Sayle, Laura Shavin, Gemma Whelan, Jake Yapp, Andy Zaltzman 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 12 September-17 October 2014 (Series 44), 9 January-13 February 2015 (Series 45), 3 July-7 August 2015 (Series 46) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The Now Show: Series 44 – 46

The BBC Radio 4 topical comedy

Three more series of the flagship comedy show presented by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis 
 
The Now Show returns to put a smile on your face from a safe distance, with more topical sketches, stand-up, songs and chat. 
 
In these 19 episodes, recorded from their home studios and broadcast to a remote audience, presenters Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis are joined by a plethora of special guests including Lucy Porter, Huge Davies, Gemma Arrowsmith, Zoe Lyons, George Fouracres, Jena Friedman, Darren Harriott, Lost Voice Guy, Eshaan Akbar, Jessica Fostekew, Chris McCausland, Daliso Chaponda, Janine Harouni and Laura Lexx. 
 
With their characteristic wit and satirical flair, they crack wise at all things news, from the COVID-19 disruption and the vaccine rollout to Dominic Cummings' resignation, the US presidential election, Harry and Meghan's explosive Oprah Winfrey interview, Boris Johnson's new briefing room and the upcoming 2022 'Festival of Brexit'. 
 
NB: Contains humour and language that some listeners may find offensive 
 
Cast and credits 
Presented by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis 
Written by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis with the cast 
Additional material by Jeffrey Aidoo, Simon Alcock, Donald Alexander, Rebecca Bain, Liam Beirne, Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, Catherine Brinkworth,Suchandrika Chakrabarti, Laura Claxton, Tasha Dhanraj, Charlie Dinkin, Toussaint Douglas, Tania Edwards, Hannah Fairweather, Aidan Fitzmaurice, Georgie Flinn, Charlie George, Gareth Gwynn, Jon Hunter, Rajiv Karia, Alex Kealy, Athena Kugblenu, Ola Labib, Helena Langdon, Jenny Laville,Laura Major,Ambika Mod, Robin Morgan, Mo Omar, Mary O'Connell, Alfie Packham, Mike Shepherd,Katie Storey, Josh Weller 
 
Produced by Adnan Ahmed, Julia McKenzie, Victoria Lloyd and Pete Strauss 
Production Co-ordinators: Caroline Barlow and Carina Andrews 
Editor/Engineer: David Thomas 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
Series 56 featuring: Eshaan Akbar, Gemma Arrowsmith, Joe Barnes, Sara Barron, Scott Bennett, Huge Davies, George Fouracres, Dominic Frisby, Darren Harriott, Luke Kempner, Sooz Kempner, Rosie Jones, Zoe Lyons, Chris McCausland, Robin Morgan, Geoff Norcott, Rachel Parris, Lucy Porter, Jess Robinson, Kai Samra, Tim Sutton, Ellie Taylor, Andy Zaltzman 
 
Series 57 featuring: Eshaan Akbar, Gemma Arrowsmith, Karen Bartke, Beardyman, Josh Berry, Catherine Bohart, Huge Davies, Sophie Duker, Flo and Joan, Jena Friedman, George Fouracres, Ivo Graham, Darren Harriott, Harry and Chris, Luke Kempner, Sooz Kempner, Sarah Keyworth, Matt Kirshen, Lost Voice Guy, Zoe Lyons, Patrick Maguire, Geoff Norcott, Katie Norris, Jess Robinson, Emma Sidi, Tim Sutton, Ellie Taylor, Felicity Ward 
 
Series 58 featuring: Eshaan Akbar, Gemma Arrowsmith, Dane Baptiste, Karen Bartke, Beardyman, Ken Cheng, Daliso Chaponda, Alun Cochrane, Huge Davies, Jessica Fostekew, Jason Forbes, George Fouracres, Chiara Goldsmith, Felix Hagen, Janine Harouni, Kieran Hodgson, Luke Kempner, Sooz Kempner, Laura Lexx, Ria Lina, Emily Lloyd-Saini, Zoe Lyons, Chris McCausland, Geoff Norcott, Katie Norris, Rachel Parris, Lucy Porter, Jess Robinson, Tim Sutton, Ellie Taylor 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 6 March-10 April 2020 (Series 56), 30 October-4 December 2020 (Series 57), 26 February-9 April 2021 (Series 58) 
 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Now Show: Series 56-58

Three sparkling series of the award-winning comedy show 
 
The Now Show is back with a bang, bringing you a bumper helping of topical skits, sketches, stand-up and songs. In these 18 episodes, Steve Punt co-presents with Hugh Dennis and, on one occasion, Gareth Gwynn. Joining them to take a satirical sideswipe at the news are comedians including Felicity Ward, Glenn Moore, Michael Spicer, Ria Lina, Josh Pugh, Athena Kugblenu, Geoff Norcott, Stevie Martin and Sarah Keyworth. 
 
Aurie Styla riffs about the smug benefits of owning an electric car; Daliso Chaponda muses on the future of the Metaverse; Priya Hall wonders why we're experiencing shortages of pretty much everything; and Jess Fostekew talks us through all the things she's doing to distract herself from the news. 
 
Supplying the music are Jess Robinson, who gives us a sneak preview of Adele's 23rd album, '95'; Ignacio Lopez, with a Bowie-inspired song about billionaires in space; Beardyman, with a jazzy ode to staying calm; and Stiff & Kitsch, with a tuneful list of all the things we can worry about again now the pandemic is over (kind of). 
 
Plus, we hear the funniest answers to Audience Questions including 'Have you ever been given a nickname you didn't want?', 'What strange things are on your bucket list?', 'What's the most humiliating thing that has ever happened to you?' and 'Have you ever hidden something? Who from, and why?' 
 
NB: Contains humour and language that some listeners may find offensive 
 
Cast and credits 
Presented by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis (Series 59, Episode 3 presented by Steve Punt and Gareth Gwynn) 
Written by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis with the cast 
Additional material by Simon Alcock, Becca Bain, Davina Bentley, Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, Steve Blair, Catherine Brinkworth, Suchandrika Chakrabarti, Natasha Dhanraj, Aidan Fitzmaurice, Alex Garrick-Wright, Jade Gebbie, Gareth Gwynn, Jack Harris, Rajiv Karia, Harry Kampf, Jenny Laville, Cameron Loxdale, Laura Major, Eleri Morgan, Robin Morgan, Hannah Platt, Rhiannon Shaw, Mike Shepherd, Katie Storey 
 
Produced by Pete Strauss and Rajiv Karia 
Production Co-ordinators: Sarah Sharpe 
Music composed by Alex Silverman (Series 59, Episode 1 and Series 60, Episode 6) 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
Series 59 featuring: Gemma Arrowsmith, Karen Bartke, Beardyman, Daliso Chaponda, Huge Davies, Gareth Gwynn, Jason Forbes, Priya Hall, Janine Harouni, Kieran Hodgson, Natasha Hodgson, Luke Kempner, Sooz Kempner, Athena Kugblenu, Ria Lina, Ignacio Lopez, Jamie MacDonald, Glen Moore, Geoff Norcott, Katie Norris, Nimisha Odedra, Josh Pugh, Jess Robinson, Emma Sidi, Michael Spicer, Stiff & Kitsch, Aurie Styla, Tim Sutton, Felicity Ward 
 
Series 60 featuring: Gemma Arrowsmith, Angela Barnes, Ken Cheng, Huge Davies, David Eagle, Jazz Emu, Jason Forbes, Jess Fostekew, Chiara Goldsmith, Archie Henderson, Kieran Hodgson, Matty Hutson, Sharlin Jahan, Rhys James, Luke Kempner, Sooz Kempner, Sarah Keyworth, Ola Labib, Stevie Martin, Geoff Norcott, Katie Norris, Freya Parker, Chloe Petts, Jess Robinson, Ian Smith, Laura Smyth, Stiff & Kitsch, Tim Sutton, Chris Thorburn, Inel Tomlinson 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 29 October-3 December 2021 (Series 59), 11 March-15 April 2022 (Series 60), 28 October-2 December 2022 (Series 61) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The Now Show: Series 59-61

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