British Comedy Guide
The Skewer. Credit: BBC, Unusual Productions
The Skewer

The Skewer

  • Radio sketch show
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2019 - 2024
  • 98 episodes (12 series)

Topical comedy show from Jon Holmes using Radiophonic Workshop sounds.

F
X
R
W
E

Press clippings

In its election special, BBC Radio 4's comedy show The Skewer delivered as one of its customary surreal audio mash-ups a series of Keir Starmer's declarations about his family background interrupted by famous film quotes.

Thus the Labour leader went from declaring that "my dad was a toolmaker and my / mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries" (Monty Python And The Holy Grail) to "my dad was a toolmaker and my / mother sucks cocks in hell" (The Exorcist). The programme went out at 11.15pm at night on 10 July, prefaced with a stern warning it "contained strong language".

Three days later, Rupert Murdoch's Talk Radio - "The Home of Common Sense" - devoted a lengthy phone-in to the broadcast. To make sure listeners were aware how "highly offensive" it was, presenter Peter Cardwell, a former Tory special adviser, played the single out-of-context clip of The Exorcist quote no fewer than four times, at one point in a "slightly slower version" so listeners couldn't miss how "gratuitously offensive" it was. In case any listener has missed it, Cardwell repeated the phrase "your mother sucks cocks in hell" himself another four times.

That broadcast, which went out at 11am on a Saturday morning, included Cardwell squeaking indignantly that "children can listen to this! Children can go on the BBC iPlayer, although there is a flag that it is age-restricted content."

Private Eye, 31st July 2024

Laura Smyth, James Acaster and Frank Skinner amongst ARIAS nominees

Forth At The Fringe, Help I Sexted My Boss, IM1: A New Hope, Laura Smyth, James Acaster's podcast Springleaf, Tell Teresa, Frank Skinner's Absolute Radio show, The Skewer and Kathy Burke's Where There's A Will, There's A Wake are the radio shows and podcasts nominated for the The Radio Academy's 2024 Comedy Award.

British Comedy Guide, 27th March 2024

Comedy.co.uk Awards 2023 shortlist

The 60 TV and radio programmes shortlisted across the 10 categories in the Comedy.co.uk Awards 2023 have been revealed. Voting is now open to determine the winners.

British Comedy Guide, 8th January 2024

The Skewer debuts screen version

Radio 4's satirical comedy format The Skewer has launched an 18 minute animated short film to tie in with its tenth series.

British Comedy Guide, 17th October 2023

The week in audio: Janey Godley - The C Bomb; The Skewer

A comedian with true confidence and charisma; and Jon Holmes's brilliant news mash-up.

Miranda Sawyer, The Guardian, 24th June 2023

The Skewer wins Gold in Radio Academy awards

The Skewer has won two prizes at the ARIAS 2023, the Radio Academy's awards.

British Comedy Guide, 2nd May 2023

Alan Partridge, Sue Perkins and Frank Skinner amongst ARIAS nominees

The nominees in the comedy category in the The Radio Academy Awards include Frank Skinner, Alan Partridge's podcast, Nature Table hosted by Sue Perkins, Robin Ince's Reality Tunnel and The Skewer.

British Comedy Guide, 30th March 2023

Comedy.co.uk Awards 2022 shortlist

The 60 TV and radio programmes shortlisted across the 10 categories in the Comedy.co.uk Awards 2022 have been revealed. Voting is now open to determine the winners.

British Comedy Guide, 9th January 2023

BBC Audio Awards 2023 nominees

The shortlist for the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2023 has been revealed. DMs Are Open, Gemma Arrowsmith's Sketched Out, Please Use Other Door, SeanceCast, The Skewer and Thanks A Lot, Milton Jones! are amongst the nominees.

British Comedy Guide, 22nd December 2022

Share this page