Room Next Door's Michael Spicer lands a Radio 4 sketch show

Comic says he's dreamed of this moment since he was 10

Michael Spicer is making a new ten-part sketch series for Radio 4.

Its title No Room, acknowledges that the comic is moving on from his online Room Next Door videos in which he posed an aide giving advice to politicians during car-crash interviews – and which have amassed 100 million views.

Like many of the BBC’s recent audio comedy commissions the show will first premiere on BBC Sounds – from April 24 – before getting a Radio 4 broadcast later this spring.

According to the broadcaster, ‘each episode will feature a take on the zeitgeist alongside sketches which brilliantly capture everything that provokes us: culture, politics, work...and other people. From an MP's hopeless social media videos and a billionaire who wants to be popular, to a football pundit's nonsensical analysis and Tony Blair looking back on the Iraq War as if it were a classic TV series, this is a show packed with razor sharp wit.’

The series follows his Radio 4 sitcom, Michael Spicer: Before Next Door, a fictionalised telling of his rise to internet fame.

Julia McKenzie, Radio 4’s commissioning editor for comedy says, ‘Michael Spicer is a brilliantly talented and very funny creator who’s superb at skewering pomposity, self-regard and incompetence in public figures as well as having fun with the absurdities and idiosyncrasies of the day-to-day.

‘He’s deservedly much-loved by fans online and I’m delighted to be bringing his distinctive style of comedy to radio listeners too.’

Spicer added: ’I would like to thank BBC Radio 4 for continuing my fever dream and giving me my own sketch show, something I’ve wanted since I was 10.

‘ I’ve been writing and performing my own sketches on social media for nearly 20 years so you could say I’m a pioneer. In fact, I encourage you to say this. To my face if you can.

‘No Room is a show that brings my life on social media to BBC Sounds and Radio 4, so if you’ve ever enjoyed and shared my sketches online, you’ll enjoy this new show. And if you have ever shared my sketches online, thanks very much, it changed my life.’

No Room features original music and sound design by Augustin Bousfield, known for his work with St. Etienne, and is produced by Matt Tiller.

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Published: 14 Mar 2024