John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme. Image shows from L to R: Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Lawry Lewin, John Finnemore, Carrie Quinlan, Simon Kane. Copyright: BBC
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme

John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme

  • Radio sketch show
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2011 - 2023
  • 54 episodes (9 series)

Radio 4 sketch show written by and starring John Finnemore. Also features Simon Kane, Carrie Quinlan, Lawry Lewin and Margaret Cabourn-Smith.

  • Due to return in May 2024
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme. Image shows from L to R: Carrie Quinlan, Simon Kane, John Finnemore, Lawry Lewin, Margaret Cabourn-Smith. Copyright: BBC

Key details

Genre
Sketch Show
Broadcast
2011 - 2023
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Episodes
54 (9 series)
Stars
John Finnemore, Simon Kane, Carrie Quinlan, Lawry Lewin and Margaret Cabourn-Smith
Writer
John Finnemore
Producer
Ed Morrish
Companies

Here's the description John Finnemore has written for his own show:

John Finnemore, writer and star of Cabin Pressure, regular guest on The Now Show and popper-up in things like Miranda and That Mitchell And Webb Look returns with half an hour of his own sketches, each funnier than the last.

Although, hang on, that system means starting the whole series with the least funny sketch. Might need to rethink that. OK, it's a show filled with sketches written and performed by John Finnemore, but now no longer arranged in strict order of funniness. Also, he's cut the sketch that would have gone first.

John promises to stop doing silly sketches about nonsense like Winnie the Pooh's honey addiction or how goldfish invented computer programming, and concentrate instead on the big, serious issues: why do posh men's trousers turn red when they get drunk? Is it possible to collect all the stamps? And who invented the little tripod thing you get in pizza boxes?

In each series John intends to write more sketches, like the sketches from the other series. Not so much like them that they feel stale and repetitious; but on the other hand not so different that it feels like a misguided attempt to completely change the show. Quite like the old sketches, in other words, but about different things and with different jokes (although it's a pretty safe bet some of them will involve talking animals).

Catch-up

Additional details

Also known as
  • John Finnemore's Sketch Show (Working title)
Production
Studio

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Sunday 18th September 2011 at 7:15pm on BBC Radio 4
Most recent repeats

Recording details

  • BBC Radio Theatre
  • RADA Studios - 2023 special
  • Cecil Sharp House (Camden) - 2023 special try-out

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