Comedy of the Week

A year ago, Emer Maguire had it all. Now she’s sleeping on the floor of her brother’s student flat in a shady part of Belfast – no girlfriend, no home, no hope. Where did it all go wrong? How did she end up all alone, broken hearted and with only an assistance dog called Dougal for company? Is she the Patron Saint of Bad Luck?Comedian Emer Maguire recalls how the worst year of her life - including messy break-up, serious medical issues and not one, but two life-changing diagnoses – put her on the path to living her best life. Told with her trademark honesty and songwriting brilliance, Emer’s tale is both heartfelt and uplifting, a laugh-out-loud rollercoaster journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance.One of Northern Ireland’s most exciting comedic voices, Emer Maguire (who was dubbed by one critic as the “indie Victoria Wood”) is a double Irish IMRO award-winning presenter and four times TEDx speaker.Written and performed by Emer Maguire Produced by Anna Hinds Executive Producer: Keith Martin Sound: David WalkerA FABEL radio production for BBC Radio 4

This week, Geoff looks at the “angry middle-aged white men” that Gary Neville identified as the source of all division within the UK. Is that fair? If so, why are they angry? And could there be both a deeper reason for their anger and also a better outlet for it?As ever, these serious points are intercut with “manly hypotheticals”, the sort of question men ask each other to avoid talking about stuff that matters, like - if you’re drinking non-alcoholic beer, are you still obliged to buy a round?This is episode 2 of Series 2 of Geoff Norcott's Working Men's Club. To hear more from this series, search "Stand-Up Specials" on BBC Sounds.Written and presented by Geoff NorcottRecorded by Sean Kerwin Production manager: Dawn Williams Executive producer: Caroline RaphaelProducer: Ed MorrishA Pier production for BBC Radio 4

This is episode 1 of the latest series of Brian & Roger, titled Carla.There’s not much that could quell Roger’s positive mood; he’s got a plan for a very special bonding activity with his teenage son Jamie and Brian may be able to help. There’s romance on the cards too but he'll need some dating advice...Brian & Roger are friends that met at a support group for divorced men. Both are starting again, both are finding it hard. One of them is nice.To hear more episodes from this series, search "Brian and Roger" on BBC Sounds.Written and performed by Harry Peacock and Dan Skinner. Produced by Joel Morris and Sally Harrison. Music by Bach, arranged by Hywel Davies. Hywel Davies (piano), Luke Belcher (bass), Tilly Tremayne (vocals).Executive Producer: Johnny Vegas A Woolyback production for BBC Radio 4

Sara Pascoe, comedian and writer, brings comic curiosity. Lee Davies, Kew fungarium manager, explains wood‑rotting fungi, dry rot and stinkhorns. Dr Erica McAlister, Diptera curator, reveals marine midges, botflies and fly biology. They explore church‑eating rot, marine midge mating oddities, fungal bioelectricity and the myth of an "orgasm fungus."

Katy Wix, Welsh comedian and actress, invents 'panic-dote' for those awkward story-fillers. Jess Fostekew, comedian and weightlifter, coins 'flurnal' for the lone sock trapped in a duvet. Hugh Dennis, actor and comic, creates 'fraughtonomy' for decision paralysis. Short, playful chat about missing words, regional slang and the weird little moments that need new vocabulary.

It's the first every Live Comedy Day, and Live From the UK brings a special, extended episode to the Radio 4 listener.Angela Barnes is back at the comedy club where she did her first ever gig, the Brighton Komedia. She did a comedy course with comedy guru Jill Edwards, so catches up with her to chat about starting out, and grassroots comedy.We also tour to all 4 nations of the UK, bringing you insights on a night tour of Edinburgh Zoo, useless stuff you learn in school, nans playing rugby and the dystopian world of fast food restaurants.Throughout the show, some of the UK's best loved comedians will also pop up to tell you about their first ever gig.In this episode, you can hear;Christopher Macarthur-Boyd at the Monkey Barrel in Edinburgh Emer Maguire at the Empire Music Hall, Belfast Carwyn Blayney at the Swansea Grand Seann Walsh at Komedia BrightonAdditional Material by Ruth HuskoRecorded by David Thomas, Sean Kerwin and Davy Neil Sound design by David Thomas Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.

We like to think we vote with our heads. But what if we've always voted with our tribe? Top political comedian Matt Forde convenes his Focus Group in front of a live theatre audience with a razor-sharp panel — former Conservative adviser Salma Shah, ex-SNP MP and broadcaster John Nicolson, and stand-up comedian Pierre Novellie — to ask whether tribal loyalty is the secret engine of political life. From parties haemorrhaging members to rivals, to the flag-wrapped contradictions of nationalist politics, to the question of whether multicultural Britain is importing conflicts it never signed up for, this is an episode about belonging, identity - and the ridiculous places both can leadThis featured episode is The Politics of The Tribe from Series 2 of The Matt Forde Focus Group on BBC Radio 4.Written and performed by Matt Forde Additional writing from Karl Minns, Ruth Husko and Richard Garvin Producer: Richard Garvin Co Producer: Daisy Knight Broadcast Assistant: Ocean Holder Sound Design: David Thomas Editor Chris Maclean An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4

A 53-year-old comedian reflects on driving London buses for 15 years and why the job gets little respect. He recalls chaotic passenger stories, a dramatic rescue beneath a bus, and jealous thoughts about pilots’ applause. He shares his nervous first stand-up, fueled by brandy, and the juggling act of bus shifts with raising children and awkward parenting duties.

Luke Manning, an improviser and comedian, joins the quartet as a quick-thinking performer. Scenes shift with time-jumps at a tense reunion. A butcher shop turns melodramatic with gory monologues. Genre-swapping sparks therapist-to-opera chaos. A spider’s anxious inner monologue and a three-headed director interview add surreal, fast-paced laughs.

Comedian Aurie Styla returns to rampage through the history of technology, through his own experience as a self-confessed tech nerd growing up in the 90s, and various things you thought you’d forgotten.With his interactive, wildly funny style, tonight the focus is on the role tech has played in our fitness lives: for better or worseThis episode is from the Stand-Up Specials brand on BBC Sounds.An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4.