British Comedy Guide
What's Funny About.... Image shows from L to R: Jon Plowman, Peter Fincham
What's Funny About...

What's Funny About...

  • Radio documentary
  • BBC Radio 4 / BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • 2020 - 2023
  • 18 episodes (3 series)

Peter Fincham and Jon Plowman talk to the people behind Britain's biggest comedies.

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Series 1, Episode 6 - W1A

Peter and Jon talk to Hugh Bonneville and John Morton about W1A, their much loved satire of the BBC.

Further details

In this episode, Peter and Jon talk to Hugh Bonneville and John Morton about W1A, their much loved satire of the BBC.

They discuss where the idea for W1A came from (there is, you'll be pleased to hear, a fold up bike involved). John reveals which BBC grandee offered his services when it came to researching the show. Hugh talks about the challenges of playing Ian Fletcher and Downton's Earl of Grantham, often at the same time (and how it all actually helped W1A to prise a bit more cash out of the BBC!). And we hear what Ian Fletcher might be doing next.

With Peter and Jon as our guides, we'll take the opportunity to ask quite how they went about making a great bit of TV comedy? Who came up with it? How did it get written? We'll talk about the commissioning, the casting, and the reception the show received when it first aired.

We'll do our very best to winkle out some backstage secrets straight from the horse's mouth, as we hear the unvarnished truth from the people who were there, and who put these iconic shows on the telly.

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 17th June 2020
Time
10:30pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4 Extra
Length
60 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Peter Fincham Host / Presenter
Jon Plowman Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Hugh Bonneville Guest
John Morton Guest
Production team
Owen Braben Producer

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