John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme: Series 9: The BBC Radio 4 comedy sketch show

The ninth series of BBC Radio 4's award-winning sketch show One of our best sketch writers Observer John Finnemore returns with his multi-award-winning sketch show, but this series is different from the previous eight. Each episode consists of scenes from one person's life, played in reverse order, with no narrative as such. The individual sketches link up to form an overall picture, portraying the sprawling history of an entire multi-generational family. There are also some terrific tall tales, a paean of praise, and a truly unforgettable earworm.

Format: CD-Audio
Publication date: 19 August 2021
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd

The ninth series of BBC Radio 4's acclaimed sketch show, "One of our best sketch writers," Observer John Finnemore, returns with his multi-award-winning sketch show, but this series is very different from the previous eight. There are still sketches and songs, and it is still written and performed by him and his usual fantastic ensemble cast, but with no live studio audience, John has taken the opportunity to try something new.

Each episode in this series of "Souvenir Programme" consists of scenes from one person's life, played in reverse order. There is no narrative as such; it is still a sketch show, but as we follow the characters back in time, from lockdown Zoom calls to childhood birthdays and funerals, the individual sketches link up to form an overall picture, portraying the sprawling history of an entire multi-generational family.

And, as if that wasn't enough, there are also some terrific tall tales, a paean of praise, and a truly unforgettable earworm...

Clever, complex, hilarious, and poignant, these "Souvenir Programmes" with a twist star Lawry Lewin as Russ, Margaret Cabourn-Smith as Deborah, Simon Kane as Jerry, Carrie Quinlan as Vanessa, and John Finnemore as Newt.

Cast and credits:

Written and performed by John Finnemore.

Ensemble cast: Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Simon Kane, Lawry Lewin, Carrie Quinlan.

Original music composed by Susannah Pearse and Sally Stares, and arranged by Susannah Pearse and Tim Sutton.

Recorded and edited by Rich Evans at Syncbox.

Post Production coordinator: Beverly Tagg.

Producer: Ed Morrish.

A BBC Studios production. © 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Weight: 188g
Dimension: 142 x 127 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529138603
Edition number: Unabridged ed