Speechification

4 Stands Up is an occasional standup comedy show on Radio 4. This week, Michael McIntyre (with the really interesting voice) introduces Josie Long, Colin and Fergus and Ed Byrne. [MP3]

If you’re reading this and you happen to work at the BBC, you might be interested to know that either the listen again page or the programmes page for this show seems to be confused. This episode was broadcast last night (6th May) and stars Josie Long, Colin and Fergus and Ed Byrne, which I think makes it episode 4, yet seems to be linked from the page for episode 3 (despite it not being the one with Shappi Khorsandi, Wil Hodgson and Rhod Gilbert). Of course, Programmes is a beta (and it’s great, and getting better) so all is forgiven. Thanks.

Humph was Shadow Controller of Radio 4. He was secretly in charge of the whole thing. You can’t understate his importance to the network. Only in the next weeks and months will we understand what we’ve lost. Humphrey Lyttelton was an accidental comic genius who, over the decades, came to set the station’s comedic tone: which was somewhere between withering senior common room irony and joyful, anarchic surrealism—and all without writing a single word.

While Clue was moving to the centre of the British radio comedy universe, becoming its timeless and unassailable mascot, Humph was modestly assuming the top spot himself. Shows came and went, comedians came and went. None could touch Humph who was, after all, a bloody trumpeter. We’ve lost our Controller of Beautifully Timed Sarcasm and our Controller of Barely Permissible Innuendo. Worse than that, I think we’re going to find we’ve lost our comedy anchor.

Here, to remember him by, is an edition of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue from 1998. It was recorded in Windsor (MP3).

Ed Reardon is the man I sometimes fear I’m turning into: an irascible failure, an over-educated, unemployable—but somehow undefeated—grumpy old man. I even find myself making that kind of grunting sound he produces when frustrated. I think Reardon is the current holder of the title ‘Britain’s Best Comic Creation’ and I assume that a translation to TV is imminent, although I think the fact that Christopher Douglas—who co-writes the stuff (with Andrew Nickolds) and plays Reardon himself—is a bit young for the role might be impeding the move. Here’s an episode from the fourth series that originally went out late last year and is being repeated now. Brilliant (MP3).

I hadn’t heard of serial hoaxer and comedian Campbell McComas, who died a few years ago. But, timed around April 1st, Radio National broadcast a great belated introduction to McComas, comprising dusty old recordings that still showcase a sparkling wit. McComas performed as a bogus after-dinner speaker thousands of times from the ’70s onwards, pricking the pomposity of the professional class with the audience often in on the joke - but often not, and sometimes bewildered and outraged. Often very funny.

Radio Eye: Thank you for having me (but I think you’ve been had) [mp3]

Radio 4 recently ran a new episode of this occasional jem in which John Humphrys introduces 28 acts in 28 minutes. It’s like a contemporary variety evening from the comfort of your own armchair. There’s an impressively complete list of acts on Wikipedia, with links to the various acts. This one, episode three of the second Radio 4 series, was broadcast on Thursday 27th March at 6.30pm. (MP3)

The 28 acts included guitar-playing singers including Tom McRae, Francesca Beard Gwyneth Herbert, Lady Carol of the Moon and Neil Innes, all very enjoyable in their distinct ways. These musical slots serve as a relaxing break from the stand-up comedians who make up the majority of the show. I particularly enjoyed Phil Cornwell - (who plays Greg Dyke in Dead Ringers), Jon Richardson, Danielle Ward pretending to be Andy McNab, John Finnemore being Britain’s silent majority and Will Smith (the comedian rather than the actor). There was also some poetry, a reading from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and even a drum solo.

The stand-out item for me was Liam Mullone, whose standup segment about ‘unexpected item’ in a self-service checkout, had me rolling around the floor.

Mark Radcliffe—practically radio Royalty these days—has made a lovely programme about his old friend Hovis Presley, Bolton stand-up and poet who retreated from fame and died much too young (MP3).

Ivor Cutler inhabits my dreams. As a kid I often drifted off to sleep to the muffled sound of Cutler in the next room (he wasn’t actually in the next room but my Dad’s old tape recorder was). I’m not going to waste any more energy describing an almost perfectly strange and beautiful artist like Cutler. He just was. This is the first in a six-part series that went out in 1990 - a collaboration with his long-time partner Phyllis King. BBC7 ran it again this morning in the early hours but I can’t tell if they’re going to run the other five (you figure it out). MP3.

Groucho was an imperfect man, some of the movies were rubbish and he was mean to his family but I can’t help it: he’s my favourite person in all of history. There, I said it. Matthew Parris’ Great Lives is all about him this week. Well worth a listen (MP3).

Ken Dodd’s not well. So here, in lieu of a get-well card, is a nice hour-long interview with the great man that went out on Xmas Day. Dodd was profoundly uncool for a long time. Not least because of his parallel career as a chart-topping crooner of the old school. Like many variety performers of his generation, though, he’s been properly rehabilitated and he’s still touring like a young man although he’s eighty. MP3.

This find comes in via a del.icio.us bookmark from Nick O’Leary. Thanks Nick.

Listen Against is…

like Radio 4’s Feedback but with less violence, Alice Arnold and Jon Holmes look back in amplitude at snippets from Radio 1 through to BBC 7 and beyond, and invite listeners to rise up and shout at it all.

Jon Holmes (with whom I am increasingly making Charlie Brooker comparisons) is the writer, producer and co-presenter of this parody ‘Feedback’-style phone-in show. It has a good ensemble cast though, as well as drawing on lots of clips from Radio 4, often twisting them into something altogether more surreal.

Sadly the series was only four episodes long. Here’s the last one. (MP3)

The photo is from a very nasty hotel room in which I was staying this week. I was very disappointed it didn’t work, but tuned it to the “4″ position, just in case.