Full series of You Heard It Here First for Radio 4

The BBC has picked up Chris McCausland’s panel show about living in an ‘audio-only world’ for a full series.

The comedian, who is blind, piloted You Heard It Here First last year, and it proved successful enough for  Radio 4 to order a full run.

In each episode, a panel of comedians is asked to ‘decipher brainteaser sound cues for points and pride while trying not to muck about too much along the way’.

Stand-ups Mark Maier, Amy Gledhill, Marlon Davis and Eleanor Tiernan took part in the pilot, which aired last April, and were set challenges such as figuring out exactly what they were watching on TV and which celebrity was talking to them with a mouthful of cake – without any visual clues.

McCausland, known to Radio 4 listeners through his regular appearances on The News Quiz, lost his eyesight because of the genetic condition retinitis pigmentosa and devised the format of the new show, as well as acting as host.

Last year he also piloted a BBC TV show called What's In The Box?, and is making a travel series for Channel 4, provisionally titled The Wonders Of The World I Can't See.

In the four-part series, McCausland visits major world landmarks with a celebrity guest who has to provide an 'audio description' of their surroundings and try to prove there's more to visiting these places than just what they look like.

The comic joked: 'I hate flying, don't function in the heat, and can't eat anything weird. If I'm honest, I just wanted to do Gogglebox. But thanks to Channel 4 for having more faith in me than I do.’

The new episodes of You Heard It Here First will be recorded at The Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green, East London, on January 16 and 17. Free audience tickets are available from the BBC.

Published: 3 Jan 2023