Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4

<p>Download the best satirical comedy from Radio 4, every Friday. Features The News Quiz, Dead Ringers, The Naked Week and Too Long; Didn't Read.</p>

  • 28 minutes 30 seconds
    The News Quiz: Ep5. The Prince of Darkness

    Is there a way out for Keir Starmer after the Peter Mandelson scandal? Who fled ‘under the cover of darkness’ from their royal lodgings? What exactly is a humble address? And why are iguanas falling out of trees? Helping Andy answer some of the big questions of the week are Desiree Burch, Pierre Novellie, Daniel Finkelstein and Catherine Bohart.

    Written by Andy Zaltzman.

    With additional material by: Cody Dahler, Eve Delaney and Sarah Mills Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producers: Richard Morris and James Robinson Production Coordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu Sound Editor: Marc Willcox

    A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

    13 February 2026, 7:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 21 seconds
    The News Quiz: Ep4. By-elections, hello defections

    On the agenda this week is Starmer vs Burnham in Labour's latest civil war, Suella Braverman’s defection to Reform, and working out how to save The Great British pub. To get to the bottom of all this, Andy is joined by Daliso Chaponda, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Hugo Rifkind and Holly Walsh.

    Written by Andy Zaltzman.

    With additional material by: Christina Riggs, Cameron Loxdale and Sarah Mills Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Sound Editor: Marc Willcox

    A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

    6 February 2026, 7:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 13 seconds
    The News Quiz: Ep3. Bored of peace

    This week we'll be looking at Trump's Board of Peace and asking whether Trump is bored of peace. We'll be working out how China managed to afford to get on the central London property ladder with their new mega-embassy, and hoping that a clever cow who can use a tool to scratch its back can up its game and sort out global diplomacy before it's too late. Joining Andy to help make sense of all the madness is Lucy Porter, Alasdair Beckett-King, Stephen Bush and Shappi Khorsandi.

    Written by Andy Zaltzman.

    With additional material by: Christina Riggs, Cameron Loxdale, Ruth Husko and Dee Allum. Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: James Robinson Production Coordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu Sound Editor: Marc Willcox

    A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

    30 January 2026, 7:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 37 seconds
    The News Quiz: Ep2. U-Turn, We Defect

    Andy’s returned from The Ashes and is back in the News Quiz chair. He’s come home to a selection of defections, some serious U-turning and 30,000 properties without water in his hometown of Tunbridge Wells. He was only away for one week! Helping Andy make sense of it all is Susie McCabe, Paul Sinha, Cindy Yu and Scott Bennett.

    Written by Andy Zaltzman.

    With additional material by: Mike Shephard, Eleanor Morton and Dee Allum Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: Richard Morris Production Coordinator: Giulia Mazzu Sound Editor: Marc Willcox

    A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

    23 January 2026, 7:00 pm
  • 15 minutes 35 seconds
    Introducing The Skewer

    Here's a chance for Friday Night Comedy listeners to hear another satirical comedy from BBC Radio 4, as Jon Holmes introduces the latest episode of his series The Skewer. The four-time Gold Comedy winner at the Radio Academy Awards returns as Jon Holmes mashes up more news with pop culture to create a current affairs comedy concept album. This week: Trump vs The World, Jenrick The Secret Traitor, No Way Nobel and Peace Board Assemble! To listen to more episodes from the series, just search for The Skewer on BBC Sounds. Producer: Jon Holmes An unusual production for BBC Radio 4

    22 January 2026, 12:05 pm
  • 28 minutes 25 seconds
    The News Quiz: Ep1. Red, White, Blue and Green-land

    With Andy away at The Ashes, guest host Ian Smith steps in to make sense of a dramatic news week. Topics include the US capturing Nicolás Maduro and threatening to invade Greenland, new driving rules for the over 70s and the problem with Grok AI. Helping Ian decide which way to turn are Ria Lina, Hugo Rifkind, Lucy Porter and Geoff Norcott.

    Written by Ian Smith.

    With additional material by: Mike Shephard, Alex Kealy and Angela Channell Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Coordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu Sound Editor: Marc Willcox

    A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

    16 January 2026, 7:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 26 seconds
    Best of The News Quiz 2025

    A satirical smorgasbord of The News Quiz's best bits of the year, covering local elections, flag fever, Starmer's struggles, Trump's travails, and a very special meeting between King Charles and Pope Leo XIV.

    Written and presented by Andy Zaltzman.

    Producer: Rajiv Karia Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Coordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu

    A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4 An Eco-Audio certified Production

    9 January 2026, 7:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 14 seconds
    The Matt Forde Focus Group: Boxing Day Special

    Top political comedian Matt Forde reconvenes his Focus Group for a Boxing Day special with a Dickensian twist.

    Recorded in front of a live audience, Matt is joined by journalists, comedians and politicians – including former Cabinet Minister Michael Gove – to review the political state we're in through the lens of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Expect sharp analysis, unexpected confessions, and the year's biggest stories getting visited by the Ghosts of Politics Past, Present and Yet to Come.

    Appearing as a festive treat in BBC Radio 4's Friday Night Comedy feed, it's a topical comedy that's both genuinely funny and surprisingly insightful – perfect for digesting with the leftover turkey.

    Written and performed by Matt Forde Additional writing from Karl Minns, Laura Claxton and Richard Garvin Producer: Richard Garvin Executive Producers Jon Thoday and Richard Allen Turner Co-Producers: Daisy Knight and Jules Lom Broadcast Assistant: Sahar Rajabali Sound Design and Editing: David Thomas An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4

    2 January 2026, 7:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 30 seconds
    Dead Ringers Christmas: Ep 2. A Very Kemi Christmas and a Lammy New Year

    The Dead Ringers team are back to train their festive firepower on the week’s news with an armoury of impressive impressions.

    This week: Scrooge is visited by the ghost of a Money Saving Expert, and The Grinch more than meets his match.

    This week's impressionists are Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Duncan Wisbey and Jess Robinson

    The episode was written by: Nev Fountain and Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Tom Coles, Sarah Campbell, Sophie Dickson, Peter Tellouche, Jon Holmes, Rachel E Thorn, JoJo Maberly and Cooper, Mawhinny & Sweryt

    Created by Bill Dare Producer: Jon Holmes Executive Producer: James Robinson Production Co-ordinator: Caroline Barlow

    A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4

    26 December 2025, 7:00 pm
  • 27 minutes 41 seconds
    Dead Ringers Christmas: Ep 1. Farage Goes to School, The Snowman v Keir, and Alan Carr: Special Negotiator

    The Dead Ringers team are back to train their vocal firepower on the week’s news with an armoury of impressive impressions.

    This week: Farage goes to a new school, The Snowman takes Keir Starmer on a Christmas journey, and Alan Carr: Special Negotiator.

    This week's impressionists are Jan Ravens, Jess Robinson, Kieran Hodgson and Josh Berry.

    The episode was written by: Nev Fountain and Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Tom Coles, Sarah Campbell, Sophie Dickson, Jon Holmes, Alice Bright, Rachel E Thorn, Jennifer Walker, Joe Topping, Alex Buchanan and G Watson.

    Created by Bill Dare Producer: Jon Holmes Executive Producer: Richard Morris Production Co-ordinator: Caroline Barlow

    A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4

    19 December 2025, 7:00 pm
  • 27 minutes 36 seconds
    The Naked Week: Ep6. Parties, polycules, and pardoning

    This week, The Naked Week team look at Your Party, join a polycule, and bestow some Christmas pardons.

    From host Andrew Hunter Murray and The Skewer's Jon Holmes, Radio 4’s newest Friday night comedy The Naked Week returns with a blend of the silly and serious. From satirical stunts to studio set pieces via guest correspondents and investigative journalism, it's a bold, audacious take not only on the week’s news, but also the way it’s packaged and presented.

    Host: Andrew Hunter Murray Guests: Rosie Holt, Leanne Yau The Naked Week Carol Singers: Fiona Mundy, Holly Alderson, Kayley Williams, Molly Punshon

    Investigations Team: Cat Neilan, Cormac Kehoe, Freya Shaw

    Written by: Jon Holmes Katie Sayer Gareth Ceredig Jason Hazeley James Kettle

    Additional Material: Karl Minns Joe Topping Cooper Mawhinny Sweryt David Riffkin WH Auden

    Live Sound: Jerry Peal Post Production: Tony Churnside Clip Assistant: David Riffkin Production Assistant: Molly Punshon

    Assistant Producer: Katie Sayer Producer and Director: Jon Holmes

    Executive Producer: Phil Abrams.

    An unusual production for BBC Radio 4

    12 December 2025, 7:00 pm
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