Comedy of the Week

Tom and Lauren are getting ready to go on holiday together. Unfortunately Tom has never flown with a budget airline before and doesn't realise that suitcases and carry-on are extras. Lauren is struggling to choose which clothes to leave behind, because she's worried about being judged by other women and she refuses to do laundry while she's on holiday. Tom is mortified to discover that he needs to pay extra for them to be seated together while Lauren is dismayed at the prospect of hours in a middle seat with a giant on one side and chronic B.O. on the other. Neil drops by to ask Tom to sort out some cardboard that Lauren has left in the bin store because "she's not a great Greta", so Tom asks him to water Lauren's plants while they're away - much to Lauren's horror. Cast: Tom Machell as Tom Lauren Pattison as Lauren Julian Clary as Neil Writers: Tom Machell & Lauren Pattison Director: Katharine Armitage Recording Engineer: Philip Quinton Sound Design: Philip Quinton Theme Music: Scrannabis Producers: Maria Caruana Galizia & Zahra Zomorrodian A Candle & Bell production for BBC Radio 4

Scott Bennett: Blood Sugar Baby tells the amazing true story of Scott and Jemma Bennett’s infant daughter Olivia and her battle with a rare genetic condition, how she was nearly fatally misdiagnosed and how Scott challenged the hospital to improve their care - by taking his dad’s advice to “Put a tie on”. First-time parents Scott and Jemma are taken from the apparently idyllic world of having a new-born baby who sleeps through the night and suddenly plunged into months of misguided treatments, genetics, bizarre side effects and private jets. Recorded in Scott and Jemma’s home town of Nottingham - where the real-life story began - this is an emotional show about a critically ill baby but it’s also a really funny one with a happy and hopeful ending. Written and Performed by Scott Bennett Produced by Ben Walker A DLT Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4

Jon Long and Dr Tara Shine join forces for more of the hybrid comedy-magazine show that emits jokes and facts that (carbon) capture all things climate to demystify the issues and offer advice on how to make positive choices in our everyday lives. This week - The Carbon Cost of Tech, The Internet and AI with special guests Chris McCausland and Mike Berners-Lee. In previous episodes, we’ve covered Food, Travel and Christmas, so what’s next? Well, it turns out that our previous episodes did not solve the climate crisis on their own. So, for this series, we will be looking at the topics of Tech and AI, Waste Management and Recycling, and The Fashion Footprint. Expect new in-studio guests and on-location experts, more games, more practical advice, more cold hard stats, and the return of Greenwash of the Week to shout out the heroes and villains of the climate crisis. Presenters: Jon Long and Dr Tara Shine Guests: Chris McCausland and Mike Berners-Lee Producer: Laura Grimshaw Executive Producer: Jon Holmes Live Sound: Jerry Peal Post-production Sound: Tony Churnside An unusual production for BBC Radio 4.

The team look at human hobbies and wonder, what is the point? Gareth goes on a date, purely for research purposes, and roving reporter Phil is back at the Swindon nest to observe his favourite family...from a safe and morally appropriate distance. To listen to more episodes from this series, search "Humanwatch" on BBC Sounds. Written and presented by Marjolein Robertson and Gareth Waugh With Phil Ellis and Katia Kvinge Additional voice by Kai Humphries Produced by Lauren Mackay Sound by Fraser Jackson Photographer: Chris Quilietti A BBC Scotland production for Radio 4.

First stop of the new series is Oakham, nestled in the UK’s smallest county – Rutland. Rutland has a village that's proudly twinned with Paris (even if the Parisians don’t know), has Europe’s largest man-made lake (which required flooding a local village) and hangs its horseshoes the other way round (so the devil falls out, obviously). Joining Mark is Clare Balding, who’s also in town to take him on a ramble around Rutland, which you can hear in Ramblings, this Thursday on Radio 4. This is the 14th series of Mark's award winning show where he travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience. As well as Oakham, in this series, Mark be will also be popping to Wrexham, Cambridge, Lewisham and, Lerwick and Unst in Shetland. To hear more episodes from this series, search "Mark Steel's In Town" on BBC Sounds. Written and performed by Mark Steel Additional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl Cooper A BBC Studios production for Radio 4

Paul Sinha tests his audience in Leicester on their knowledge of their home county, Trivial Pursuit-style - with all the colours of questions, from geography to entertainment, getting asked. Can they fill the wedges, and can Paul answer their favourite questions, about crisps, bells and cricket? To hear more episodes, search "Paul Sinha's Perfect Pub Quiz" on BBC Sounds. Written and performed by Paul Sinha Additional material: Oliver Levy Additional questions: The Audience Original music: Tim Sutton Recording engineer: Jerry Peal Mixed by: Rich Evans Producer: Ed Morrish A Lead Mojo production for BBC Radio 4

Ken receives some bad news that requires him to spend more time at home and Achi is forced to cover his role with unexpected, rather peculiar consequences. Meanwhile Harriett furiously searches for a way to plug a hole in the charity’s finances. Garrett Millerick’s ensemble sitcom Do Gooders returns for another series. The show takes us back behind the curtain of fictional mid-level charity, The Alzheimers Alliance, as the fundraising events team continue their struggle for survival. Cue more office feuds, more workplace romances and more catastrophic fundraising blunders – all par for the course when trying to ‘do good’ on an industrial scale. To listen to more episodes, search "Do Gooders" on BBC Sounds. Cast Gladys – Kathryn Drysdale Lauren – Ania Magliano Clive – Garrett Millerick Harriett – Fay Ripley Achi – Ahir Shah Ken – Frank Skinner Writer – Garrett Millerick Additional Material – Andrea Hubert Sound Engineer – David Thomas Editor – David Thomas Production Assistant – Jenny Recaldin Producer – Jules Lom Executive Producers – Richard Allen-Turner, Daisy Knight, Julien Matthews, Jon Thoday An Avalon Television Production for BBC Radio 4

Former-forensic-scientist-turned-stand-up-comedian Ria Lina examines the gap between the science we’re sold by the wellness industry and the science that’s done in a lab – particularly when it comes to treatments that boast anti-aging effects. This episode, she’s joined by comedian Geoff Norcott to see if Microneedling can make their faces look any younger. Featuring Ria Lina and Geoff Norcott Written by Ria Lina and Steve N Allen Produced by Ben Walker A DLT Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4

Comedian Glenn Moore looks in his almanac at world events and what he was doing at the time. In this episode, a deadly spy operation causes Glenn to suspect his completely innocent Russian flatmate who just happens to have a novelty cigarette lighter in the shape of a gun. And not a novelty gun in the shape of a cigarette lighter. Perhaps best-known for his outrageously brilliant one-liners on Mock The Week , Glenn delivers a tale of comic mishaps and extraordinary scenes interwoven with a big event in history – and looks back through his almanac to find out other strange connections to the day as well. This is the first episode of the Second series of Glenn Moore's Almanac. To hear more episodes, search "Stand-Up Specials" on BBC Sounds. Written by Glenn with additional material by Katie Storey (Have I Got News For You, Mock The Week, The Last Leg) and produced and directed by David Tyler (Cabin Pressure, Armando Iannucci’s Charm Offensive, etc) A Pozzitive production for BBC Radio 4

2025's instalment of John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme is forty-five minutes of the funniest things John thought of in the last year, performed by John and his regular cast of Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Simon Kane, Lawry Lewin and Carrie Quinlan, with composer Susannah Pearse at the piano and Sally Stares on the cello. Please note that listening to these sketches about seahorses, time travel and sirens may cause side effects, unless you're listening to the placebo version of the show. Written and performed by … John Finnemore Ensemble … Margaret Cabourn-Smith Ensemble … Simon Kane Ensemble … Lawry Lewin Ensemble … Carrie Quinlan Original music … Susannah Pearse Piano … Susannah Pearse Cello … Sally Stares Recording … Jerry Peal & Jon Calver Editing … Rich Evans Production Manager … Katie Baum Executive Producer … Richard Morris Producer … Ed Morrish John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme is a BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

We return to Icklewick one year after the explosive events of Mischief Night. With Amy’s whereabouts still unknown and the rest of the team scattered, Chris has been struggling to keep Icklewick FM on the air from his home studio. Things are deffo looking bleak until he receives a mysterious call from Mainland Europe... Icklewick FM is created and written by Chris Cantrill and Amy Gledhill, with additional material from the cast. To listen to more episodes from this series, search "Ickelwick FM" on BBC Sounds. Starring: Amy Gledhill Chris Cantrill Mark Silcox Colin Hoult Janice Connolly Phil Ellis Tom Lawrinson Tom Burgess Nicola Redman Tai Campbell Em Humble James Carbutt Series Artwork by Sam O'Leary Music, sound design and additional material by Jack Lewis Evans. Line Produced by Laura Shaw Produced by Benjamin Sutton. A Daddy’s Superyacht production for BBC Radio 4

Returning in its original one-to-one incarnation, Paul Merton interviews a variety of guests from the world of comedy and entertainment to find out what they would send to Room 101. This week Paul welcomes Richard Ayoade.

Comedy fans can catch the nominees for The Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025 in this showcase for BBC Radio 4. Guaranteed to be packed with laughs, this special will be hosted by last year’s Best Comedy Show winner, Amy Gledhill. The prestigious awards is celebrating its 45th year and is recognising a Best Newcomer and a Best Show. In this gala, hosted by 2024 Best Show winner Amy Gledhill, we'll hear from all the nominees to give listeners around the UK the chance to hear the cream of this year’s Edinburgh crop. The gala was recorded at the Gilded Balloon, one of the Edinburgh Fringe’s iconic comedy venues. Nominated for Best Show are: Ian Smith, Katie Norris, Ed Night, Sam Jay, John Tothill, Sam Nicoresti, Creepy Boys and Dan Tiernan Nominated for Best Newcomer are: Molly McGuinness, Toussaint Douglass, Ada & Bron, Elouise Eftos, Ayoade Bamgboye, Kate Owens and Roger O'Sullivan. Host: Amy Gledhill Producer: Georgia Keating Production Co-ordinator: Caroline Barlow Edited by Giles Aspen Recorded by Sean Kerwin Recorded at The Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

This first episode takes a cheeky look at the costs of end of life care and you might be surprised to find out just how pricey it is to pop your clogs! When it seems like everything is getting more expensive; comedian, former banker and serial funeral-organiser Stuart Mitchell breaks down the true Cost of Dying. Using his own experience Stuart aims to find out if can we even afford to kick the bucket? You’ll learn so much about the hidden costs of dying, you may well decide not to bother doing it! To find more episodes from this series, search "Stand-Up Specials" on BBC Sounds. Written and Performed by Stuart Mitchell Producer: Lauren Mackay Sound: Andy Hay and Chris Currie

Oliver Callan hosts a panel show in which comedians from both sides of the Irish border and Britain imagine what a united Ireland would look like if it ever happened. This week, Oliver Callan is joined by Neil Delamere, Alison Spittle, John Meagher and Ashley Storrie to debate a new national flag, who the head of state might be and the official, national breakfast. To listen to Part 2: Belfast, search Oliver Callan Bins The Border on BBC Sounds. Producer: Marc McElroy A BBC Northern Ireland Production for Radio 4.

Jeremy Moleskine is the biggest writer in bawdy greetings cards. So when his car veers off the road, his number one fan is on hand to nurse him back to health. But when R&R turns into B&B (belittling and bludgeoning), Jeremy’s agent must track him down with the help of incarcerated lunatic, Clinton Scards. Brace yourself for a psychological thriller as Crybabies bring the big screen to your normal sized radio. To hear more episodes from this series search "Crybabies Present" on BBC Sounds. Written and performed by Michael Clarke, James Gault & Ed Jones. Featuring Chiara Goldsmith Production Co-ordinator - Laura Shaw Sound Design by David Thomas and Victoria Freund Producer - Benjamin Sutton Executive Producer - Joe Nunnery A Boffola Pictures production for BBC Radio 4

Today Lindsey is dragged to a rock climbing centre by her athletic friend Jenny which results in a life changing discovery about her over-zealous anatomy. She helps her mum rescue a missing rat and, with the help of Elton John, hosts an intimate funeral. Welcome to the life of the most beautiful princess in all of Birmingham and its surrounding areas. This week Lindsey Santoro has started a diary. But she’s not 13 years old daydreaming about her latest crush and sleepover plans. She’s a 37-year-old no-nonsense Brummy whose days are more likely to involve thrush cream and a bargy with a bus driver. You are cordially invited to step into her world and learn lessons from her lively life. Producer: Sasha Bobak Production Coordinator: Katie Baum Script Editor: Ruth Husko Executive Producer: Pete Strauss A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.

Industry heartthrob and nation's sweetheart Kat is on her way to an exciting product launch in a long car, with long suffering sidekick Alex Macqueen. On the way, she shares the secrets of her success, and how series one of Screen Time made her the most famous woman to ever grace the UK. Now that she's the biggest influencer ever, Kat teaches you how you can stop being a big normo and maximise your online brand. Hear her improve her appearance with a novel technique at the gym, convene a writers room to work out how to appear most relatable, and purify her brand by cutting off an old friend who's just got the worst news a person can receive. He's been cancelled. And she barely thinks about Abbie at all! To listen to more from this series, search "Kat Sadler's Screen Time" on BBC Sounds. Cast Kat Sadler - Kat Alex MacQueen - Alex Abbie Weinstock - Abbie Al Roberts - Toby Lizzie Davidson - Various Jason Forbes - Various Written by Kat Sadler and Cameron Loxdale Production Coordinator - Caroline Barlow Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Sound Design - Rich Evans Recorded by Neil Goody at Premises Studios Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

"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. 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

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.