Newsjack Revisited

Ahead of the eighth series, Radio 4 takes a look back at the last run of Newsjack, Radio 4 Extra's topical sketch show that anyone can write for. It will feature all of the best standalong sketches, JackApps (Newsjack's version of a rantline) and corrections from series seven. So don't worry if you didn't keep up with the news in September and October last year, this show will get you 100% up to speed. Sort of.

Newsjack has an open-door policy, which means that anyone can write for it. How open is the show's door? In the last series, the seventh, the production team read 450 emails a week, and broadcast the work of 123 different writers. Newsjack may not be the only way to get started as a comedy writer, but it is definitely a good way; the show is not only trying to deliver a good show each week but also to identify new writers in the way that The News Huddlines or Week Ending did for previous generations of writers. Newsjack writing alumni include James Kettle, now writing on a variety of Radio 4 shows including "It's Not What You Know" and "Can't Tell Nathan Caton Nothing"; Eddie Robson, whose sitcom "Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully" will go out on Radio 2 in March; and Tom Neenan, now one of BBC Radio Comedy's bursary writers.

Presented by Justin Edwards, and featuring Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Pippa Evans, Nadia Kamil, Cariad Lloyd and Lewis Macleod.

Producers: Carl Cooper & Ed Morrish.

Highlights from the last series of BBC Radio 4 Extra's topical sketch show.

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