BBC 7
Encyclopedia
BBC Radio 4 Extra, formerly known as BBC 7 and BBC Radio 7, is a British digital
radio station
broadcasting comedy
, drama
, and children's programming nationally 24 hours a day. It is the principal broadcasting outlet for the BBC
's archive of spoken-word entertainment. The station relaunched as BBC Radio 4 Extra on 2 April 2011 to bring the station closer to its sister station, BBC Radio 4
.
The station was launched as BBC7 in December 2002 to enable the contents of the BBC Sound Archive
to be broadcast. Since rebranding it also features extended versions of established programmes from Radio 4. The station was the second most listened to BBC digital radio station in the second quarter of 2010, with an audience of 949,000 and a 13.8% year-on-year rise in its audience.
The station can be heard worldwide on the Internet
, across northern Europe via the Astra 2A
satellite
(including via Freesat
and Sky), and in the UK on DAB digital radio
, cable television
(including Virgin Media
), IPTV
and Freeview digital terrestrial television
.
at 20:00 on 15 December 2002 in a simulcast
with BBC Radio 4
.
As a speech network, BBC 7—as it was initially branded to reflect the fact that the station was available on the internet, digital television, and DAB radio—carried no news, with the exception of a weekday 16:55 bulletin aimed at younger listeners presented by the Newsround
team. Until January 2010 each of the station's continuity announcers was associated with themed blocks of programming and were promoted as personalities and presenters in their own right; subsequently Radio 7 adopted a more traditional continuity format using one presenter to announce every programme throughout the day. As Radio 7, regular presenters included Penny Haslam, Helen Aitken, Kerry McCarthy, Wes Butters
, Jim Lee
, Joanna Pinnock, Alex Riley and Michaela Saunders. Because of the station's archive nature the station was scheduled, produced and researched by a team of 17 people, excluding presenters.
The station won the Sony Radio Academy Award
for Station Sound in 2003, was nominated for the Promo Award in 2004, and in 2005 received a Silver for the Short-Form award, plus nominations in the Speech Award and Digital Terrestrial Station Of The Year Award.
On 4 October 2008, BBC 7 was renamed BBC Radio 7 bringing it in line with other BBC Radio branding.
In February 2010 Radio 7 was reported as one of the few digital radio stations to show consistent growth in its audience, winning an audience of 931,000 listeners, up 5.3% on the previous quarter and 9.5% year on year. The station's listening share saw 20.0% growth, year-on-year, in the 12 months to March 2010.
opened a public consultation on the proposal to change the station and in February 2011 the proposed changes were approved. The station relaunched as BBC Radio 4 Extra on Saturday 2 April 2011.
Although the station is essentially a rebranding of Radio 7, its content has been brought further in line with its sister station, BBC Radio 4
, and new additions to its schedule include extended versions of established Radio 4 programmes such as The Now Show
, The News Quiz
and Desert Island Discs
. The archives of the last of these are also broadcast as Desert Island Discs Revisited. Another new addition is Ambridge Extra
, a more youth-orientated spin-off of the long-running radio soap The Archers
. However, most of the station's content remains archive material—some of it newly discovered, such as the original Dick Barton Special Agent
and early episodes of The Goon Show
. The hours of children's programming have been reduced, with the cancellation of the morning "CBeebies Radio" strand, replaced by extra comedy broadcasts.
Gwyneth Williams
, controller of BBC Radio 4 and 7 stated in a press release that "by adding some inviting new programmes and variations of some old favourites, we will encourage more listeners to find and enjoy what this imaginative digital station has to offer." Tim Davie
, Head of BBC Audio & Music, noted that "the vast majority of 4 Extra will remain archive" and suggested that the station would retain the same budget as its predecessor.
The schedule spans the decades, from The Goon Show
(1950s) and Round the Horne
(1960s), through Radio 2
favourites like The News Huddlines
, Castle's On The Air
and Listen to Les to recent Radio 4
shows such as Little Britain
and Dead Ringers
. There is also speculative fiction
of various kinds, science fiction
, fantasy
or horror
seven days a week in a regular slot called The 7th Dimension
which is broadcast on twice a day, at 18:00 and midnight. This slot regularly features a series of original Doctor Who
audio dramas, starring Paul McGann
as the Eighth Doctor
.
The station's remit requires it to carry children's programming which, since the station's launch, has come in various forms including The Little Toe Radio Show, aimed at younger children and consisting of short serials, stories and rhymes and The Big Toe Radio Show
which featured phone-ins and quizzes as well as stories intended for the 8+ age group. The Little Toe was later rebranded to CBeebies Radio. The audience of children between 4 and 14 listening to these programmes was reported to be just 25,000 and in February 2011 the BBC Trust
approved a reduction in annual hours dedicated to children from 1400 to 350
The station has broadcast some original programming. Newsjack is a topical news sketch show in the spirit of Radio 4's late Week Ending
which encourages contributions from listeners. Spanking New on Seven was a stand-up comedy programme, and they have broadcast the BBC New Comedy Competition, a competition for new stand up comedians. People who have taken part in BBC comedy competitions have gone on to have their own series on Radio 7, such as John-Luke Roberts with Spats
and Miriam Elia with A Series of Psychotic Episodes
. The Mitch Benn
Music Show features comedy songs introduced by Mitch Benn. Colin and Fergus' Digi Radio is a comedy sketch show which ran for two series in 2005–2006. Serious About Comedy
was a weekly show, now decommissioned, presented by Robin Ince
where comedians and comedy critics discuss comedy television, radio, DVDs, and films from the last week. Tilt
is a satirical sketch show which looks at the week's news of views other than the norm. Knocker
is a sitcom about a market researcher, written by and starring Neil Edmond
.
The flagship comedy section on the station is The Comedy Club. This is hosted by Arthur Smith
on Radio 4 Extra, but on Radio 7 was fronted by Alex Riley (Monday to Thursday) and Phil Williams
(Friday and Sunday), who joined in January 2010. Pitched as "two hours of contemporary comedy", it is broadcast from 22:00 to midnight Sunday to Friday. Comedy that has previously been commercially available as CDs on the Laughing Stock label is also broadcast.
Science fiction programmes, such as Doctor Who, are broadcast during the network's 7th Dimension slot presented by Nicholas Briggs
. Some programmes in this slot are from North America such as The Twilight Zone
. Other North American series include Garrison Keillor's Radio Show
from the U.S. and Stuart McLean
's Vinyl Cafe from Canada.
Digital radio in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the roll-out of digital radio is proceeding since test transmissions were started by the BBC in 1990. The UK currently has the world's biggest digital radio network, with 103 transmitters, two national DAB ensembles and 48 local and regional DAB ensembles...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
, drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, and children's programming nationally 24 hours a day. It is the principal broadcasting outlet for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's archive of spoken-word entertainment. The station relaunched as BBC Radio 4 Extra on 2 April 2011 to bring the station closer to its sister station, BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
The station was launched as BBC7 in December 2002 to enable the contents of the BBC Sound Archive
BBC Sound Archive
The BBC Sound Archive is a collection of audio recordings maintained by the BBC and founded in 1936. Its recordings date back to the late 19th century and include many rare items including contemporary speeches by public and political figures, folk music, British dialects and sound...
to be broadcast. Since rebranding it also features extended versions of established programmes from Radio 4. The station was the second most listened to BBC digital radio station in the second quarter of 2010, with an audience of 949,000 and a 13.8% year-on-year rise in its audience.
The station can be heard worldwide on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, across northern Europe via the Astra 2A
Astra 2A
Astra 2A is a communications satellite owned by SES Astra. Launched in 1998, half its expected end-of-life capacity of 28 transponders were pre-booked by BSkyB, who utilised it to launch their new Sky Digital service...
satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
(including via Freesat
Freesat
Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008...
and Sky), and in the UK on DAB digital radio
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
, cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
(including Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
), IPTV
IPTV
Internet Protocol television is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats.IPTV services...
and Freeview digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television is the technological evolution of broadcast television and advance from analog television, which broadcasts land-based signals...
.
History
The station, originally codenamed "Network Z", was launched by Paul MertonPaul Merton
Paul Merton is a British comedian, writer, actor and television presenter. Known for his improvisation skill, his humour is rooted in deadpan, surreal and sometimes dark comedy...
at 20:00 on 15 December 2002 in a simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
with BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
As a speech network, BBC 7—as it was initially branded to reflect the fact that the station was available on the internet, digital television, and DAB radio—carried no news, with the exception of a weekday 16:55 bulletin aimed at younger listeners presented by the Newsround
Newsround
Newsround is a BBC children's news programme, which has run continuously since 4 April 1972, and was one of the world's first television news magazines aimed specifically at children...
team. Until January 2010 each of the station's continuity announcers was associated with themed blocks of programming and were promoted as personalities and presenters in their own right; subsequently Radio 7 adopted a more traditional continuity format using one presenter to announce every programme throughout the day. As Radio 7, regular presenters included Penny Haslam, Helen Aitken, Kerry McCarthy, Wes Butters
Wes Butters
Wes Butters , is a radio broadcaster, formerly of BBC Radio 1, and writer.-Early life:...
, Jim Lee
Jim Lee (Radio)
Jim Lee is a freelance continuity announcer on BBC Radio 4, a newsreader and announcer at the BBC World Service and also provides links for BBC Radio 7. He often reads the Shipping Forecast.-Early life:...
, Joanna Pinnock, Alex Riley and Michaela Saunders. Because of the station's archive nature the station was scheduled, produced and researched by a team of 17 people, excluding presenters.
The station won the Sony Radio Academy Award
Sony Radio Academy Awards
The Sony Radio Academy Awards , started in 1983, are some of the most prestigious awards in the British radio industry. They are run by ZAFER Associates in association with the Radio Academy...
for Station Sound in 2003, was nominated for the Promo Award in 2004, and in 2005 received a Silver for the Short-Form award, plus nominations in the Speech Award and Digital Terrestrial Station Of The Year Award.
On 4 October 2008, BBC 7 was renamed BBC Radio 7 bringing it in line with other BBC Radio branding.
In February 2010 Radio 7 was reported as one of the few digital radio stations to show consistent growth in its audience, winning an audience of 931,000 listeners, up 5.3% on the previous quarter and 9.5% year on year. The station's listening share saw 20.0% growth, year-on-year, in the 12 months to March 2010.
Rebranding to BBC Radio 4 Extra
On 2 March 2010 the BBC's management announced a proposal to substantially change the station, which essentially repeated programmes drawn from the BBC Sound Archive, so that it would also provide content based on current Radio 4 shows. The station would then be renamed "Radio 4 Extra". On 3 June 2010 the BBC TrustBBC Trust
The BBC Trust is the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is operationally independent of BBC management and external bodies, and aims to act in the best interests of licence fee payers....
opened a public consultation on the proposal to change the station and in February 2011 the proposed changes were approved. The station relaunched as BBC Radio 4 Extra on Saturday 2 April 2011.
Although the station is essentially a rebranding of Radio 7, its content has been brought further in line with its sister station, BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, and new additions to its schedule include extended versions of established Radio 4 programmes such as The Now Show
The Now Show
The Now Show is a British radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4, which satirises the week's news. The show is a mixture of stand-up, sketches and songs presented by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis...
, The News Quiz
The News Quiz
The News Quiz is a topical panel game broadcast on British radio BBC Radio 4.-History:It was first broadcast in 1977 with Barry Norman as chairman. Subsequently it was chaired by Simon Hoggart, Barry Took , and then again by Simon Hoggart until March 2006. Hoggart was replaced by Sandi Toksvig in...
and Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs is a BBC Radio 4 programme first broadcast on 29 January 1942. It is the second longest-running radio programme , and is the longest-running factual programme in the history of radio...
. The archives of the last of these are also broadcast as Desert Island Discs Revisited. Another new addition is Ambridge Extra
Ambridge Extra
Ambridge Extra is an extension of the long-running radio drama The Archers. It began in 2011 and will run for at least two series. The show features a number of new or previously silent and minor characters from the main series, in particular focussing on younger characters...
, a more youth-orientated spin-off of the long-running radio soap The Archers
The Archers
The Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
. However, most of the station's content remains archive material—some of it newly discovered, such as the original Dick Barton Special Agent
Dick Barton
Dick Barton - Special Agent was a popular radio programme on the BBC Light Programme. Between 1946 to 1951 it aired at 6.45 each weekday evening and at its peak it had an audience of 15 million listeners. Despite popular belief, it was not actually the BBC's first daily serial...
and early episodes of The Goon Show
The Goon Show
The Goon Show was a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme...
. The hours of children's programming have been reduced, with the cancellation of the morning "CBeebies Radio" strand, replaced by extra comedy broadcasts.
Gwyneth Williams
Gwyneth Williams
Gwyneth Williams is the controller of BBC Radio 4. She grew up in South Africa and attended St Hugh's College, Oxford.-Earlier career:...
, controller of BBC Radio 4 and 7 stated in a press release that "by adding some inviting new programmes and variations of some old favourites, we will encourage more listeners to find and enjoy what this imaginative digital station has to offer." Tim Davie
Tim Davie
Tim Davie is the BBC's Director of Audio and Music. He joined the BBC in April 2005.In his current role, he sits on the BBC's Executive Board with overall responsibility for all of the BBC's national radio networks and the corporation's music output across all media...
, Head of BBC Audio & Music, noted that "the vast majority of 4 Extra will remain archive" and suggested that the station would retain the same budget as its predecessor.
Programming
Programmes previously qualified for broadcast on Radio 7 if they were either three years old or more, or if they had previously been broadcast twice on their original station. Since rebranding, the station is now broadcasting more recent Radio 4 material. However, both Radio 7 and 4 Extra have commissioned original programmes.The schedule spans the decades, from The Goon Show
The Goon Show
The Goon Show was a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme...
(1950s) and Round the Horne
Round the Horne
Round the Horne was a BBC Radio comedy programme, transmitted in four series of weekly episodes from 1965 until 1968. The series was created by Barry Took and Marty Feldman - with others contributing to later series after Feldman returned to performing — and starred Kenneth Horne, with Kenneth...
(1960s), through Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
favourites like The News Huddlines
The News Huddlines
The News Huddlines was a long-running BBC Radio 2 topical comedy sketch show starring Roy Hudd that ran for fifty one series from 1975 until 2001. Each episode lasted for half an hour and consisted of topical sketches, songs and one-liners.-Performers:...
, Castle's On The Air
Roy Castle
Roy Castle OBE was an English dancer, singer, comedian, actor, television presenter and musician. He attended Honley High School, where there is now a building in his name...
and Listen to Les to recent Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
shows such as Little Britain
Little Britain
Little Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas...
and Dead Ringers
Dead Ringers (comedy)
Dead Ringers is a UK radio and television comedy impressions broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and later BBC Two. The programme was devised by producer Bill Dare and developed with Jon Holmes, Andy Hurst and Simon Blackwell. It starred Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Phil Cornwell, Kevin Connelly and Mark Perry...
. There is also speculative fiction
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
of various kinds, science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
or horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
seven days a week in a regular slot called The 7th Dimension
The 7th Dimension
Seventh Dimension is the BBC's regular radio slot for science fiction, fantasy and horror. It is broadcast on the digital radio station BBC Radio 4 Extra at 6 p.m. , seven days a week and then repeated each day at midnight with host Nick Briggs. Most of the programs are full cast dramatizations and...
which is broadcast on twice a day, at 18:00 and midnight. This slot regularly features a series of original Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
audio dramas, starring Paul McGann
Paul McGann
Paul McGann is an English actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role...
as the Eighth Doctor
Eighth Doctor
The Eighth Doctor is the eighth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Paul McGann...
.
The station's remit requires it to carry children's programming which, since the station's launch, has come in various forms including The Little Toe Radio Show, aimed at younger children and consisting of short serials, stories and rhymes and The Big Toe Radio Show
The Big Toe Radio Show
The Big Toe Radio Show was a daily show for children on the DAB radio station BBC 7 at breakfast time and from 4-6pm. It was aimed at children aged nine to eleven. It featured music, games, stories read from well-known books such as those by Roald Dahl and fun...
which featured phone-ins and quizzes as well as stories intended for the 8+ age group. The Little Toe was later rebranded to CBeebies Radio. The audience of children between 4 and 14 listening to these programmes was reported to be just 25,000 and in February 2011 the BBC Trust
BBC Trust
The BBC Trust is the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is operationally independent of BBC management and external bodies, and aims to act in the best interests of licence fee payers....
approved a reduction in annual hours dedicated to children from 1400 to 350
The station has broadcast some original programming. Newsjack is a topical news sketch show in the spirit of Radio 4's late Week Ending
Week Ending
Week Ending... was a satirical radio current affairs sketch show, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4, usually on Friday evenings. It was devised by writer/producers Simon Brett and David Hatch, and was originally hosted by Nationwide presenter Michael Barratt.The show's title was always announced as...
which encourages contributions from listeners. Spanking New on Seven was a stand-up comedy programme, and they have broadcast the BBC New Comedy Competition, a competition for new stand up comedians. People who have taken part in BBC comedy competitions have gone on to have their own series on Radio 7, such as John-Luke Roberts with Spats
Spats (radio series)
Spats is a British radio comedy sketch series broadcast on digital radio station BBC 7. The series is written and presented by John-Luke Roberts , with additional material written by Nadia Kamil. Kamil also stars in the show, alongside Stephen Critchlow and Clare Wille...
and Miriam Elia with A Series of Psychotic Episodes
A Series of Psychotic Episodes
A Series of Psychotic Episodes, also known as Series of Psychotic Episodes, is a Sony Award nominated surreal comedy sketch show written by and starring Miriam Elia. The pilot and first series were broadcast on digital radio station BBC Radio 7. The second series was broadcast on BBC Radio 4...
. The Mitch Benn
Mitch Benn
Mitch Benn is a British musician and stand-up comedian known for his humorous songs performed on BBC radio. He is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's satirical programme The Now Show, and has hosted other radio shows.Benn has performed at several music festivals, and at the Edinburgh Festival...
Music Show features comedy songs introduced by Mitch Benn. Colin and Fergus' Digi Radio is a comedy sketch show which ran for two series in 2005–2006. Serious About Comedy
Serious About Comedy
Serious About Comedy was a British comedy discussion show on the digital radio station BBC7, hosted by Robin Ince. It was broadcast at 08:30 and 22:00 on Fridays, and 03:00 on Saturdays, in series of 12 editions long. It started on 12 August 2005. The second series started on 10 February 2006. The...
was a weekly show, now decommissioned, presented by Robin Ince
Robin Ince
Robin Ince is an English stand-up comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for presenting the BBC radio show The Infinite Monkey Cage .-Stand-up comedy:...
where comedians and comedy critics discuss comedy television, radio, DVDs, and films from the last week. Tilt
Tilt (radio)
Tilt is a topical sketch show, written in the week before broadcast, and recorded the night before. The first, six episode series was broadcast on BBC 7, between March 27 and May 1, 2008,one of their growing number of specially commissioned projects....
is a satirical sketch show which looks at the week's news of views other than the norm. Knocker
Knocker (radio series)
Knocker is a British radio situation comedy broadcast on digital radio station BBC 7, recorded before a live audience. It is written by and stars Neil Edmond as Ian Dunn, a long suffering market researcher. The series also co-stars Paula Wilcox as Ian's boss, Mary...
is a sitcom about a market researcher, written by and starring Neil Edmond
Neil Edmond
Neil Edmond is a British actor and comedy writer.Neil was a member of the comedic sketch trio The Consultants, alongside James Rawlings and Justin Edwards. In 2002 they won the Perrier award for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Consultants went on to record four series for BBC...
.
The flagship comedy section on the station is The Comedy Club. This is hosted by Arthur Smith
Arthur Smith
Arthur Smith may refer to:*Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith , American guitar player and composer*Arthur Donaldson Smith, American explorer of Africa*Arthur Henderson Smith , American missionary in China, author of books on Chinese culture...
on Radio 4 Extra, but on Radio 7 was fronted by Alex Riley (Monday to Thursday) and Phil Williams
Phil Williams (presenter)
Phil Williams is a British radio news reporter and presenter, currently presenting the BBC Radio 5 Live weekend breakfast show with Anna Foster....
(Friday and Sunday), who joined in January 2010. Pitched as "two hours of contemporary comedy", it is broadcast from 22:00 to midnight Sunday to Friday. Comedy that has previously been commercially available as CDs on the Laughing Stock label is also broadcast.
Science fiction programmes, such as Doctor Who, are broadcast during the network's 7th Dimension slot presented by Nicholas Briggs
Nicholas Briggs
Nicholas Briggs is a British actor and writer, predominantly associated with the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and its various spin-offs, particularly as the voice of the Daleks. Briggs sometimes uses the pseudonym Arthur Wallis...
. Some programmes in this slot are from North America such as The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (radio)
The Twilight Zone "Radio Dramas" is a nationally syndicated radio series featuring adaptations of the classic television series The Twilight Zone, launched in October 2002...
. Other North American series include Garrison Keillor's Radio Show
A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion is a live radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor. The show runs on Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Central Time, and usually originates from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it is frequently taken on the road...
from the U.S. and Stuart McLean
Stuart McLean
Andrew Stuart McLean is a Canadian radio broadcaster, humourist and author, best known as the host of the CBC Radio programme The Vinyl Cafe. He is often described as a "story-telling comic", though he has written many serious stories...
's Vinyl Cafe from Canada.
List of original Radio 7 programmes
While most of the shows on Radio 7 were repeats, original programming included:- Big Toe Books (Children's show)
- Serious About ComedySerious About ComedySerious About Comedy was a British comedy discussion show on the digital radio station BBC7, hosted by Robin Ince. It was broadcast at 08:30 and 22:00 on Fridays, and 03:00 on Saturdays, in series of 12 editions long. It started on 12 August 2005. The second series started on 10 February 2006. The...
(Comedy review show) - TiltTilt (radio)Tilt is a topical sketch show, written in the week before broadcast, and recorded the night before. The first, six episode series was broadcast on BBC 7, between March 27 and May 1, 2008,one of their growing number of specially commissioned projects....
(Satirical sketch comedy) - NewsjackNewsjackNewsjack is a satirical sketch show hosted by Justin Edwards. Until September 2011, it was presented by Miles Jupp, and first broadcast on BBC Radio 7 on 4 June 2009. The series is notable for having an "Open door" policy on writing, meaning that unsolicited writers without contract to the BBC can...
(Satirical sketch comedy) - SpatsSpats (radio series)Spats is a British radio comedy sketch series broadcast on digital radio station BBC 7. The series is written and presented by John-Luke Roberts , with additional material written by Nadia Kamil. Kamil also stars in the show, alongside Stephen Critchlow and Clare Wille...
(Sketch comedy) - KnockerKnocker (radio series)Knocker is a British radio situation comedy broadcast on digital radio station BBC 7, recorded before a live audience. It is written by and stars Neil Edmond as Ian Dunn, a long suffering market researcher. The series also co-stars Paula Wilcox as Ian's boss, Mary...
(Sitcom) - The Penny Dreadfuls Present... (Sketch comedy)
- UndoneUndone (radio series)Undone is a radio comedy broadcast by the BBC on the digital channel BBC 7, written by and starring Ben Moor. It uses a sci-fi theme of parallel universes to poke fun at life and especially the media business in London...
(Sci-fi comedy) - The SpaceshipThe SpaceshipThe Spaceship is a science fiction comedy set in the year 2104 and onwards that premiered on BBC Radio 7 over the course of five days during the last week of June 2005...
(Sci-fi comedy) - OneiraOneiraOneira is a science fiction comedy written for BBC Radio 4 Extra by Robert Easby. It tells a surreal story of the encounter between a young museum guard, called Oneira, and a 400-year-old alchemist calling himself Nikolai. Nikolai claims to be the artist who painted one of the pictures hanging...
(Sci-fi comedy) - The Laxian Key (Sci-fi comedy)
- Cold Blood (Sci-fi drama)
- The Voice of God (Sci-fi drama)
- A Series of Psychotic EpisodesA Series of Psychotic EpisodesA Series of Psychotic Episodes, also known as Series of Psychotic Episodes, is a Sony Award nominated surreal comedy sketch show written by and starring Miriam Elia. The pilot and first series were broadcast on digital radio station BBC Radio 7. The second series was broadcast on BBC Radio 4...
(Sketch comedy) - CBeebies Radio (Children's show)
- Colin and Fergus' Digi Radio (Sketch comedy)
- No Tomatoes (Sketch comedy)
- The Mitch Benn Music Show (Musical comedy)
- Spanking New on Seven (Stand-up)
- Play and Record (Sketch comedy)
- Pleased to Meet You (Comedy)
- Gus Murdoch's Sacred Cows (Comedy)
- Planet BPlanet BPlanet B is a science fiction drama series first broadcast on BBC Radio 7 on 2 March 2009 as part of BBC Radio's science fiction season between February and March 2009. Planet B is set in a virtual world called "Planet B" in which people play as life-size avatars...
(Sci-fi drama) - Doctor Who: The Eighth DoctorEighth DoctorThe Eighth Doctor is the eighth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Paul McGann...
Adventures (Sci-fi Drama) - The Man in Black (Horror)
- The ScarifyersThe ScarifyersThe Scarifyers is an audio adventure series produced by Cosmic Hobo Productions and based on stories written by Simon Barnard and Paul Morris. Set in 1936 and 1937, it follows the exploits of DI Lionheart and ghost-story writer Professor Dunning, as played by Nicholas Courtney and Terry Molloy.Each...
(Horror comedy) - This is Pulp Fiction (Crime fiction)
List of original Radio 4 Extra programmes
The following are original programmes made for BBC Radio 4 Extra.- Ambridge ExtraAmbridge ExtraAmbridge Extra is an extension of the long-running radio drama The Archers. It began in 2011 and will run for at least two series. The show features a number of new or previously silent and minor characters from the main series, in particular focussing on younger characters...
(Soap opera, spin-off from The ArchersThe ArchersThe Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
) - Arthur Smith's Balham BashArthur Smith's Balham BashArthur Smith's Balham Bash is a comedy and music show hosted by Arthur Smith and recorded at his own house in Balham, London. It was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2009,It features both stand-up comedy and musical acts. Other than Smith, the only other regular on the show is Pippa Evans,...
(Variety show, debuted on Radio 4 Extra before being aired on Radio 4) - The 4 O'Clock Show (Chat show, incudling children's entertainment)
- Let's Get Quizzical (Documentary)
- Meet David Sedaris (Comedy, debuted on Radio 4 Extra before being aired on Radio 4)
- The Nine Billion Names of God (readings from Arthur C. ClarkeArthur C. ClarkeSir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
's short story collection of the same name)The Nine Billion Names of God (collection)The Nine Billion Names of God is a collection of science fiction short stories by Arthur C. Clarke.-Contents:This collection includes:* "The Nine Billion Names of God"* "I Remember Babylon"* "Trouble with Time"* "Rescue Party"* "The Curse"... - Sarah Millican's Support Group (Sketch show, debuted on Radio 4 Extra before being aired on Radio 4)
- What's So Funny? (Comedy review show)