British Comedy Guide

Jon Long's Carbon Lifeforms returns to Radio 4 for two specials

ExclusiveTuesday 23rd May 2023, 9:40am by Jay Richardson

Jon Long

Jon Long's environmental comedy Carbon Lifeforms is returning to Radio 4 for two specials, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.

The stand-up, whose day job is in waste management, will once again be joined by climate scientist Dr Tara Shine and comedians and celebrities for the specials, promising "jokes, sketches, guests and music that (carbon) capture all things climate and environment", following a successful pilot last year.

In the summer special, which is recording at the Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar in London on 11th June (free tickets), one of the guests will be broadcaster Jeremy Vine. The theme of the show will be travel, which seems appropriate as musical comic Long is currently on honeymoon.

The second special will air at Christmas.

By day, Long works as an education officer for the Western Riverside Waste Authority, which covers part of west and south London, while Dr Shine formerly advised the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Carbon Lifeforms is produced by Jon Holmes with Dan Page for Unusual Productions (The Skewer).

Holmes told BCG: "As human beings, carbon lifeforms are complex. As a comedy show Carbon Lifeforms is simple: we do some funny stuff on the radio. Well, not that simple, because we'll also have specific practical, expert advice when it comes to improving your carbon footprint nuzzling up alongside weird facts and weird facts that we've turned into (to quote the theme tune of a now problematic 70s sitcom) songs, sketches and jokes old and new.

"The latter of which is good because: recycling. And speaking of cycling, we've got Jeremy Vine as well. Together, we aim to inform, educate, and entertain - occasionally all at the same time."

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