-
Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive: Series 1-4
- The Complete BBC Radio 4 Collection
- Narrated by: Armando Iannucci, Clive Anderson, Jo Brand, Marcus Brigstocke, Alexei Sayle, Mark Steel, Phill Jupitus, full cast
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $26.17
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
A Bit of Fry & Laurie
- The BBC TV Soundtracks
- By: Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie
- Narrated by: Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry
- Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this classic TV soundtrack, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie explore a seemingly inexhaustible list of subjects with a delicious turn of phrase and elaborate wordplay. The hilarity includes regular acts such as not so super spy Tony Mercheson and his boss Control, yuppies, John and Peter and the critics. With four brilliant series of great satire, comic genius and hilarious use of language, the show cemented Fry & Laurie as a double act and paved the way for their future stardom.
-
-
it is what it is (a recording of a TV show)
- By A. Dossymov on 04-16-21
By: Stephen Fry, and others
-
The 99p Challenge: Series 1-5
- The Complete BBC Radio 4 Collection
- By: Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley
- Narrated by: Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Miranda Hart, and others
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Starring the cream of UK writer/performers and comedians over its lifetime, including Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Miranda Hart, Nick Frost, Bill Bailey and Armando Iannucci, this is the complete and utter award-winning silly panel game that's not about music, sport, advertising or hats.
-
-
British panel shows are the best
- By Yeah on 04-04-19
By: Kevin Cecil, and others
-
Dilemma: The Complete Series 1-4
- By: Sue Perkins
- Narrated by: Sue Perkins
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Described by the Radio Times as ‘a cross between QI and The Moral Maze’, this hilarious and thought-provoking panel show sees comedian Sue Perkins putting her guests through the moral and ethical wringer as she poses a series of tricky hypothetical questions - and cross-examines them on their answers. Would you provide an alibi for someone you hate? Would you let an annoying colleague take credit for your work if it meant they would get a job elsewhere? Is cheating on your partner ever acceptable?
-
-
Insightful and hilarious!
- By KatMama on 08-20-19
By: Sue Perkins
-
Just a Minute 2021: The Complete Series 86 & 87
- The BBC Radio 4 Panel Game
- By: BBC Radio Comedy
- Narrated by: Sue Perkins, Stephen Fry, Paul Merton, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Radio 4's longest-running panel game returns for the first time since the death of much-missed maestro Nicholas Parsons, who chaired the show for more than 50 years. Following in his footsteps for series 86 are an array of special guest hosts, including Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Nish Kumar, Jenny Eclair, Gyles Brandreth, Lucy Porter, Stephen Fry, Julian Clary, Tom Allen and Jo Brand, while in series 87, Sue Perkins takes the chair and endeavours to keep the participants in check.
By: BBC Radio Comedy
-
Think the Unthinkable: The Complete Series 1-4
- By: James Cary
- Narrated by: David Mitchell, Emma Kennedy, full cast, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Meet the hapless management consultants of Unthinkable Solutions - idealistic team leader Ryan, sociopathic Sophie and hippy-dippy Daisy. Enthusiastic and enterprising, they’re strong on jargon (and always ready to ‘imaginate, reincentivise and skin the leopard’), but short on practical ideas - unfortunately for the unsuspecting corporations that come to them for help.
-
-
Glad it was my second title by this writer
- By Moose in NZ on 09-17-20
By: James Cary
-
Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar: Series 1-3
- The BBC Radio 4 Comedy
- By: Alexei Sayle
- Narrated by: Alexei Sayle
- Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Godfather of alternative comedy, Alexei Sayle, mixes memoir and philosophy from behind the counter of his imaginary sandwich bar, serving up wit, wisdom and illusory baguettes as he muses on a multitude of topics. In these 12 shows, he explores his impulse to pretend and his love of sandwiches, discusses his childhood in a communist household and his physical attraction to Boris Johnson, explains why he will never go on Strictly Come Dancing and draws a striking comparison between capitalism and all-you-can-eat buffets.
By: Alexei Sayle
-
A Bit of Fry & Laurie
- The BBC TV Soundtracks
- By: Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie
- Narrated by: Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry
- Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this classic TV soundtrack, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie explore a seemingly inexhaustible list of subjects with a delicious turn of phrase and elaborate wordplay. The hilarity includes regular acts such as not so super spy Tony Mercheson and his boss Control, yuppies, John and Peter and the critics. With four brilliant series of great satire, comic genius and hilarious use of language, the show cemented Fry & Laurie as a double act and paved the way for their future stardom.
-
-
it is what it is (a recording of a TV show)
- By A. Dossymov on 04-16-21
By: Stephen Fry, and others
-
The 99p Challenge: Series 1-5
- The Complete BBC Radio 4 Collection
- By: Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley
- Narrated by: Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Miranda Hart, and others
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Starring the cream of UK writer/performers and comedians over its lifetime, including Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Miranda Hart, Nick Frost, Bill Bailey and Armando Iannucci, this is the complete and utter award-winning silly panel game that's not about music, sport, advertising or hats.
-
-
British panel shows are the best
- By Yeah on 04-04-19
By: Kevin Cecil, and others
-
Dilemma: The Complete Series 1-4
- By: Sue Perkins
- Narrated by: Sue Perkins
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Described by the Radio Times as ‘a cross between QI and The Moral Maze’, this hilarious and thought-provoking panel show sees comedian Sue Perkins putting her guests through the moral and ethical wringer as she poses a series of tricky hypothetical questions - and cross-examines them on their answers. Would you provide an alibi for someone you hate? Would you let an annoying colleague take credit for your work if it meant they would get a job elsewhere? Is cheating on your partner ever acceptable?
-
-
Insightful and hilarious!
- By KatMama on 08-20-19
By: Sue Perkins
-
Just a Minute 2021: The Complete Series 86 & 87
- The BBC Radio 4 Panel Game
- By: BBC Radio Comedy
- Narrated by: Sue Perkins, Stephen Fry, Paul Merton, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Radio 4's longest-running panel game returns for the first time since the death of much-missed maestro Nicholas Parsons, who chaired the show for more than 50 years. Following in his footsteps for series 86 are an array of special guest hosts, including Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Nish Kumar, Jenny Eclair, Gyles Brandreth, Lucy Porter, Stephen Fry, Julian Clary, Tom Allen and Jo Brand, while in series 87, Sue Perkins takes the chair and endeavours to keep the participants in check.
By: BBC Radio Comedy
-
Think the Unthinkable: The Complete Series 1-4
- By: James Cary
- Narrated by: David Mitchell, Emma Kennedy, full cast, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Meet the hapless management consultants of Unthinkable Solutions - idealistic team leader Ryan, sociopathic Sophie and hippy-dippy Daisy. Enthusiastic and enterprising, they’re strong on jargon (and always ready to ‘imaginate, reincentivise and skin the leopard’), but short on practical ideas - unfortunately for the unsuspecting corporations that come to them for help.
-
-
Glad it was my second title by this writer
- By Moose in NZ on 09-17-20
By: James Cary
-
Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar: Series 1-3
- The BBC Radio 4 Comedy
- By: Alexei Sayle
- Narrated by: Alexei Sayle
- Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Godfather of alternative comedy, Alexei Sayle, mixes memoir and philosophy from behind the counter of his imaginary sandwich bar, serving up wit, wisdom and illusory baguettes as he muses on a multitude of topics. In these 12 shows, he explores his impulse to pretend and his love of sandwiches, discusses his childhood in a communist household and his physical attraction to Boris Johnson, explains why he will never go on Strictly Come Dancing and draws a striking comparison between capitalism and all-you-can-eat buffets.
By: Alexei Sayle
-
Ask a Historian
- 50 Surprising Answers to Things You Always Wanted to Know
- By: Greg Jenner
- Narrated by: Dan Schreiber, Greg Jenner, Janina Ramirez, and others
- Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Ask a Historian, the author, BBC podcaster and public historian Greg Jenner provides answers to things you always wondered about but didn't know who to ask. Responding to 50 genuine questions from the public, Greg whisks you off on an entertaining tour through the ages, revealing the best and most surprising stories, facts and historical characters from the past.
-
-
best bonus content ever!
- By Matthew K Wendelken on 03-24-22
By: Greg Jenner
-
Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off
- The Complete BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series
- By: Marcus Brigstocke
- Narrated by: Catherine Tate, full cast, David Mitchell, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Meet Budleigh Salterton's most famous son, Giles Wemmbley Hogg: bumbling backpacker, fearless investigator of cultural diversity, connoisseur of Eastern philosophies and upper middle-class student ponce. In these five series, armed with his trusty portable DAT and his Charterhouse rugby shirt, Giles bravely ventures forth to far-off foreign lands and records his adventures. His meanderings take him from the Sudan to Las Vegas - but wherever he goes, he always manages to make a thumping great prat of himself.
-
Fuzz
- When Nature Breaks the Law
- By: Mary Roach
- Narrated by: Mary Roach
- Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What’s to be done about a jaywalking moose? A bear caught breaking and entering? A murderous tree? Three hundred years ago, animals that broke the law would be assigned legal representation and put on trial. These days, as New York Times best-selling author Mary Roach discovers, the answers are best found not in jurisprudence but in science: the curious science of human-wildlife conflict, a discipline at the crossroads of human behavior and wildlife biology.
-
-
Footnotes.
- By Jimmyjoejangles on 09-16-21
By: Mary Roach
-
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Treasury
- Classic BBC Radio Comedy
- By: BBC Radio Comedy
- Narrated by: Humphrey Lyttleton, Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden
- Length: 18 hrs and 38 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A bumper collection of classic fun and games from one of BBC Radio 4's best-loved and most enduring comedy panel games. The inimitable Humphrey Lyttelton is in the chair for these 36 hilarious editions, collected together for the first time. He presides over regular players Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden and Willie Rushton, plus guests including Stephen Fry, Tony Hawks, Andy Hamilton, Paul Merton, Sandi Toksvig and Jeremy Hardy.
-
-
Silly, erudite, irreverent, and brilliant.
- By Christopher on 08-06-18
By: BBC Radio Comedy
-
The Penny Dreadfuls Present...
- The Complete BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series
- By: Humphrey Ker, David Reed, Thom Tuck
- Narrated by: Thom Tuck, Humphrey Ker, David Reed, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sketch trio The Penny Dreadfuls made a name for themselves with The Brothers Faversham, telling the stories of nine extraordinary siblings in the Victorian era. In these 10 comedy dramas, they step away from the 19th century to revisit famous stories from history and literature. Featuring unforgettable characters, from the face of British treason to the last of the Plantagenets, their fresh, funny reimaginings are full of suspense, rip-roaring entertainment and gags galore.
By: Humphrey Ker, and others
-
How Does That Make You Feel? Series 1-10
- The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Drama
- By: Shelagh Stephenson
- Narrated by: Rebecca Saire, Marcella Riordan, Frances Tomelty, and others
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Psychotherapist Martha is reasonably compassionate, but deep down she's losing patience. It seems all her clients want to be something they are not, and it's driving them (and her) out of their minds. Across a series of 15-minute comedy vignettes, How Does that Make You Feel? offers a fly-on-the-wall view of Martha’s sessions, each one shedding more light on the lives of her entertaining clients. Starring Frances Tomelty, Roger Allam, Marcella Riordan, Tim McInnerny, Cathy Belton and Rebecca Saire. Produced and directed by Eoin O’Callaghan.
-
-
Amusing look at life today - social media, food
- By Diana on 01-09-19
-
From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast (Series 1)
- An Audible Original
- By: Alan Partridge
- Narrated by: Alan Partridge
- Length: 6 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Broadcaster, writer, philanthroper and one of the first public figures to suggest high-visibility clothing for people manning temporary car parks, the public Alan Partridge is a cherished institution. But what of the unseen Alan? For the first time, this famously private man welcomes us into his home and audibly deshrouds himself for a fascinating series of podcasts.
-
-
Simply genius
- By O. S. on 09-04-20
By: Alan Partridge
-
I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan
- By: Alan Partridge
- Narrated by: Alan Partridge
- Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Journalist, presenter, broadcaster, husband, father, vigorous all-rounder – Alan Partridge – a man with a fascinating past and an amazing future. Gregarious and popular, yet Alan’s never happier than when relaxing in his own five-bedroom, south-built house with three acres of land and access to a private stream. But who is this mysterious enigma? Alan Gordon Partridge is the best – and best-loved – radio presenter in the region. Born into a changing world of rationing, Teddy Boys, apes in space and the launch of ITV, Alan’s broadcasting career began as chief DJ of Radio Smile....
-
-
An Anglican giant among pygmies
- By John on 06-20-12
By: Alan Partridge
-
Foul Play: The Complete Series 1-4
- The BBC Radio 4 Murder Mystery Panel Game
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: full cast, Simon Brett
- Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chaired by Simon Brett (author of the hugely popular Charles Paris series), this intriguing, interactive panel show challenges professional crime novelists to put their experience and expertise to the test as they try to unravel various mind-bending mysteries. Each episode features a death and a denouement - with various red herrings and misdirections along the way. As the murder scenario is described and the clues laid out, our writer-detectives take turns cross-examining the suspects.
-
-
off color
- By happydisabledmom on 01-20-22
By: Simon Brett
-
The Unbelievable Truth, Series 17
- By: Jon Naismith, Graeme Garden
- Narrated by: David Mitchell
- Length: 2 hrs and 48 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
David Mitchell hosts the panel game in which four comedians are encouraged to tell lies and compete against one another to see how many items of truth they're able to smuggle past their opponents.
By: Jon Naismith, and others
-
Small Scenes
- Series 1-4 of the Hit BBC Radio 4 Comedy Sketch Show
- By: Benjamin Partridge
- Narrated by: Cariad Lloyd, Daniel Rigby, Jessica Ransom, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From ludicrous scenarios ranging from conspiracies behind cryptic crosswords, the perils of dating a banker, and someone accidentally being buried alive, this sketch show takes the normal and makes them ridiculous, all to a backdrop of music. Each episode features a number of these scenarios and along with a core cast of Daniel Rigby, Mike Wozniak, Cariad Lloyd, Henry Paker and Jessica Ransom. Small Scenes also features Sara Pascoe.
-
-
Eerie , clever and funny as hell
- By mistercat on 04-21-22
-
The Museum of Curiosity: Series 9-12
- By: John Lloyd
- Narrated by: Jo Brand, John Lloyd, Noel Fielding, and others
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Join Professor John Lloyd and Curators Noel Fielding, Jo Brand, Romesh Ranganathan and Sally Phillips as they plunge down the badger hole of ignorance in a search for the universe's most mind-boggling oddnesses. The Museum of Curiosity is BBC Radio 4's monumental comedy edifice and the only one with gargoyles in the foyer. It allows nothing inside that doesn’t make you scratch your head, stroke your chin or, at the very least, go ‘hmm’. Fortunately, helping to fill its almost vacant plinths is a gathering of the world’s most original minds.
-
-
Always a good listen
- By Buretto on 09-29-19
By: John Lloyd
Publisher's Summary
Creator of The Thick of It, I'm Alan Partridge and Veep and films In The Loop and The Death of Stalin, Armando Iannucci is probably the most famous writer/director/satirist of his generation. Here he hosts his own award-wining radio show.
Comedians who guested over the four series include David Mitchell, Michael McIntyre, Russell Howard, Miranda Hart, Jo Brand, Phill Jupitus, Clive Anderson and a young John Oliver (before he was launched to stardom on The Daily Show).
In the first series, Armando Iannucci and his guests pull apart the news with a heady mix of topical comedy, messed-about archive, chat and outrageous fibs, recorded in front of a live studio audience. Across the complete six episodes, they start a new religion and update some Cockney rhyming slang, and as the strike by BBC workers starts to bite and the army steps in, we hear a debate on breastfeeding from 'Woman's Hour' hosted by Gunner-Sergeant Harry Donaldson of the 5th Norfolk Fusiliers. In another show the team take a look at the new Star Wars epic and debate the right of the Sith to wear a hood in a public galaxy, whilst simultaneously fending off a bid by Malcolm Glazer to buy a 75 percent stake in the programme as it goes out, and in yet another show they make a List of the 100 Best Lists Ever and end up ringing Jimmy Carr's answerphone to find out the winner....
In series 2, Armando and his guests episodes, they worry about a new spate of middle class illnesses, including repetitive divorce injury, recyclists's elbow and having to stay in all day to await delivery of a trampoline-itis. Meanwhile, as the cult of daredevil Book for Boys grows, Armando shows off his I've actually got a sawn-off knife, which is actually just a handle. In another episode, they debate whether Chris Moyles should be punished for his use of the word 'gay' on his Radio 1 breakfast show or whether he should just be punished in general.
In the third series, Armando Iannucci and his guests check that all the jokes have to be strictly in accordance with legal norms. For example, 'Knock knock'. 'Who's there?' 'It's me - the person knocking at the door'. 'Hang on, I'll open it, then'. We also hear selected extracts from newsreader Vaughan Savidge's calming 'Little Book of Vaughan' which includes such wonderful advice as 'first thing in the morning, look in the mirror, wink at yourself and say, "Hey, you tousled genius. See you on the toilet..."
Across the fourth and final series, with Britain looking forward to the 2012 Olympics they'll be considering possible new sporting events such as Single Mumming, 4 x 100 Teenage Pregnancies and Turkey Twizzling. Plus they study some interesting animal facts such as 'plankton always drift anticlockwise and form giant funny faces when no-one's looking' and 'young adult pigs have started to emulate human behaviour by eating rubbish, drinking a lot and getting slaughtered'.
More from the same
What listeners say about Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive: Series 1-4
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ash
- 02-12-22
Good Entertainment
Started off very strongly in particular the first series however did taper off a little towards the end. Nevertheless many laugh out loud moments great guests and conversations therefore well worth the credit .
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Grant
- 03-03-19
Great British surreal satire panel show
Great British surreal satire panel show. Armando Ianucci is awesome. If you like radio 4 comedies then download this
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- listen
- 09-18-18
Gotta love his unique take on the world
...and the writers involved naturally. Great cast of characters, a literal who is who of the UK comedy scene.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Tracy
- 11-05-21
Brilliant from start to finish
Armando Lannucci has been involved in so many great comedy things over the years and is probably not as well known as he should be considering how funny he is.
My only disappointment with this is that I wanted more and wished it never ended .
Definitely one of the best if not the best radio shows
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 02-03-21
Topical Comedy from 2005
Topical jokes from 2005. So if you dont remember 2005 it might be lost on you. However if you do remember that stuff theres some enjoyable gags in here. and a lot of big names before they got too big to regularly appear on Radio 4 panel shows, like John Oliver.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Jesse Higginson
- 04-11-19
Surprisingly charmless
You’d expect that such a great cast couldn’t fail to be funny and interesting but just isn’t very good. It’s definitely the dullest panel show I’ve listened to so far, I’m sorry to say, and despite the seemingly good value on offer, the content is lacking.
1 person found this helpful