Special programmes in honour of the late comedy producer

Radio 4 is to pay tribute to the late comedy producer Bill Dare in three special programmes next month.

The first, Bill Dare: Comedy Alchemist, airs in the prestigious 6.30pm comedy slot and will be presented by Hugh Dennis - who came to fame on the back of The Mary Whitehouse Experience, the 1990s sketch show Dare devised and which also launched the careers of David Baddiel, Rob Newman and Steve Punt.

But Dare is probably best know for co-creating topical impressions show Dead Ringers with Jon Holmes – who produces this half-hour tribute – and overseeing if for 25 seasons.

Comedy Alchemist also covers his other radio comedies, including The Secret World, I've Never Seen Star Wars, Brian Gulliver's Travels and most recently, The Island with Stephen Mangan.

It airs on Thursday June 13, the day before Dead Ringers returns to Radio 4 with Holmes taking over production duties.

Then on the Saturday and Sunday nights, Radio 4 Extra’s Comedy Club will strand will devote two hours of programming to Darem  who died in a road accident in March at the age of 64.

On Saturday, the channel will air Barker Belgrave and Bigweed, a 30 Minute Theatre radio play Dare wrote in 1987 about two old school friends of meet up every few years to reminisce about another chum who may or may not exist.

The strand will also include an episode of his 1990s parody of daytime TV Life, Death and Sex with Mike and Sue;  Brian Gulliver’s Travels, in which Neil Pearson played a  travel documentary-maker sharing outlandish tales of his adventures; and Big Town All Stars, a series  about an amateur a cappella group that starred Meera Syal and  Stephen Tompkinson.

Sunday’s strand features episodes of The Mary Whitehouse Experience, Dead Ringers, I’ve Never Seen Star Wars, the interview series hosted by Marcus Brigstocke, and The Secret World, lampooning the lives of famous people. 

The Comedy Club runs from 10pm to midnight each day.

Published: 27 May 2025