Trial By Laughter
Real-life comedy drama about William Hone, a satirist and early champion of freedom of speech
- Genre
- Comedy Drama
- Broadcast
- 2016
- Channel
- BBC Radio 4
- Episodes
- 1
- Starring
- Robert Wilfort, Arthur Bostrom, Conrad Nelson, Jonathan Keeble, David Benson, Malcolm Raeburn, Melissa Sinden, Fiona Clarke and Graeme Hawley
- Writers
- Ian Hislop and Nick Newman
- Director
- Gary Brown
- Producer
- Gary Brown
William Hone is the forgotten hero of free speech in Britain. He was a bookseller, publisher and satirist. In 1817, he stood trial for 'impious blasphemy and seditious libel'. His crime was to be funny. Worse than that he was funny by parodying religious texts. And worst of all, he was funny about the despotic government and the libidinous monarchy. A comedy drama based on the real trial transcripts.
- Production company
Broadcast details
- First broadcast
- Saturday 27th February 2016 on BBC Radio 4 at 2:30pm
- Episode length
- 1 hour
- Upcoming repeats
- Episode Episode 1: Sunday at 4pm on Radio 4 Extra
- Episode Episode 1: Monday at 4am on Radio 4 Extra