Radio 4 gala the day after names are announced

Nominees in this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards will be showcased on Radio 4 the day after their names are announced.

In a first for the channel, an hour-long gala show will air at 11pm on Thursday August 25, featuring comics shortlisted for both the main award and best newcomer accolade.

The show, which will be recorded at the Pleasance, has been  announced today as part of the BBC’s plans for this year’s Edinburgh festivals.

Other highlights include a new documentary on the history of the Fringe as it marks its 75th anniversary, told by the comedy stars who first found fame at the festival.

The 90-minute show, which has the working title The Fringe, Fame And Me will air on BBC Scotland and BBC Two rand will feature those who found overnight success as well as those who slogged for years to make it.

The BBC says: ‘Through their triumphs, favourite jokes, and sometimes painful failures, we’ll discover a hidden history of British comedy - revealing how the gags we find funny and the comedians we love reflect our changing culture.’

Meanwhile, comic Mark Nelson will front a new series of Edinburgh Unlocked for BBC Scotland,  featuring some of the top names from the Fringe. The first episode will go out on August 11, with two further shows on August 18 and 25.

The BBC will also be recording radio shows from a  Spiegeltent in St James Quarter – the new shopping and leisure complex at the east end of Princes Street which is also home to performers’ HQ Fringe Central.

They include the BBC Radio Scotland panel show Breaking The News, hosted by Des Clarke, with two episodes recorded on August 11 and 18 for broadcast the following day. The first will have Jim Smith, Sophie Duker, Val McDermid and Andrew Maxwell on the panel while the second will feature  Sindhu Vee, Neil Delamare, Ayesha Hazarika and Connor Burns.

Radio 4 arts strands Loose Ends and Front Row will both be recording two episodes at the Fringe, with  Frank Skinner, whose show, 30 Years Of Dirt, is at the Assembly Roxy, guesting on the first episode of the latter.

And Elis James and John Robins will also be hosting their Radio 5 Live show from the festival every Friday afternoon.

BBC Sounds podcasts Wheel of Misfortune, hosted by Alison Spittle and Josie Long, and Bad People, hosted by psychologist Dr Julia Shaw and comedian Sofie Hagen, will also be recording special episodes at the Fringe

Tickets for recordings are available from the BBC website.

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Published: 19 Jul 2022