Comedy of the Week

Latest Episodes:

Geoff Norcott's Working Men's Club Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

Geoff Norcott examines modern masculinity in this stand-up series for Radio 4, by creating the safe space of a working men’s club so he can speak freely about the problems men are facing and how we might go about fixing them in a way that benefits everyone.

This week, Geoff looks at men’s reluctance to put on sunscreen. Why not take a simple, basic precaution against the hottest and largest thing in the entire solar system? Vanity? Bravado? Or something else? With the help of his studio audience, Geoff looks at whether this is connected to men’s reluctance to seek medical advice and their habit of dying early.

Written and presented by Geoff Norcott

Recorded by Richard Biddulph

Production manager: Sarah Wright Executive producer: Caroline Raphael Producer: Ed Morrish

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Your Mum Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Laura Smyth speaks to celebrity guests to find out about the mothers who made them.

This week Laura is joined by comedians Sara Barron and Nish Kumar and boy is it the battle of the big personality mums! We hear all about Sara’s mum’s main character energy and her mantra ‘we’re not like other girls’. We learn about Nish’s mum leading her entire family to England aged just 15, and the mic drop way in which she introduces herself to strangers. And we conclude that maybe it makes total sense for all mothers to be a little bit mad?

Producer: Sasha Bobak Assistant Producer: Eve Delaney Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Co-ordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter

A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

Omid Djalili: Namaste Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Omid Djalili explores a world that's louder, angrier, and stranger than ever.

Who gets to decide who we are before we've even opened our mouths? Omid Djalili examines the stereotypes that shape our lives - from growing up as the son of Iranian immigrants to the labels, assumptions and snap judgements we all make about each other. Through stand-up, audience contributions and personal stories, he asks whether comedy can break through prejudice and remind us that people are always more complicated than the boxes we put them in.

This is the first episode of the Stand-Up Specials series Omid Djalili: Namaste. To hear more episodes, search "Stand-Up Specials" on BBC Sounds.

A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

Unspeakable Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

In this episode we hear Jessie Cave’s word for letting your kids explore their canine side, Armando Iannucci's description for excessive false modesty, and Chloe Petts’s coinage for when you need something but you don't want to be a bother.

Ever struggled to find the right word for a feeling or sensation? Unspeakable sees comedian Phil Wang and lexicographer Susie Dent invite celebrity guests to invent new linguistic creations, to solve those all too relatable moments when we're lost for words.

Hosts: Phil Wang and Susie Dent Guests: Jessie Cave, Armando Iannucci and Chloe Petts Created by Joe Varley Writers: Matt Crosby and Katie Storey Recorded by Jerry Peal Producer: Jon Harvey Executive Producers: Joe Varley and Akash Lockmun

A Brown Bred production for BBC Radio 4

The Skewer Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

The multi-award-winning satire returns, as Jon Holmes mashes up news with pop-culture into a current affairs comedy concept album. This week - Andy Burnham embarks on his Odyssey, and Harry and Meghan's dog barks at The Gentlemen on Netflix.

To hear more episode from this series, search "The Skewer" on BBC Sounds.

Producer: Jon Holmes An unusual production for BBC Radio 4

Edinburgh Comedy Awards Gala 2026 Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

The prestigious Awards turns 46 this year and as always is recognising a Best Newcomer and a Best Comedy Show. In this gala, hosted by 2024 Best Show nominee Catherine Bohart, we hear from the nominees and winners to give listeners around the UK the chance to hear what's hot at the Fringe this year. The Gala was recorded at The Grand in the Pleasance Courtyard, one of the Edinburgh Fringe’s iconic comedy venues.

Audible Best Comedy Show winner is Chris Cantrill Taffner Family's Best Newcomer winner is Marty Gleeson

Also nominated for Best Comedy Show are: Harriet Dyer, Li Jin Hao, Dan Tiernan, Lara Ricote

Also nominated for Best Newcomer are: Fatiha El-Ghorri, Dom McGovern, Freddie Meredith, Tom Towelling, Underground Monk Show

Host: Catherine Bohart Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Co-ordinator: Jodie Charman Edited by Chris Maclean Recorded by Sean Kerwin

Recorded at The Pleasance Grand in Edinburgh. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

The People Have Spoken Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

It's time for the people to speak. Taking on the headlines, Ian Smith is joined by Harriet Kemsley and Ashley Storrie to work out what is going on, and together with an Edinburgh Fringe audience, solve the biggest problem facing the world right now.

Which family member would you send to negotiate with Hamas? How should we help Trump meet his self-imposed deadlines? And how to we protect Andy Burnham from scam phone calls?

Written by Ian Smith, Angela Channell, Cameron Loxdale and Katie Storey Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Sound Editing: David Thomas Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded the Edinburgh Fesitval Fringe

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production

Paul Sinha's Perfect Pub Quiz Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Kicking off a fifth series, Paul takes his audience in Boston, Lincolnshire, through an ideal range of questions for a perfect pub quiz.

He also has rounds inspired by the area, on subjects like suspension bridges, the tallest buildings in the world, and the way in which Boston avenged Lincoln. And he gets asked - again - about the Lincolnshire football club that's had three England captains, Jack Daniels, and the Lincolnshire town that used to be the capital of England.

This Comedy of the Week episode features the first episode of the fifth series of Paul Sinha's Perfect Pub Quiz. All series are available to listen on BBC Sounds.

Written and performed by Paul Sinha Additional material: Oliver Levy

Additional questions: The Audience

Recorded at the Blackfriars Theatre, Boston, by Jerry Peal at Peal Sound Mixed by Rich Evans at Syncbox Post

Producer: Ed Morrish Executive producer: Lyndsay Fenner

A Lead Mojo production for BBC Radio 4

Just a Minute Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

We're back with a bang this week with some of our toughest subjects to date. They include my advice for a blind date, I refuse to go back to..., and the last time I made a citizen's arrest. Plus who makes the classic repetition mistake of saying BBC?

This Comedy of the Week features the first episode of series 97 of Just a Minute.

Host: Sue Perkins Players: Paul Merton, Lucy Porter, Rachel Parris, Gyles Brandreth Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: James Robinson Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Production Manager: Katie Baum Sound Editor: Marc Willcox Additional material by Angela Channell

An EcoAudio certified production. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

Best Medicine Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Joining Kiri Pritchard-McLean this week is comedian Michelle Wolf who reflects on home births, Professor Stephen Wallace explains how old plastic bottles can be transformed into a form of Dopamine that can be used to treat Parkinson’s disease, and Dr Matt Clarke demonstrates the power of medical collaboration in helping to identify and treat brain tumours.

Best Medicine is your weekly dose of laughter, hope and incredible medicine. Award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined by a funny and fascinating panel of comedians, doctors, scientists, experts and historians to celebrate medicine's inspiring past, present and future.

Each week Kiri challenges a panel of experts and a comedian to make a case for what they think is 'the best medicine'. Each guest champions anything from world-changing science or an obscure invention to an everyday treatment, an uplifting worldview, an unsung hero or a futuristic cure.

Whether it’s groundbreaking surgery, seaweed underwear, AI glasses to help people with dementia, horse therapy, sports, revolutionary gene therapy for Huntington’s disease or yesterday’s rubbish becoming tomorrow’s medicines - it’s always something worth celebrating.

Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean

Featuring: Dr Matt Clarke, Professor Stephen Wallace and Michelle Wolf

Written by Edward Easton, Jordan Gray, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ben Rowse

Producer: Tashi Radha

Executive Producer: Ben Worsfield

Theme tune composed by Andrew Jones

A Large Time production for BBC Radio 4