Regular price: £8.39
In each episode of this award-winning BBC Radio 4 series, comedian Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. Mark's destinations in series 7 and 8 are: Stockport, Colchester, Hebden Bridge, Kingston upon Thames, Lynton and Lynmouth, Gibraltar, Bedford, Matlock and Matlock Bath, Inverness, Portishead, Hull and Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.
In each episode of this BBC Radio 4 series, Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. Mark's destinations in series 3 & 4 are Berwick-upon-Tweed; Holyhead; Basingstoke; Douglas on the Isle of Man; Bungay; Wigan; Whitehaven; Tobermory; Corby; Handsworth; Ottery St. Mary and Chipping Norton. There's also a special episode recorded at the Edinburgh Festival.
In each episode of this BBC Radio 4 series Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. Mark's destinations in Series 1 & 2 are Skipton; Boston; Lewes; Walsall; Merthyr Tydfil; Portland; Dartford; Wilmslow; Dumfries; Penzance; Gateshead and Kirkwall. Duration: 6 hours approx.
In each episode of this BBC Radio 4 series, Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. Mark's destinations in series 5 and 6 are Glastonbury, Derry/Londonderry, St. Davids, Southall, Birkenhead, Huddersfield, Melton Mowbray, Fleetwood, Shrewsbury, Barnard Castle and Saint Anne.
In his fascinating and hilarious BBC Radio 4 stand-up show, comedian and quizzer Paul Sinha shines a light on the important historical moments that you never got taught at school and explains why so much of what you did learn is wrong. There will also, as ever, be puns.
Rich Hall's critically acclaimed grouchy, deadpan style has established him as a master of absurdist irony. Renowned for his expertly crafted tirades, quick-fire banter with audiences, and delightful musical sequences. Rich Hall's plainspoken, growling indignation and acerbic observations have an unerring talent for hitting his targets with precision every time, leaving his audience hanging on every word and winning him fans all over the globe.
In each episode of this award-winning BBC Radio 4 series, comedian Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. Mark's destinations in series 7 and 8 are: Stockport, Colchester, Hebden Bridge, Kingston upon Thames, Lynton and Lynmouth, Gibraltar, Bedford, Matlock and Matlock Bath, Inverness, Portishead, Hull and Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.
In each episode of this BBC Radio 4 series, Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. Mark's destinations in series 3 & 4 are Berwick-upon-Tweed; Holyhead; Basingstoke; Douglas on the Isle of Man; Bungay; Wigan; Whitehaven; Tobermory; Corby; Handsworth; Ottery St. Mary and Chipping Norton. There's also a special episode recorded at the Edinburgh Festival.
In each episode of this BBC Radio 4 series Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. Mark's destinations in Series 1 & 2 are Skipton; Boston; Lewes; Walsall; Merthyr Tydfil; Portland; Dartford; Wilmslow; Dumfries; Penzance; Gateshead and Kirkwall. Duration: 6 hours approx.
In each episode of this BBC Radio 4 series, Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. Mark's destinations in series 5 and 6 are Glastonbury, Derry/Londonderry, St. Davids, Southall, Birkenhead, Huddersfield, Melton Mowbray, Fleetwood, Shrewsbury, Barnard Castle and Saint Anne.
In his fascinating and hilarious BBC Radio 4 stand-up show, comedian and quizzer Paul Sinha shines a light on the important historical moments that you never got taught at school and explains why so much of what you did learn is wrong. There will also, as ever, be puns.
Rich Hall's critically acclaimed grouchy, deadpan style has established him as a master of absurdist irony. Renowned for his expertly crafted tirades, quick-fire banter with audiences, and delightful musical sequences. Rich Hall's plainspoken, growling indignation and acerbic observations have an unerring talent for hitting his targets with precision every time, leaving his audience hanging on every word and winning him fans all over the globe.
Set during World War Two, Hut 33 follows the adventures of a team of codebreakers at Bletchley Park as they work tirelessly to break German codes, matching wits with the fabled Enigma Machine. Unfortunately, they hate each other. Archie is a stroppy Geordie socialist revolutionary while Professor Charles Gardner is a toffee-nosed snob. In theory, the immensely stupid 3rd Lt. Joshua Featherstonhaugh-Marshall is in charge of the hut, but he is still struggling with even the most basic concepts....
Join Professor John Lloyd and curators Jimmy Carr, Humphrey Ker, Phill Jupitus and Sarah Millican as they plunge down the badger hole of ignorance in a search for the universe's most mind-boggling oddnesses. The Museum of Curiosity is BBC Radio 4's monumental comedy edifice and the only one with gargoyles in the foyer. It allows nothing inside that doesn't make you scratch your head, stroke your chin or, at the very least, go 'hmm'.
The Museum of Curiosity is BBC Radio 4's monumental comedy edifice, and the only one with gargoyles in the foyer. It allows nothing inside that doesn't make you scratch your head, stroke your chin or, at the very least, go 'hmm'. Fortunately, helping to fill its vacant plinths is a gathering of the world's most original minds. Among the guests bearing donations to the museum in these 25 episodes are Neil Gaiman, Sarah Millican, Clive James, Kate Adie, Sir Terry Pratchett, Ronni Ancona, Jon Ronson and many more.
A sparkling collection of archive highlights from The News Quiz, which began on BBC Radio 4 in 1977 and continues to this day. Its chairmen have included Barry Norman, Barry Took, Simon Hoggart, Sandi Toksvig and Miles Jupp, and its guests have been drawn from the cream of British comedians, journalists and politicians: Alan Coren, Richard Ingrams, Ian Hislop, Peter Cook, Linda Smith, Jeremy Hardy, Clive Anderson, Jo Brand, William Hague, Boris Johnson, Edwina Currie and many more.
Sean's stand-up is a blend of a finely tuned hyperactive imagination, surreal imagery and insightful observations on the human condition...and Keep It Light is about Sean keeping the tone light and funny, as he talks about the price of cinema food, accusations of him having a midlife crisis, his behaviour on the Internet and jewellery heists.
I've Never Seen Star Wars is a Radio 4 entertainment series in which Marcus Brigstocke asks his guests of the week to embrace ordinary activities and experiences that they've perhaps always meant to try but haven't had the time, the courage, or possibly the inclination to attempt.
David Mitchell hosts the panel game in which four comedians are encouraged to tell lies and compete against one another to see how many items of truth they're able to smuggle past their opponents.
John Finnemore, writer and star of Cabin Pressure and John Finnemore's Double Acts, returns for a sixth series of his hugely acclaimed Souvenir Programme, which won him Radio Broadcaster of the Year at the 2016 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards. Expect sketches! Expect songs! They're what made up the previous five series, so it seems a pretty safe bet that that's what will be in this series as well. And, well, since you ask him for some tall tales...
Series 93 of the popular comedy panel show The News Quiz, chaired by Miles Jupp.
Dara O'Briain is one of the most recognisable faces on British TV, as host of Mock the Week, The Apprentice: You’re Fired and Star Gazing Live. Not forgetting his most recent shows Dara O'Briain: School of Hard Sums for Dave and Dara O'Briain’s Science Club for BBC2. Catch one of the most charismatic, intelligent, talking and downright funny live performers working today.
Recorded live at two sell-out shows from London’s iconic HMV Hammersmith Apollo, Reginald D Hunter Live features outstanding material from the cutting-edge stand-up comedian. In the twelve years since he began performing; Reginald D Hunter has become one of the UK comedy industry’s best-known and most distinctive performers. His is often brutally honest, frequently controversial but always meticulously measured and hilarious!
The Penny Dreadfuls examine the life of Guy Fawkes, undertake a satirical version of the French Revolution and turn their comic eye towards Hereward the Wake. The Penny Dreadfuls - Humphrey Ker, David Reed and Thom Tuck - are a comedy trio who specialise in retelling historical events in their own, inimitable way. In these riotous revisionist plays, they present alternative takes on three famous tales, ably assisted by guests including Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Marek Larwood, Justin Edwards, Miles Jupp, Richard E Grant, and Sally Hawkins.
"Or that Tom Paine wrote a book pointing out all the places where the Bible contradicts itself and was accused of "preaching atheism". How do you "preach atheism"? Do you knock on the doors of religious people on Sunday mornings, and when they answer say, 'Have you heard the bad news?'
"The subjects of this audio programme - Lord Byron, Aristotle, Billie Holiday and Che Guevara - are classic examples of the flawed, brilliant, courageous, slightly barking, but beautifully human characters from history that can inspire the rest of us, which you certainly won't get from looking at our current leaders. It's unlikely, for example, that anyone has ever said, 'The man who really inspires me is Jack Straw.'"
Mark Steel
These are great, they really are.
However all are available for free from his website so paying for them is just stupid.
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
If you have seen or heard Mark Steele before, you'll know you're in for a treat. If not, give him a go! 30-minute oral essays on famous characters from history. Mr Hatton's history lessons were never like this!!
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
In this series of four lectures Mark Steel is at his superb best. Mark's chosen characters range from Aristotle to Billy Holiday. We are given as much genuine information about 'People of Passion' as it is possible to absorb in one go, and it ail done with fantastic humour and a truly genuine understanding of the historical context.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Mark Steel as always is funny and clever. All lectures should be delivered this way.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
If you could sum up The Lectures in three words, what would they be?
Brilliant. All lectures should be as irreverent and lively as this. A passionate narrator that chose passionate people to talk about. What an entertaining way to listen and learn!
What other book might you compare The Lectures to, and why?
The quality of the information presented in the lectures are on a par with anything the Modern Scholar series might provide.
I think those who are fans of the "Museum of Curiosity" might also like this book for its insightful quirkiness.
Which character – as performed by Mark Steel – was your favourite?
Mark's presentation of Aristotle was my favourite.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Yes. Up to this point all that I've ever really known about Byron was that he was "mad, bad, and dangerous to know," The portrait presented here of the man does not contradict that but rather qualifies it by indicating when, why and to whom Byron was all these things. I found it touching that a man should fall in love so easily.
Any additional comments?
Yes. Where is Volume 1?
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
I can't believe I paid for this...
2 of 13 people found this review helpful