

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

Dec 10, 2021 • 25min
Dead Ringers - Christmas Specials 2021 - Episode 1
The team delve into what really happened at Downing Street last Christmas, the real source of the Omicron variant, and follow Boris and Carrie’s baby’s first day at her new job.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, Rob Darke, Natasha Dhanraj and Cody Dahler.Producer: Bill Dare
Production Coordinator: Caroline Barlow
A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4

Dec 3, 2021 • 28min
The Now Show - 3rd December - feat Janine Harouni, Jamie MacDonald, Tim Sutton and Sooz Kempner
Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches in front of a remote audience - and all from their own home!Joining them for the final episode of the series and all from a safe distance is Janine Harouni, Jamie MacDonald with music supplied by Tim Sutton and Sooz Kempner.Voice Actors: Kieran Hodgson and Nimisha Odedra.Producer: Rajiv Karia
Production Co-Ordinator: Sarah SharpeBBC Studios Production

Nov 26, 2021 • 28min
The Now Show - 26th November - feat Athena Kugblenu, Geoff Norcott, and Huge Davies
Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches in the BBC's Radio Theatre in front of a remote audience.Joining them from a safe distance is Athena Kugblenu taking on MPs wages, and Geoff Norcott on must-see TV. This week's music is supplied by Huge Davies.Voice Actors: Emma Sidi and Jason ForbesProducer: Rajiv Karia
Production Co-Ordinator: Sarah SharpeBBC Studios Production

Nov 19, 2021 • 28min
The Now Show - 19th November ft Ria Lina, Josh Pugh and Beardyman
Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches in front of a remote audience - and all from their own home!Joining them from a safe distance is Ria Lina taking on back-seat scientists, Josh Pugh pondering on dinosaur discoveries, and Beardyman playing us out with a jazzy ode to staying calm.Voice Actors: Luke Kempner and Natasha Hodgson
Producer: Rajiv Karia
Production Co-Ordinator: Sarah SharpeBBC Studios Production

Nov 12, 2021 • 28min
The Now Show - 12th November ft Gareth Gwynn, Michael Spicer, Priya Hall and Ignacio Lopez
Steve Punt and Gareth Gwynn present the week via topical stand-up and sketches in front of a remote audience - and all from their own home!Joining them from a safe distance is Michael Spicer tackling non-sensical poiticians, Priya Hall wonders why we're experiencing shortages of pretty much everything and Igancio Lopez plays us out with a Bowie-inspired song about billionaires in space.Voice Actors: Luke Kempner and Karen Bartke.Producer: Pete Strauss & Rajiv Karia
Production Co-Ordinator: Sarah SharpeBBC Studios Production

Oct 29, 2021 • 28min
The Now Show - 29th October ft Felicity Ward, Aurie Styla and Jess Robinson
Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches and they're back in the BBC Radio Theatre in front of a remote audience.Joining them from a safe distance is Felicity Ward who has a foolproof plan for improving food in this country and Aurie Styla giving survival tips for the pandemic and the smug benefits of owning an electric car.We also get a sneak peek at Adele's 23rd album, 96, from Jess Robinson. Music composed by Alex Silverman.Voice Actors: Gemma Arrowsmith and Luke KempnerProducer: Pete Strauss
Production Co-Ordinator: Sarah SharpeBBC Studios Production

Oct 22, 2021 • 28min
News Quiz 22nd October 2021
In the last of the current series, Andy Zaltzman and the panel take on the week's headlines.Ayesha Hazarika, Matt Winning, Geoff Norcott and Elis James join Andy in 'convivial, fraternal spirit' to look take a close look at COP26, and whether Brian Cox is right about earth's extinction leaving the galaxy bereft of meaning. They also discuss Southend's newly-minted city status, online anonymity and Sajid Javid's winter plan.The chair's script is written by Andy Zaltzman, with additional material by Alice Fraser, Mike Shephard, Hannah Platt and Rajiv Karia.Producer: Gwyn Rhys Davies
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Baum
Sound Editor: Marc WillcoxA BBC Studios Production.

Oct 15, 2021 • 28min
News Quiz 15th October 2021
Catherine Bohart, Michael Deacon, Chris McCausland and Eshaan Akbar join host Andy Zaltzman to look back over the week's news. This week, they look at the COVID report's findings, Boris Johnson's holiday hobby, the Northern Ireland Protocol and a sacked wizard.The chair's script is written by Andy Zaltzman, with additional material by Alice Fraser, Catherine Brinkworth, Rhiannon Shaw and Rajiv Karia.Producer: Gwyn Rhys Davies
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Baum
Sound Editor: Mike SmithA BBC Studios Production.

Oct 8, 2021 • 28min
News Quiz 8th October 2021
Kerry Godliman, Anand Menon, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ola Labib join host Andy Zaltzman to pore over the week's news. This week, they get their teeth into the Tory party conference, the scrapping of the Universal credit uplift in the week it was announced fuel prices could go up by 30%, Facebook's 6hr lost weekend and the Nobel Prizes.The chair's script is written by Andy Zaltzman, with additional material by Alice Fraser, Heidi Regan, Suchandrika Chakrabarti and Tasha Dhanraj.Producer: Gwyn Rhys Davies
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Baum
Sound Editor: Marc WillcoxA BBC Studios Production.

Oct 1, 2021 • 28min
News Quiz 1st October 2021
Lucy Porter, Angela Barnes, Alun Cochrane and Matt Forde join host Andy Zaltzman to chew over the week's news. On the menu this week: the fuel crisis, Labour conference, end of the furlough scheme, Amazon's new house robot and the new Bond film.The chair's script is written by Andy Zaltzman, with additional material by Alice Fraser, Max Davis, Tasha Dhanraj and Heidi Regan.It was produced by Sam Michell for BBC Studios.