1. It's That Man Again

Instead of celebrity Comedy Controllers choosing their favourites, it’s the turn of those who, in their own ways, must take the blame for many of the shows heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Between them, Paul Jackson, Beryl Vertue, John Lloyd and Jimmy Mulville have well over a 150 years of gut-busting, side-aching woofers, gags and - let's be honest - the occasional horrific mistimed silence.

In front of an audience in London's iconic BBC Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House - the home of British Radio comedy - they reveal what they do, why they do it and what makes them laugh.

In the first of three programmes, they look back to the wartime stars of Variety and the entertainers, the men and women (though largely men) who entertained us through the dark days of conflict and the drab times of austerity and rationing.

Featuring:

‘ITMA’ - It's That Man Again (Victory Edition).
Tommy Handley's gang celebrate victory in Europe, as broadcast on 10th May 1945.

Plus extracts from:

‘Hi Gang’
Peter Sellers’ performance of ‘Balham, Gateway to the South’.

Series Producers: Paul Kobrak and Dixi Stewart

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in March 2017.