BBC reveals Radio 4 Extra comedy plans
The BBC has revealed that new digital station Radio 4 Extra is to broadcast some comedies in advance of analogue Radio 4, and will feature extended-length repeats of some of the BBC's most popular current comedy shows.
Radio 4 Extra, which will replace Radio 7 in April, will include a 'Comedy First' section to the schedule, which will be part of 'The Comedy Club' strand (currently on Radio 7 every night, except Saturday, from 10pm till midnight). This section will premiere Radio 4 comedy shows before they will appear on the more familiar analogue service. Programming which will feature in this slot will include the next series of Arthur Smith's Balham Bash and Sarah Millican's Support Group.
The new service will also launch a 'Family Hour', which will feature comedies and other programmes such as dramas and quizzes, suitable for all ages. This will become the main home of the BBC's radio programming for children, as Radio 7's extensive schedule for kids is axed.
A development that is likely to please many comedy fans is that Radio 4 Extra will also start broadcasting new hour-long versions of some of Radio 4's most popular shows. Topical sature formats The Now Show (pictured) and The News Quiz will be getting this treatment, with the extended repeat versions called The Now Show Extra and The News Quiz Extra. The hour-long shows will feature the main programme, plus additional material there wasn't room for in the half-hour broadcast, and bonus behind-the-scenes interviews with writers, producers and other guests too.
Digital service BBC 7 launched in December 2002, and was renamed BBC Radio 7 in October 2008. The station mostly broadcasts archive comedy and drama material, with a back catalogue including popular sitcoms like Old Harry's Game, Bleak Expectations and Hancock's Half Hour.
While most of the programmes on Radio 7 are repeats, the service has broadcast some original programming. The longest running of these was Serious About Comedy, a review show presented by Robin Ince that ran for 60 episodes between 2005 and 2007. Other notable original Radio 7 programming includes the satirical sketch show Newsjack which has an 'open-door' submission policy, giving opportunities to aspiring comedy writers, surreal Sony nominated sketch show A Series of Psychotic Episodes starring Miriam Elia, and Tom Allen's monologue series The Correspondent.
Meanwhile, in other radio news, Adam and Joe (pictured) are set to return to 6 Music after a 15 month sabbatical. The popular duo and their 'black squadron' will return to Saturday mornings on 6 Music in April.
Adam Buxton says: "I can't wait to get back to our show on Saturdays, I've really missed doing it. Not that I haven't been every bit as busy as Joe. I've created several new filing systems for my CDs and DVDs, successfully reunited over 20 odd socks with their partners and learned to understand the language of ants (though I'm finding Dec's more of a problem). It's been fun but I'm looking forward to talking rubbish and playing brilliant music with Joe again."
Bob Shennan, controller of 6 Music, adds: "I know listeners have been missing Adam and Joe's warm and witty banter from their Saturday mornings so I'm enormously pleased to welcome back their Sony Award-winning show to the network."