Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

Coming to you from Belfast this week, Andy Zaltzman quizzes the news with Zoe Lyons, Neil Delamere, Diona Doherty, and Alex Kane. In this episode Andy and the panel will be asking if turning the Northern Ireland Assembly off and on has made it work again? Why Labour is keeping the red flag flying?… a Formula 1 style red flag, that is, which they’re waving at their own environment policy to tell it...

Andy Zaltzman quizzes the news. Providing all the answers are Simon Evans, Ria Lina, Alasdair Beckett-King, and Anushka Asthana. In this episode Andy and the panel will be discussing if Power-Sharing will prove to be Power-Caring, and whether anyone anywhere has ever thought of googling "Is it possible to back up WhatsApp messages?” Written by Andy Zaltzman With additional material by: Cody Dahler...

Andy Zaltzman quizzes the news. Providing all the answers are Lucy Porter, Geoff Norcott, Alasdair Beckett-King, and Cindy Yu. In this episode Andy and the panel address the issue of BBC bias after upsetting a minister with last week's show, try and figure out exactly what Keir Starmer stands for, and ask the question... who is ready for war? Written by Andy Zaltzman With additional material by: C...

Andy Zaltzman quizzes news from Swansea this week. Providing all the answers are Lucy Porter, Robin Morgan, Tadiwa Mahlunge, and Ayesha Hazarika. In this episode Andy and the panel have a look at some broken geopolitical New Year's resolutions and how life seemingly both began and is now struggling in Wales. Written by Andy Zaltzman With additional material by: Cody Dahler, Cameron Loxdale, and Ca...

Topical panel quiz show, taking its questions from the week's news stories

A look back on some of the best bits of News Quizzing from 2023 In this compilation episode Andy Zaltzman casts his satirical eye over the highs and lows of the year, in which the UK managed to hold of a Prime Minister for more than a year (well done us), The Economy moved about as erratically as a paper plane in a snow storm, and there were some events in the Middle East that made doing a light-h...

Jon Culshaw and Jan Ravens join Bill Dare, the long time producer and creator of Dead Ringers, to look back at the last ten years of the programme on Radio 4. Their focus is party leaders – the ones they most want to remember. We’ll hear a selection of the funniest party leader sketches going back to 2014 when Dead Ringers returned to radio and David Cameron vs Ed Miliband was the main show in tow...

Topical satire, featuring all the people you’d least like to have Christmas dinner with. There are debut appearances from Baroness Mone, Katherine Jenkins and the new Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa. Sunak and King Charles give their end of year speeches, and there is a surprise guest on Naked Attraction. This episode was written by: Nev Fountain & Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Ed Amsden & Tom C...

Topical comedy as everyone's favourite impressions show returns... with a festive twist. This episode features the Rwanda migrant crisis, Tory factionalism, Sir Kier Starmer’s latest policy and troubling times for The Wombles. This week's impressionists are Jon Culshaw, Lewis MacLeod, Jan Ravens, Jess Robinson and Duncan Wisbey. This episode was written by: Nev Fountain & Tom Jamieson, Laurenc...

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches. Featuring Geoff Norcott looking in the proposal of a Minister for Men, Harriet Kemsley on Kim Jong Un's pleas to North Korea, and an original song from Peter Rugman. The show was written by the cast with additional material from Adrian Gray, Miranda Holms, Rajiv Karia, Cameron Loxdale and Laura Major. Voice Actors: Dani...

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches. They're joined by David Eagle unpacking the Advent, Jessica Fostekew looking into the repeal of the New Zealand smoking ban, and an original song from Archie Henderson, performed with Becky CJ. The show was written by the cast with additional material from Alex Garrick-Wright, Jade Gebbie, Rhiannon Shaw, Miranda Holms a...

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches. They're joined by Ria Lina looking into changes in the NHS, Fin Taylor on the Royals, and with an original song from Ed MacArthur. The show was written by the cast with additional material from Rachel E Thorn, Aidan Fitzmaurice, Joe Bates and Cody Dahler. Voice Actors: Joz Norris and Gemma Arrowsmith. Producer: Rajiv Ka...

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches. They are joined by Zoe Lyons, with some news of recent rare sightings, Pierre Novellie, exploring the latest in middle class crazes, and Jess Robinson, singing about the real stalwart of 10 Downing Street. The show was written by the cast with additional material from Mike Shephard, Tasha Dhanraj, David Duncan and Cody...

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches. They are joined by Alasdair Beckett-King who mourns his political heroes, Desiree Burch with a deep dive on fast fashion, and Huge Davies gives us his musical take on why AI might not be so bad after all. The show was written by the cast with additional material from Mike Shephard, Zoe Tomalin, Christina Riggs and Cody...

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches. They are joined by Ken Cheng who uses air fryers to help explain his frustration with the housing market, Helen Bauer arguing why school uniforms need to remain affordable, and Rachel Parris gives her musical take on what truly scares us at Halloween. The show was written by the cast with additional material from Camero...

Andy Zaltzman quizzes the week's news. Providing the answers, hopefully, are Ian Smith, Ria Lina, Hugo Rifkind, and Robin Morgan In this final episode of the series Andy and the panel discuss some problematic protests, the looming general election, and BRITS IN SPACE! Written by Andy Zaltzman With additional material by Cody Dahler Mike Shephard and Adam Greene Producer: Sam Holmes Executive Produ...

Andy Zaltzman quizzes the week's news. Providing the answers, hopefully, are Ian Smith, Lucy Porter, Anushka Asthana, and Simon Evans In this episode Andy and the panel discuss the language of war, our crumbling infrastructure, and massive rats! Written by Andy Zaltzman With additional material by Jade Gebbie, Simon Alcock and Cameron Loxdale Producer: Sam Holmes Executive Producer: James Robinson...

Andy Zaltzman quizzes the week's news. Providing the answers, hopefully, are, Alex Massie, Simon Evans, Alice Fraser, and Rachel Parris. In this episode Andy and the panel deconstruct a Grey Wall, celebrate some Nobel achievements, and get ready for Halloween with the world's largest pumpkin. Written by Andy Zaltzman With additional material by Peter Tellouche and Cameron Loxdale Producer: Sam Hol...

Andy Zaltzman quizzes the week's news. With him to find the answers to all our problems Daliso Chaponda, Susie McCabe, Bethany Black, and Hugo Rifkind This week, Andy and the panel discuss the cancellation of the world's most delayed train, a very awkward work event, and the most patient guide dog (such a good boy). Written by Andy Zaltzman With additional material by Alice Fraser Cody Dahler and...

Andy Zaltzman quizzes the week's news. With him to find the answers to all our problems Andrew Doyle, Athena Kugblenu, Felicity Ward and Hugo Rifkind. This week, Andy and the panel discuss Suella's desire to ditch conventions, Sunak laughing all the way to the Rosebank, and the thrills and spills of the Lib Dem conference. Written by Andy Zaltzman With additional material by Alice Fraser Ben Clove...

Andy Zaltzman quizzes the week's news. Providing all the answers Ria Lina, Ayesha Hazarika, Chris McCausland, and Alasdair Beckett-King. In this episode Andy and the panel discuss Rishi rowing back on net zero, Wales slowing down, HS2 grinding to a halt and Starmer's European sojourn. Written by Andy Zaltzman With additional material by Cody Dahler Mike Shephard Rhiannon Shaw and Miranda Holms Pro...

Lucy Porter, Tom Ballard, Anushka Asthana, and Mark Steel joined Andy Zaltzman to quiz the week's news. In this episode Andy and the panel search for the world's most obvious spy, the world's most awkward train ride, and the UK's worst road. Written by Andy Zaltzman With additional material by Cody Dahler Mike Shephard and Christina Riggs Producer: Sam Holmes Executive Producer: James Robinson Pro...

Andy Zaltzman quizzes the week's news. Providing the answers, hopefully, are, Ian Smith, Lucy Porter, Hugo Rifkind, and Zoe Lyons. In this episode Andy and the panel test the state of schools, the resiliance of a reshuffle, and value of vets. Written by Andy Zaltzman With additional material by Cody Dahler Mike Shepard and Eleri Morgan Producer: Sam Holmes Executive Producer: James Robinson Produc...

The sixth of our satirical specials this summer. From The Skewer’s Jon Holmes comes The Naked Week, a fresh way of dressing the week’s news in the altogether and parading it around for everyone to laugh at. Host Andrew Hunter Murray (No Such Thing As A Fish, QI Elf, Private Eye) will strip away the curtain and dive into not only the big stories, but also at the way in which the news is packaged an...

The fifth of our satirical specials this summer. Columns. Analysis. The Guardian's Long Read. Who has time? Catherine Bohart, that's who, and she's going beyond the headlines to give you the lowdown on one of the biggest stories of the week, alongside journalist James Ball and roving correspondent Sunil Patel. Catherine has fast become one of the most sought-after comedians in the UK and Ireland....