Just listened to last night's "Down The Line" and once again it showed why it is the funniest show on Radio 4, a brilliant return.
I especially like the self-reverential bits about "Bellamy's People", in particular the man who phoned in to lambast Bellamy about what a rubbish show it was.
Very funny.
Just listened to So Wrong It's Right, It's Your Round and Down The Line. All excellent.
Quote: chipolata @ March 15 2011, 6:42 PM GMTJust listening to Down The Line. Great stuff. The disguised voice call was brilliant and well worth a
. Nice that they've mentioned the TV show as well.
I've never heard this before but had witnessed the (frankly rubbish) TV show. The radio version is infinitly better imo, and may be down to not having to see the elaborate make-up overly used by Whitehouse and co. nowadays.
I very much enjoyed the Simon Day (I think it was him) rant at the end. 
"I have a name for the next Bond movie: Muff Wrangler."
In my quest to listen to some radio comedy, I just half listened to Down The Line. Seemed pretty decent.
It can be patchy. Outstanding when they get it right.
Episode one of Laura Solon's new series, which was on yesterday. Liked it!
Quote: Matthew Stott @ March 23 2011, 6:48 PM GMTEpisode one of Laura Solon's new series, which was on yesterday. Liked it!
That wasn't new. It was the first in a repeat run from Series 3.
Just listened to the new series of Act Your Age. Very good I though. It certainly seems to get better with age this programme. First series was bad, second series was an improvement, third series seems better than that (so far).
Act Your Age was decent enough, but I can't say I liked Tom O'Connor.
I haven't heard Laura Solon's show yet- it is in my Sky+.
Quote: Ian Wolf @ March 23 2011, 7:00 PM GMTThat wasn't new. It was the first in a repeat run from Series 3.
It was new to me! 
Personally my favs are Clare in the Community, Hut 33, Cabin Pressure, Angela Raisin (Comedy Mystery), and of course The Now Show!!!
Why does Britain have all the great writers and comedians?
I just don't get Laura Solon's shows, she's an excellent comic actress and superb at characterization but, to me, there's absolutely nothing funny about her shows, it's just her showing off her acting abilities, can someone point out to me the funny bits? Which parts am I meant to be laughing at?
The same goes for Nick Mohammed and "The Ladies", I don't see where the 'jokes' are.
Quote: Griff @ March 24 2011, 8:51 AM GMTNot every joke in the world has to start with "I say I say I say" or "Knock Knock" to announce its presence. Sometimes just being a funny character, like her obnoxious Frenchwoman, is enough.
Yeah; I found it amusing, so she must be doing something right. It would be terrible if it were just cutting from character to character telling jokes. It's basically quite a skill to, in such short bursts, get across clearly these characters enough that you can laugh at the silly things they say.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ March 24 2011, 9:11 AM GMTYeah; I found it amusing, so she must be doing something right. It would be terrible if it were just cutting from character to character telling jokes. It's basically quite a skill to, in such short bursts, get across clearly these characters enough that you can laugh at the silly things they say.
Yes but, and I realize this may just be me, I don't laugh at any of the "silly" things they say. I'm not asking for a series of "knock, knock" jokes, "Down The Line" doesn't do traditional jokes and yet it has me howling with laughter, where as Laura Solon just completely leaves me cold and in the character with the whistling teeth actively has me diving for the radio to turn it off.
Quote: Tony Cowards @ March 24 2011, 9:20 AM GMTYes but, and I realize this may just be me, I don't laugh at any of the "silly" things they say. I'm not asking for a series of "knock, knock" jokes, "Down The Line" doesn't do traditional jokes and yet it has me howling with laughter, where as Laura Solon just completely leaves me cold and in the character with the whistling teeth actively has me diving for the radio to turn it off.
Just a matter of personal taste then, I suppose; I was certainly sniggering along as I listened yesterday.
Charlie Brooker's reusing old material again. He's a one.