Humour

15 MINUTE MUSICAL

by Miscellaneous Authors

read by Miscellaneous

running time 4hrs 37mins

Oozing with satire and sass, these fun-size yet deliciously satisfying musical comedies do for your ears what chocolate does for your taste buds. Based on the lives and careers of well-known public figures, each one takes a politician or VIP who has hit the headlines, and gives them a West End make-over. Their fabricated stories are told in an original, never-heard-before, musical that will have your toes tapping to the rhythm and shoulders shaking to the laughs. All the conventions of a musical are followed (huge production numbers, tender ballads and emotional reprises) - but artistic licence is well and truly taken as celebrities such as David Cameron, Simon Cowell and Morrissey are hilariously lampooned in song. Hear the greatest stories never told (or sung) as Julian Assange is wiki-leaked; Nigel Farage goes to Europe with a Britpop soundtrack; and Barack Obama fights for the American presidency via power ballads and rock anthems. Plus, we go 'Upstairs Downton' with the Middletons; and pay homage to Russia's greatest love machine in an outrageously camp, disco-tastic look at Vladimir Putin... Also featured are all eight Christmas specials from 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, including Jeremy Corbyn Superstar!, Lady and the Trump, Cabarexit, Eurovision Gone Wrong Contest and a Rodgers and Hammerstein-inspired celebration of all things Meghan Markle: The Sixth in Line to be King and I.

4 AT THE STORE

by Miscellaneous authors

read by Miscellaneous

running time 11hrs 30mins

Stand-up fans rejoice - this cracking collection contains a whole seven series of top-drawer comedy, recorded live at London and Manchester's legendary Comedy Store and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Enjoy over eleven hours of laughs from some of the biggest and best stand-ups on the circuit, hosted by three fantastically funny compères: Simon Bligh, Ross Noble and Adam Hills. Included here is an A-Z of top-drawer comic talent, from Richard Ayoade, John Bishop, Alan Carr, to Sean Lock, Lee Mack, Dara Ó Briain, Lucy Porter, Gina Yashere and a host of other peerless performers. It's all the fun of a comedy club, without the need to leave your armchair.

ADVICE FROM STRANGERS: EVERYTHING I KNOW FROM PEOPLE I DON'T KNOW

by Rachel Parris

read by Rachel Parris

running time 6hrs 37mins

Over the course of a year award-winning comedian Rachel Parris asked members of her live audience for advice. Here she takes those random bits of wisdom - such as 'Be Kind' or 'Never Pass Up the Opportunity for a Wee' - and explores them in ways that are funny and serious, hilarious and heart-breaking. This uplifting feminist manifesto of a book outlines the essentials of living in the modern world; dealing with everything from Tampons to Tories and from #hashtags to Staying Hydrated.

BACK STORY

by David Mitchell

read by David Mitchell

running time 9hrs 30mins

David Mitchell, who you may know from Peep Show or his opinionated column in The Observer or as one half of That Mitchell and Webb Look, has written a book about his life including meditations on: the pain of being denied a childhood birthday party at McDonalds, why it would be worse to bump into Michael Palin than Hitler on holiday and that he’s not David Mitchell the novelist, despite what David Miliband might think.

CALL ME MRS. BROWN

by Brendan O'Carroll

read by Brendan O'Carroll

running time 9hrs 30mins

Before he became the nation's favourite Mammy, Brendan O'Carroll was known, simply as Brendan. He's the youngest of eleven children from a poor family in Dublin, he's a boy whose father died when he was just nine years old; he's someone whose hope and determination meant he never gave up. Throughout the tough moments, Brendan always had humour and a good story to tell alongside the ever-guiding inspiration of his own Mammy, a formidable figure who became Ireland's first female Labour MP, all whilst raising eleven children by herself. Just like the show so brilliantly expresses, Brendan's first autobiography, the real story behind the man who became Mrs Brown, combines uplifting heart, warmth and hilarity.

DANNY WALLACE AND THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE

by Danny Wallace

read by James Murphy

running time 2hrs

Danny Wallace heard about a manhole cover, on a small street, in a small town, tucked away in a remote part of Idaho. The manhole cover had been declared the Centre of the Universe. And the name of the town? Wallace. It was a cosmic coincidence Danny couldn't resist... Quick Reads.

ED REARDON'S WEEK: SERIES 1 - 4

by Andrew Nickolds & Christopher Douglas

read by Miscellaneous

running time 11hrs

The first four series of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 comedy. Welcome to the world of Ed Reardon, writer and liver of life at the cutting edge—well, above The Cutting Edge, in a one-bedroom flat over a hairdresser's in Berkhamsted that he shares with his his trusty feline companion, Elgar. Divorced, impoverished and embittered, he spends his time penny-pinching, freeloading and ranting at the modern world and the 'moronic 12-year-olds' who run the media. In these four series, we follow him as he tries to conquer the Christmas book market; falls in love; finds himself in hospital; attempts to secure his inheritance and comes up with a once-in-a-lifetime idea—only to forget where he put it...

THE FALL AND RISE OF REGINALD PERRIN

by David Nobbs

read by Miscellaneous

running time 2hrs 22mins

Meet Reginald Iolanthe Perrin, a man on the brink, in this comedy classic Fleeing across England in a fruit shaped van, attending his own wake and shouting the word 'parsnip' at inopportune moments wasn't exactly what Reginald Perrin had planned. But for Reggie, nothing in life is really going to plan. This brand new dramatisation of David Nobbs's hilarious classic novel follows the adventures of a middle-aged, middle-of-the-road, middle management dessert salesman, as he decides he's finally had enough. Part 1: The Fall - Reginald Perrin is having a crisis; he's not only lost his drive at work and in the bedroom but also his grip on reality. Parsnip, anyone? Part 2: The Rise - Reggie decides that faking his own death is the only way to find freedom and become a new man, but there's an unexpected problem... Also included here is a bonus interview programme, 'Laughed Off the Page', in which David Nobbs tells Janice Forsyth about his most famous creation, the wonderful Reggie Perrin.

THE GAMBLER: COMPLETE SERIES 1-2

by Alex Horne & Tim FitzHigham

read by Miscellaneous

running time 4hrs 9mins

Award-winning comedian Tim FitzHigham has a history of performing eccentric, record-breaking feats, including rowing across the Channel in a Victorian bathtub and blowing up the world's largest human-inflated balloon (he passed out twice during the attempt). Now, in this BBC Radio 4 series - based on his hugely successful 2011 Edinburgh Fringe show - he takes on some of the greatest (and oddest) bets in history, as he seeks to win a series of wacky wagers placed by Georgian and Victorian gamblers. In these nine episodes, he attempts to make a woollen coat from scratch - going from the sheep's back to his own back in a single day, tries to toss a cheeseboard over 4½ miles in under 100 throws, strives to outrun a racehorse in a 100-yard dash and endeavours to travel 25mph on water utilising only the methods existing in 1765. Tim also sets out to navigate central London blindfolded, bets that his pig can go over a bridge faster than a rower can scull across the river beneath it; and finds out if it's possible to cook a pudding ten feet underwater. In addition, accompanied by his nemesis Alex Horne, he recreates two legendary bets involving sending a missive 50 miles in an hour (using only the means available to a gentleman in 1753), and riding a horse from London to Dover and back before Alex can make a million dots on a piece of paper...

HANCOCK'S HALF HOUR: SELECTED TV SOUNDTRACKS & MORE

by Alan Simpson & Ray Galton

read by Miscellaneous

running time 17hrs 30mins

Over 30 brilliant BBC recordings, including TV shows, radio highlights and a wealth of previously unreleased material. Tony Hancock was one of Britain's best-loved and most influential postwar comedians. Collected here are some of the very best radio and TV episodes from Hancock's Half Hour, plus celebrations, compilations, interviews, original dramas and documentaries - many of which have never before been available on audio.

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE…: UNPUBLISHED LETTERS TO THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

by Iain Hollingshead (editor)

read by Patricia Mumford

running time 4hrs

This collection of unpublished letters to the Daily Telegraph features opinions on everything from the London Olympics to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, as well as the rather more obscure concerns voiced by ‘M’, the habitual correspondent who believes himself to be the head of MI5 but writes from an internet café in Bristol.

JAMES ACASTER'S FINDINGS

by James Acaster

read by James Acaster

running time 1hr 34mins

You may know him from his Netflix series Repertoire, his podcasts Off Menu or James Acaster's Perfect Sounds, but before all of that James Acaster was one of the top researchers working in the UK today. In these five shows, he probes deeply into a variety of subjects - and shares his eye-opening conclusions. Accompanied by agreeable assistant Nathaniel Metcalfe (Fresh From the Fringe) and Donna from the Complaints Department (Call the Midwife's Bryony Hannah) he tackles the big questions on the topics of Bread, Wood, Fruit, Wheels and Paint. Pilot show 'Bread' reveals why the French struggle to come up with a snappy slogan to advertise brioche. Plus, we learn why the bagel is so trendy, and discover the hidden anti-bread propaganda pushed at children through the medium of fairytales. In 'Wood', James goes to a lumberjack optician to find out if they can see the wood for the trees, experiments with toothpicks and termites, and investigates the difference between the xylophone and the glockenspiel - all while wearing his patented Clegg Clogs. 'Fruit' finds him disagreeing violently with Nathaniel on the subject of orange juice with bits in, recalling a formative childhood experience with a brown banana and explaining why it's fine to bring an apple to an orchard. 'Wheels' (powered by Picnic the hamster) sees James analysing the stylistic perfection of 'The Wheels on the Bus', refusing to divulge his roulette wheel exploits (what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...) and reinventing the Ferris wheel so it's proportionally more thrilling. And in 'Paint', James gets his portrait painted, speculates on the identity of Banksy (top three suspects: Jamie Oliver, Gordon Banks and Nathaniel Metcalfe) and strips down to his pants to play paintball, just like on Jackass... Also included is a bonus short story, 'Sorry for Your Loss', recorded in front of a live audience at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

KEVIN ELDON WILL SEE YOU NOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES 1 - 4

by Kevin Eldon

read by Miscellaneous

running time 7hrs 30mins

Comic phenomenon Kevin Eldon has appeared in almost every hit comedy series in the last 25 years, and now he's decided to take it up a notch with his very own show. It features sketches, characters, sound effects, a bit of music and a lot of messin' about - as well as his all-important cast of stellar comedy names and special guests. In the first three series, Kevin goes into space, evokes the powerful gods of Ancient Egypt, extols the wonders of drink and sneezing, and finally discovers a use for avant-garde German film director Werner Herzog. The fourth series takes a narrative turn, as Kevin broadcasts from the family stately home, complete with his artistic genius Italian wife, Alessandra; his pair of adopted sons, Jacob and Rees; and their cat, Mogg.

LAST DAYS OF THE BUS CLUB

by Chris Stewart

read by Chris Stewart

running time 7hrs 45mins

It's two decades since Chris Stewart moved to his farm in the mountains of southern Spain and now a local literary celebrity, he is using his fame to help his old sheep-shearing partner find work on a raucous road trip, recalling his own first foray into the adult world of work.

MACK THE LIFE

by Lee Mack

read by Lee Mack

running time 8hrs

Where do comedians come from? And where does all that material come from? Well, young Lee McKillop used to wonder that too. Growing up in his parents’ pub, small and wiry in a world of bigger and chunkier specimens, Lee quickly learned that cracking jokes was a way to get attention. After a somewhat random series of jobs, which included being Red Rum’s stableboy and a bingo hall barman, it was as a Great Yarmouth holiday camp entertainer that he had his first crack at telling jokes on stage. Now, as Lee Mack, he’s one of our best loved and most successful comedians, both as a live stand-up and on television. In Mack the Life, Lee tells the story of how he got there and gives extraordinary insight into what really makes comics tick. Hilarious and brilliant, it’s the kind of book which reminds you why you learned to read in the first place.

NARROW DOG TO INDIAN RIVER

by Terry Darlington

read by Steve Hodson

running time 8hrs 50mins

No-one had ever sailed an English narrowboat in the US before, but Terry and Monica Darlington and their whippet, Jim, take us on a dangerous, surprising and always entertaining journey. A thousand miles of the little-known South-East Seaboard unfold at six miles an hour- the golden marshes of the Carolinas, the incomparable cities of Charleston and Savannah, and the lost arcadias of Georgia and Florida.

OLD AGE AND HOW TO SURVIVE IT

by Edward Enfield

read by Bob Rollett

running time 2hrs 30mins

Old age comes to us all, and Edward Enfield wittily advises on how to survive its trickier obstacles, not least the people who suggest you must ‘do something’. One of the great delights of the golden years is doing less – from giving up DIY and ambition, to not inviting people to dinner!

PAM AYRES - DOWN THE LINE

by Pam Ayres

read by Pam Ayres

running time 3hrs

Blending Pam’s characteristically sharp wit with her warm, comic observations on everyday life, this hilariously funny collection is a must-have for seasoned fans and first time listeners alike. It also includes some of Pam’s more reflective poems including the title poem, Down the Line, which she wrote for the 100th Anniversary of the end of the First World War.

QUICKSAND TALES

by Keggie Carew

read by Jilly Bond

running time 8hrs 15mins

Keggie Carew has an unerring instinct for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, of putting her foot in it, and making a hash of things. From the repercussions of a missing purse, to boiling a frog, or the holiday when the last thing you could possibly imagine happens, Keggie has been there. Here she shares her most embarrassing, awkward, uncomfortable, funny, true, terrible and all-too-relatable moments.

READING ALLOWED

by Chris Paling

read by David Thorpe

running time 8hrs 30mins

This is the true story of a small-town library, its staff, and the fascinating group of people who make up its ‘regulars’. We meet characters who are tragic, some amusing, some surreal, but together they paint a picture of the world we live in today, and of a library’s vital place within it.

SANDI TOKSVIG'S HYGGE

by Sandi Toksvig

read by Miscellaneous

running time 3hrs 26mins

One of the few Danish words that British people have become familiar with, 'hygge' is a specifically Scandinavian notion of snugness, comfort and contentment. It's all about enjoying the simple pleasures, like curling up with a book on a rainy afternoon or cradling a cup of hot cocoa while wearing a chunky sweater. In this convivial chat show, Danish comedian and author Sandi Toksvig takes a deep dive into both the concept and the Danish way of life. Broadcasting from her toasty log cabin deep in the heart of rural Denmark (complete with sauna, underground wine-cellar and three-tier bird bath that dispenses miniature hot towels), she invites her special guests to join her in front of an open fire and talk about what 'hygge' means to them. Grayson Perry explains how learning new things can bring deep joy; Bridget Christie describes her love of running; Clive Myrie relates his passion for opera and poetry, and Brian Cox tells us how he finds comfort in physics, piano playing and Sibelius' Fifth Symphony. Sandi also chats about Australian Christmasses with Krishnan Guru-Murthy, discusses hopeless DIY with Andy Hamilton, muses on the soothing magic of fragrance with Lyse Doucet and hears from David Blunkett about mishaps in Braille and guide dogs behaving badly... These funny, feelgood shows are full of cosy charm and congenial conversation, so join Sandi and friends as they talk 'hygge' and put the world to rights - all over a delectable mug of warm spiced wine.

TALES OF THE COUNTRY

by Brian Viner

read by Bob Rollett

running time 10hrs 5mins

After eight years of living an enjoyable, city life, amongst like minded friends in Crouch End, Brian and Jane Viner move to deepest Hertfordshire with their three children. But why? Would they ever be more than a city family chasing a rural idyll?

UNDER THE PAW: CONFESSIONS OF A CAT MAN

by Tom Cox

read by Bob Rollett

running time 8hrs

Tom Cox, former rock critic, confesses that he is a closet cat lover. In fact, he owns seven of them. A hilarious and, at times heart-breaking story of feline obsession.

THE VIRGINIA MONOLOGUES: WHY GROWING OLD IS GREAT

by Virginia Ironside

read by Brenda White

running time 6hrs

Let Virginia Ironside take you through the top twenty reasons why getting old is good for you - and let the young and dumb keep their callow youth!

A WALK IN THE WOODS

by Bill Bryson

read by Richard Ratcliffe

running time 10hrs

The author and a friend hike the 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail, the longest continuous footpath in the world which stretches along the East Coast of the United States through some of the most arresting landscapes in America. Their experiences are told in the author's hilarious style.

YE GODS!: TRAVELS IN GREECE

by Jill Dudley

read by Janet Alexander

running time 8hrs

A light and humorous read about Jill Dudley's travels around Greece, touching on the myths and legends of the old gods and how the early Greek Orthodox Church emerged from its pagan past. It is also about her own, sometimes comical, search for enlightenment.