French & Saunders and Alexei Sayle returning to Radio 4
- Whatever Happened To Baby Jane Austen? and Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar are coming back to Radio 4
- The station has also ordered a third series of Olga Koch: Ok Computer and the new series from Ashley Blaker, Ashley Blaker's Hyperfixations
- Meanwhile, Fay Ripley and Lisa McGrillis have joined Frank Skinner and Garrett Millerick in the latter's debut sitcom, Do Gooders, about charity fundraisers
French & Saunders and Alexei Sayle are returning to Radio 4, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.
The channel has recommissioned Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders for a third series of David Quantick's sitcom about warring sisters, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane Austen?, to air next year.
And it has also ordered a fifth series of Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar, with the stand-up revealing on his podcast that the new episodes will focus on despair and nihilism.
Winner of best radio sitcom in last year's publicly voted Comedy.co.uk Awards, Whatever Happened ..? stars French as a novelist and Saunders as her glamorous movie star sister, overcoming their estrangement but continuing to squabble when circumstances force them to live with each other.
In addition to The Comic Strip alumni, the channel has commissioned a third series of Olga Koch: Ok Computer, about humanity's relationship with technology.
The stand-up is recording four episodes at the Edinburgh Fringe on 5th and 6th August, for release in October. Produced by BBC Studios (You're Dead To Me, The Infinite Monkey Cage), free tickets for the shows are available.
Meanwhile, Radio 4 has ordered its third stand-up series from Ashley Blaker.
Ashley Blaker's Hyperfixations is inspired by the comic's autism and ADHD diagnoses last year and the manner in which they make him obsess about his interests.
Four episodes will broadcast next summer, with the former Little Britain producer exploring his passions for professional wrestling, 17th Century History, Orthodox Judaism and tattoos.
Blaker, who has been an Orthodox Jew for most of his adult life but who now dresses more casually to better display his tattoos, previously made the Radio 4 series Ashley Blaker's Goyish Guide To Judaism about his faith.
The last show he fronted for the channel, Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children, was about raising his large family, three of whom have additional needs, and ran for two series between 2022 and 2023.
"I am absolutely delighted to be bringing a new series to Radio 4 and very appreciative of the network's trust in me" Blaker said. "I am looking forward to sharing some of my many passions with listeners. Thankfully, I have had so many hyperfixations, this series could run for years."
The series is produced by Steve Doherty (The Learners, Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children) through his Llandudno-based company Giddy Goat Productions (Bravo Two Charlies, Nick Revell: BrokenDreamCatcher).
Doherty said: "I've known Ashley for a long time and have always been amazed by his endless capacity to become fixated with stories, characters ... almost anything. He's one of the funniest people I know and I can't wait till he spins his fascinations into jokes."
Meanwhile, an air date has been announced for Garrett Millerick's debut sitcom, Do Gooders, with sitcom veterans Fay Ripley and Lisa McGrillis joining the previously announced cast of stand-ups Millerick, Frank Skinner, Ahir Shah and Ania Magliano.
Broadcasting on 30th July on Radio 4, the six-part series, also written by Millerick, was originally developed for television and follows the fundraising events team at a fictional mid-level charity, The Alzheimers Alliance.