Oh boy. I laughed very loudly in my office at this in many places. I had the door closed, mercifully. I’m sorry, but most of you won’t get this, but I need to let the relative few who’ll find this hilarious know about it. So scroll on down to another post if you’ve no idea why this would be funny for you. Basically, you have to be into Radio, and moreover into BBC Radio. Quite a bit. If you’re familiar with it (especially Radio 4 and Radio 3) then please please please listen to this new program: It’s called Listen Against. It is a remarkably good and hilarious parody of Radio 4 and a host of other aspects of the BBC and to some degree the whole British media. It’s as brilliant as the spoof phone-in Down the Line, and probably as good as the wonderful Sunday Format (a radio parody of pointless glossy Sunday magazines). (Probably programmes only about two of you have every heard of, but which I count amongst the funniest things I’ve heard in recent times.).
Anyway, listen to the edition available now before it disappears by Wednesday… that way you can hear the piece about the pips, including the discussion of experiments done with the pips in the past… the unsuccessful Jazz version of the pips (they stole a bit of Dexter Gordon and messed with it a bit) had me gasping for air.
Ok. I’ll shut up and let you listen. Link to it is here. Right hand column for the audio link.
[Update: while still good, I was not as impressed with the next one, episode 4/4… but it is still pretty funny. Ironically, episodes 1/4 and 2/4 are not available via the “listen again” facility. Sigh. I’d love to hear them.]
If you’re a BBC Radio listener, let me know what you think.
-cvj
I missed the boat at UKNova 🙁
Could anyone re-seed these episodes? Thanks!
You can get all of the episodes from UKNova.
I didn’t get all the jokes, but still enjoyed it a lot. Thanks!
–IP
Haven’t ever listened to Listen Against. I’m currently mourning the fact that “Just a Minute” is off the air, and that there aren’t nearly enough “I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue” editions broadcast per week, and consolling myself with “The News Quiz”.
BTW, I thought you might be pleased about the Co-op selling naked cucumbers — did you hear?
*Toddles off to have a listen to Listen Against*
–IP
I loved this programme. It brightened my morning, almost as much as the image of you laughing out loud in your office! The BBC should adopt the Jazz pips with immediate effect.
These programs are almost too clever for their own good. I was listening to Listen Against with my daughter last night. She didn’t realise it was a spoof until they went over to interview a policeman call PC World!
I liked the Sunday Format but not Down the Line, but then I find all phone-in programs excruciating.