Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20140222 | 20150613 (BBC7) 20180106 (BBC7) | Absurdist comedian, Tony Law, takes us on a journey through the twists and turns of Surrealism in comedy, with rare interviews from Gerard Hoffnung, Monty Python sketches, plus Peter Cook and Chris Morris's 'Why Bother'. Helping Tony make sense of it all; Historian, Mary Beard talks about the oldest surviving joke book; Comedian, Sean Hughes remembers Elvis the talking spider; Comedy Writer Robert Popper confesses to a prank call about Gordon Brown that got slightly out of hand; and Writer, Will Self renders the entire exercise practically pointless by asking us to be clearer about what the word Surrealism actually means. Is the world becoming more surreal? Have the targets of Surrealism changed? ToneZone, as he insists the Producer calls him, investigates... Tony Law looks at surrealism in comedy, with archive material from Monty Python and more. | ||
| 01 | Simply Absurd | 20200108 | Absurdist Canadian comedian, Tony Law, takes us on a journey through the twists and turns of Surrealism in comedy. He is accompanied by historian Mary Beard, writer Will Self and Noel Fielding. Featuring a rare interview from Gerard Hoffnung and Monty Python's Terry Jones presenting ‘Simply Absurd'. Is the world becoming more surreal? Have the targets of Surrealism changed? ToneZone, as he insists the Producer calls him, investigates... Producer: Kerry McCarthy Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in February 2014. Tony Law looks at Surreal Comedy with help from Will Self, Noel Fielding and Sean Hughes. Tony Law looks at surrealism in comedy. | |
| 02 | Goons, Bonzos And Kens | 20200115 | 20250517 (BBC7) 20250518 (BBC7) | Absurdist Canadian comedian, Tony Law, takes us on a journey through the twists and turns of Surrealism in comedy. He is accompanied by Noel Fielding and Robert Popper ‘The Reluctant Jester Strikes Back' [15/11/1994] Monty Python ‘Apologies' and ‘Bookshop' sketches. Michael Palin and Eric Idle interviewed by Michael Whale in 1973. Radio 6 Music's Sean Keaveny and Matt Everitt discuss surreal music. Kenny Everett Radio Show extracts. Rob Brydon's ‘Ken Bruce' Radio Show extracts. Producer: Kerry McCarthy. Made for and first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in 2014. Tony Law looks at Surreal Comedy from the likes of The Goons and Monty Python. Tony Law looks at surrealism in comedy. Tony Law looks at Surrealism in Comedy with Michael Bentine's memories of The Goons, Monty Python sketches and a couple of Kens. |
| 03 | Mortimer, Morris And 'mando | 20200122 | 20250524 (BBC7) 20250525 (BBC7) | Absurdist Canadian comedian, Tony Law, takes us on a journey through the twists and turns of Surrealism in comedy. He is accompanied by Will Self and Will Franken. ‘Reeves & Mortimer' on R1 [06/02/1994] Chris Morris interviews Arthur Streeb-Greebling [Peter Cook] on ‘Why Bother?' [1994] ‘The Museum of Lost Keyboards' [13/12/2003] Producer: Kerry McCarthy. Made for and first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in 2014. Tony Law looks at Surrealism in Comedy with Vic & Bob, Chris Morris and Armando Ianucci. Tony Law looks at Surrealism in Comedy with Reeves & Mortimer, Chris Morris, Peter Cook and Armando Ianucci. |