I went to see the taping of a new radio show for BBC radio called Banter. I obtained the free ticket from Chortle, my new favorite website. The show is described thus:
A new panel show for Radio 4, hosted by Andrew Collins, the film editor for Radio Times and host of Radio 2’s The Day The Music Died. Regular panellists will include Richard Herring, Russell Howard – and Will Smith, plus guest appearances from fellow comedians. Panellists have it out with each other to come up with their definitive “top threes” in categories covering anything from science to cinema, and from playwrights to PlayStation.
This was episode three and will be broadcast mid February. The first episode is due to be broadcast on Australia Day, so we were all going to the show on trust. The house was full (about 150) for the show which started at 4pm on Sunday 15/1, at the Riverside Studio in Hammersmith (near Earls Court). The venue had a big sign up telling a little of the history of this venue which was where the first Dr Who, Hancock’s Half Hour, Top Of the Pops and many other BBC shows were taped until the late ‘70s.
The special guest of this week was Chris Addison. We also had Sue Perkins in place of Will Smith. Sue is the daughter of Geoffrey Perkins (writer/producer of Father Ted, Have I Got News For You and much more) and a BBC broadcaster herself.
The show itself was a very funny two hours, where the panelists all give their favorite three answers to questions such as ‘your favorite Spielberg films/breakfasts/girl bands’ etc. there was also a couple of ‘quickies’ including one sourced from the audience. The audience was asked before the show for our favorite dwarf. The favorite was Dopey, but all the panel had Doc (Chris Addison even predicted the audience answer but still chose Doc). I chose Sneezy!
I’m assuming the show will be running about 30 minutes and will be available on the website after being broadcast. If it is, I think it will be worth a listen. Even with the rude and libelous bits cut out, it should still be a laugh, as the panelists really seemed to enjoy being there. Chris and Russell were acting like a couple of schoolboys, writing on each other’s pads and constantly trying to top each other’s jokes. Sue was desperately trying to get a word in but came out with a few corkers. Richard (who used to be Stewart Lee’s partner), seemed to be the butt of quite a few in-jokes that I think will come clear when I get to hear the earlier episodes.
Dave Gorman was in the audience as he was scheduled for the evening taping (with an hour break between the two). I can only hope they keep Sue on the panel as a female is needed to keep it from being a boys club (like so many other shows over here seem to be). And yes I immediately booked in for the only other ticket for a later show with special guest Jenny Eclair, so that’ll be interesting.