Absolute Power

The 20 funniest radio comedies of all time

Before Radio 1's first run of new shows kicks off next month, here we count down the 20 greatest scripted radio comedies ever to hit the airwaves

Absolute Power creator dies

Mark Tavener, who created the hit Radio 4 and BBC2 satire Absolute Power, has died.

It is surprising that this radio-TV crossover about the venality of PR folk hasn't been more successful, especially as it stars Stephen Fry and John Bird. Here the eponymous masters of spin Prentiss McCabe try to make a tabloid newspaper more successful. Go on, laugh. It won't kill you.

"Are you clapped out, exhausted and shagged? Are you flabby, flaked out and flatulent? Are you just too tired, fat and sad to have a life? Then watch BBC TV. Does your brain hurt? Do you want to come home and collapse and rest your weary head? Then watch BBC television. It makes no demands on the brains at all."

The spin doctors of Prentiss McCabe are back for a final series of Absolute Power (6.30pm, Radio 4), written by Mark Tavener. Things get off to a bad start when Martin McCabe (John Bird) makes the fundamental error of telling his most important client - the Beeb - the truth about itself and its audience. Can Charles Prentiss (Stephen Fry) dig him out of the hole?

Devotees of Prentiss-McCabe, the most underhand, crooked and downright malevolent firm of political PRs outsideof reality, will be downcast to know that this is the last series for radio. So revel while the going is good (and while we anticipate the usual move to television, after Mark Tavener's creation made a successful fleeting visit a few weeks ago). Stephen Fry is in typically fruity top form as arch-manipulator Charles Prentiss, while John Bird is the slightly dithery but equally cold and calculating Martin McCabe. Tonight's episode gets the series off to a topical start, as Prentiss-McCabe, former servants of New Labour, find themselves representing the BBC.

BBC denies axing political satire

The BBC has denied reports it is shelving a satirical Radio 4 comedy poking fun at Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell.

BBC accused of cowardice as No 10 radio satire is dropped

The BBC was accused last night of "editorial cowardice" after it cancelled a satirical radio programme about the Hutton report in which Tony Blair is referred to as a liar.

Radio 4 goes ahead with Hutton satire but cuts 'liar Blair'

The BBC yesterday performed a humiliating U-turn after the Telegraph revealed that a radio satire about the Hutton inquiry had been shelved amid fears that it would "upset Downing Street".

Writer condemns BBC u-turn on Blair comedy

The writer of a BBC radio satire about Labour today criticised corporation bosses after they cut a key passage that implied Tony Blair was a liar.

Radio 4 u-turn on risky comedy episode

The BBC was forced into a climbdown last night after the writer of a satirical comedy said bosses had pulled this week's episode amid fears it "would upset No 10".