Comedy of the Week

BBC Radio 4

3.7 (2.4K)
COMEDY
UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

Brighten your week with the latest BBC Radio 4 comedy.

4 DAYS AGO

Ashley Blaker's Hyperfixations

"Americans have a long history of taking British things and ballsing them up. They took football and added helmets and cheerleaders; they took ice lollies and called them popsicles; and they took James Corden and then sent him back here." Among Ashley’s more unusual hyperfixations is a life-long love of professional wrestling. This special interest was first developed on Saturday afternoons at his grandparents’ house watching Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks and Kendo Nagasaki. It continued through the 1980s when Britain was invaded by Hulk Hogan and his colleagues from the then WWF (before they lost a court case to the World Wildlife Fund), and Ashley was fortunate enough to be in attendance at the legendary Summerslam show at Wembley Stadium in 1992, which so many British wrestlers have cited as the day that cemented their love of the grunt and grapple business. This undeniably extraordinary spectacle is sometimes called ‘sports entertainment’ - for many people it is neither! When Ashley Blaker was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, one of the most significant aspects of his diagnosis is his propensity for hyperfixation in special interests, which he now realises has entirely shaped his past and which he uses to mine comedy for this new series. It’s no exaggeration to say Ashley’s life has been driven by obsessions. He has variously been a schoolboy with a love of Star Wars and Doctor Who, a wannabe comedian who performed on the London comedy circuit at 16, a trivia nerd who appeared on University Challenge, a history PhD candidate at Cambridge, a BBC producer of hit comedy shows including Little Britain, a fanatical football fan who saw Liverpool play across England and Europe, a strictly Orthodox Jew who went to synagogue three times a day for over ten years, a father of six, and latterly, a heavily tattooed renegade in hiding from his former community. In this series, Ashley takes a comedic look at each of his obsessions in turn, merging personal memoir with a delve into subjects which have yet to be covered in stand-up comedy shows. The result is a series which, while based on the broader topic of neurodiversity, covers it with the lightest of touches and is focused more on Ashley’s individual hyperfixations, lifting the lid on many of the different worlds he’s inhabited. To hear more episodes from this series, search "Ashley Blaker's Hyperfixations" on BBC Sounds. Written and performed by Ashley Blaker co-starring Rosie Holt and Kieran Hodgson Script Editor: Steve Hall Recording engineers: Jerry Peal and Jon Calver Producer: Steve Doherty A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4

28 min
7 JUL

Maisie Adam: Euros Fever

Are you excited to watch England and Wales this summer? Comedian and football obsessed Maisie Adam can’t wait for the Euros and wants to capture the magic you only get before a big international tournament. This is her ultimate guide to the Euros and guarantees to get you in the mood for the highs, the lows and the drama of the Women’s Euros 2025. Maisie has encouraged the audience to come in their favourite footie strips, scarves and hats, the sillier the better – just no flares up any arses please. She’s joined by comedians Rhys James and Harriet Kemsley to chat about the glorious summer of footie we have ahead of us. They re-live some of their best/worst Euros moments, play games and give their predictions for the summer – is football coming home again? Plus Maisie gets some very special advice from former Lioness and Euros winner, the one and only Jill Scott MBE. If you can't get enough of the tournament, search ‘Women’s Euros’ on BBC Sounds for more coverage and reaction. Plus you can listen live to the games, including every England and Wales match, on 5 Live and BBC Sounds. Host: Maisie Adam Guests: Rhys James and Harriet Kemsley Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: James Robinson Production Co-ordinator: Jodie Charman Production Assistant: Danita McIntyre Additional material by Matthew Crosby and Eve Delaney Sound Design by Arlie Adlington Recorded by Jerry Peal and Atharva Bankar at Backyard Comedy Club A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.

29 min
30 JUN

Your Mum

Janine tells us what happened when she was swapped at birth, why her brother has a bunker in Arizona and how her mum rules the roost with her ‘feminine guile’. Russell gives his hot take on childbirth, makes a case against toddler food and thanks his mum for putting up with his extraordinary amount of energy. In this series, Laura Smyth sits down with some incredible guests to find out about their mums and explore the many faces of ‘motherhood’. Join her for a nostalgic, shameless, cathartic ride that asks what (if anything) our folks have taught us. To hear more episodes search "Your Mum" on BBC Sounds. Producer: Sasha Bobak Production Coordinator: Katie Baum Executive Producer: Pete Strauss A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.

29 min
23 JUN

Henry Normal: A Normal... Humanity

Join Henry Normal as he uses his unique blend of comedy and poetry to investigate what it truly means to be human. How are we different from other animals? Is there such a thing as a soul? Is it green or brown bin day today? These are just some of the unanswered questions Henry will be leaving unanswered in this new show, recorded live at the Hay-on-Wye Festival. This is the latest episode in his acclaimed, occasional series where the celebrated writer tackles subjects so vast only radio can possibly contain them. Written and performed by Henry Normal Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Produced by Carl Cooper A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 To listen to more episodes from this series search "Henry Normal" on BBC Sounds. -- Henry Normal is a multi-award winning writer, producer and poet. Co-writer of TV classics including The Royle Family, The Mrs Merton Show, Coogan’s Run and Paul Calf, and producer of, amongst many others, Oscar-nominated Philomena, Gavin and Stacey and Alan Partridge. He’s published twelve collections of poetry, including his most recent An Alphabet of Storms, and co-wrote the memoir A Normal Family with Angela Pell – the everyday adventure of life with their autistic son. Praise for previous episodes in this series: "Shove up National Treasures. We need to make room for Henry Normal" – Simon O'Hagan, Radio Times -"It's a rare and lovely thing: half an hour of radio that stops you short, gently demands your attention and then wipes your tears away while you have to have a little sit down" -"It's a real treat to hear a seasoned professional like Henry taking command of this evening comedy spot to deliver a show that's idiosyncratic and effortlessly funny" -"Not heard anything that jumps from hilarious to moving in such an intelligent, subtle way as Henry Normal's show"

29 min
16 JUN

Live from the UK

Live from the UK brings you the best comedy talent from around the country, all from the comfort of your own headphones. Stand up legend Angela Barnes talks to Glasgow about their swearing, Newcastle about their love of getting starkers on holiday, and Manchester about the rude origins of their city's name. She brings you acts from all of these places and more, covering topics as far and wide as heatwaves, Gazza, hen dos and the George Foreman grill. How many shows can say that? This week you can hear; Mark Nelson at The Stand, Glasgow Louise Young at The Stand, Newcastle Hayley Ellis at the Frog and Bucket, Manchester and headliner Josh Pugh at the Glee Club, Birmingham Additional Material by Eve Delaney Recorded by Sean Kerwin and David Thomas Sound design by David Thomas Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.

29 min
9 JUN

Strong Message Here

This week, we have a very special guest, Jon Stewart! Jon joins Armando and Helen to discuss whether Trump is the political equivalent of Miles Davis, the quaintness of UK politics compared to the US, Jon does a flawless Margaret Thatcher impression and they answer the age old question... are escalators the most emasculating form of travel? To hear more episodes from this series, search Strong Message Here on BBC Sounds. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.

44 min
2 JUN

It's a Fair Cop

In this week’s case Alfie investigates an assault on an elderly man at a bus stop. But what could have provoked such a cowardly crime? Join former-cop turned stand-up comedian, Alfie Moore and his audience of sworn-in deputies as they ask if compassion is a thing of the past. It's a Fair Cop is the show where you, the audience, help deal with the cases Alfie's unearthed from 20 years of policing experience, to take a comic look at the law. For more episodes, search "It's a Fair Cop" on BBC Sounds. Written and presented by Alfie Moore Script Editor: Will Ing Production Co-ordinator: Caroline Barlow Producer: Sam Holmes A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4

29 min
19 MAY

Unspeakable

We hear Clive Anderson's new word for the mystery of hotel bathrooms, Sindhu Vee's term to measure cuteness, and a nail-biting finish from Ed Gamble. Ever struggled to find the right word for a feeling or sensation? Unspeakable sees comedian Phil Wang and lexicographer Susie Dent invite celebrity guests to invent new linguistic creations, to solve those all too relatable moments when we're lost for words. To hear more episodes, search "Unspeakable" on BBC Sounds. Hosts: Phil Wang and Susie Dent Guests: Clive Anderson, Ed Gamble and Sindhu Vee Created by Joe Varley Writers: Matt Crosby and Katie Storey Recorded by Jerry Peal Producer: Jon Harvey Executive Producers: Joe Varley and Akash Lockmun A Brown Bred production for BBC Radio 4

29 min

See All (38)

Angela Barnes

Guest
Jon Stewart

Guest

3.7

out of 5

2,382 Ratings

Some great others pointless

02/09/2024

Biddly Bop

There are great things on here, but also random episodes of a series!? Why? Either put the series out as series of podcasts or make it plain it's a series and have the FIRST one, not one in the middle!
Brill

16 Apr

Theslimyslug8472

Everyone who rated lower than three stars just has no humour it is so funny this podcast
What, seriously?

5 Mar

TK 1138

Yes, seriously, I wish they would do more listening to the experts and not so much trying to be funny. I know it is in the comedy genre but It’s a bit insulting to have someone on and then try to be funny at the expense of their knowledge. Won’t bother to listen again, too irritating.
Unspeakable

9 Jan

Lil limpet

I really love this show it’s brilliant and funny. Recommend this (whole series on bbc) to everyone!!