The Frequency Of Laughter: A History Of Radio Comedy. Copyright: BBC
The Frequency Of Laughter: A History Of Radio Comedy

The Frequency Of Laughter: A History Of Radio Comedy

  • Radio documentary
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2014
  • 6 episodes (1 series)

A six-part history of radio comedy, covering 1975-2005, presented by journalist and radio fan Grace Dent. Features Grace Dent.

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 1 - 1975-1980

Graeme Garden and John Lloyd look at radio comedy in the late 1970s.

Further details

Graeme Garden, by this stage, was an established figure with his breakthrough show I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again morphing into I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, in addition to his work presenting Week Ending, and as a panellist on shows such as A Rhyme In Time.

John Lloyd only joined the BBC Radio Comedy department in 1973, but he managed to make over 500 shows, co-creating The News Quiz, The Burkiss Way, and Quote Unquote before leaving for television.

Grace Dent asks them about the atmosphere within the Radio Comedy department and within the BBC, and how ideas actually make it on air.

They share their memories of former Heads of Light Entertainment Radio (as it was then called) Con Mahoney and David Hatch, and talk about the lack of women in comedy at that time.

Broadcast details

Date
Saturday 1st November 2014
Time
10:30am
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Monday 19th September 2016 6:30am Radio 4 Extra
Monday 19th September 2016 1:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Monday 19th September 2016 8:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 20th September 2016 1:30am Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
Grace Dent Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Graeme Garden Guest
John Lloyd Guest
Simon Brett Self
Yvonne Littlewood Self
Production team
Ed Morrish Producer
Alexandra Smith Producer

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