Mitch Benn's Crimes Against Music

Episodes

SeriesEpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
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0101Fans2004021920121212 (BBC7)
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Fans...who needs them? Well, pop stars, if they want to be, well, pop stars...

Mitch Benn sets out on a musical journey through the showbiz glitz and backstage litter of pop music.

With:

Robert Ince

Alfie Joey

Tash Baylis

Kirsty Newton

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2004.

The comedian begins his journey through the world of pop by asking why stars need fans.

0102Death2004022620121219 (BBC7)
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Death comes to us all, but for the rock star; it can be the start of a whole new career.

Mitch Benn sets out on a musical journey through the showbiz glitz and backstage litter of pop music.

With:

Robert Ince

Alfie Joey

Tash Baylis

Kirsty Newton

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2004.

The funny musician discovers how death for a rock star can be the start of a new career.

0103Excess2004030420121226 (BBC7)
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Pop excess is the stuff of legends...but sometimes it just gets a bit too much.

Mitch Benn continues his journey through the showbiz glitz and backstage litter of pop music.

With:

Robert Ince

Alfie Joey

Tash Baylis

Kirsty Newton

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2004.

The Now Show stalwart investigates trappings of the rock and pop lifestyle.

0104 LASTManufactured Bands2004031120130102 (BBC7)
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Mitch is still trying to prove he's the best musical satirist in the world (or at the very least on Radio 4 Extra).

After all, you can't manufacture greatness. Not with the current cloning regulations anyway.

But Mitch's nemesis, satirical stalwart Richard Stilgoe, is about to strike back. Has Robin Ince gone over to the dark side?

Mitch Benn continues his journey through the showbiz glitz and backstage litter of pop music.

With:

Robert Ince

Alfie Joey

Tash Baylis

Kirsty Newton

Special guest: Richard Stilgoe.

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2004.

Mitch competes with his nemesis for the title of best musical satirist in the world.

0201Relaunch2005032220201123 (BBC7)
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An anarchic mix of comedy, music, gay disco, Morrissey and Duran Duran.

Mitch Benn 's facing the difficult second-series dilemma, so is it time to relaunch himself in a glorious new comeback?

Robin has a few suggestions, but Alfie won't shut up about Lindisfarne. Mitch agrees to a makeover but it all goes a bit Pete Tong.

Written by Mitch Benn and Robin Ince.

With:

Alfie Joey

Tasha Bayliss

Kirsty Newton

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2005

Britain's leading musical satirist - apart from Richard Stilgoe - makes his comeback.

0202The Love Song2005032920201130 (BBC7)
What is the perfect love song?

Mitch Benn attempts to find out by a process of trial and error. He explores the love song's development over 4,000 years, including Diane Warren power-ballads and Jean-Michel Jarre playing the banjo.

Written by Mitch Benn and Robin Ince.

With:

Alfie Joey

Tasha Bayliss

Kirsty Newton

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2005

Mitch Benn goes in search of the prefect love song. With Robin Ince.

0203New Music Scene2005040520201207 (BBC7)
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Is there a minimum number of people that constitutes a scene?

What happens if you're the only mod in Austin, Texas? And why does everything sound like Coldplay?

Mitch Benn tackles these vital issues via the medium of song and discusses music, life and Goths.

Written by Mitch Benn and Robin Ince.

With:

Kirsty Newton

Alfie Joey

Tasha Bayliss

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2005

The comedian sets out to discover how many people it takes to create a music scene.

0204Money And Music2005041220201214 (BBC7)
Mitch is in trouble.

The Inland Revenue have said his Cyberman costume is not a legitimate business expense.

Join him as he explores the world of money and music.

With professional Morrissey botherer, Robin Ince and Lindisfarne's biggest fan, Alfie Joey,.Tasha Baylis and Kirsty Newton.

Written by Mitch Benn and Robin Ince.

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2005

Mitch shares his musical experiences and wonders if Cyberman costumes are tax deductible?

0205New Media2005041920201221 (BBC7)
Mitch shares his musical experiences and wonders if 'new media' is the way to survive?
0206 LASTJourney To The Centre Of Rick2005042620201228 (BBC7)
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Mitch Benn and his team must be miniaturised and inserted into Rick Wakeman to prevent impending war.

It's a voyage told through song. Do not adjust your set.

With Robin Ince, Alfie Joey, Tasha Baylis and Kirsty Newton.

Written by Mitch Benn and Robin Ince.

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2005

England and Wales face the brink of war. Only Rick Wakeman can help Mitch avert disaster.

03012006061320210315/20/21 (BBC7)
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Mitch attempts to break America, but is refused entry at the border for violations of the Patriot Act concerning songs mocking Dubya Bush and US foreign policy.

He's forced to play a gig in Moosebutt Canada.

Highlights include a ballad from an X-Factor hopeful and the truth behind Franz Ferdinand's musical inspiration.

Mitch Benn returns with a series of music and comedy.

He's joined by Morrissey-obsessive Robin Ince and the Distractions.

With:

Kirsty Newton

Craig Campbell

Jane Perry

Tasha Baylis

Producer: Adam Bromley.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2006.

Mitch tries to break America, but it doesn't quite go to plan.

03022006062020210322 (BBC7)
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How do you get to Aberystwyth?

Mitch Benn is on tour and is stranded in Central Wales, going round in circles.

Trapped with him in a car that's far too small is the whimsical music buff Robin Ince. They decide to gig in the first town they find, LLanfyl but manage to antagonise the locals.

It's an anarchic mix of music, Welsh pride and a miserable local radio DJ.

Musical highlights are down in the countryside, which shows the rural idyll isn't quite paradise and the road to Aberystwyth - a chronicle of his failed journey to that mid-Wales coastal university town.

More music and comedy starring Mitch Benn and Robin Ince.

With:

Kirsty Newton

Tom Price

Lloyd Langford

Tasha Baylis

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2006.

Mitch and Robin Ince are on their way to do a gig in mid Wales.

03032006062720210329 (BBC7)
Mitch Benn's world tour takes him to exotic places, glamorous locations - and Stansted, where he's stranded in the departure lounge after a budget airline goes bust.

Trapped in duty-free hell with Robin Ince and his band, Mitch is driven crazy by a certain song, played over and over again.

Finally, he has to make a musical appeal to TV's Watchdog to free himself from legal limbo, stuck between passport control and the boarding gate.

More music and comedy starring Mitch Benn and Robin Ince.

With:

Alfie Joey

Tasha Baylis

Kirsty Newton

Steven Kynman

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2006.

Mitch is trapped when a budget airline goes bust. He sings an appeal to Watchdog.

0304 LAST2006070420210405 (BBC7)
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Mitch Benn and his band are stranded on a mysterious desert island after an unfortunate in-flight alpaca barbecue incident.

This gives Mitch an opportunity to sing a touching love song to his own guitar, Kirsty Newton sings about bright new worlds and some of the other survivors have a very dark secret.

It's music, comedy and a harsh fight for existence on a mysterious island.

Starring Mitch Benn and Robin Ince.

With:

Brendon Burns

Tasha Baylis

Steven Kynman

Producer: Adam Bromley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2006.

Mitch Benn and his band get stranded on a mysterious desert island.