"Topical" Comedy on Radio 4

[The Don of Croy]

Smiler. said:

...
However.....

I caught most of Mark Steele's in Town from the Friday pre-midday slot.

He was in Southall & it was really good - topical & funny.

I have to say I have liked all of the shows in that series that I've heard, mainly because he keeps it observational & topical. Politics rarely gets mentioned.

The piece from yesterdays show about the Gurdwara was brilliant.


As you were.

I have enjoyed many of MS's shows, particularly when he leaves his politics out if it and explores local colour instead. But, on the NewsQuiz type format he too often lapses into 'rent-a-Spartist-anti-Fatcher' mode which, after decades, is boring. And quite often wrong, too. Same is true for many, many comedians. All IMHO.

The 'Now' show still hits the target on occasion, but it seems to be in thrall to the mainstream anti toff pro AGW camp.

[SpudLink]

Rumblestripe said:

Topical Comedy shows such as "The Now Show" and "The News Quiz", tend to be anti-Government by their nature. Hence the Tory bashing, get over it and/or switch off/put a CD on etc. You probably enjoyed it when Blair/Brown were in Number 10?

Comedy on R4 is an important testing ground for new comedy. It is far cheaper to commission a few radio shows than TV.

Still some good stuff to be heard, I rather enjoy "Claire in the Community", "Bleak Expectations" and "The Unbelievable Truth" some won't but you will find more comedy there than just about anywhere else. Have a dip in 4 Extra for classic shows like Dads Army and Yes Minister.

A big thumbs up to the BBC from me.

Well Said. Without Radio 4 commissioning new comedy, we would not get the classics that people remember fondly.

I also share the sentiment of the earlier poster who said he likes Jeremy Hardy and Jeremy Clarkson. I seldom agree with either of them, but they often make me laugh, which is the point.

Edited by SpudLink on Monday 2nd February 10:12

[Smiler.]

The Don of Croy said:

I have enjoyed many of MS's shows, particularly when he leaves his politics out if it and explores local colour instead. But, on the NewsQuiz type format he too often lapses into 'rent-a-Spartist-anti-Fatcher' mode which, after decades, is boring. And quite often wrong, too. Same is true for many, many comedians. All IMHO.

The 'Now' show still hits the target on occasion, but it seems to be in thrall to the mainstream anti toff pro AGW camp.

Spot on.

With Hardy a regular, time for a quota based system?

SpudLink said:

Rumblestripe said:

Topical Comedy shows such as "The Now Show" and "The News Quiz", tend to be anti-Government by their nature. Hence the Tory bashing, get over it and/or switch off/put a CD on etc. You probably enjoyed it when Blair/Brown were in Number 10?

Comedy on R4 is an important testing ground for new comedy. It is far cheaper to commission a few radio shows than TV.

Still some good stuff to be heard, I rather enjoy "Claire in the Community", "Bleak Expectations" and "The Unbelievable Truth" some won't but you will find more comedy there than just about anywhere else. Have a dip in 4 Extra for classic shows like Dads Army and Yes Minister.

A big thumbs up to the BBC from me.

Well Said. Without Radio 4 commissioning new comedy, we would not get the classics that people remember fondly.

I also share the sentiment of the earlier poster who said he likes Jeremy Hardy and Jeremy Clarkson. I seldom agree with either of them, but they often make me laugh, which is the point.

Valid points, but it just seems like there used to be such a wider variety of comedy of R4. Now, the Friday/Saturday slot is just two shows, all with only a handful of comedians.

Dead Ringers came back at Christmas & was excellent - a radio version of the Fast Show.

And some of those shows they do have mid-week are dire - the new lefty female on the block is truly woeful.


I can just imagine the smug grin on the face of the BBC R4 Comedy Diversity Officer as they sign up another comedian who's routine is based around the Little Handbook of Green Party Diarrhoea.

[Mr Gearchange]

Rumblestripe said:

Topical Comedy shows such as "The Now Show" and "The News Quiz", tend to be anti-Government by their nature. Hence the Tory bashing, get over it and/or switch off/put a CD on etc. You probably enjoyed it when Blair/Brown were in Number 10?

This.
Yes, many of the people who appear on the panel shows are left leaning - but it's pretty well understood that most people who work in the arts are of that political persuasion.

The panel shows have an anti-government agenda which is the point of satirical comedy. When Labour were in power they were the target. Now it's the Tories and Lib Dems.

People who got all foamy mouthed about the leftist agenda of the BBC need to remember when all the topical panel shows were focussed on Tony Blair being a war criminal and lapdog of Bush - or Gordon Brown being an unvoted PM with st maths skills.

[Johnnytheboy]

Mr Gearchange said:

The panel shows have an anti-government agenda which is the point of satirical comedy. When Labour were in power they were the target. Now it's the Tories and Lib Dems.

People who got all foamy mouthed about the leftist agenda of the BBC need to remember when all the topical panel shows were focussed on Tony Blair being a war criminal and lapdog of Bush - or Gordon Brown being an unvoted PM with st maths skills.

My memory of R4 comedies when Labour were last in were that they rarely criticise them for doing left-wing things; quite the opposite in fact.

[Mr Gearchange]

Johnnytheboy said:

Mr Gearchange said:

The panel shows have an anti-government agenda which is the point of satirical comedy. When Labour were in power they were the target. Now it's the Tories and Lib Dems.

People who got all foamy mouthed about the leftist agenda of the BBC need to remember when all the topical panel shows were focussed on Tony Blair being a war criminal and lapdog of Bush - or Gordon Brown being an unvoted PM with st maths skills.

My memory of R4 comedies when Labour were last in were that they rarely criticise them for doing left-wing things; quite the opposite in fact.

True - but they used whatever ammunition they had to throw at them.

Their job is to be critical of the Government - whoever that may be and in whatever way seems pertinent and entertaining. The Lib Dems were previously untouched - now they cop a load of flack.

Yes R4 comedy will always have leftist leaning due to the protagonists - but to suggest it's endless Tory bashing and supporting of the Labour party is disingenuous

[Gargamel]

Mark Steele seems to have mellowed a little. Lately I have been able to make it through a whole show.

If only Dante had realised that many years after his death there would come a man called Jeremy Hardy, I feel sure he would have reserved another circle of hell just for him.

The Now Show gives everybody a bit of stick, not just the Conservatives, I would think Lib Dems must absolutely hate Hugh Dennis, as he never misses an opportunity to put the boot in.

Bridget Christie, Hmm I hardly know where to start. OK I am not the target audience for sure. But it is the screeching and shouting as she literally foams at the mouth when in full diatribe. It is just so unpleasant sounding it detracts from any possible humour, it is more like a nutter at Soap box corner in Hyde Park.

[Pesty]

They never changed to the Labour Party when they were in. Still the same old ste with perhaps a very lame dig at Prescott and some anti war stuff at Blair usually followed by at least it's not the Tories.

[hidetheelephants]

Rumblestripe said:

Topical Comedy shows such as "The Now Show" and "The News Quiz", tend to be anti-Government by their nature. Hence the Tory bashing, get over it and/or switch off/put a CD on etc. You probably enjoyed it when Blair/Brown were in Number 10?

Comedy on R4 is an important testing ground for new comedy. It is far cheaper to commission a few radio shows than TV.

Still some good stuff to be heard, I rather enjoy "Claire in the Community", "Bleak Expectations" and "The Unbelievable Truth" some won't but you will find more comedy there than just about anywhere else. Have a dip in 4 Extra for classic shows like Dads Army and Yes Minister.

A big thumbs up to the BBC from me.

I don't give a stuff about them bashing the government, that's what they are there for, it's the incessant "It's all Thatcher's fault", "Global warming Climate change will kill the polar bears if we don't recycle our green tea bags", "Using private jets is worse than being a paedo" and my personal favourite "Nuclear power kills furry animals and is cruel to children"; it's lazy Spartist bks which wasn't funny 30 years ago.

[Halmyre]

I've more often than not heard Milliband getting absolute pelters on The News Quiz. OK, that's obviously not an attack on left-wing values, but still...

[hidetheelephants]

Not exactly topical, but tonight's Chain Reaction was dire; it was Vic Reeves interviewing Olivia Coleman. On paper it ought to be funny, but it was just painful to listen to.

[Europa1]

hidetheelephants said:

Not exactly topical, but tonight's Chain Reaction was dire; it was Vic Reeves interviewing Olivia Coleman. On paper it ought to be funny, but it was just painful to listen to.

Last week's was even worse - Bob Mortimer "interviewing" Vic Reeves. It was half an hour of utterly self indulgent nonsense, in which they indulged in a childish game of one-upmanship as to who could say the most off-the-wall thing.

And I can't forgive them for inflicting Miranda and Count Arthur Strong on us.

[Steamer]

Europa1 said:

Last week's was even worse - Bob Mortimer "interviewing" Vic Reeves. It was half an hour of utterly self indulgent nonsense, in which they indulged in a childish game of one-upmanship as to who could say the most off-the-wall thing.

And I can't forgive them for inflicting Miranda and Count Arthur Strong on us.

Could have been really - sadly a pile of tripe.

[Mr Gearchange]

I'm a stanch defender of R4 comedy content - but turned on the other night to find a sit com 'starring' Pam Ayres. Pam fking Ayres. She was dated in the late 70's for gods sake

[rehab71]

What about 'Well done you?" It's fking dreadful!

[Steamer]

rehab71 said:

What about 'Well done you?" It's fking dreadful!

I did wonder if someone, somewhere was either filling out an equality form when that got signed for production, or if they won a prize to get it on air.

[Nimby]

Mr Gearchange said:

I'm a stanch defender of R4 comedy content - but turned on the other night to find a sit com 'starring' Pam Ayres. Pam fking Ayres. She was dated in the late 70's for gods sake

I thought it was pretty good. Not topical or laugh out loud, but well observed and wry.

[The Don of Croy]

Nimby said:

Mr Gearchange said:

I'm a stanch defender of R4 comedy content - but turned on the other night to find a sit com 'starring' Pam Ayres. Pam fking Ayres. She was dated in the late 70's for gods sake

I thought it was pretty good. Not topical or laugh out loud, but well observed and wry.

I think there's a time and a place for Pam Ayres - I agree with the 'wryness' of it. Nice change from agit-prop edge-finding carp from the usual crowd, and a lot less noisy than what passes for comedy a lot of the time.

But in small doses.

[coppice]

Olivia Colman was delightful in spite - or perhaps because of - Jim Moir / Vic Reeves' toe curlingly inept attempt at interviewing somebody. If you are a Reeves fan than you praise his surrealism , if not, you just think as I do - Emperor's New Clothes. On r4 comedy in general as long as it has Just a Minute and ISIHAC then all is well in my world.

[Mr Gearchange]

The Don of Croy said:

Nimby said:

Mr Gearchange said:

I'm a stanch defender of R4 comedy content - but turned on the other night to find a sit com 'starring' Pam Ayres. Pam fking Ayres. She was dated in the late 70's for gods sake

I thought it was pretty good. Not topical or laugh out loud, but well observed and wry.

I think there's a time and a place for Pam Ayres.

Agreed. That place is Opportunity Knocks. That time is 1975.