BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4, which has been broadcasting comedy ever since it took over from the BBC Home Service in 1967, has launched hundreds of comedy shows. Popular R4 comedies series include The News Quiz, The Now Show, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, Just A Minute, Old Harry's Game and Ed Reardon's Week. Many famous TV comedies actually started life in audio form on Radio 4 - Dead Ringers, Little Britain, That Mitchell and Webb Sound and Goodness Gracious Me are just four of the many series that went on to become TV hits. Radio 4 currently broadcasts comedy shows every weekday at 11:30am, 6:30pm and 11pm.

BBC Radio 4 Web Links

Contact Details For BBC

  • Email / Online Form
  • By Phone: 0870 010 0222
  • By Post: BBC Information, PO Box 1922, Glasgow, G2 3WT

BBC Radio 4 - New & Current Shows

Adam Hills Mess Around

Adam Hills Mess Around

Radio 4 comedy pilot starring Australian comic Adam Hills.

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Before They Were Famous

Before They Were Famous

Spoof Radio 4 documentary which sheds light on the often surprising jobs done by the world's best known writers.

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The Brig Society

Brig Society, The

Stand-up and sketch series presented by Marcus Brigstocke.

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Can't Tell Nathan Caton Nothing

Can't Tell Nathan Caton Nothing

Stand-up series, mixed with sitcom elements. Nathan Caton talks about his family's disappointment that he decided to become a comedian.

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Colin Hoult's Carnival Of Monsters

Colin Hoult's Carnival Of Monsters

Character comedy series from Radio 4 starring Colin Hoult.

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Deep Trouble

Deep Trouble

Radio sitcom set on HMS Goliath, a nuclear submarine - manned by idiots. Written by and starring Jim Field Smith and Ben Willbond.

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Detective Sergeant Nick Mohammed

Detective Sergeant Nick Mohammed

Radio 4 sitcom mixed with sketch show from Nick Mohammed.

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Down The Line

Down The Line

Spoof phone-in show starring Rhys Thomas as the clueless and tactless DJ Gary Bellamy.

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Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off

Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off

Radio sitcom starring Marcus Brigstocke as Giles Wemmbley Hogg, a middle-class student ponce from Budleigh Salterton who travels the world.

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Heresy

Heresy

A panel of celebrity guests join Victoria Coren to use their wit and wisdom to argue against narrow-minded thinking and received opinions of the day.

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Hobby Bobbies

Hobby Bobbies

Radio 4 sitcom about community policing.

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House On Fire

House On Fire

Sitcom about Vicky and Matt, who decide to buy a house together in these credit crunch times, despite being strangers to each other.

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I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue

I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue

Extremely popular radio comedy. ISIHAC is a self-styled antidote to panel games, in which players are given silly things to do.

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Incredible Women

Incredible Women

Rebecca Front and her brother Jeremy star in a series of spoof documentaries looking at the lives of different women.

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It Is Rocket Science!

It Is Rocket Science!

Radio 4 comedy based on Helen Keen's Edinburgh stand-up show.

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It's Not What You Know

It's Not What You Know

Panel show testing the knowledge of panellists on their own families. Hosted by Miles Jupp.

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John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme

John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme

Radio 4 sketch show written by and starring John Finnemore.

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Just A Minute

Just A Minute

Long running radio panel game in which host Nicholas Parsons asks contestants to talk for one minute without repetition, hesitation or deviation.

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Mark Steel's In Town

Mark Steel's In Town

Mark Steel visits the less-famous bits of Britain and investigates the funniest moments in their history. He then performs a stand-up show to locals.

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Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change?

Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change?

Stand-up show in which Micky Flanagan examines how his life has changed decade by decade.

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The Museum Of Curiosity

Museum Of Curiosity, The

Radio panel show in which John Lloyd and his curators try to fill up their museum with curious objects.

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My Teenage Diary

My Teenage Diary

Radio 4 series in which comedians read embarrassing extracts from their teenage diaries. Hosted by Rufus Hound.

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The National Theatre Of Brent's Iconic Icons

National Theatre Of Brent's Iconic Icons, The

The multi award winning National Theatre of Brent (Desmond Olivier Dingle and Raymond Box) pay tribute to some Iconic Icons.

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The News Quiz

News Quiz, The

A long-running satirical Radio 4 panel show that takes a look at the week's more humourous news stories.

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The Now Show

Now Show, The

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present a mix of stand-up, sketches and songs in this popular topical comedy show for Radio 4.

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The Other Side

Other Side, The

Radio Spiritworld is the only station broadcasting from the afterlife to the living world. Created by Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz.

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Paul Sinha's Citizenship Test

Paul Sinha's Citizenship Test

Radio 4 stand-up show from Paul Sinha which will feature the questions that should appear on the citizenship test.

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The Pickerskill Reports

Pickerskill Reports, The

Black comedy series starring Ian McDiarmid as Dr Pickerskill, a retired English master looking back at the lives of his most entertaining pupils.

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The Show What You Wrote

Show What You Wrote, The

Radio 4 sketch show written by members of the public. Each episode covers a different theme.

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Sketchorama

Sketchorama

A live sketch act showcase featuring established and up-and-coming sketch groups performing in front of a live studio audience.

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Stop/Start

Stop/Start

Radio 4 sitcom about love, marriage and tolerating each other. Written by and starring Jack Docherty.

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The Toll

Toll, The

Radio 4 sitcom about the people who work on a toll bridge in Wales. Written by Benjamin Partridge.

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Tonight

Tonight

Satirical radio comedy show starring Rory Bremner, with regular performers Andy Zaltzman, Kate O'Sullivan and Nick Doody.

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Trodd En Bratt - Well Done You

Trodd En Bratt - Well Done You

Radio 4 sketch show starring Lucy Trodd and Ruth Bratt.

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The Unbelievable Truth

Unbelievable Truth, The

David Mitchell hosts the Radio 4 panel game built on truth and lies. Contestants must try and smuggle truths into lie-filled speeches.

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Yes, Nina Conti Really Is On The Radio

Yes, Nina Conti Really Is On The Radio

Radio 4 show from ventriloquist Nina Conti.

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Other Older Shows Commissioned By BBC Radio 4

Note: this list might not be fully complete yet. We are still researching archive shows.

View all BBC comedies

The British Film Collection

The British Film Collection

A look at the impresive Spring & Summer 2013 comedy titles from The British Film DVD collection. Read

Mock The Week - Series 12

Mock The Week - Series 12

Mock The Week will be back in June - and will now be filmed in HD. Here's details on what to expect. Read

Video: Mr Nazi

Video: Mr Nazi

Did you used to read the Mr Men books? If so, do you remember the adventures of bad Mr Nazi? Watch

Video: Bad Date

Video: Bad Date

A BBC Comedy sketch. Ever been on a bad date? Ever dated a dog? This committed Christian has... Watch

Father Ted - Every Drink

Father Ted - Every Drink

A video featuring every utterance of the word 'drink' in Father Ted. Try and keep count - it's hard! Watch

Galton & Simpson honoured

Galton & Simpson honoured

Celebrated writing duo Ray Galton and Alan Simpson are to be honoured with a blue plaque unveiling in June. Read

Look Of Love interviews

Look Of Love interviews

A video of the cast of The Look Of Love, including star Steve Coogan, talking about the new Soho-set film. Watch

What We Did On Our Holiday

What We Did On Our Holiday

Billy Connolly and Ben Miller are amongst the cast for the new film by the writers of Outnumbered. Read

Some Girls - Series 2

Some Girls - Series 2

A second series of BBC Three sitcom Some Girls is now being filmed. Find out what is in store here: Read

Jessie Cave's book club

Jessie Cave's book club

Unique performance comedian Jessie Cave provides a guide to how to host a book club. Well, sort of. Read