

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
Topical comedy from the sharpest satirical minds in the business. Listen first on BBC Sounds, every Friday.Is the news driving you up the wall? You’re not alone. Let the comedians take the strain and work out what’s been funny this week. Features BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, Dead Ringers, The Naked Week and Too Long; Didn’t Read. Listen on BBC Sounds, seven days earlier than anywhere else, and subscribe to make sure that you don’t miss an episode.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 18, 2022 • 29min
News Quiz 18th February 2022
Recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre, his week Andy Zaltzman was joined by Elis James, Olga Koch, Tim Shipman and Shaparak Khorsandi to look at the situation in Ukraine, and how the cream of British politics are dealing with the delicate situation; we looks at the Met Police, in a week that the Met Police are looking at Prince Charles, and in a (possible) world first, we have an audio-only picture round!Hosted by Andy Zaltzman
Chairs script by Andy Zaltzman
Additional Material from Alice Fraser, Catherine Brinkworth, Ken Cheng and Rajiv Karia
Production Co-ordinators: Katie Baum & Caroline Barlow
Sound Editor: Marc WillcoxThe Producer is Gwyn Rhys Davies, and it is a BBC Studios Production.

Feb 11, 2022 • 29min
News Quiz 11th February 2022
After 5-and-a-half series, 44 episodes and 714 days, The News Quiz welcomes a live studio audience once again.Recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre, this week Andy Zaltzman was joined by Mark Steel, Athena Kugblenu, Hugo Rifkind and Jackie Weaver to look at NHS backlogs, the end of all COVID restrictions in England, a minor reshuffle and a major scientific breakthrough.Hosted by Andy Zaltzman
Chairs script by Andy Zaltzman
Additional Material from Alice Fraser, Alex Kealy, Eleri Morgan and Rajiv Karia
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Baum
Sound Editor: Marc WillcoxThe Producer is Gwyn Rhys Davies, and it is a BBC Studios Production.

Feb 4, 2022 • 28min
News Quiz 4th February 2022
Andy Zaltzman is joined by Elis James, Ola Labib, Zoe Lyons and Ed Balls to give an un-redacted update on the week’s news.The panel look at Partygate and Johnson's precarious position in No.10, find out what the Levelling Up whitepaper can teach us about the birth of civilisation, and discover how little we know about trees.Hosted by Andy Zaltzman
Chairs script by Andy Zaltzman
Additional Material from Alice Fraser, Benjamin Partridge, Ray Badran and Tasha Dhanraj
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Baum
Sound Editor: Marc WillcoxThe Producer is Gwyn Rhys Davies, and it is a BBC Studios Production.

Jan 28, 2022 • 28min
News Quiz 28th January 2022
Andy Zaltzman and the News Quiz satirise the week's news from the UK and beyond.This week Andy is joined by Nish Kumar, Rachel Fairburn, Neil Delamere and Isabel Hardman. They try to make sense of a week of war mongering and cake ambushes.Chair's Script: Written by Andy Zaltzman
Additional Material: Written by Alice Fraser, Heidi Regan, Rhiannon Shaw and Tasha Dhanraj.
Production Coordinator: Katie Baum
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
Producer: James RobinsonA BBC Studios Production

Jan 21, 2022 • 28min
News Quiz 21st January 2022
Andy Zaltzman and the News Quiz satirise the week's news from the UK and beyond.This week Andy is joined by Alice Fraser, Chris McCausland, Daliso Chaponda and Hugo Rifkind. They try to make sense of a week of big dogs, pork pies and red meat.Chair's Script: Written by Andy Zaltzman
Additional Material: Written by Heidi Regan, Cameron Loxdale, Stephen Buchanan and Tasha Dhanraj.
Production Coordinator: Katie Baum
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
Producer: James RobinsonA BBC Studios Production

Jan 14, 2022 • 28min
News Quiz 14th January 2022
Andy Zaltzman presents a look back at the week's headlines, in a tough week for the Prime Minister.Joined by a panel of Ayesha Hazarika, Paul Sinha, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Simon Evans, Andy looks back over the events of 20th May 2020 with Sue Gray-like focus. As well as Downing Street parties, the panel discuss rising energy bills, pig heart transplants, space telescopes and Michael Gove being trapped in a lift.Chair's Script: Written by Andy Zaltzman
Additional Material: by Alice Fraser, Mike Shephard, Celya AB and Rajiv Karia
Production Coordinator: Katie Baum
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
Producer: Gwyn Rhys Davies.A BBC Studios Production.

Jan 7, 2022 • 28min
News Quiz 7th January 2022
Andy Zaltzman and the News Quiz return to satirise the weeks news from the UK and beyond.This week Andy is joined by Alice Fraser, Chris McCausland, Katie Perrior and Ahir Shah. They look at the smallprint on Keir Starmer's 'contract with Britain', rate Boris Johnson's new look, and discuss Novak Djokovic's double fault.Chair's Script: Written by Andy Zaltzman
Additional Material: Written by Simon Alcock, Nathan D'Arcy Roberts, Alice Fraser, Rajiv Karia and Hannah Platt
Production Coordinator: Katie Baum
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox
Producer: Gwyn Rhys DaviesA BBC Studios Production

Dec 31, 2021 • 28min
News Quiz: Best of 2021
Andy Zaltzman raids the 2021 archive to remember amongst other things, a man in a horned helmet running around the Capitol Building, the leader of the opposition not being allowed into a pub and Britain's favourite alpaca.Producer: Richard Morris
Production co-ordinator: Katie BaumA BBC Studios Production

Dec 24, 2021 • 43min
Dead Ringers - Christmas Specials 2021 - The Multiverse Special
A "Today programme" special which takes a satirical look back at recent events in alternative earths around the multiverse. There are worlds in which England attempts to break free from the yoke of Scottish rule, the most serious pandemic is Man Flu, Love Island is an important world power, Ronnie Corbett is worshipped as a god and TV series Succession is also wildly popular - but not as you would know it.Performed by Jon Culshaw, Lewis Macleod, Jan Ravens, Debra Stephenson and Duncan Wisbey.Written by Nev Fountain & Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Ed Amsden & Tom Coles, Edward Tew, Sophie Dickinson, Rob Darke, Dan Audritt and Kat Butterfield, Cody Dahler, and Duncan Wisbey.Producer... Bill Dare
Production Coordinator... Caroline Barlow
Sound Designer... Rich Evans
A BBC Studios Production

Dec 17, 2021 • 28min
Dead Ringers - Christmas Specials 2021 - Episode 2
For the first time broadcast live, from the BBC Radio Theatre, London on Friday. This live show will feature Professor Sir Chris Whitty as you’ve never seen him before, Boris Johnson seeks the help of The Repair Shop, there's guidance on how to have fun without the office party and the epic quest to get a booster jab.With, Lewis Macleod, Jan Ravens, Debra Stephenson and Duncan Wisbey.Written by: Nev Fountain & Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Ed Amsden & Tom Coles, Edward Tew, Sophie Dickson, Rob Darke, Cody Dahler and Rachel Ethorn.Producer: Bill Dare
Production Coordinator: Caroline Barlow
A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.