To air in a Funny Fortnight

Radio 2 has announced the return of Funny Fortnight,  two weekends of comedy show pilots.

Comics including Tom Allen, Charlie Brooker, Daliso Chaponda, Sophie Duker, Rhys James and  Russell Kane will be taking part in the six half-hour programmes, broadcast across March 21-22 and 28-29

Two specials with Patrick Kielty interviewing Mel Brooks, and Steve Martin with Martin Short will also air under the same banner.

Radio 2 commissioning editor  Robert Gallacher said: ‘Radio 2 is delighted to be bringing this special season of programming to air this Spring. From emerging talent to treasured favourites, there’s something to entertain all our listeners across the UK."

Here are the programme details

Patrick Kielty’s Comedy Heroes
Interviewing Steve Martin And Martin Short on February 29, and  Mel Brooks on March 29.

Infectious Personalities
March 21

A chat show in which comedian and doctor Ed Patrick, interviews celebrities about their medical history as well as their current concerns and worries. In this episode, he interviews Charlie Brooker - who talks about his  deep-seated horror of vomiting – and Sindhu Vee, a self-confessed ‘full-blown, all-systems-go hypochondriac’

Always June
March 21

Vicki Pepperdine and Morgana Robinson created and star in this previously-announced new sitcom about eccentric landlady June Pursglove (Pepperdine) and the motley group of lodgers in her seafront lodging house. Robinson plays a self-monikered femme fatale and wannabe business guru seeking a life away from the boarding house. The cast also includes Emma Sidi, Janine Duvitski, Paul G Raymond and George Fouracres.

Explicable Me
March 22

Another previously announced panel show in which hosts Suzi Ruffell and Ahir Shah tests guests Tom Allen and AJ Odudu on silly personality tests such as what body part they would be, which famous billionaire they are most like and what they would do in the event of a dinner party disaster.

Celebrity Groupchat
March 22

A new comedy talk show that brings together four familiar faces in their very own ‘celebrity groupchat’ to shoot the breeze and share their lives.

Jock
March 28

Gary Lewis plays the title character one of the world’s most successful football managers who we meet on his first day of retirement. It’s written by Still Game’s Greg Hemphill  and Donald McLeary (Mountain Goats) and co-stars Maureen Beattie, Robin Laing, Anne Kidd, Richard Conlon, Anita Vettesse, Julie Austin and Gabriel Quigley

Lost In Translation
March 28

A new comedy panel show in which host Tom Allen and his celebrity guests James May, Stacey Solomon, Daliso Chaponda, Russell Kane, Sophie Duker and Rhys James  dissect and analyse language, foreign cultures and everything else that gets misunderstood. With insights from linguistics expert Dr Laura Bailey,

Bitch, Bitch, Bitch

In this podcast, announced this week  Matt Lucas will be allowing those doing supposedly glamorous jobs to sound off about the unpleasant aspects of their work. Those taking part include West End actors,  flight attendants, and top chefs.  

Published: 7 Feb 2020