About 	 Lucy Rycroft: Lucy is the founder of The Hope-Filled Family, a ministry encouraging Christian parents, carers and all those investing in the younger generation. She is the author of several books for adults and children, including Busy Family Devotional and the Mighty Girl, Mighty God series. She is mum to four children ages 11 to 16, who arrived by birth and adoption, and is married to Al, a church leader in York, England.

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A A Gill

About A D Swanston: Andrew Swanston read law at Cambridge, but was inspired to write by his lifelong interest in early modern history. His Thomas Hill novels – The King’s Spy, The King’s Exile and The King’s Return – are set against the backdrops of the English Civil War, Cromwell’s Commonwealth and the early Restoration respectively. He is also the author of Waterloo: The Bravest Man and Beautiful Star and Other Stories. His first historical thriller set during the reign of Elizabeth I – Incendium (published in paperback as The Incendium Plot) – introduced readers to the academic, lawyer and intelligencer Dr Christopher Radcliff, whose adventures continue in Chaos. Andrew Swanston lives in Surrey.

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A E Langsford

A G Hopkins

About A J Baime: A. J. BAIME is the New York Times best-selling author of The Arsenal of Democracy: FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War and Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans. Both books are in development for major motion pictures. Baime is a longtime regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Popular Science, and Men’s Journal. He lives in Granite Bay, California. Visit him at facebook.com/ajbaime and trumanbook.com.

A J Baime

A J Jacobs

A J P Taylor

About A J Pollard: Anthony James Pollard is a British medieval historian, specialising in the fifteenth century and in particular the Wars of the Roses. A leading authority in the field, he is profesor emeritus of Teesside University. His books include North-Eastern England during the Wars of the Roses, Richard III and the Princes in theTower, Imagining Robin Hood: the Late Medieval Stories in Historical Context and Warwick the kingmaker: Politics, Power and Fame.

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A J Rochester

About A K Benjamin: A K Benjamin is a clinical neuropsychologist and the author of Let Me Not Be Mad: A Story of Unravelling Minds.

A K Benjamin

About A L Berridge: A. L. Berridge read English at Oxford, and taught for ten years before moving into television, where her production credits range from period drama and thrillers to long-running soaps. She has written two previous novels, Top Ten besteller Honour and the Sword and In the Name of the King. Into the Valley of Death is her third novel.

A L Berridge

About A L Gaylin: Alison Gaylin's first job was as a reporter for a celebrity tabloid, which sparked a lifelong interest in writing about people committing despicable acts. More than a decade later, she wrote and published her Edgar-nominated first novel, HIDE YOUR EYES. 
 
She's since published nine more books, including the USA Today and international bestselling Brenna Spector suspense series, which has been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony and Thriller awards and won the Shamus award. 
 
She lives in upstate New York with her husband, daughter, cat and dog.

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A P Wavell

About A S Webb: A.S. Webb is the Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter of Chaos, the first instalment of The Dark Pantheon Trilogy. She is inspired by stories rooted in history and mythology, that push the boundaries of imagination and urge us to reflect on what it means to be human.

A S Webb

About A. A. Dhand / A. A. Dhand: A. A. Dhand is the author of six previous novels, and has been shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger Award. His DI Harry Virdee novels are currently being adapted for TV by the BBC. He was raised in Bradford and spent his youth observing the city from behind the counter of a small convenience store. After qualifying as a pharmacist, he worked in London and travelled extensively before returning to Bradford to start his own business and begin writing. The history, diversity and darkness of the city have inspired all his novels. For more information about A. A. Dhand and his books, follow him on X @aadhand, and on Instagram @aa_dhand.

A. A. Dhand

A. A. Gill

A. A. Milne

A. Anatoli

About A. B. Poranek / A. B. Poranek: A. B. Poranek grew up sharing her time between Ontario, Canada and rural Poland, and eventually completed a veterinary degree at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. A lover of mythology and history, she enjoys exploring both in her writing. Her debut novel, Where the Dark Stands Still, an instant New York Times bestseller, is an ode to Poland's folktales, while A Treachery of Swans transports readers to a world inspired by 17th century France.

A. B. Poranek

A. Bradley

About A. C. Grayling / A. C. Grayling: Professor A. C. Grayling is Principal of the New College of the Humanities at Northeastern University, London, and a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford. He has written and edited over thirty books on philosophy, history, science and current affairs. For several years he wrote columns for the Guardian newspaper and The Times and was the chairman of the 2014 Man Booker Prize.

A. C. Grayling

About A. D. Miller / A. D. Miller: A.D. Miller is the author of Snowdrops, The Earl of Petticoat Lane and The Faithful Couple. Snowdrops was a bestseller and was shortlisted for many prizes including the Man Booker and the CWA Gold Dagger. It was translated into 25 languages. As Moscow Correspondent of The Economist A.D. Miller has travelled across the former Soviet Union and covered the Orange Revolution in Ukraine; he is now the magazine’s Culture Editor based in London. 
 
admillerbooks.com

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James Fritz

*Winner: Best Original Series at the 2026 BBC Audio Drama Awards* 
*Winner: Connor Finch: The Marc Beeby Award for Best Debut Performance at the 2026 BBC Audio Drama Awards* 
 
What is life really like behind prison walls? 
 
In six interlinked full-cast plays, acclaimed playwright James Fritz take us into that world, exploring the experiences of both prisoners and jailors. From prisoner scandals to the pressures on officers and the high-stakes decisions faced by the parole board, Life and Time shines a light on the hidden workings of England’s flawed penal system.Series 1, The Prisoners: Two inmates are on ‘Imprisonment for Public Protection’ sentences – open-ended, indeterminate sentences that leave them trapped inside with no fixed release date. First-time offender Martin is tormented by the feeling that time is spinning out of control, falling through his fingers day by day. Will there ever be an end to this Kafkaesque nightmare? Meanwhile, elderly John falls seriously ill while his cellmate is on work duty. Alone and incapacitated, he can’t even call for help – will anyone come and save him?Series 2, The Officers: Veteran Prison Officer, Michael, is becoming increasingly disillusioned by the prison crisis. Assigned to show new recruit Rihanna Campbell the ropes, he fears that for all her polished boots and shining ideals, she hasn’t a clue what lies ahead… Soon, Rihanna finds herself under pressure as she struggles to cope with her role as key worker to a particularly challenging prisoner. Can a young, poorly trained officer perform miracles, or will she be broken by the system?Series 3, Parole: Martin becomes eligible for release. As the day of his hearing arrives, he must convince the two members of the parole board that he deserves his freedom. But his record outside implies he might be dangerous, while his record inside implies he is potentially unstable. It’s up to the parole board to decide his fate – and it’s not going to be easy...Featuring hyper-realistic sound design, naturalistic dialogue and compelling characters, this powerful, gritty drama won Bronze at the 2025 ARIAS (Audio and Radio Industry Awards). It stars Kenneth Cranham as John, Connor Finch as Martin, Robert Glenister as Michael and Rebekah Murrell as Rihanna.Production creditsWritten by James FritzProduced and directed by Tracey NealeSound Design/Technical Producer: Keith GrahamProduction Coordinators: Ben Hollands and Mike Etherden© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Life and Time

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Prison Drama

BBC Radio Comedy

24 more archive editions of the much-loved BBC Radio 4 panel game chaired by Nicholas Parsons 
 
As if to prove the point that good humour never dates, this collection of archive Just a Minute includes episodes broadcast across four decades, from 1973 to 2009. As usual, players must attempt to speak for one minute on a given subject without hesitation, repetition or deviation and while at the mercy of both the stopwatch and their fellow contestants’ buzzers. Mirth, merriment and silliness are bound to follow, in a fashion that has made ‘JAM’ a beloved institution not only in this country but also around the world. Nicholas Parsons welcomes listeners to each episode and gives his firm but fair adjudication to the many tricky challenges that ensue. 
 
Regular players Kenneth Williams, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo and Paul Merton pit their wits against each other and guests Sheila Hancock, Jean Marsh, Magnus Pyke, Joan Bakewell, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Took, Jan Ravens, Brian Johnston, Gyles Brandreth, Martin Jarvis, Simon Bates, Craig Ferguson, Stephen Fry, Pete McCarthy, Steve Frost, Jenny Eclair, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Maria McErlane, Julian Clary, Linda Smith, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Tim Rice, Sue Perkins, Wendy Richard, Bill Bailey, Chris Neill, Charles Collingwood, Janey Godley, Shappi Khorsandi and Liza Tarbuck. 
 
Please note: Contains mild innuendo. The humour in these programmes sometimes reflects the era in which they were first broadcast. Due to the archive nature of some of the episodes, the sound quality may vary. 
 
Cast and credits 
 
Devised by Ian Messiter 
Chaired by Nicholas Parsons 
Episode selection by Michael Stevens 
Music: The Minute Waltz (Waltz in D Flat Major, Op. 64) by Chopin 
With thanks to Keith Wickham and the Radio Circle for archive assistance. 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
 
Episode Guide 
1 01 October 1973 
Featuring Sheila Hancock, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams 
 
2 26 November 1973 
Featuring Peter Jones, Jean Marsh, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams 
 
3 19 January 1977 
Featuring Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Magnus Pyke, Kenneth Williams 
 
4 27 March 1979 
Featuring Joan Bakewell, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams 
 
5 9 May 1981 
Featuring Tim Brooke-Taylor, Peter Jones, Barry Took, Kenneth Williams 
 
6 25 April 1983 
Featuring Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Jan Ravens, Kenneth Williams 
 
7 16 May 1983 
Featuring Brian Johnston, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams 
 
8 30 June 1984 
Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Martin Jarvis, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams 
 
9 1 February 1986 
Featuring Simon Bates, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams 
 
10 8 March 1993 
Featuring Craig Ferguson, Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo 
 
11 8 January 1994 
Featuring Stephen Fry, Peter Jones, Pete McCarthy, Paul Merton 
 
12 4 February 1995 
Featuring Steve Frost, Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo 
 
13 25 February 1995 
Featuring Jenny Eclair, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Peter Jones, Paul Merton 
 
14 22 June 1998 
Featuring Steve Frost, Peter Jones, Maria McErlane, Paul Merton 
 
15 15 January 2001 
Featuring Julian Clary, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Paul Merton, Linda Smith 
 
16 4 February 2002 
Featuring Jenny Eclair, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Tim Rice 
 
17 29 July 2002 
Featuring Tony Hawks, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Sue Perkins, Wendy Richard 
 
18 17 February 2003 
Featuring Bill Bailey, Tony Hawks, Chris Neill, Linda Smith 
 
19 21 March 2005 
Featuring Tony Hawks, Chris Neill, Tim Rice, Linda Smith 
 
20 24 July 2006 
Featuring Charles Collingwood, Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins 
 
21 3 March 2008 
Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Janey Godley, Tony Hawks, Kit Hesketh-Harvey 
 
22 12 January 2009 
Featuring Charles Collingwood, Shappi Khorsandi, Paul Merton, Graham Norton 
 
23 9 February 2009 
Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Liza Tarbuck 
 
24 10 August 2009 
Featuring Charles Collingwood, Jenny Eclair, Stephen Fry, Paul Merton 
 
 
© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Just a Classic Minute

A Timeless Anthology

BBC Comedy

All 30 soundtrack episodes of the BBC TV version of Just a Minute 
 
Just a Minute is a radio perennial. Loved by listeners for almost 60 years, it’s the BBC’s longest-running and most popular panel game, having clocked up over 1000 episodes on Radio 4. And now, you can enjoy 30 more, with these sparkling soundtrack episodes from the BBC TV run of the show. 
 
First broadcast on BBC One in 1999 and BBC Two in 2012, they are chaired by the one and only Nicholas Parsons, who presides over a host of celebrity wordsmiths including Paul Merton, Pam Ayres, Clare Balding, Jo Brand, Gyles Brandreth, Barry Cryer, John Sergeant, Brian Sewell, Hugh Bonneville, Marcus Brigstocke, Julian Clary, Stephen Fry, Phill Jupitus, Miles Jupp, Shappi Khorsandi, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins and Liza Tarbuck. 
 
Though the format may be different, the aim of the game is still the same: to speak on a given theme for 60 seconds, without hesitation, repetition or deviation. Among the topics testing the panellists’ verbal dexterity are Ever Decreasing Circles, Mumbo Jumbo, Garden Gnomes, Yorkshire Pudding, Charlie Chaplin, A New Rule for Just a Minute, My 45th Birthday and Writer’s Block. 
 
So ready your ears for a feast of comic improvisations, magical monologues, cheeky challenges and outrageous one-upmanship, as the panellists set their sights on that rarest of beasts: a perfect, uninterrupted minute... 
 
NB: Contains mild innuendo. The humour in these programmes sometimes reflects the era in which they were first broadcast. 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Devised by Ian Messiter 
Chaired by Nicholas Parsons 
BBC One series produced and directed by Helena Taylor 
BBC Two series produced by Andy Brereton and Jamie Ormerod and directed by Richard van't Riet 
 
Episode list: 
 
BBC One 
19 Apr 1999: Barry Cryer, Su Pollard, John Sergeant and Brian Sewell 
20 Apr 1999: Tony Hawks, Wendy Richard, Steve Frost and Clare Baldin 
21 Apr 1999: Isla Blair, Gyles Brandreth, Linda Smith and Gary Wilmot 
22 Apr 1999: Pam Ayres, Peter Jones, Wendy Richard and Linda Smith 
23 Apr 1999: Jo Brand, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Hawks and Peter Jones 
26 Apr 1999: Barry Cryer, Stephen Frost, Tony Hawks and Wendy Richard 
27 Apr 1999: Michael Cashman, Peter Jones, Maria McErlane and Linda Smith 
28 Apr 1999: Liza Goddard, Richard Morton, Tom O’Connor and Richard Vranch 
29 Apr 1999: Clare Balding, Stephen Frost, Tony Hawks and Wendy Richard 
30 Apr 1999: Barry Cryer, Su Pollard, John Sergeant and Brian Sewell 
3 May 1999: Isla Blair, Gyles Brandreth, Linda Smith and Gary Wilmot 
4 May 1999: Maria McErlane, Steve Punt, Wendy Richard and Linda Smith 
5 May 1999: Gyles Brandreth, Ken Bruce, Liza Goddard and Richard Morton 
6 May 1999: Pam Ayres, Peter Jones, Wendy Richard and Linda Smith 
10 May 1999: Tony Hawks, Wendy Richard, Barry Cryer and Stephen Frost 
11 May 1999: Michael Cashman, Peter Jones, Maria McErlane and Linda Smith 
12 May 1999: Jo Brand, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Hawks and Peter Jones 
13 May 1999: Maria McErlane, Steve Punt, Wendy Richard and Linda Smith 
14 May 1999: Gyles Brandreth, Ken Bruce, Liza Goddard and Richard Morton 
26 May 1999: Liza Goddard, Richard Vranch, Richard Morton and Tom O'Connor 
 
BBC Two 
26 Mar 2012: Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins and Phill Jupitus 
27 Mar 2012: Paul Merton, Julian Clary, Stephen Fry and Russell Tovey 
28 Mar 2012: Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Marcus Brigstocke and Ruth Jones 
29 Mar 2012: Paul Merton, Liza Tarbuck, Gyles Brandreth and Miles Jupp 
30 Mar 2012: Paul Merton, Josie Lawrence, John Sergeant and Jason Manford 
2 Apr 2012: Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins and Tony Hawks 
3 Apr 2012: Paul Merton, Shappi Khorsandi, Hugh Bonneville and Jason Manford 
4 Apr 2012: Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Marcus Brigstocke and Stephen Mangan 
5 Apr 2012: Paul Merton, Liza Tarbuck, Gyles Brandreth and Tony Hawks 
6 Apr 2012: Paul Merton, Julian Clary, Stephen Fry and Shappi Khorsandi 
 
© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Just a Minute: The Complete BBC TV Collection

Every Soundtrack Episode from the Hit BBC Comedy Show

Niccoli Machiavelli

The renowned masterpiece from one of the most influential writers in history, Machiavelli 
 
"It's very, very good...an engaging exploration of one of the most influential political works ever written." - Entertainment Focus 
 
The Prince, written during the Italian Renaissance by author Niccolò Machiavelli, is an internationally renowned masterpiece about power, greed and strategy in government. Regarded by some as a manual for would-be tyrants on how they should seize and maintain power and by others as a simple reflection of political reality, listen now to this full-cast dramatisation and make up your own mind. In addition to this stunning, modern dramatisation of the classic novel, this download includes The Mandrake, Machiavelli’s comedy packed with intrigue, infidelity and fools and the documentary Machiavelli – Devil or Democrat from Jonathan Freedland, which re-assesses Machiavelli and explores whether his maligned reputation has overshadowed his other achievements…The Prince is the classic 16th-century treatise on the nature of power and statecraft. In this modern rendition, the author Machiavelli (Ciaran Hinds), often identified as Satan, uses his brilliance and cunning to explain how power can be created and sustained. This brilliant adaptation is performed for the first time as a monologue with dramatised illustrations from a full-cast, including Philip Voss, Stephen Critchlow and Christopher Godwin.The Mandrake is Machiavelli’s best-known comedy, taking place in a square in Florence in 1504.Callimaco, desires to sleep with Lucrezia, the young and beautiful wife of an elderly fool, Nicia. Nicia above all else desires a son and heir. Conspiring with a rascally marriage broker, and a corrupt priest, Callimaco masquerades as a doctor and tricks Nicia into letting his wife become his lover using the power of the mandrake plant. 
This double edition download comes with the added exclusive content, Machiavelli – Devil or Democrat. A fascinating documentary that explores the life and work of one of the most maligned authors in history. The impact of this writer has been felt across the centuries from the execution of King Charles I to the ‘Founding Fathers’ of the United States and journalist and writer Jonathan Freedland re-assesses the legacy of this incredible thinker and writer. This is a download not to missed, perfect for any fans of classical literature with a twist, packed with compelling intrigue, wit and fascinating revelations.Cast and creditsWritten by Niccolò MachiavelliThe PrinceNiccolo - Ciaran HindsThe Prince - Christopher GodwinLouis - Philip VossSeverus - Stephen CritchlowOliverotti - Scott HandyGiovanni - John RoweOther parts played by Chris Kelham, Tom George and Gavin MuirDramatised by Peter WolfDirected by Cherry CooksonFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21st January 2000The MandrakeCallimaco - John RyeSiro - Anthony JacksonMesser Nicia - Douglas WilmerLigurio - David MarchSostrata - Beity HardyFra Timoteo - Willoughby GoddardA young widow - Hilda SchroderLucrezia - Hilary HardimanSingers Robert Tear, Douglas Wilmer, Willoughby Goddard, John Rye and David MarchTranslated from the Italian by J. R. HaleProduced by Charles LefeauxSongs by Elizabeth PostonFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 3, 27th October 1967Machiavelli – Devil or Democrat Presented by Jonathan FreedlandProduced by Rob ShepherdFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18th November 2013©2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Prince and The Mandrake

Two Full Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

Clive Myrie

Clive Myrie presents a powerful four-part series documenting the events leading up to, surrounding and following the assassination of Martin Luther King - told by the people who were there. In 1968, Dr King was in Memphis to support a strike by the local sanitation workers, campaigning under the slogan "I Am A Man”. For the first time, those workers and their families tell their own stories, laying bare in often shocking detail the realities of the Civil Rights struggle in the Southern states of the US.In this compelling documentary series, we hear first-hand of the daily humiliations of the Jim Crow South, of the hope that Dr King brought and of the fallout from his death. Presenter Clive Myrie takes us on a journey to better understand the mistakes, the triumphs and what that era means for Memphis today.This immersive listen features testimony from a teacher arrested on a daily basis for attempting to break the colour bar in Memphis restaurants. We hear from a man who at six was the first black child in Memphis to attend a white school. A sanitation worker describes how he was beaten daily by police and too scared to go to hospital to have his wounds healed. Why did he strike? Because ‘they wouldn't treat me like a man’.This oral history features the music that was the soundtrack to the struggle, from Booker T., Chuck Berry, Quincy Jones, Dinah Washington, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin and Jimi Hendrix.Written and presented by Clive MyrieFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 2, 28th March - 18th April 2018©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

I Have a Dream

Memphis and Martin Luther King

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

All three series of the award-winning topical panel show from 2025 
 
Andy Zaltzman returns for a triple helping of comic quizzing, as he serves up a satirical smorgasbord of choice news morsels for his esteemed panellists to feast on. Making short work of them are some of the biggest names in British and international comedy and journalism, including Sara Barron, Ria Lina, Nish Kumar, Pierre Novellie, Armando Iannucci, Zing Tsjeng, Ava Santina, Mark Steel, Adam Kay, Geoff Norcott, Susie McCabe and Ian Smith. 
 
Kicking off with a ‘Best of 2024’ compilation episode, revisiting and revelling in the previous year’s funniest moments, the team proceed to tuck into 2025’s most pertinent topics, among them the presidential inauguration, the election of the world’s first American Pope, Donald Trump’s tariff turmoil, the Birmingham bin workers’ strike, Budget talks, the Boriswave and the stripping of both Royal titles and Royal crown jewels. 
 
They also take time to savour some of the year’s smaller stories – including the overdue return of the woolly mammoth, the death of the semi-colon, pop stars popping to the stars, Yorkshire gladiators, telepathic Google searches and chimps drunk on fruit. And as soaring cocoa prices impact Britain’s sweet treats, the panel chew over the big question of the moment: are things better or worse than they used to be? 
 
Production credits 
Written and hosted by Andy Zaltzman 
With additional material by Simon Alcock, Rebecca Bain, Chris Ballard, Daman Bamrah, Samira Banks, Carwyn Blayney, Catherine Brinkworth, Angela Channell, Ruby Clyde, Cody Dahler, Eve Delaney, Tasha Dhanraj, David Duncan, Jain Edwards, Milo Edwards, Alice Fraser, Jade Gebbie, Marty Gleeson, Alexandra Haddow, Miranda Holmes, Ruth Husko, Alex Kealy, Ralph Jones, Sam Lake, Sascha LO, Cameron Loxdale, Laura Major, Christian Manley, Stuart McPherson, Meryl O'Rourke, Alfife Packham, Ben Pope, Christina Riggs, Mike Shephard, Peter Tellouche and John Tothill 
 
Produced by Sam Holmes, Rajiv Karia and Gwyn Rhys Davies 
Executive Producers: James Robinson, Pete Strauss and Richard Morris 
Production Co-ordinators: Jodie Charman, Beanna Olding, Caroline Barlow and Giulia Lopes Mazzu 
Sound: Sean Kerwin, David Thomas, Mark Willcox 
 
Series 116 featuring: Anushka Asthana, Angela Barnes, Sara Barron, Scott Bennett, Simon Evans, Daniel Finkelstein, Alice Fraser, Ayesha Hazarika, Athena Kugblenu, Nish Kumar, Jay Lafferty, Laura Lexx, Ria Lina, Zoe Lyons, Alex Massie, Andrew Maxwell, Susie McCabe, Val McDermid, Stuart Mitchell, Glenn Moore, Geoff Norcott, Pierre Novellie, Lucy Porter, Hugo Rifkind, Paul Sinha, Ian Smith and Zing Tsjeng 
 
Series 117 featuring: Anushka Asthana, Sara Barron, Alasdair Beckett-King, Ed Byrne, Daliso Chaponda, Jessica Fostekew, Armando Iannucci, Alex Kealy, Athena Kugblenu, Marie Le Conte, Ria Lina, Zoe Lyons, Andrew Maxwell, Glenn Moore, Geoff Norcott, Pierre Novellie, Lucy Porter, Hugo Rifkind, Ava Santina, Ian Smith, Mark Steel, Zing Tsjeng, Felicity Ward and Cindy Yu 
 
Series 118 featuring: Celya AB, Sara Barron, Alasdair Beckett-King, Scott Bennett, Stephen Bush, Daliso Chaponda, Kate Cheka, Neil Delamere, Simon Evans, Ayesha Hazarika, Adam Kay, Coco Khan, Laura Lexx, Ria Lina, Zoe Lyons, Andrew Maxwell, Susie McCabe, Geoff Norcott, Pierre Novellie, Lucy Porter, Hugo Rifkind, Ava Santina, Ash Sarkar, Ahir Shah, Ian Smith, Tiff Stevenson and Cindy Yu 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 3 Jan 2025, 10 Jan-28 February 2025 (Series 116), 18 Apr-6 Jun 2025 (Series 117), 5 Sep-24 Oct 2025 (Series 118) 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The News Quiz 2025: The Complete Series 116, 117 and 118

The Topical BBC Radio 4 Panel Show

Greg Haddrick

Jeremy Fox

From Vietnam to JFK - spies, lies and the story of the CIA told by its longest-serving agent 
 
The utterly gripping, award-winning drama Central Intelligence is back, revealing further inside stories of the CIA and featuring an all-star cast. Told from the perspective of Eloise Page (Kim Cattrall), who joined on the Agency’s first day in 1947 and, in her 40-year career, became one of its most powerful women. Eloise takes the listener on a journey through the highs and lows of US foreign policy, spanning the staggering world events that shaped not only her career, but also her personal relationships with CIA leaders Allen Dulles (Ed Harris) and Richard Helms (Johnny Flynn). 
 
In series two, the Cold War intensifies with US involvement in South Vietnam. It’s 1954. Colonel Ed Lansdale, former advertising executive and the CIA’s maverick agent in South-East Asia, is given the task of creating dissension in the North to stop the advance of the communists. The death of Stalin brings confusion and elsewhere, Nasser seizes the Suez Canal in Egypt and global powers scramble. The British want control back. The Soviets move in. And the CIA races to keep Egypt from slipping behind the Iron Curtain. 
 
In the shadow games of empire, Eloise Page watches the balance of power shift. The space race begins and high-altitude spy planes are deployed with great success. As CIA policy architect John Foster Dulles becomes gravely ill, Eisenhower’s presidency comes to an end, revolution erupts in Cuba and in the Congo chaos reigns. The charismatic democrat John F Kennedy takes the presidential reins, but tragedy awaits… 
 
Kim Cattrall is a multi-award-winning actress, perhaps best known for her role as Samantha Jones in Sex in the City. In a career spanning over four decades she has appeared in films, on TV and on stage in both the West End and Broadway. Ed Harris is an Academy Award-nominated actor known for his roles in The Truman Show, Pollock and The Hours. He recently starred in the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick. Johnny Flynn is best known for his role in TV comedy drama Lovesick, and played David Bowie in the biopic Stardust. He recently performed on stage at the National Theatre as Richard Burton in The Motive and the Cue directed by Sam Mendes, and is also the composer and singer of the theme music for the TV series The Detectorists. 
 
Written by Greg Haddrick 
Directed by John Scott Dryden 
Produced by Emma Hearn 
Original music by Sacha Puttnam 
A Goldhawk Production for BBC Radio 4 
 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20th June - 22nd August 2025 
 
©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Central Intelligence: Series 2

The Inside Story of the CIA

Alfie Moore

A third collection of stand-up comedy series from ex-police officer Alfie Moore 
 
Ever wondered what sort of a copper you might make? 
 
In these three series, policeman turned stand-up Alfie Moore gives his audience of deputies the chance to find out, as he swears them in and presents them with some real-life scenarios to see how they’ll deal with the dilemmas he faced. Sharing hilarious anecdotes from his time on the front line and giving a helpful breakdown of the ins and outs of British law, he invites them to explain what decisions they would have made – and why... 
 
With 18 years’ experience as a bobby on the beat, Alfie’s seen it all, and the stories from his casebook range from a delicate situation involving a worried daughter, an elderly father and his much younger girlfriend to a caravan conundrum, a neighbour dispute that turns dangerous and a potential case of coercive control. He also tackles the thorny issue of knife crime, takes us through the 10-week journey of training a new recruit – and tells a heartwarming tale of our favourite canine copper, Zeus the Police Dog. 
 
Also included is a Christmas Special, in which Alfie introduces us to a cavalcade of festive characters, including a gas station Grinch, an inebriated Mary and Joseph, and a Christmas Eve saviour. 
 
 
Series 7: 
<ol><li>Workplace Theft</li><li>Custody Officer</li><li>Vulnerable Adult</li><li>Student Officer</li><li>Caravan Conundrum</li><li>Speeding</li></ol>Christmas Special 
 
Series 8: 
<ol><li>Bounty Hunter</li><li>Anger Management</li><li>Top Dog</li><li>Knife Crime</li><li>The Make Off</li><li>Domestic Violence</li></ol>Series 9: 
<ol><li>Bus Stop Assault</li><li>Freedom of Expression</li><li>Suspicious Death</li><li>Citizen’s Arrest</li><li>The Steelworks</li><li>Misrepresentation</li></ol> 
Production credits 
Written and presented by Alfie Moore 
Produced by Sam Holmes 
Script Editor: Will Ing 
Production Co-ordinators: Katie Baum, Becky Carewe-Jeffries & Caroline Barlow 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

It’s a Fair Cop: Series 7-9

The BBC Radio 4 Stand-Up Comedy

Chris Bowlby

Journalist Chris Bowlby reveals why some of postwar Britain’s most controversial policies, fashions and fads became the orthodoxies of their time‘History presented the way it should be – as entertainment’ The TimesEverybody makes mistakes – and some of humanity’s biggest ones have been made with the best of intentions. Hoping for a brighter future (and believing they knew best), 20th century scientists, doctors and politicians turned to quick-fix solutions, miracle cures and panaceas: only to find they came with hidden costs.Over seven series, between 1998 and 2005, journalist Chris Bowlby took a deep dive into post-war history to examine the roots of many of these misguided decisions and contentious policy blunders – from factory farming and football fencing to the mass demolition of housing, scrapping the trams and selling arms abroad. Rediscovered in the BBC archive, this fascinating series has much to say to us today.Find out how asbestos, heavily marketed as a brilliant building material, turned out to be a killer; how electro-convulsive therapy – initially regarded as lifesaving – became one of the most stigmatised medical treatments in mental health care; and how the great British Railways modernisation plan of the 1950s ran into the buffers, with dire consequences for present-day rail travellers. Plus, Chris’s investigations take in trade unions, mortgages, eugenics and penicillin – as well as some more surprising bad ideas such as white sliced bread, early retirement and sitting down...Using a distinctive mix of interviews and research to uncover the roots of problems of the day, Why Did We Do That? is full of unexpected twists and turns, and revels in the black humour with which our greatest blunders are laced. Production creditsPresented by Chris BowlbyProduced by Chris Bowlby, Smita Patel and Jo GlanvilleEditor: Nicola MeyrickFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:The Motorised City 19 Feb 1998Bring on the Bulldozers 8 Jul 1999We Believe in Bunkers 15 Jul 1999Tartan Steel 22 Jul 1999To Cap It All 29 Jul 1999Factory Farming 11 May 2000Football Fencing 18 May 2000Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) 25 May 2000Asbestos 8 Jun 2000Scrapping the Trams 26 Apr 2001Trashing the Future 3 May 2001The Closed Shop 10 May 2001Mortgage Mania 17 May 2001Railway Frustration 16 May 2002Cheap Concrete 30 May 2002Arming the World 6 Jun 2002Bad Bread 2 Jun 2003Deadly Streets 9 Jun 2003Eugenics 16 Jun 2003Early Retirement 23 Jun 2003The Bugs’ Revenge 14 Feb 2005Glued to Our Seats 21 Feb 2005The Supercity and Its Shadow 28 Feb 2005The Ideas Strangler 7 Mar 2005© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Why Did We Do That?

A BBC Radio History Series

24 more archive editions of the much-loved BBC Radio 4 panel game chaired by Nicholas Parsons 
 
This new collection of previously unpublished editions, first broadcast between 1979 and 2009, comes brimming with Just a Minute’s unique blend of wit, wordplay and one-upmanship beloved by listeners all around the world. Hilarity is guaranteed whenever the intrepid players attempt to speak without hesitation, repetition or deviation from the given subject, all whilst under the scrutiny of their fellow players and the stopwatch. Nicholas Parsons is once more in the chair to introduce proceedings and adjudicate on challenges. 
 
Long-time players Kenneth Williams, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo and Paul Merton compete alongside guests including Joan Bakewell, Wendy Richard, Richard Stilgoe, Tim Rice, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Neil Mullarkey, Greg Proops, Blythe Duff, Maria McErlane, Stephen Frost, Stephen Fry, Jenny Eclair, Sue Perkins, Ross Noble, Fred MacAulay, Nick Revell, Gyles Brandreth, Charles Collingwood, Liza Tarbuck, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Chris Neill, Alun Cochrane, Chris Addison, Julian Clary, Ian McMillan, Shappi Khorsandi, the sadly missed Janey Godley and Richard Herring. 
 
 
Please note: Contains mild innuendo. The humour in these programmes sometimes reflects the era in which they were first broadcast. Due to the archive nature of some of the episodes, sound quality may vary. 
 
 
Cast and credits 
 
Devised by Ian Messiter 
Chaired by Nicholas Parsons 
Episode selection by Michael Stevens 
Music: The Minute Waltz (Waltz in D Flat Major, Op. 64) by Chopin 
 
All episodes first broadcast on BBC Radio 4: 
 
Episode Guide 
1 6 February 1979 
Feat. Joan Bakewell, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams 
2 12 January 1991 
Feat. Peter Jones, Tim Rice, Wendy Richard, Richard Stilgoe 
3 2 March 1996 
Feat. Tony Hawks, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Graham Norton 
4 15 February 1997 
Feat. Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Neil Mullarkey, Derek Nimmo 
5 31 January 1998 
Feat. Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo, Graham Norton, Greg Proops 
6 6 July 1998 
Feat. Blythe Duff, Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo 
7 13 July 1998 
Feat. Stephen Frost,Peter Jones, Maria McErlane, Paul Merton 
8 17 January 2000 
Feat. Peter Jones, Stephen Fry, Maria McErlane, Paul Merton 
9 26 February 2001 
Feat. Jenny Eclair, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Tim Rice 
10 16 July 2001 
Feat. Tony Hawks, Ross Noble, Sue Perkins, Tim Rice 
11 2 February 2004 
Feat. Gyles Brandreth, Fred MacAulay, Maria McErlane, Nick Revell 
12 9 February 2004 
Feat. Charles Collingwood, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Paul Merton, Liza Tarbuck 
13 2 January 2006 
Feat. Gyles Brandreth, Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins 
14 6 February 2006 
Feat. Gyles Brandreth, Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins 
15 6 March 2006 
Feat. Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Paul Merton, Chris Neill, Liza Tarbuck 
16 22 January 2007 
Feat. Alun Cochrane, Paul Merton, Chris Neill, Tim Rice 
17 29 January 2007 
Feat. Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Neil Mullarkey, Sue Perkins 
18 5 March 2007 
Feat. Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Neil Mullarkey, Sue Perkins 
19 13 August 2007 
Feat. Alun Cochrane, Paul Merton, Chris Neill, Tim Rice 
20 1 September 2008 
Feat. Chris Addison, Julian Clary, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins 
21 22 September 2008 
Feat. Tony Hawks, Shappi Khorsandi, Ian McMillan, Paul Merton 
22 17 August 2009 
Feat. Gyles Brandreth, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Shappi Khorsandi, Paul Merton 
23 31 August 2009 
Feat. Janey Godley, Richard Herring, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins 
24 7 September 2009 
Feat. Charles Collingwood, Jenny Eclair, Stephen Fry, Paul Merton 
 
 
©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A Heritage Collection

A brand-new collection of previously unpublished episodes taken from the programme’s first four decades 
 
Shimmering like jewels on a velvet backcloth of world events, this collection presents 14 vintage episodes from BBC Radio 4’s long-running panel show, chaired by Barry Took and Simon HoggartJoining regular panelists Alan Coren, Richard Ingrams, Jeremy Hardy and Francis Wheen to sparkle humorously are guest players including Kate Adie, Peter Cook, Andy Hamilton, Tony Hawks, Ian Hislop, Armando Iannucci, Julia Langdon, Ann Leslie, Fred MacAulay, Stan McMurtrie, Eve Pollard, Oliver Pritchett, Steve Punt, Libby Purves, Gillian Reynolds, Gay Search, John Sergeant, Linda Smith, Mark Steel, Mark Steyn and Michael White. The original Radio 4 broadcast dates are 01/01/1981, 07/05/1983, 24/03/1984, 30/11/1989, 21/03/1992, 10/04/1993, 21/03/1998, 17/04/1998, 28/05/1999, 17/03/2000, 06/10/2000, 11/05/2001, 13/12/2002, 25/11/2005Cast and credits:Chaired by Barry Took & Simon HoggartFeaturing: Kate Adie, Peter Cook, Alan Coren, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Tony Hawks, Ian Hislop, Armando Iannucci, Richard Ingrams, Julia Langdon, Ann Leslie, Fred MacAulay, Stan McMurtrie, Eve Pollard, Oliver Pritchett, Steve Punt, Libby Purves, Gillian Reynolds, Gay Search, John Sergeant, Linda Smith, Mark Steel, Mark Steyn, Francis Wheen, Michael WhiteNewsreaders: Corrie Corfield, Peter Donaldson, Eugene Fraser, Charlotte Green, John Marsh, Brian PerkinsProduced by Lucy Armitage, Jenny Campbell, Louise Coates, Danny Greenstone, Armando Iannucci, Simon Nicholls, Alan Nixon, Jon Rolph, Colin Swash, Katie TyrrellWritten by Debbie Barham, Paul Carenza, Dave Cohen, Rhodri Crooks, Tom Jamieson, John Langdon, Simon Littlefield, Paul McKenzie, Iain Pattinson, George Poles, Felix Riley, Hugh Ryecroft, Robert Fraser SteeleEpisode selection by Michael Stevens©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The News Quiz: Gems from the Archive

Highlights from the Topical Radio 4 Panel Show

Matthew Syed

Matthew Syed examines our collective addiction to entertainment, asking if we’ve been oppressed by mindless content and how we might break freeForty years ago, Neil Postman’s landmark book Amusing Ourselves to Death compared two dystopian visions – those of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley – and concluded that the latter had proved most prescient. Rather than oppression by Big Brother, humanity was in danger of being overcome by our ‘appetite for distractions’: technologies that tap into our basest instincts, taking away our ability to think and destroying our critical faculties.Postman’s bestseller keyed into society’s fears in the age of cable TV – so how much worse have things got in the age of streaming, Twitter, TikTok and the Metaverse? In this series, broadcaster and award-winning author Matthew Syed explores how we’re now overwhelmed by content and information, and wonders if it is making us less educated and more stupid.Finding the earliest examples of a fear of distraction in ancient texts, historic treatises and archive sound, Matthew compares today’s predicament with solutions from the past, questioning whether our current era really does represent the culmination of Postman and Huxley’s prophecy. If ‘the medium is the message’, is the smartphone the most lethal medium we’ve had? He analyses how consumers, content creators and tech giants contribute to our information overload, and considers why it is in their interest to keep the tap turned on to full. Syed also looks at why our brains reach for escapist content and what’s happening to our bodies when we do so – and asks if it’s possible for us to consume less, but better.Blending provocative analysis with philosophy, storytelling and rigorous journalism, this fascinating series swaps doom-mongering for thoughtful solutions, contemplating the benefits and drawbacks of our technological enhancements and pointing towards a wiser future. 
 
Produced by Sam Peach 
 
©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Appetite for Distraction

A BBC Radio 4 Series

Two sparkling series of the BBC’s long-running comedy panel game from 2024The fast-talking, quick-thinking Radio 4 parlour game returns with twelve more episodes, in which host Sue Perkins is joined by a wealth of talented and illustrious panellists including Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth, Lucy Porter, Tony Hawks, Eshaan Akbar, Eleanor Tiernan, Stephen Fry, Katherine Parkinson and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.In time-honoured tradition, each player endeavours to speak for 60 seconds without repetition, deviation or hesitation on a given subject. Among the topics in these two series are Skimming Stones, Apostrophes and Catastrophes, Doppelgängers, Doomsday Bunkers, The Perfect Outfit, Small-Town Secrets, Making Friends On The Internet and Letting The Cat Out Of The Bag.Will they fall at the first hurdle, or fend off all comers to win the points? As the ‘Minute Waltz’ fades away, it’s time to find out...Production creditsDevised by Ian MessiterChaired by Sue PerkinsProduced by Rajiv KariaProduction Co-ordinator: Sarah NichollsSound Editor: Marc WillcoxSound Manager: Jerry PealSeries 92 featuring: Paul Merton, Daliso Chapondo, Kerry Godliman, Zoe Lyons, Lucy Porter, Angela Barnes, Eshaan Akbar, Eleanor Tiernan, Heidi Regan, Tony HawksSeries 93 featuring: Stephen Fry, Jan Ravens, Tony Hawks, Katherine Parkinson, Lucy Porter, Gyles Brandreth, Desiree Burch, Glenn Moore, Julian Clary, Jenny Eclair, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Josie LawrenceFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 8 Jan-12 Feb 2024 (Series 92), 16 Sep-21 Oct 2024 (Series 93)© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Just a Minute 2024: The Complete Series 92 & 93

The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Panel Game

All 25 episodes of the award-winning satirical news show from 2024 
 
One of BBC Radio 4’s flagship topical comedies, The News Quiz has been satirising the living daylights out of current events for 47 years. These three series see host Andy Zaltzman skewering the news and passing it to the panellists to be grilled and served up with comic seasoning. 
 
Opening with a ‘Best of 2023’ compilation episode, looking back on some of the best (and worst) bits of the previous 365 days, the show goes on to tackle the big topics at home and abroad in 2024. The subjects explored include broken geopolitical New Year’s resolutions, BBC bias, the battle for the White House, Labour’s ‘Brat Summer’, King Charles’ wild adventures in the South Pacific, the coming of Earth’s new moon (‘All hail Moon 2!) plus a post-General Election special; and two shows in which Lucy Portman and Ian Smith step in as guest hosts in Andy Zaltzman’s absence. 
 
Diving headlong into the headlines are comedians and commentators from across the political spectrum, among them Marie Le Conte, Alasdair Beckett-King, Shaparak Khorsandi, Hugo Rifkind, Athena Kugblenu, Stuart Mitchell, Robin Morgan, Cindy Yu, Andrew Maxwell, Tadiwa Mahlunge and Aditi Mittal. 
 
 
Production credits 
Written and hosted by Andy Zaltzman, Lucy Porter (115:7) and Ian Smith (115:8) 
With additional material by Dee Allum, Rebecca Bain, Teresa Burns, Sarah Campbell, Angela Channell, Ben Clover, Stu Cooper, Cody Dahler, Laura Davis, Sarah Dempster, Tasha Dhanraj, Toussaint Douglass, Krystal Evans, James Farmer, Alice Fraser, Alex Garrick-Wright, Jade Gebbie, Mark Granger, Adam Greene, Callum Jones, Alex Kealy, Cameron Loxdale, Sam Lyden, Lizzy Mansfield, Stephen Mawhinney, Viv May, Tom Mayhew, Molly McGuinness, John Meagher, Meryl O’Rourke, Alfie Packham, Owen Pullar, Christina Riggs, Katie Sayer, Mike Shephard, Alison Spittle, Claire Sullivan, Dan Sweryt, Peter Tellouche and Sharon Wanjohi 
 
Produced by Sam Holmes, Georgia Keating, Gwyn Rhys Davies and Rajiv Karia 
Executive Producers: James Robinson, Richard Morris and Pete Strauss 
Production Co-ordinators: Dan Marchini, Sarah Nicholls and Jodie Charman 
Sound Editors: Mark Willcox, Chris Maclean, Rich Evans, Jerry Peal and Giles Aspen 
Recorded by Sean Kerwin, Marc Willcox and Neva Missirian 
 
Series 113 featuring: Anushka Asthana, Alasdair Beckett-King, Neil Delamere, Diona Doherty, Andrew Doyle, Simon Evans, Danny Finkelstein, Ayesha Hazarika, Alex Kane, Marie Le Conte, Ria Lina, Zoe Lyons, Shaparak Khorsandi, Tadiwa Mahlunge, Andrew Maxwell, Susie McCabe, Stuart Mitchell, Robin Morgan, Geoff Norcott, Rachel Parris, Lucy Porter, Hugo Rifkind, Ian Smith, Mark Steel, Ashley Storrie, Cindy Yu 
 
Series 114 featuring: Anushka Asthana, Katy Balls, Angela Barnes, Alasdair Beckett-King, Scott Bennett, Daliso Chaponda, Simon Evans, Shaparak Khorsandi, Athena Kugblenu, Marie Le Conte, Ria Lina, Zoe Lyons, Susie McCabe, Stuart Mitchell, Geoff Norcott, Lucy Porter, Hugo Rifkind, Ian Smith, Laura Smyth, Cindy Yu 
 
Series 115 featuring: Anushka Asthana, Alasdair Beckett-King, Scott Bennett, Daliso Chaponda, Neil Delamere, Simon Evans, Alice Fraser, Amy Hoggart, Coco Khan, Athena Kugblenu, Marie Le Conte, Ria Lina, Zoe Lyons, Andrew Maxwell, Susie McCabe, Aditi Mittal, Glenn Moore, Robin Morgan, Geoff Norcott, Lucy Porter, Hugo Rifkind, Ash Sarkar, Ahir Shah, Ian Smith, Mark Steel, Cindy Yu 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 5 Jan-8 Mar 2024 (Series 113), 7 Jun-19 Jul 2024 (Series 114), 6 Sep-25 Oct 2024 (Series 115) 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The News Quiz 2024: The Complete Series 113, 114 and 115

Chris Addison

Award-winning comedian Chris Addison explores the funny side of human evolution and Western civilisation in two BBC Radio 4 spoof lecture series 
 
Chris Addison – the thinking idiot's pretend anthropologist – takes us on a comic journey through the vast and rich subject of human history in these eight hilarious comedy lectures. Aided by Professor Austin Herring (aka Geoffrey McGivern), Dan Tetsell and Jo Enright, who put their considerable talents to use in sketches illustrating the lectures, he examines how Homo sapiens became Top Species, charts the rise and fall of the Western world and looks at what’s next for the future of mankind. 
 
In the Sony Gold Award-winning show The Ape that Got Lucky, he muses on the topics of Language and Communication, Social Development, Science and Progress and Man or Monkey. He asks why it’s fortunate the original human language developed in Africa rather than England; tells the real story of why our brains are so big; considers how many things, including penicillin and the light bulb, have been discovered by accident and reflects that a lot of the characteristics we imagine to be uniquely human are really just animal ones. 
 
The follow-up series Civilization sees Chris explaining why Western civilisation is on its last legs, and pondering how we can build ourselves a new one. Over four themed episodes – Controlling the Universe, Cities and Laws, A Working Society and A Sense of Identity – he investigates the ways we’ve tried to influence our physical environment; the flaws in our urban democratic system; the rocky road we’ve travelled over the past 5,500 years and how ‘culture’ gives civilisation a sense of identity. And most importantly, he reveals why he chose to spell ‘civilisation’ with a Z… 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Starring Chris Addison, with Geoffrey McGivern, Jo Enright and Dan Tetsell 
Written by Chris Addison and Carl Cooper 
Produced by Simon Nicholls 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 4-25 August 2005 (The Ape That Got Lucky), 5-26 April 2006 (Civilization) 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Chris Addison: A BBC Radio Comedy Collection

The Ape That Got Lucky & Civilization

Stephen K Amos

Jonathan Harvey

Stand-up meets sitcom in Stephen K Amos&rsquo;s semi-autobiographical show about growing up black, gay and funny in 1980s London 
 
&lsquo;One of the most likable figures in British comedy Radio Times 
 
Comedian Stephen K Amos is one of eight children, whose parents came to London from Nigeria in the 60s. In these three series, co-written with multi-award-winning British playwright Jonathan Harvey, he takes us back in time to the 1980s, as he reminisces about his dysfunctional childhood and formative experiences, and shares the dramas and traumas of his teenage years. 
 
We join his younger self as he wrestles with his identlty; falls in love; overcomes his stage fright and takes the lead role in the school play, Balham Side Story. And as he takes his first steps into working life, he gets caught up in the Brixton riots, worries about his parents splitting up, and finally plucks up the courage to reveal a secret&hellip; 
 
Shaquille Ali-Yebuah stars as Young Stephen, and each show is hosted by Stephen K Amos himself, adding stand-up narration and his own comic perspective. Among the cast are Ellen Thomas and Don Gilet as Stephen&rsquo;s mum and dad, Fatou Sohna as Stephanie Amos, Gemma Whelan as Miss Collins, Michelle Butterly as Miss Bliss and Frankie Wilson as Jayson Jackson. 
 
And the answer to the show&rsquo;s title? You&rsquo;ll have to listen and find out... 
 
Production credits 
 
Stephen K Amos &ndash; Himself 
Young Stephen &ndash; Shaquille Ali-Yebuah 
Stephanie Amos &ndash; Fatou Sohna 
Virginia Amos &ndash; Ellen Thomas 
Vincent Amos/Tanktop &ndash; Don Gilet 
Miss Collins &ndash; Gemma Whelan 
Jayson Jackson/John the Baptist &ndash; Frankie Wilson 
PE Teacher/Red Coat/Philip/Check-in guy/Random Bloke &ndash; Harry Jardine 
Fanni &ndash; Emerald O'Hanrahan 
Fola &ndash; Kathryn Drysdale 
Bo Bells/Taxi driver/Stephanie Turner &ndash; Rachel Atkins 
Samaritan/Policeman/Taxi driver &ndash; David Seddon 
Miss Bliss &ndash; Michelle Butterly 
Mary Magdalene/Bette Davis/Sophie &ndash; Nadia Kamil 
Boy Roy &ndash; Ryan Watson 
Miss Hunt/Moira Stuart/Fergie &ndash; Margaret Cabourn-Smith 
Princess &ndash; Jocelyn Jee Esien 
Dustin &ndash; Laurie Kynaston 
With Frances Barber, Bola Okun, Emerald Crankson, Karen Bartke and David Sterne 
 
Written by Jonathan Harvey with Stephen K Amos 
Produced by Colin Anderson and Paul Sheehan 
Violin played by Rachel Barnes 
Cover photography by Pal Hansen 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 November 2013-1 January 2014 (Series 1), 31 December 2014-4 February 2015 (Series 2), 25 January-15 February 2017 (Series 3) 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

What Does the K Stand For?

A BBC Radio 4 Sitcom About Growing up Black, Gay and Funny in 1980s London

Dan Gaster

Will Ing

Ben Silburm

All eight episodes of the sketch-based comedy show, written by and starring Dan Gaster, Will Ing and Ben Silburn 
 
Tasty, piquant and distinctly different, The Curried Goat Show is a comedic happening brought to you by the warped minds of writer/performers Dan Gaster (The Thick of It) Will Ing (Insert Name Here) and Ben Silburn (Week Ending). 
 
Join them as they explore astrology, irrational fears, shopping &ndash; and jam; find out the results of the &lsquo;I Love Fatima Whitbread&rsquo; competition; and discover everything you never knew about flying. Let the Great Mystico foretell your future; debate evolution with Professors Dawkins, Hawkins and Gawkins; listen in as Rachel Smith&rsquo;s ordinary day takes a surreal turn and marvel at the blindingly obvious phenomena in World of the Known. You&rsquo;ll also meet those bastions of the British Empire the Blah Men; two antagonistic American sportscasters who find pronunciation a little tricky and a group of adrenaline junkies in search of the ultimate headrush &ndash; as well as an inept hostage negotiator; a confused prosecutor; and the world&rsquo;s worst undercover agent, Harry Carter of MI5. 
 
There&rsquo;s also a plethora of themed evenings, such as Pig Night (featuring lying quiz show Porky Pies and pig racing from Chepstow); Vegetable Night (including the latest in veg-based technology and sitcom The Merry Chives of Windsor) and Tree Night (complete with brand new soap opera Stringy Bark Glade). Plus, the team pay homage to various cinematic classics with their unique dramatic productions, among them The Concrete Jungle Book, Oliver With a Twist, Joseph and His Tremendous Psychedelic Poncho and Tuesday the 17th, Part Five. 
 
With special guests including Gary Olsen, Nerys Hughes, Susie Blake, James Fleet, Paula Wilcox, Rodney Bewes, Polly James and Imelda Staunton, and eclectic tunes from The Big Buzzard Boogie Band, this sketch bonanza is sure to whet your appetite. 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Written by and starring Dan Gaster, Will Ing and Ben Silburn 
With special guests Gary Olsen, Nerys Hughes, Susie Blake, James Fleet, Paula Wilcox, Rodney Bewes, Polly James and Imelda Staunton 
Music by The Big Buzzard Boogie Band 
Theme tune by Nick King and Laurence Frewer 
Sound effects created by Karl Phillips 
Broadcast assistant: Linda Cobley 
Produced by Maria Esposito 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 8 January-26 February 1998 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. ? 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Curried Goat Show

A BBC Radio Sketch Comedy

Justin Edwards

James Eldred

The BBC Radio 2 comedy inspired by every shopping channel you&rsquo;ve ever seen, and every product you never wanted 
 
Buy Me Up TV is a live, 24-hour cable channel, described by its CEO, Jacky Tanner, as &lsquo;the crop of the top of the television shops&rsquo;. Its perky presenters Angela and Bob are experts at flogging you everything you could possibly want for your home, wardrobe and lifestyle &ndash; and if the price isn&rsquo;t right, the Bargain Bee will sting it right down. From ceramic hammers and a home Satanist test, to Robert Mugabe beach towels and a guitar bra (with matching banjo briefs), it&rsquo;s all on special offer for a limited time only &ndash; buy now, while stocks last&hellip; 
 
In these five episodes, we go behind the scenes at the chaotically-run TV station and eavesdrop on the farcical goings-on, as the on-screen kitsch merchants and back-office crew become ever more unhinged by the demands of high-pressure selling. There&rsquo;s trouble in store when Jacky decides the channel needs younger, sexier talent; an animal charity telethon sparks allegations of fraud; a jam-addicted Tanner ruffles some presenter feathers; and a team-building day out is scuppered by a self-help guru with plans for world domination. And when a computer virus sends out kinky adult emails to all the station&rsquo;s customers, Tanner makes a surprising discovery that could set the channel on a whole new path&hellip; 
 
Written by Justin Edwards and James Eldred, this lively, satirical sitcom stars Justin Edwards, Alex Macqueen, Ewen MacIntosh, Mike McShane, Katherine Jakeways and Greg Proops, with an array of stellar special guests including Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Madoc, Rich Hall, Brian Blessed, Aled Jones and Sir Terry Wogan. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Justin Edwards and James Eldred 
Produced by Lucy Armitage 
 
Cast 
Bob Norton &ndash; Justin Edwards 
Giles &ndash; Alex Macqueen 
Ewen &ndash; Ewen MacIntosh 
Tanner &ndash; Mike McShane 
Angela Basset &ndash; Katherine Jakeways 
Jacky Tanner &ndash; Greg Proops 
With Doon Mackichan, Rosie Wilkinson and Colin Hoult, and special guests Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Madoc, Rich Hall, Brian Blessed, Aled Jones and Sir Terry Wogan 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 19 May 2007 (Pilot), 8-29 March 2008 (Series 1) 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. ? 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Buy Me Up TV

A BBC Radio Comedy

24 archive editions of the much-loved BBC Radio 4 panel game chaired by Nicholas ParsonsLike a treasured piece of furniture, Just a Minute has graced the living rooms and kitchens of radio listeners for more than 50 years. Comfortable, relaxing and easy to sink into, it has long been the seat of sparkling comedy, infectious laughter and intelligent humour. We invite you once again to enjoy the fine patina of another top-drawer collection of classic episodes.In these 24 previously unpublished editions, first broadcast between 1978 and 2009, the redoubtable players attempt to speak without hesitation, repetition or deviation from the given subject. Nicholas Parsons is in the chair, to introduce proceedings and adjudicate on challenges.Seasoned players Kenneth Williams, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo and Paul Merton compete alongside guests including Bernard Cribbins, Sheila Hancock, Barry Cryer, Alfred Marks, Stanley Unwin, Richard Murdoch, Wendy Richard, Richard Morton, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Fred MacAulay, Greg Proops, Blythe Duff, Tim Rice, Jenny Eclair, Julian Clary, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Linda Smith, Sue Perkins, Ross Noble, Charles Collingwood, Maureen Lipman, Pam Ayres, Dara O’Briain, Gyles Brandreth, Shappi Khorsandi and Ian McMillan.NB: Contains mild innuendo. The humour in these programmes sometimes reflects the era in which they were first broadcast. Due to the archive nature of some of the episodes, the sound quality may vary.Cast and creditsDevised by Ian MessiterChaired by Nicholas ParsonsEpisode selection by Michael StevensMusic: The Minute Waltz (Waltz in D Flat Major, Op. 64) by Chopin 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:Episode Guide1 21 February 1978Featuring Bernard Cribbins, Sheila Hancock, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams2 25 December 1979Featuring Peter Jones, Lance Percival, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams3 11 August 1984Featuring Barry Cryer, Peter Jones, Tim Rice, Kenneth Williams4 16 May 1987Featuring Peter Jones, Derek NImmo, Tim Rice, Kenneth Williams5 30 May 1987Featuring Peter Jones, Alfred Marks, Tim Rice, Kenneth Williams6 2 May 1989Featuring Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Tim Rice, Stanley Unwin7 30 May 1989Featuring Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Richard Murdoch, Derek Nimmo8 24 March 1990Featuring Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Richard Murdoch, Wendy Richard9 30 January 1993Featuring Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Richard Morton, Derek Nimmo10 3 February 1996Featuring Tony Hawks, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Graham Norton11 17 February 1996Featuring Tony Hawks, Peter Jones, Fred MacAulay, Derek Nimmo12 11 January 1997Featuring Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Neil Mullarkey, Derek Nimmo13 3 January 1998Featuring Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo, Graham Norton, Greg Proops14 10 August 1998Featuring Blythe Duff, Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo15 1 February 1999Featuring Jenny Eclair, Steve Frost, Peter Jones, Tim Rice16 5 February 2001Featuring Julian Clary, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Paul Merton, Linda Smith17 6 August 2001Featuring Tony Hawks, Ross Noble, Sue Perkins, Tim Rice18 14 August 2006Featuring Charles Collingwood, Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins19 16 July 2007Featuring Pam Ayres, Maureen Lipman, Paul Merton, Dara O’Briain20 17 September 2007Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Julian Clary, Jenny Eclair, Paul Merton21 14 January 2008Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Janey Godley, Tony Hawks, Kit Hesketh-Harvey22 11 August 2008Featuring Tony Hawks, Shappi Khorsandi, Ian McMillan, Paul Merton23 29 December 2008Featuring Charles Collingwood, Shappi Khorsandi, Paul Merton, Graham Norton24 21 September 2009Featuring Pam Ayres, Tony Hawks, Sue Perkins, Tim Rice

Gems from the Archive

Tony Benn

A collection of Tony Benn&rsquo;s private audio diaries, documentaries and archive interviews 
 
Tony Benn was the patriarch of the Labour left, a radical statesman, orator and anti-war campaigner who spent over 50 years as an MP, serving in the Cabinet under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. A prolific diarist, his political memoirs have been compared to Pepys in their detail, scope and accuracy. Three volumes are included here, read by Benn himself, together with four fascinating programmes focussing on the man behind the diaries. 
 
Part I: Tony Benn&rsquo;s Diaries 
 
The Benn Tapes 1 &ndash; For over 25 years, Tony Benn sat late into the night dictating his personal account of the daily happenings at the heart of government. In this unique series, he shares his remarkable recordings from history&rsquo;s front line, recalling events such as Harold Wilson&rsquo;s surprise 1976 resignation; the miners&rsquo; strike of 1984-1985 and the 1992 general election. 
 
The Benn Tapes 2 &ndash; This second series of behind-the-scenes revelations sees Benn recounting why he believes nuclear power is unsafe, disclosing what went on during Cabinet reshuffles and tracing the split in the party following its 1979 defeat, the emergence of the Social Democratic Party, and his challenge to deputy leader Denis Healy. 
 
Free at Last!: The Diaries 1991-2001 &ndash; Spanning Tony Benn&rsquo;s final decade as an MP, this third volume covers the Gulf War, the rise of New Labour, the death of Diana Princess of Wales and peace in Northern Ireland. Mixing political observations with a moving account of family life, it is full of humour, insight, joy and sadness. 
 
Part 2: Tony Benn&rsquo;s Life 
 
In the Psychiatrist&rsquo;s Chair: Tony Benn &ndash; Dr Anthony Clare talks to the legendary parliamentarian about his life, his career and how his guiding principles were influenced by his parents&rsquo; social and political convictions. 
 
Sentimental Journey: Tony Benn &ndash; Arthur Smith accompanies Tony Benn on a trip back to the place where he was born, grew up, and spent most of his political life &ndash; the City of Westminster. 
 
With Great Pleasure: Tony Benn &ndash; The veteran politician presents a selection of the prose and poetry that has shaped his personal philosophy, including the words of Mahatma Gandhi, Dwight D Eisenhower, Oscar Wilde and John Bunyan. 
 
Night Waves: Tony Benn &ndash; In an event from the 2008 Free Thinking festival, Tony Benn talks about the value of experience and discusses his own life experience with presenter Susan Hitch and the audience. 
 
 
Cast and credits 
 
The Benn Tapes 
Read by Tony Benn 
Produced by Keith Jones 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21 Jul-8 Sep 1993 (Series 1), 17 Oct- 5 Dec 1994 (Series 2) 
 
Free at Last!: The Diaries 1991-2001 
Read by Tony Benn 
Produced by Jane Ray 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13-17 Oct 2003 
 
In the Psychiatrist&rsquo;s Chair: Tony Benn 
Presented by Dr Anthony Clare 
A Michael Ember production 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 Aug 1995 
 
Sentimental Journey: Tony Benn 
With Arthur Smith and Tony Benn 
Produced by Dilly Barlow 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 Jul 2006 
 
With Great Pleasure: Tony Benn 
Presented by Tony Benn 
Readers: Saffron Burrows, Jim Findley and Carl Prekopp 
Produced by Christine Hall 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 Jul 2007 
 
Night Waves: Tony Benn 
Presented by Susan Hitch 
With Tony Benn 
Produced by Allegra McIlroy 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 11 Dec 2008 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Tony Benn at the BBC

The Benn Tapes, Free at Last! and more

Matthew Syed traces the origins and evolution of the word 'woke&rsquo; 
 
Once a watchword for African Americans in the early 1900s, 'woke' is now used as an insult across the political spectrum, and it has become synonymous with our era of angry debate. As the word has spread, what people mean by it has become less clear than ever. Award-winning journalist and author Matthew Syed is on a mission to uncover the roots of this social phenomenon and, in this series, he follows the evolution of 'woke' through five key stories. 
 
Beginning with the first ever use of 'woke', which appeared on a 1938 recording by the musician Lead Belly, Syed uncovers what the singer meant when he instructed people to &lsquo;stay woke, keep their eyes open&rsquo;. Matthew then explores one of the earliest uses of 'woke' in print, by young Black author William Melvin Kelley in 1962. He goes on to look at #StayWoke and how the use of 'woke' online exploded in 2014, following the shooting of black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. 
 
Next, Matthew considers how the adoption of 'woke' at the 2017 Women's March aided the term's movement away from Black communities and into the mainstream. In the final episode, he examines the actions of Governor Ron DeSantis, tipped by some to be the next President of the United States. The politician has labelled his state of Florida as 'Where Woke Goes to Die', and introduced a 'Stop W.O.K.E.' bill aimed at reducing the spread of identity politics. 
 
Has the word become too politically charged? What relationship &ndash; if any &ndash; does the word &lsquo;woke&rsquo; have to its original sense? Syed considers its multiple meanings in this fascinating series that sheds new light on a word that is often used &ndash; and often misunderstood. 
 
Cast and credits 
Presented by Matthew Syed 
Produced by Sam Peach 
 
Episode 1 
Featuring Peggy Parks Miller and Kip Lornell 
 
Episode 2 
Featuring Jesi Kelley 
Readings by Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong 
Excerpts from &lsquo;If You're Woke You Dig It&rsquo; (New York Times, 1962) and &lsquo;Dunfords Travels Everywheres&rsquo; by William Melvin Kelley 
 
Episode 3 
Featuring Johnetta Elzie and Nicole Holliday 
 
Episode 4 
Featuring Prisca Kim and Aja Romano 
 
Episode 5 
Featuring Nicole Holliday, James O'Malley and Prof Matthew Goodwin 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20-24 February 2023 
 
Copyright &copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Woke: The Journey of a Word

Ian Hislop

Ian Hislop takes a hilarious look at some of Britain's oldest jokes 
 The British are rather proud of their sense of humour - but where has that pride come from and what makes it unique?With the help of contemporary comedians, scholars and an appetite for enduring humour, Ian Hislop tracks down the earliest examples of enduring British comedy tropes and jokes, and guides us through some of the vital elements that make up that most curious thing: the British sense of humour.Join Ian as he begins his quest in the dark ages, admittedly not known as a well-spring of comic opportunity. Nevertheless, in the pages of the Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England, there is wordplay potent enough to have a part in the naming of a nation. How his fellow monks must have laughed. Travelling across the UK, Ian admires the Bishop's seat and discovers the filth hidden behind the Double entendre of the Exeter Book of Riddles. He looks for the earliest examples of visual humour under the seats of New College Oxford Chapel, and wooden carvings that suggest those who made them were never happier than when making people laugh. He discovers the set of a 15th century entertainer who performed for audiences in Nottinghamshire at the time of the Wars of the Roses, and the famous medieval Bestiary which describes the Bonnacon, a mythical beast that appears to have no biblical message beyond its capacity to make the reader laugh. Ian delves into Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th century humble-brag parody, the Tale of Sir Topaz, before arriving in the 17th century, when printing and changes in censorship laws ushered in a new and energetic form of comedy. Finally, Ian explores satirical cartoons and a collection of comic songs with hilarious consequences. This is a must listen for anyone who loves a good belly laugh.Presenter and writer Ian Hislop is perhaps best known for his appearances on the satirical news quiz Have I Got News for You, and he has been the editor of Private Eye since 1986. He&rsquo;s presented many shows on television and radio and is the author of several books. This series also features contributions from Nina Conti, Paul Whitehouse, comedy song writing duo Jo and Joan and parodist Craig Brown.Written and presented by Ian HislopProduced by Tom AlbanFirst broadcast 22 January-2 February 2024&copy;2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Ian Hislop’s Oldest Jokes

Sandi Toksvig’s first four series as host of the popular satirical comedy showTaking over the News Quiz chair from Simon Hoggart, comedian and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig steps up to the plate to lead the intrepid panellists in a round-up of the biggest (and smallest) news stories of 2006 and 2007. With the exception of one show, hosted by Clive Anderson when Sandi had the flu, she chairs each of these 33 episodes with her characteristic wit, charm and erudition.Squaring up to the headlines are a panel of regulars and new recruits, including Clive Anderson, Jo Brand, Fred Macaulay, Andy Zaltzman, Simon Evans, Nick Revell, Phil Hammond, Stewart Lee, Caitlin Moran and the late, great Alan Coren. Between rounds, newsreaders Charlotte Green, Carolyn Brown, Peter Donaldson, Harriet Cass, Corrie Corfield, Rory Morrison and Chris Aldridge read a selection of funny cuttings sent in by listeners.Among the topics covered in these four series are Gordon Brown succeeding Tony Blair as PM; the death of Boris Yeltsin; the Iraq war; immigration and the NHS – plus telephone telepathy, cheating cheetahs, Prozac for dogs and the startling discovery that mice are actually completely uninterested in cheese. Series 63 also includes a special Alan Coren tribute show following his death in 2007, dedicated to his many contributions to The News Quiz and presented by Sandi Toksvig, Jeremy Hardy and Andy Hamilton.Production creditsChaired by Sandi ToksvigChair’s script written by Lucy Clarke, Rhodri Crooks, Paul Kerensa, Simon Littlefield, George Poles, John Finnemore and Danielle WardWith additional material by James Allnutt, Madeleine Brettingham, Stephen Carlin, Lloyd Langford, Matthew Morton, Kieron Quirke, John-Luke Roberts, James Sherwood and Danielle WardProduced by Katie Tyrrell and Ed MorrishA BBC Studios ProductionSeries 60 featuring: Clive Anderson, Jo Brand, Jo Caulfield, Jackie Clune, Alan Coren, Simon Evans, Andy Hamilton, Phil Hammond, Jeremy Hardy, Stanley Johnson, Phill Jupitus, Sarah Kendall, Stewart Lee, Fred MacAulay, Mark Steel, Francis Wheen, Andy ZaltzmanSeries 61 featuring: Clive Anderson, Jo Brand, Clive Coleman, Alan Coren, Dave Gorman, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Armando Iannucci, Phill Jupitus, Shappi Khorsandi, Fred MacAulay, Caitlin Moran, Mark Steel, Francis WheenSeries 62 featuring: Alan Coren, Simon Evans, Andy Hamilton, Phil Hammond, Jeremy Hardy, Armando Iannucci, Phill Jupitus, Fred MacAulay, Sue Perkins, Carrie Quinlan, Mark Steel, Nick Revell, Francis Wheen, Andy ZaltzmanSeries 63 featuring: Jo Brand, Justin Edwards, Simon Evans, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Phill Jupitus, Fred MacAulay, Sue Perkins, Greg Proops, Carrie Quinlan, Nick Revell, Mark Steel, Francis WheenNews items read by Charlotte Green, Carolyn Brown, Peter Donaldson, Harriet Cass, Corrie Corfield, Rory Morrison and Chris AldridgeFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 8 September-27 October 2006 (Series 60), 5 January-23 February 2007 (Series 61), 27 April-15 June 2007 (Series 62), 28 September-23 November 2007 (Series 63)© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The News Quiz 2006 – 2007: Sandi Toksvig Takes the Helm!

Series 60, 61, 62 and 63 of the topical BBC Radio 4 comedy panel show

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

Melvyn Bragg

Melvyn Bragg and guests chart the development of Christian thought, looking at 25 fundamental concepts that emerged throughout history 
 
'In Our Time is a digital Library of Alexandria, a rich seam of commute-enhancing, dinner-party-reviving wisdom' The Economist 
 
Launched into the Thursday morning 'death slot' in 1988, In Our Time defied expectations to become one of Radio 4's best-loved and most popular programmes. In the 25 years it has been on air, it has built up an audience of over 2 million listeners and covered over 1,000 topics, from the Berlin Conference to bird migration. 
 
This specially curated collection sees Melvyn Bragg and his panel of experts considering some of the central tenets of the Christian faith. Its wide-ranging scope incorporates key concepts including Heaven, Hell and Purgatory, angels and devils, prayers and miracles, the Fall of Man, the Apocalypse, the Trinity and the Nicene Creed. Also discussed are the most significant historical developments that shaped and influenced Christianity today, among them Gnosticism, Deism, Calvinism and Fundamentalism, the ontological argument, The Book of Common Prayer, papal infallibility and the Rapture. 
 
Full of fascinating ideas and lively, accessible discussions, this comprehensive compendium will delight religious scholars, theologians and autodidacts alike. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Melvyn Bragg 
Produced by Thomas Morris, Simon Tillotson, Julia Johnson 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
 
Part I: Key Concepts 
The Trinity 13 March 2014 
With Janet Soskice, Martin Palmer and Graham Ward 
 
Heaven 22 December 2005 
With Valery Rees, Martin Palmer and John Carey 
 
Angels 24 March 2005 
With Martin Palmer, Valery Rees and John Haldane 
 
The Devil 11 December 2003 
With Martin Palmer, Alison Rowlands and David Wootton 
 
Hell 21 December 2006 
With Martin Palmer, Margaret Kean and Neil MacGregor 
 
The Fall 8 April 2004 
With Martin Palmer, Griselda Pollock and John Carey 
 
Prayer 23 December 1999 
With Russell Stannard and Andrew Samuels 
 
Miracles 25 September 2008 
With Martin Palmer, Janet Soskice and Justin Champion 
 
Redemption 13 March 2003 
With Richard Harries, Janet Soskice and Stephen Mulhall 
 
Duty 13 November 2003 
With Angie Hobbs, Annabel Brett and Anthony Grayling 
 
The Apocalypse 17 July 2003 
With Martin Palmer, Marina Benjamin and Justin Champion 
 
The Nicene Creed 27 December 2007 
With Martin Palmer, Caroline Humfress and Andrew Louth 
 
Purgatory 25 May 2017 
With Laura Ashe, Matthew Treherne and Helen Foxhall Forbes 
 
Part II: Historical Developments 
 
Gnosticism 2 May 2013 
With Martin Palmer, Caroline Humfress and Alastair Logan 
 
The Ontological Argument 27 September 2012 
With John Haldane, Peter Millican and Clare Carlisle 
 
Medieval Pilgrimage 18 February 2021 
With Miri Rubin, Kathryn Rudy and Anthony Bale 
 
The Book of Common Prayer 17 October 2013 
With Diarmaid MacCulloch, Alexandra Walsham and Martin Palmer 
 
Deism 8 October 2020 
With Richard Serjeantson, Katie East and Thomas Ahnert 
 
Calvinism 25 February 2010 
With Justin Champion, Susan Hardman Moore and Diarmaid MacCulloch 
 
Papal Infallibility 10 January 2019 
With Tom O'Loughlin, Rebecca Rist and Miles Pattenden 
 
The Rapture 26 September 2019 
With Elizabeth Phillips, Crawford Gribben and Nicholas Guyatt 
 
The Oxford Movement 13 April 2006 
With Sheridan Gilley, Frances Knight and Simon Skinner 
 
The Age of Doubt 9 March 2000 
With A N Wilson and Victoria Glendinning 
 
Science and Religion 25 January 2001 
With Stephen Jay Gould, John Haldane and Hilary Rose 
 
Fundamentalism 22 April 1999 
With Karen Armstrong and Tariq Ali 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

In Our Time: 25 Defining Ideas of Christianity

A BBC Radio 4 Collection

Clive Anderson

Clive Anderson and guests poke fun at the past in this panel show with a yesteryear twist 
 
Originally broadcast on Radio 4 in 2003-4, We&rsquo;ve Been Here Before is the topical, satirical, historical panel game that aims to show beyond all doubt that there&rsquo;s nothing new in the news. Hosted by award-winning comedian, broadcaster and Whose Line Is It Anyway? star Clive Anderson, it takes a wry, witty look at long-gone days through a present-day lens, as the panellists battle it out to discover who&rsquo;s got the best memory for detail when it comes to raking up the past. 
 
Gyles Brandreth, Jimmy Carr, Chris Addison, Mark Steel, Natalie Haynes, Richard Herring, Robin Ince and Steve Punt are among the stellar guests striving to identify news clips from years gone by, and to spot the parallels with contemporary events. From reality TV, BBC-bashing and striking unions to celebrity American presidential hopefuls, European referendums and Prime Ministers under pressure, they find that the stories they sift through sound strangely familiar. 
 
Still funny and relevant over 20 years after it first aired, this entertaining series is the ultimate proof that what goes around comes around. It&rsquo;s a blast from the past with a modern perspective &ndash; and any similarity to current events is entirely the idea... 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Clive Anderson 
Reader: Lewis MacLeod 
Produced by Adam Bromley (Series 1) and Ed Morrish (Series 2) 
 
Series 1 featuring: Gyles Brandreth, Jimmy Carr, John O'Farrell, David Quantick, Jon Holmes, Simon Brett, Lewis Shaffer, Steve Punt, Robin Ince, Maureen Lipman, Simon Brett 
 
Series 2 featuring: Gyles Brandreth, John O'Farrell, Arthur Smith, Arabella Weir, Natalie Haynes, Richard Herring, Mark Steel, David Quantick, Chris Addison, Nick Revell, Helen Atkinson-Wood 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 1-29 August 2003 (Series 1), 11 June-2 July 2004 (Series 2) 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

We’ve Been Here Before: The Complete Series 1 and 2

The BBC Radio Comedy Panel Show

Mark Nelson

Mark Nelson and celebrity guests separate the good from the bad, with a few unexpected twists 
 
Hosted by Mark Nelson, this lively show sees a panel of celebrities competing to share the best, worst and most hilarious anecdotes from their daily lives. Each guest is vying for the audience's vote as they try to convince Mark that their 'good' story is the most joyful, serendipitous or worthy, and their 'bad' story is the most unfortunate, outrageous or unforgivable. To keep them on their toes, they're also faced with some spontaneous surprise questions, and must rely on their quick wits to come up with snappy answers. 
 
Collected here are 41 of the finest episodes, featuring a fantastic mix of talent from across Scotland and beyond. The stellar line-up includes Rory Bremner, Kirsty Wark, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Hadley, Kerry Katona, Toyah Willcox, Phil Hammond, Mr Motivator and Carol Smillie. 
 
Lorraine Kelly unveils her inner geek, Shaparak Khorsandi recalls her family's favourite and most disgusting story, Janey Godley shares her tale of landing at the feet of George Clooney and Les Dennis reveals the best and the worst things about his celebrity lifestyle. Plus, Pippa Evans learns the hard way that whisky is a sipping drink, Fred MacAulay feels like he's fed the five thousand after becoming father of the bride and Zoe Lyons goes a long, long way for spicy noodles that she ultimately regrets. 
 
Laugh along with them all as they share their moments of joy, tales of peril, personal failings and funniest confessions in this joke-packed panel show. Though the rules tend to break down, the good things often outweigh the bad - and there's always something unexpected waiting around the corner... 
 
NB: Contains some adult themes 
 
Production credits 
Based on an original idea by Jo Caulfield and Kevin Anderson 
Written by Jo Caulfield and Kevin Anderson, with additional material by Ross Craig, Dan Evans, Keiron Nicholson, Jane Walker, John Hamilton and Gareth Waugh 
Presented by Mark Nelson 
Produced by Richard Melvin 
A Dabster Production for BBC Radio Scotland 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland on the following dates: 
 
4 January 2019 
11 January 2019 
1 February 2019 
15 February 2019 
30 August 2019 
13 September 2019 
20 September 2019 
27 September 2019 
4 October 2019 
11 October 2019 
10 January 2020 
17 January 2020 
19 June 2020 
11 September 2020 
8 January 2021 
22 January 2021 
29 January 2021 
5 February 2021 
12 February 2021 
3 September 2021 
10 September 2021 
24 September 2021 
1 October 2021 
8 October 2021 
7 January 2022 
14 January 2022 
21 January 2022 
28 January 2022 
4 February 2022 
11 February 2022 
29 April 2022 
13 May 2022 
20 May 2022 
27 May 2022 
10 June 2022 
26 August 2022 
6 January 2023 
28 April 2023 
5 May 2023 
19 May 2023 
26 May 2023 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected

Highlights from the BBC Radio Comedy Panel Show

Mark Steel

Radical comedian Mark Steel profiles sixteen historical figures who shaped their era 
 
Sony Award-winning satirist and stand-up comedian Mark Steel takes us through the life stories of some of his favourite historical characters in this acclaimed radio series, which ran for three series on BBC Radio 4 before transferring to TV in 2003. From Oliver Cromwell to Ludvig van Beethoven, Mark’s chosen personalities are all passionate, driven – and more than a little eccentric... 
 
Among the inspirational people he profiles are W. G. Grace, one of cricket’s greatest players and the first modern celebrity; Mary Shelley, a radical’s daughter who married a poet and invented science fiction; Che Guevara, who became a left-wing hero despite chronic asthma; and Aristotle, who deserves to be remembered for much more than a line in a Monty Python song. 
 
In addition, he delves into the lives of Renaissance genius (and absent-minded buffoon) Leonardo da Vinci; Carthaginian elephant-wrangler and scourge of the Romans, Hannibal; jazz singer Billie Holiday, whose trademark song ‘Strange Fruit’ was so inflammatory that Columbia refused to record it; and gravity-defining mathematician Isaac Newton, who was obsessed with alchemy and tried to turn lead into gold. 
 
Illustrated with idiosyncratic sketches featuring Melanie Hudson, Martin Hyder, Kim Wall, Carla Mendonça, Femi Elufowoju Junior and Debbie Isitt, these informative, accessible and hugely entertaining lectures celebrate the remarkable men and women whose ideas and enthusiasm changed the world. 
 
 
Written and performed by Mark Steel 
With Melanie Hudson, Martin Hyder, Kim Wall, Carla Mendonça, Femi Elufowoju Junior and Debbie Isitt 
Produced by Phil Clarke (Series 1) and Lucy Armitage (Series 2 & 3) 
Executive producer: Paul Schlesinger 
 
Contents: 
 
Series 1 
Oliver Cromwell 
W. G. Grace 
Charlie Chaplin 
Thomas Paine 
 
Series 2 
Lord Byron 
Aristotle 
Leonardo da Vinci 
Che Guevara 
Billie Holiday 
Karl Marx 
 
Series 3 
Ludwig van Beethoven 
Hannibal 
Isaac Newton 
Mary Shelley 
Muhammad Ali 
Napoleon Bonaparte 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9-30 August 1999 (Series 1), 13 March – 17 April 2001 (Series 2), 18 September – 23 October 2002 (Series 3) 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Mark Steel Lectures

The BBC Radio Comedy Series

Radical comedian Mark Steel takes a sideways look at some of the most tumultuous moments in history 
 
Mark Steel turns his analytical mind to the theme of revolutions in these six entertaining lectures, examining some of the major historical forces at work and holding up a mirror to our own age. 
 
In these entertaining lectures, he reinterprets the French Revolution, examining everything from the storming of the Bastille to the guillotine; looks at the politics of the sexual revolution (taking in the pill, the women’s movement and the Stonewall riots); and assesses the motivating factors and key players in the Russian Revolution – including the Romanovs, Rasputin and the Red Guard. 
 
He also explores how the Industrial Revolution transformed our perception of time, work and money; argues that the American Civil War was not just a rebellion but a full-blown revolution; and shows how Darwin’s revolutionary theory of natural selection was so shocking, he kept it quiet for 20 years for fear of a backlash... 
 
With readings by Martin Hyder and Carla Mendonça and witty comic sketches, this amusing, informative series is packed with fantastic stories, extraordinary characters and fascinating historical facts. 
 
Written and presented by Mark Steel 
With Martin Hyder and Carla Mendonça 
Produced by Phil Clarke 
 
Contents: 
The French Revolution 
The Sexual Revolution 
The Russian Revolution 
The Industrial Revolution 
The American Civil War 
The Theory of Evolution 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 June – 4 August 1998 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Mark Steel Revolution

The year is 1Q84. This is the real world, there is no doubt about that. But in this world, there are two moons in the sky. Discover the 1Q84 Trilogy by Haruki Murakami.

1Q84

365 Days of Art

A BBC Christmas

A Black Book Thriller

A Box Full of Murders

A Cal Leandros Novel

A Christmas Mystery

The intelligent and capable police commissioner Guido Brunetti confronts crime in and around his home town of Venice.

A Commissario Brunetti Mystery

A DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation Series

A Daisy Story

Chronicling the lives of over three hundred characters, unrivalled for its scope and humour, this is a unique evocation of life in twentieth-century England.

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