Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive

Last updated

Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive
Genre Comedy
Running time30 minutes
Country of origin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Language(s) English
Home station BBC Radio 4
Created by Armando Iannucci
Produced by David Tyler
Original release2005 (BBC Radio 4) – 2008
No. of episodes24 (4 series)
Website Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive

Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive is a British radio comedy programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2005 with a second series in 2006, a third in 2007 and a fourth in 2008. Series 2, 3 and 4 of the show were broadcast in the popular Friday evening slot, which it has shared with The News Quiz and The Now Show . It is hosted by comedian Armando Iannucci and each week a panel of fellow comedians make satirical and surreal observations on current events. Vaughan Savidge provides voice overs.

Contents

Guests have included Will Smith (also co-writer) and Clive Anderson (six presences), Phill Jupitus, Jo Brand, Dave Gorman, Simon Evans and Mark Watson (three presences).

In April 2007, Series 2 was awarded a Sony Radio Award in the comedy category. The judges said: "Making comedy programmes out of current affairs topics is a well-populated genre. The judges felt that this was a great example of brilliant observation with surreal twists, taking the listener on an unpredictable journey and bringing a fresh slant to the format."

The shows writers include Armando Iannucci, Nick Doody, Ian Martin, Sean Gray, Dan Tetsell, Will Smith and Jon Holmes. Produced by David Tyler, it was a Pozzitive production for the BBC.

Guests

Guests in the first series (May-June 2005) have been Alexei Sayle, Andy Zaltzman, Chris Langham, Clive Anderson, Dave Gorman, David Mitchell, Jo Brand, John Oliver, John Sessions, Lucy Porter, Marcus Brigstocke, Mark Steel, Phill Jupitus, Will Smith.

In the second (June-July 2006): Alexei Sayle, Chris Addison, Clive Anderson, Dan Gaster, Dave Gorman, Jack Dee, Jo Brand, Jo Caulfield, Mark Watson, Natalie Haynes, Phill Jupitus, Simon Evans, Stewart Lee, Will Smith.

In the third (August-September 2007): Andy Zaltzman, Clive Anderson, Dara Ó Briain, Dave Gorman, David Cross, David Quantick, Jack Dee, Jo Brand, Justin Edwards, Mark Watson, Michael McIntyre, Phill Jupitus, Rich Hall, Russell Howard, Simon Evans, Stewart Lee, Will Smith.

In the fourth (August-September 2008): Andy Parsons, Andy Zaltzman, Chris Addison, Dara Ó Briain, Dave Gorman, David Mitchell, David Quantick, Justin Edwards, Lucy Porter, Marcus Brigstock, Matt Kirshen, Miranda Hart, Phill Jupitus, Robin Ince, Simon Evans, Will Smith.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armando Iannucci</span> British comedian, film director and producer

Armando Giovanni Iannucci is a Scottish satirist, writer, director, producer, performer, and panellist. Born in Glasgow to Italian parents, Iannucci studied at the University of Glasgow followed by the University of Oxford. Starting on BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4, his early work with Chris Morris on the radio series On the Hour transferred to television as The Day Today. A character from this series, Alan Partridge, co-created by Iannucci, went on to feature in a number of Iannucci's television and radio programmes, including Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge and I'm Alan Partridge. Iannucci also fronted the satirical Armistice review shows and in 2001 created his most personal work, The Armando Iannucci Shows, for Channel 4.

<i>The News Quiz</i> British topical radio panel show

The News Quiz is a British topical panel game broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Addison</span> British comedian, writer, actor, and director

Christopher David Addison is a British comedian, writer, actor, and director. He is perhaps best known for his role as a regular panellist on Mock the Week. He is also known for his lecture-style comedy shows, two of which he later adapted for BBC Radio 4.

<i>Time Trumpet</i> Television series

Time Trumpet is a six episode satirical television comedy series which aired on BBC Two in August 2006. The series was written by Armando Iannucci, Roger Drew and Will Smith in a similar manner to Iannucci's earlier one-off programmes, 2004: The Stupid Version and Clinton: His Struggle with Dirt. One sketch was later spun off by network in Ireland, RTÉ, into the cult television series Soupy Norman, in May 2007.

Simon Evans is an English comedian and GBNews host.

The Time Out Comedy Awards were bestowed upon the comedy community by the London listings magazine Time Out. They ran from 1991 to 2006, and include many well-known comedians as past winners: Eddie Izzard, Noel Fielding and Jimmy Carr. It is not known why they have been defunct since 2006.

The Chortle awards were set up in 2002 by the comedy website Chortle to honour the best of established stand-up comics currently working in the UK. As of 2002, the Chortle Awards are the only UK-based awards that solely honour the live work of stand-up comedians at a professional level. A panel of reviewers draw up a shortlist, which is presented for public vote at the Chortle website.

Off The Kerb Productions is a British talent agency company that mainly works with comedians.

The Cabaret Upstairs was a radio comedy programme that was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from May 1986 to April 1988. There were 18 half-hour episodes, each showcasing a roster of material from 3 comedians or music acts. Acts included Clive Anderson, Jo Brand, Jeremy Hardy, Harry Enfield, Punt and Dennis, and it was produced and directed by David Tyler.

Pozzitive Television is a production company formed by producers Geoff Posner and David Tyler in 1992. Pozzitive have won awards including six BAFTAs, two Golden Roses at Montreux, multiple British Comedy & RTS awards, seven Sony Awards and two International Emmys.

Where's Elvis This Week? was a short-lived, half-hour, weekly comedy talk show presented by Mike McShane in the pilot episode, and Jon Stewart for the remaining episodes, that aired on Sunday nights in the United Kingdom on BBC Two. It was filmed at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City and featured a set of panellists—two from the United Kingdom, and two from the United States. The panellists discussed news items and cultural issues. It premiered in the United Kingdom on 31 May 1996, and six episodes aired in total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karaoke Circus</span>

Karaoke Circus is a British Karaoke night where guest singers from the world of comedy compete alongside members of the public for a coveted prize. Sometimes called 'Ward & White's Karaoke Circus', the show was started by composer Martin White and stand-up comedian Danielle Ward in October 2008 at The Albany, Great Portland Street, London. It has since been held at the 100 Club, The Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, Ginglik, Royal Vauxhall Tavern and at The Edinburgh Fringe.

Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People is a Christmas stage show celebrating a view of science. It was first run in 2008 at the Bloomsbury Theatre and re-run as The Return of Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People in 2009, then televised on BBC Four as Nerdstock: 9 Lessons and Carols for Godless People.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Gray</span> British comedy writer, producer and director

Sean Gray is a British comedy writer, producer and director. He is known for his work on the HBO series Veep, the BAFTA-winning BBC series The Thick of It and Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle and the feature film The Day Shall Come. He is a two-time Emmy-winner and Golden Globe-nominee.

Gash is a satirical British television comedy created by Armando Iannucci that was broadcast each weeknight from Monday 28 April to Thursday 1 May 2003 on Channel 4 to coincide with the 2003 local elections. Written and filmed on the day of transmission, the programme was a topical review show featuring sketches, modified VT footage, talk, discussion and jokes. The name derives from a television term for footage surplus to requirements. The show featured appearances from Olivia Colman, Dominic Holland, Jon Holmes and John Oliver, amongst others.

David Tyler is a British television and radio comedy producer, executive producer, and director. He is also the co-founder of the independent production company Pozzitive Television, which he set up in 1992 with Geoff Posner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West End Centre, Aldershot</span> Arts Centre in Aldershot, United Kingdom

The West End Centre is an entertainment venue and arts centre located on Queens Road in Aldershot. The centre hosts classes, workshops, art exhibitions, music performances, stand-up comedy, and small-scale and intimate theatre.

Shush! is a BBC Radio 4 sitcom written by and starring Rebecca Front and Morwenna Banks. It follows child prodigy Alice and hapless Snoo as two librarians, trying desperately to keep their local library afloat. The first series was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2015, with the second series broadcast in May 2017.

References