Radio 2's Funny Fortnight 2018
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Radio 2's Funny Fortnight 2018 showcased a range of new and exciting one-off comedy programmes, including a mix of celebrity panel shows, impressions, quizzes and sitcoms.
An array of award-winning writers introduce new characters in these half-hour shows, from dog walkers to ‘Agony Uncle’ Jeremy Vine, featuring the likes of Johnny Vegas, Josh Widdicombe, Sara Cox, Bradley Walsh, Joe Thomas and Lewis MacLeod, the writers from Two Doors Down and Peter Kay’s Car Share, plus up-coming and emerging new talent.
See below for our guide to the season, which began on Monday 23 April 2018 - you'll be able to listen to all the shows via the Radio 2 website live and for 30 days after they're broadcast.
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The Taylors - available from 10.00pm, Monday 23rd April
A fun-loving nouveau riche couple and their noisy family have moved to a middle class neighbourhood in Slough. In this episode Gary (Shane Richie - EastEnders) and Melissa (Hannah Waddingham - Game of Thrones) host a house warming party for their new neighbours but things don鈥檛 go to plan.
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Censored - available from 10.30pm, Monday 23rd April
Julian Clary (pictured) hosts the game that takes the sense out of censorship, bleeping everything from celebrity soundbites to TV clips and interviews with members of the public. It鈥檚 down to his panel of guests - Dane Baptiste, Rachel Parris and Arlene Phillips - to work out what the bleep is going on.
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Jeremy Vine: Agony Uncle - available from 10pm, Tuesday 24th April
In-between interviewing politicians, unearthing local stories of national importance, or talking to someone from an owl sanctuary in Stevenage, UK lunchtime radio legend Jeremy Vine (as played by Lewis MacLeod, pictured) has another vital role to perform. Jeremy is everyone's go-to agony uncle, giving off-air advice to the world's great and good, from Adele to David Attenborough.
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Josh Widdicombe Will Make Your Life Better - available from 10.30pm, Tuesday 24th April
Britain鈥檚 best comedians and celebrities examine frustrations with their own inadequate lives to come up with life hacks, innovations, inventions and all manner of hair brained ideas all with the purpose of helping YOU. Every hack will be rigorously tested, demonstrated and ruthlessly critiqued as Josh (pictured) works out whether his guests鈥� ideas represent true eureka moments that will change the world for the better, or are laughably poor suggestions with a good idea lurking within, or simply utter guff. In this episode, Harry Hill, Fay Ripley and Evelyn Mok pitch inventions.
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Dog Days - available from 10pm, Wednesday 25th April
Set around the lives of a group of dog walkers whose lives are controlled and led by their four-legged friends. In this episode, Gary's (Johnny Vegas, pictured) dog is missing. Also starring Gwyneth Powell, John Henshaw, Joel Fry and Tanya Franks.
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What If...? - available from 10.30pm, Wednesday 25th April
A new panel show, hosted by Sara Cox. Three celebrities ponder definitive moments in pop culture history. What if events as we know them had taken a different turn? What if famous individuals had made completely different choices? What if we had journeyed down paths not taken? Guests include stand-up comedian Grainne Maguire, Science writer and broadcaster, Dr Adam Rutherford and Rylan Clarke-Neal from The X Factor.
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The World According to Harry Priest - available from 10pm, Monday 30th April
There's nothing Harry Priest (Bradley Walsh, pictured) likes better than rules. Rules help keep life bearable, especially if life has dealt you a bad hand, like it has to Harry. After losing his job and his wife, Harry has managed to get himself signed off as long-term sick.. Luckily Harry has enough to keep him occupied: living with him are his mother-in-law Genie (permanently drunk whilst claiming to be six years sober), eldest daughter Nicola and her fianc茅e Gaz (trying for a baby) and youngest daughter Julia and her new boyfriend Jamie, just returned from university. They can all stay there as long as they abide by Harry鈥檚 鈥渞ules鈥� - tricky as Harry keeps making up new ones.
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What Is Normal? - available from 10.30pm, Monday 30th April
We鈥檙e often a bit weird, but just how odd are we? From eating cold baked beans to showering after each toilet visit, what鈥檚 normal and what鈥檚 not? Sara Pascoe & Aisling Bea host this brand new comedy chat show, which hammers out whether our quirks are perfectly acceptable, or just plain weird. Joining them to share their foibles are three celebrity guests - comedian Stephen Bailey, author & comedian Shappi Khorsandi and journalist James Brown.
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Le Maire - available from 10pm, Tuesday 1st May
Le Maire follows Harriet (Rosie Cavaliero, pictured), a potential candidate for the role of Mayor of Rachelais; the small French village that she and her husband Roy (Tim Key - Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa) have settled in. Their perfect little French life, away from the issues occurring in the UK, seems full of peace and 鈥榯ranquillit茅鈥�. However, on the eve of the vote, her irresponsible and unpredictable brother Ed (Jonny Sweet) comes crashing into their continental lives (as well as the local vineyard), putting all of her plans into question.
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One Night Only - available from 10.30pm, Tuesday 1st May
One Night Only is an all-singing extravaganza based around famous musicals, in which celebrities and comedians compete to be the star of a spectacular finale. Mentored by Pippa Evans (pictured), with much loved numbers from hit musicals alongside some fabulous new compositions from Richie Webb (Horrible Histories), One Night Only shows what it takes to see your name in lights.
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Proposal - available from 10pm, Wednesday 2nd May
Proposal follows couple Jamie (Joe Thomas) and Lucy (Pearl Mackie), as Jamie builds up the nerve to pop the question - and the series of disasters that follow as he attempts to negotiate the unwritten rules of marriage proposals. For a start, ambitious career woman Lucy is not sure about the institution of marriage. And as his behaviour gets increasingly suspicious, she鈥檚 becoming less sure about Jamie.
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Celebrity Lip Service - available from 10.30pm, Wednesday 2nd May
A gang of Britain's most talented up鈥揳nd-coming impressionists use their catalogue of voices to explore the wonderful world of fame and celebrity. Through a series of prank calls and hilarious set ups they'll find out just how far people will go to a satisfy a star. For example, would Pizza Express in Watford clear its premises so a certain Scientologist can dine with his cats? Will Exeter City Council agree to turn off all their street lights so Katie Hopkins can finally sleep at night? Hosted by Darren Harriott.
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