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The Comedy Controller

First broadcast from 2003 to 20070505. (* = BBC7).

  • Each week a guest presenter, usually a comedian, picks three hours of their favourite comedty programmes.
  • The programmes included in each episode sometimes aren't in the order show, but that's what the BBC lists.
  • It's never known how much of a freehand the guest has in selecting programmes.
  • Dominic Holland was originally listed as the first, and Tony Hawks as the last, though there's been new programmes since him.
  • The episode presented by Phill Jupitus was also listed as Homegrown Weekend
  • The Ned Sharrin programme originally included snippets from Loose Ends, but these have been removed from later versions, making it two hours.
  • The Tony Hawks programme originally included an episode of People Like Us but that was removed in 2008.
 

BBC7  BBC7

31 episodes

 
TitleFirst
Broadcast		RepeatedDescription
Ned Sherrin2003* 20071103, * 20071104, * 20080927, * 20080928In tribute to the late Ned Sherrin, another chance to hear some of his favourite radio comedy moments.
Round the Horne (02/04/1967)
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (14/01/1989)
The Mark Steel Solution 'Sexual Politics' (07/06/2003)
Dead Ringers (07/03/2003)
Goodness Gracious Me (01/01/2003)
Steve Punt2003082320030830Hancock’s Half Hour – 1959.12.08 s06e11 – The Poetry Society
I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again – 1970.02.22 s07e02 – Canterbury Tales [Repeat of 2003.07.04]
The Burkiss Way - 1976.12.29 s02e03 - Gain Spiritual Enlightenment the Burkiss Way
Weekending - 1986.12.20 - Here you are old girl. Merry CHRISTMAS
The Mary Whitehouse Experience - 1989.06.16 s01e10 - The Skint Video Karaoke Exper.
Flywheel, Shyster & Flywheel - 1991.05.18 s02e02 - Uncle Abner.
Boothby Graffoe2003090620040306, * 20040307, * 20040717, * 20050507, * 20050508, * 20070616, * 20070617, * 20080119, * 20080120, * 20090131, * 20090201, * 20100116The comedian's favourite shows include The Goon Show, Round the Horne and Steptoe and Son.
Boothby Graffoe
Taking his name from a Lincolnshire market town, comedian and musician Boothby Graffoe presents his favourite selection of radio comedy. Including:
The Goon Show - The Evils of Bushey Spon (17/03/1958); Round the Horne - From Russia With Love (16/05/1965); Steptoe and Son - Two's Company (28/03/1971); The Burkiss Way (26/12/1979); The Big Booth (29/01/2000); Hancock's Half Hour - The Conjuror (22/02/1956).
The Goon Show - The Evils of Bushey Spon (17/03/1958); Round the Horne - From Russia With Love (16/05/1965); Steptoe and Son - Two's Company (28/03/1971); The Burkiss Way (26/12/1979); The Big Booth (29/01/2000); Hancock's Half Hour - The Conjuror (22/02/1956).
Boothby Graffoe chooses his favourite comedies including:
The Goon Show (The Perils of Bushy Spon)
Round the Horne (From RUSSIA With Love)
Steptoe and Son (Two's Company)
The Burkiss Way
The Big Booth
Hancock's Half Hour.
Tony Hawks2003110820040327, * 20040328, * 20050423, * 20050424, * 20050917, * 20050918, * 20060617, * 20060618, * 20090117, * 20090118Tony Hawks began his career in show business as a singer-song writer, leading a trio called Morris Minor and the Majors. He now performs stand-up comedy, appears regularly on panel games, and is also an author. His books Round Ireland With a Fridge and Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, have both been broadcast on Radio 7. Tony donated half of the royalties from his Moldovans book to a trust fund in Moldova, and the monies raised were used to open a medical centre which provides therapy for disabled children.
As Comedy Controller, Tony has chosen the following classics:
Just A Minute - s32E09 - 19960302 - Lindisfarne
Knowing Me Knowing You - e04 - 19921222
People Like Us - S03E04 - 19970809 - The Photographer
Hancock - s04e19 - 19570217 - The Emigrant
I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again - s04e13 - 19670716 - Ulysses - The Housewives' Joyce
Saturday Night Fry - e04 - 19880521
Armando Iannucci2004060520040606, * 20050122, * 20050123, * 20050806, * 20050807, * 20060916, * 20060917, * 20070818, * 20070819, * 20090124, * 20090125Armandoiannucci_whitebg_180x90.jpg">The writer, comedian and producer Armando Iannucci chooses some personal favourites:
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (3/6/02)
The Atkinson People (30/4/79)
The Consultants (27/2/03)
A Wet Handle (2/6/97)
The Museum Of Lost Keyboards (13/12/03)
The Burkiss Way - Is Britain Going the Burkiss Way (23/4/79)
The Big Fun Show (16/1/88)
Arnold Brown2004061220040613, * 20050115, * 20050116, * 20050924, * 20050925, * 20060819, * 20060820, * 20091114The former accountant's selections include The Al Read Show and People Like Us.
The former accountant chooses: The Al Read Show; Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead; I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again; two episodes of Arnold Brown and Company; and People Like Us.
Well into his forties Arnold realised that that accountancy wasn't his passion, and took up a career in comedy instead!
The Al Read Show (15/01/55)
Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead (29/03/71)
I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again (16/07/67)
Arnold Brown and Company (04/08/90)
People Like Us: The Estate Agent (29/06/96)
People Like Us: The Policeman (06/07/96)
Arthur Smith2005012920050130, * 20050723, * 20050724, * 20060304, * 20060305, * 20091024Round the Horne

The Million Pound Radio Show

People Like Us (included in 20091024 broadcast)

Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation

Goodness Gracious Me

Radio Active
Bill Oddie2006060320060604, * 20070630, * 20070701, * 20071208, * 20071209, * 20081011, * 20081012, * 20100109The one-time Goodie's choices include Up the Pole, ITMA, and Archie's the Boy.
The well-known twitcher and one-time Goodie introduces 'Up The Pole', 'ITMA', 'Archie's The Boy', 'Beyond Our Ken', 'On The Hour' and 'On The Town with the League of Gentlemen'.
'Professor' Oddie delivers his thesis on The Development of Radio Comedy in the 20th Century. Questions will be asked afterwards, so do pay attention. This lavishly illustrated lecture includes:
Up the Pole (first broadcast 01/11/1948)
ITMA (06/01/1949)
Archie's the Boy (11/11/1954)
Beyond Our Ken (27/05/1960)
On the Hour (14/05/1992)
On the Town with the League of Gentlemen (27/11/1997)
Fred Macaulay2007050520070506, * 20080419, * 20080420, * 20091010Comedian Fred MacAulay chooses his favourite comedies and talks about the comedians who influenced him while he was a young accountant in Aviemore. Including:
Radio Active (08/09/1981);
Variety is the Spice of Life (14/08/2002);
The Alan Davies Show (19/04/1998);
Just a Minute (12/07/1999);
On the Hour (06/09/1991); and
A Bit of Fry and Laurie (04/08/1994)
jeremy Hardy * 20060211, * 20060212, * 20061021, * 20061022, * 20071027, * 20071028Jeremyhardy_180x90.jpg">Round The Horne (first broadcast 11/04/1965), Linda Smith's Brief History Of Timewasting (26/07/2001), I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again (23/12/1973), Hancock's Half Hour - Sunday Afternoon At Home (22/04/1958), Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive (18/05/2005), I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (21/06/1999).
Dominic Holland * 20030705, * 20031018, * 20050625, * 20050626, * 20060311, * 20060312The comic emerges from his Small World to choose his favourite comedies, including Radio Active and Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation.
Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation 2001.09.06 s04e01 - How to Fight Fire with Fire
Radio Active - 1983.08.09 - s03e05 - Lunchtime with Anna
ISIHAC with Stephen Fry 1997-07-05 s29e05 Weight Watchers Song Book
People Like Us - 1997.08.09 s03e04 - The Photographer
Chambers - 1998.05.18 s02e02 - The Masons
Emma Freud * 20050205, * 20050206, * 20060401People Like Us: The Farmer (10/06/1995);
Just A Minute (30/08/1999);
Radio Active (22/09/1981);
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (02/01/1988);
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (03/06/2002),
The Atkinson People: Sir Corin Basin (24/04/1979)
nb The 20050205 0800 broqadcast had technical difficulties and only ran for half the length.
Comic Relief's Emma Freud presents her red-nosed selection of BBC Radio Comedy.
Eric Sykes * 20051008, * 20051009, * 20060325, * 20060326, * 20060402, * 20070407, * 20070408, * 20071013, * 20071014, * 20080628, * 20080629, * 20090418The comic picks his favourite radio comedies, including The Goons and Variety Bandbox.
The veteran comedian picks some of his favourite radio comedies, including: The Goons: 'Phantom Batter Pudding Hurler' (12/10/1954) and Variety Bandbox (22/01/1950).
The Goon Show - Phantom Batter Pudding Hurler (12/10/54), Variety Bandbox (22/01/1950), Round the Horne (31/03/1968), Al Read (06/02/1966), Star Parade: The Ken Dodd Show (14/07/1963) and Take It from Here (18/04/1950).
Comedy legend Eric Sykes picks some of his favourite radio comedies which include: The Goons: 'Phantom Batter Pudding Hurler' (12/10/54), Variety Bandbox (22/01/1950), Round the Horne (31/03/1968), Al Read (06/02/1966), Star Parade: The Ken Dodd Show (14/07/1963) and Take It from Here (18/04/1950)
Galton And Simpson * 20030920, * 20040214, * 20040215, * 20050430, * 20050501, * 20051001, * 20051002, * 20071201, * 20071202, * 20091128Take it from Here, Ray's a Laugh, Round the Horne, and Hancock's Half Hour.
Writing duo Ray Galton and Alan Simpson's favourites - including some of their own: Take it from Here, Ray's a Laugh, Round the Horne, Hancock's Half Hour, and Steptoe and Son.
The creators of Hancock and Steptoe select some of their favourite comedies.

Take It from Here (09/04/1958); Round the Horne: Gaslight Son of Flicker (16/04/1967); Ray's a Laugh (25/10/1949); Hancock's Half Hour: Sunday Afternoon (22/04/1958); Steptoe and Son: The Desperate Hours (26/05/1974).
Helen Atkinson Wood * 20050219, * 20050220, * 20050910, * 20050911, * 20060520, * 20060521Helen Atkinson Wood presents a selection of comedy including Ken Dodd, Radio Active, Dead Ringers, Whose Line Is It Anyway, People Like Us and Just A Minute.
Helen Lederer * 20031004, * 20040320, * 20040321, * 20060506, * 20060507, * 20071117, * 20071118, * 20080920, * 20080921, * 20091017Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen (20010830)

Life with Lederer: The Cruise (19910805)

Life With Lederer: The Party (19910812)

Hearing with Hegley (19961127)

Hearing with Hegley (19961120)

Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation: How To Be a Leader of Men (19941020)

Ross Noble Goes Global: Ireland (20020425)
Ian Stone * 20050528, * 20050529, * 20060204, * 20060205, * 20060923, * 20060924The witty north LONDON comedian talks about what you can and can't mention on hospital radio and how to not to do an interview from a phone box.
The witty north-London comedian talks about what you can and can't mention on hospital radio and how not to do an interview from a phone box.
Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation (October 1993), Round The Horne (May 1968), The Goon Show (December 1956), I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (June 1999), Yes Minister (November 1983), Steptoe and Son (May 1974).
Jenny Eclair * 20030927, * 20050730, * 20050731, * 20061028, * 20061029, * 20091107Radio Active - Round Your Parts (19840700)

The Shuttleworths - Ping Pong Pangs (19971000)

The Shuttleworths - Caravan Capers (19971000)

Knowing Me, Knowing You (199212)
People Like Us - The Mother (included in 20091107 broadcast) (199707)
Lee and Herrings Fist of Fun (199310)

Hearing With Hegley (19980900)
 
Jo Caufield * 20060826, * 20060827, * 20070623, * 20070624, * 20080614, * 20080615The critically-acclaimed writer and comedian is widely acknowledged as one of the UK's best female stand-ups, famous for her legendary one-woman shows. Her programme choices include an episode of Hancock's Half Hour never heard before on BBC7.
It's That Jo Caulfield Again (07/02/2006)
Listen To Les (04/03/1995)
Hancock's Half Hour - Fred's Pie Stall (first broadcast 10/11/1959)
The News Quiz (09/06/2000)
The Bona History of Julian and Sandy (16/12/1998)
Lee and Herring's Fist of Fun (12/10/1993)
It's That Jo Caulfield Again (07/02/2006), Listen to Les (04/03/1995), Hancock's Half Hour - Fred's Pie Stall (0/11/1959), The News Quiz (09/06/2000), The Bona History of Julian and Sandy (16/12/1998) and Lee and Herring's Fist of Fun (12/10/1993).
John Hegley * 20040410, * 20040411, * 20040626, * 20040627, * 20050514, * 20050515, * 20060610, * 20060611, * 20070908, * 20070909, * 20080823, * 20080824The Mark Steel Solution 'Transport' (22/07/1994), with his band The Popticians in two John Peel Sessions (27/07/1983 and 12/11/1984), Arthur Smith sings Leonard Cohen (02/08/2001), Linda Smith's 'A Brief History of Timewasting' (26/07/2001), and The Adventures of John and Tony 'The Hiking Holiday' (19/05/1999).
The innovative comic artist, and Britain's best known poet, John Hegley, selects his favourite shows in a 3-hour extravaganza of wit and spectacle wearing.
The Mark Steel Solution (22/07/1994)
The Popticians (27/07/1983 & 12/11/1984)
Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen (02/08/2001)
Linda Smith's A Brief History of Timewasting (26/07/2001)
The Adventures of John and Tony (19/05/1999)
John Inverdale * 20060715, * 20060716, * 20070317, * 20070318, * 20080308, * 20080309As any sporty person will confirm, warming-down after exertion is vital. So, after this week's hectic Comic Relief activity, here's the perfect way to stretch those hams in the company of John Inverdale, who knows a ham when he sees one.
During the summer of 2006, as part of Comic Relief, Sport Relief was bigger than ever with a whole range of events staged all over the UK. Making its first team debut, BBC7 did its bit too! John Inverdale hosted three hours of the finest radio comedy available, some of it sport-tinged, when he donned his plimsolls as BBC 7's Comedy Controller.
His picks were:
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (06/12/1999)
Just A Minute (05/02/1980)
Round The Horne: The World Cup is Stolen (03/04/1966)
Radio Active: Good Day Sport (30/08/1982)
The Navy Lark: Commodore Goldstein (22/02/1961)
Sporting Gaffes II (03/01/1996)
Plus the infamous 'Borussia Monchengladbach' clip from Billy Butler's Radio Merseyside show, Hold Your Plums.
John Shuttleworth * 20071229, * 20071230, * 20080726, * 20080727, * 20090509The Sheffield singer polishes up some comedic gems, including Alison and Maud.
The Sheffield singer polishes up some comedic gems. Featuring: Alison and Maud, Saturday Night Fry, We Interrupt this Programme and Clare in the Community.
Recently we were privileged to have a visit from Graham Fellows (aka Mr. John Shuttleworth) complete with key-board.
With a little help from sole agent Ken and long-suffering wife Mary, John trawled the archives for comedic gems (although he did say that he'd have preferred to have been watching Billy Elliot)
Alison and Maude: Series 1 Episode 4, first broadcast 03/01/2003
Saturday Night Fry: Series 1 Episode 4 (28/05/1988)
We Interrupt This Programme: Episode 1 (03/08/2004)
Clare in the Community: Series 3 Episode 2 (25/12/2006)
The Shuttleworths: Series 2 Episode 3 (12/07/1995)
John Shuttleworth's Open House (26/09/1996)
Justin Moorhouse * 20031025, * 20040424, * 20040425, * 20050709, * 20050710, * 20060408, * 20060409, * 20080112, * 20080113, * 20091031While in the Controller's Chair, Justin talks about his comedy influences and the day Judith Chalmers didn't put him on Wish You Were Here.
Justin Moorhouse, aka Young Kenny from Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, presents his choice of the best radio comedy.
Knowing Me Knowing You
Ken Dodd's Palace of Laughter
On the Town With the League of Gentlemen
Ross Noble Goes Global - South Africa
Radio Shuttleworth
Listen to Les.
Nicholas Parsons * 20040103, * 20040312, * 20040313, * 20040314, * 20040710, * 20040711, * 20051126, * 20051127Goon Show – 1954.10.21 s05e03 - The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler of Bexhill-on-Sea
Much Binding – 1953.08.18 ep05 – (Advertised date was wrong)
Hancock's Half Hour – 1956.12.23 - The Diary [repeat of BBC7 2003.12.30]
Listen to this Space – 1966.01.07 s0xe0x
Round the Horne – 1967.03.26 s03e07 - The Sea Cruise
Just A Minute – 1999.08.09 s38e06 #312 – The Novel inside me
The actor and chairman of Just a Minute presents his selection of six of the best comedy programmes, without hesitation, repetition or deviation.
Phil Cornwell  * 20031011, * 20040228, * 20040229, * 20081025, * 20081026introduces some of his favourite comedy shows including Dead Ringers, The Clitheroe Kid, Knowing Me Knowing You, The Goon Show and World of Pub.
The comedian and impersonator chooses some of his all-time favourite radio comedy, both as a listener and performer. Includes Dead Ringers (08/12/2000); The Clitheroe Kid 'The Keyhole Kid' (17/04/1961); Knowing Me, Knowing You (05/01/1993); The Goon Show 'The Affair of the Lone Banana' (26/10/1954); The World of Pub (11/03/1998 and 25/03/1998) and Steptoe & Son 'The Desperate Hours' (26/05/1974).
Phill Jupitus * 20030802, * 20031213, * 20040802, * 20051112, * 20051113, * 20060701, * 20060702, * 20070901, * 20070902, * 20080712, * 20080713I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (August 1987), Dad's Army - Absent Friends (April 1976), The Mark Steel Lecture - Lord Byron (March 2001), Hancock's Half Hour - The Poetry Society (December 1959), On the Hour (August 1991), Saturday Night Fry (May 1988).
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (first broadcast 17/08/87)
Dad's Army - Absent Friends (13/04/76)
The Mark Steel Lecture - Lord Byron (13/03/01)
Hancock's Half Hour - The Poetry Society (08/12/59)
On The Hour (16/08/91)
Saturday Night Fry (14/05/88)
Rainer Hersch * 20031101, * 20050702, * 20050703, * 20051203, * 20051204, * 20061104, * 20061105, * 20070915, * 20070916, * 20080906, * 20080907, * 20091003Rainer Hersch's passion is music but he also has another - comedy. As BBC 7's Comedy Controller, he puts the two together and manages to squeeze in a couple of his own programmes.

Rainer Hersch's All Classical Music Explained (19981014)

My Music (19810225)

The Mark Steel Lectures - Beethoven (20020918)

Rainer Hersch's Twentieth Century Retrospective (19981221)

The Miles and Millner Show (19921017)

The Cambridge Buskers (19850927)

The Cambridge Buskers (19850327)
Ray Galton And Alan Simpson * 20091128Take it from Here, Ray's a Laugh, Round the Horne, and Hancock's Half Hour.
Writing duo Ray Galton and Alan Simpson's favourites - including some of their own: Take it from Here, Ray's a Laugh, Round the Horne, Hancock's Half Hour, and Steptoe and Son.
Richard Herring * 20050212, * 20050213, * 20050716, * 20050717, * 20060415, * 20060416Introduces A 1985 Edition Of Just A Minute, Spinal Tap All the Way to Eleven, The League Against Tedium from 1997 and Radio Active from 1985.
Just a Minute, The League Against Tedium and Radio Active.
Richard Herring: The comic and writer introduces his selection of comedy, including Just a Minute, Spinal Tap: All the Way to Eleven and Radio Active.
Simon Fanshawe * 20030913, * 20040221, * 20040222, * 20040703, * 20040704Simon Fanshawe presents six of his favourite radio comedies.
Round The Horne (From RUSSIA With Love)
Navy Lark (Phillips takes an exam)
Dad's Army (ep6 Private Jones car)
Mark Steel Lectures (Marx)
Steptoe and Son (Tea For Two).
Tom Robinson * 20040724, * 20040725, * 20050521, * 20050522, * 20060318, * 20060319, * 20070922, * 20070923, * 20090207, * 20090208BBC 6 Music presenter Tom Robinson introduces his choice of favourite radio comedies.
BBC 6 Music presenter Tom Robinson introduces his choice of favourite radio comedies. Featuring Radio Active (July 1985), King Cutler (Feb 1990) and Round The Horne (Feb 1967).
Radio Active - Out Of Your Depth (19850719)
The Very World Of Milton Jones (19991026)
Round The Horne (19670219)
The Boosh (20011030)
King Cutler (19900118)
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (20000612)
Radio Active (July 1985), The Very World of Milton Jones (Oct 1999), King Cutler (Feb 1990), Round The Horne (Feb 1967), The Boosh - Jazz (Feb 2001) and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue (June 2000).