Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

Topical comedy from the sharpest satirical minds in the business. Listen first on BBC Sounds, every Friday. Is the news driving you up the wall? You’re not alone. Let the comedians take the strain and work out what’s been funny this week. Features BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, Dead Ringers, The Naked Week and Too Long; Didn’t Read. Listen on BBC Sounds, seven days earlier than anywhere else, and subscribe to make sure that you don’t miss an episode.

Episodes

January 23, 2026 28 mins

Andy’s returned from The Ashes and is back in the News Quiz chair. He’s come home to a selection of defections, some serious U-turning and 30,000 properties without water in his hometown of Tunbridge Wells. He was only away for one week! Helping Andy make sense of it all is Susie McCabe, Paul Sinha, Cindy Yu and Scott Bennett.

Written by Andy Zaltzman.

With additional material by: Mike Shephard, Eleanor Morton and Dee Allum Producer:...

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Here's a chance for Friday Night Comedy listeners to hear another satirical comedy from BBC Radio 4, as Jon Holmes introduces the latest episode of his series The Skewer. The four-time Gold Comedy winner at the Radio Academy Awards returns as Jon Holmes mashes up more news with pop culture to create a current affairs comedy concept album. This week: Trump vs The World, Jenrick The Secret Traitor, No Way Nobel and Peace Board A...

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With Andy away at The Ashes, guest host Ian Smith steps in to make sense of a dramatic news week. Topics include the US capturing Nicolás Maduro and threatening to invade Greenland, new driving rules for the over 70s and the problem with Grok AI. Helping Ian decide which way to turn are Ria Lina, Hugo Rifkind, Lucy Porter and Geoff Norcott.

Written by Ian Smith.

With additional material by: Mike Shephard, Alex Kealy and Angela Channe...

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January 9, 2026 28 mins

A satirical smorgasbord of The News Quiz's best bits of the year, covering local elections, flag fever, Starmer's struggles, Trump's travails, and a very special meeting between King Charles and Pope Leo XIV.

Written and presented by Andy Zaltzman.

Producer: Rajiv Karia Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Coordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu

A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4 An Eco-Audio certified Production

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Top political comedian Matt Forde reconvenes his Focus Group for a Boxing Day special with a Dickensian twist.

Recorded in front of a live audience, Matt is joined by journalists, comedians and politicians – including former Cabinet Minister Michael Gove – to review the political state we're in through the lens of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Expect sharp analysis, unexpected confessions, and the year's biggest stories gettin...

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The Dead Ringers team are back to train their festive firepower on the week’s news with an armoury of impressive impressions.

This week: Scrooge is visited by the ghost of a Money Saving Expert, and The Grinch more than meets his match.

This week's impressionists are Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Duncan Wisbey and Jess Robinson

The episode was written by: Nev Fountain and Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Tom Coles, Sarah Campbell, Sophie Di...

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The Dead Ringers team are back to train their vocal firepower on the week’s news with an armoury of impressive impressions.

This week: Farage goes to a new school, The Snowman takes Keir Starmer on a Christmas journey, and Alan Carr: Special Negotiator.

This week's impressionists are Jan Ravens, Jess Robinson, Kieran Hodgson and Josh Berry.

The episode was written by: Nev Fountain and Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Tom Coles, Sarah C...

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This week, The Naked Week team look at Your Party, join a polycule, and bestow some Christmas pardons.

From host Andrew Hunter Murray and The Skewer's Jon Holmes, Radio 4’s newest Friday night comedy The Naked Week returns with a blend of the silly and serious. From satirical stunts to studio set pieces via guest correspondents and investigative journalism, it's a bold, audacious take not only on the week’s news, but also the way it...

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This week, The Naked Week fingers some fudge, profits from the spoils of war, and reads everyone a lovely bedtime story with a very special guest.

From host Andrew Hunter Murray and The Skewer's Jon Holmes, Radio 4’s newest Friday night comedy The Naked Week returns with a blend of the silly and serious. From satirical stunts to studio set pieces via guest correspondents and investigative journalism, it's a bold, audacious take not ...

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Immigration, espionage, and a game of Guess Who? - Epstein Edition.

From host Andrew Hunter Murray and The Skewer's Jon Holmes comes Radio 4’s newest Friday night comedy The Naked Week, with a blend of the silly and serious. From satirical stunts to studio set pieces via guest correspondents and investigative journalism, it's a bold, audacious take not only on the week’s news, but also the way it’s packaged and presented.

Host: Andre...

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This week, The Naked Week fundraises for the BBC, welcomes a traitor, and necromances a potato.

From host Andrew Hunter Murray and The Skewer's Jon Holmes, Radio 4’s newest Friday night comedy The Naked Week returns with a blend of the silly and serious. From satirical stunts to studio set pieces via guest correspondents and investigative journalism, it's a bold, audacious take not only on the week’s news, but also the way it’s pack...

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This week, The Naked Week shoehorns an agenda, gets out of jail free, and in a genuine Radio 4 first - Taylor Swift pays a visit to the studio!

From host Andrew Hunter Murray and The Skewer's Jon Holmes, Radio 4’s newest Friday night comedy The Naked Week returns with a blend of the silly and serious. From satirical stunts to studio set pieces via guest correspondents and investigative journalism, it's a bold, audacious take not onl...

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This week we provide recourse for a randy royal, organise an on-air riot and, for Halloween, get confused over which witch is which.

From host Andrew Hunter Murray and The Skewer's Jon Holmes, Radio 4’s newest Friday night comedy The Naked Week returns with a blend of the silly and serious. From satirical stunts to studio set pieces via guest correspondents and investigative journalism it's a bold, audacious take not only on the wee...

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Alasdair Beckett-King, Laura Lexx, Ahir Shah and Ava Santina join Andy Zaltzman for this week's quiz.

Brace yourselves for stories about the stripping of both Royal Titles and Royal Crown Jewels as well as the big question of the moment, are things better or worse than they used to be?

Written by Andy Zaltzman Additional material by: Milo Edwards, Cameron Loxdale, Ruth Husko and Marty Gleeson Producer: Gwyn Rhys Davies Exec Producer:...

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In a week of budget talks, IMF forecasts of Inflation on the British horizon, flood risk reports and approval of solar farms, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Adam Kay, Zoe Lyons, Ria Lina and Stephen Bush to break down this weeks news.

Written by Andy Zaltzman.

With additional material by: Daman Bamrah, Ruth Husko, Christina Riggs and Peter Tellouche. Producer: Rajiv Karia Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Coordinator: Giulia Lo...

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In the week where Trump brokered a peace deal in the Middle East, buzz was generated at the Conservative Party Conference (honestly), the Home Office announces greater restrictions on protests, and the world's first footballer billionaire is crowned, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Scott Bennett, Ayesha Hazarika, Kate Cheka and Ian Smith to break down this weeks news.

Written by Andy Zaltzman.

With additional material by: Jain Edwards, Ru...

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At this week's Labour Conference, Kier Starmer warned that Britain faces a 'fork in the road'. Helping Andy Zaltzman decide which way to turn are Ian Smith, Celya AB, Hugo Rifkind and Zoe Lyons.

Written by Andy Zaltzman.

With additional material by: Cody Dahler, Eve Delaney and John Tothill Producer: Georgia Keating and James Robinson Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Sound Editor: Marc Willcox

A B...

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In the week where Trump addressed the UN, Lib Dems conferred on the beaches of Bournemouth, and a Seagull Summit came to Inverness, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Simon Evans, Neil Delamere, Tiff Stevenson and Cindy Yu to break it all down. Expect talk of the Burnham from behind, the Boriswave, and the wettest generation since the floods.

Written by Andy Zaltzman.

With additional material by: Jade Gebbie, Miranda Holms, Ruth Husko and Pe...

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Andy Zaltzman is joined by Hugo Rifkind, Pierre Novellie, Sara Barron and Lucy Porter to break down the week in news. The panel unpack Trump's second state visit, the reserve banquet of seat fillers, foreign investment from the US, Ed Davey's Ancient Greek punishment, chimps drunk on fruit, and why Penny Mordaunt thinks it's no fun to be a Conservative anymore.

Written by Andy Zaltzman.

With additional material by: Cody Dahler, Ruth ...

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Andy Zaltzman is joined by Daliso Chaponda, Susie McCabe, Geoff Norcott and Ash Sarkar to break down the week in news. Expect discussion on the Labour Deputy Leader Election, the return of the Mandelson, strikes on Qatar, Russian drones in Poland and telepathic Google searches. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Simon Alcock, Carwyn Blayney, Ruth Husko and Alex Kealy. Producer: Rajiv Karia Executive Producer: Ja...

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