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Currently integrated under the banner of BBC Audio & Music the BBC has a tradition a strong tradition and massive archive of spoken word drama, comedy, features and current affairs. Current content is available through the radio (some digital only) as well as streaming online with most significant shows being available on demand for a week after broadcast. Many popular programs are also repurposed as podcasts and available for a much longer period. I'm not sure about the current status of streaming content outside the UK and it seems to change a lot, as do the ways around it. And it doesn't really effect me anyway so someone else can fill in the blanks if they want! Podcasts are available worldwide, usually with any music removed for licensing reasons. Some Key Stations (omitting music based ones)  Radio 4 Considered by many to be the jewel in BBC radio's crown (if not across all media) Radio 4 has a broad remit that covers just about everything except for music and sport. This includes news, current affairs, drama, comedy, the arts, science and religion. It's my default go-to station if I leave my iPod at home (perish the thought). Many shows on Radio 4 have been running for over forty years and in the time it has been running it's spawned more significant shows than I could list. Amongst them (and omitting ones I'll be talking about as podcasts later): Today and The World Tonight BBC Radio's flagship news and current affairs shows, The Archers: currently the world's longest running soap opera in any format and. It also has a strong tradition in original comedy and has been effectively launched the careers of many famous British comedians (both as Radio 4 and it's former incarnation as the British Home Service).  Radio 5 Live Radio 5 Live is a combination of news, sport and talk radio. With regards to news it tends more towards breaking news than Radio 4's analysis and interviews, it has a variety of talk shows (many of them sport related), but it's most well known for live sport comentary as it covers just about every major sporting event (and a lot of minor ones). Beyond the occasional Football/Cricket match it's not a station I listen to much with the exception of Mayo & Kermode (more later). I don't know if anyone else has any shows to recommend.  4 Extra (Previously Radio 7) A digital only station 4 Extra is a mix of original programming and slections from the Radio 4 archive. The original programming tends towards sketch comedy and a suprising amount of science fiction, shows that may appeal to a narrow range of Radio 4's big audience. The Radio 4 archive stuff is from all over the place and includes selections from ongoing shows as well as epsiodes of classic comedies and drama. My Dad likes to listen to this and pretend he's young again. I'd listen to a lot more stuff here if I wasn't so behind on my podcasts. So yeah, there are plenty of other stations, but I think those three are the ones that would be of most interest to people here. Feel free to add details of others if you're a BBC Radio junky. I'm going to follow this up with details of the BBC Podcasts I listen to (In our time, some desert island discs, Adam and Joe, Mayo and Kermode and my anger at the lack of a Pick of the Pops podcast but that's enough for today. Also worth mentioning that while this isn't primarily a music subforum you're still welcome to discuss Radio 1 and 2 and specific shows and DJs (especially if it's reminiscing about Mark and Lard) as there's plenty of talk, personalities and chat there as well.
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| # ? Sep 22, 2011 16:29 |
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| # ? May 20, 2013 00:23 |
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I've been informed that it's a repeat, but this episode of Jon Ronson On (Radio 4) is insane. Jon Ronson rules, so I'm sure the others are great too.
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| # ? Sep 22, 2011 18:25 |
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I remember hearing the most hosed up science-fiction/horror radio drama on a series called Fear on Four. This was back when they had BBC Radio7 - it was one of the shows on heavy rotation there. I don't remember the exact details, but it involved a derelict space-plane, a pregnant mother and cannibalism. I'm still amazed how something like that ever got commissioned... Also, I love Ed Reardon's week. He is such a lovable jerk.
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| # ? Sep 23, 2011 01:19 |
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Been really enjoying this Mickey Flanagan thing. The first episode was great: lots of interesting thoughts about social class; genuinely funny and touching. No-where near as self-indulgent as it sounds.
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| # ? Oct 6, 2011 13:31 |
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Among the cuts the BBC announced today, "radio drama will be reduced on 3 and 4." Comedy is unaffected, but this is still bullshit.
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| # ? Oct 6, 2011 14:32 |
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15165926 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15186116 These are some articles the BBC has published on the matter, some of the radio cuts sound pretty severe. 
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| # ? Oct 6, 2011 14:40 |
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Even less original programming for 4e? There's barely gently caress all as it is. Cut 5% off the CBeebies hallucinogenics budget and fund it into some adventurous drama.
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| # ? Oct 6, 2011 15:59 |
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Pretty surprised they didn't axe Asian Network all together, seemed pretty certain before. At least 6music hasn't been that badly affected.
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| # ? Oct 6, 2011 21:03 |
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goatface posted:Even less original programming for 4e? There's barely gently caress all as it is. Noooo, the CBeebies drugs are the best kind of drugs there are, and have been the saviour of many a harassed parent. Cut some of the cack that BBC3 shows instead. On Radio 4 this week I listened to Nightingale Wood, by Stella Gibbons (she wrote Cold Comfort Farm). The second part of it is on tomorrow afternoon as part of their "Neglected Classics" series. It's a nicely produced little comedy of manners and I'm eager to see if the book itself is still in print. That's what I like about Radio 4 (well, that and the beloved Shipping Forecast). It brings things to your attention that you would never have heard of otherwise.
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| # ? Oct 8, 2011 21:33 |
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They've got an excellent and creepy reading of Shadow Over Innsmouth running on Radio 4 right now for all you Lovecraft fans. edit: Holy poo poo is this ever creepy, factual look into electronic voice phenomenon on BBC Radio4: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...k_Spirit_Speak/ lynch_69 fucked around with this message at Oct 12, 2011 around 01:15 |
| # ? Oct 9, 2011 05:41 |
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lynch_69 posted:I remember hearing the most hosed up science-fiction/horror radio drama on a series called Fear on Four. This was back when they had BBC Radio7 - it was one of the shows on heavy rotation there. I don't remember the exact details, but it involved a derelict space-plane, a pregnant mother and cannibalism. I'm still amazed how something like that ever got commissioned... Was that Nebulous? https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Nebulous I really like the iplayer radio section, there's a lot of stuff, it's just a shame that some is repeated too often, and some not enough. Do any other radio stations have such good websites, or good comedies*? *I like probably 70% of the comedy on the iplayer radio section, so I guess I'm not too choosy.
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| # ? Oct 12, 2011 19:46 |
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No. Nebulous is not a horror. It couldn't even be mistaken for a horror. You got the sci-fi bit down though, so partial credit. Nebulous, especially the first season is well worth the listen if you ever see it on e: A while ago I tuned into Fags, Mags and Bags totally accidentally, and found myself quite enjoying it. I suppose that rules out me having any taste. Currently listening to The Music Teacher, which seems to follow in the steps of I Think I've Got a Problem in being an inner view of the mind of a failed musician, replete with song bits. Somehow even worse than its predecessor. Done by Richy Webb of 15 Minute Musical which was equally poo poo. I don't think I've ever liked anything he's ever done. I did like co-star Vicky Pepperdine in The Hudson and Pepperdine Show though. Mr. Squishy fucked around with this message at Oct 12, 2011 around 22:34 |
| # ? Oct 12, 2011 22:21 |
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Crankit posted:Was that Nebulous? https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Nebulous I found it! It's called Survival http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jnpz I did a little more digging and I found this awesome site with all the fear on four downloads: http://otrarchive.blogspot.com/2011...ar-on-four.html
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| # ? Oct 13, 2011 00:28 |
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016vdwc I just heard an advert for this, I have no idea what to make of it.
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| # ? Oct 21, 2011 20:19 |
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That sounds incredible.
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| # ? Oct 21, 2011 21:03 |
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It sounds... interesting. Possibly an overly ironic clusterfuck though. Just listened to Two Episodes of Mash from Radio 2. It was a bit odd, but quite entertaining. Very subdued comedy.
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| # ? Oct 22, 2011 12:34 |
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I'm glad that Listen Against is back, as I'm a fan on its quick-paced and nonsensical style. Alice Arnold's segments with their mangled language cloaked well spoken authority reminds me Chris Morris in On The Hour. Also they edited all the John Humphrys and David Cameron into a lovers spat, which is fantastic. Also, there's another Ivor Cutler thing running on 4 Extra now. They're hard to get ahold of.
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| # ? Nov 3, 2011 23:59 |
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If anyone is not already listening to Book of the Week this week, time to start cos it's Jeanette Winterson's autobiography and it is hosed-up to the point of being near unbelievable, but also very funny and touching.
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| # ? Nov 4, 2011 13:18 |
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In Our Time with Melvyn Bragg justifies the entire licence fee.
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| # ? Nov 6, 2011 21:09 |
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This will probably be of interest to everyonequote:BBC to open vast radio archive online
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| # ? Nov 7, 2011 13:04 |
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Is there any word on when the next series of The Unbelievable Truth might be broadcast?
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| # ? Nov 8, 2011 04:56 |
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Yesterday's Clue was great, but man they really laid into Ricky Gervais. That's new!
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| # ? Nov 29, 2011 10:46 |
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If you ever get the chance track down and listen to Count Arthur Strong, some of the best radio comedy I have come across. I think it is currently on 4 extra on Sundays and Mondays and is utterly glorious.
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| # ? Nov 30, 2011 14:44 |
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I started listening to the radio version of Absolute Power a year or so ago, but I've played it to death now (I can almost quote it; ridiculous!)...so I'm looking for some radio sitcoms to get into? Preferably something with a few seasons so I can get my teeth into it! Has anyone got any suggestions?
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| # ? Feb 2, 2012 23:04 |
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Radio 4 churns out sitcoms, so I'd honestly recomend just turning that on at 6:30 or 11:00 Tuesday through Thursday, but be ready to turn it off because a lot of them are stinkers. The cream of the crop/everything but the worst gets repeated ad infinitum on Radio 4 Extra. Off the top of my head, I can remember enjoying: Rigor Mortis; Fags, Mags and Bags; Bleak Expectations; The Department; and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (some of these aren't really sitcoms but none are quiz- or sketch-shows). A fair few of those are for sale through BBC Worldwide but you'd be wiser to listen to a few of the programs for free on Iplayer before spending anything.
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| # ? Feb 2, 2012 23:33 |
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Awesome, a BBC radio thread! I've been a daily listener for years now, even though I don't live in the U.K. I can't wait until we finally get the international subscription based version of the iPlayer here in America. The last series I enjoyed was Birkett-the 4 episodes about a famous lawyer sometime after WW1. I tried listening to Pilgrim but I found his character was a pain to follow because he scrambled around trying to do the right thing and people just continuously bitched at him all the time for no reason. And I'm pissed that I *just* realized that the lead character in I, regress is Matt Berry, the boss from the IT Crowd and Sanchez from DarkPlace. Now I'll have to wait a few months for the eventual replay to catch the first few episodes. Another gem I almost slept on is Deep Country I usually get bored by readings but there's something peacefully haunting about this story of a guy that settles into a remote cabin with nothing but a bag of clothes and proceeds to live off the land. Other great shows...Doon your way, French and Saunders, The Man in Black, The Goon Show...The Phillip Marlowe dramas, Paul Temple Mysteries, Cadfael, Father Baldi Mysteries, Adam Baron's Billy Rucker mysteries, Julie Enfield Investigates, The Now SHow, The Cheese Shop Presents:The Butter factor, Fellah's Hour etc etc etc...Man I don't know what I'd do without this service. Anyway yeah, BBC radio programs are where it's at!
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| # ? Feb 4, 2012 07:48 |
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Big fan of the Kermode and Mayo's Film Review podcast. Listened for years despite not going to the cinema too much. The banter is great. For that matter, More Mayo, the podcast of Simon Mayo's Drivetime show is a good listen. The confessions have a certain schoolyard tales quality about them... EDIT: Should point out, I'm a Brit now living in Vancouver, BC... I got into a lot of BBC Podcasts while travelling/living over here
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| # ? Feb 15, 2012 02:00 |
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Episode 6 of Tim Key's Late Night Poetry Programme. Which means I've missed the first 5. Balls. Anyway he's the best.
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| # ? Mar 31, 2012 23:10 |
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Al2001 posted:Episode 6 of Tim Key's Late Night Poetry Programme. Which means I've missed the first 5. Balls. Anyway he's the best. He is the best.
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| # ? Apr 3, 2012 10:50 |
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Panel game fans should definitely check out the Indian episodes of Just a Minute that are playing on 4. The first one is easily the best episode of Just a Minute I've heard in years. It's also available through the BBC Radio 4 Comedy of the Week podcast.
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| # ? Apr 6, 2012 01:02 |
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Saturday Live is a great programme. Loads of interesting features; good guests; the guy who improvises the poems is insanely good (this coming from someone who hates most of R4's safe bourgie "humour"); Richard Coles is a very intelligent likeable man who is a gay vicar and used to be in The Communards. What more do you want?
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| # ? Apr 22, 2012 00:55 |
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I'm surprised that More or Less wasn't mentioned. It's a weekly discussion and debunking of statistics in the news. It should be a civic duty to listen to it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/moreorless
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| # ? May 18, 2012 18:18 |
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The license fee would be worth it for Kermode and Mayo's Film Review alone. poo poo, the license fee would be worth it for the Sex And The City 2 rant alone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHeQeHstrsc
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| # ? May 18, 2012 21:34 |
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File on 4 is back and I couldn't be happier. Deep investigative journalism on important issues that isn't zeitgeist-lead. It always reminds me how dead on Delve Special was back in the day. Near every report, there's one person sounding too weaselly to be true.
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| # ? Jun 6, 2012 16:01 |
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Are you guys serious about Kermode and Mayo? Mayo, on his own, is fine but Kermode is such a pretentious ham with his forced rants and wilful ignorance of culture. I don't know how anyone takes his opinion seriously.
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| # ? Jun 7, 2012 01:16 |
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Are you a Danny Dyer fan? I don't see how Kermode is pretentious at all, he's a much bigger fan of genre films than most critics. Do you have any examples of forced rants or ignorance of culture? Most of his rants start out with him trying to avoid ranting but he's very passionate about movies and I don't think it's odd that he ends up speaking passionately about them.
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| # ? Jun 7, 2012 06:59 |
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No, but his constant impressions of Danny Dyer are hilarious. Every time. Most of his rants start out because that's what he's known for so it's his gimmick and he'll find a way to get a "Kermodian" ( ) in there. His proud anti-TV stance is incredibly childish, particularly when he'll smugly go on record about having no idea what The Simpsons or The Wire is. What's somehow even worse is that this is part of his "wittertainment" () act; I can only assume this is still a weekly fixture but when he'll make a reference to something esoteric and, immediately, Mayo goes  and draws the whole thing out further. It's a really obnoxious performance.
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| # ? Jun 7, 2012 10:03 |
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Kermode is okay sometimes. I prefer him on The Review Show (on TV) because he knows he can't air his stupider opinions - cos they'd get shot down in seconds by the more intelligent people surrounding him. Mayo's just a bit bland: been a daytime radio DJ all his life so I don't blame him but yeah I don't understand how they're seen as this amazing double act. For content: Yesss Jon Ronson is back!!! (Actually looks like they are repeats again sorry. New to me though!)
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| # ? Jun 7, 2012 14:26 |
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The BBC are loving about with the radio webpages AGAIN.
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| # ? Jun 11, 2012 13:44 |
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| # ? May 20, 2013 00:23 |
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Handsome Dead posted:No, but his constant impressions of Danny Dyer are hilarious. Every time. Most of his rants start out because that's what he's known for so it's his gimmick and he'll find a way to get a "Kermodian" ( maybe you should listen to another show? I find him smart, amusing and entertaining. If you don't, there are other film review shows. For that matter, there ate other BBC film review shows.
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| # ? Jun 11, 2012 21:34 |
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