Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
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
Mentioned books
18 snips
Mar 27, 2026 • 28min
The Naked Week: Ep3. Shipping, Shopping, and Shagg...you know what, never mind.
Kat Neelan, investigative reporter who uncovers dodgy medical marketing and transport ad audits. Rosalie Minnett, comedian who delivers absurd solutions and a mock investment portfolio. They riff on fuel and shipping gags, a parody shipping forecast, risky medical tourism expos, WhatsApp surgeries, and a tongue‑in‑cheek student investment giveaway.
9 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 28min
The Naked Week: Ep2. The Naked Week team party like it's the 2003 Iraq War.
Kat Nealon, investigative reporter and Whitehall editor, outlines a probe into the Financial Ombudsman and the Accumulate Capital scam. Rosie Holt, comedian and political satirist, riffs on politicians 'partying like it's 2003' and helps reenact the Iraq War with a Viking. They also tackle media spin, ombudsman U-turns and the human cost of unresolved claims.
16 snips
Mar 13, 2026 • 28min
The Naked Week: Ep1. War, Law, and Operation Amol Rajan.
Mark Stephens CBE, a senior solicitor who advises on contempt and broadcasting law. Rachel Parris, comedian and field reporter who skewers luxury evacuees. They tackle war and shifting justifications for strikes. They lampoon influencers stranded in Dubai and stage a town crier take on a media figure. Legal limits on commentary and how the law handles prejudicing trials are also discussed.
15 snips
Mar 6, 2026 • 28min
The News Quiz: Ep8. Flight risks and fly-tips
Cindy Yu, Times columnist — sharp journalistic wit. Simon Evans, comedian — satirical politics and US commentary. Zoe Lyons, comedian — topical humour and anecdotes. Ahir Shah, stand-up — observational political jokes. They riff on by-election chaos, Mandelson’s arrest confusion, Reform and Greens rising, Trump’s long State of the Union, and the absurdities of fly-tipping.
19 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 28min
The News Quiz: Ep7. The worst birthday ever
Bella Hull, journalist and podcaster, offers sharp topical takes. Daliso Chaponda, observational comedian, delivers political and absurdist gags. Mark Steel, stand-up satirist, skewers privilege and policy. They riff on a royal arrest and its comedic fallout. They lampoon a government U‑turn and Nigel Farage’s proposed shadow cabinet. Robots, aliens and a costly Parliament restoration get surreal comedic treatment.
22 snips
Feb 20, 2026 • 28min
The News Quiz: Ep6. Is the UK getting sunnier?
Mhairi Black, former MP known for sharp wit and local pride, and Stephen Bush, political commentator and analyst. They spar over Keir Starmer’s survival and rumoured coups. They riff on Olympic dramas and a Norwegian athlete’s confession. They close with a debate about whether the UK is actually getting sunnier.
36 snips
Feb 13, 2026 • 29min
The News Quiz: Ep5. The Prince of Darkness
Catherine Bohart, comedian known for sharp wit; Pierre Novellie, topical joke-machine; Desiree Burch, bold stand-up voice; Daniel Finkelstein, seasoned political commentator. They riff on the Peter Mandelson scandal and its fallout for Keir Starmer. They unpack humble addresses and vetting failures. They also bemoan iguanas falling from trees and poke fun at royals, space reproduction worries, and Barnsley’s tech dreams.
18 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 28min
The News Quiz: Ep4. By-elections, hello defections
Hugo Rifkind, witty political columnist; Kiri Pritchard-McLean, sharp stand-up comic; Daliso Chaponda, satirical observational comedian. They spar over Labour infighting and Andy Burnham’s bid. They react to Suella Braverman’s jump to Reform and what that means for party politics. They also debate young people drinking less and whether cutting pub business rates will save Britain’s pubs.
38 snips
Jan 30, 2026 • 28min
The News Quiz: Ep3. Bored of peace
Shappi Khorsandi, comedian and writer known for sharp satire, and Lucy Porter, upbeat comedian from topical shows, riff on politics and absurd news. They lampoon Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ and his peace-related blunders. They laugh about China’s mega-embassy in London and marvel at Veronica, a tool-using cow, while poking fun at media chaos and political theatrics.
21 snips
Jan 23, 2026 • 29min
The News Quiz: Ep2. U-Turn, We Defect
Cindy Yu, Times columnist and journalist offering sharp topical commentary. Scott Bennett, comedian known for quick-witted panel turns. Susie McCabe, stand-up comic bringing topical comedy flair. Paul Sinha, quizzer and comic with measured observations. They riff on political defections and U-turns, a mass water outage in Tunbridge Wells, Brexit-era party chaos, Scottish budget quirks and ambitious rail and green energy plans.
