Chain Reaction
First broadcast from 20041230 to 20091007. (* = BBC7).
Chain Reaction is a simple idea for a highly entertaining series. A well-known figure from the entertainment industry begins the series interviewing the person of their choice. The following week the interviewee becomes interviewer and chats to their chosen guest. And so on and so on.
Recorded in front of an audience, this six part series has some big name stars from the world of entertainment interviewing others whose work they appreciate and admire. Each interviewer in the series brings their own individual style to the flavour of the show and each pairing has its own unique rapport. The interviews will focus on the life, career and the passions of the interviewee, often proving to be as revealing about the interviewer.
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | Jenny Eclair Interviews Jimmy Carr | 20041230 | 20050419, * 20090524, * 20090531 | The feisty comedienne interviews the deadpan funny man in the tag talk show. The feisty comedienne and the deadpan funny man in the tag talk show, where this week's guest is next week's interviewer. The feisty comedienne and the deadpan funny man in the tag talk show. This week, acerbic wit Jenny Eclair interviews prolific gag merchant, Jimmy Carr |
| 01 | 02 | Jimmy Carr Interviews Matt Lucas | 20050106 | 20050426 | Jimmy Carr talks to Matt Lucas about Shooting Stars, Little Britain and his ambition to open a chocolate shop. |
| 01 | 03 | Matt Lucas Interviews Johnny Vegas | 20050113 | 20050503, * 20090607 | Matt Lucas talks to Johnny Vegas about working in Argos and how he found fame and fortune. The 'Little Britain' star and the up front comedian in the tag talk show, where this week's guest is next week's interviewer. The 'Little Britain' star and the up front comedian in the tag talk show. |
| 01 | 04 | Johnny Vegas Interviews Stewart Lee | 20050120 | 20050510, * 20090614 | One up front and opinionated comedian interviews another in the tag talk show. Johnny Vegas talks to Stewart Lee on such diverse subjects as Jerry Springer the Opera and being the most middle-class person in Britain. |
| 01 | 05 | stewart Lee Interviews Alan Moore | 20050127 | 20050517, * 20090621 | Comedian Stuart Lee asks comic book writer Alan Moore about Batman, Jack the Ripper and having his comics turned into films. Three bits cut from the final programme for reasons of time were available on-line. The dry comedian and the acclaimed comic-book writer in the tag talk show, where this week's guest is next week's interviewer. The dry comedian interviews the acclaimed comic-book writer in the tag talk show. |
| 01 | 05 | stewart Lee To Alan Moore - Extra 1 | When Stewart Was A Cyberman. | ||
| 01 | 05 | stewart Lee To Alan Moore - Extra 2 | Alan traces the origins of the Superman mythos. | ||
| 01 | 05 | stewart Lee To Alan Moore - Extra 3 | Why Alan thinks The Killing Joke is not amongst his best work. | ||
| 01 | 06 LAST | Alan Moore Interviews Brian Eno | 20050203 | 20050524, * 20090628 | Comic book writer Alan Moore talks to composer, musician and producer Brian Eno. Brian talks about leaving Roxy Music, working with Bowie and the advantages of a giant man-eating spider. The acclaimed writer and the influential musician in the tag talk show, where this week's guest is the next interviewer. The acclaimed writer and the influential musician in the tag talk show. |
| 02 | 01 | Jo Brand Interviews Barry Cryer | 20060215 | 20070802, * 20070506, * 20070507, * 20080127, * 20080128, * 20090118, * 20090119, * 20090524 |  Comedian Jo in conversation with the ever-popular writer and comedian Barry Cryer. The razor sharp comedienne and the veteran funny man in the tag talk show. |
| 02 | 02 | Barry Cryer Interviews Mark Thomas | 20060222 | 20070809, * 20070513, * 20070514, * 20080203, * 20080204, * 20090125, * 20090126 | The relay-race style interview series continues as comic veteran Barry Cryer talks to bad boy Mark Thomas. The veteran funny man and the tough-talking comedian in the tag talk show. |
| 02 | 03 | Mark Thomas Interviews Alexei Sayle | 20060301 | 20070816, * 20070520, * 20070521, * 20080210, * 20080211, * 20090201, * 20090202 | Mark Thomas talks to Alexei Sayle about his 'car-crash career'. One tough-talking comedian chats to another in the tag talk show. |
| 02 | 04 | Alexei Sayle Interviews Lenny Henry | 20060308 | 20070823, * 20070527, * 20070528, * 20080217, * 20080218, * 20090208, * 20090209 | 'Stuff' and nonsense as Alexei Sayle picks up the interview baton and tackles Lenny Henry with some probing questions. |
| 02 | 05 | Lenny Henry Interviews Bill Bailey | 20060315 | 20070830, * 20070603, * 20070604, * 20080224, * 20080225, * 20090215, * 20090216 | One feisty stand-up comedian grills another in the tag talk show. One feisty stand-up comedian grills another in the tag talk show, where this week's guest is next week's interviewer. Lenny picks up the interview baton and asks Bill some probing questions. Lenny interviews fellow comedian Bill about his journey from lounge pianist to comedy's answer to Jimi Hendrix. |
| 02 | 06 LAST | Bill Bailey Interviews Simon Pegg | 20060322 | 20070906, * 20070610, * 20070611, * 20080302, * 20080303, * 20090222, * 20090223 | One feisty stand-up comedian grills another in the tag talk show. One feisty stand-up comedian grills another in the tag talk show, where this week's guest is the next episode's interviewer. The baton is passed on again as Bill Bailey takes up the mantle of interviewer and talks to Simon Pegg. The baton is passed on once more as Bill takes up the mantle of interviewer and talks to Simon. Episode 6 of 6. |
| 03 | 01 | Marcus Brigstocke Interviews Clive Anderson | 20070110 | 20090424, * 20090816 |  Marcus Brigstocke interviews broadcaster and presenter Clive Anderson. |
| 03 | 02 | Clive Anderson Interviews John Lloyd | 20070117 | 20090501, * 20090823 |  Series in which public figures choose others to interview. The previous week's guest Clive Anderson grabs the microphone to interview his selected guest, John Lloyd, the man responsible for programmes such as Not the Nine O'Clock News, Blackadder, Spitting Image and QI. Clive asks John about co-writing and falling out with Douglas Adams and the key to creating great comedy.Clive Anderson asks John Lloyd about co-writing and falling out with Douglas Adams. The previous week's guest Clive Anderson grabs the microphone to interview his selected guest, John Lloyd, the man responsible for programmes such as Not the Nine O'Clock News, Blackadder, Spitting Image and QI. The comedian and the presenter get chatting in the tag talk show, where this week's guest is next week's interviewer. The comedian and the presenter get chatting in the tag talk show. |
| 03 | 03 | John Lloyd Interviews Phill Jupitus | 20070124 | 20090508, * 20090830 |  The producer and comedian get chatting in the tag talk show, where this week's guest is next week's interviewer.The producer and comedian get chatting in the tag talk show. Series in which public figures choose others to interview. The previous week's guest John Lloyd grabs the microphone to interview his guest Phill Jupitus, comedian, radio presenter and Never Mind the Buzzcocks team captain. |
| 03 | 04 | Phill Jupitus Interviews John Hegley | 20070131 | 20090515, * 20090906 |  Phill Jupitus talks to fellow poet and comedian John HegleyThe comedian and comic poet get chatting in the tag talk show, where one week's guest is the following week's interviewer. The comedian and comic poet get chatting in the tag talk show. |
| 03 | 05 | John Hegley Interviews Jack Dee | 20070207 | 20090522, * 20090913 |  The tag team talk show continues with previous week's guest John Hegley grabbing the microphone to interview comedian Jack Dee.John Hegley grabs the microphone to interview comedian Jack Dee. The tag team talk show continues with previous week's guest John Hegley grabbing the microphone to interview the comedian Jack Dee The comic poet and comedian get chatting in the tag talk show, where one week's guest is the following week's interviewer. The comic poet and comedian get chatting in the tag talk show. |
| 03 | 06 LAST | Jack Dee Interviews Jeremy Hardy | 20070214 | 20090529, * 20090920 |  Jack Dee talks to fellow comedian Jeremy HardyThe two comedians get chatting in the tag talk show, where one week's guest is the following week's interviewer. The two comedians get chatting in the tag talk show. |
| 04 | 01 | Catherine Tate Interviews David Tennant | 20080221 | 20091203 | Chat show in which last week's interviewee becomes this week's interviewer. Catherine Tate takes the host's chair as she talks to - or mercilessly teases - David Tennant. Catherine Tate takes the host's chair as she talks to David Tennant |
| 04 | 02 | David Tennant Interviews Richard Wilson | 20080228 |  Chat show in which one week's interviewee becomes the following week's interviewer. David Tennant talks to Richard Wilson.David Tennant talks to Richard Wilson | |
| 04 | 03 | Richard Wilson Interviews Arabella Weir | 20080306 | 20091210 | |
| 04 | 03 | Richard Wilson Interviews Arabella Weir | 20091217 |  Chat show in which one week's interviewee becomes the next week's interviewer. Richard Wilson talks to Arabella Weir.Richard Wilson talks to Arabella Weir | |
| 04 | 04 LAST | Arabella Weir Interviews Paul Whitehouse | 20080313 | 20091224 | Chat show in which last week's interviewee becomes this week's interviewer. Arabella Weir talks to Paul Whitehouse about The Fast Show, Down the Line and his career in comedy. Arabella Weir talks to Paul Whitehouse about his career in comedy. Arabella Weir talks to Paul Whitehouse about The Fast Show, Down the Line and his career in comedy. |
| 04 | TRAIL | Catherine Tate And David Tennant | |||
| 05 | 01 | Robert Llewellyn Interviews Dave Gorman | 20090902 |  Robert Llewellyn interviews Dave Gorman, the comedian responsible for shows like Are You Dave Gorman?, Googlewhack Adventure and Genius. Robert asks Dave about cycling across Britain, online stalkers and life-threatening trips to Mexico. | |
| 05 | 02 | Dave Gorman Interviews Frank Skinner | 20090909 |  Dave Gorman interviews Frank Skinner, asking him about his return to stand up, censorship in comedy and the merits of outdoor toilets. | |
| 05 | 03 | Frank Skinner Interviews Eddie Izzard | 20090916 |  Frank Skinner interviews Eddie Izzard, asking him about performing up lamp-posts, the secret to improvising and (literally) breaking in to Hollywood. | |
| 05 | 04 | Eddie Izzard Interviews Alastair Campbell | 20090923 |  Eddie Izzard interviews former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell. He asks him about his breakdown, working for Tony Blair and his beginnings as a soft porn writer. | |
| 05 | 05 | Alistair Mcgowan Interviews Alistair Mcgowan | 20090930 |  Chat show in which the one week's interviewee becomes the following week's interviewer.Alastair Campbell interviews impressionist, comedian and actor Alistair McGowan. | |
| 05 | 06 LAST | Alistair Mcgowan Interviews Simon Callow | 20091007 |  Chat show in which one week's interviewee becomes the next week's interviewer.Alistair Mcgowan interviews actor Simon Callow. Alistair Mcgowan interviews the actor Simon Callow |
Cast and Crew
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