Dimsdale Podcasts

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We’ve all seen the patrol cars perched on the A-roads and motorways of Wales – what do their occupants chat about while they wait to right wrongs and pounce on offending motorists? In this new comedy series we’re eavesdropping on the antics of North Wales Traffic Police.

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Members get information about when streams/downloads become available, as well as accessing podcast RSS feeds for freely-available content to make listening to great shows a breeze, Register Here

Paul Sinha is an award-winning comedian, broadcaster and champion quizzer, best known for his appearances on TV’s The Chase. Formerly a doctor, he left medicine to pursue a comedy career, and hasn’t looked back.

In each episode of Paul Sinha’s Perfect Pub Quiz, the quizzer, comedian and Rose d’Or winner Paul Sinha invites the audience to tell him their favourite quiz questions, before offering up not just different and surprising questions, but also the fascinating stories behind the answers.

It’s facts, jokes, stories and puns – just the way you like them.

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Members get information about when streams/downloads become available, as well as accessing podcast RSS feeds for freely-available content to make listening to great shows a breeze, Register Here

Writer, broadcaster and recovering comedian Natalie Haynes mixes comedy and conversation to bring the ancient world entertainingly up to date in these four radio series. Each episode sees her profiling a key figure from ancient Greece and Rome, and, aided by her special guests, creating a stand-up show around them.

Series 1 investigates Petronius and the worst dinner party in history; asks whether Sophocles invented the TV detective with Oedipus; explains how Virgil was responsible for Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and introduces us to the notorious Aspasia.

In Series 2, Natalie stands up for Aristophanes (expect a chorus of frogs and a sex strike); Ovid (featuring frottage at the races); Plato (a bit chunky, but a good wrestler) and Agrippina (pretty well connected and handy with the purse strings).

Series 3 discusses Sappho, whose scorching poetry is now mainly lost; brings us some thousand-year-old gossip about Cicero; gives us the lowdown on Lucian, the forgotten inventor of science fiction; and tells the story of Juvenal, history’s first great stand-up comedian.

Finally, Series 4 explores Phryne, the Greek courtesan famed for her wit and beauty; Horace, the Roman poet who made friends of enemies through his writing; Euripides, whose Medea still shocks us today; and Livy, who gave us Hannibal crossing the Alps and the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Coriolanus.

Guests include Martin Rowson, Richard Dyer, Victoria Rimell, Professor Edith Hall, Frank McGuinness, Andrew Collins, Pamela Helen Stephen, Gordon Cutting, Dr Llewelyn Morgan, Sarah B. Pomeroy, Dr Ian Jenkins, Cate Haste, Rosie Wyles, Fiona Laird, Michael Squire, Philippa Perry, Stella Duffy, LiTTLe MACHiNe, Mark Stephens, Matthew Sweet, Armando Iannucci, Katy Brand, Ben Okri, Mark Ravenhill and Al Murray.

The post Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics appeared first on Dimsdale Podcasts.

Members get information about when streams/downloads become available, as well as accessing podcast RSS feeds for freely-available content to make listening to great shows a breeze, Register Here

What do a whale’s eardrum, a beaver’s anal gland and the feather of a lesbian albatross have in common?

They’re not the ingredients for the beginnings of a bad joke, but some of the objects brought in for ‘show and tell’ in Nature Table with Sue Perkins.

Listen as a Marine Biologist, an Ethnobotanist, an ant expert (yes, really), a wildlife cameraman and other experts bring Sue their strange and fascinating objects – and the stories that go with them – to discuss with a ‘class’ at London Zoo, made up of guests like comedians Sally Phillips and Lucy Porter, as well as London Zoo staff and members of the public.

Why are sea otters ‘demons’? Which animal can delay its own pregnancy until it’s ready? Which animal is probably living on the faces of most human adults? Nature Table might teach you something about the amazing world of plants and animals while hopefully making you laugh along the way.

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Hugh Laurie, Rory Bremner and Morwenna Banks star in this six-part comedy series that sends up both politics and traditional sitcom conventions

1993, and the party of the loony right and centre sweeps to power, changing the face of politics forever and drastically disrupting the very normal, very predictable, very sitcom lives of the actor-residents of Microcosm.

When the newly appointed Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Action Man, MP, moves into No. 10, his first priority is to change the curtains. But next he must appoint a Cabinet – starting with the Minister for Honesty, Sir Lord Knight – and try to uncover the mystery behind the clandestine Department of Secrets… With the country getting bored, the Government stirs up a convenient crisis; and a new event, ‘No War’ Anniversary Day, is added to the PM’s diary (to rank alongside ‘No Horse’ Ascot Week and ‘No Balls’ Wimbledon).

Meanwhile in Microcosm, the villagers are sitting around being stereotypes, experimenting with character development, taking lessons in scene-changing technique from the mysterious Mr Mann (including a lecture on fading footsteps) and finding out what radio feels like from inside a hi-fi. Will they emerge as the lead characters in a sitcom of their own? Only the Narrator knows – but when he goes AWOL, and the sound effects go missing, it spells trouble for Microcosm. It’ll end in tears – not to mention resentment, revenge, malice and attempted murder…

Written by Moray Hunter (Spitting Image, Absolutely), and first broadcast in 1987, this surreal, satirical, marvellously meta comedy features Hugh Laurie, Morwenna Banks, Robin Driscoll, Robert Glenister and Clive Mantle, with guest appearances by Rory Bremner.

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This sitcom follows the life of Ed Reardon, a curmudgeonly writer who has only managed to have one novel published since the 60s.

Despite his distinct lack of success, Ed remains bullishly optimistic about his future. Yes, he may only have a single pair of trousers and have one of the lowest sales ranks on Amazon, but no writer knows more about stealing stationery from their agent… as a freeloader Ed Reardon is the acknowledged king of his profession!

Regular characters joining Ed include Felix, the boss of Ed’s publishers, Ping his ’12 year-old’ agent, the lively pensioners he teaches a screenwriting class to, and his old friend the irritatingly rich and successful movie director Jaz Milvane.

In recent series, Ed found himself still battling through the week encountering the numerous ’12-year-olds’ who run the media (the young Alex heading up the publishing company); teaching the lively bunch of pensioners who can show him a thing or two about moneymaking schemes, frugal living and having a good time; and having regular run-ins with the rather successful Jaz, director of his only ever book-to-screen adaptation.

Over the series, he takes advantage of the numerous empty premises in need of temporary caretakers and live-in guardians, or ‘guardian angels’ as Ed likes to think of them, as Stan throws him out on the street.

Things have also changed for Ping, who is suffering the biggest disaster to hit the office since they stopped making pens shaped like bananas. She has a new boss called Suzan – pronounced Suzanne. Ed, of course, wastes no time trying to get on the right side of Suzan in the hope of some work whilst Jaz Milvane continues to be his nemesis, plaguing his every move.

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Comedian Chloe Petts explores the history of the loo from ancient Roman latrines to the culture wars of today.

Chloe begins her journey exploring her own relationship with the toilet. From the revelations in primary school, to the best friends you make in the night club toilet, right up to what her experience is like in present day.

To help Chloe on this historical journey of the loo, she is joined by a new travel companion, the Ghost of Sir Thomas Crapper – who also bears quite a resemblance to comedian, Ed Gamble.

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Members get information about when streams/downloads become available, as well as accessing podcast RSS feeds for freely-available content to make listening to great shows a breeze, Register Here

Eleven BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas telling the stories of Mary Queen of Scots and the Stuart royals

Under the Stuarts, Britain entered the modern world. But with great change came turmoil, and for 111 years, the Stuart monarchs faced dynastic struggles, religious conflict, the rise of parliamentary democracy – and civil war. These dramas chart that turbulent epoch through its royal family, from Mary, Queen of Scots to the ‘last Stuart’, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s daughter Charlotte.

It Came In with a Lass – 1561. Arriving in mist-shrouded Scotland, Queen Mary must quickly distinguish her friends from her enemies. Starring Jeany Spark as Mary.

To Make the Plough Go Before the Horse – James I’s life and reign told through his relationships, from his first love, Esme to his last favourite, George Villiers. Starring Bill Paterson as James I and VI.

A World of Fools and Knaves – Henrietta Maria, Charles I’s Catholic queen, watches her husband fail to keep hold of the reins of government. Starring Julian Rhind-Tutt as Charles I.

This War Without an Enemy – Only on the morning of his execution can Charles I begin to understand the events that brought him to to the scaffold. Starring Julian Rhind-Tutt as Charles I.

Charles II, Part One: Through the World in Various Fortune – When news of Oliver Cromwell’s death reaches Brussels, the exiled Charles II plots his return. Starring Jamie Parker as Charles II.

Charles II, Part Two: The Long Lease of Pleasant Days– Charles II plots to confound parliamentary reformers and secure the throne for his brother. Starring Pip Torrens as Charles II.

James II: The Storms of this Deceitful World– 1688. After just four years as King, James II flees England in the Glorious Revolution. How did it all go so wrong? Starring James Fleet as James II.

William III and Mary II: To Have and To Hold– Dutch William marries his Stuart cousin for reasons of politics, not passion – but their partnership proves crucial when it comes to ruling England. Starring Mark Edel-Hunt as William III and Elaine Cassidy as Mary.

Queen Anne: Myself Alone– Queen Anne must abandon long-held allegiances to command parliament’s loyalty and rule with authority. Starring Fenella Woolgar as Queen Anne.

Bonnie Prince Charlie: Who Dares to Be Free– Charles Edward Stuart, the ‘Young Pretender’, risks everything for the Stuart name. Starring Blake Ritson as Charles.

Charlotte Stuart: The Last Stuart – Is Charlotte Stuart as driven as her predecessors, or the last victim of the Stuart curse? Starring Kate O’Flynn as Charlotte.

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Members get information about when streams/downloads become available, as well as accessing podcast RSS feeds for freely-available content to make listening to great shows a breeze, Register Here

A complete collection of this eclectic puntastic Radio 4 sketch comedy

Bringing together both The Wildebeest Years and Forty Nights in the Wildebeest, this fantastic collection showcases the brilliant, pop-culture-filled and one-liner-rich comedy of Nick Romero and Dan Freedman. From Incy Wincy Quincy, spider pathologist, and The Archers abroad (and in a new sci-fi format) to an amoebic Top Gear, Richard Coles as Robin Would, and a family of salad starring in Tossed in Space, the cabaret-style show features music from the house band, The Gents, and is full of wit, fun, and all the puns you could ever need.

In Forty Nights in the Wildebeest, Dan and Nick offer up a sheep version of Star Trek, an American Blackadder, and a very serious probing of the French Revolution, just in time to eavesdrop on some Radio 4 newsreaders after hours, before taking a quick visit to the Planet of the Grapes.

Dan Freedman has previously worked on The Now Show, The Minister of Chance, and the award-winning Stephen Fry webcast Death Comes to Time; Nick Romero has written and performed for The Now Show, I Think I’ve Got a Problem, and The Cornwell Estate. This fast-paced show is perfect for all comedy fans of Small Scenes, The Hudson and Pepperdine Show, and Galton and Simpson, and will leave you asking: what did Frankenstein have to do with the death of the dinosaurs?…

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Leslie Phillips stars in this eight-part radio comedy thriller

Famous Mayfair hairdresser Hilaire knows all the secrets of feminine beauty. His VIP clients trust him implicitly and take him into their confidence, telling him things they wouldn’t dare tell their husbands or lovers. But unbeknownst to them, he leads a double life as a secret agent, working for London’s top man, Major Selby.

Sent to Hamburg on a mysterious mission to steal an important tape recording from an opera singer’s dressing room, Hilaire soon finds himself in a dangerous predicament. In the course of one eventful evening, he is arrested, confronted by a knife-wielding maniac and beguiled by an attractive blonde. And when the lovely Caresse ends up half-strangled in his sleeping compartment on the Nord Express, he realises his straightforward assignment has just turned deadly.

Who is the would-be killer on the train, and how is he connected to the mysterious ‘Josef’? What is the significance of the red carnation? And what part does Selby’s arch-rival, Lord Dulane, have to play in the affair? Hilaire must comb through the clues and tease out the truth – or it will be a case of hair today, gone tomorrow…

Written by Ernest Dudley, the creator of the popular radio crime series A Case for Dr Morelle, this fast-paced tale of murder, blackmail and wigs stars Leslie Phillips as Hilaire, with Irene Sutcliffe as Caresse and Simon Lack as Selby.

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