Dave Gibbons

John Gibbons is an environmental journalist and commentator who has been speaking about climate change in Ireland for over a decade. The Lie of the Land is his first book.

John Gibbons

Stella Gibbons was born in London in 1902. She went to the North London Collegiate School and studied journalism at University College, London. She then worked for ten years on various papers, including the Evening Standard. Stella Gibbons is the author of twenty-five novels, three volumes of short stories, and four volumes of poetry. Her first novel Cold Comfort Farm (1932) was an immediate success and won the Femina Vie Heureuse Prize for 1933. Among her works are Nightingale Wood (1938), The Bachelor (1944), Westwood (1946), and Starlight (1967). She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1950. Stella Gibbons died in 1989.

Stella Gibbons

Edward Gibbon

Lewis Grassic Gibbon

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Paul Sinha

Paul Sinha and his audience join together to compile the questions for a perfect pub quiz 
 
'If you love armchair quizzing, chances are you'll love this' The Times 
 
Stand-up star, quizzer and Rose d'Or winner Paul Sinha is banned from taking part in pub quizzes - so he's decided to create his own. In his bid to put together the ultimate syllabus for this great social tradition, he offers up a wealth of surprising and original questions - as well as the fascinating stories behind the answers. He then goes on to open it up to the audience, who attempt to stump him with their own favourite puzzlers. 
 
Series 1 comprises four rounds - Literature, The World, Four-Letter Words and Everything - while Series 2 ranges across a variety of topics including New Cities, Themes, Monkeys and Apes, Truth, Chat GPT and 2023. Each show is packed with jokes, puns, fascinating facts and scintillating trivia. 
 
Which author's bestselling work was inspired by his filing cabinet? How many countries sit along the Equator? Where was the first British woman to win Miss World born? And which anagram of 'A TWISTED COLON' connects gorillas in 2001 and orangutans in 1978 and 1980? Find out in this quirky, question-packed quiz show! 
 
Production credits 
Written and presented by Paul Sinha 
Additional material: Oliver Levy 
Additional questions: The Audience 
Original music: Tim Sutton 
Sound engineers: Jerry Peal and David Thomas 
Photographer: Andy Hollingworth 
Produced by Ed Morrish 
A Lead Mojo production for BBC Radio 4 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
 
Series 1 
Round One: Literature 21 April 2022 
Round Two: The World 28 April 2022 
Round Three: Four-Letter Words 5 May 2022 
Round Four: Everything 12 May 2022 
 
Series 2 
Episode 1: New Cities 4 September 2023 
Episode 2: Manchester 11 September 2023 
Episode 3: Hampshire 18 September 2023 
Episode 4: Suffolk 25 September 2023 
Episode 5: Somerset 2 October 2023 
Episode 6: Themes 9 October 2023 
Episode 7: Monkeys and Apes 16 October 2023 
Episode 8: Truth 23 October 2023 
Episode 9: Chat GPT 30 October 2023 
Episode 10: 2023 6 November 2023 
 
&copy; 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Paul Sinha’s Perfect Pub Quiz: The Collected Series 1 and 2

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy

Mitchell Symons

When Mitchell Symons wrote his extraordinary bestsellers This Book, That Book and The Other Book - all neatly combined in one sensational volume, The Ultimate Loo Book - he was judged by many to be the King of Trivia. Now, inThe Bumper Book for the Loo, this supremo of weird and wonderful, astonishing and inexplicable facts, figures, stats and stories returns with a super selection of trivialistic treats - each one more remarkable and, yes, even more trivial than anything he's compiled before. 
 
For example, did you know that... 
 
·The first alarm clock could only ring at 4 a.m... 
·There was once an internet rumour that Belgium doesn't exist... 
·In 1830, King Louis XIX ruled France for just 15 minutes... 
·All mammals have jaws but only humans have chins... 
·Peru has more pyramids than Egypt... 
 
Packed to the rafters with all manner of useful and useless information, lists of the biggest, the smallest, the best and the worst, The Bumper Book for the Loo is a hilarious compendium of endless delights - and a hugely entertaining, unputdownable feat of nonsense!

The Bumper Book For The Loo

Facts and figures, stats and stories – an unputdownable treat of trivia

Vexx

Vexx is back with another incredible collection of critters to colour, drawn in his signature street-art doodle style. In Mythotopia, you'll find entirely new line art depicting magical creatures from griffins and mermaids to krakens and yetis, as well as a few guest-doodle-artists pages and an invitation from Vexx for you to submit your artwork via Instagram for possible inclusion in his next book. 
 
Go crazy with colour and ink in the intricate linework paired with bubbly characters, all on single-sided pages for minimum bleed-through. Both relaxing and challenging, this book is sure to inspire your inner artist.

Mythotopia

A Dragons and Doodles Colouring Book

BBC Radio Comedy

Three series of the award-winning satirical panel game, chaired by Sandi ToksvigHosted by the peerless Sandi Toksvig, these 25 episodes take us through the highlights and lowlights of 2008, a year dominated by the global financial crisis and the US presidential race between Barack Obama and John McCain.Scrutinising stories both world-shaking and whimsical are an esteemed panel of comedians, journalists and commentators, among them Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Phill Jupitus, Francis Wheen, Kevin Day, Carrie Quinlan, Mark Steel, Hugo Rifkind, Justin Edwards, Sue Perkins and Robin Ince. Trying not to laugh as they read out listeners’ comic cuttings are newsreaders Harriet Cass, Chris Aldridge, Carolyn Brown, Peter Donaldson, Charlotte Green, Rory Morrison, Corrie Corfield and Neil Sleat.Subjects picked apart by the panel include Nicolas Sarkozy, Sarah Palin, Boris Johnson’s election as Mayor of London, the Large Hadron Collider, the dangers of obesity, stroppy teenagers and fuel duty protests – as well as the sex life of chimpanzees, naked flights for nudists, the formula for the perfect Yorkshire pudding and the surprising revelation that fish can count to four...Production creditsChaired by Sandi ToksvigChair’s script written by Stephen Carlin, Lucy Clarke, Rhodri Crooks, Jane Lamacraft, Simon Littlefield, Matthew Morton, Paul Kerensa, Suk Pannu, James Sherwood, Danielle WardWith additional material by Stephen Carlin, Aaron Counter, Miriam Elia, Alistair Griggs, Gareth Gwynn, Jane Lamacraft, John-Luke Roberts, James Sherwood, Alan Stafford, Rory Stamp, Liz StephensProduced by Ed Morrish and Victoria LloydA BBC Studios ProductionSeries 64 featuring: Kevin Day, Jack Dee, Justin Edwards, Simon Evans, Jeff Green, Andy Hamilton, Phil Hammond, Jeremy Hardy, Phill Jupitus, Fred MacAulay, Sue Perkins, Carrie Quinlan, Mark Steel, Francis WheenSeries 65 featuring: Kevin Day, Simon Evans, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Phill Jupitus, Fred MacAulay, Sue Perkins, Hugo Rifkind, Carrie Quinlan, Mark Steel, Francis WheenSeries 66 featuring: Jo Caulfield, Kevin Day, Justin Edwards, Simon Evans, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Robin Ince, Phill Jupitus, Fred MacAulay, Sue Perkins, Hugo Rifkind, Carrie Quinlan, Mark Steel, Francis WheenNews items read by Harriet Cass, Chris Aldridge, Carolyn Brown, Peter Donaldson, Charlotte Green, Rory Morrison, Corrie Corfield and Neil SleatFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 11 January-29 February 2008 (Series 64), 2 May-11 June 2008 (Series 65), 26 September-21 November 2008 (Series 66)© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The News Quiz 2008

Series 64, 65 and 66 of the topical BBC Radio 4 comedy panel show

Gardeners' World Magazine

100 horticultural head-scratchers to test your botanical brain power 
 
Can you tell Myosotis from Magnolia? Can you tell your beeches from your birches? 
 
Featuring 100 puzzles including crosswords, word searches, anagrams, word wheels and code breakers, The Gardeners’ World Puzzle Book has everything you need to unwind from a long day in the garden while sharpening your mind at the same time. 
 
Organised by season and difficulty, this fun and beautiful book offers everything from easy breezy brainteasers to the thorniest of horticultural headscratchers – the perfect companion for any grower!

The Gardeners' World Puzzle Book

Liz Bland

Keith Taylor

Discover the eighth wonder of the crossword world! 
 
Gasp at the awe inspiring 240 crossword puzzles in this bumper book. Grin as you quickly solve the coffee-time clues. Whoop when take on the challenge of the tricky cryptic clues and finish the whole puzzle. 
 
Cheer when you double-check the answers at the back of the book and find you got every last one right. Then like a true crossword explorer, go out and discover the ninth book!

The Eighth Penguin Jumbo Book of The Sun Crosswords

Susan Calman

Susan Calman hosts this BBC Radio panel game exploring the wonderful world of lists 
 
Presented by writer, comedian and self-confessed listomaniac Susan Calman, this hilarious show celebrates the power of the humble list - from 'Buzzfeed' to 'bucket' and everything in between. 
 
Accompanying Susan for a spot of comic categorising are a panel of special guests, including Lucy Porter, Joe Lycett, Richard Herring, Katherine Ryan, James Acaster, Miles Jupp, Lucy Beaumont, Nat Luurtsema, Alun Cochrane, Sarah Millican, Ricky Wilson, Roisin Conaty and Isy Suttie. Together, they participate in a variety of anarchic games themed around lists both magnificent and mundane. 
 
What would be on Mary Poppins' to-do list? What things should you resolutely avoid doing before you die? And can you tell the difference between a list of 'My Little Pony' names and a list of illegal narcotics? All these questions, and more, are tackled by the plucky panellists, who are also challenged to improvise their own quickfire lists, including 'fresh quirks for a TV detective', 'new additions to the Ten Commandments' and 'Disney dwarves that were left out of the final 7'. 
 
Full of great gags, diverting topics and off-the-wall trivia, Listomania is sure to make your list of favourite radio comedy shows - so grab a pen and paper and join in the fun! 
 
Production credits 
 
Presented by Susan Calman 
Written by James Kettle, Gráinne Maguire, Sarah Campbell, Sian Harries and Juliet Meyers, with additional material by Max Davis and Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch 
 
Produced by Adnan Ahmed, Sam Bryant and Jane Berthoud 
 
With: Lucy Porter, Joe Lycett, Richard Herring, Katherine Ryan, Dane Baptiste, Elis James, Aisling Bea, Celia Pacquola, Holly Walsh, Lloyd Langford, Sara Cox, James Acaster, Miles Jupp, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Lucy Beaumont, Nat Luurtsema, Alun Cochrane, Sarah Millican, Andrew O'Neill, Ricky Wilson, Roisin Conaty, Isy Suttie, Gary Delaney 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 June 2014 (Pilot), 19 February-26 March 2015 (Series 1) 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Susan Calman’s Listomania

A BBC Radio 2 panel show

Ripley

Every year Ripley's Believe It or Not! storms the bestseller list as it unveils the latest collection of weird but true stories, bite-size, jaw-dropping facts, and amazing photographs gathered from all over the world. 
 
This year...<ul><li>Gasp at the paddle-steamer made entirely out of ice</li><li>Discover the whereabouts of the volcano that blasts out gold</li><li>Meet Fedy, the cross-eyed cat, who has 400,000 followers on Instagram</li><li>Visit the city of Chefhaouen in Morocco, where every building is painted blue</li><li>Shudder at the Australian mosquito that sucks blood from frogs' nostrils</li></ul>And much, much more! 
 
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is perfect for: 
<ul><li>Gifting moments: whether it’s a kids stocking filler or an adult Secret Santa, give the gift of interesting facts this Christmas</li><li>Readers young and old: Got a trivia mad niece? Or a pub-quiz-going father-in-law? Either way, this is sure to delight readers of all ages!</li><li>Those with curious minds!</li></ul> 
No Christmas can possibly be complete without Ripley's, the bestselling annual full of weird and but true stories and facts to delight both kids and adults! 
 
---- 
 
Praise for Ripley's Believe It Or Not! 
 
'My grandson loves it — packed with weird and wonderful facts and vivid pictures that spark his curiosity!' 
 
'Another brilliant Ripley’s! Stunning visuals and unbelievable facts for every curious mind.' 
 
'A family favourite — every year!' 
 
'Fun, fascinating, and a little gross — a hit with kids and adults alike!' 
 
'A Christmas morning must — pure excitement every year!'

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! 2026

Alan Connor

Do you know which Cluedo character was killed off in 2016? How about which band has a species of shrimp named after it? Reckon you could guess the name of a song from lyrics where the words have been replaced with synonyms? 
 
Then fingers on buzzers, because House of Games is back and it's better than ever! 
 
Packed with 104 new, classic and fiendishly difficult rounds from the hit BBC show's question writers, House of Games: Question Smash is the ultimate collection of brainteasers, puzzles and trivia. Pit your wits against friends and family with favourites like Highbrow Lowbrow, Rhyme Time and Don't State the Obvious, as well as brand new games from the brilliant minds behind the show. 
 
So limber up your frontal lobes, brush up on your trivia and get ready to return to the House of Games.

House of Games

Question Smash: 104 New, Classic and Fiendishly Difficult Rounds

Lizzie Mary Cullen

Join Lizzie Mary Cullen on a magical expedition around the world, with her brand new colouring book for adults. 
 
For the past few months, Lizzie has been travelling the world, exploring some of our planet's most beautiful landscapes and fascinating cities. Inspired by the places she discovered, she has created a stunning new colouring adventure. 
 
This is an epic trip that will transport you from the depths of the Brazilian rainforest to the dizzying heights of the New Zealand mountains. Join Lizzie and faithful friend Paddy the Pug as they trek, fly, sail and swim through the wonders of the world, discovering hidden objects along the way.

The Magical Journey

A Colouring Book

BBC Radio 5 Live

In The League Doesn’t Lie, the 606 team have selected the most debatable topics from the world of football, from best manager to most memorable penalty, and worst haircut ever to the ultimate England team. Learn about the top ten football Tweeters. Jump on your 606 Soapbox about the best ever player. And hear about the show’s angriest calls of all time! 
 
With introductions from the 606 team for each topic, plus a foreword by Robbie Savage, The League Doesn’t Lie is the ultimate book of football trivia and opinion for Sunday League players and armchair referees alike.

The League Doesn't Lie

The 606 Book of Football Lists

82ASK

A fascinating and witty compilation of the most interesting and outrageous questions received and answered by 82ASK, the UK's premier text-answering service. 
 
Find the answers to questions you never could have dreamed of, like: 
• Why is it so rare to see white dog poo these days? 
• What is the largest animal you can knock out with one punch? and 
• Which town in England has the dirtiest birds? 
 
This hilarious collection is a miscellany of the obscure, bizarre and downright ridiculous in which you'll discover facts and figures that you never knew existed and surveys that no-one would believe had been 
conducted.

Do Sheep Shrink in the Rain?

500 Most Outrageous Questions Ever Asked and Their Answers

Huw Davies

In time-honoured fashion, Another Weird Year 4 brings you the stories that no lover of bizarre, inexplicable and downright hilarious news items can afford to miss, all handily grouped by theme (Love and Marriage, Law and Order, Animals etc). Read about: the blind man banned from saying 'phlegm'; the woman who bored a burglar to sleep with her family snaps; the woman who seduces men in her sleep; the man who thought he was a cat and got stuck up a tree; another man who got out of his car and took a shower... in a car wash... with his car left outside; the shepherd that had to drive his drunk sheep home; and not forgetting the pigs given a sauna and massage before being taken for slaughter - proof again from Another Weird Year that there is humanity in even the weirdest human behaviour. All the stories are true - you couldn't make them up!

Another Weird Year 4

Julian Stockwin

Lt Cdr Julian Stockwin shares his love and knowledge of the sea in this entertaining collection of maritime stories and little-known trivia. Featuring nautical facts and feats, including superstitions at sea, the history of animals on the waves - until 1975 when all animals were banned from Royal Navy ships - and how the inventor of the umbrella helped man the British Navy, it is packed with informative tales. Focusing on the glory days of tall ships he explores marine myths and unearths the truth behind commonly held beliefs about the sea, such as whether Lord Nelson's body was really pickled in rum to transport it back to England after his death at Trafalgar. Interspersed throughout are salty sayings showing the modern words and phrases that originate from the mariners of old - 'cut of his jib', 'high and dry', 'the coast is clear', 'first rate' and 'slush fund'. Accompanied by nostalgic black and white line drawings Stockwin's Maritime Miscellany is a charming giftbook guaranteed to appeal to the sailing enthusiast, but also amuse and inform even the staunchest landlubber.

Stockwin's Maritime Miscellany

A Ditty Bag of Wonders from the Golden Age of Sail

No Such Thing As A Fish

__________ 
‘My favourite geeks. Hilarious. Sideways. Brilliant.’ Tim Minchin 
 
In a year dominated by Russian collusion and Brexit confusion, The Book of the Year returns with another dose of barely believable yet wholly unimpeachable facts and stories from the past twelve months. 
 
Every week for the past four years, Dan, James, Anna and Andy – the creators of the award-winning, chart-topping comedy podcast No Such Thing As A Fish – have wowed each other and millions of their listeners with the most astonishing trivia they have learned over the previous seven days. Now, once again, they have put down the microphones, picked up their pencils, and transformed a year’s worth of weird and wonderful happenings into one uplifting book that you won’t be able to put down. 
 
Discover how Peruvian mummies affected the World Cup, and why Love Island contestants are experts in game theory – as well as hundreds of stories that may have passed you by entirely, including the news that: 
 
· NASA sent a man with a fear of heights to the International Space Station. 
· An ice hotel in Canada caught fire. 
· Mark Zuckerberg’s private data was compromised while he was talking to Congress about compromised data. 
 
From Kim Jong Un’s personal potty to Jeremy Corbyn’s valuable vegetables, The Book of the Year 2018 is an eye-opening tour of yet another incredible year you didn’t know you’d lived through.

The Book of the Year 2018

Your Definitive Guide to the World’s Weirdest News

Bamber Gascoigne

Who was the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated? The demolition of the old London Bridge put an end to what famous tradition? Which philosopher caught a fatal chill returning from a predawn lesson given to Queen Christina of Sweden? What was the real name of Buffalo Bill? Which mutiny, leading to a war of independence, was provoked by the use of animal fat? What was smuggled from Alexandria to Venice in, it is said, a barrel of pork? What did Pope Innocent III outlaw, as a weapon of mass destruction? Who, on the first day of 1660, had the remains of a turkey for breakfast and began a new project? 
 
Prepare to have your general knowledge tested by the best quizmaster in the business. Here are 2000 of the world's strangest and most stimulating questions, laid out in a series of thematic quizzes that cover art , literature, politics, sport, geography and history and span all the countries of the world. Bamber Gascoigne's fascination with knowledge is highly contagious and his answers give you the context you need to find out even more. 
 
And as to the answers to the questions above -- well, you'll have to read the book...

Bamber Gascoigne's Challenging Quiz Book

Richard Porter

Building your own hovervan or brewing your own beer? Get down to the garage. 
 
Looking to store several step ladders or conceal a secret collection of owls? The garage is the place. 
 
Maybe you just want to whistle, drum or shout 'Ow my thumb!' without being told to shut up. The garage is waiting. 
 
This book celebrates the garage and all that happens in it. Even the fires.

Top Gear: Planet Garage

Stuff to do in a world of your own

Three series of the satirical radio panel show chaired by Sandi Toksvig 
 
Ever since 1977, The News Quiz has been finding the hilarity in the headlines and providing witty commentary on stories big and small. In these 25 episodes from 2009, the inimitable Sandi Toksvig is in the hot seat, presiding over an all-star panel of journalists and comedians. 
 
Bringing their A-game to the show are regulars including Jeremy Hardy, Andy Hamilton, Mark Steel, Francis Wheen, Sue Perkins and Carrie Quinlan, as well as relative newcomers such as Chris Addison, Phill Jupitus, Rory Bremner, Robin Ince and David Mitchell. 
 
Each episode brings a fresh crop of news for the team to get their teeth into, and among the topics under discussion are Barack Obama's first 100 days, MP's expenses, Twitter's shakedown of super-injunctions, North Korea's nuclear ambitions, the Iraq inquiry and the perils of drunken trampolining. Rounding off the proceedings are newsreaders Harriet Cass, Peter Donaldson, Charlotte Green, Corrie Corfield, Neil Sleat, Carolyn Brown and Rory Morrison, with a selection of classic comic cuttings sent in by listeners. 
 
Production credits 
Chaired by Sandi Toksvig 
Chair's script written by Stephen Carlin, Lucy Clarke, Rhodri Crooks, Jon Hunter, Simon Littlefield, Suk Pannu, James Sherwood and Danielle Ward 
 
With additional material by Nathon Caton, Matt Charlton, Steve Day, Gary Delaney, Miriam Elia, Gareth Gwynn, Elliot Howe, James Kettle, Benjamin Partridge, Dale Phillips, Dominic Philpott, Rory Stamp, John-Luke Roberts and Holly Walsh 
 
Produced by Victoria Llloyd, Katie Tyrrell and Ed Morrish 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
Series 67 featuring: Chris Addison, Clive Anderson, Dave Gorman, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Laurence Howarth, Shappi Khorsandi, Phill Jupitus, Fred MacAulay, David Mitchell, Sue Perkins, Carrie Quinlan, Mark Steel, Danielle Ward, Francis Wheen 
 
Series 68 featuring: Rory Bremner, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Robin Ince, Phill Jupitus, Josie Long, Fred MacAulay, Sue Perkins, Steve Punt, Carrie Quinlan, Hugo Rifkind, Mark Steel, Danielle Ward, Francis Wheen, Andy Zaltzman 
 
Series 69 featuring: Rory Bremner, Simon Evans, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Robin Ince, Miles Jupp, Fred MacAulay, David Mitchell, Andy Parsons, Sue Perkins, Carrie Quinlan, Hugo Rifkind, Paul Sinha, Mark Steel, Holly Walsh, Danielle Ward, Francis Wheen 
 
News items read by Harriet Cass, Peter Donaldson, Charlotte Green, Corrie Corfield, Neil Sleat, Carolyn Brown and Rory Morrison 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 9 January-27 February 2009 (Series 67), 1 May-19 June 2009 (Series 68), 25 September-20 November 2009 (Series 69) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The News Quiz 2009

Series 67, 68 and 69 of the topical BBC Radio 4 comedy panel show

Matt Sewell

In this beautiful follow-up to 2012's hit, Our Garden Birds, street artist Matt Sewell offers more watercolours and quirky descriptions of British songbirds. 
 
In Matt's world, the peewit sings the blues, and the bittern fills his neck 'like a tweed pair of bellows'. Distinctive and enchanting, with a songbird for each week of the year, this delightful gift book will appeal to birders, children and adults, and art and design fans alike.

Our Songbirds

A songbird for every week of the year

Margaret Weis

Tracy Hickman

Denis Beauvais

Jeffrey Butler

Once merely creatures of legend, the dragons have returned.But with their arrival comes the departure of the old gods &ndash; and with them, all healing magic vanishes and war engulfs the land . . .Former Comrades and lifelong friends, Sturm the Solamnic knight, Tanis Half-Elf, Tasslehoff Burrfoot the irrepressible Kender, Flint the Dwarf, Caramon the warrior and his twin brother, Raistlin the red-robed mage reunite for an adventure.Trouble starts when they see a woman use a blue crystal staff to heal a villager. Wondering if it&rsquo;s a sign the gods haven&rsquo;t abandoned them after all, they investigate and quickly find themselves catapulted into trouble that will change their lives and the world forever.

Dragonlance Chronicles

Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, Dragons of Spring Dawning

Alice Vincent

The essential guide to the simple art of growing stuff. 
 
Feeling green-fingered but not sure where to start? This book is for you. Growing stuff - herbs, veg, salad, flowers and plants - is fun and pretty easy. You just need some practical knowledge - all in this book - and a bit of space - a window ledge, pot or plot of soil. 
 
 Then, have fun growing: basil, mint, parsley, rosemary, chillies, courgettes, rocket, tomatoes, geraniums, pansies, lavender, osteospurmum, daffodils, hyacinths, muscari, tulips, succulents, aloe vera, money plants, maidenhair ferns and oxalis. 
 
If you have no outside space at all, you can grow everything here inside too...

How to Grow Stuff

Easy, no-stress gardening for beginners

Ripley’s has spent 100 years compiling strange-but-true facts from around the world. Now, the most extraordinary stories from the last century are brought together in a single colourful volume. 
 
Featured Believe It Or Not stories include: 
 
· The chicken that lived for months without its head 
· The man who swallowed seven swords at once 
· The jockey who died while riding his horse – but won the race anyway 
 
With spectacular photos throughout, 100 Best Believe It Or Not Stories is a must-have for any Ripley’s fan. 
 
Incredibly hard to believe. Undeniably true!

Ripley’s 100 Best Believe It or Nots

Incredibly Hard to Believe. Undeniably True!

Test your wits with the ultimate game of cunning, logic and intuition 
 
'This book is brilliant' Zoe Ball, BBC Radio 2 
 
It's time to start your adventure. Get them before they get you 
 
Put your sleuthing skills to the test in a world of deception, betrayal, and strategy. Placed in a castle in the Scottish Highlands, you must figure out if your fellow players are Faithful or a Traitor. Can you trust Jorge, the dentist with an encyclopaedic memory and tendency to smile at everyone? Or Nina, the retiree who acts like the group's matriarch but has a knowing glint in her eyes..? Beware, for in this treacherous game, trust is a luxury you cannot afford. 
 
In the official book of the BAFTA-winning phenomenon, The Traitors: The Interactive Game Book, the decisions you make will decide what happens next. Take this thrilling journey on your own or with others, pooling your wisdom to make the right choices. With over 20 standalone games to play in a group - all with cunning Traitors twists - this is the perfect gift, guaranteed to unleash hours of mischief and fun. 
 
*Praise for The Traitors TV show* 
 
'Addictively fiendish, this treachery was the best thing on TV in 20 years' Daily Mail 
 
'By far and away the most compelling and engrossing reality show of 2022, if not all time' Rolling Stone 
 
'One of the hottest realities right now, The Traitors is an absolute phenomenon you can enjoy also in a book format. Now, this is not a normal book' Digital Spy

The Traitors

The Ultimate Game of Cunning, Logic and Intuition

Sue Perkins chairs these two scintillating series from 2025 
 
The BBC’s longest-running radio panel game is back for twelve more episodes, as host Sue Perkins challenges contestants to extemporise for 60 seconds on any subject that comes up on the cards – without hesitation, deviation or repetition. 
 
Topics include Snake Oil, Getting Butterflies, Negotiating with a Toddler, The Life of a Strawberry, Mr Darcy, When I Was Staying at The White Lotus, My Favourite Pizza Topping, Oasis Tickets and Paddington Bear. Tackling these tricky themes are a host of star guests including Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth, Julian Clary, Josie Lawrence, Desiree Burch, Emma Sidi, Paterson Joseph, Charlotte Ritchie, Daliso Chaponda and – returning to play the game after ten years away – Stephen Mangan. 
 
All are funny, fluent and fearless – but can they avoid trips, slips, stutters and hiccups to gain the glory of a perfect, uninterrupted minute? 
 
 
Production credits 
Devised by Ian Messiter 
Chaired by Sue Perkins 
Produced by Rajiv Karia and Georgia Keating 
Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls 
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox 
Executive Producer: James Robinson 
Additional material by Eve Delaney 
 
Series 94 featuring: Paul Merton, Laura Smyth, Julian Clary, Desiree Burch, Tony Hawks, Ian Smith, Zoe Lyons, Charlotte Ritchie, Josie Lawrence, Ivo Graham, Sara Pascoe, Daliso Chaponda 
 
Series 95 featuring: Paul Merton, Lucy Porter, Zoe Lyons, Stephen Mangan, Tony Hawks, Desiree Burch, Gyles Brandreth, Emma Sidi, Julian Clary, Paterson Joseph, Rachel Parris 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 20 January-24 February 2025 (Series 94), 18 August-22 September 2025 (Series 95) 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Just a Minute 2025: The Complete Series 94 & 95

The BBC Radio 4 Topical Comedy

Four further series of the award-winning satirical panel show 
 
For over 45 years, The News Quiz has been taking a scalpel to the headlines, dissecting them with its inimitable blend of satire, silliness and sharp-witted commentary. These 32 episodes, first broadcast between April 2018 and May 2019, find the team tackling stories big and small from that news-packed year. 
 
Miles Jupp is in the chair for three of the four series, while in Series 97 he shares presenting duties with guest hosts Simon Evans, Susan Calman, Fred MacAulay, Bridget Christie, Jo Brand and Lucy Porter. Jostling for a by-line are panellists including Rory Bremner, Phill Jupitus, Paul Sinha, Neil Delamere, Felicity Ward, Ayesha Hazarika, Phil Wang, Jayde Adams, Katie Perrior, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Geoff Norcott, Kemah Bob and Andy Zaltzman. 
 
Topics under the magnifying glass include the treatment of the Windrush Generation, the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, Greta Thunberg, Vladimir Putin, a Royal Wedding, a Royal baby and Theresa May's resignation. In addition, there's a special 'Best of 2018' show and a tribute to Jeremy Hardy, who died in 2019. 
 
Production credits 
Chaired by Miles Jupp, Simon Evans, Susan Calman, Fred MacAulay, Bridget Christie, Jo Brand and Lucy Porter 
Chair's script written by Ed Amsden, Madeleine Brettingham, Catherine Brinkworth, Liam Byrne, Sarah Campbell, Lucy Clarke, Tom Coles, Max Davis, Nick Doody, Clint Edwards, Dan Evans, Jessica Fostekew, Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch, Jon Hunter, James Kettle, Jenny Laville, Laura Major, Robin Morgan, Sarah Morgan, Benjamin Partridge, Mike Shephard, Ian Smith, Katie Storey and Danielle Ward 
With additional material by Simon Alcock, Gemma Arrowsmith, Dan Beckett, Adele Cliff, Lee Dilley, Charlie Dinkin, Will Duggan, Edward Easton, Alice Etches, Jules Garnett, Sara Gibbs, Alex Hardy, Cameron Loxdale, Tom Mayhew, Jane McCutcheon, Eleanor Morton, Dan Page, Heidi Regan, Vivienne Riddoch, Nathan Roberts, Phoebe Roy, Kat Sadler, Esyllt Sears, Michael Stranney and Edward Tew 
Produced by Joe Nunnery, Sam Michell, Richard Morris and Victoria Lloyd 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
Series 96 featuring: Angela Barnes, Fern Brady, Desiree Burch, Susan Calman, Michael Deacon, Neil Delamere, Simon Evans, Daniel Finkelstein, Kerry Godliman, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Helen Lewis, Zoe Lyons, Vicki Pepperdine, Lucy Porter, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Hugo Rifkind, Suzi Ruffell, Mark Steel, Holly Walsh, Felicity Ward, Francis Wheen, Andy Zaltzman 
 
Series 97 featuring: Jayde Adams, Angela Barnes, Katy Brand, Rory Bremner, Jen Brister, Susan Calman, Daliso Chaponda, Neil Delamere, Simon Evans, Deborah Frances-White, Andy Hamilton, Ayesha Hazarika, London Hughes, Rhys James, Phill Jupitus, Helen Lewis, Lloyd Langford, Andrew Maxwell, Katie Perrior, Lucy Porter, Hugo Rifkind, Mark Steel, Eleanor Tiernan, Sindhu Vee, Phil Wang, Danielle Ward, Felicity Ward, Francis Wheen 
 
Series 98 featuring: Jen Brister, Desiree Burch, Susan Calman, Neil Delamere, Simon Evans, Andy Hamilton, Ayesha Hazarika, Nish Kumar, Helen Lewis, Zoe Lyons, Andrew Maxwell, Katie Perrior, Lucy Porter, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Hugo Rifkind, Tim Shipman, Paul Sinha, Eleanor Tiernan, Phil Wang, Danielle Ward, Francis Wheen 
 
Series 99 featuring: Angela Barnes, Kemah Bob, Frankie Boyle, Jen Brister, Desiree Burch, Alun Cochrane, Neil Delamere, Simon Evans, Kerry Godliman, Andy Hamilton, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Ayesha Hazarika, Helen Lewis, Zoe Lyons, Fred MacAulay, Andrew Maxwell, Geoff Norcott, Rachel Parris, Katie Perrior, Lucy Porter, Hugo Rifkind, John Robins, Mark Steel, Ellie Taylor, Danielle Ward, Andy Zaltzman 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 13 April-1 June 2018 (Series 96), 31 August-19 October 2018 (Series 97), 28 December 2018-15 February 2019 (Series 98), 12 April-31 May 2019 (Series 99) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The News Quiz: 2018 – 2019

Series 96, 97, 98 and 99 of the topical BBC Radio 4 comedy panel show

A headline-crunching celebration of Radio 4’s hugely successful topical comedy quiz show 
 
The News Quiz made its debut on Radio 4 in 1977, and four decades later it’s still playfully making and breaking the headlines of our daily news. 
 
Among the vintage gems in this collection are 25 Years of the News Quiz, in which Alan Coren, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, John Sergeant, Linda Smith and Francis Wheen take a trip through a quarter of a century of headline news, with Radio 4 newsreaders providing cuttings (and giggles) from 1977 to 2002. Meanwhile The Archive Hour: Headlines, Deadlines and Punchlines, presented by Matthew Parris, features interviews with chairmen and panellists past and present including Barry Norman. 
 
Also included are Barry Took and Simon Hoggart’s own selections of funniest moments from the 1980s to the 2000s. The plethora of guest players featured includes Clive Anderson, Joan Bakewell, Jo Brand, Rory Bremner, Peter Cook, Edwina Currie, Nigel Dempster, Roy Hattersley, Tony Hawks, Jeremy Hardy, Ian Hislop, Richard Ingrams, Clive James, Boris Johnson, Charles Kennedy, Miles Kington, Maureen Lipman, Stuart Maconie, Steve Punt, Willie Rushton, John Sergeant, Linda Smith, Mark Steel, Janet Street-Porter, Sandi Toksvig, John Wells and many, many more. 
 
If you enjoy your news humorously grilled, with a side order of biting wit, this vintage collection is highly recommended. 
 
 
Some of the humour on this release reflects the era in which it was first broadcast.

The News Quiz: A Vintage Collection

Archive highlights from the popular Radio 4 comedy

Five sparkling series of the evergreen BBC Radio 4 panel show 
 
Just a Minute has been entertaining generations of listeners since its first series in 1967. This collection of five series from 2018-2019, commemorating the programme's 55th anniversary, contains the last ever episodes chaired by broadcasting legend Nicholas Parsons, as well as several shows in which Gyles Brandreth sits in for him as temporary host. 
 
Between them, they keep the scores and the peace, as players including newbies Sara Pascoe, Angela Barnes, Cariad Lloyd, Phil Wang, Ed Byrne and Kiri Pritchard-McLean join regulars such as Paul Merton, Pam Ayres, Josie Lawrence and Julian Clary to pit their wits against each other. One of them will achieve the rare feat of speaking for a full minute without hesitation, repetition or deviation - but who? 
 
Among the subjects stretching the panellists' linguistic elastic to breaking point are 'Fishnet Stockings', 'The Wild West', 'The Theory of Evolution', 'George V', 'Bad Apples' and 'Pasta'. So sit back and marvel at their wonderful way with words, as they show off their ingenuity, invention and improvisational skills in a bid to trounce the competition and secure the game. 
 
Cast and credits 
Devised by Ian Messiter 
Produced by Matt Stronge and Richard Morris 
Chairman: Nicholas Parsons 
Temporary chairman: Gyles Brandreth (Episodes 4 and 5, Series 81 and Episodes 3 and 4, Series 85) 
 
Series 81 featuring: Paul Merton, Sheila Hancock, Fern Britton, Graham Norton, Marcus Brigstocke, Rebecca Front, Gyles Brandreth, Josie Lawrence, Sara Pascoe, Tony Hawks 
 
Series 82 featuring: Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Hawks, Zoe Lyons, Pam Ayres, Josie Lawrence, Julian Clary, Janey Godley, Fred MacAulay, Mark Watson, Jo Caulfield, Sheila Hancock, Jan Ravens, Rufus Hound 
 
Series 83 featuring: Tony Hawks, Josie Lawrence, Gyles Brandreth, Angela Barnes, Paul Merton, Sheila Hancock, Josh Widdicombe, Julian Clary, Lee Mack, Zoe Lyons, Jenny Eclair, Fern Britton 
 
Series 84 featuring: Gyles Brandreth, Kerry Godliman, Jenny Eclair, Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Lucy Porter, Tony Hawks, Cariad Lloyd, Zoe Lyons 
 
Series 85 featuring: Graham Norton, Zoe Lyons, Jenny Eclair, Paul Merton, Tony Hawks, Phil Wang, Sheila Hancock, Fred MacAulay, Lucy Porter, Ed Byrne, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Mark Watson, Stephen Fry, Jan Ravens, Pam Ayres 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 14 May - 18 June 2018 (Series 81), 6 August - 24 September 2018 (Series 82), 4 February - 25 March 2019 (Series 83), 13 May - 17 June 2019 (Series 84), 5 August - 23 September 2019 (Series 85) 
 
© BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Just a Minute: Series 81 – 85

The BBC Radio 4 comedy panel game

Sandi Toksvig is at the helm for two final series of the satirical radio panel game 
 
After nine years, 28 series and over 220 episodes in the hot seat, Sandi Toksvig stepped down from The News Quiz at the end of Series 87. These two superlative series are her last hurrah - and our last chance to enjoy her unique blend of wit, warmth and intelligence, as she leads the panel in a whimsical review of the headlines. 
 
Jeremy Hardy and Susan Calman both take a turn in the chair, but for 12 of these 14 episodes, Sandi is at the helm as they take a wry look at the news in all its larger-than-life glory. Topics on the agenda include the threat of a 'Grexit', the re-internment of Richard III, MPs' salaries the dangers of skinny jeans, head transplants, French food waste and middle-class bees... 
 
Slogging it out to come up with the funniest jokes on these disparate subjects are players including Craig Ainsley, Elis James, Samira Ahmed, Fred MacAulay, Romesh Ranganathan, Susan Calman, BJ Novak, Sara Pascoe, Phill Jupitus and Helen Zaltzman. Reading out the amusing misprints, typos and innuendos sent in by listeners are Corrie Corfield, Kathy Clugston, Susan Rae, Neil Sleat, Zeb Soanes and Diana Speed. 
 
Production credits 
Chaired by Sandi Toksvig 
Series 86, Episode 5 chaired by Jeremy Hardy 
Series 86, Episode 7 chaired by Susan Calman 
 
Chair's script written by Jack Bernhardt, James Bugg, Lucy Clarke, Max Davis, Jon Hunter, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, James Kettle, Simon Littlefield, Tom Neenan, John-Luke Roberts and Andy Wolton 
 
With additional material by Ed Amsden, Liam Byrne, Sarah Campbell, Tom Coles, Ben Harris, Daniel Hooper, Jenny Laville, Robin Morgan, Keiron Nicholson and Matilda Wnek 
 
Produced by Richard Morris and Lyndsay Fenner 
 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
Series 86 featuring: Craig Ainsley, Samira Ahmed, Susan Calman, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Elis James, Phill Jupitus, Sam Leith, Camilla Long, Fred MacAulay, Andrew Maxwell, Bob Mills, BJ Novak, Sara Pascoe, Romesh Ranganathan, Hugo Rifkind, Mark Steel, Holly Walsh 
 
Series 87 featuring: Samira Ahmed, Susan Calman, Rebecca Front, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Elis James, Miles Jupp, Phill Jupitus, Fred MacAulay, Bob Mills, Justin Moorhouse, Lucy Porter, Hugo Rifkind, Mark Steel, Holly Walsh, Francis Wheen, Helen Zaltzman 
 
News items read by Corrie Corfield, Kathy Clugston, Susan Rae, Neil Sleat, Zeb Soanes and Diana Speed 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 20 February-3 April 2015 (Series 86), 15 May-26 June 2015 (Series 85) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The News Quiz 2015: Sandi Toksvig's Final Shows

Series 86 and 87 of the topical BBC Radio 4 comedy panel show

Random House presents The Audiobook of the Year 2018, written and read by the team behind hit podcast No Such Thing as a Fish; James Harkin, Jane Hill, Dan Schreiber, Andrew Hunter Murray and Anna Ptaszynski. 
 
Think you know what happened in 2018? Think again. 
 
Following hot on the heels of the success of The Audiobook of the Year (or, more precisely, twelve months later), The Audiobook of the Year 2018 bravely delves behind the headlines to sniff out the best and most bizarre facts of the past 12 months. 
 
Compiled and written by the creators of the award-winning hit comedy podcast No Such Thing As A Fish, all of whom are researchers for QI, it will establish - among other things - that: 
 
· Britain’s first robot shop assistant was sacked after a week 
· Donald Trump claimed the US sells F52 planes to Norway, even though F52 planes only exist in the game Call of Duty 
· During the Winter Olympics, it was so windy during the Women's Slopestyle Final that every single competitor was blown off her snowboard. 
· A snail racing competition in Plymouth was postponed because the snails were too 'sluggish' to take part. 
 
Ranging from the distinctly offbeat to the wonderfully ludicrous - from the South Africans who were rationed to just one toilet flush per day, to the Nutella riots spreading across France, via the Miami bitcoin conference that stopped accepting bitcoin - The Audiobook of the Year promises a fact for every occasion and will prove the perfect Christmas gift for all trivia buffs.

The Audiobook of The Year (2018)

A brand-new collection of previously unpublished episodes taken from the programme's first four decades. 
 
As highly prized as a Ming vase or a Regency sideboard, this fine collection of 14 vintage episodes of BBC Radio 4&rsquo;s long-running panel show - chaired by Barry Took, Simon Hoggart, Bill Tidy and Sandi Toksvig - is at last available for all to hear. Those in the know will discern a clear patina of sensible, silly and salacious news items from Britain, America and all around the world.Joining regular panellists Alan Coren, Richard Ingrams, Jeremy Hardy and Andy Hamilton to examine the silverware are guest players including Clive Anderson, Mark Steel, Jo Brand, Ian Hislop, Phill Jupitus, and John Sergeant. Included among the programmes is a duo of two-part News Quiz of the Year editions from 1981/82 and 1983. 
 First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 26/12/1981, 02/01/1982, 24/12/1983, 25/12/1983, 05/10/1985, 22/09/1990, 22/03/1997, 04/10/1997, 05/01/2001, 01/03/2002, 29/02/2008, 09/01/2009, 04/02/2011, 06/04/2012.Cast and creditsWritten by Stephen Carlin, Carl Carter, Dave Cohen, Lucy Clarke, Rhodri Crooks, Nev Fountain, Gareth Gwynn, Jon Hunter, John Langdon, Simon Littlefield, Paul McKenzie, Gráinne Maguire, Benjamin Partridge, Suk Pannu, Iain Pattinson, George Poles, John-Luke Roberts, Hugh Ryecroft, Jane Sherwood, David SpicerChaired by Barry Took, Simon Hoggart, Bill Tidy &amp; Sandi ToksvigWith Clive Anderson, Joan Bakewell, Alistair Beaton, Jo Brand, Susan Calman, Alan Coren, Kevin Day, Justin Edwards, Andy Hamilton, Phil Hammond, Jeremy Hardy, Ian Hislop, Peter Hobday, Simon Hoggart, Laurence Howarth, Richard Ingrams, Phill Jupitus, Miles Kington, Andrew Lawrence, Ann Leslie, Stan McMurtrie, Edward Pearce, Gay Search, John Sergeant, Linda Smith, Mark Steel, David Taylor, Laurie Taylor, Sandi Toksvig, John Wells, Francis Wheen, Michael White.Newsreaders: Harriet Cass, Corrie Corfield, Peter Donaldson, Charlotte Green, John Marsh, Brian Perkins, Simon VanceProduced by Lucy Armitage, Sam Bryant, Aled Evans, Danny Greenstone, Victoria Lloyd, Diane Messias, Ed Morrish, Alan Nixon, and Jon RolphEpisode selection by Michael Stevens&copy;2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The News Quiz: A Heritage Collection

Highlights from the Topical Radio 4 Panel Show

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