Henning Wehn: 'Of course ve haff a sense of humour'

Germany's 'comedy ambassador', Henning Wehn, talks to Dominic Cavendish at the Edinburgh Festival.

Henning Wehn - Germany's premium comedy export

This one-man comedy war effort from Germany is well on the way to world domination.

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus! (Radio 4, 10.30am) is a tale of fan power. Forty years ago Alfred Biolek persuaded the Monty Python team to make two 45-minute specials for German TV. Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Biolek himself tell Henning Wehn (the German comedian who's always on Radio 4 shows) how it happened. From independents All Out.

Achtung! Fans of Monty Python and his enduring Flying Circus will want to catch this oddball programme in which the uniquely accented Henning Wehn winkles out the story of how the Pythons came to make two special episodes of the programme for German TV. Aghast at the lack of silliness on air in Deutschland in 1971, Alfred Biolek convinced the troupe not only to film the new shows but also to perform them in German, a language none of the cast were familiar with. This is packed with amusing reminiscences from all involved, and if you miss it you'll be sick as a parrot - or, if you like, an ex-parrot.

Henning Wehn: Outsider's perspective is useful

Myths of nationalist supremacy can inspire ugly behaviour, as German comedian Henning Wehn appreciates all too well. Taking the stage in Billericay, Essex, he found the entire audience wearing Hitler moustaches. Chuckling, he recalls: "That wasn't menacing. That was the Great British sense of humour. I thought it was hilarious they thought they were the first to come up with it."

News Quiz: the clink is going to shrink

Here's an advance dose of tonight's News Quiz, featuring Susan Calman, Jeremy Hardy, Henning Wehn and Sue Perkins. After Justice Secretary Ken Clarke announced the closure of three "outdated and expensive" prisons, Sandi Toksvig asks German stand-up Henning Wehn for an analysis.

Now Show Preview - Jeremy Hunt and the Cult of Hunting

On tonight's Now Show, Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis take a topical trip around tuition fees and Today tongue-twisters. Musical Mitch Benn sees the world through Lennon's eyes; German stand-up Henning Wehn probes our World Cup hypocrisy; John Finnemore wonders at the sexual magnetism of a certain Lib Dem MP and Laura Shavin reveals what every woman wants for Christmas.

Interview: Henning Wehn

A German-themed Fringe show called My Struggle? No, it's not Prince Harry acting out again. Sarah Kendell catches up with the man behind the madness, Henning Wehn.