British Comedy Guide
Bunk Bed
Bunk Bed

Bunk Bed

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2014 - 2023
  • 57 episodes (9 series)

Patrick Marber and Peter Curran talk through the darkness.

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Series 5, Episode 2

Patrick and Peter discuss whether James Bond or Brian Cant are the best English role model.

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 18th July 2018
Time
11pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
15 minutes

Press

Bunk Bed is a show that seems strange when you explain it. Now in its fifth series, the show is simply a recording of grown men Patrick Marber and Peter Curran lying in the dark in a bunk bed, talking about life, the universe and "the velocity you're expected to travel at, just to keep up". Though the result sounds like stream of consciousness, there is much sharp editing going on, and this is a funny show. Last week, Curran worried that he was never bored, while Marber confessed to being bored most of the time and, also, to being boring to young people: "As soon as you utter the two words "I" and "remember" conjoined, young people, understandably, just think, 'shut up'."

Last week, Curran, who often plays clips to trigger conversation, opened by playing one that referenced James Bond. Marber said he thought James Bond was a bit pathetic. "Is this you being a middle-aged man trying to claw back some sensitivity?" wondered Curran. And later: "Are you still a nasty piece of work?" Marber's contributions included: "Were you a bit Spandau?" and "All I can see is Old Ma Curran in a pair of grey shorts." They do make me laugh. "I think we're entering the pompous stage of our lives," remarked Marber. "Pontification occurs in your 60s, we're pre-pontification."

Actually, they're both quite modest, and it's nice to hear middle-aged blokes talking humorously about their mundanities, as opposed to bigging up their supposedly impressive achievements. Ahhhh. Taking a bath in the weird is always refreshing.

Miranda Sawyer, The Guardian, 22nd July 2018

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