Showing titles in Entertainment & Performing Arts

A voice is calling across the land, "Bombardier Milligan." "Bombadier Milligan is dead," I replied in a disguised voice. The voice replied, "Then he's going to miss his breakfast." The fourth volume of Spike Milligan's legendary account of his time in the army during World War Two begins as he and his regiment land in sunny Italy in 1943 ("The ship touched the beach very gently, so gently I suspect it's not insured").

The humorous and moving tale of Miss Shepherd, an eccentric old lady who, by a bizarre series of twists and turns, lived in the author's garden for many years. Alan Bennett reads his own acclaimed work, recently adapted as a West End smash hit starring Maggie Smith as the eccentric old lady.

Ambridge on the Couch takes an in-depth look at The Archers and occasionally, wonders why we listen. Contact us on ambridgeonthecouch@gmail.com. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/ambridgeonthecouch. Join our merry band of The Archers nuts at https://plus.acast.com/s/AmbridgeOnTheCouch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As far back as he can remember James Corden has only ever wanted to be in one place: in front of you, doing something to make you laugh, cry, shout, or giggle uncontrollably. At the age of 4, he grandstanded throughout his baby sister’s christening, standing on a chair in front of the whole congregation, pulling faces and cracking everyone up. Despite himself, the vicar was impressed. And from then on he couldn’t get enough of the spotlight, even when it always seemed to avoid him. Throughout his teens, he and his Dad trudged up and down towards London....

Recorded Live at Wembley, Michael McIntyre is back with his second arena tour which is sure to leave you in stitches!

For most of us the French Revolution has been reduced to jokes about Marie Antoinette, guillotines, and The Scarlet Pimpernel. But for Mark Steel the French Revolution was one of the most inspirational moments in human history. Nevertheless, he still casts a very comedic eye over that turbulent period in French history.

Think you know what happened in 2018? Think again. Following hot on the heels of the success of The Audiobook of the Year (or, more precisely, 12 months later), The Audiobook of the Year (2018) bravely delves behind the headlines to sniff out the best and most bizarre facts of the past 12 months. Compiled and written by the creators of the award-winning hit comedy podcast No Such Thing as a Fish, all of whom are researchers for QI.

Like a treasured piece of furniture, Just a Minute has graced the living rooms and kitchens of radio listeners for more than 50 years. Comfortable, relaxing and easy to sink into, it has long been the seat of sparkling comedy, infectious laughter and intelligent humour. We invite you once again to enjoy the fine patina of another top-drawer collection of classic episodes.

With its brilliant blend of the silly, the serious and the satirical, The News Quiz has been a must-listen for comedy fans since it started 46 years ago. Recorded in front of an audience, these three series see Andy Zaltzman presiding over a motley crew of comedians and journalists as they trawl through the biggest (and smallest) news stories of 2023 to provide comedy, commentary, irony and irreverence.

Michael McIntyre is back with his brand-new show, Happy and Glorious. Following the record-breaking successes of Live and Laughing, Hello Wembley and Showtime, Michael returns to the stage to do what he does best: make everyday life face-achingly hilarious. Happy and Glorious was recorded at the O2, where Michael has now performed 27 times - more than any other artist in the world.

This recording of Randomist is the result of a year long tour across two continents by the acclaimed stand-up comic Ross Noble. Known for his freewheeling improvisational style, Ross Noble is captured here at his best. Recorded at the City Hall, Newcastle.

At the age of 17, in the glory days of moviemaking, Piper Laurie was living every little girl's dream. A contract star with Universal, Piper was elevated to the heights of Hollywood, her name emblazoned on 1950s marquees across America for hit movies like The Prince Who Was a Thief, The Mississippi Gambler, and Ain't Misbehavin'. Meanwhile, Piper's beauty was admired by the likes of Ronald Reagan, Howard Hughes, Paul Newman, and Tony Curtis as well as dozens of directors and legions of fans.

Mark Steel turns his analytical mind to the theme of revolutions in these six entertaining lectures, examining some of the major historical forces at work and holding up a mirror to our own age. In these entertaining lectures, he reinterprets the French Revolution, examining everything from the storming of the Bastille to the guillotine; looks at the politics of the sexual revolution (taking in the pill, the women’s movement and the Stonewall riots); and assesses the motivating factors and key players in the Russian Revolution – including the Romanovs, Rasputin and the Red Guard.

From their modest beginnings in Byker Grove through to their 'unique' time as pop stars and an award-laden TV career, those three decades have flown by in the blink of an eye. They've also featured an incredible cast of supporting characters, including their first scriptwriter - (an unknown comedian called David Walliams), Saturday night fun and games with countless Hollywood A-listers and celebrities they torture - sorry, work with - every year in the jungle.

Ricky with comedian chums and eminent guests discuss the big issues. Entertaining, thought-provoking and often taboo-crunching chat about ethics, science and art. Featuring Huey Morgan, Ben Bailey Smith, Professor Brian Cox, David Baddiel, Robin Ince, Richard Dawkins, Noel Gallagher, and Sean McLoughlin.

The stand-up comedian of his generation. Star of stage and screen. Tireless supporter of charity. Runner. Political campaigner. Fashion icon. Human. There is no one quite like Eddie Izzard. This is the story of how a boy who wanted to become a professional footballer and win the lead in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat found comedy.

Ramble Book is about parenthood, boarding-school trauma, arguing with your partner, bad parties, confrontations on trains, friendship, wanting to fit in, growing up in the '80s, dead dads, teenage sexual anxiety, failed artistic endeavours, being a David Bowie fan and how everything you read, watch and listen to as a child forms a part of the adult you become. It’s also an audiobook about the joys of going off topic and letting your mind wander. And it’s about a short, hairy, frequently confused man called Adam Buxton.

Adopted at six months old by Dubliners Sean and Helen Gallagher, PJ spent much of his childhood knocking back Lucozade with the local alcoholics in his parents' northside pub. But the chaos that reigned for his first ten years was nothing compared to what happened when - having lost the pub - Helen took in psychiatric patients from the local hospital to give them 'care in the community'. Now it was a household of ten - PJ, his sister, his parents and six lost souls. Worst. Idea. Ever. Madhouse is PJ's riotous life story.

David Sedaris's remarkable ability to uncover the hilarious absurdity teeming just below the surface of everyday life is surpassed only by his ability to make his stories even moire hilarious when he reads them aloud. This is his first series for Radio 4, and he reads essays and diary entries from across all seven of his books.

A brilliant recording from his 2019 stand up tour. Ed again sees his own world and the world around him through the prism of a razor sharp brain and a comic vision which is quite unique.