Matt Forde, Laura Smyth, Ria Lina amongst Radio 4 comedy commissions
- New Radio 4 comedy series: The Final Word With Matt Forde; Laura Smyth: Your Mum; Ria Lina Gets Forensic; What? Seriously?? hosted by Dara O Briain and Isy Suttie; sitcom Dan Does Dating
- Recommissioned shows: Time Of The Week; Do Gooders; Crybabies Present...; One Person Found This Helpful; Michael Spicer: No Room; You Heard It Here First; Glenn Moore's Almanac
Radio 4 has announced a series of new comedy commissions. They are:
The Final Word With Matt Forde
A satirical comedy show that will see hit political comedian Matt Forde raid his contacts list and probe into some of the trickiest political subjects, interviewing politicians and chatting to comedy guests.
Laura Smyth: Your Mum
Former teacher and mother of three Laura Smyth returns with a hotly-anticipated stand-up series. Laura and her guests share anecdotes, advice and sayings from the mouths of mothers and examine why maternal relationships can occasionally drive us up the wall.
Ria Lina Gets Forensic
Stand-up comedian and qualified forensic scientist Ria Lina investigates anti-aging treatments, scrutinising the lengths people will go to cheat age and stay young. Using herself as a test subject, Rina will try to separate out the facts from the fads and fictions.
What? Seriously??
A new podcast which combines comedy with quirky history, hosted by Dara O Briain and Isy Suttie. The hosts will unravel an extraordinary real-life tale each week with the help of a celebrity guest.
Dan Does Dating
A new sitcom from comedy writer Michael Beck, following a man as he searches for love from one terrible date to another... could the problem be him?
The station has also recommissioned a number of recently launched formats:
Time Of The Week
A second series for the parody of women's magazine shows, featuring Sian Clifford as host Chloe Slack.
Do Gooders
Garrett Millerick's sitcom set in the offices of a fictional charity returns for a second series. The first run featured a cast list including Frank Skinner, Fay Ripley and Ania Magliano.
Crybabies Present...
Following on from their 2024 episode, up-and-coming comedy trio Crybabies will be putting their signature playful twist on a series of audio adventures in homage to the Hollywood staples of their childhood. Radio 4 says the series will offer "hilarious and heartwarming takes on everything from Seagal-inspired action to Disney-esque fantasy".
One Person Found This Helpful
Frank Skinner's panel show about online reviews will return for a second series.
Michael Spicer: No Room
Michael Spicer will return with a second series of the show in which he plays every character in a host of sketches, "brilliantly satirising the nonsense of the modern world".
You Heard It Here First
Chris McCausland returns to present a third series of the panel show in which the guests receive only audio clues and descriptions.
Glenn Moore's Almanac
A second series of the gag-packed stand-up show in which Glenn Moore looks in his almanac at major world events and what he was doing at the time.
Radio 4 also confirmed today four commissions already reported by British Comedy Guide:
The Lively Life Of Lindsey Santoro: A stand-up series in which Lindsey Santoro reads excerpts of her journal across four different days.
Rum Punch: Following on from the pilot, a series of the sitcom about a multi-generational family struggling to keep their Caribbean restaurant afloat.
Icklewick FM: A second series of Amy Gledhill and Chris Cantrill's show set around a dysfunctional community radio station.
Stuart Mitchell's Cost Of Dying: Another stand-up show from Stuart Mitchell.