Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | Pretending And Sandwiches | 20161115 | 20170613/14 (BBC7) 20191221 (BBC7) 20210704 (BBC7) 20210710 (BBC7) 20210711 (BBC7) 20230515 (BBC7) 20230516 (BBC7) 20170606 (R4) | The Godfather of Alternative Comedy delivers a mixture of stand-up, memoir and philosophy from behind the counter of his Imaginary Sandwich Bar. Alexei Sayle explores his impulse to pretend - and love of sandwiches. Along the way he reveals the little known origin of the prawn cocktail, debunks the myth that the Earl of Sandwich was the first person to put a bit of meat between two slices of bread and discusses the hidden depths of Taylor Swift. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. Original music and lyrics by Tim Sutton. A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in November 2016. Alexei Sayle delivers stand-up, memoir and philosophy from his Imaginary Sandwich Bar. |
| 01 | 02 | Political Beliefs | 20161122 | 20170620/21 (BBC7) 20191228 (BBC7) 20210711 (BBC7) 20230522 (BBC7) 20230523 (BBC7) 20170613 (R4) | Alexei explores his political beliefs system, looking back at his childhood in a communist household, and his career as a drug-dealer. He also ponders his physical attraction to Boris Johnson. The Godfather of Alternative Comedy delivers a mixture of stand-up, memoir and philosophy from behind the counter of his Imaginary Sandwich Bar. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2016 Alexei Sayle delivers stand-up, memoir and philosophy from his Imaginary Sandwich Bar. |
| 01 | 03 | Careerism | 20161129 | 20170627/28 (BBC7) 20200104 (BBC7) 20210718 (BBC7) 20230529 (BBC7) 20230530 (BBC7) 20170620 (R4) | Alexei reveals the surprising reason he disappeared from our TV screens in the 1990's. He also recounts a chance meeting with Ed Miliband, discusses rampant nepotism in most coveted careers and draws a striking comparisons between capitalism and all you can eat buffets. The Godfather of Alternative Comedy delivers a mixture of stand-up, memoir and philosophy from behind the counter of his Imaginary Sandwich Bar. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. Additional Material from Liam Beirne. Alexei reveals the surprising reason he disappeared from our TV screens in the 1990s. |
| 01 | 04 LAST | History And The Role Of The Entertainer | 20161206 | 20170704/05 (BBC7) 20200111 (BBC7) 20210725 (BBC7) 20230605 (BBC7) 20230606 (BBC7) 20170627 (R4) | Alexei explores the role of the entertainer. Along the way he explains why he will never go on Strictly Come Dancing, the reason Newsnight needs to be 11 hours long and questions why TV comedy panel shows help rehabilitate the careers of 'war criminals'. The Godfather of Alternative Comedy delivers a mixture of stand-up, memoir and philosophy from behind the counter of his Imaginary Sandwich Bar. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. With: Nicholas Parsons Paul Merton Jake Yapp Additional Material by Sarah Campbell. A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2016. Alexei explores the role of the entertainer and explains why he will never go on Strictly. |
| 02 | 01 | Britain's Place In The World | 20171109 | 20171116/17 (BBC7) 20200808 (BBC7) 20220119 (BBC7) 20220120 (BBC7) 20220122 (BBC7) 20230918 (BBC7) 20230919 (BBC7) 20191029 (R4) | The Godfather of Alternative Comedy delivers a mixture of stand-up, memoir and philosophy from behind the counter of his Imaginary Sandwich Bar. Alexei considers Britain's place in the world and discusses his return to stand-up comedy after a 17 year hiatus. Along the way he reveals where all of the Millets shops have gone, discloses the key to reworking old material for a modern audience and offers a compelling argument for Britain losing a war - and soon. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. Original music and lyrics by Tim Sutton. A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2017. |
| 02 | 02 | The Financial Crash | 20171116 | 20171123/24 (BBC7) 20200815 (BBC7) 20220126 (BBC7) 20220127 (BBC7) 20230925 (BBC7) 20230926 (BBC7) 20191105 (R4) | Alexei considers the causes and fall-out of the 2008 financial crash, the appeal of Donald Trump and laments his lack of mainstream success. The Godfather of Alternative Comedy delivers a mixture of stand-up, memoir and philosophy from behind the counter of his Imaginary Sandwich Bar. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. With Sean Baker Original music and lyrics by Tim Sutton A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2017. Alexei Sayle considers the causes and fallout of the 2008 financial crash. |
| 02 | 03 | Death And Travel | 20171123 | 20171130 (BBC7) 20171201 (BBC7) 20200822 (BBC7) 20220202 (BBC7) 20220203 (BBC7) 20231002 (BBC7) 20231003 (BBC7) 20191112 (R4) | Alexei considers travel to places both real and imaginary. Along the way he reveals why BBC Radio 4 is a staple for Merchant seamen, how to get a cheap drink in the centre of Paris and the impulses he must fight when on holiday. Written and performed by the Godfather of Alternative Comedy, Alexei Sayle. With: Ian Smith. Original music and lyrics by Tim Sutton A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2017. Alexei Sayle considers travel to places both real and imaginary. |
| 02 | 04 LAST | La Vie Moral | 20171130 | 20171207/08 (BBC7) 20200829 (BBC7) 20220209 (BBC7) 20220210 (BBC7) 20231009 (BBC7) 20231010 (BBC7) 20191119 (R4) | Alexei considers how one might live an ethical life, recounts the difficulties he faced when tracking down his lost cat and pays penance for a feud with another performer. Written and performed by the Godfather of Alternative Comedy, Alexei Sayle. Original music and lyrics by Tim Sutton A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2017. Alexei considers how one might live an ethical life. |
| 03 | 01 | Corbyn And The Left | 20190912 | 20190919/20 (BBC7) 20220302 (BBC7) 20220303 (BBC7) 20220305 (BBC7) 20231120 (BBC7) 20231121 (BBC7) 20200219 (R4) | Alexei Sayle offers his thoughts on Jeremy Corbyn and the left and laments the decline of small business. And what can the 1997 film Starship Troopers teach all of us? Written and performed by the Godfather of Alternative Comedy, Alexei Sayle. Music and Lyrics by Tim Sutton. Alexei offers his thoughts on Jeremy Corbyn and the left and laments the decline of small business. From September 2019. |
| 03 | 02 | Santa Claused Faced Old\u2026 | 20190919 | 20190926/27 (BBC7) 20220309 (BBC7) 20220310 (BBC7) 20231127 (BBC7) 20231128 (BBC7) 20200226 (R4) | Alexei tells the story of a long lost tin of pâté, and offers his thoughts on the gig economy. He also reveals what he believes to be the secret war being waged by the old on the young... Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. Alexei Sayle tells the story of a long lost tin of pâté and offers his thoughts on the gig economy. From September 2019. Alexei tells the story of a long lost tin of p t退, and offers his thoughts on the gig economy. |
| 03 | 03 | Rage And Resentment | 20190926 | 20191003/04 (BBC7) 20220316 (BBC7) 20220317 (BBC7) 20231211 (BBC7) 20231212 (BBC7) 20200304 (R4) | Alexei considers the roots of his rage and resentment. He explores the dangers of magical thinking and contemplates what the philosophies of Bertholt Brecht could offer Premier League football. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. Alexei Sayle ponders what Bertholt Brecht's philosophies could offer the Premier League, and the root of his rage. From 2019. |
| 03 | 04 LAST | Kings Of Comedy | 20191003 | 20191010/11 (BBC7) 20220323 (BBC7) 20220324 (BBC7) 20231204 (BBC7) 20231205 (BBC7) 20200311 (R4) | Alexei outlines his problem with Morecambe and Wise, and discusses his issues with the Trade Unions. Plus he offers a fable taught by the Zen Master Wudang mountains in China. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. Alexei Sayle outlines his problem with some of comedy's sacred cows, plus his issues with the Trade Unions. From 2019. |
| 04 | 01 | A Monopoly Of Violence | 20221020 | 20221027/28 (BBC7) | Alexei considers the role of the police force, discusses his own involvement in the spy cops' scandal, draws comparisons between President Assad and a beloved British comedian and details his seven stages of grief post the 2019 general election. A mixture of stand-up, memoir, and philosophy from behind the counter of an imaginary sandwich bar. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. With original music and lyrics from Tim Sutton. Produced by Joe Nunnery A BBC Studios Production Alexei considers the role of the police force, discusses his own involvement in the ‘spy cops' scandal, draws comparisons between President Assad and a beloved British comedian and details his seven stages of grief post the 2019 general election. |
| 04 | 02 | The Revolving Door | 20221027 | 20221103/04 (BBC7) | Alexei contemplates the revolving door between politics and big business and makes a case for becoming the UK's defence minister. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. A BBC Studios Production Alexei contemplates the revolving door between politics and big business and makes a case for becoming the UK's defence minister. |
| 04 | 03 | The Way We Live Now | 20221103 | 20221110/11 (BBC7) | Alexei discusses the motivations of the rich and considers a historic counter-factual involving a young Jacob Rees Mogg. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. A BBC Studios Production |
| 04 | 04 LAST | Repetition. Repetition. Repetition. | 20221110 | 20221117/18 (BBC7) | Alexei explores the place that repetition holds in our culture, discusses his time as an author on the arts centre circuit and debuts a new slam poem entitled `I Hate Keir Starmer`. A mixture of stand-up, memoir, and philosophy from behind the counter of an imaginary sandwich bar. Written and performed by Alexei Sayle. Additional material by Tom Whyman. Produced by Joe Nunnery. A BBC Studios Production. Alexei explores the place that repetition holds in our culture, discusses his time as an author on the arts centre circuit and debuts a new slam poem entitled “I Hate Keir Starmer ?. |