Comedy: Plug and play laughter

Plug and play laughter

There are an awful lot of good comedy radio shows, podcasts and archives out there to pick up any New Year’s blues you may be suffering. Just thought you’d like to know.
There has been a focus, in the past, on how much of a television profile a comedian has. Have you seen them on Live At The Apollo, The Michael McIntyre Roadshow or anything else of that ilk. But it is worth bearing in mind that the real root inspirations for most of today’s biggest names in comedy, the real humdingers that inspired them to have a go at the funnies, made their first impression on the radio.
Well, there’s The Goons, of course. Cited as influencing Monty Python’s Flying Circus, who themselves first broke through individually as writers for the wireless on the likes of The Frost Report and I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again, all at the BBC.
More recently a whole swathe of successful comedians took their cues from the comedy albums of Richard Pryor and then Bill Hicks, listening for the cues, rather than watching.
Podcasts are the most recent revelation, allowing the likes of Brendon Burns and Richard Herring to reach a huge audience without the constraints of censorship associated with sponsorship or channel overlords.
All of this is so easily accessible, with hundreds of podcasts and albums on iTunes, as well as a constant release of new and old comedy programmes on BBC Radio 4 and 4 Extra. Winners of the BBC Comedy Award, like Lucy Beaumont and Angela Barnes, as well as those making their marks with acclaimed shows on the live circuit, such as Liam Williams and Mark Thomas, are frequently found delivering up their cream of the comedy crop on the airwaves.
So… those January blues… there are more than three reasons to be cheerful with this little lot so easily accessible. Plus, there’s the chance to see one of the most enduring radio comedy panel shows live at the Brighton Dome at the end of the month. Join chair Jack Dee, along with panelists Barry Cryer, Miles Jupp, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Jeremy Hardy for more nonsense and anarchy for I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue. It’s bye bye blues.
I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue
Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Saturday 30 January 2016, £26/23, brightondome.org