R2OK!

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 1:00 pm Post subject: Comedy Season

Radio 2 have released details of comedy shows coming soon to the station. Most are one-offs.

Monday March 13, 10.30pm - Parental Guidance
Written by Max Davis, who has previously worked on News Quiz and Dead Ringers, Parental Guidance is set around the lives of Roshan and Kate Parera played by comedian Romesh Ranganathan and Sherlock star Amanda Abbington.

The characters live in Ranganathan’s real home town of Crawley, Sussex, with their two children, Emma and Lewis. Roshan is a cost-benefits analyst for the airline industry, Kate is stay-at-home mum, while Roshan's overbearing mother, played by Meera Syal, lives nearby and is still disappointed that Roshan picked Kate and not a nice Sri Lankan girl to marry.

This pilot episode involves Kate and Roshan going to their school reunion and is produced by Sam Michell for BBC Studios.

Tuesday March 14, 10.30pm - Harry And Paul Present: The Gentlemen’s Club

This is a mockumentary sketch show set in Wibbles, London’s oldest member’s club, with a cast of elderly and eccentric characters. It’s described as ‘a slice of life in a once-vital, fading British institution, and a peek at the often bizarre stories and attitudes contained within’.

Written and performed by Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, it will also star Jim Broadbent, Amelia Bullmore, Tom Hollander and Jason Lewis. It, too, is produced by Sam Michell for BBC Studios.

Wednesday March 15, 10.30pm - Just Grand

Just Grand is a family sitcom about a clash of generations and cultures, written by Bafta-winning writers Phil Mealey – who has penned The Royle Family and Early Doors – and Daniel Peak (Not Going Out).

It stars Siobhan Finneran, who played Sarah O’Brien in Downton Abbey, Troillied’s Jason Watkins and Denise Welch.

Sandra and Frank are a working class couple who dream of escaping Stockport for a new life in Fuengirola. But their dream is scuppered when the couple become unwilling guardians to their estranged grandchildren - a pair of over-privileged and bewildered siblings from the Home Counties.

Produced by Julia McKenzie for BBC Studios.

Tuesday March 21, 10.30pm - Tim Vine Travels in Time

Tim climbs through the magic grandfather clock in his antique shop and emerges in a different time and place. The pilot is a gag-packed take on Robin Hood, and features a celebrity guest star, yet to be named.

Produced by Alex Walsh-Taylor for Baby Cow

Wednesday March 22, 10.30pm - Cardinal Burns presents Dean and Murf

Multi-character comedy from writer-performers Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns – and directed by Julian Barratt, who also makes a guest appearance (as do David Earl and regular Cardinal Burns collaborator Chris Hayward).

Ex ravers Dean and Murf live on a dilapidated houseboat on the Regents Canal. Four years in arrears on their mooring fees, they are forced to visit the job centre which leads them on a surreal adventure working as factory workers on a Ken Loach film.

Produced by Jenna Jones and Rupert Majendie for Left Bank Pictures.

Also coming to Radio 2 as part of the season is Barbara Nice’s four-part sitcom, commissioned following a pilot which aired in 2015.

Creator Janice Connolly stars alongside John Henshaw as a couple with different ideas about retirement: Barbara seeks adventure while husband Ken wants nothing more than spending his days watching Pointless.

Radio 2 head Lewis Carnie said: ‘This year’s comedy showcases are the perfect way to introduce some new and exciting programmes to our audience. The shows are being made by some of the best comedy production teams in the business and feature some of the biggest names in the field today.’

And BBC comedy commissioning chief Shane Allen added: ‘This run of comedy showcases has lured a terrific array of first class comedy talent. The Radio 2 audience is in for a whole pick-and-mix of wonderful treats.’

Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 438 Location: In the village

And coming soon "How to totally balls-up a radio station" with your host, Lewis Carnie. Features a guest appearance by Bob Shennan
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oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Proof - if any was needed, that R2 has completed it's gradual transformation, from a once fine radio station, into a bit of a joke.

The only thing is, it makes you want to cry.
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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

It does indeed Raver, but what can anyone do about it? Nothing as far as I can see.

H
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Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 5:37 pm Post subject:

I'm quite looking forward to these, especially the shows by Tim Vine and Barbara Nice. I miss the old days when there was a regular comedy slot on Saturday lunchtimes and a panel show on Friday evenings, so it's a shame the station's entire years' worth of comedy becomes a short 'season' rather than a regular thing.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

It does indeed Raver, but what can anyone do about it? Nothing as far as I can see.

H

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Nothing at all, H. We never could. I would say that was a main reason why they closed the old messageboards down, because they don't take kindly to criticism, however fair and just it might have been, in some instances.

So all we can do, is have a grumble...and not listen. Not in the boycott sense of the word, but just through total indifference and disinterest. Strangely enough, I find that JV is the show I listen to most of all, nowadays. I've gotten used to him.

Comedy, however good it may be, belongs on Radio 4 or 4 Extra. I'm obviously under the mistaken impression that it was supposed to be music based.

Laughing

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SantaFefan · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 5:49 pm Post subject:

Although, as with that classic Beatles observation "Ringo isn't even the best drummer in the Beatles", I'd say Jeremy Vine isn't even the best presenter on the Jeremy Vine Show! Razz

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Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:03 pm Post subject:

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

I used to enjoy the comedy hour of old on Saturdays. When they were proper shows, like News Huddlines, It's Been A Bad Week etc. I didn't much bother with those compilation programmes where you got bits of stand-up routines cobbled together. So, I'm not totally against the idea of some comedy on the station. I think in these times, we could use a bit of satire again, like we used to get with Roy Hudd!
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Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:35 pm Post subject:

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