Comedy of the Week

Jim Browning, an ethical hacker known for exposing phone scammers, joins D.I. Duncan Wynne, head of the Thames Valley Police Central Fraud Unit. They dive into modern scams like fake eBay listings and marketplace frauds. Jim shares his unique tactics, including using soundboards to confuse scammers and revealing the insidious 'pig butchering' scams. D.I. Wynne explains police procedures for investigating fraud cases and emphasizes the importance of reporting scams to protect others. Their insights clarify the complex world of scams and the fight against them.

Julian Clary, a well-known comedian, makes a charming guest appearance as Neil, adding flair to Tom and Lauren’s holiday planning chaos. They hilariously navigate the pitfalls of budget airlines, from hidden baggage fees to the nightmare of middle seats. Lauren grapples with wardrobe choices and the pressure of packing light, while Tom faces his fears of questionable seatmates. The comedic exchanges peak when Neil steps in to hilariously address the cardboard crisis and offers to care for their plants, much to Lauren's chagrin.

Scott Bennett, a stand-up comedian and storyteller, shares the touching journey of his daughter Olivia's battle with congenital hyperinsulinism. He cleverly intertwines humor with harrowing moments, like the shocking lows of Olivia's blood sugar and their frantic 999 call. Scott discusses the emotional turmoil of hospital stays, the need for assertiveness in confronting medical professionals, and the surreal experience of a private jet to Berlin for a crucial diagnosis. Ultimately, he reflects on resilience, family impact, and how Olivia's story is changing clinical practices for the better.

Chris McCausland, a comedian with a software engineering background, brings humor to tech discussions while sharing quirky anecdotes about media consumption. Joining him is Mike Berners-Lee, a sustainability expert, who emphasizes the necessity of actionable carbon accounting. They delve into the hidden carbon costs of the internet, the paradox of increased emissions from efficiency, and the potential pitfalls of carbon offsets. Chris also hilariously debates vinyl versus streaming, while Mike offers tips on decluttering your digital life to benefit both personal wellbeing and the planet.

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 WaughWith Phil Ellis and Katia KvingeAdditional voice by Kai HumphriesProduced by Lauren MackaySound by Fraser JacksonPhotographer: Chris QuiliettiA 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.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 SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA 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 AudienceOriginal music: Tim SuttonRecording engineer: Jerry Peal Mixed by: Rich Evans Producer: Ed MorrishA 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.CastGladys – Kathryn Drysdale Lauren – Ania Magliano Clive – Garrett Millerick Harriett – Fay Ripley Achi – Ahir Shah Ken – Frank SkinnerWriter – 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 ThodayAn Avalon Television Production for BBC Radio 4

Ria Lina, a former forensic scientist, dives into the science behind microneedling as an anti-aging treatment. She and comedian Geoff Norcott discuss the societal pressure on women to maintain youthful appearances while unpacking male perspectives on beauty treatments. The duo explores the microneedling process, expected side effects, and its effectiveness for various skin concerns. Their one-week follow-up reveals initial redness but subtle improvements, likening microneedling to a workout for the skin that stimulates collagen production.

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