With Herring, Pascoe, Berry & more...

Radio 4 has announces a raft of new comedy shows featuring names such as Matt Berry, Meera Syal, Richard Herring, Sara Pascoe and Rhys James.

They are:

Rhys James Is…

The comedian uses a blend of live stand-up, sketch and poetry to explore the idea of identity, interviewing those in his childhood who made him into the man-boy-child he is today.

He said: ‘I am both incredibly excited and deeply terrified that I've had this show commissioned. It felt funny on paper to interview the guy who pulled my pants down at school on the radio, having not spoken to him for 10 years, but now it's real I'm spending all my time shopping for belts.”

Lazy Susan: East Coast Listening Post

Written and performed by Lazy Susan (Freya Parker and Celeste Dring), this show follows New Yorkers Jenna and Dana as they travel the United Kingdom, learning more about British culture and accidentally uncovering mysterious stories and odd characters along the way.

In a statement, they said: ‘A few months ago we organised a scratch night and took a punt on a new radio idea. We never expected it would take off, so to find out that the BBC are going to let us make it has left us baffled and delighted. It's a love letter to podcasts and we're so excited to get to work on it. Stay with us.’

Ankle Tag

Elis James stars in this sitcom, following a successful pilot last year. He plays a new dad who’s life is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of his own father, who has just been released from a 15-year prison sentence.

Ability

A pilot sitcom from Lee Ridley, known as Lost Voice Guy, a BBC New Radio Comedy Award winner who cerebral palsy and can only speak using a communication aid. The show will draw on his experience of coping with disability, telling the story of fictional character Matt, who is leaving home for the first time to move in with his best friend. Matt's parents are worried, but he is determined - even though his new carer Bob is not all he should be.

Ridley said: ‘I've had the idea behind this sitcom in my head for a few years now, so to finally get the chance to make it is an amazing feeling. Ever since winning the BBC Radio New Comedy Award, the BBC has been very supportive and I'm lucky to have had the opportunity to work with some great people while writing this. It has been wonderful to hear my ideas come alive.’

Lobby Land

A satirical sitcom for post-Brexit Britain from the company behind BBC One’s Have I Got News for You and Channel 4’s Drop The Dead Donkey. Recorded close to transmission, it follows Fleet Street's newest political editor as she heads to Westminster to make hay out of the chaos.

Matt Berry: My Life in Broadcast

Berry explains: ‘I’m very excited to be back on Radio 4, this time to present a history of some interviews I took part in, dating back to the late 1960s and beyond. Some tapes have survived, some haven't. I hope you enjoy those that have. Either way, it’s a pleasure.’

Sara Pascoe: The Modern Monkey

In which the stand-up explores our modern social world though theories of evolutionary psychology . She said: ‘I’ve been obsessing about the ape behaviours visible in our “civilised” human interactions for nearly as long as I've been plotting to get a Radio 4 series.

I'm thrilled that I've been given the opportunity to use the latter to explore the former. I’m off to eat lice out of friends' fur to celebrate.’

Relativity

A multi-generational family sitcom, written by Richard Herring about death, birth, falling in and out of love, resentment over forgotten slights and indestructible affection.

Mrs Sidhu Investigates

Meera Syal stars as an Indian Home Counties caterer fascinated by murder; a British-Asian Miss Marple and indefatigable aunty to her family.

Yours Truly, Pierre Stone

Peep Show writer Sam Bain adapts his debut novel to create a radio comedy that spirals down into the dark fantasies of an obsessive fan in a one-sided love story that weaves together celebrity gossip, social media and a missing cat.

The Greens

Described as The Good Life for a new millennium, The Greens is a family sitcom written by and starring Marcus Brigstocke. Millions of people try every day to make 'good' choices and do the 'right thing', by being ethical, charitable and community minded - it’s hard. But the Greens, good folk that they are, are trying harder.

A Month Of Maureen

Maureen Lipman stars in four brand new comedy plays written by Gary Brown, Amy Rosenthal and Tracy-Ann Oberman.

Joseph Morpurgo's Walking Tour

The comedian offers an imaginative comic take on the traditional audio guide format, taking the listener on a surreal walk through a different location each week.

The Damien Slash Mixtapes

Multi-character YouTube star Damien Slash makes the move from online to Radio 4.

Spotlight Tonight with Nish Kumar

The Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2016 nominee is back with a full series of the satirical show, following a successful pilot.

Tom Parry’s Fancy Dressed Life

Recounting a year in the comedian’s life told through dressing up, inspired by his 2015 Fosters Comedy Award newcomer nominated show Yellow T-Shirt;

Comedy From the Edinburgh Stand

Presented by Fred MacAulay

Jack Rooke Good Grief

Based on the comic’s critically acclaimed 2015 Edinburgh Fringe show using music, stand-up and storytelling to discuss family bereavement.

Tony Law: Canada’s Premier Adventurer

There is also a new show from the co-creator of BBC One’s Outnumbered, Andy Hamilton, and the return of The Pin (now extended from 15 to 30 minutes); Nurse with Paul Whitehouse; Tim Key’s Late Night Poetry Programme; Liam Williams: Ladhood; Cold Swedish Winter; Bunk Bed, and Love In Recovery.

Sioned Wiliam, commissioning editor for comedy for Radio 4 said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted with this new crop of commissions from writers and performers, old and new. It's a joy to be able to work with such a broad range of talent on Radio 4 and there should be something for everyone in this new raft of shows.’

Published: 26 Aug 2016